Patents by Inventor Donald C. Gilbert
Donald C. Gilbert has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 5524981Abstract: A molded refrigerator shelf useful for containment of spills on the shelf includes a shelf member with a rim molded around the perimeter edge of the shelf member to form a liquid tight seal between the rim and the shelf member. The molded rim projects above the top surface of the shelf member to form a liquid dam for containing spills to the shelf member. The shelf is cantilevered upon support brackets from the rear wall of a refrigerator. The support brackets are adapted to support the shelf at a plurality of vertical positions. The support brackets are integrally molded with the molded rim, or separately formed and attached to the rim during molding. Slide tracks are optionally provided on the support brackets for slidably receiving and supporting a storage bin or drawer beneath the shelf. Also, a drain is optionally provided to drain a spill from the shelf.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 1993Date of Patent: June 11, 1996Assignee: Donnelly Technology, Inc.Inventors: Robert S. Herrmann, Edmund J. Kane, Donald C. Gilbert
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Patent number: 5441338Abstract: A snap-on shelf for use in a refrigerator has a shelf panel with a perimeter edge and a perimeter rim molded about the perimeter edge. Attachment clips are molded in one piece with the perimeter rim and releasably couple with a support frame for supporting the shelf panel. In one embodiment, attachment clips may be arranged at front and back rim regions for a fixed shelf configuration. In an alternative embodiment, attachment clips may be arranged at left and right sides of the perimeter rim and slidingly engage the frame for a sliding shelf configuration. Further, the shelf panel may be a separate piece from the perimeter rim or may alternatively be molded in one piece with the perimeter rim and the attachment clips. As another option, a slide for receiving and supporting a separate member in sliding engagement under the shelf panel may be used. As a further option, the attachment clips and perimeter rim may be adapted for use with a preexisting support frame.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 1992Date of Patent: August 15, 1995Assignee: Donnelly CorporationInventors: Edmund J. Kane, Robert S. Herrmann, Donald C. Gilbert
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Patent number: 5429433Abstract: A molded refrigerator shelf useful for containment of spills on the shelf includes a planar shelf member with a rim molded around the perimeter edge of the shelf member to form a liquid tight seal between the rim and the shelf member. The molded rim projects above the top surface of the shelf member to form a liquid dam for containing spills to the shelf member. In one form, the shelf is slideably mounted to allow horizontal extension of the shelf and convenient access to the rear portion of the shelf using slide guides molded into the rim along each side of the shelf. The shelf is cantilevered upon support brackets from the rear wall of a refrigerator to allow air flow around the shelf sides. The support brackets are adapted to support the shelf at a plurality of vertical positions.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 1994Date of Patent: July 4, 1995Assignee: Donnelly Technology, Inc.Inventors: Kevin C. Bird, Donald C. Gilbert, Robert S. Herrmann, Gregory T. Wolters, Cleon C. Morgan
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Patent number: 5406894Abstract: A shelf assembly has a shelf support bracket and a shelf panel supported by the bracket. A fastening stud projects from the shelf panel into a figure eight shaped aperture in the support bracket. The fastening stud slides relative to the fastening aperture and has a resilient, compressible bushing for latching engagement with the fastening aperture. In one embodiment, the rear edge of the shelf panel is positioned in an open sided channel member of the support bracket. In another embodiment, a spring clip is substituted for the fastening stud and projects from the shelf panel into a fastening aperture in the support bracket, the fastening aperture having a lip for latching engagement with the spring clip.Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 1993Date of Patent: April 18, 1995Assignee: Donnelly Technology, Inc.Inventors: Robert S. Herrmann, Edmund J. Kane, Gregory T. Wolters, Donald C. Gilbert
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Patent number: 5403084Abstract: A refrigerator shelf assembly with snap-in slides for supporting a sliding bin, receptacle or other separate member has a shelf panel and a front rim extending across at least a portion of a front edge of the shelf panel. The front rim extends below the shelf panel and defines at least one front slide receptacle. A back rim extends across at least a portion of a back edge of the shelf panel and below the shelf panel to define at least one back slide receptacle. A pair of slides for receiving and supporting a bin under the shelf panel are removably mounted in the front and back slide receptacles.Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 1993Date of Patent: April 4, 1995Assignee: Donnelly CorporationInventors: Edmund J. Kane, Robert S. Herrmann, Gregory T. Wolters, Donald C. Gilbert
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Patent number: 5362145Abstract: A molded refrigerator shelf useful for containment of spills on the shelf includes a planar shelf member with a rim molded around the perimeter edge of the shelf member to form a liquid tight seal between the rim and the shelf member. The molded rim projects above the top surface of the shelf member to form a liquid dam for containing spills to the shelf member. In one form, the shelf is slideably mounted to allow horizontal extension of the shelf and convenient access to the rear portion of the shelf using slide guides molded into the rim along each side of the shelf. The shelf is cantilevered upon support brackets from the rear wall of a refrigerator to allow air flow around the shelf sides. The support brackets are adapted to support the shelf at a plurality of vertical positions.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 1991Date of Patent: November 8, 1994Assignee: Donnelly CorporationInventors: Kevin C. Bird, Donald C. Gilbert, Robert S. Herrmann, Gregory T. Wolters, Cleon C. Morgan
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Patent number: 5297486Abstract: A shelf assembly has a shelf support bracket and a shelf panel supported by the bracket. A fastening stud projects from the shelf panel into a figure eight shaped aperture in the support bracket. The fastening stud slides relative to the fastening aperture and has a resilient, compressible bushing for latching engagement with the fastening aperture. In one embodiment, the rear edge of the shelf panel is positioned in an open sided channel member of the support bracket. In another embodiment, a spring clip is substituted for the fastening stud and projects from the shelf panel into a fastening aperture in the support bracket, the fastening aperture having a lip for latching engagement with the spring clip.Type: GrantFiled: August 14, 1991Date of Patent: March 29, 1994Assignee: Donnelly CorporationInventors: Robert S. Herrmann, Gregory T. Wolters, Edmund J. Kane, Donald C. Gilbert
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Patent number: 5273354Abstract: A molded refrigerator shelf useful for containment of spills on the shelf includes a shelf member with a rim molded around the perimeter edge of the shelf member to form a liquid tight seal between the rim and the shelf member. The molded rim projects above the top surface of the shelf member to form a liquid dam for containing spills to the shelf member. The shelf is cantilevered upon support brackets from the rear wall of a refrigerator. The support brackets are adapted to support the shelf at a plurality of vertical positions. The support brackets are integrally molded with the molded rim, or separately formed and attached to the rim during molding. Slide tracks are optionally provided on the support brackets for slidably receiving and supporting a storage bin or drawer beneath the shelf. Also, a drain is optionally provided to drain a spill from the shelf.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 1991Date of Patent: December 28, 1993Assignee: Donnelly CorporationInventors: Robert S. Herrmann, Edmund J. Kane, Donald C. Gilbert