STORAGE CONTAINER FOR A REFRIGERATOR APPLIANCE WITH SUPPLEMENTAL STORAGE FEATURES
A storage container for a refrigerator appliance is provided. A supplemental storage shelf is mounted to the storage container. The supplemental storage shelf is configured for selective positioning along a vertical direction relative to the storage container. In such a manner, the supplemental storage shelf can be easily or conveniently stored when not in use.
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The present subject matter relates generally to storage containers, e.g., for refrigerator appliances.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONRefrigerator appliances generally include a cabinet that defines a chilled chamber for receipt of food articles for storage. The refrigerator appliances can also include various storage components mounted within the chilled chamber and designed to facilitate storage of food items therein. Such storage components can include racks, bins, shelves, or drawers that receive food items and assist with organizing and arranging of such food items within the chilled chamber.
A design goal for refrigerator appliances can include providing flexibility and customizability in arranging storage components within the appliance's chilled chamber. Such flexibility can improve consumer satisfaction with the appliance. Consequently, the storage components of certain refrigerator appliances can be adjusted or repositioned within the chilled chamber depending upon the configuration desired or selected by a user. However, repositioning storage components offers limited flexibility in arranging such storage components.
In particular, storage components that are unused or seldom used can consume valuable storage space within the chilled chamber of the appliance. Further, such unused or seldom used storage components can obstruct or impede storage of food items within the chilled chamber. To limit the inconvenience caused by such components, the unused or seldom used storage components can be removed from the chilled chamber and stored outside of the refrigerator appliance. However, such a solution is often unsatisfactory to consumers who often misplace or intentionally dispose of the removed components to avoid the hassle of such storage.
Accordingly, a refrigerator appliance with features for improving storage of food items within a chilled chamber of the appliance would be useful. In particular, a refrigerator appliance with supplemental storage features that can be easily or conveniently stored within a chilled chamber of the appliance would be useful.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTIONThe present subject matter provides a storage container for a refrigerator appliance. A supplemental storage shelf is mounted to the storage container. The supplemental storage shelf is configured for selective positioning along a vertical direction relative to the storage container. In such a manner, the supplemental storage shelf can be easily or conveniently stored when not in use. Additional aspects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the following description, or may be apparent from the description, or may be learned through practice of the invention.
In a first exemplary embodiment, a refrigerator appliance is provided. The refrigerator appliance includes a cabinet that defines a chilled chamber for receipt of food items for storage. A door is mounted proximate the cabinet and is configured for permitting selective access to the chilled chamber of the cabinet. The door extends between a top and a bottom along a vertical direction. A storage container is supported on the door and defines a storage volume for receipt of food items. The storage container has a bottom panel. A supplemental shelf is mounted to the storage container and is configured for selective positioning along the vertical direction relative to the bottom panel of the storage container.
In a second exemplary embodiment, a storage container for a refrigerator appliance is provided. The storage container extends between a top and a bottom along a vertical direction. The storage container also extends between a first side and a second side along a lateral direction. The storage container further extends between a front and a back along a transverse direction. The vertical, lateral, and transverse directions are mutually perpendicular. The storage container includes a bottom panel. A pair of opposing sidewalls extends away from the bottom panel along the vertical direction. The opposing sidewalls are positioned on the first and second sides of the storage container respectively. A top panel is positioned away from the bottom panel along the vertical direction. A supplemental shelf is mounted adjacent the bottom panel and configured for selective positioning along the vertical direction relative to the bottom panel.
These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following description and appended claims. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.
A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention, including the best mode thereof, directed to one of ordinary skill in the art, is set forth in the specification, which makes reference to the appended figures, in which:
Reference now will be made in detail to embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the invention, not limitation of the invention. In fact, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. For instance, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used with another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers such modifications and variations as come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
Refrigerator appliance 100 includes a cabinet or housing 120 that extends between a top 101 and a bottom 102 along a vertical direction V. Similarly, refrigerator doors 128 extend between a top portion 150 and a bottom portion 152 along the vertical direction V. Housing 120 defines chilled chambers for receipt of food items for storage. In particular, housing 120 defines fresh food chamber 122 positioned at or adjacent top 101 of housing 120 and a freezer chamber 124 arranged at or adjacent bottom 102 of housing 120. As such, the refrigerator appliance 100 is generally referred to as a bottom mount refrigerator. It is recognized, however, that the benefits of the present disclosure apply to other types and styles of refrigerators such as, for example, a top mount refrigerator or a side-by-side style refrigerator. Consequently, the description set forth herein is for illustrative purposes only and is not intended to be limiting in any aspect to a particular refrigerator chamber configuration.
Refrigerator doors 128 are rotatably hinged to an edge of housing 120 for selectively accessing fresh food chamber 122. In addition, a freezer door 130 is arranged below refrigerator doors 128 for selectively accessing freezer chamber 124. Freezer door 130 is coupled to a freezer drawer (not shown) slidably mounted within freezer chamber 124. As discussed above, refrigerator doors 128 and freezer door 130 are shown in the closed configuration in
Turning now to
A storage container 200 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present subject matter is also mounted to or positioned on one of refrigerator doors 128. Storage container 200 is commonly referred to as a “dairy bin” and is configured for receipt of dairy items such as butter. However, storage container 200 may receive and store any other suitable food item(s). Storage container 200 is discussed in greater detail below.
In
As may be seen in
Storage container 200 has a bottom panel 210 positioned at or adjacent bottom section 202 of storage container 200. Similarly, storage container 200 has a top panel 216 positioned at or adjacent top section 201 of storage container 200. Thus, bottom panel 210 is spaced apart from top panel 216 along the vertical direction V. In particular, bottom panel 210 faces top panel 216. A pair of opposing sidewalls 212 extends between and connects bottom panel 210 and top panel 216 along the vertical direction V. Sidewalls 212 are positioned on first and second sides 203 and 204 of storage container 200 respectively and face one another. Thus, sidewalls 212 are spaced apart along the lateral direction L. A back wall 214 also extends between and connects bottom panel 210 and top panel 216 along the vertical direction V. Back wall 214 is positioned at or adjacent back 206 of storage container 200.
Storage container 200 defines a storage volume 218 for receipt of food items (e.g., butter) for storage. In particular, bottom panel 210, sidewalls 212, back wall 214, and top panel 216 define storage volume 218. A window 219 is rotatably mounted to storage container 200. Window 219 provides for selective access to storage volume 218 defined by storage container 200. In particular, a user may open and close window 219 to selectively access storage volume 218. In the embodiment shown in
As discussed above, supplemental shelf 220 is shown in a storage position in
In the functional position shown in
After consuming or otherwise disposing of the excess food items, the user can raise or lift supplemental shelf 220 back to the storage position. As supplemental shelf 220 shifts into the storage position, catch 229 will engage sidewall 212 and lock or hold supplemental shelf 220 in the storage position. In the storage position, supplemental shelf 220 is positioned out of the way and, e.g., is less likely to interfere with the user as he or she utilizes food items stored within refrigerator appliance 100 compared to the functional position. However, in the functional position, supplemental shelf 220 provides convenient storage space for food items. Thus, supplemental shelf 220 can provide additional storage space when desired and is easily stored when such storage space is not needed.
As may be seen in
Legs 224 extend away from supplemental shelf 220 along the vertical direction V by about a height H of storage container 200 in order to permit supplemental shelf 220 to displace a maximum or increased distance (compared to shorter legs) from bottom panel 210 when supplemental shelf 220 is in the functional position. In particular, supplemental shelf 220 can be positioned away from bottom panel 210 along the vertical direction V by about height H of storage container 200 when supplemental shelf 220 is in the functional position. Height H may about four inches, about six inches, about eight inches, or any other suitable distance. Thus, supplemental shelf 220 can be positioned about four inches, about six inches, about eight inches, or any other suitable distance away from bottom panel 210 along the vertical direction V when supplemental shelf 220 is in the functional position.
Legs 224 are received within (or adjacent) sidewalls 212 of storage container 200 when supplemental shelf 220 is in the storage position. In particular, as may be seen in
Hook 230 may be used to support produce bags or food articles. For example, a user may hang such items from hook 230. Container support 232 may be used to prevent tipping of large (e.g., tall) bottles or containers supported on one of shelves 140 (
This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they include structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages of the claims.
Claims
1. A refrigerator appliance comprising:
- a cabinet that defines a chilled chamber for receipt of food items for storage;
- a door mounted proximate said cabinet and configured for permitting selective access to the chilled chamber of said cabinet, said door extending between a top portion and a bottom portion along a vertical direction;
- a storage container supported on said door and defining a storage volume for receipt of food items, said storage container having a bottom panel; and
- a supplemental shelf mounted to said storage container and configured for selective positioning along the vertical direction relative to the bottom panel of said storage container.
2. The refrigerator appliance of claim 1, further comprising a window mounted proximate said storage cabinet and providing selective access to the storage volume of said storage container.
3. The refrigerator appliance of claim 1, wherein said supplemental bottom shelf is configured for selective adjustment between a storage position and a functional position, wherein said supplemental shelf is positioned immediately adjacent the bottom panel of said storage container in the storage position, wherein said supplemental shelf is spaced apart from the bottom panel of said storage container in the functional position.
4. The refrigerator appliance of claim 1, wherein said supplemental shelf comprises a support extending away from said supplemental shelf along the vertical direction, said support received by said storage container in order to mount said supplemental shelf to said storage container.
5. The refrigerator appliance of claim 4, wherein said support comprises a pair of legs slidably received within a pair of cavities defined by said storage container.
6. The refrigerator appliance of claim 5, wherein said legs extend along the vertical direction by about a height of said container.
7. The refrigerator appliance of claim 1, wherein said storage container includes a latching mechanism for selectively securing said supplemental shelf in a storage position, said supplemental shelf positioned immediately adjacent said storage container in the storage position.
8. The refrigerator appliance of claim 1, wherein said storage container is mounted to said door at the top portion of said door.
9. The refrigerator appliance of claim 8, further comprising a shelf mounted to said door below said storage container along the vertical direction.
10. The refrigerator appliance of claim 9, wherein said supplemental shelf comprises a container support configured for assisting with supporting a container disposed on said shelf.
11. The refrigerator appliance of claim 1, wherein said storage container is configured for selective mounting to said door at a plurality of locations on said door, said plurality of locations distributed on said door along the vertical direction.
12. The refrigerator appliance of claim 1, further comprising a hook mounted to said supplemental shelf.
13. A storage container for a refrigerator appliance, the storage container extending between a top section and a bottom section along a vertical direction, the storage container also extending between a first side and a second side along a lateral direction, the storage container further extending between a front and a back along a transverse direction, the vertical, lateral, and transverse directions are mutually perpendicular, the storage container comprising:
- a bottom panel;
- a pair of opposing sidewalls extending away from said bottom panel along the vertical direction, said opposing sidewalls positioned on the first and second sides of the storage container respectively;
- a top panel positioned away from said bottom panel along the vertical direction; and
- a supplemental shelf mounted adjacent said bottom panel and configured for selective positioning along the vertical direction relative to said bottom panel.
14. The storage container of claim 13, wherein said storage container defines a storage volume, a window of said storage container providing selective access to the storage volume of said storage container.
15. The storage container of claim 13, wherein said supplemental shelf is configured for selective adjustment between a storage position and a functional position, wherein said supplemental shelf is positioned immediately adjacent the bottom panel of said storage container in the storage position, wherein said supplemental shelf is spaced apart from the bottom panel of said storage container in the functional position.
16. The storage container of claim 13, wherein said supplemental shelf comprises a support extending away from said supplemental shelf along the vertical direction, said support received by said storage container in order to mount said supplemental shelf to said storage container.
17. The storage container of claim 16, wherein said support comprises a pair of legs positioned adjacent the first side and the second side of said storage container respectively, said pair of legs slidably received within a pair of cavities defined by said opposing sidewalls respectively.
18. The storage container of claim 17, wherein said legs extend along the vertical direction by about a height of the storage container.
19. The storage container of claim 13, wherein said storage container includes a latching mechanism for selectively securing said supplemental shelf in a storage position, said supplemental shelf positioned immediately adjacent said storage container in the storage position.
20. The storage container of claim 13, further comprising a hook mounted to said supplemental shelf.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 6, 2012
Publication Date: Dec 12, 2013
Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY (Schenectady, NY)
Inventors: David Clay Calvert (Louisville, KY), Michael Andrew Hillerich (Louisville, KY)
Application Number: 13/489,989
International Classification: F25D 23/04 (20060101); F25D 25/02 (20060101);