Refrigerator shelf assembly

Abstract

A shelf assembly for a refrigerator is provided and includes a support member for supporting the shelf assembly laterally. The assembly includes a shelf panel that is supported along its side regions by respective support brackets. The support brackets are attachable or mountable to a support structure, such as to a support rack positioned at a back panel of a refrigerator. The support member is provided at one or both support brackets and may comprise a magnet or a suction cup.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[0001]The present application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60 / 971,734, filed Sep. 12, 2007, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates to shelving and, more particularly, to shelving for refrigerators and the like.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]It is known to provide shelves in a refrigerator, where each shelf is supported on a pair of supports extending at least partially along the side edges of the shelf. The supports receive the edges of the shelf along side caps or the like to retain the shelf to the supports and to provide a lip along the upper surface of the shelf to form a “spill proof” shelf. The supports typically include a bracket or similar feature at their rear portions for mounting to the back panel of the refrigerator.[0004]On some refrigerators, the shelves are extendable and retractable on or along the supports, such a...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0011]Therefore, the shelf assembly of the present invention provides a user with a stabilized shelf on which to store objects, such as food products, in a refrigerator, while the shelf remains aesthetically pleasing. Further, the shelf assembly of the present invention provides stabilization of a shelf installed in a refrigerator having only one side panel adjacent the shelf.

Problems solved by technology

However, typical supports do not provide significant lateral support, such that a shelf may wobble left and right, or such that slider or roller mechanisms in the supports may jam from misalignment when a shelf is extended or retracted, especially when the shelf is pushed or pulled from one side of the shelf, or when the shelf is pushed or pulled at an angle.

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