Support assembly for an appliance

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11709016-B2
Application number	US-202217684709-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 2, 2022
Priority date	Jan 7, 2020
Publication date	Jul 25, 2023
Grant date	Jul 25, 2023

Abstract

A support assembly includes a support surface configured to selectively transition between a stowed position, a deployed position, and an intermediate position defined between the stowed position and the deployed position. A retention feature is operably coupled to the support surface and is configured to transition the support surface between the stowed position and the deployed position. The retention feature includes a projection about which the support surface pivots to define a pivot axis. A bracket is coupled to the support surface and is configured to distribute a load along the support assembly in the intermediate position and the deployed position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An appliance, comprising:
a cabinet;
an inner liner coupled to the cabinet;
a mullion coupled to the inner liner and defining a retaining space; and
a support assembly selectively disposed within the retaining space, the support assembly comprising:
a support surface operably coupled to the cabinet, the support surface configured to transition between a stowed position, a first deployed position, and a second deployed position, wherein the support surface comprises a first side and a second side;
a first retention feature operably coupled to the support surface;
a second retention feature operably coupled to the support surface at an opposing end from the first retention feature, wherein the second retention feature is coupled to an end of the support surface, and wherein the second retention feature is configured to rotate about an axis relative the cabinet; and
a bracket coupled to the support surface, wherein the bracket is disposed along a length of the support surface, wherein the bracket includes a first flange and a second flange, wherein the bracket enables rotation of the support surface in a first direction that corresponds with the first deployed position and a second direction that corresponds with the second deployed position, wherein the first side of the support surface contacts the first flange when the support surface is in the first deployed position, wherein the second side of the support surface contacts the second flange when the support surface is in the second deployed position, wherein the support surface extends beyond the first flange when the support surface is in the first deployed position, and wherein the support surface extends beyond the second flange when the support surface is in the second deployed position.

2. The appliance of claim 1 , wherein the support surface is disposed within the retaining space defined by the mullion when the support surface is in the stowed position.

3. The appliance of claim 2 , wherein the support surface is rotatably coupled to the mullion.

4. The appliance of claim 3 , wherein the second retention feature is a hinge.

5. The appliance of claim 1 , wherein the bracket is coupled to each of the first retention feature and the second retention feature along the length of the support surface.

6. The appliance of claim 1 , wherein the bracket is configured to distribute a load along the length of the support surface.

7. An appliance, comprising:
an inner liner defining a retaining space, wherein the inner liner defines grooves within the retaining space; and
a support assembly operably coupled to the inner liner, the support assembly including:
a support surface operable between a stowed position and a deployed position;
a first retention feature and a second retention feature rotatably coupled to opposing ends of the support surface, the first retention feature and the second retention feature each including a projection operably coupled to the support surface, and wherein the projections of the first and second retention features define an axis about which the support surface is configured to rotate; and
a bracket coupled to each of the first and second retention features, wherein the bracket is coupled to the support surface, the bracket including flanges selectively coupled to the inner liner and configured to brace the support surface in the deployed position of the support surface, wherein the flanges are received within the grooves when the support surface is in the stowed position.

8. The appliance of claim 7 , wherein the support assembly is disposed within the retaining space of the inner liner when the support surface is in the stowed position.

9. The appliance of claim 7 , wherein the support surface slidably transitions between the stowed position and the deployed position.

10. The appliance of claim 7 , wherein the stowed position vertically aligns the support surface relative to the cabinet and the deployed position horizontally aligns the support surface relative to the cabinet.

11. The appliance of claim 7 , wherein the support assembly comprises an insulated panel.

12. The appliance of claim 7 , wherein a transition of the support surface between the stowed position and the deployed position comprises slidable motion of the flanges within the grooves.

13. The appliance of claim 7 , wherein the deployed position comprises a first deployed position and a second deployed position.

14. The appliance of claim 13 , wherein the flanges of the bracket comprise a first flange and a second flange, and wherein the bracket enables rotation of the support surface in a first direction that corresponds with the first deployed position and a second direction that corresponds with the second deployed position.

15. The appliance of claim 14 , wherein the support surface comprises a first side and a second side, wherein the first side of the support surface contacts the first flange when the support surface is in the first deployed position, and wherein the second side of the support surface contacts the second flange when the support surface is in the second deployed position.

16. An appliance, comprising:
a cabinet;
an inner liner coupled to the cabinet;
a mullion coupled to the inner liner and defining a retaining space; and
a support assembly selectively disposed within the retaining space, the support assembly comprising:
a support surface operably coupled to the cabinet, the support surface configured to transition between a stowed position, a first deployed position, and a second deployed position, wherein the support surface comprises a first side and a second side;
a first retention feature operably coupled to a first edge of the support surface;
a second retention feature operably coupled to a second edge of the support surface at an opposing end from the first retention feature, wherein the first edge and the second edge define opposing ends of the support surface, and wherein the second retention feature is configured to rotate about an axis relative the cabinet, wherein the support surface extends beyond the first flange when the support surface is in the first deployed position, and wherein the support surface extends beyond the second flange when the support surface is in the second deployed position; and
a bracket coupled to the support surface, wherein the bracket is disposed along a length of the support surface, wherein the bracket includes a first flange and a second flange, wherein the bracket enables rotation of the support surface in a first direction that corresponds with the first deployed position and a second direction that corresponds with the second deployed position, wherein the first side of the support surface contacts the first flange when the support surface is in the first deployed position, and wherein the second side of the support surface contacts the second flange when the support surface is in the second deployed position.

17. The appliance of claim 16 , wherein the first retention feature and the second retention feature each include a projection that engages with the support surface, and wherein the projections of the first and second retention features define the axis about which the support surface is configured to rotate.

18. The appliance of claim 16 , wherein the support surface is rotatably coupled to the mullion.

19. The appliance of claim 18 , wherein the second retention feature is a hinge.

Assignees

• Whirlpool Co

Inventors

• Ayyawar Kapil
• Bertolino Vincent F
• Katu Umakant Suresh
• Pavnick Ian M
• Post Ryan Michael
• Needham Adam Thomas

Classifications

• F25D25/027 Primary

  Rotatable shelves · CPC title

• F25D23/069

  Cooling space dividing partitions · CPC title

• F25D25/022

  Baskets · CPC title

• F25D25/024

  Slidable shelves · CPC title

• F25D2325/021

  Shelves with several possible configurations · CPC title