Power supplies for lighted shelves in a refrigerator

• US 9,157,678 B2
• Filed: 02/07/2013
• Issued: 10/13/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2013
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Whrilpool Corporation
• Original Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Inventors: Kerner, James
• Primary Examiner(s): ING, MATTHEW W
• Application Number:
  US13/761,784
• Publication Number:
  US 20140217871A1
• Time in Patent Office: 978 Days
• Field of Search: 312/401, 312/408, 362/92, 362/94
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/001 the elements being electrical wires or cables
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/06 the elements being coupling devices , e.g. connectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0044 Household appliances, e.g. washing machines or vacuum cleaners
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/305 for refrigerators
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 11/02 with cooling compartments at different temperatures
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/00 General constructional features F25D21/00 takes precedence
• 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 25/04 by conveyors in general B65G
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 27/00 Lighting arrangements in general F21
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 27/005 combined with control means
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 29/005 Mounting of control devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/08 Distribution boxes; Connection or junction boxes

Abstract

Illustrative embodiments of systems and methods for powering lighted shelves in refrigerator appliances are included. In one embodiment, a refrigerator appliance may comprise a cabinet having a temperature-controlled compartment defined therein, a shelf ladder disposed at least partially in the temperature-controlled compartment and providing a plurality of shelf mounting positions, the shelf ladder comprising an electrical bus including first, second, and third conductors, the second conductor configured to supply power at a first current level when electrically coupled to the first conductor, the third conductor configured to supply power at a second current level when electrically coupled to the first conductor, and a first adjustable shelf carrying a first lighting device, the first adjustable shelf being removably mountable in one of the plurality of shelf mounting positions such that the first lighting device is electrically coupled between the first conductor and the second conductor.

Claims

1. A refrigerator appliance comprising:

a cabinet having a temperature-controlled compartment defined therein;

a shelf ladder disposed at least partially in the temperature-controlled compartment and providing a plurality of shelf mounting positions, the shelf ladder comprising an electrical bus including first, second, and third bus conductors, the second bus conductor connected to a first circuit that supplies power at a first current level when electrically coupled to the first bus conductor, the third bus conductor connected to a second circuit that supplies power at a second current level when electrically coupled to the first bus conductor; and

a first adjustable shelf carrying a first lighting device, the first adjustable shelf being removably mountable in one of the plurality of shelf mounting positions such that the first lighting device is electrically coupled between the first bus conductor and the second bus conductor.

2. The refrigerator appliance of claim 1, further comprising a second adjustable shelf carrying a second lighting device, the second adjustable shelf being removably mountable in one of the plurality of shelf mounting positions such that the second lighting device is electrically coupled between the first bus conductor and the third bus conductor.

3. The refrigerator appliance of claim 1, wherein the first adjustable shelf further comprises a second lighting device, the second lighting device being electrically coupled between the first bus conductor and the third bus conductor when the first adjustable shelf is removably mounted in one of the plurality of shelf mounting positions.

4. The refrigerator appliance of claim 1, wherein the first bus conductor is positioned between the second and third bus conductors and is spaced apart from both the second and third bus conductors.

5. The refrigerator appliance of claim 4, wherein the first bus conductor is electrically grounded.

6. The refrigerator appliance of claim 1, wherein the first adjustable shelf comprises a mounting bracket configured to engage the shelf ladder to cantilever the first adjustable shelf in one of the plurality of shelf mounting positions, the mounting bracket comprising a first tab configured with tab electrical conductors in electrical communication with the first lighting device to electrically couple to the first bus conductor and to the second bus conductor when the first adjustable shelf is cantilevered in one of the plurality of shelf mounting positions.

7. The refrigerator appliance of claim 6, wherein the mounting bracket further comprises a second tab configured with tab electrical conductors to electrically couple to the first bus conductor and to the third bus conductor when the first adjustable shelf is cantilevered in one of the plurality of shelf mounting positions.

8. The refrigerator appliance of claim 7, wherein the tab electrical conductors of the first and second tabs of the mounting bracket are each electrically isolated from a body of the mounting bracket that supports the first adjustable shelf.

9. The refrigerator appliance of claim 6, wherein at least one of the first and second bus conductors is spring-loaded to apply force against a tab conductor of the first tab when the first adjustable shelf is cantilevered in one of the plurality of shelf mounting positions.

10. The refrigerator appliance of claim 9, wherein tab conductors of the first tab is configured to scrape a portion of the first bus conductor and a portion of the second bus conductor as the first adjustable shelf is cantilevered in one of the plurality of shelf mounting positions.

11. A refrigerator appliance comprising:

a cabinet having a temperature-controlled compartment defined therein;

a first shelf ladder disposed at least partially in the temperature-controlled compartment and including a first electrical bus connected to a first circuit that supplies power at a first current level;

a second shelf ladder disposed at least partially in the temperature-controlled compartment and including a second electrical bus connected to a second circuit that supplies power at a second current level; and

a first adjustable shelf carrying a first lighting device, the first adjustable shelf being removably mountable on the first and second shelf ladders such that the first lighting device is electrically coupled to the first electrical bus.

12. The refrigerator appliance of claim 11, further comprising a second adjustable shelf carrying a second lighting device, the second adjustable shelf being removably mountable on the first and second shelf ladders such that the second lighting device is electrically coupled to the second electrical bus.

13. The refrigerator appliance of claim 11, wherein the first adjustable shelf further comprises a second lighting device, the second lighting device being electrically coupled to the second electrical bus when the first adjustable shelf is removably mounted in one of the plurality of shelf mounting positions.

14. The refrigerator appliance of claim 11, wherein the first adjustable shelf comprises a first mounting bracket configured to engage the first shelf ladder and a second mounting bracket configured to engage the second shelf ladder to cantilever the first adjustable shelf on the first and second shelf ladders.

15. The refrigerator appliance of claim 14, wherein the first mounting bracket comprises a first tab configured to electrically couple to the first electrical bus when the first adjustable shelf is cantilevered on the first and second shelf ladders.

16. The refrigerator appliance of claim 15, wherein the second mounting bracket comprises a second tab configured to electrically couple to the second electrical bus when the first adjustable shelf is cantilevered on the first and second shelf ladders.

17. The refrigerator appliance of claim 15, wherein the first tab of the first mounting bracket is electrically isolated from a body of the first mounting bracket that supports the first adjustable shelf.

18. The refrigerator appliance of claim 15, wherein the first electrical bus comprises first and second conductors having a gap therebetween, the gap between the first and second conductors being sized to receive the first tab when the first adjustable shelf is cantilevered on the first and second shelf ladders.

19. The refrigerator appliance of claim 18, wherein at least one of the first and second conductors is spring-loaded to apply force against the first tab when the first adjustable shelf is cantilevered on the first and second shelf ladders.

20. The refrigerator appliance of claim 19, wherein the first tab is configured to scrape a portion of the first conductor and a portion of the second conductor as the first adjustable shelf is cantilevered on the first and second shelf ladders.