Comestible storage compartment for refrigeration unit

A comestible storage compartment for a refrigeration unit comprising a drawer, slideably received in a supporting frame which permits said drawer to be moved between its opened and closed positions, which includes:

• (a) a generally unitary, molded drawer tub comprised of a bottom wall, upstanding side and end walls, and a front wall lip, wherein said drawer tub includes a lateral flange which projects outwardly from said side and end walls, each of said side walls including a downturned lip depending from said lateral flange for defining drawer track channels, and which further includes drawer roller means projecting outwardly of each of said side walls proximate the junctures thereof with said end walls;
• (b) a generally rectilinear front wall panel having generally transverse side edges and lateral top and bottom edges, and which further includes a transverse track and at least one ventilation aperture formed within the transverse zone of said track, said panel disposed in free standing relationship with said front wall lip proximate the forward edges of said side walls;
• (c) ventilation means in said front wall panel comprising a slide received in said track including at least one ventilation aperture which cooperates with said ventilation aperture of said front wall panel through selective coincident registration to permit control of the flow of ambient through said drawer when in its closed configuration;
• (d) front wall cover means disposed over said front wall panel and means for securing said front wall panel to said drawer to yield a drawer having an open top for access thereto, said front wall panel means and front wall cover collectively comprising a front wall of said drawer;
• (e) sealing means for reducing ambient circulation through said open top;
• and
• (f) a drawer frame for supporting said drawer, comprising track channel means having a forward end and a rear end, said track channel means terminating at the forward end thereof in a raised track element for receiving said drawer roller means in a detent relationship when said drawer tub is in its closed configuration and for guiding said drawer roller means as said drawer is moved between its open and closed positions, inwardly directed ribs extending longitudinally from said drawer frame and disposed for spaced, flow interrupting relationship with said lateral flanges of said side walls when said drawer is in its closed configuration, and track roller means configured to mate with said lateral flanges of said side walls within said drawer track channels for stabilizing said drawer during movement, wherein the first of said roller means has a lateral dimension approximately equal to that of the track channel and the second of said track roller means has a lateral dimension less than that of the track channel.

Drawer roller means comprised of:

• (a) a molded roller with a body of generally circular cross section and a longitudinally extending shank, said roller having a central aperture;
• (b) a crowned insert disposed in said aperture which is comprised of a cylindrical shaft having a length dimension greater than the side wall of said aperture, a radial flange having a dimension approximately that of said shank for isolating said shank from a support therefor;
• and
• (c) fixture means for securing said roller means to said support.

A comestible storage compartment for a refrigeration unit having a drawer for cooperative sealing engagement within said unit which is slidably received on a drawer frame and supported for rolling movement between its open and closed positions on drawer roller means, said drawer frame comprising:

• (a) opposed frame members disposed in spaced relationship to receive said drawer and support same for cooperative rolling engagement therewith between an open position and a closed and sealed position;
• (b) track channel means on each of said frame members for captured engagement of said drawer roller means on said drawer and guidance thereof during movement between said open and closed positions;
• (c) track roller means affixed to said drawer frame;
• and
• (d) rib means projecting outwardly of said frame members toward said drawer for proximate ambient flow interrupting relationship with said drawer when in its closed positions, said drawer including a drawer tub which includes:
• (e) a bottom wall, upstanding wall and end walls, and a front wall assembly;
• (f) a lateral flange projecting outwardly of said side and end walls, wherein said lateral flange of said side walls includes a downturned lip to define drawer track channels within which said track roller means are received;
• and
• (g) a raised track element at the forward end of said drawer track channel for receiving said track roller means in a detent relationship with same, and for positioning said rib in a spaced, flow interrupting relationship with said lateral flange of said side wall.