Power supplies for lighted shelves in a refrigerator
First Claim
1. 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 providing a plurality of shelf mounting positions, the shelf ladder comprising an electrical bus having an electrically grounded first bus conductor a second bus conductor and a third bus conductor;
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 to the electrical bus when the first adjustable shelf is removably mounted in one of the plurality of shelf mounting positions, 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 to electrically couple to the first bus conductor and a second tab configured to couple to the second bus conductor when the first adjustable shelf is cantilevered in one of the plurality of shelf mounting positions;
and further providing that 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;
wherein at least one of the second bus conductor and third bus conductor is separated into a first section and a second section such that the first section is exposed in a first slot and forms a first independent circuit with the electrically grounded conductor when the adjustable shelf is removably mounted in the first slot and the second section is exposed in a second slot and forms a second independent circuit with the electrically grounded conductor when the adjustable shelf is removably mounted in the second slot.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Illustrative embodiments of systems and methods for powering lighted shelves in refrigerator appliances are provided. 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.
66 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A refrigerator appliance comprising:
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a cabinet having a temperature-controlled compartment defined therein;
a first shelf ladder disposed at least partially in the temperature-controlled compartment providing a plurality of shelf mounting positions, the shelf ladder comprising an electrical bus having an electrically grounded first bus conductor a second bus conductor and a third bus conductor;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 to the electrical bus when the first adjustable shelf is removably mounted in one of the plurality of shelf mounting positions, 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 to electrically couple to the first bus conductor and a second tab configured to couple to the second bus conductor when the first adjustable shelf is cantilevered in one of the plurality of shelf mounting positions; and further providing that 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; wherein at least one of the second bus conductor and third bus conductor is separated into a first section and a second section such that the first section is exposed in a first slot and forms a first independent circuit with the electrically grounded conductor when the adjustable shelf is removably mounted in the first slot and the second section is exposed in a second slot and forms a second independent circuit with the electrically grounded conductor when the adjustable shelf is removably mounted in the second slot. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. 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 providing at least a first and second shelf mounting position, the first shelf mounting position has a first slot and the second shelf mounting position has a second slot separated and spaced apart from the first slot, the shelf ladder comprising an electrical bus having an electrically grounded conductor, a second bus conductor, and a third bus conductor, the second and third bus conductors each having a first section spaced apart from a second section; a first adjustable shelf carrying a first lighting device, the first adjustable shelf having a mounting bracket with tabs configured to be removably mountable in one of the first slot and the second slot such that the first lighting device is electrically coupled to the electrical bus when the first adjustable shelf is removably mounted in one of the plurality of shelf mounting positions; wherein the second bus conductor and third bus conductor are separated into a first section and a second section such that the first section is exposed in the first slot and forms a first independent circuit with the electrically grounded conductor when the adjustable shelf is removably mounted in the first slot and the second section is exposed in the second slot and forms a second independent circuit with the electrically grounded conductor when the adjustable shelf is removably mounted in the second slot. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
- a cabinet having a temperature-controlled compartment defined therein;
Specification