Apparatus, system, and method for storage in a refrigerated appliance

• US 9,212,848 B2
• Filed: 03/13/2014
• Issued: 12/15/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Original Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Inventors: Lah, Michael C., Kendall, James W., Murphy, Timothy T., Tunzi, Todd J.
• Primary Examiner(s): ROHRHOFF, DANIEL J
• Application Number:
  US14/207,918
• Publication Number:
  US 20140265808A1
• Time in Patent Office: 642 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2220/0077 Lighting for furniture, e.g. cupboards and racks
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 47/0091 Modular arrangements of similar assemblies of elements for elements or assemblies mainly made of wood or plastic A47B47/047, sectional furniture A47B87/00, stackable furniture A47B87/02
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 88/40 Sliding drawers; Slides or guides therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 88/402 Profiles or supporting structures for supporting single drawers
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 88/407 Adjustably or detachably mounted drawers A47B88/423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 88/47 having both self-opening and self-closing mechanisms which interact with each other
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 88/477 Buffers; End stops
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 96/02 Shelves movable shelves coupled to doors A47B96/16
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 3/0426 Details
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 1/00 Devices for securing together, or preventing relative movement between, constructional elements or machine parts
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2200/93 Fastener comprising feature for establishing a good electrical connection, e.g. electrostatic discharge or insulation feature
• 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 25/021 combined with trays
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 25/025 Drawers
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2500/02 Geometry problems
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 27/00 Lighting arrangements in general F21

Abstract

An apparatus, system, and method for storage in a refrigerated appliance. One aspect includes glides or slides underneath and within the bottom perimeter dimensions of any bin or bin carrier relative to its supporting structure in the refrigerated appliance. This allows adjacent bins to more efficiently utilize lateral storage space in the refrigerator. It also promotes hiding of the glide or slides from view.

Claims

1. A modulated drawer and shelf system for a cabinet, comprising:

at least one elongated, conductive strip disposed along the exterior of a vertical rail in a wall of the cabinet;

a shelf component having a frame spaced between opposite side walls of the cabinet, the shelf component supported in part by at least one bracket removably attached to the vertical rail;

a base component spaced between opposite side walls of the cabinet;

at least one pull out component carried by the base component, the pull out component having a bottom with side edges defining a perimeter and one or more guide members extending within the perimeter between an opposite pair of the side edges; and

at least one of the components having one or more lighting elements, the one or more lighting elements electrically coupled to the at least one elongated, conductive strip.

2. The modulated drawer and shelf of claim 1 wherein the frame comprises a lighting frame having the one or more lighting elements.

3. The modulated drawer and shelf of claim 2 wherein the frame conductively couples the one or more lighting elements to the at least one elongated, conductive strip.

4. The modulated drawer and shelf of claim 1 wherein the at least one bracket is electrically coupled between the one or more lighting elements and the at least one elongated, conductive strip.

5. The modulated drawer and shelf of claim 4 wherein the one or more lighting elements are contained within a perimeter of the frame.

6. The modulated drawer and shelf of claim 1 wherein the shelf component has a first position and a reconfigured position, wherein the at least one bracket is electrically coupled to the at least one elongated, conductive strip in both the first and reconfigured positions.

7. The modulated drawer and shelf of claim 1 further comprising a drawer component having a bottom with side edges defining a perimeter and one or more guide members within the perimeter cooperating with one or more opposing longitudinally extending guide members.

8. The modulated drawer and shelf of claim 1 wherein the cabinet comprises a refrigerated cabinet.

9. The modulated drawer and shelf of claim 1 wherein the one or more lighting elements are spaced between a glass component and the frame.

10. The modulated drawer and shelf of claim 1 wherein the one or more guide members are secured to and extend downwardly from the bottom of the pull out component and configured to slidably engage one or more rails associated with the base component.

11. A refrigerator comprising:

a cabinet having one or more chilled compartments;

a modulated drawer system having;

a. at least one rectilinear conductive element having a length greater than a width, wherein the length of the at least one rectilinear conductive element is disposed along the exterior of and substantially parallel to a vertical rail in a wall of the cabinet;

b. a vertically adjustable component having a frame spaced between opposite side walls of the cabinet, the vertically adjustable component supported in part by at least one bracket removably attached to the vertical rail;

c. a base component having a frame spaced between opposite side walls of the cabinet;

d. at least one horizontally adjustable component carried by the base component, the horizontally adjustable component having a bottom with side edges defining a perimeter and one or more guide members extending within the perimeter between an opposite pair of the side edges; and

e. at least one of the components having one or more lighting elements, the one or more lighting elements electrically coupled to the at least one rectilinear conductive element.

12. The refrigerator of claim 11 wherein the frame of the vertically adjustable component or the frame of the base component further comprises the one or more lighting elements electrically coupled to the at least one rectilinear conductive element.

13. The refrigerator of claim 11 wherein the at least one bracket is electrically coupled between the one or more lighting elements and the at least one rectilinear conductive element.

14. The refrigerator of claim 11 wherein the at least one bracket is electrically coupled to the at least one rectilinear conductive element in a plurality of positions along the vertical rail.

15. The refrigerator of claim 11 wherein the one or more lighting elements are spaced between a glass component housed within at least one of the frame of the vertically adjustable component and the frame of the base component.

16. A modulated drawer and shelf system for a cabinet, comprising:

an electrically conductive pathway originating at an electrical source and terminating in one or more lighting elements, the electrically conductive pathway comprising two or more connectable components;

at least one elongated conductive element disposed exterior to a surface of a vertical connectable component at an interior wall of the cabinet;

a first connectable component supported between opposite side walls of the cabinet with at least one bracket removably attached to the vertical connectable component;

a second connectable component removably supported between opposite side walls of the cabinet; and

at least one of the first or second connectable components and the vertical connectable component comprise the electrically conductive pathway.

17. The modulated drawer and shelf system of claim 16 wherein the one or more lighting elements and the at least one elongated conductive element are electrically coupled with a frame housing the first or second connectable component.

18. The modulated drawer and shelf system of claim 16 wherein the one or more lighting elements and the at least one elongated conductive element are electrically coupled with the at least one bracket.

19. The modulated drawer and shelf system of claim 16 wherein the first or second connectable component comprises two or more positions on the vertical connectable component to electrically couple the first or second connectable component and the at least one elongated conductive element at the two or more positions along the vertical connectable component.

20. The modulated drawer and shelf system of claim 16 wherein the first or second connectable component comprises a connectable drawer component having a bottom with side edges defining a perimeter and one or more guide members within the perimeter cooperating with one or more opposing longitudinally extending guide members.

21. A modulated drawer and shelf system for a cabinet, comprising:

at least one conductive element on a vertical rail in a wall of the cabinet;

a shelf component having a frame spaced between opposite side walls of the cabinet, the shelf component supported in part by at least one bracket removably attached to the vertical rail;

a base component spaced between opposite side walls of the cabinet;

at least one pull out component carried by the base component, the pull out component having a bottom with side edges defining a perimeter and one or more guide members extending within the perimeter between an opposite pair of the side edges; and

at least one of the components having one or more lighting elements, the one or more lighting elements electrically coupled to the at least one conductive element;

wherein the base component includes a frame housing a glass component and at least one of the one or more lighting elements spaced between the frame and glass component.