Adjustable height package retainer for a refrigerator door

Details Adjustable height package retainer for a refrigerator door Adjustable height package retainer for a refrigerator door

1999-04-02

2001-02-13

Wilkens, Janet M. (Department: 3636)

Supports: cabinet structure

Spaced insulated wall

Refrigerator cabinet

C312S321500

Reexamination Certificate

active

06186608

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to adjustable height package retainers for holding packages on a refrigerator door.
2. Description of Related Art
It is desirable to fit as much as possible into one refrigerator. It has been found that storing items on the shelves on the door of a refrigerator is one way of fitting more items into a refrigerator, while still allowing easy access to the items in the refrigerator.
By nature, the door of a refrigerator is continually opened and closed. It has been found that the food items stored on the shelves on the door of the refrigerator, if not properly retained on the shelves on the door, may fall from the shelves while the door is being opened or shut. As this situation is not desirable, various ways of retaining the items on the shelves have been devised. One way of keeping the items or packages on the shelves is to install a fixed bracket, or rail, on the door in front of the packages, thereby preventing the packages from tipping while the door is moving. Unfortunately, such a configuration is typically not adjustable. Therefore, shorter or smaller packages are difficult or inconvenient to access because the bracket is in the way. Further, taller packages may tip over and fall out. Generally, it is not possible to install a fixed bracket at such a height that will accommodate the wide range of package sizes that one may desire to store on a shelf on the door of a refrigerator.
Because of the inherent problems with non-adjustable package retainers, adjustable height package retainers have been devised. However. these package retainers have a variety of disadvantages. One disadvantage is that some of the package retainers are designed to adjust by pivoting about a fixed point. As a result, the width of a package that can be accommodated on the shelf changes as the height of the retainer is adjusted. Another problem with the adjustable height package retainers of the prior art is that they are typically constructed using several parts and their assembly can be difficult. A further problem with these pivoting package retainers is that they can be difficult for the user to adjust. Finally, many of the adjustable height package retainers can not be locked in place and as a result, the packages on the shelf are allowed too great a freedom of movement and unwanted tipping can occur.
Accordingly, prior to the development of the present invention, there has been no adjustable height package retainer for a refrigerator door which: can accommodate packages of equal width at all heights of adjustment; is constructed using few parts; is easy to assemble; is easy for the refrigerator user to adjust; stays in place after adjustment; and prevents unwanted tipping of the packages stored on the door of the refrigerator.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to the field of refrigerators. More particularly the invention relates to a method and apparatus for retaining packages of various heights on the door of a refrigerator.
In accordance with the invention, the foregoing advantages have been achieved through the apparatus for an adjustable height package retainer for a refrigerator door of the present invention. The adjustable height package retainer for a refrigerator door may include: a shelf body having a first opening, a second opening and a bottom wall; a retainer member having at least one leg, and a retaining segment, the retainer member having first and second positions; the retainer member being disposed with respect to the shelf body in the first position with the at least one leg fitting matingly into the first opening in the shelf body, and the retaining segment has a first height from the bottom wall of the shelf body; and the retainer member being disposed with respect to the shelf body in the second position with the at least one leg fitting matingly into the second opening in the shelf body, and the retaining segment has a second height from the bottom wall of the shelf body.
Another feature of the present invention may be that the first and second openings each have a longitudinal axis disposed substantially perpendicular to the bottom wall. A further feature of the present invention is that the retainer member may have a first leg and a second leg, and the first leg fits matingly into the first opening and the second leg fits matingly into the second opening in the first position, and the first leg fits matingly into the second opening and the second leg fits matingly into the first opening in the second position.
In another embodiment of the present invention, an adjustable height package retainer for a refrigerator door may include: a retainer member having at least one leg, the at least one leg being irregularly shaped; a shelf body having at least one opening, the at least one opening being irregularly shaped, the at least one irregularly shaped opening matingly receiving the at least one irregularly shaped leg in a first orientation, and in the first orientation, the at least one irregularly shaped leg penetrates the at least one irregularly shaped opening to a first depth, and the at least one irregularly shaped opening matingly receiving the at least one irregularly shaped leg in a second orientation, and in the second orientation the at least one irregularly shaped leg penetrates the at least one irregularly shaped opening to a second depth.
Another feature of the present invention is that the retainer member may have two legs. A further feature of the present invention is that the at least one irregularly shaped leg may have a protrusion, and the at least one irregularly shaped opening may have a notch.
A further feature of the present invention is that the protrusion on the at least one irregularly shaped leg aligns with the notch in the at least one irregularly shaped opening in the first orientation, and the protrusion on the at least one irregularly shaped leg does not align with the notch in the at least one irregularly shaped opening in the second orientation. In another aspect of the present invention may include that the protrusion is a ball, and the notch is large enough to matingly receive the ball, and in the first orientation, the ball fits matingly into the notch.
In accordance with the present invention, the foregoing advantages have also been achieved through the method of adjusting an adjustable height package retainer of the present invention. This aspect may include the steps of: providing a shelf body having a first opening, a second opening, and a bottom wall; providing a retainer member having a first leg, a second leg, and a retaining segment; inserting the first leg into the first opening, and inserting the second leg into the second opening, with the retaining segment having a first height from the bottom wall of the shelf body; removing the first leg from the first opening, and removing the second leg from the second opening; inserting the first leg into the second opening in the shelf body, and inserting the second leg into the first opening of the shelf body, with the retaining segment having a second height from the bottom wall of the shelf body.
In accordance with the present invention, the foregoing advantages have also been achieved through the refrigerator of the present invention. The refrigerator of the present invention may include: a refrigerator housing; a refrigerator door; an adjustable height package retainer disposed on the refrigerator door, the adjustable height package retainer having a shelf body, the shelf body having a first opening, a second opening, and a bottom wall, the adjustable height package retainer having a retainer member, the retainer member having at least one leg, and a retaining segment, the retainer member having first and second positions, the retainer member being disposed with respect to the shelf body in the first position with the at least one leg fitting matingly into the first opening in the shelf body, and the retaining segment has a first height from the bottom wall of the shelf, and the

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Adjustable height package retainer for a refrigerator door does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Adjustable height package retainer for a refrigerator door, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Adjustable height package retainer for a refrigerator door will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2589797