Sliding refrigerator shelf assembly

A shelf assembly for a refrigerated compartment comprising:

• a shelf support including a pair of spaced, generally horizontal, generally parallel, shelf support surfaces, a guide surface on each shelf support surface extending at an angle to said shelf support surface, an undersurface beneath each shelf support surface, and at least one mounting member adapted to mount said shelf support in a refrigerated compartment;
• a shelf member slidably mounted for extension and retraction on said shelf support, said shelf member including an article support surface and a pair of spaced side members, said side members being molded in one piece on said article support surface from a moldable material and extending along opposite sides of said article support surface, each side member including a slide surface slidably engaging one of said shelf support surfaces, at least one of said side members having a depending guide member adjacent said slide surface to guide sliding movement of said shelf member, said one guide member including a stop thereon, said guide member extending along said guide surface and under and immediately adjacent said shelf support undersurface to limit lateral and vertical movement of said shelf member with respect to said shelf support;
• said shelf support also including an elongated opening for receiving and allowing movement of said stop when said shelf member is slidably extended or retracted, and at least one limit surface for engaging said stop member to limit at least one of the extension or retraction .of said shelf member;
• said shelf support including a pair of spaced, parallel support brackets, each bracket having one of said shelf support surfaces and one of said mounting members thereon, each of said brackets being L-shaped and including a body and a laterally extending flange extending at a right angle to said body, said flange having a top surface forming said shelf support surface;
• said guide member extending along and under one of said flanges on one of said brackets;
• and,
• said guide member and stop being molded integrally and in one piece with said one side member.

A shelf assembly for a refrigerated compartment comprising:

• a shelf support including a pair of spaced, generally parallel, shelf support surfaces;
• a shelf member slidably mounted for extension and retraction on said shelf support, said shelf member including a shelf panel having a perimeter edge, and a rim molded on said perimeter edge from a moldable material, said rim including side portions extending along opposite sides of said shelf panel, each side portion including a slide surface slidably engaging one of said shelf support surfaces, and a pair of spaced, depending guide members molded in one piece with said rim and positioned on either side of one of said shelf support surfaces to guide sliding movement of said shelf member;
• at least one of said guide members including a stop molded in one piece with said rim;
• and
• said shelf support also including an elongated opening for receiving and allowing movement of said stop when said shelf member is slidably extended or retracted, and at least one limit surface for engaging said stop member to limit at least one of the extension or retraction of said shelf member.

A sliding shelf assembly for refrigerators comprising:

• a generally planar shelf member having a top surface for supporting articles to be refrigerated, and a perimeter edge;
• a rim molded from a moldable material around said perimeter edge, said rim including generally parallel side portions extending along opposite portions of said perimeter edge of said shelf member, each side portion including a slide channel molded therewithin, said slide channels each defining a generally horizontal slide surface, a molded guide member for guiding sliding movement of said shelf assembly, and an opening through which a shelf support is received for engagement with said slide surface;
• said guide member extending downwardly from said slide surface to limit lateral movement of the shelf support member when received in said slide channel, said guide member including a laterally extending, lift restraining member, said lift restraining member extending laterally such that said lift restraining member is spaced beneath said slide surface and is adapted to be positioned immediately adjacent and below an undersurface on a shelf support member to limit vertical movement of the shelf support member when received in said slide channel;
• and,
• a stop on said rim adapted to be received in an elongated opening formed in the shelf support to limit sliding travel of said shelf assembly when mounted on the shelf support.

A sliding shelf assembly for refrigerators comprising:

• a generally planar shelf member having a top surface for supporting articles to be refrigerated, and a perimeter edge;
• a rim molded from a moldable material around said perimeter edge, said rim including generally parallel side portions extending along opposite portions of said perimeter edge of said shelf member, each side portion including a slide channel molded therewithin, said slide channels each defining a slide surface, first and second molded guide members for guiding sliding movement of said shelf assembly, and an opening through which a shelf support is received for engagement with said slide surface;
• said first and second guide members on each side portion being spaced laterally from and extending parallel to one another and depending downwardly adjacent said slide surface;
• and
• a stop on said rim for engaging a portion of the shelf support to limit sliding travel of said shelf assembly when mounted on the shelf support.

A sliding shelf assembly for refrigerators comprising:

• a generally planar shelf member having a top surface for supporting articles to be refrigerated, and a perimeter edge:
• a rim molded from a moldable material around said perimeter edge, said rim including generally parallel side portions extending along opposite portions of said perimeter edge of said shelf member, each side portion including a slide channel molded therewithin, said slide channels each defining a slide surface, a molded guide member for guiding sliding movement of said shelf assembly, and an opening through which a shelf support is received for engagement with said slide-surface;
• said guide member extending downwardly from and laterally under said slide surface such that said guide member is spaced beneath said slide surface and is addicted to be positioned immediately adjacent and below a shelf support member to limit lateral and vertical movement of the shelf support member when received in said slide channel;
• and
• a stop on said rim adapted to be received in an elongated opening formed in the shelf support to limit sliding travel of said shelf assembly when mounted on the shelf support, said stop molded integrally on said molded guide member.

A shelf assembly for a refrigerated compartment comprising:

• a shelf support including a pair of spaced, generally horizontal, generally parallel, shelf support surfaces, a guide surface on each shelf support surface extending at an angle to said shelf support surface, an undersurface beneath each shelf support surface, and at least one mounting member adapted to mount said shelf support in a refrigerated compartment;
• a shelf member slidably mounted for extension and retraction on said shelf support, said shelf member including an article support surface and a pair of spaced side members, said side members being molded in one piece on said article support surface from a moldable material and extending along opposite sides of said article support surface, each side member including a slide surface slidably engaging one of said shelf support surfaces, at least one of said side members including a depending guide member adjacent said slide surface to guide sliding movement of said shelf member, said one guide member including a stop thereon, said guide member extending along said guide surface to limit movement of said shelf member with respect to said shelf support, said guide member also including a laterally extending, lift restraining member, said lift restraining member extending under and immediately adjacent said shelf support undersurface and adapted to engage said undersurface in the event said shelf member is lifted to restrict vertical movement of said shelf member with respect to said shelf support;
• said guide member further including a rigid member having a first portion embedded within said one side member, and a second portion positioned along said guide surface and adjacent said shelf support undersurface to guide sliding movement and restrict vertical movement of said shelf member, said second portion of said rigid member including said stop thereon;
• said shelf support also including an elongated opening for receiving and allowing movement of said stop when said shelf member is slidably extended or retracted, and at least one limit surface for engaging said stop member to limit at least one of the extension or retraction of said shelf member.