Shelf for supporting articles, particularly in refrigerated installations

• US 7,237,855 B2
• Filed: 08/21/2003
• Issued: 07/03/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Saint-Gobain Glass France (Compagnie De Saint-Gobain)
• Original Assignee: Saint-Gobain Glass France (Compagnie De Saint-Gobain)
• Inventors: Vardon, Francois
• Primary Examiner(s): WILKENS, JANET MARIE
• Application Number:
  US10/644,731
• Publication Number:
  US 20040036391A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,412 Days
• Field of Search: 312/408, 312/404, 312/351, 108/108, 211/153, 248/235
• US Class Current: 312/408
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 96/021 Structural features of shelf bases
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 96/027 Cantilever shelves
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 3/0486 for charging, displaying or discharging the articles
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 43/00 Compression moulding, i.e. applying external pressure to flow the moulding material; Apparatus therefor by liberation of internal stresses B29C61/006
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/7622 Refrigerators
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2325/022 Shelves made of glass or ceramic
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 25/02 by shelves
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 264/71 Processes of shaping by shrinking

Abstract

A shelf, particularly for a refrigerator or the like, including at least one panel and at least one attached plastic structure. The shelf is obtained by shrinking the structure after assembling the panel and the structure. The attached plastic structure can mate and/or exert lateral pressure on the edge of the panel.

Claims

1. A refrigerator comprising at least one shelf, said shelf comprising:

a flat panel; and

a unitary polypropylene structure comprising supporting tabs on an underside thereof, said structure permanently fixedly surrounding said panel around each side thereof and permanently fixedly contacting at least a portion of the top face of the panel on at least a part of each side thereof, said structure having a perimeter shrunk-fit around a perimeter of the flat panel to provide a compressive lateral pressure of 5-15 MPa between an edge of said panel and said polypropylene structure, said panel being secured to said structure by said compressive lateral pressure and by being positioned between that portion of the structure covering a portion of the top face of the panel and said supporting tabs.

2. A refrigerator as claimed in claim 1, further comprising at least one assembly element having at least a first part clipped under the panel against a vertical wall of the at least one polypropylene structure, a second part clipped under the at least one plastic structure, and a third part bent to border another part of the shelf or to form a runner configured to collaborate for cantilever mounting in a unit.

3. A refrigerator as claimed in claim 1, in which the shelf slides with respect to a support formed as a single piece.

4. A refrigerator as claimed in claim 1, wherein said structure applies a compressive lateral pressure of 8-10 MPa between an edge of said panel and said polypropylene structure.

5. A refrigerator as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an adhesive located between said panel and said polypropylene structure.

6. A shelf, said shelf comprising:

a flat panel; and

a unitary polypropylene structure comprising tabs on an underside thereof, said structure permanently fixedly surrounding said panel around each side thereof and permanently fixedly contacting at least a portion of the top face of the panel on at least a part of each side thereof, said structure having a perimeter shrunk-fit around a perimeter of the flat panel to provide a compressive lateral pressure of 5-15 MPa between an edge of said panel and said polypropylene structure, said panel being secured to said structure by said compressive lateral pressure and by being positioned between that portion of the structure covering a portion of the top face of the panel and said supporting tabs.

7. A shelf as claimed in claim 6, wherein said structure applies a compressive lateral pressure of 8-10 MPa between an edge of said panel and said polypropylene structure.

8. A shelf as claimed in claim 6, further comprising an adhesive located between said panel and said polypropylene structure.