Variable width deli cover
AssigneeWhirlpool Corporation
InventorsChad J. Rotter, Trevor L. Hawkins
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A variable width shelf assembly includes a shelf panel with first and second support brackets. One or more support slots and one or more relief slots are disposed on an upright portion of the support brackets. One or more coupling tabs are disposed adjacent to one of the one or more support slots and one of the one or more relief slots. The coupling tabs are flexible tabs configured to flex outwardly relative to the upright portion of the support brackets for coupling the first and second brackets to a refrigerator compartment. Mounting plates mounted on a refrigerator include mounting features that are received in the support slots of the support brackets. Abutment guides on the mounting plates are used to guide a bending motion of the coupling tabs in assembly.
Claims20
A variable width shelf assembly, comprising:
- a shelf panel;
- and
- a support bracket coupled to the shelf panel, wherein the support bracket includes a body portion extending downwardly from a lower surface of the shelf panel and having one or more downwardly opening support slots and one or more outwardly opening relief slots, and further wherein the support bracket includes one or more coupling tabs disposed adjacent to one of the one or more downwardly opening support slots and one of the one or more outwardly opening relief slots, wherein the one or more coupling tabs are flexible tabs configured to flex outwardly relative to the body portion, and further wherein the one or more coupling tabs include mounting apertures disposed therethrough.
An adjustable mounting system, comprising:
- a mounting plate including a body portion having an inner surface with a mounting tab extending inwardly from the inner surface of the body portion, wherein the mounting plate further includes an abutment guide extending outwardly from the inner surface of the mounting plate and adjacent to the mounting tab;
- and
- a support bracket having a body portion with a downwardly opening support slot, an outwardly opening relief slot and a coupling tab disposed adjacent to the downwardly opening support slot and the outwardly opening relief slot, wherein the mounting tab of the mounting plate is received in the downwardly opening support slot of the support bracket.
An adjustable mounting system, comprising:
- a support bracket having a body portion with first and second downwardly opening support slots, first and second outwardly opening relief slots and first and second coupling tabs disposed adjacent to the respective first and second downwardly opening support slots and the first and second outwardly opening relief slots;
- and
- a mounting plate including a body portion having first and second mounting tabs extending outwardly therefrom, wherein the first and second mounting tabs are received in the first and second downwardly opening support slots of the support bracket, respectively, wherein the mounting plate further includes first and second abutment guides extending outwardly from the body portion of the mounting plate and abutting the body portion of the support bracket when the first and second mounting tabs are received in the first and second downwardly opening support slots of the support bracket.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.