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

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9939193-B2
Application number	US-201514956633-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 2, 2015
Priority date	Mar 15, 2013
Publication date	Apr 10, 2018
Grant date	Apr 10, 2018

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.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A refrigerator comprising:
a cabinet having one or more chilled compartments with opposite side walls;
a modular 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 a vertical rail in a wall of the cabinet;
b. a base component having a frame spaced between the side walls;
c. 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
d. at least one of the base component and the at least one horizontally adjustable component having one or more lighting elements, the one or more lighting elements electrically coupled to the at least one rectilinear conductive element.

2. The refrigerator of claim 1 , further comprising a vertically adjustable component having a frame spaced between the side walls, the vertically adjustable component supported in part by at least one bracket removably attached to the vertical rail.

3. The refrigerator of claim 2 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.

4. The refrigerator of claim 2 wherein the at least one bracket is electrically coupled between the one or more lighting elements and the at least one rectilinear conductive element.

5. The refrigerator of claim 2 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.

6. The refrigerator of claim 2 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.

7. A refrigerator shelf system comprising:
an interior comprising opposite side walls and a rear wall;
an electrically conductive strip originating at an electrical source and terminating in one or more lighting elements, the electrically conductive strip comprising two or more connectable components;
at least one elongated conductive element disposed exterior to a surface of a vertical rail at the interior; and
a first connectable component supported between the side walls of the interior with at least one bracket removably attached to the vertical rail;
wherein the first connectable component and the vertical rail comprise an electrically conductive pathway; and
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.

8. The refrigerator shelf system of claim 7 , further comprising a second connectable component removably supported between the side walls of the interior;
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.

9. The refrigerator shelf system of claim 7 , wherein the first or second connectable component comprises two or more positions on the vertical rail 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 rail.

10. A modular storage system for a refrigerator, comprising:
a refrigerator cabinet having an interior;
at least one elongated, conductive strip disposed along the exterior of a vertical rail in a wall;
a shelf comprising a frame, wherein the frame further comprises a bracket removably coupled with the vertical rail; and one or more lighting elements, the one or more lighting elements electrically coupled to the at least one elongated, conductive strip,
a base component spaced between opposite side walls of the cabinet interior; and
a pull out component disposed on 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.

11. The modular storage system for a refrigerator of claim 10 wherein the frame comprises a lighting frame having the one or more lighting elements.

12. The modular storage system for a refrigerator of claim 11 , wherein the frame conductively couples the one or more lighting elements to the at least one elongated, conductive strip.

13. The modular storage system for a refrigerator of claim 12 , wherein the bracket is electrically coupled between the one or more lighting elements and the at least one elongated, conductive strip.

14. The modular storage system of claim 11 , wherein the pull out 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.

15. The modular storage system for a refrigerator of claim 11 , wherein the one or more lighting elements are contained within a perimeter of the frame.

16. The modular storage system for a refrigerator of claim 10 , 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.

17. The modular storage system for a refrigerator of claim 16 , wherein the frame comprises a lighting frame having the one or more lighting elements.

18. The modular storage system for a refrigerator of claim 17 , 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.

Assignees

• Whirlpool Co

Inventors

• Kendall James W
• Lah Michael C
• Murphy Timothy T
• Tunzi Todd J

Classifications

• F25D2400/40

  Refrigerating devices characterised by electrical wiring · CPC title

• A47B47/0091

  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 title

• F16B2001/0064

  Mechanical Engineering · mapped topic

• F25D2325/021

  Shelves with several possible configurations · CPC title

• F25D25/025 Primary

  Drawers · CPC title