Back to results
US 8,733,862 B1Granted
Adjustable shelf support assembly for an appliance
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsJames Lee Armstrong, Stephen Bernard Froelicher, Joshua Stephen Wiseman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An appliance is provided having one or more racks or shelves, the position of which may be adjusted vertically. Multiple different positions along the vertical direction can be made available for selection by a user of the appliance. One or more locking mechanisms allow for selective adjustment of the vertical position at which a shelf may be located.
Claims20
An adjustable shelf support assembly for an appliance, the appliance including a pair of opposing side walls, the adjustable shelf support assembly comprising:
- a shelf having a pair of opposing sides for positioning near the opposing side walls;
- a plurality of support legs extending from the opposing sides of the shelf, each leg having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is rotatably connected to one of the opposing sides of the shelf, and wherein the second end of each support leg is configured for rotatable connection along one of the opposing side walls of the appliance;
- at least one locking leg connected to one of the opposing sides of the shelf, the locking leg having a first end and a second end, wherein the second end of the at least one locking leg is configured for rotatable connection along one of the opposing side walls of the appliance;
- a locking mechanism for fixing the vertical position of the shelf, the locking mechanism comprising:
- a first shaft connected with the shelf and extending along a lateral direction;
- a second shaft connected with the first end of the at least one locking leg, wherein the first and second shafts are rotatable relative to each as the shelf is raised or lowered;
- and
- a spring defining a spring axis and coils encircling the spring axis to create a cavity into which at least parts of the first shaft and the second shaft are received, the spring wrapped around the first shaft and the second shaft in a manner that increases the tension on the spring as the shelf is lowered and decreases the tension on the spring as the shelf is raised.
5 more elements
An appliance having a vertically adjustable shelf assembly, the appliance comprising:
- a cabinet defining a cavity including a pair of opposing side walls and a rear wall;
- a shelf positioned in the cavity;
- at least two support legs rotatably connected along opposing sides of the shelf, each support leg also pivotally supported by the cabinet;
- at least one locking leg connected to the shelf, the at least one locking leg having a first end and a second end, wherein the second end of the at least one locking leg is pivotally supported by the cabinet;
- a first shaft connected with the shelf and extending along a lateral direction;
- a second shaft connected with the first end of the at least one locking leg, wherein the first and second shafts are rotatable relative to each as the shelf is raised or lowered;
- and
- a spring having coils wrapped around the first shaft and second shaft, the spring configured to increase in tension as the shelf is lowered along a vertical direction so as to limit the movement of the shelf and configured to decrease in tension as the shelf is raised along the vertical direction.
5 more elements
An adjustable shelf support assembly for an appliance, the appliance including a pair of opposing side walls, the adjustable shelf support assembly comprising:
- a shelf having a pair of opposing sides for positioning near the opposing side walls;
- a plurality of support legs extending from the opposing sides of the shelf, each leg having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is rotatably connected to one of the opposing sides of the shelf, and wherein the second end of each support leg is configured for rotatable connection along one of the opposing side walls of the appliance;
- at least one locking leg connected to one of the opposing sides of the shelf, the locking leg having a first end and a second end, wherein the second end of the at least one locking leg is configured for rotatable connection along one of the opposing side walls of the appliance;
- a locking mechanism for fixing the vertical position of the shelf, the locking mechanism comprising:
- a first shaft connected with the shelf and extending along a lateral direction;
- a second shaft connected with the first end of the at least one locking leg, wherein the first and second shafts are rotatable relative to each as the shelf is raised or lowered;
- a spring defining a spring axis and coils encircling the spring axis to create a cavity into which at least parts of the first shaft and the second shaft are received, the spring wrapped around the first shaft and the second shaft in a manner that increases the tension on the spring as the shelf is lowered and decreases the tension on the spring as the shelf is raised;
- and
- a control hub carried on one or both of the first shaft and second shaft, the control hub defining a chamber into which one or both of the first shaft and second shafts are rotatably received, and wherein the spring further comprises a tang received by the control hub such that the control huh can be selectively rotated to release tension in the spring.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.