REFRIGERATOR OR FREEZER BIN ORGANIZATION SYSTEM

Abstract

A refrigerating or freezing cabinet may include any number of drawers, bins, baskets, or other compartments. In at least one compartment at least one organizational partition is inserted to divide products and food substances within the at least one compartment of the refrigerating or freezing cabinet. The partition may be a plurality of shapes and sizes, and may have an attachment means to secure it within the refrigerating or freezing cabinet. An attachment means or clip may also be provided to secure products or food substances with the cabinet.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to an organization system configured in refrigerators and freezers, more particularly, the disclosure relates to an organization system for organizing bags, bundles, and various others foods and containers within a refrigerating or freezing cavity.

BACKGROUND

Refrigerators or freezers may be configured with various shelves, drawers and compartment areas. A variety of food items having various shapes and sizes may be stored within the refrigerating and freezing cabinets. Some products are well suited for storage in drawers, others store well in baskets, and still others store well on shelves. Various food items tend to have abstract shapes with uneven surfaces and are frequently piled within a drawer or spread out on a shelf. Some examples of such food items having irregular dimensions include deli meat, sliced or shredded cheese, string cheese, nuts and dried fruits, bag salads, and homemade items or leftover products from meals, which are stored in varying sizes and styles of plastic freezer containers. The variety of shapes and sizes of these food items results in the foods being piled together in the drawer or spread out on a shelf.

A resulting consequence storing food items in this manner is that users will have difficulty sifting through the disarray of food items in order to find the desired item or items. Additionally, if the drawer becomes full these various items will tend to shift during storage and may spill or overflow into another area of the refrigerator or freezer cabinet causing the food items to be damaged or unable to be found prior to spoilage. Additionally, these items may be caused to move while searching for a desired food item due to a lack of containment. Another related issue is that frequently these various shaped food items are stored in the crisper or deli drawers when they are foods that may not benefit from the containment especially items that do not benefit from being in such humidity controlled environment. As a result, items that would benefit from a humidity controlled environment will not fit due to the addition of these various other food items. Therefore, there is a need in the refrigeration appliance industry for an organization system configured within the refrigerator and/or freezer.

SUMMARY

An embodiment may include at least one organizational partition, for use in a refrigerating or freezing compartment. The partition has a front and a rear surface, and an edge extending from at least one end of the front and rear surface, the edge continuing around a perimeter of the partition. The partition may be inserted into a refrigerating or freezing cavity to form a division between a plurality of products and food substances which may be stored in the cavity. The partition may have various attachment means for attachment within the cavity, including, but not limited to clips for securing products thereto, and tabs for labeling or identifying stored contents. Further, an exemplary embodiment may use clips attached together or individually within the refrigerating or freezing cavity, wherein the clips may be fixed or movingly attached by an attachment means that enables at least one of rotational and translational movement within the cavity.

It is a further object of the present disclosure to use an organization device, or a set of organization devices, in conjunction with a drawer, basket, or bin of a refrigerating or freezing compartment, or to use an organization device, or set of organization devices, in conjunction with a refrigerating or freezing cavity, to improve the organizational system of consumer refrigerating and freezing appliances.

According to one aspect, a refrigerator or freezer may be provided with an interior compartment, such as a wire mesh basket or bin. Within the compartment is inserted one or more organizational partitions, which may be used to divide the space into smaller storage units. The organizational partitions attach to the side rails or bottom rails via an attaching mechanism that enables rotational or translational movement of the partitions within the mesh basket.

According to another aspect, a refrigerator or freezer may be provided with an interior compartment, such as a solid bin or drawer. Within the compartment along the bottom wall of the compartment is inserted a partition assembly plate, which has a substantially smooth lower surface and an upper surface containing attachment means for attaching one or more organizational partitions to the partition assembly plate. This configuration may enable rotational or translational movement of the partitions within the solid drawer. Both of the above configurations may have organizational partitions which are oriented from front to rear, or from one side to the other side of the interior compartment.

According to another aspect, a refrigerator or freezer may be provided with an interior compartment, the compartment being either wire mesh, solid, or any other configuration comprising a compartment for storage within the refrigerator or freezer cabinet. Organizational partitions may be inserted into the storage area according to one of the configurations above, and attached to at least one face of the one or more organizational partitions is a biased clip or fastener, which may be used for securing items to be stored within the storage space. The biased clip or fastener may be opened by pushing on the rearward portion of the clip such that stored items may be retrieved from the storage space.

According to another aspect, a refrigerator or freezer may be provided with an interior space. Within the interior space a system of clips or fasteners may be mounted along a side or back wall, along the interior of the door, or along any combination of the interior surfaces of the refrigerator or freezer and its partitions, drawers, bins, or baskets. The system of clips may include a substantially rectangular panel on which is mounted one or more clips of various sizes, and in various configurations. The panel could also be any other useful shape to fix within an interior surface of the refrigerating or freezing cavity. The system of clips or fasteners may instead include one or more strands of clips attached in a more linear orientation, without the use of a shaped panel, each strand having one or more clips attached thereto. The system of clips may instead be composed of individual clips, each clip configured with and attaching element. In this configuration the clips may all attach using a similar attachment element, or the clips may use a diverse set of attachment elements configured for specific corresponding attachment locations within the storage space.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an angled perspective view of a basket containing organizational partitions;

FIG. 2 illustrates an angled perspective view of partitions attached to a partition assembly plate;

FIG. 3 illustrates an angled perspective view of a partition assembly being inserted into a drawer;

FIG. 4 illustrates an angled perspective view of a partition assembly in a drawer;

FIG. 5 illustrates an angled perspective view of a basket containing an organizational partition, having clips attached thereto;

FIG. 6 illustrates a side perspective view of a refrigerating or freezing cavity;

FIG. 7 illustrates a front perspective view of a refrigerating or freezing cavity.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present disclosure provides for a refrigerating or freezing cavity containing at least one basket, bin, drawer, storage container, or storage space, wherein improved organization is accomplished by the use of at least one organizational partition, clip, or any combination thereof.

FIG. 1 illustrates a basket 30 configured to be used in a refrigerating or freezing cavity (illustrated as element 80, FIGS. 6-7). The basket 30 may be configured in a plurality of shapes and sizes. The basket 30 may be at least one of fully and partially open on one or more sides, and the top. The basket 30 may have substantially vertical walls 32, or one or more walls extending upward at some angle with a vertical plane, the walls forming an interior space 34. At least one organizational partition 31 may be configured to rotatively or fixidly engage a portion of the basket 30 when inserted into the interior space 34 of the basket 30 to movably divide the interior space 34 into at least one product region 35. The at least one organizational partition 31 may have a solid structure or the partition may have one or more open passages 41 to allow air flow through the partition. Additionally, the at least one partition 31 may be at least one of rigid and flexible in part or in its entirety. The at least one partition 31 may have an identifying mark or trademark 42 located somewhere on a surface of the partition. The at least one partition 31 may be designed such that the structure or surfaces of the partition 31 depict some food type or substance, or represent some other kind of identifying mark.

The at least one partition 31 may be rectangular or any other shape configured to divide the interior space 34 into at least one product region 35, such that the at least one partition 31 extends substantially from one side 32 of the basket 30 to the other side 32, or from the front 37 of the basket 30 to the rear 38, while also extending from the base 39 of the basket 30 to some point above the base 39 of the basket 30. The at least one partition 31 may include as part of its structure at least one tab or protrusion 40 extending away from the main body of the partition 31, such that the at least one protruding part 40 may be used for identification of food items or other substances placed in the adjoining product regions 35. The tab or protrusion 40 may be located at any position along the top edge 36 of the partition 31. If more than one partition 31 is inserted into the interior space 34, the tab or protrusion 40 of each partition may be offset from the others by being located at a different position along the top edge 36 of the partition 31. The protrusion 40 may be fixed, or slidably connected to the top edge 36 to allow adjustment along the top edge 36 of the partition 31 to achieve a plurality of configurations.

The at least one partition 31 may fit loosely into the interior space 34, or may be attachable to the basket 30 along at least one of the sides 32, front 37, rear 38, and along the bottom 39 or any combination thereof, the attachment being accomplished by an exemplary attaching mechanism 33, such as, but not limited to a male and female pinned connection. The attachment mechanism 33 may be configured to snap on to at least one of the side 32, front 37, rear 38, and bottom 39 rails of the basket 30 or by some other means, and may be mounted in such a way as to allow the dividers 31 to be fixedly, slidably or rotationally adjustable within the interior space 34. Additionally, clips or some other attachment means, such as, but not limited to hooks, elastic members or other resilient members may be fixed to the at least one partition 31, for attachment or fastening of food items or other products within the at least one product region 35. The partition 31 may be a rigid material, such as, but not limited to plastic, metal, wood, composite, or other suitable material that is usable within a refrigerating or freezing cavity.

FIG. 2 illustrates an alternate embodiment of the present disclosure. In this embodiment a partition assembly plate 50 is provided, having a top surface 52 and a bottom surface 53. The assembly plate 50 may be solid or contain open passages 54 to allow airflow through the assembly plate. Located adjacent to the top surface 52, either above or below or both, is at least one attachment means 55 whereby at least one organizational partition 51 may be at least partially fixedly attached to the assembly plate 50. The attachment means 55 may be configured to hold the at least one partition 51 firmly in place, or may be configured to allow slidable or rotational movement of the at least one partition 51 with respect to the assembly plate 50. As described above, the at least one partition 51 may contain at least one clip or other attachment means similar to attachment means 33, described above regarding FIG. 1, and may be any of various shapes or sizes to accommodate separation of an interior space into at least one product region. The at least one partition 51 may be solid or may contain open passages 58 to allow airflow through the partition 51. The at least one partition 51 may have one or more tabs or protruding parts 57 to allow for identification of substances placed in the adjoining product regions (not shown). The at least one protrusion 57 may be fixed or movable along the top edge 56 of the partition 51. The assembly plate 50 may be oriented within a basket, bin, drawer, or other space within the refrigerating or freezing cavity to facilitate organization of products therein. The assembly plate 50 may be oriented such that the partitions 51 run substantially from front to rear or from side to side within a drawer, bin, or basket, or in any other usable orientation within the refrigerating or freezing cavity. The partition 51 may be a plastic, metal, wood, composite, or other suitable material that is usable within a refrigerating or freezing cavity.

FIG. 3 illustrates the partition assembly plate 50 and the at least one partition 51, as described above, being coupled with a generally shaped drawer 60, and configured for use in a refrigerating or freezing cavity 80, illustrated in FIGS. 6-7. The assembly plate 50 may be oriented such that the at least one partition runs from side to side (as shown in FIG. 3), or may be oriented such that the at least one partition runs from front to rear (not shown). The assembly plate 50 may be oriented such that the bottom surface 53 of the assembly plate 50 rests on the interior bottom surface 62 of the drawer 60, bin, basket, or other refrigerating or freezing space. Additionally, the assembly plate 50 may be shaped such that it is rectangular or other geometric configuration to facilitate orientation within a drawer, bin, basket, or other space within the refrigerating or freezing cavity, the orientation being substantially at an angle 63 to an axis 61 running along the front of the drawer 60, bin, basket, or refrigerating or freezing cavity. For example, the assembly plate 50 may be circular or hexagonal or some other shape to allow placement of the assembly plate 50 such that the at least one partition 51 runs at a 45 degree angle (not shown) to the axis 61, or at some other angle to facilitate storage of abstract shaped and sized products. Additionally, the assembly plate 50 may rest on the interior bottom surface 62 of the drawer 60, bin, basket, or other refrigerating or freezing cavity, or may have some attachment means whereby the bottom surface 53 of the assembly plate 50 may be fixedly attached to the interior bottom surface 62 of the drawer 60, bin, basket, or other refrigerating or freezing cavity.

FIG. 4 depicts a placement of the partition assembly plate 50 with at least one partition 51 into the interior space 64 of the drawer 60, thereby creating at least one product region 65. The assembly plate 50 may rest on the interior bottom surface 62, or be fixedly attached thereto with some attachment means (not shown).

FIG. 5 contains a depiction of a basket 70, similar to the basket 30 in FIG. 1, containing at least one organizational partition 71 placed within the interior space 74 to create at least one product region 75. The at least one partition 71 depicts one embodiment of a partition having a solid structure 72. The structure 72 may be rigid or flexible to accommodate orientation of abstractly shaped products within the at least one product region 75. The at least one partition 71 may contain at least one clip or other attachment means 73 whereby products or food substances may be fastened thereto and secured within the at least one product region 75. The at least one clip 73 may be oriented on the front, rear, or any other surface of the at least one partition 71 to facilitate organization or securing of products or food substances. Additionally, the at least one clip 73 may have attachment means (not shown) such that it is movable to multiple positions along any surface of the at least one partition 71. The partition 71 of FIG. 5 doesn't depict a tab or protruding part 40, as in FIG. 1, however, it is understood that the partition 71 may be configured in any manner as described above, including various shapes, sizes, and orientations, and having any or none of various attachment means to be secured or fit loosely within a basket, bin, drawer, or other refrigerating or freezing cavity.

FIG. 6 depicts an organizational partition or panel 81 containing at least one clip or attachment means 83 secured to a surface 82 of the partition or panel 81 with any of various attachment mechanisms (not shown). The at least one clip 83 may be oriented in any configuration to enable fastening of products or food substances 86, and in the case of at least one additional clip 84, may be oriented linearly, in rows or columns, a grid, asymmetrically, or any other of various configurations to facilitate organization of products or food substances 86 within the bin, basket, drawer, or other refrigerating or freezing cavity 80. Additionally the at least one clip or attachment means 83 may be fixed or movably mounted (not shown) to a surface of the partition or panel, such that the at least one clip 83 is movable along the surface 82 of the partition or panel 81. The partition or panel 81 may be attached to the interior of the refrigerating or freezing cavity by means of an adjustment mechanism 85. The adjustment mechanism 85 may be a telescoping rail as shown in FIG. 6, or some other type of adjustment mechanism allowing the panel to move rotationally or translationally along or away from the interior surface of the refrigerating or freezing cavity. FIG. 7 shows the frontal perspective view.

In another embodiment, the at least one clip 83 may be connected to at least one other clip 84 by some means other than the divider or panel 81 as shown in FIG. 6. Together the at least two clips (not shown) may be oriented linearly, in rows or columns, asymmetrically, or in some other orientation, and together having an attachment mechanism (not shown) for use anywhere within the refrigerating or freezing cavity. The adjustment mechanism may be rotationally or translationally adjustable along or away from the interior surface of the refrigerating or freezing cavity. In yet another embodiment, the at least one clip 83 may be independently attachable to some region within the refrigerating or freezing cavity by means of any of various attachment mechanisms. In this embodiment at least one clip 83 may be located (not shown) by the user in any of various convenient locations at the user's preference. In any of the above embodiments the at least one clip or attachment means 83 may be affixed to an adjustment means which allows the at least one clip to be separately or jointly adjusted with none or at least one other clip. In a preferred embodiment, some combination of any of the above described at least one partitions or panels 31, 51, 71, 81 and the at least one clips 73, 83, 84 may be utilized in conjunction with each other to facilitate organization according to the user's preference within the refrigerating or freezing cavity.

Claims

1. A consumer refrigeration appliance comprising:

at least one organizational partition configured in a cooling zone of the consumer refrigeration appliance, the at least one organization partition comprising: a front surface; a rear surface, and an edge extending between the front surface and rear surface and continuing around the perimeter of the partition, the edge having an upper portion, a lower portion, a left portion, and a right portion; wherein the at least one partition is configured for positioning within at least one of a basket, a bin, a drawer, and a cavity configured within the cooling zone to form a separation between a plurality of products and food substances stored in the cooling zone.

2. The organizational partition according to claim 1, wherein the at least one partition is substantially rectangular.

3. The organizational partition according to claim 1, wherein the at least one partition is at least one of plastic and metallic.

4. The organizational partition according to claim 1, wherein the at least one partition is at least partially flexible.

5. The organizational partition according to claim 1, wherein the upper portion of the edge includes a protrusion.

6. The organizational partition according to claim 5, wherein the protrusion is tab slidably mounted along the upper portion of the edge such that the protrusion is adjustable along the edge upper portion.

7. The organizational partition according to claim 1, wherein any of the right, left, and bottom portions of the at least one partition include an attachment element configured to connect any of the right, left, and bottom portions of the at least one partition to any of a right wall, a left wall, a front wall, a rear wall, and a bottom wall of the cavity.

8. The organizational partition according to claim 7, wherein the attachment element is at least one of a snap closure and a pin and rod hinge.

9. The organizational partition according to claim 7, wherein the at least one partition is movably attached such that the at least one partition is moved in any of a rotational and a translational position within the cavity.

10. The organizational partition according to claim 1, wherein the at least one partition contains at least one open passageway to allow airflow through at least a portion of the partition.

11. The organizational partition according to claim 1, wherein the at least one partition is secured to a partition assembly plate, such that the partition assembly plate is configured along a bottom surface of the cavity, such that the at least one partition attached thereto extends upward therefrom.

12. The organizational partition according to claim 11, wherein the at least one partition is movably attached to the assembly plate such that the at least one partition is configured to move at least one of rotationally and translationally within the cavity.

13. The organizational partition according to claim 11, wherein at least a second partition is secured to the assembly plate.

14. At least one organizational element, for use in a refrigerating or freezing basket, bin, drawer, or other cavity, comprising:

an attachment mechanism for attaching the at least one clip to a position within the cavity; and

a fastening means for securing at least one of a plurality of products or food substances to the at least one clip;

wherein the at least one clip is biased in a first direction to allow a user to open the at least one clip and release the at least one of a plurality of products or food substances clamped to within a clamping element of the at least one clip.

15. The organizational element according to claim 14, wherein the at least one clip is configured on a adjustment element positioned on any of a at least one partition positioned within the cavity, at least one panel positioned within the cavity, and at least one panel movably mounted within the cavity, wherein the movably mounted panel may move in any of a rotational and translational direction along or away from a wall of the cavity.

16. A method of using at least one organizational partition, for use in a refrigerating or freezing basket, bin, drawer, or other cavity, the at least one partition comprising a front surface, a rear surface, and an edge around the perimeter of the partition, the method comprising:

inserting the at least one partition into a refrigerating or freezing cavity, the cavity comprising an interior space,

wherein the at least one partition is placed forming a division of the interior space; and

organizing products and food substances within the cavity.

17. The method according to claim 15, wherein after inserting the at least one partition into the cavity, an additional step of attaching is performed, wherein the at least one partition may be attached to any of a combination of a right and a left wall of the cavity, a front and a rear wall of the cavity, and a bottom wall of the cavity.

18. The method according to claim 15, wherein at least a second partition is inserted into the cavity such that the interior space is further divided by the at least a second partition.

19. The method according to claim 15, further comprising configuring the partition with a tab, such that an additional step of labeling may be performed, wherein the at least one partition may be labeled to designate the products and food substances positioned adjacent to the at least one partition.

20. The method according to claim 15, wherein the partition further comprises a tab or protruding portion, such that if at least a second partition is used, the second partition having a tab or protruding portion, the tab or protruding portion of the at least a second partition being offset from the tab or protruding portion of the at least one partition by any of a predetermined production shape and a user defined position.