Snap-on shelf

• US 5,441,338 A
• Filed: 07/27/1992
• Issued: 08/15/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gemtron Corporation (SSW Holding Company Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Kane, Edmund J., Herrmann, Robert S., Gilbert, Donald C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Brown, Peter R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ANDERSON, GERALD A
• Application Number:
  US07/920,391
• Time in Patent Office: 1,114 Days
• Field of Search: 312/408, 312/410, 312/132, 312/334.46, 312/334.34, 108/159, 108/144, 108/152, 108/108, 108/110, 311/180, 311/187, 311/193, 311/134, 311/135
• US Class Current: 312/408
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 96/025 Shelves with moving elements, e.g. movable extensions or link elements cabinets, racks or shelf units enabling enlargement in height, length or depth A47B45/00
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 96/027 Cantilever shelves
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/14377 using an additional insert, e.g. a fastening element
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 70/845 by moulding material on a relative small portion of the preformed parts
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2325/022 Shelves made of glass or ceramic
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 25/02 by shelves
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 25/025 Drawers

Abstract

A snap-on shelf for use in a refrigerator has a shelf panel with a perimeter edge and a perimeter rim molded about the perimeter edge. Attachment clips are molded in one piece with the perimeter rim and releasably couple with a support frame for supporting the shelf panel. In one embodiment, attachment clips may be arranged at front and back rim regions for a fixed shelf configuration. In an alternative embodiment, attachment clips may be arranged at left and right sides of the perimeter rim and slidingly engage the frame for a sliding shelf configuration. Further, the shelf panel may be a separate piece from the perimeter rim or may alternatively be molded in one piece with the perimeter rim and the attachment clips. As another option, a slide for receiving and supporting a separate member in sliding engagement under the shelf panel may be used. As a further option, the attachment clips and perimeter rim may be adapted for use with a preexisting support frame.

Claims

1. A refrigerator shelf assembly comprising:

a removable support frame;

a shelf panel supported by said frame, said shelf panel having a top surface to support an article set thereupon and having a perimeter edge;

a perimeter rim formed separately from said shelf panel, from a moldable material, and about said perimeter edge;

a liquid tight seal between said shelf panel and said rim, said seal resisting collection of material between said shelf panel and said rim; and

a clip formed in one piece with said perimeter rim and removably coupled in snap fit engagement with said frame.

2. The shelf defined in claim 1 wherein:

said clip has a first flange;

a web connected with said first flange at a first edge, said web extending generally perpendicularly away from said first flange to a second edge; and

a second flange extending away from said web at said second edge, said second flange being generally parallel to said first flange;

said first flange, said web, and said second flange define an open-sided channel; and

a portion of said frame is removably received in said channel.

3. The shelf defined in claim 2 wherein at least one of said first and second flanges has a retainer and said retainer resists removal of said frame from said channel.

4. The shelf defined in claim 3 wherein said retainer is a separate member which releasably engages at least one of said flanges and blocks at least a portion of said open side of said channel.

5. The shelf defined in claim 2 wherein said channel has a seat adjacent said web and has a throat extending from said seat and defining said open side, said throat being smaller than said seat so that said frame is forced through said throat, snaps into said seat, and is retained in said seat.

6. The shelf defined in claim 1 wherein said perimeter rim includes a front rim region and an opposing back rim region and said clip is located at one of said front rim region and said back rim region.

7. The shelf defined in claim 6 wherein said frame includes a front frame member extending between a left side of said frame and a right side of said frame and a back frame member extending between said left side and said right side.

8. The shelf defined in claim 7 wherein said clip is coupled with one of said front frame member and said back frame member.

9. The shelf defined in claim 8 wherein a second of said clip is located at the other of said front rim region and said back rim region and is coupled with the other of said front frame member and said back frame member.

10. The shelf defined in claim 1 wherein:

said frame has a left bracket and a right bracket;

said panel has opposing left and right sides;

at least one of said clip is located at said left side and removably couples with said left bracket in sliding engagement so that said panel slides relative to said frame; and

at least one of said clip is located at said right side and removably couples with said right bracket in sliding engagement so that said panel slides relative to said frame.

11. The shelf defined in claim 10 wherein:

said clip has a first flange;

a web connected with said first flange at a first edge, said web extending generally perpendicularly away from said first flange to a second edge; and

a second flange extending away from said web at said second edge, said second flange being generally parallel to said first flange;

said first flange, said web, and said second flange define an open-sided channel; and

a portion of said frame is removably received in said channel.

12. The shelf defined in claim 11 wherein at least one of said first and second flanges has a retainer and said retainer resists removal of said bracket from said channel.

13. The shelf defined in claim 12 wherein said retainer is a separate member which releasably engages at least one of said flanges and blocks at least a portion of said open side of said channel.

14. The shelf defined in claim 11 wherein said channel has a seat adjacent said web and has a throat extending from said seat and defining said open side, said throat being smaller than said seat so that said bracket is forced through said throat, snaps into said seat, and is retained in said seat.

15. The shelf defined in claim 10 wherein said panel is tempered glass and said perimeter rim and said clip are molded of a plastic material.

16. The shelf defined in claim 15 wherein said perimeter rim projects above a top surface of said panel to define a spill dam so that liquid disposed upon said top surface is contained by said perimeter rim.

17. The shelf defined in claim 10 wherein said panel, said perimeter rim, and said clip are molded in one piece of a plastic material.

18. A refrigerator shelf comprising:

a support frame, including a front frame member extending between a left side of said frame and a right side of said frame and a back frame member extending between said left side and said right side;

a shelf panel supported by said frame and having a perimeter edge;

a perimeter rim romped about said perimeter edge, said perimeter rim including a front rim region and an opposing back rim region;

a clip formed in one piece with said perimeter rim and removably coupled with said frame, said clip being located at one of said front rim region and said back rim region and being coupled with one of said front frame member and said back frame member, respectively; and

at least one slide to receive and support a separate member in sliding engagement under said shelf panel.

19. The shelf defined in claim 18 wherein said slide removably couples with said front member and removably couples with said back member.

20. The shelf defined in claim 18 wherein:

said front rim region extends below said panel and defines at least one front receptacle;

said back rim region extends below said panel and defines at least one back receptacle corresponding to said front receptacle; and

said slide removably couples with said front receptacle and removably couples with said back receptacle.

21. The shelf defined in claim 18 wherein said frame has a left bracket and a right bracket.

22. The shelf defined in claim 21 wherein said left bracket is defined by a first perimeter wire frame and said right bracket is defined by a second perimeter wire frame.

23. The shelf defined in claim 21 wherein said left bracket is defined by a first generally planar plate member and said right bracket is defined by a second generally planar plate member.

24. The shelf defined in claim 21 further including a second slide, said one slide being fastened to one of said left and right brackets and said second slide being fastened to the other of said left and right brackets.

25. The shelf defined in claim 18 wherein said panel is tempered glass and said perimeter rim and said clip are molded of a plastic material.

26. The shelf defined in claim 25 wherein said perimeter rim projects above a top surface of said panel and defines a spill dam to contain liquid disposed upon said top surface.

27. The shelf defined in claim 18 herein said panel, said perimeter rim, and said clip are molded in one piece of a plastic material.

28. A refrigerator shelf comprising:

a shelf panel having a top surface to support an article set thereupon and having a perimeter edge;

a perimeter rim formed separately from said shelf panel, from a moldable material, and about said perimeter edge;

a liquid tight seal between said shelf panel and said rim, said seal resisting collection of material between said shelf panel and said rim; and

an attachment clip formed in one piece with said rim, said clip removably coupling with a removable frame.

29. The shelf defined in claim 28 wherein:

said clip has a first flange;

a web connected with said first flange at a first edge, said web extending generally perpendicularly away from said first flange to a second edge; and

a second flange extending away from said web at said second edge, said second flange being generally parallel to said first flange;

said first flange, said web, and said second flange define an open-sided channel; and

a portion of the frame is removably received in said channel.

30. The shelf defined in claim 29 wherein at least one of said first and second flanges has a retainer and said retainer resists removal of said frame from said channel.

31. The shelf defined in claim 30 wherein said retainer is a separate member which releasably engages at least one of said flanges and blocks at least a portion of said open side of said channel.

32. The shelf defined in claim 29 wherein said channel has a seat adjacent said web and has a throat extending from said seat and defining said open side, said throat being smaller than said seat so that the frame is forced through said throat, snaps into said seat, and is retained in said seat.

33. The shelf defined in claim 28 wherein said perimeter rim includes a front rim region and an opposing back rim region and wherein said clip is located at one of said front rim region and said back rim region.

34. The shelf defined in claim 33 wherein a second of said clip is located at the other said front rim region and said back rim region.

35. The shelf defined in claim 33 further including at least one slide for receiving and supporting a separate member in sliding engagement under said panel.

36. The shelf defined in claim 35 wherein:

said front rim region extends below said panel and defines at least one front receptacle;

said back rim region extends below said panel and defines at least one back receptacle corresponding to said front receptacle; and

said slide removably couples with said front receptacle and removably couples with said back receptacle.

37. The shelf defined in claim 35 wherein said panel is tempered glass and said perimeter rim and said clip are molded of a plastic material.

38. The shelf defined in claim 37 wherein said perimeter rim projects above a top surface of said panel to define a spill dam so that liquid disposed upon said top surface is contained by said perimeter rim.

39. The shelf defined in claim 35 wherein said panel, said perimeter rim, and said clip are molded in one piece of a plastic material.

40. The shelf defined in claim 28 wherein said perimeter rim includes a left side and an opposing right side and at least one of said attachment clip is located at said left side and at least a second of said attachment clip is located at said right side.

41. The shelf defined in claim 40 wherein:

said clip has a first flange;

a web connected with said first flange at a first edge, said web extending generally perpendicularly away from said first flange to a second edge; and

a second flange extending away from said web at said second edge, said second flange being generally parallel to said first flange;

said first flange, said web, and said second flange define an open-sided channel; and

a portion of the frame is removably received in said channel.

42. The shelf defined in claim 41 wherein at least one of said first and second flanges has a retainer and said retainer resists removal of said bracket from said channel.

43. The shelf defined in claim 42 wherein said retainer is a separate member which releasably engages at least one of said flanges and blocks at least a portion of said open side of said channel.

44. The shelf defined in claim 41 wherein said channel has a seat adjacent said web and has a throat extending from said seat and defining said open side, said throat being smaller than said seat so that the portion of the frame is forced through said throat, snaps into said seat, and is retained in said seat.

45. A refrigerator shelf assembly comprising:

a removable frame, having a first frame member extending along a first axis and having a second frame member extending along a second axis, said second axis being one of spaced from or angled relative to said first axis;

a shelf panel supported by said frame, said panel having a top surface to support an article set thereupon and having an edge;

a rim extending along a length of said edge;

a first clip romped in one piece with said rim and coupled in snap fit engagement with said first frame member; and

a second clip formed in one piece with said rim and coupled in snap fit engagement with said second frame member.

46. The shelf defined in claim 45 wherein each of said clips has a web portion and a pair of opposing flange portions defining an open-sided channel, a portion of said frame being removably received in said channel.

47. The shelf defined in claim 46 wherein at least one of said pair of flanges has a retainer which resists removal of said frame from said channel.

48. The shelf defined in claim 46 wherein said channel has a seat adjacent said web and a throat extending from said seat, said throat defining said open side, said throat being smaller than said seat so that said frame is forced through said throat, snaps into said seat, and is retained in said seat.

49. The shelf defined in claim 46 wherein said shelf panel has a first edge and an opposing second edge, said first clip is located at said first edge and said second clip is located at said second edge.

50. The shelf defined in claim 45 wherein:

said frame has a left bracket and a right bracket;

said panel has opposing left and right sides;

at least one of said clips is located at said left side and removably couples with said left bracket in sliding engagement so that said panel slides relative to said frame; and

at least a second of said clips is located at said right side and removably couples with said right bracket in sliding engagement so that said panel slides relative to said frame.

51. The shelf defined in claim 50 wherein each of said one and said second clips have a web portion and a pair of opposing flange portions defining an open-sided channel, a portion of said frame being removably received in said channel.

52. The shelf defined in claim 51 wherein at least one of said pair of flanges has a retainer which resists removal of said frame from said channel.

53. The shelf defined in claim 51 wherein said channel has a seat adjacent said web and a throat extending from said seat, said throat defining said open side, said throat being smaller than said seat so that said bracket is forced through said throat, snaps into said seat, and is retained in said seat.

54. The shelf defined in claim 50 wherein said panel is tempered glass and said perimeter rim and said clips are molded of a plastic material.

55. The shelf defined in claim 54 wherein said perimeter rim projects above a top surface of said panel to define a spill dam so that liquid disposed upon said top surface is contained by said perimeter rim.

56. The shelf defined in claim 50 wherein said panel, said perimeter rim, and said clips are molded in one piece of a plastic material.

57. A refrigerator shelf comprising:

a frame having a first frame member extending along a first axis, between a left side of said frame and a right side of said frame, and having a second frame member extending along a second axis, between said left side of said frame and said right side of said frame, said second axis being one of spaced from or angled relative to said first axis;

a shelf panel supported by said frame, said panel having an edge incorporating a first panel edge and an opposing second panel edge;

a rim extending along a length of said edge;

a first clip formed in one piece with said rim, located at said first panel edge, and coupled with said first frame member;

a second clip formed in one piece with said rim, located at said second panel edge, and coupled with said second frame member;

each of said first clip and said second clip having a web portion and a pair of opposing flange portions defining an open-sided channel, a portion of said first frame member being removably received in said channel of said first clip and a portion of said second frame member being removably received in said channel of said second clip;

a third clip located at said first panel edge, each of said first and third clips being coupled with said first frame member; and

a fourth clip located at said second panel edge, each of said second and fourth clips being coupled with said second frame member, each of said first and second clips being near said left side, each of said third and fourth clips being near said right side.

58. The shelf defined in claim 57 further including at least one slide for receiving and supporting a separate member in sliding engagement under said panel.

59. The shelf defined in claim 58 wherein said panel is tempered glass and each of said clips and said perimeter rim are molded of a plastic material, in one piece.

60. The shelf defined in claim 59 wherein said edge of said panel is a perimeter edge and said rim is a perimeter rim, said perimeter rim circumscribing said panel at said perimeter edge.

61. The shelf defined in claim 60 wherein said perimeter rim projects above a top surface of said panel and defines a spill dam to contain liquid disposed upon said top surface.

62. The shelf defined in claim 57 wherein said panel, said rim, and each of said clips are molded in one piece of a plastic material.

63. The shelf defined in claim 58 wherein each of said first, second, third, and fourth clips defines an open-sided channel with said open side facing one of away from said shelf panel, away from one of said first frame member and said second frame member, and toward one of said first frame member and said second frame member.

64. A refrigerator shelf assembly comprising:

a removable frame having a first frame member extending along a first axis and having a second frame member extending along a second axis, said second axis being one of spaced from or angled relative to said first axis;

a shelf panel supported by said frame, said shelf panel having a top surface to support an article set thereupon and having an edge; and

a rim extending along a length of said edge, said rim having a first web portion and having a first pair of flange portions extending in the same general direction from opposite sides of said first web portion to define a first clip, said first clip being coupled with said first frame member in snap fit engagement said rim having a second web portion and having a second pair of flange portions extending in the same general direction from opposite sides of said second web portion to define a second clip, said second clip being coupled with said second frame member in snap fit engagement.

65. The shelf defined in claim 64 wherein said first frame member is removably received in said first clip and said second frame member is removably received in said second clip.

66. The shelf defined in claim 65 wherein said edge has a first edge portion;

said edge has a second edge portion, opposite first edge portion;

said rim has a first rim region extending along said first edge portion; and

said rim has a second rim region extending along said second edge portion.

67. The shelf defined in claim 66 wherein said edge is a perimeter edge which incorporates each of said first edge portion and said second edge portion and wherein said rim is a perimeter rim which incorporates each of said first rim region and said second rim region, said perimeter rim circumscribing said panel at said perimeter edge.

68. The shelf defined in claim 67 wherein said perimeter rim projects above a top surface of said panel and defines a spill dam to contain liquid upon said top surface.

69. The shelf defined in claim 68 wherein each of said first clip and said second clip is molded in one piece with said rim.

70. The shelf defined in claim 69 wherein each of said first clip and said second clip defines an open-sided channel with said open side of said first clip facing one of away from said panel, away from said second frame member, and toward said second frame member and with said open side of said second clip facing one of away from said panel, away from said first frame member, and toward said first frame member.