UNDER MOUNT ROLLER FOR CRISPER SYSTEM

• US 20140265800A1
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Published: 09/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Original Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Inventors: MARTIN, DEAN A., KARANJIKAR, ANANT R., KOONS, BILL J., HALTMEYER, RONALD E.
• Granted Patent: US 9,039,110 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 312/404
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 65/0042 For refrigerators or cold rooms E05B17/0075 takes precedence; magnetic E05C19/16
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 11/00 Self-contained movable devices, e.g. domestic refrigerators
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/028 Details
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/04 with special compartments, e.g. butter conditioners
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/12 Arrangements of compartments additional to cooling compartments; Combinations of refrigerators with other equipment, e.g. stove
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2400/38 Refrigerating devices characterised by wheels
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 25/025 Drawers

Abstract

A refrigerator is provided that includes a crisper system having one or more moveable and removable drawers. The drawers include rollers extending downwardly and outwardly from the drawers to provide maximum storage volume. The rollers are configured to work with channels formed in a support system, which may be integrally formed with a bottom floor of a compartment of the refrigerator. Therefore, the rollers and channels of the support system provide easy access and removability of the drawers of the crisper system.

Claims

1. A refrigerator, comprising:

a cabinet;

a compartment within the cabinet;

at least one door for providing access to the compartment;

a support system in the compartment comprising at least two channels extending generally outward therefrom; and

a drawer forming a storage area, the drawer comprising a plurality of rollers extending away from the storage area and configured to move between the two channels.

2. The refrigerator of claim 1 wherein the support system is formed integrally with the compartment.

3. The refrigerator of claim 2 wherein the support system is formed as a bottom wall of the compartment.

4. The refrigerator of claim 1 wherein the at least two channels comprise a wall extending outward from the support system and a lip extending generally inward from the wall.

5. The refrigerator of claim 1 further comprising a first channel at a first side of the support system, a second channel positioned from the first channel, a third channel positioned from the second channel, and a fourth channel positioned from the third channel at a second side of the support system.

6. The refrigerator of claim 5 further comprising a first drawer positioned between the first and second channels, a second drawer positioned between the second and third channels, and a third drawer positioned between the third and fourth channels.

7. The refrigerator of claim 6 wherein the first, second, and third drawers each comprise rollers extending therefrom for moving within the channels.

8. The refrigerator of claim 1 wherein the drawer comprises a bottom wall, first, second, and third walls extending from the bottom wall, and a front wall extending from the bottom wall.

9. The refrigerator of claim 8 wherein the front wall includes a handle configured to aid in the movement of the rollers of the drawer within the channels.

10. The refrigerator of claim 1 wherein the channels comprise a lock at the front of the support system to removably hold the drawer in the support system.

11. A refrigerator, comprising:

a refrigerator compartment comprising a support system formed as part of a bottom wall of said compartment, the support system comprising a plurality of channels; and

at least one drawer positioned at the support system and including a plurality of rollers extending outwardly and downwardly from a portion of the drawer;

wherein the rollers of the drawer are configured to be placed in the channels of the support system to aid in the movement of the drawer relative to the refrigerator compartment.

12. The refrigerator of claim 11 further comprising a shelf positioned within the compartment and defining a lid of the at least one drawer.

13. The refrigerator of claim 11 wherein the channels comprise a generally vertical wall and a lip generally perpendicular to the wall.

14. The refrigerator of claim 11 wherein the channels comprise a lock at the front of the support system to removably hold the drawer in the support system.

15. The refrigerator of claim 14 wherein the lock comprises an indent and a raised portion of the channel.

16. A crisper system including a support system and drawer for use in a compartment of a refrigerator, comprising:

a base;

a plurality of channels extending from the base comprising a generally vertical wall and a lip extending generally perpendicular to the wall; and

a drawer comprising a storage area and a plurality of wheels extending from the storage area, the wheels configured to move under the lip and adjacent the wall.

17. The crisper system of claim 16 wherein the base is formed integrally with a surface of the compartment of the refrigerator.

18. The crisper system of claim 16 wherein the channels further comprise a lock along the length of the channel to selectively maintain the rollers in the channels.

19. The crisper system of claim 18 wherein the lock comprises an indent and a raised portion of the channel.

20. The crisper system of claim 19 wherein the drawer can be removed from the channels at the lock.