Refrigerator shelf with overflow protection system including hydrophobic layer

• US 10,317,129 B2
• Filed: 10/26/2012
• Issued: 06/11/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Schott AG (Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung)
• Original Assignee: Schott AG (Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung)
• Inventors: Curdt, Axel, Gros, Oliver
• Primary Examiner(s): Rodden, Joshua E
• Application Number:
  US13/661,615
• Publication Number:
  US 20140138337A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,419 Days
• Field of Search: 211 9001, 211 9002, 211153, 248250, 312408
• CPC Class Codes: F24C 15/005 Coatings for ovens
• CPC Class Codes: F24C 15/10 Tops, e.g. hot plates; Rings cover lids or splash guards F24C15/12; spillage trays or grooves F24C15/14
• CPC Class Codes: F24C 15/16 Shelves, racks or trays inside ovens; Supports therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2325/022 Shelves made of glass or ceramic
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 25/02 by shelves

Abstract

A refrigerator shelf is provided that includes a carrier plate and overflow protection. The carrier plate has a top side with a middle region for standing containers, with the overflow protection arranged around the middle region. The overflow protection includes, in a first portion, a hydrophobic layer on the carrier plate and, in a second portion which adjoins the first portion, a frame element.

Claims

1. A refrigerator shelf comprising:

a carrier plate having a top side with a middle region configured to receive standing containers; and

an overflow protection system arranged around the middle region, the overflow protection system having, in a first portion, only a hydrophobic layer on the carrier plate and, in a second portion which adjoins the first portion, an unreleasable frame element, the hydrophobic layer running at least as far as a lower edge of the frame element, but not underneath the frame element.

2. The refrigerator shelf according to claim 1, wherein the overflow protection system further comprises portions which, together with the first and the second portion, provide overflow protection.

3. The refrigerator shelf according to claim 1, wherein the overflow protection system completely surrounds the middle region of the carrier plate.

4. The refrigerator shelf according to claim 1, wherein the hydrophobic layer is arranged along an outer margin of the carrier plate in the form of a band.

5. The refrigerator shelf according to claim 4, wherein the band has a width of 0.5 to 5 cm.

6. The refrigerator shelf according to claim 1, wherein the hydrophobic layer has a layer thickness of 5 nm to 500 μ

m.

7. The refrigerator shelf according to claim 1, wherein the hydrophobic layer comprises an adhesive tape on the carrier plate.

8. The refrigerator shelf according to claim 1, wherein the frame element is arranged along an outer edge of the carrier plate and is connected, liquid-tight, to the carrier plate.

9. The refrigerator shelf according to claim 1, wherein the frame element projects vertically above the top side of the carrier plate by a height of 1.0 mm or more.

10. The refrigerator shelf according to claim 1, wherein the frame element further comprises at least one of a grip part for pulling out the shelf, a lateral guide rail, and a rear shelf boundary.

11. The refrigerator shelf according to claim 1, wherein at least a part of the frame element is removable, so that liquid captured by the overflow protection system can be discharged in a controlled way.

12. The refrigerator shelf according to claim 1, wherein the overflow protection system further comprises a front-side portion on a front side of the shelf, a rear-side portion on a rear side of the shelf, and two lateral portions on sides of the shelf.

13. The refrigerator shelf according to claim 12, wherein the two lateral portions being designed, over an entire length, as hydrophobic layers, and the front-side and/or rear-side portion comprise, over an entire length, the frame element and/or a further frame element.

14. The refrigerator shelf according to claim 1, wherein the hydrophobic layer continues on an edge of the frame element that rises above the lower edge of the frame element.

36. The refrigerator shelf according to claim 1, wherein the carrier plate has a front portion and the frame element is arranged along the front portion.

39. The refrigerator shelf according to claim 1, wherein the refrigerator shelf does not have a fastening element to hold the refrigerator shelf in a refrigerator.

42. The refrigerator shelf according to claim 1, wherein the frame element is adhesively bonded to the carrier plate.

15. A refrigerator shelf comprising:

a carrier plate having a top side configured to receive standing containers; and

an overflow protection system arranged along all edges of the carrier plate and projecting above the top side so that liquid is captured on the top side, the overflow protection system comprising a band of hydrophobic layer on the top side of the carrier plate running along at least one of the edges and an unreleasable frame element connected, liquid-tight, to the carrier plate and running along a remainder of the edges,

wherein the remainder of the edges do not include the band of hydrophobic layer running along an entire length, and

wherein the frame element is a separate component from the carrier plate.

16. The refrigerator shelf according to claim 15, wherein at least a part of the frame element is removable.

17. The refrigerator shelf according to claim 15, wherein the band runs along more than one edge.

18. The refrigerator shelf according to claim 15, further comprising a transition region between the band and the frame element, wherein the transition region does not extend underneath a lower edge of the frame element.

19. The refrigerator shelf according to claim 18, wherein the transition region extends onto a wall of the frame element, wherein the wall rises above the lower edge of the frame element.

20. The refrigerator shelf according to claim 15, further comprising a transition region between the band and the frame element, wherein the transition region extends under the frame element.

34. The refrigerator shelf according to claim 15, wherein the hydrophobic layer runs at least as far as the lower edge of the frame element, but not underneath the frame element.

37. The refrigerator shelf according to claim 15, wherein the carrier plate has a front portion and the frame element is arranged along the front portion.

40. The refrigerator shelf according to claim 15, wherein the refrigerator shelf does not have a fastening element to hold the refrigerator shelf in a refrigerator.

43. The refrigerator shelf according to claim 15, wherein the frame element is adhesively bonded to the carrier plate.

21. A refrigerator shelf comprising:

a carrier plate having a top side with a middle region configured to receive standing containers and an outer region that completely surrounds the middle region, the outer region consisting of a front portion, a rear portion, and lateral side portions; and

an overflow protection system arranged on the outer region, the overflow protection system comprising a hydrophobic layer and an unreleasable frame element, the hydrophobic layer being on a first portion of the outer region and exerting overflow protection to the first portion due only to hydrophobicity of the hydrophobic layer, and

the frame element connected, liquid-tight on a second portion of the outer region and exerting overflow protection to the second portion as a physical barrier because of a vertical extent projecting above the top side; and

a transition region between the hydrophobic layer and the frame element, at the transition region the hydrophobic layer either extends to the frame element but not underneath the frame element, or extends under the frame element.

22. The refrigerator shelf according to claim 21, wherein the first portion of the outer region is the lateral side portions, and wherein the second portion of the outer region is the front and rear portions.

23. The refrigerator shelf according to claim 21, wherein the first portion of the outer region is the lateral side portions and the rear portion, and wherein the second portion of the outer region is the front portion.

24. The refrigerator shelf according to claim 21, wherein the first portion of the outer region is the lateral side portions and the front portion, and wherein the second portion of the outer region is the rear portion.

25. The refrigerator shelf according to claim 21, wherein the first portion of the outer region is the front and rear portions, and wherein the second portion of the outer region is the lateral side portions.

26. The refrigerator shelf according to claim 21, wherein the first portion of the outer region is the front portion, and wherein the second portion of the outer region is the lateral side portions and the rear portion.

27. The refrigerator shelf according to claim 21, wherein the first portion of the outer region is only central sections of the lateral side portions, and wherein the second portion of the outer region is the front and rear portions and remaining sections of the lateral side portions.

28. The refrigerator shelf according to claim 21, wherein, in the transition region, the hydrophobic layer terminates at a lower edge of the frame element.

29. The refrigerator shelf according to claim 21, wherein, in the transition region, the hydrophobic layer runs passed a lower edge of the frame element so as to extend under the frame element.

30. The refrigerator shelf according to claim 21, wherein, in the transition region, the hydrophobic layer runs to a lower edge of the frame element and runs on a vertical edge of the frame element.

31. The refrigerator shelf according to claim 30, wherein the hydrophobic layer terminates at an end of the vertical edge of the frame element.

32. The refrigerator shelf according to claim 21, wherein at least a part of the frame element is removable, so that liquid captured by the overflow protection system can be discharged in a controlled way.

33. The refrigerator shelf according to claim 21, wherein the frame element exerts overflow protection to the second portion only as the physical barrier.

35. The refrigerator shelf according to claim 21, wherein the hydrophobic layer runs at least as far as the lower edge of the frame element, but not underneath the frame element.

38. The refrigerator shelf according to claim 21, wherein the frame element is arranged along the front portion.

41. The refrigerator shelf according to claim 21, wherein the refrigerator shelf does not have a fastening element to hold the refrigerator shelf in a refrigerator.

44. The refrigerator shelf according to claim 21, wherein the frame element is adhesively bonded to the carrier plate.