Odor-adsorbing tray for under refrigerator shelves

Abstract

This invention comprises a deodorizing tray located for under a refrigerator ceiling panel or shelf or other horizontal support in a space. The tray has a bottom surface for supporting a fluid deodorizing material. In one embodiment, laterally extending flanges on the tray provide support for a securing device for attaching the tray to the underside surface of a shelf. In a second embodiment, a second tray having a bottom and an upstanding wall is configured for removable reception in the first tray under a shelf. Lateral flanges on the first and second trays have mutually registering socket and detent members arranged for cooperative engagement when the second tray is installed within the first tray. The wall of the first tray is open at its rear end to removably receive the second tray. In a third embodiment, the tray is formed as a depression in a retractable refrigerator shelf, and a surrounding wall spacing the bottom of the tray below the plane of the shelf confines the deodorizing material on the tray.

Description

This application claims under 35 USC 119(e) benefit of Provisional application Ser. No. 60/546,296, Filed 19 Feb. 2004.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to removing odors from refrigerators, freezers and other spaces, and more particularly to a tray for a deodorizer adapted to be secured under a shelf or ceiling panel of a refrigerator or freezer or under any other horizontal support surface in a space.

Baking soda has long been used to deodorize refrigerators and other spaces, and the organic foods contained therein, primarily by the simple task of opening a box of granular baking soda and placing it on a shelf in a refrigerator or other horizontal space. Periodically, the contents of the box is stirred to expose fresh granules. This procedure is quite effective in removing odors from spaces. However, the box of granular baking soda occupies usable shelf space in a refrigerator or freezer, and normal groping through the shelves to remove foodstuffs often results in upsetting the open box and spilling the contents into the space and onto food product on the shelves.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,346,143 to McGowan discloses a filter of fibrous material impregnated with odor-adsorptive material removably enclosed in a filter housing having suction cups for securing the unit to a vertical wall or on the upper surface of a horizontal shelf in a refrigerator, freezer, ice box or other cold storage unit.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,772,959 to Bermas discloses a perforate, flat container provided with open hooks for swinging support on a wire shelf element of a refrigerator and configured to removably house a package of granular adsorbent material of activated carbon and zeolite.

Pat. No. D385,287 to Westcott discloses a holder configured to removably contain a box of baking soda and to be supported upon a refrigerator shelf.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,492,675 to Brizard discloses a perforate, flat container provided with perforate front and imperforate back panels confining between them a powdered or granular odor-adsorbing material. The container may be secured removably to a vertical wall of a refrigerator or garbage container by a suction cup, nail, or adhesive strip, and is discarded after the odor-adsorbing material becomes ineffective.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,046,604 to Forbetz, et al discloses a pair of porous sheets containing odor-adsorbing granular material between them, after which the pair of sheets are stitched together to form a plurality of separate pockets containing the granular material, the assembly servicing as a shelf cover and odor-adsorbing device.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,844,394 to Randolph discloses a holder configured to removably support a conventional box of baking soda and to be secured to a vertical wall of a refrigerator or horizontal surface of a refrigerator shelf by adhesive tabs on the holder.

The above discussed prior disclosure do not overcome the problems of maximizing the shelf storage area while minimizing the possibility of spilling of odor-adsorbing material over the shelves and produce supported thereon.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention comprises a tray configured to contain a user-determined quantity and type of fluid, odor-absorbing or adsorbing material and to be secured removably to the underside of a shelf or ceiling surface of a refrigerator or freezer, or to the underside of any horizontal surface of other similar space that is to be deodorized, such as under sinks in cabinets and other spaces.

It is the principal objective of this invention to provide a deodorizer-supporting tray which may be attached removably to the underside of a shelf of a refrigerator or freezer, or to the underside horizontal surface of any other space which is to be deodorized.

Another objective of this invention is the provision of a tray of the class described that is configured to allow repeated support, discard and fresh replacement of a user selected quantity of granular, liquid, powdered or other fluid substance capable of removing odor from the space containing the tray.

A further objective of this invention is to provide a tray of the class described that is configured with securing means by which to attach the tray to the horizontal bottom surface of a shelf or other horizontal surface of a space to be deodorized.

Another objective of this invention is to provide a tray of the class described in which the securing means may be suction cups mounted on the tray for removable attachment to the underlying surface of a shelf or other downwardly facing horizontal surface of a container to be deodorized, or double sided adhesive tape or Velcro type hook and loop fastener material interconnecting the tray and shelf.

Still another objective of this invention is to provide a tray of the class described that is configured to removably receive and support a second tray that is configured to contain a user selected quantity of odor-absorbing material.

Still another objective of this invention is to provide a tray of the class described in which the first named tray is configured to allow removal and replacement of the second named tray without first removal of the first named tray.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a trap of the class described which is formed as an integral part of a container shelf as a downwardly offset portion of the shelf defining a horizontal bottom and upwardly extending peripheral wall.

A further objective of this invention is to provide a tray of the class described that is of simplified construction for economical manufacture and is installable on the underlying surface of a shelf or other space with speed and facility.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of this invention will appear from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings of preferred embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view, from upper right, of a first configuration of a tray embodying the features of this invention, the tray being shown secured to the underside of a refrigerator shelf by suction cups.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view, from upper right, of a second configuration of a tray assembly embodying the features of this invention, the tray assembly including a first tray secured to the underside of a refrigerator shelf and supporting a second tray mounted removably on the first tray in partially retracted condition.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing the tray assembly of FIG. 2 in fully extended condition.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing the tray assembly of FIG. 3 in partially retracted condition.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of a third configuration of a tray similar to the assembly of FIG. 4 and embodying the features of this invention, showing the tray formed as a downwardly offset portion of a refrigerator shelf.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 illustrates a refrigerator shelf 10 on which to support produce to be cooled. FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of this invention in the form of a relatively flat tray 12 having a bottom 14 supporting a quantity of granules (FIGS. 3 and 4) of baking soda or other odor-destroying fluid substance. An upstanding wall 16 surrounds the tray bottom 14 and supports an outwardly extending flange 18 at each end which mounts a plurality of spaced suction cups 20 configured to adhere to the bottom surface of the shelf 10 or ceiling panel (not shown), etc., and to support the tray a short distance below it.

It is by this means that a quantity of deodorizing substance is supported within the refrigerator in a position to effectively deodorize the produce and the interior of the refrigerator, while not significantly reducing the amount of shelf space for produce to be cooled and deodorized. Moreover, the location of the flat tray 12 closely adjacent the underside of the refrigerator shelf allows normal searching for and removal of produce without accidentally upsetting the tray and spilling the granules within the refrigerator space and possibly onto produce stored therein.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that means other than the suction cups 20 may be used to secure the tray removably to the underside of the shelf 10. For example, a length of double sided adhesive tape, or of hook and loop material of the Velcro type as illustrated in FIG. 4, may be interposed between the flanges 18 and shelf 10 to allow removal of the tray for refreshing or replacing of the granules, as desired. Additionally, the odor-removing fluid material may include baking soda, activated carbon, zeolite, and others as desired or needed.

Further, it will be recognized that the tray 12 with its upstanding peripheral wall 16 may contain a quantity of liquid deodorizing substance, such as lemon, to perform a similar function as the granules illustrated. Also it will be recognized that in addition to granules, powders and other loose fluid materials, and quantities of liquid substances, the tray 12 may alternatively also receive fluid materials such as baking soda, fragrances and others contained within small air-permeable packages holding predetermined quantities of material selected and placed on the tray by the user as may be needed or desired for the purpose.

The embodiment of FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 includes a tray assembly 22 including a first tray 24 mounted on a shelf as by suction cups 26 (FIGS. 2 and 3) or Velcro type fasteners 28 (FIG. 4) supported by side flanges 30 extending from the side walls 32 of the tray. The tray 24 also includes a rear wall 34 supporting a rear flange 36 projecting rearwardly of the rear wal 34. The front end of the tray is open, at 38, for removably receiving therethrough a second tray 40 provided with a bottom 42 and an upstanding peripheral wall 44. The rear portion of the peripheral wall supports a rear flange 46 which freely overlaps the rear flange 36 of tray 14. The rear flange 46 is provided with spaced openings 48 configured to register with the detents 50 projecting upward from the rear flange 36 of the tray 24, to insure retention of the second tray 40 therein. Removal of the second tray 40 from the first tray 24 is accomplished simply by pulling it forward through the open front end 38, against the resilient resistance encountered when disengaging the openings 48 from the detents 50. Openings 48 also are provided on the front flange 52 of tray 40 for reverse orientation in tray 24.

It is to be noted that the second tray 40 need not be used if the deodorizing substance is a granular solid. Obviously, if the deodorizing substance is a liquid, then the second tray 40 must be used in order to confine the liquid within the peripheral wall 44.

Referring to the third embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5, the slidable refrigerator shelf 54 is shown to be formed with a downwardly offset portion which defines a tray 56 formed with a tray bottom 58 and an upstanding confining peripheral wall 60. As illustrated, the tray 56 is configured in the same shape as tray 24 in which the front end is open, at 62, to allow use of the second tray 40 of the second embodiment. If desired, the tray 56 may be configured as the first embodiment, with peripheral wall 16. In either configuration, filling of the tray is effected conveniently by pulling the sliding shelf outwardly from the refrigerator or freezer sufficiently to expose the tray for access, to stir ot replace the deodorizing material. The tray occupies a minor portion of the shelf surface, and may be covered partially by produce, if desired or required, leaving the rest of the shelf surface available for supporting food product for cooling and deodorizing.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various other changes also may be made in the size, shape, type, number and arrangement of parts described hereinbefore, without departing from the spirit of this invention and the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. For use in a refrigerator, freezer, or other space for containing articles to be deodorized, a tray for supporting a fluid deodorizing substance for removing odors from the interior of the refrigerator, the tray comprising a downwardly extending area on the underside surface of the shelf forming a tray bottom surface and an upwardly extending wall, the tray being configured for supporting a fluid deodorizing substance on said tray bottom within said wall.

2. The tray of claim 1 wherein the tray comprises a downwardly offset portion of the shelf defining said bottom surface and upwardly extending wall.

3. The tray of claim 1 wherein the fluid substance to be contained is one of the substances granular and liquid materials.

4. The tray of claim 3 wherein the fluid substance is granular.

5. The tray of claim 4 wherein the fluid substance is baking soda.

6. For use in a refrigerator, freezer, or other space for containing articles to be deodorized, a tray for supporting a fluid deodorizing substance for removing odors from the interior of the space, the tray comprising:

a) a body member having a bottom surface capable of supporting a fluid deodorizing substance,

b) a wall extending upwardly from said bottom surface,

c) flange means extending outwardly from said wall and configured for attachment to the underside surface of a refrigerator shelf or other horizontal surface, and

d) securing means removably interconnecting said flange means and horizontal surface.

7. The tray of claim 6 wherein the securing means comprises a plurality of suction cups spaced apart around said flange, said suction cups being configured for removable attachment to the underside of a refrigerator shelf or other horizontal surface.

8. The tray of claim 6 wherein the securing means comprises a first strip of flexible material having a surface of a multiplicity of hook elements and a second strip of flexible material having a surface of a multiplicity of loop elements configured to releasably engage hook elements on said first strip, one of said first and second strips being configured for attachment to the underside of a refrigerator shelf or other horizontal surface and the other of said strips being configured for attachment to the flange means of said body member for removable engagement with said first strip, for removably attaching said tray to the underside of said shelf or other horizontal surface.

9. The tray of claim 6 including:

a) a second body member having a bottom surface and a peripheral wall, the bottom surface being capable of supporting a fluid deodorizing substance within said peripheral wall,

b) the flange means of said first named tray being configured to be open at the front end of the tray,

c) said second body member being configured for removable support on the bottom surface of the first named body member under a refrigerator shelf or other horizontal surface.

10. The tray of claim 9 including:

a) flange means extending outwardly from said peripheral wall,

b) said second body member being configured for removable reception through the open front end of the first named tray, for support on the bottom surface of the first named body member under a refrigerator shelf or other horizontal surface.

11. The tray of claim 10 including registering mutual coupling means on the flange means of said first and second trays for releasably securing said trays together, the mutual coupling means comprising socket and detent members one on each of the flange means of the first and second body members.