Refrigerator shelf and method for producing the shelf

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9945601-B1
Application number	US-201615294093-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Oct 14, 2016
Priority date	Oct 14, 2016
Publication date	Apr 17, 2018
Grant date	Apr 17, 2018

Abstract

A refrigerator includes a refrigerated compartment and a door that selectively seals the refrigerated compartment. A shelf is mounted in the refrigerated compartment. The shelf includes a plate and a frame encapsulating the plate. A front trim is coupled to a front portion of the frame. The front trim includes a front face that is flush with the frame.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A refrigerator comprising:
a refrigerated compartment;
a door configured to selectively seal the refrigerated compartment;
a shelf mounted in the refrigerated compartment, wherein the shelf includes:
a plate;
a frame encapsulating the plate; and
a front trim is separate from and coupled to a front portion of the frame,

wherein the front trim includes a front face that is flush with the frame.

2. The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein:
the front trim includes a first upper lip;
the frame includes a second upper lip;
the first and second upper lips together define a rim of the shelf; and
a shape of the first upper lip matches a shape of the second upper lip.

3. The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein:
one of the frame and front trim defines a first U-shaped channel and the other of the frame and front trim includes a protrusion received in the first U-shaped channel; and
the shelf further includes an adhesive in the first U-shaped channel.

4. The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the shelf further includes a U-shaped reinforcement bar coupled to the front portion or a rear portion of the frame, the reinforcement bar including:
two legs, each leg having an end in contact with the frame; and
a hole in which a mechanical fastener is received.

5. The refrigerator of claim 4 , wherein:
the frame includes a peg extending downward from the frame;
a bore is located in the peg; and
the mechanical fastener is received in the bore.

6. The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein:
the frame is a single integral piece;
the frame extends both above and below an edge of the plate;
the plate is a glass plate; and
the frame is injection-molded plastic.

7. The refrigerator of claim 6 , wherein:
the frame defines a second U-shaped channel; and
the plate is received in the second U-shaped channel.

8. A shelf comprising:
a plate;
a frame encapsulating the plate; and
a front trim coupled to a front portion of the frame, wherein the front trim includes a front face that is flush with the frame, and the front trim is separate from the frame.

9. The shelf of claim 8 , wherein:
the front trim includes a first upper lip;
the frame includes a second upper lip; and
the first and second upper lips together define a rim of the shelf.

10. The shelf of claim 9 , wherein a shape of the first upper lip matches a shape of the second upper lip.

11. The shelf of claim 8 , wherein one of the frame and front trim defines a first U-shaped channel and the other of the frame and front trim includes a protrusion received in the first U-shaped channel.

12. The shelf of claim 8 , further comprising a U-shaped reinforcement bar coupled to the front portion or a rear portion of the frame, the reinforcement bar including:
two legs, each leg having an end in contact with the frame; and
a hole in which a mechanical fastener is received.

13. The shelf of claim 12 , wherein:
the frame includes a peg extending downward from the frame;
a bore is located in the peg; and
the mechanical fastener is received in the bore.

14. The shelf of claim 8 , wherein:
the frame is a single integral piece; and
the frame extends both above and below an edge of the plate.

15. The shelf of claim 14 , wherein:
the frame defines a second U-shaped channel; and
the plate is received in the second U-shaped channel.

16. The shelf of claim 14 , wherein:
the plate is a glass plate; and
the frame is injection-molded plastic.

17. A method for producing a shelf, the method comprising:
encapsulating a plate in a frame during injection molding of the frame; and
coupling a front trim to a front portion of the frame by inserting a protrusion of one of the frame and front trim in a first U-shaped channel of the other of the frame and front trim, wherein the front trim includes a front face that is flush with the frame, and the front trim is separate from the frame.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein coupling the front trim to the front portion of the frame includes inserting an adhesive in the first U-shaped channel.

19. The method of claim 17 , further comprising coupling a U-shaped reinforcement bar to the front portion or a rear portion of the frame.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein coupling the reinforcement bar to the frame includes inserting a mechanical fastener in a hole of the reinforcement bar and securing the mechanical fastener to the frame.

Assignees

• Whirlpool Co

Inventors

• Bhavsar Atish J
• Pawar Shrinivas V

Classifications

• B29C45/0053

  combined with a final operation, e.g. shaping (injection-compression moulding B29C45/561) · CPC title

• F25D25/02 Primary

  by shelves · CPC title

• B29L2031/74

  Domestic articles (cutlery B29L2031/286) · CPC title

• B29K2105/20

  Inserts · CPC title

• B29K2709/08

  Glass · CPC title