Refrigerator shelf
AssigneeWhirlpool Corporation
InventorsMarco Maritan, Lorenzo Bianchi
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A refrigerator shelf having a plate surrounded by a frame. A guide is connected to the frame for slidable guiding of a closure member. The closure member is formed from an assembly of hinged-together bar elements which are able to pass between an extended position in which the closure member closes a chamber formed between the shelf and an underlying shelf, and a retracted position into the guide.
Claims19
A refrigerator shelf comprising a plate surrounded by a frame;
- guide means connected to said frame for the slidable guiding of a closure member;
- and
- a closure member formed from a plurality of bar elements hinged together;
- said closure member being arranged to move between an extended position to close a chamber formed between said shelf and an underlying shelf, and a retracted position within the guide means.
A refrigerator shelf comprising a plate surrounded by a frame having guide means formed integrally with said frame and extending below said frame;
- and
- a closure member formed of a plurality of hollow bar elements having a rectilinear bulbous projection disposed at the end of a rib extending from said bar element and inclined towards the lower side of the guide means on one side of said bar element, and said bar element having a matching groove on an opposite side arranged for snap-engagement with a bulbous projection of another bar element to form a hinge connection of adjacent bar elements, said closure member being arranged to move between an extended position to close a chamber formed between said shelf and an underlying shelf, and a retracted position within the guide means.
A refrigerator shelf comprising a plate surrounded by a frame including guide means for slidable guiding of a closure member comprising;
- a closure member formed from a plurality of bar elements hinged together and arranged to move between an extended position to close a chamber formed between said shelf and an underlying shelf and a retracted position within the guide means;
- latching means including a groove in a front element of said closure member for releasable engagement with a bulbous projection on another guide means;
- a controllable release means on said front element for disengaging said latching means;
- and
- a handgrip on said front element for moving said closure member between said extended and retracted position.
A refrigerator shelf comprising a plate surrounded by a frame having guide means formed integrally with said frame and extending below said frame;
- and
- a closure member formed of a plurality of hollow bar elements having a rectilinear bulbous projection disposed at the end of a rib extending from said bar element and inclined towards the lower side of the guide means on one side of said bar element, and said bar element having a matching groove on an opposite side arranged for snap-engagement with a bulbous projection of another bar element to form a hinge connection of adjacent bar elements, said closure member being arranged to move between an extended position to close a chamber formed between said shelf and an underlying shelf, and a retracted position within the guide means;
- latching means including a groove in a front element of said closure member for releasable engagement with a bulbous projection on another guide means;
- a controllable release means on said front element for disengaging said latching means;
- and
- a handgrip on said front element for moving said closure between said extended and retracted position.
A refrigerator shelf comprising a plate surrounded by a frame having guide means formed integrally with said frame and extending below said frame;
- and
- a closure member formed of a plurality of hollow bar elements having a rectilinear bulbous projection disposed at the end of a rib extending from said bar element and inclined towards the lower side of the guide means on one side of said bar element, and said bar element having a matching groove on an opposite side arranged for snap-engagement with a bulbous projection of another bar element to form a hinge connection of adjacent bar elements, said closure member being arranged to move between an extended position to close a chamber formed between said shelf and an underlying shelf, and a retracted position within the guide means;
- latching means including a groove in a front element of said closure member for releasable engagement with a bulbous projection on another guide means;
- a controllable release means on said front element for disengaging said latching means;
- and
- a handgrip on said front element for moving said closure member between said extended and retracted position;
- and
- retraction including toothed wheels mounted adjacent to said guide means and positioned to drivingly engage recesses provided on the lower surface of said bar elements for assisting movement of said closure member to said retracted position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.