TILT-OUT BIN AND REMOVABLE CRISPER

• US 20140312758A1
• Filed: 01/31/2012
• Published: 10/23/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Electrolux Consumer Products Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Electrolux Home Products Incorporated (AB Electrolux)
• Inventors: Gossens, Caleb, Saeger, Nicolas
• Granted Patent: US 9,127,878 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 312/404
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/04 with special compartments, e.g. butter conditioners
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 25/025 Drawers

Abstract

A storage structure (20) is provided for mounting within a refrigerator compartment (12). The storage structure (20) includes a slide unit (30) attached within the refrigerator compartment (12). The slide unit (30) is removably attached within the refrigerator compartment (12) and includes one or more projections (46) extending outwardly from the slide unit (30) for engaging receiving structures (18) within the refrigerator compartment (12). The storage structure (20) further includes at least one bin (22) removably attached to the slide unit (30), the at least one bin (22) includes an engagement structure that movably attaches the bin (22) to the slide unit (30).

Claims

1. A refrigerator including:

a refrigerator compartment;

a storage structure positioned within the refrigerator compartment, the storage structure including;

a slide unit attached within the refrigerator compartment; and

at least one bin removably attached to the slide unit, the at least one bin movable between an opened position and a closed position.

2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the slide unit includes guiding structures positioned within an inner portion of the slide unit.

3. The refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein the guiding structures include a reception area and a curved track.

4. The refrigerator according to claim 3, wherein the at least one bin includes a pivoting member and a pin, wherein the pivoting member is configured to engage the reception area and pivot with respect to the reception area, further wherein the pin is configured to engage the curved track and slide with respect to the curved track.

5. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the at least one bin includes a first bin and a second bin.

6. The refrigerator according to claim 5, wherein the storage structure further includes a divider removably inserted into the slide unit, the divider being positioned between the first bin and the second bin within the slide unit.

7. The refrigerator according to claim 6, wherein the divider includes reception area and a curved track.

8. The refrigerator according to claim 7, wherein the first bin and the second bin are each configured to engage the reception area and the curved track of the divider.

9. The refrigerator according to claim 8, wherein the first bin and the second bin area each configured to pivot with respect to the slide unit between an opened and a closed position.

10. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the bin includes an engagement structure for movably attaching the bin to a guiding structure of the slide unit.

11. The refrigerator according to claim 10, wherein the engagement structure is configured to slide with respect to the guiding structure.

12. The refrigerator according to claim 11, wherein the engagement structure circumferentially surrounds the bin, the engagement structure projecting laterally outwardly in a direction away from the bin.

13. A refrigerator including:

a refrigerator compartment;

a storage structure positioned within the refrigerator compartment, the storage structure including;

a slide unit removably attached within the refrigerator compartment, the slide unit including one or more projections extending outwardly from the slide unit for engaging receiving structures within the refrigerator compartment; and

at least one bin removably attached to the slide unit, the at least one bin including an engagement structure configured to movably attach the bin to the slide unit.

14. The refrigerator according to claim 13, wherein the projections are configured to contact the receiving structures when the slide unit is attached to the refrigerator compartment.

15. The refrigerator according to claim 14, wherein the slide unit includes a recessed portion that projects inwardly from opposing side walls of the slide unit, the recessed portion including a size that is substantially equal to a width that extends between the receiving structures.

16. A storage structure for mounting within a refrigerator, the storage structure including:

a slide unit attached within the refrigerator, the slide unit including one or more guiding structures projecting outwardly from a wall of the slide unit; and

at least one bin movably mounted to the slide unit, the at least one bin including engagement structures configured to engage the guiding structures, wherein the engagement structures are configured to move with respect to the guiding structures, further wherein the at least one bin is removable from the slide unit.

17. The storage structure according to claim 16, wherein the at least one bin includes one or more openings configured to allow liquid to drain through the one or more openings.

18. The storage structure according to claim 16, wherein the guiding structures include a track and a stop.

19. The storage structure of claim 18, wherein the stop comprises a separate structure from the track.

20. The storage structure of claim 19, wherein the engagement structures include one or more pins projecting outwardly from the at least one bin, the pins being configured to nest within the stop when the at least one bin is in an opened position.