Electrical connector for adjustable refrigerator shelf

• US 8,967,740 B2
• Filed: 02/07/2013
• Issued: 03/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Original Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Inventors: Kerner, James
• Primary Examiner(s): Rohrhoff, Daniel
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wright, Kimberley S
• Application Number:
  US13/761,800
• Publication Number:
  US 20140220833A1
• Time in Patent Office: 754 Days
• Field of Search: 362/92, 362/125, 362/133, 312/408, 312/237, 439/110, 439/114, 439/115, 439/116, 439/117, 439/120, 439/121
• US Class Current: 312/237
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 96/027 Cantilever shelves
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/00 General constructional features F25D21/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/067 Supporting elements
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2325/021 Shelves with several possible configurations
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2400/40 Refrigerating devices characterised by electrical wiring
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 25/02 by shelves
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 25/024 Slidable shelves
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 25/028 Cooled supporting means
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 27/00 Lighting arrangements in general F21
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 27/005 combined with control means
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/701 the switch being actuated by an accessory, e.g. cover, locking member
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/703 operated by engagement or disengagement of coupling parts, e.g. dual-continuity coupling partH01R13/71 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 25/162 Electrical connections between or with rails or bus-bars rails having primarily a non electrical function H01R4/64
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/64 Connections between or with conductive parts having primarily a non-electric function, e.g. frame, casing, rail
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 43/00 Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing, assembling, maintaining, or repairing of line connectors or current collectors or for joining electric conductors of trolley lines B60M1/28
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 43/26 for engaging or disengaging the two parts of a coupling device structural association with two-part coupling device H01R13/629
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49117 Conductor or circuit manufacturing

Abstract

A refrigerator appliance may include a cabinet having a temperature-controlled compartment defined therein, a shelf ladder disposed in the temperature-controlled compartment and providing a plurality of shelf mounting positions, an electrical connector corresponding to each of the plurality of shelf mounting positions, wherein each of the electrical connectors comprises an actuator movable from a first position to a second position and an electrical contact configured to automatically move from a disengaged position to an engaged position in response to the actuator moving from the first position to the second position, and an adjustable shelf removably mountable in one of the plurality of shelf mounting positions such that the actuator of the corresponding electrical connector is held in the second position by a weight of the adjustable shelf and the electrical contact of the corresponding electrical connector engages the adjustable shelf.

Claims

1. A refrigerator appliance comprising:

a cabinet having a temperature-controlled compartment defined therein;

a shelf ladder disposed in the temperature-controlled compartment and providing a plurality of shelf mounting positions;

an electrical connector corresponding to each of the plurality of shelf mounting positions, wherein each of the electrical connectors comprises an actuator movable from a first position to a second position and an electrical contact configured to automatically move from a disengaged position to an engaged position in response to the actuator moving from the first position to the second position; and

an adjustable shelf removably mountable in one of the plurality of shelf mounting positions such that the actuator of the corresponding electrical connector is held in the second position by a weight of the adjustable shelf and the electrical contact of the corresponding electrical connector engages the adjustable shelf

wherein each of the electrical connectors further comprises a resilient member that biases the actuator toward the first position, the resilient member being deformable by the weight of the adjustable shelf.

2. The refrigerator appliance of claim 1, wherein the adjustable shelf comprises a mounting bracket configured to be cantilevered on the shelf ladder, the mounting bracket including a tab configured to extend through a slot formed in the shelf ladder to engage the corresponding electrical connector.

3. The refrigerator appliance of claim 2, wherein a first surface of the tab that is configured to engage the actuator of the corresponding electrical connector and a second surface of the tab that is configured to interface with the electrical contact of the corresponding electrical connector are perpendicular to one another.

4. The refrigerator appliance of claim 2, wherein each of the electrical connectors further comprises an additional electrical contact configured to automatically move from the disengaged position to the engaged position in response to the actuator moving from the first position to the second position, the electrical contact and the additional electrical contact configured to supply power at different current levels.

5. The refrigerator appliance of claim 4, wherein the tab of the mounting bracket includes at least two conductors configured to interface with the electrical contact and the additional electrical contact of the corresponding electrical connector.