Ventilated tray for refrigerator beverage packages

• US 20040084390A1
• Filed: 10/31/2002
• Published: 05/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Display Industries LLC
• Original Assignee: Display Industries LLC
• Inventors: Bernstein, David
• Granted Patent: US 6,745,905 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 211/59.2
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 3/0486 for charging, displaying or discharging the articles
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2331/805 Cans
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2331/809 Holders
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2331/812 Trays
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 25/02 by shelves
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2500/02 Geometry problems

Abstract

A refrigerator tray holds containers of individual beverages for dispensing the beverages one at a time. The tray has a ventilated support panel surrounded about its periphery by a frame of sidewalls. The support panel fits in the sidewalls so that the panel slants downward toward the front to gravity feed the beverages.

Claims

1. A tray for a refrigerator shelf, comprising:

a front sidewall having a top portion and a bottom portion;

a rear sidewall having a top portion and a bottom portion, said rear sidewall being spaced from said front sidewall, said bottom portion of said front sidewall being at a lower elevation than said top portion of said rear sidewall;

a left sidewall having a top portion and a bottom portion;

a right sidewall having a top portion and a bottom portion, said right sidewall being spaced from said left sidewall, said bottom portions of said left and right sidewalls being at a lower elevation than said top portions of said left and right sidewalls; and

a support panel having front, rear, left and right edges, said front edge being connected to said bottom portion of said front sidewall, said rear edge being connected to said top portion of said rear sidewall, said left edge being connected to said left sidewall, said right edge being connected to said right sidewall so that said support panel slants downward from said rear sidewall towards said front sidewall.

2. A tray as set forth in claim 1, wherein said left, right and front sidewalls define a retaining lip above said support panel.

3. A tray as set forth in claim 2, wherein said left, right and rear sidewalls define a retaining lip below said support panel.

4. A tray, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said support panel defines a plurality of ventilation openings.

5. A tray, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said bottom portion of said rear sidewall defines a plurality of ventilation openings.

6. A tray, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said top portion of said front sidewall defines a plurality of ventilation openings.

7. A tray, as set forth in claim 1, including means, attached to said tray, for fastening said tray to the shelf.

8. A tray, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said bottom portions of said left and right sidewalls define a plurality of ventilation openings.

9. A tray for a refrigerator shelf, comprising:

a front sidewall having a top portion and a bottom portion;

a rear sidewall having a top portion and a bottom portion, said rear sidewall being spaced from said front sidewall, said bottom portion of said front sidewall being at a lower elevation than said top portion of said rear sidewall;

a left sidewall having a top portion and a bottom portion;

a right sidewall having a top portion and a bottom portion, said right sidewall being spaced from said left sidewall, said bottom portions of said left and right sidewalls being at a lower elevation than said top portions of said left and right sidewalls; and

at least one support member having front and rear ends, said front end being connected to said bottom portion of said front sidewall, said rear end being connected to said top portion of said rear sidewall, said support member slanting downward from said rear sidewall towards said front sidewall.

10. A tray as set forth in claim 9, wherein said left, right and front sidewalls define a retaining lip above said support member.

11. A tray as set forth in claim 10, wherein said left, right and rear sidewalls define a retaining lip below said support member.

12. A tray, as set forth in claim 9, including a bottom panel connected to said front, rear, left and right sidewalls, said bottom panel defining a plurality of ventilation openings.

13. A tray, as set forth in claim 9, including means, attached to said tray, for fastening said tray to the shelf.

14. A tray device for a refrigerator shelf, comprising:

a first tray comprising a front sidewall having a top portion and a bottom portion;

a rear sidewall having a top portion and a bottom portion, said rear sidewall being spaced from said front sidewall, said bottom portion of said front sidewall being at a lower elevation than said top portion of said rear sidewall;

a left sidewall having a top portion and a bottom portion;

a right sidewall having a top portion and a bottom portion, said right sidewall being spaced from said left sidewall, said bottom portions of said left and right sidewalls being at a lower elevation than said top portions of said left and right sidewalls; and

at least one support member having front and rear ends, said front end being connected to said bottom portion of said front sidewall, said rear end being connected to said top portion of said rear sidewall, said support member slanting downward from said rear sidewall towards said front sidewall;

a second tray comprising a front sidewall having a top portion and a bottom portion;

a rear sidewall having a top portion and a bottom portion, said rear sidewall being spaced from said front sidewall, said bottom portion of said front sidewall being at a lower elevation than said top portion of said rear sidewall;

a left sidewall having a top portion and a bottom portion;

a right sidewall having a top portion and a bottom portion, said right sidewall being spaced from said left sidewall, said bottom portions of said left and right sidewalls being at a lower elevation than said top portions of said left and right sidewalls; and

at least one support member having front and rear ends, said front end being connected to said bottom portion of said front sidewall, said rear end being connected to said top portion of said rear sidewall, said support member slanting downward from said rear sidewall towards said front sidewall; and

means for connecting said first and second trays to one another.

15. A tray device, as set forth in claim 14, wherein said connecting means includes a key on said first tray mateable with a keyway on said second tray.