# US 8,464,645 B2 · Spill containing refrigerator shelf assemby

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- Number: US 8,464,645 B2
- Document ID: US8464645B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/651,842
- Filed: 2012-10-15
- Published: 2013-02-14
- Granted: 2013-06-18
- Earliest claimed: 2008-06-27
- Assignees: SSW Holding Company, Inc.
- Applicants: SSW Holding Company, Inc.
- Inventors: John P. Driver; Matthew McMillin; Bradley M. Nall
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8464645B2

## Abstract

The specification discloses a method for containing spills on shelving and the like, and the resulting support members made in accordance with the method, by providing the generally flat top surface of a support with a hydrophobic surface which is arranged in a spill containment pattern and which is generally in the plane of the top surface of the support. The majority of the top surface of the support consists of one or more spill containment areas which are of a non-hydrophobic nature and which are bounded by the hydrophobic surfaces, such that spills on the shelving collect in the non-hydrophobic spill containment area or areas and are prevented from spreading by the hydrophobic surfaces.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A shelf assembly comprising:
a shelf panel having a top surface for supporting articles; and
a hydrophobic surface applied in a spill containment pattern on the top surface of the shelf panel such that the hydrophobic surface defines a boundary of a central portion of the top surface of the shelf panel,
the hydrophobic surface comprising a frit layer applied in the spill containment pattern on the top surface of the shelf panel and a hydrophobic compound coated over the frit layer.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The shelf assembly of claim 1, wherein said spill containment pattern is a continuous border which defines a single central portion within said border.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The shelf assembly of claim 1, wherein said spill containment pattern is located along or spaced from the perimeter of the top surface of the shelf panel.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The shelf assembly of claim 1, wherein the frit layer is disposed adjacent to and bonded to the top surface of the shelf panel.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The shelf assembly of claim 1, wherein the hydrophobic surface comprises a hydrophobic compound selected from the group consisting of fluorocarbons, fluoroalkyl silanes, fluoroalkoxy silanes, fluoroalkyl alkyl silanes, and combinations thereof.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The shelf assembly of claim 1, wherein the shelf panel is a refrigerator shelf.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The shelf assembly of claim 1, further comprising a pair of support brackets attached to the shelf panel for supporting the shelf panel in a cavity of an appliance.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The shelf assembly of claim 7, wherein the shelf panel comprises side edges proximate to which the pair of support brackets are attached, each support bracket including a protector portion that extends laterally outward beyond the corresponding side edge of the shelf panel to thereby provide impact protection to the side edges.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The shelf assembly of claim 8, wherein the protector portions of the support brackets further extend upward adjacent to the corresponding side edges of the shelf panel to provide further impact protection to the side edges.

### Claim 10 (depends on 7)

The shelf assembly of claim 7, wherein each of the support brackets is attached to the bottom surface of the shelf panel such that the top surface of the shelf panel is completely free from intrusion or other obstruction, thereby maximizing the available shelf space on the top surface of the shelf panel.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The shelf assembly of claim 1, wherein the hydrophobic surface completely encircles the central portion of the top surface of the shelf panel.

### Claim 12

A method of manufacturing a shelf capable of containing liquid spills thereon, the method comprising:
providing a panel having a top surface;
applying a frit layer to the top surface of the panel in a spill containment pattern;
applying a hydrophobic compound to the frit layer arranged in the spill containment pattern; and
not applying the frit layer and the hydrophobic compound to a central portion of the top surface of the panel such that the frit layer and the hydrophobic compound define a boundary of the central portion of the shelf panel.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, further comprising:
curing the frit layer to couple the frit to the top surface of the panel; and
curing the hydrophobic compound.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, wherein curing the frit layer comprises heating the frit layer to a temperature in a range of about 1000° F. to about 1400° F.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, wherein curing the hydrophobic compound comprises heating the hydrophobic compound to a temperature in a range of about 100° F. to about 600° F.

### Claim 16 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, wherein applying the hydrophobic compound comprises applying a hydrophobic solution comprising the hydrophobic compound dispersed or dissolved in a solvent to the cured frit.

### Claim 17 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, wherein applying the frit layer and the hydrophobic compound comprises applying the fit layer and the hydrophobic compound in a spill containment pattern that completely encircles the central portion of the shelf panel.

### Claim 18

A refrigerator shelf assembly, comprising:
a refrigerator shelf panel having a top surface and a bottom surface, the top surface capable of supporting articles; and
a hydrophobic surface applied in a spill containment pattern on the top surface of the refrigerator shelf panel such that the hydrophobic surface defines a boundary of a central portion of the top surface of the refrigerator shelf panel, wherein the surface area of the central portion is greater than the remaining surface area of the top surface,
the hydrophobic surface comprising a frit layer applied in the spill containment pattern on the top surface of the refrigerator shelf panel and a hydrophobic compound coated over the frit layer; and
at least one support bracket attached to the bottom surface of the refrigerator shelf panel.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The refrigerator shelf assembly of claim 18, further comprising an adhesive material disposed between the support bracket and bottom surface of the shelf panel thereby attaching the support bracket to the refrigerator shelf panel.

### Claim 20 (depends on 18)

The refrigerator shelf assembly of claim 18, wherein the at least one support bracket includes a pair of support brackets, each of which is adhered to the bottom surface of the refrigerator shelf panel.

### Claim 21 (depends on 20)

The refrigerator shelf assembly of claim 20, wherein the refrigerator shelf panel comprises side edges proximate to which the pair of support brackets are attached, each support bracket including a protector portion that extends laterally outward beyond the corresponding side edge of the refrigerator shelf panel to thereby provide protection to the side edges.

### Claim 22 (depends on 21)

The refrigerator shelf assembly of claim 21, wherein protector portions of the support brackets further extend upward adjacent to the corresponding side edges of the refrigerator shelf panel to provide further protection to the side edges.

### Claim 23 (depends on 20)

The refrigerator shelf assembly of claim 20, wherein each of the support brackets is attached to the bottom surface of the refrigerator shelf panel such that the top surface of the shelf panel is completely free from intrusion or other obstruction, thereby maximizing the available shelf space on the top surface of the refrigerator shelf panel.

### Claim 24 (depends on 18)

The refrigerator shelf assembly of claim 18, wherein the at least one support bracket is disposed entirely opposite the refrigerator shelf panel from the top surface of the refrigerator shelf panel.

### Claim 25 (depends on 18)

The refrigerator shelf assembly of claim 18, wherein the at least one support bracket includes a top surface and the adhesive material is disposed between the top surface of the support bracket and the bottom surface of the refrigerator shelf panel.

### Claim 26 (depends on 25)

The refrigerator shelf assembly of claim 25, wherein the top surface of the support bracket defines a channel receiving the adhesive material.

### Claim 27 (depends on 18)

The refrigerator shelf assembly of claim 18, wherein the at least one support bracket includes a generally L-shaped cross-section.

### Claim 28 (depends on 18)

The refrigerator shelf assembly of claim 18, wherein said spill containment pattern is a continuous border which defines a single central portion within said border.

### Claim 29 (depends on 18)

The refrigerator shelf assembly of claim 18, wherein said spill containment pattern is located along or spaced from the perimeter of the top surface of the refrigerator shelf panel.

### Claim 30 (depends on 18)

The refrigerator shelf assembly of claim 18, wherein the frit layer is disposed adjacent to and bonded to the top surface of the refrigerator shelf panel.

### Claim 31 (depends on 18)

The refrigerator shelf assembly of claim 18, wherein the hydrophobic surface completely encircles the central portion of the top surface of the refrigerator shelf panel.

### Claim 32

A shelf assembly, comprising:
a shelf panel having a top surface and a bottom surface, the top surface capable of supporting articles; and
a hydrophobic surface applied in a spill containment pattern on the top surface of the shelf panel such that the hydrophobic surface defines a boundary of a central portion of the top surface of the shelf panel; and
at least one support bracket attached to the bottom surface of the shelf panel such that the top surface of the shelf panel is completely free from intrusion or other obstruction, thereby maximizing the available shelf space on the top surface of the shelf panel.

### Claim 33 (depends on 32)

The shelf assembly of claim 32, wherein the shelf panel is a refrigerator shelf.

### Claim 34 (depends on 32)

The shelf assembly of claim 32, wherein the at least one support bracket comprises a pair of support brackets attached to the shelf panel.

### Claim 35 (depends on 34)

The shelf assembly of claim 34, wherein the shelf panel comprises side edges proximate to which the pair of support brackets are attached, each support bracket including a protector portion that extends laterally outward beyond the corresponding side edge of the shelf panel to thereby provide protection to the side edges.

### Claim 36 (depends on 35)

The shelf assembly of claim 35, wherein protector portions of the support brackets further extend upward adjacent to the corresponding side edges of the shelf panel to provide further protection to the side edges.

### Claim 37 (depends on 32)

The shelf assembly of claim 32, further comprising an adhesive material disposed between the support bracket and bottom surface of the shelf panel thereby attaching the support bracket to the shelf panel.

### Claim 38 (depends on 37)

The shelf assembly of claim 37, wherein the at least one support bracket includes a top surface and the adhesive material is disposed between the top surface of the support bracket and the bottom surface of the shelf panel.

### Claim 39 (depends on 38)

The shelf assembly of claim 38, wherein the top surface of the at least one support bracket defines a channel receiving the adhesive material.

### Claim 40 (depends on 32)

The shelf assembly of claim 32, wherein said spill containment pattern is a continuous border which defines a single central portion within said border.

### Claim 41 (depends on 40)

The shelf assembly of claim 40, wherein said spill containment pattern is located along or spaced from the perimeter of the top surface of the shelf panel.

### Claim 42 (depends on 32)

The shelf assembly of claim 32, wherein the hydrophobic surface comprises a frit layer applied in the spill containment pattern on the top surface of the shelf panel and a hydrophobic compound coated over the frit layer.

### Claim 43 (depends on 42)

The shelf assembly of claim 42, wherein the frit layer is disposed adjacent to and bonded to the top surface of the shelf panel.

### Claim 44 (depends on 32)

The shelf assembly of claim 32, wherein the hydrophobic surface completely encircles the central portion of the top surface of the shelf panel.