Supports: cabinet structure – Spaced insulated wall – Refrigerator cabinet
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-15
2001-05-08
Wilkens, Janet M. (Department: 3636)
Supports: cabinet structure
Spaced insulated wall
Refrigerator cabinet
C312S351000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06227636
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention pertains to the art of refrigerators and, more particularly, to a combination shelf and serving tray assembly for use in a refrigerator.
2. Discussion of the Prior Art
A typical household refrigerator is provided with numerous vertically spaced shelves for use in supporting food items stored in the refrigerator. In the past, various proposals have also been made to enhance the versatility of refrigerator shelving arrangements. For example, proposals have been made to support shelves at various, selected heights within a refrigerator cabinet in order to accommodate different size food items. In order to enhance access to food items placed in a back portion of a shelf, it has also been proposed in the art to slidably mount refrigerator shelves for movement between extended and retracted positions. It has also been proposed to provide a refrigerator with a planar shelf member that can be selectively supported upon a frame within a compartment of the refrigerator so as to define a shelf, while also enabling the platform to be removed from the refrigerator and used as a tray.
It is known to combine many of these features into a single overall shelving arrangement. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,032,235 discloses a refrigerator incorporating a shelf platform which is adapted to be selectively removed from the cabinet of a refrigerator and used as a tray. More specifically, the tray is adapted to be supported upon a frame including a pair of spaced support members for sliding movement into and out of the refrigerator cabinet. In addition, the tray can be completely removed from the cabinet in order to carry away food products supported thereon.
Although certain advancements have been made in this art to increase the versatility of known refrigerator shelving arrangements, there still exists a need for an improved shelf and serving tray assembly for a refrigerator. More specifically, there exists a need in the art for an assembly which can be manufactured in an economical manner and incorporates a simple and efficient support arrangement for the tray whether used inside or outside of the refrigerator.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention pertains to a combination shelf and serving tray assembly for use in a refrigerator including a shelving platform removably supported upon a frame mounted within a compartment of the refrigerator. More particularly, the platform is slidably mounted upon the frame for movement between extended and retracted positions relative to the refrigerator compartment and is designed to be completely removed from the compartment for use as a serving tray. In accordance with the most preferred embodiment of the invention, an underside of the tray is provided with various spaced projections in the form of legs that are preferably provided with elastomeric tips. The frame includes fore-to-aft extending and laterally spaced rails formed with respective elongated slots. When the platform is positioned within the refrigerator compartment, each of the legs extends into a respective one of the slots in order to guide the platform between the extended and retracted positions. The length of the slots and the spacing between the legs defines the extent to which the platform can be slid relative to the refrigerator compartment. When the platform is removed from the compartment and used as a serving tray, the legs support the tray through the elastomeric tips. The platform preferably includes an annular, upstanding peripheral edge which functions to advantageously contain any minor spills.
With this construction, the combination shelf and serving tray assembly of the invention represents a versatile arrangement for both storing food items in a refrigerator compartment and readily removing the food items simultaneously from the compartment. The legs of the shelving platform provide both support and guiding functions in a convenient and economical manner. In any event, additional objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof when taken in conjunction with the drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to corresponding parts in the several views.
REFERENCES:
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patent: 2205781 (1940-06-01), Vining
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patent: 4386703 (1983-06-01), Thompson et al.
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patent: 5507398 (1996-04-01), Miller
patent: 5558419 (1996-09-01), Dasher et al.
patent: 5735589 (1998-04-01), Herrmann et al.
Dean Nathan A.
Flannery John P.
Langmuir Jane K.
Lye Michael T.
Thalls Angela R.
Diederiks, Jr. Everett G.
Maytag Corporation
Wilkens Janet M.
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