Anti-tip and retention assembly for appliance support plate

• US 8,960,827 B2
• Filed: 08/19/2013
• Issued: 02/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SSW Advanced Technologies LLC
• Original Assignee: SSW Holding Company Incorporated
• Inventors: McMillin, Matthew, Yochum, Jason Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAN, HANH VAN
• Application Number:
  US13/970,258
• Publication Number:
  US 20140055017A1
• Time in Patent Office: 554 Days
• Field of Search: 312/408, 108106-110
• US Class Current: 312/408
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2097/008 Anti-tip devices
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 55/00 Cabinets, racks or shelf units, having essential features of rigid construction safes E05G
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 57/34 the grooved or notched parts being the side walls or uprights themselves
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 96/027 Cantilever shelves
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 96/028 characterised by support bracket location means, e.g. fixing means between support bracket and shelf
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 96/06 Brackets or similar supporting means for cabinets, racks or shelves A47B96/022 takes precedence; aspects of adjusting height or inclination A47B57/00 ; brackets for the display of articles A47F5/08
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 97/00 Furniture or accessories for furniture, not provided for in other groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0012 Furniture hospital beds F21V33/0072
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 25/02 by shelves

Abstract

A shelving assembly includes a support plate, left and right side supports, and rear and front anti-tip and retention features. The side supports each include a front end located adjacent to a front edge of the support plate, and a rear end located adjacent to a rear edge of the support plate. A portion of the rear and front anti-tip and retention features is disposed above the support plate for preventing tipping and for retaining the support plate on the side supports. The front and rear anti-tip and retention features are spaced apart such that a majority of the top surface of the support plate along opposite left and right side edges is freely exposed and unencumbered by the front and rear anti-tip and retention features.

Claims

1. A shelving assembly, comprising:

a support plate having opposite top and bottom surfaces, opposite left and right side edges, and opposite front and rear edges extending laterally between the left and right side edges;

left and right side supports arranged adjacent to the bottom surface of the support plate at the left and right side edges, respectively, for supporting the support plate in a cavity of an appliance, each of the left and right side supports including a front end located adjacent to the front edge of the support plate, and a rear end located adjacent to the rear edge of the support plate;

a rear anti-tip and retention feature connected to the rear end of at least one of the left and right side supports, at least a portion of the rear anti-tip and retention feature disposed above the top surface of the support plate adjacent to the rear edge for preventing tipping of the support plate and for retaining the support plate on the left and right side supports; and

a front anti-tip and retention feature connected to the front end of at least one of the left and right side supports, at least a portion of the front anti-tip and retention feature disposed above and adjacent to the top surface of the support plate adjacent to the front edge for preventing tipping of the support plate and for retaining the support plate on the left and right side supports,

wherein the front and rear anti-tip and retention features are spaced apart such that a majority of the top surface of the support plate along the left and right side edges is freely exposed and unencumbered by the front and rear anti-tip and retention features.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the rear anti-tip and retention feature comprises separate left and right anti-tip and retention forms connected to the rear ends of the left and right side supports, respectively.

3. The assembly of claim 2, wherein each anti-tip and retention form includes a bearing plate disposed above the top surface of the support plate and adapted to prevent the support plate from tipping off of the left and right side supports and to retain the support plate on the left and right side supports through engagement with the top surface.

4. The assembly of claim 2, wherein each anti-tip and retention form includes a stop plate disposed beside and adjacent to the rear edge of the support plate and adapted to retain the support plate on the left and right side supports through engagement with the rear edge.

5. The assembly of claim 2, wherein the left and right anti-tip and retention forms are formed integral with the left and right side supports, respectively.

6. The assembly of claim 2, wherein the left and right anti-tip and retention forms are spaced apart such that a majority of the top surface of the support plate along the rear edge is freely exposed and unencumbered by the left and right anti-tip and retention forms.

7. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the rear anti-tip and retention feature comprises a rear trim form extending along the rear edge of the support plate between the rear ends of the left and right side supports, the rear trim form connected to the rear ends of the left and right side supports and to the rear edge of the support plate.

8. The assembly of claim 7, wherein the rear trim form includes a bearing portion disposed above the top surface of the support plate and adapted to prevent the support plate from tipping off of the left and right side supports and to retain the support plate on the left and right side supports through engagement with the top surface.

9. The assembly of claim 8, wherein the rear trim form includes a stop portion disposed beside and adjacent to the rear edge of the support plate and adapted to retain the support plate on the left and right side supports through engagement with the rear edge.

10. The assembly of claim 7, wherein the rear end of each of the left and right side supports includes a locking aperture and opposite left and right ends of the rear trim form each includes a locking button disposed in the respective locking aperture and connecting the rear trim form to the rear ends of the left and right side supports.

11. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the front anti-tip and retention feature comprises a front trim form extending along the front edge of the support plate between the front ends of the left and right side supports, the front trim form connected to the front ends of the left and right side supports and to the front edge of the support plate.

12. The assembly of claim 11, wherein the front trim form includes a bearing portion disposed above the top surface of the support plate and adapted to prevent the support plate from tipping off of the left and right side supports and to retain the support plate on the left and right side supports through engagement with the top surface.

13. The assembly of claim 12, wherein the front trim form includes a stop portion disposed beside and adjacent to the front edge of the support plate and adapted to retain the support plate on the left and right side supports through engagement with the front edge.

14. The assembly of claim 11, wherein the front end of each of the left and right side supports includes a locking aperture and opposite left and right ends of the front trim form each includes a locking button disposed in the respective locking aperture and connecting the front trim form to the front ends of the left and right side supports.

15. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising a cantilever support bracket extending rearward from each of the rear ends of the left and right side supports for connecting to vertical support members of an appliance cavity.

16. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the left, right, front, and rear edges of the support plate define a perimeter of the support plate, wherein the perimeter is not completely encapsulated.

17. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the top surface of the support plate includes a hydrophobic surface arranged in a spill containment pattern.

18. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising a light strip providing a lighting feature beneath the support plate.

19. An appliance, comprising:

a cavity having a rear wall and opposing left and right side walls;

a support form; and

a shelving assembly in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 18, the shelving assembly supported within the cavity on the support form.

20. The appliance of claim 19, wherein the support form includes left and right vertical support members fixed to the rear wall of the cavity and supporting in engagement with the left and right supports, respectively.

21. The appliance of claim 19, wherein the support form comprises left and right horizontal support ribs formed on the left and right sidewalls, respectively, and in supporting engagement with the left and right side supports, respectively.

22. A shelving assembly, comprising:

a support plate having opposite top and bottom surfaces, opposite left and right side edges, and opposite front and rear edges extending laterally between the left and right side edges;

left and right side supports arranged adjacent to the bottom surface of the support plate at the left and right side edges, respectively, for supporting the support plate in a cavity of an appliance, each of the left and right side supports including a front end located adjacent to the front edge of the support plate, and a rear end located adjacent to the rear edge of the support plate; and

a rear anti-tip and retention feature connected to the rear end of at least one of the left and right side supports, at least a portion of the rear anti-tip and retention feature disposed above the top surface of the support plate adjacent to the rear edge for preventing tipping of the support plate and for retaining the support plate on the left and right side supports;

wherein the rear anti-tip and retention feature is configured such that a majority of the top surface of the support plate along the left and right side edges is freely exposed and unencumbered.

23. The assembly of claim 22, further comprising a front anti-tip and retention feature connected to the front end of at least one of the left and right side supports, at least a portion of the front anti-tip and retention feature disposed above and adjacent to the top surface of the support plate adjacent to the front edge for preventing tipping of the support plate and for retaining the support plate on the left and right side supports, the front and rear anti-tip and retention features spaced apart such that the majority of the top surface of the support plate along the left and right side edges between the front and rear anti-tip and retention features is freely exposed and unencumbered.

24. The assembly of claim 22, wherein the rear anti-tip and retention feature comprises separate left and right anti-tip and retention forms connected to the rear ends of the left and right side supports, respectively.

25. The assembly of claim 24, wherein each anti-tip and retention form includes a bearing plate disposed above the top surface of the support plate and adapted to prevent the support plate from tipping off of the left and right side supports and to retain the support plate on the left and right side supports through engagement with the top surface.

26. The assembly of claim 23, wherein each anti-tip and retention form includes a stop plate disposed beside and adjacent to the rear edge of the support plate and adapted to retain the support plate on the left and right side supports through engagement with the rear edge.

27. The assembly of claim 23, wherein the left and right anti-tip and retention forms are formed integral with the left and right side supports, respectively.

28. The assembly of claim 23, wherein the left and right anti-tip and retention forms are spaced apart such that a majority of the top surface of the support plate along the rear edge is freely exposed and unencumbered by the left and right anti-tip and retention forms.

29. The assembly of claim 22, wherein the rear anti-tip and retention feature comprises a rear trim form extending along the rear edge of the support plate between the rear ends of the left and right side supports, the rear trim form connected to the rear ends of the left and right side supports and to the rear edge of the support plate.

30. The assembly of claim 29, wherein the rear trim form includes a bearing portion disposed above the top surface of the support plate and adapted to prevent the support plate from tipping off of the left and right side supports and to retain the support plate on the left and right side supports through engagement with the top surface.

31. The assembly of claim 30, wherein the rear trim form includes a stop portion disposed beside and adjacent to the rear edge of the support plate and adapted to retain the support plate on the left and right side supports through engagement with the rear edge.

32. The assembly of claim 29, wherein the rear end of each of the left and right side supports includes a locking aperture and opposite left and right ends of the rear trim form each includes a locking button disposed in the respective locking aperture and connecting the rear trim form to the rear ends of the left and right side supports.

33. The assembly of claim 23, wherein the front anti-tip and retention feature comprises a front trim form extending along the front edge of the support plate between the front ends of the left and right side supports, the front trim form connected to the front ends of the left and right side supports and to the front edge of the support plate.

34. The assembly of claim 33, wherein the front trim form includes a bearing portion disposed above the top surface of the support plate and adapted to prevent the support plate from tipping off of the left and right side supports and to retain the support plate on the left and right side supports through engagement with the top surface.

35. The assembly of claim 34, wherein the front trim form includes a stop portion disposed beside and adjacent to the front edge of the support plate and adapted to retain the support plate on the left and right side supports through engagement with the front edge.

36. The assembly of claim 33, wherein the front end of each of the left and right side supports includes a locking aperture and opposite left and right ends of the front trim form each includes a locking button disposed in the respective locking aperture and connecting the front trim form to the front ends of the left and right side supports.

37. The assembly of claim 22, further comprising a cantilever support bracket extending rearward from each of the rear ends of the left and right side supports for connecting to vertical support members of an appliance cavity.

38. The assembly of claim 22, wherein the left, right, front, and rear edges of the support plate define a perimeter of the support plate, wherein the perimeter is not completely encapsulated.

39. The assembly of claim 22, wherein the top surface of the support plate includes a hydrophobic surface arranged in a spill containment pattern.

40. The assembly of claim 22, further comprising a light strip providing a lighting feature beneath the support plate.