APPLIANCE SHELVING SYSTEM

Abstract

An appliance shelving system is provided that has multiple different positions along the vertical direction for receipt of a shelf or rack. The construction of the features for supporting the shelf or rack allows for an increased number of vertical positions as compared to certain conventional constructions. The shelving system may be used in a variety of different appliance types including, for example, ovens and refrigerators.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The subject matter of the present disclosure relates to an appliance with one or more features providing for the adjustability of the vertical position of one or more shelves or racks.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Appliances such as refrigerators and ovens typically include one or more shelves or racks for the support of food items and containers having food items. For example, oven appliances conventionally include one or more racks whereby multiple food items can be placed into the oven for cooking operations. In order to accommodate food items and cooking utensils of different sizes, a typical construction includes horizontal protrusions formed directly into the side walls of the oven cavity on which the racks can be slid in and out of the oven cavity. The racks and protrusions are designed so that the user can remove the rack from the protrusions at one vertical level and reinstall the rack at a different vertical level, which the user may select based on e.g., the height of the food items or utensils, the number of items being cooked, the type of food being cooked, and/or other factors. Refrigerators may have shelves that e.g., include tabs or hooks at the rear of the shelves. The shelves can be unhooked and moved to another vertical location.

Such conventional designs may present challenges to some users of these appliances, however. For example, some users may find the removal and reinstallation of the rack or shelf so as to adjust the vertical height to be cumbersome or difficult. Additionally, with oven appliances, the protrusions are commonly formed by stamping metal sheets to form the side walls of the oven cavity. The number of vertical levels may be limited to e.g., only four or five within the oven cavity. Thus, the amount of vertical adjustability can be quite limited and, therefore, unsatisfactory to some users. Similar problems can exist with shelving systems in refrigerator appliances.

Other systems have been proposed to provide vertical adjustability for the racks or shelves within an appliance. Typically, however, these constructions are also limited to fixed number of a relatively few locations at which the racks or shelves can be placed within the appliance. Some constructions may also be limited in the amount of weight that can be supported.

Accordingly, an appliance having vertically adjustable racks or shelves would be useful. An appliance also having features that allow for an increased selection of vertical locations to which the racks or shelves can be adjusted would also be useful.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an appliance shelving system having multiple different positions along the vertical direction for receipt of a shelf or rack. The construction of the features for supporting the shelf or rack allows for an increased number of vertical positions as compared to certain conventional constructions. The shelving system may be used in a variety of different appliance types including, for example, ovens and refrigerators. 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 one exemplary embodiment, the present invention provides an appliance that includes a cabinet having a cavity defined in part by a pair of opposing side walls. Each opposing side wall is constructed with a metal sheet forming a plurality of shelf supports extending longitudinally along a transverse direction. The shelf supports are parallel to each other and are formed integrally from the metal sheet. The shelf supports are spaced apart from each other along a vertical direction. A shelf extends between the opposing side walls. The shelf is suspended upon a pair of the shelf supports.

In another exemplary embodiment, the present invention provides a shelf support assembly for an appliance having a cooking chamber. The shelf support assembly includes a pair of frames positioned on opposing sides of the cooking chamber. Each frame includes a metal sheet forming a plurality of shelf supports. Each shelf support is formed by bending a portion of the sheet to create a vertically-extending flange portion positioned beside a slot. A shelf extends between a pair of opposing sides. A pair of slide assemblies are provided with each slide assembly attached to one of the opposing sides of the shelf. A pair of hangers is also provided. Each hanger is attached to one of the slide assemblies along one of the opposing sides of the shelf. Each hanger is received onto one of the shelf supports in a complementary manner so that the shelf is supported between the pair of frames.

In still another exemplary embodiment, the present provides an oven appliance that includes a cabinet having a cooking chamber with side walls. A pair of frames are positioned on the side walls of the cooking chamber. Each frame includes a metal sheet forming a plurality of shelf supports. Each shelf support is formed by bending a portion of the sheet to create a vertically-extending flange portion. A shelf extends between a pair of opposing sides. A pair of slide assemblies are provided with each slide assembly attached to one of the opposing sides of the shelf. A pair of hangers are provided with each hanger attached to one of the slide assemblies along one of the opposing sides of the shelf. Each hanger is received onto a pair of the shelf supports in a complementary manner so that the shelf is supported between the pair of frames.

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.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

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:

FIG. 1 provides a front view of an exemplary embodiment of an oven appliance of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an exemplary oven cabinet of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a metal sheet forming exemplary shelf supports of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a front distal end of an exemplary hanger and metal sheet of the present invention while FIG. 5 is a side view of the same.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of an exemplary hanger and slide assembly of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a rear distal end of an exemplary hanger and metal sheet of the present invention while FIG. 7 is a side view of the same.

FIG. 9 provides a perspective view of an exemplary hanger of the present invention as used in FIGS. 2 through 8.

FIG. 10 provides a side view of the front end of another exemplary embodiment of a hanger and metal sheet of the present invention while FIG. 11 is perspective view of the same.

FIG. 12 provides a side view of the rear end of another exemplary embodiment of a hanger and metal sheet of the present invention while FIG. 13 is perspective view of the same.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

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.

Referring to FIG. 1, an exemplary embodiment of an oven 100 according to the present invention is shown. FIG. 1 provides a front view of oven 100 while FIG. 2 provides a front perspective view into the cabinet 102 of oven 100, which defines an exemplary cooking chamber or cavity 104 into which a vertically adjustable shelf (or rack) support assembly 106 with shelf 120 has been installed. As used herein, “rack” is not limited to an assembly of elongated wire structures 98 as shown with shelf 120 and, instead, includes shelves constructed from other materials such as expanded metal and others. Accordingly, “rack” and “shelf” (and the plural forms thereof) are used interchangeably herein. Also, as will be understood by one of skill in the art using the teachings disclosed herein, support assembly 106 can be used with shelves or racks in other appliances such as e.g., refrigerators as well. As such, oven 100 is provided by way of example of an appliance only. Different embodiments of cavity 104 with a different number of vertical positions for shelf 120 may be used as well.

Oven 100 includes a door 108 with handle 110 that provides for opening and closing access to oven cavity 104 through an opening at the front of cavity 104. A user of the appliance 100 can place a variety of different items to be cooked in oven cavity 104, which is defined in part by a pair of opposing side walls 112, bottom wall 114, top wall 116, and rear wall 118 that extends laterally between opposing side walls 112. Multiple oven shelves or racks 120 can be positioned within cavity 104 (only one shelf 120 is shown) on rack support assembly 106. The support and height adjustability of shelf 120 using assembly 106 will be further described.

One or more heating elements (not shown) can be positioned e.g., at the top 116 of chamber 104 to provide heat for cooking and cleaning. Such heating element(s) can be e.g., gas, electric, microwave, or a combination thereof Other heating elements can be located at the bottom 114 of chamber 104 as well. A window 122 on door 108 allows the user to view e.g., food items during the cooking process. For purposes of cooling, inlet 124 allows for an inflow of ambient air into a ventilation system while vent 126 allows for the outflow of such air after it has been heated by oven 100.

Oven 100 includes a user interface 128 having a display 130 positioned on top panel 132 with a variety of controls 134. Interface 128 allows the user to select various options for the operation of oven 100 including e.g., temperature, time, and/or various cooking and cleaning cycles. Operation of oven appliance 100 can be regulated by a controller (not shown) that is operatively coupled i.e., in communication with, user interface panel 128, heating element(s), and other components of oven 100 as will be further described.

For example, in response to user manipulation of the user interface panel 128, the controller can operate one or more heating element(s). The controller can receive measurements from a temperature sensor (not shown) placed in oven cavity 104 to e.g., provide a temperature indication to the user with display 130. By way of example, the controller may include a memory and one or more processing devices such as microprocessors, CPUs or the like, such as general or special purpose microprocessors operable to execute programming instructions or micro-control code associated with operation of appliance 100. The memory may represent random access memory such as DRAM, or read only memory such as ROM or FLASH. In one embodiment, the processor executes programming instructions stored in memory. The memory may be a separate component from the processor or may be included onboard within the processor.

The controller may be positioned in a variety of locations throughout appliance 100. In the illustrated embodiment, the controller may be located under or next to the user interface 128 or otherwise within top panel 132. In such an embodiment, input/output (“I/O”) signals are routed between the controller and various operational components of appliance 100 such as heating element(s), controls 134, display 130, sensor(s), alarms, and/or other components as may be provided. In one embodiment, the user interface panel 182 may represent a general purpose I/O (“GPIO”) device or functional block.

Although shown with touch type controls 134, it should be understood that controls 134 and the configuration of appliance 100 shown in FIG. 1 is provided by way of example only. More specifically, user interface 128 may include various input components, such as one or more of a variety of electrical, mechanical or electro-mechanical input devices including rotary dials, push buttons, and touch pads. The user interface 128 may include other display components, such as a digital or analog display device designed to provide operational feedback to a user. The user interface 128 may be in communication with the controller via one or more signal lines or shared communication busses. Also, oven 100 is shown as a wall oven but the present invention could also be used with other appliances such as e.g., a stand-alone oven, an oven with a stove-top, and non-oven appliances as well. For example, the adjustable shelf support assembly 106 could also be used within a refrigerator appliance.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the opposing side walls 112 of oven 100 each include a metal sheet 136 from which a plurality of shelf supports 138 are formed. Shelf supports 138 extend longitudinally along transverse direction T or, stated alternatively, have a longitudinal axis L that extends along transverse direction T. Shelf supports 138 are substantially parallel to one another and are spaced apart from each other along vertical direction V.

One or more shelves 120 extend between the opposing side walls 112 as shown in FIG. 1. Each shelf 120 is supported upon a pair of shelf supports 138. Although only two shelves 120 are shown, any number of shelves 120 may be used. Furthermore, by providing shelf supports 138 at multiple different locations along the vertical direction, each shelf 120 is vertically adjustable as may be desired by the user to accommodate different sizes for food items and/or utensils. In addition, multiple food items may be cooked or heated at the same time on different levels through the use of multiple shelves 120.

Referring now to FIGS. 3, 4, 6, and 8, each shelf support 138 is formed integrally from metal sheet 136 by e.g., bending, stamping, and/or cutting. Each shelf support 138 includes a flange portion 140 that extends upwardly along vertical direction V. For the exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 3, 4, 6, and 8, flange portion 140 is parallel to vertical direction V. However, in other embodiments of the invention, flange portion 140 can form acute angles with vertical direction V as well. Flange portion 140 includes a distal tip 142 at which metal sheet 136 is curled to provide a more blunted edge. Flange portion 140 is located adjacent to a slot 170 that results when flange portion 140 is punched, bent, and/or stamped from metal sheet 136.

Shelf support assembly 106 also includes a pair of hangers 144. Each hanger 144 is positioned at one of the opposing sides 146 (FIG. 2) of shelf 120 near one of the opposing side walls 112 when shelf 120 is not extended from oven cavity 104. For this exemplary embodiment, each hanger 144 is received onto one of the shelf supports 138 in complementary manner. More particularly, each hanger 144 forms a channel 148 that opens downwardly along vertical direction V. As shown in FIGS. 4, 8, and 9, each channel 148 is in receipt of the flange portion 140 of one of the shelf supports 138 so as to suspend shelf 120 between a pair of shelf supports 138. For this exemplary embodiment, each channel 148 includes an inside surface 150 (FIG. 4 and FIG. 8) that rests upon shelf support 138.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 6, shelf support assembly 106 also includes a pair of slide assemblies 152. Each slide assembly 152 includes a movable portion 154 attached to one of the opposing sides 146 of shelf 120 and a stationary or non-extendable portion 156 attached to hanger 144. By way of example, slide assemblies 152 can be fashioned from e.g., drawer slides and can include ball bearings or features to facilitate sliding movement. Accordingly slide assemblies 152 allow shelf 120 to be extended out of cavity 104 for convenient access by the user. Shelf 120 can be slid back into cavity 104 once the user has e.g., placed or removed an item from shelf 120. Other constructions for slide assemblies 152 may be used as well.

For this exemplary embodiment, hanger 144 is equipped with features that help secure shelf 120 in cavity 104 when a user pulls on shelf 120 to extend it. Referring to FIGS. 4, 5, and 9, each hanger 144 extends longitudinally between a pair of distal ends 162 and 164. On front distal end 162, each hanger 144 defines a protrusion 158 that extends downwardly along a vertical direction V. Protrusion 158 is received into an aperture 160 (FIG. 5) defined by one of the shelf supports 138. Accordingly, when a user pulls on shelf 120 to remove it from cavity 104, protrusions 158 on each hanger 144 limit the movement of hangers 144 along the transverse direction so that shelf 120 can slide forward without removing hangers 144 from shelf supports 138. A protrusion may be provided on one or both of the hangers 144 supporting shelf 120. If the user wishes to e.g., relocate shelf support assembly 106 to a different pair of shelf supports at a different vertical position or remove assembly 106 for cleaning, the user can lift up on the front 96 of shelf 120. This will cause protrusion 158 to disengage from the aperture 160 of shelf support 138 and allow assembly 106 to be moved along transverse direction T.

In order to prevent tipping when shelf 120 is fully extended, hanger 144 is provided with a tab 168 at the rear distal end 164 as shown in FIGS. 7, 8, and 9. Tab 168 extends along lateral direction L to engage a flange portion 140 of one of the shelf supports and prevent shelf 120 from tipping. One or both hangers 144 provided with shelf 120 can be equipped with tab 168.

One or more elements of shelf support assembly 106 can be coated with materials that provide protection during the extreme temperatures that can be experienced during cooking operations in oven 100. For example, shelf 120, hanger 144, and/or slide assemblies 152 can be coated with ceramic materials, Teflon®, or other protective materials.

In order to prevent damage to such protective materials during oven use, hanger 144 is provided with a finger 166 along front distal end 162. Finger 166 extends along a lateral direction L and is configured to engage flange portion 140 of shelf support 138 when shelf 120 is pushed back into oven cavity 104. As such, flange portion 140 limits the movement of shelf 120 along transverse direction T to prevent contact between rear wall 118 and the back 94 (FIG. 2) of shelf 120.

The present invention is not limited to the particular shape of hanger 144 or shelf supports 138 shown in FIGS. 1 through 9. Other shapes and configurations may be used as well. For example, FIGS. 10, 11, 12, and 13 illustrate additional exemplary embodiments of the present invention. More particularly, for this exemplary embodiment, hangers 144 are still positioned at opposing sides of shelf 120 as previously described in FIGS. 1 through 9. However, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, in this exemplary embodiment each hanger 144 is received onto a pair of shelf supports 138.

Each hanger 144 includes a foot 172 extending towards one of the opposing side walls 112 of cooking chamber 104 and next to slot 170. Foot 172 is supported on the inside surface 174 of one of the flange portions 140 of a shelf support 138. More particularly, for hanger 144 rests on an upper flange portion 140 and a lower flange portion 140 with foot 172 on the lower flange portion 140. Accordingly, for this exemplary embodiment, each hanger 144 received onto a pair of shelf supports 138 that are immediately adjacent to each other vertical direction V. Other features as previously described, such as protrusion 158 and fingers 166 can be used as well.

As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, in order to prevent tipping when shelf 120 is fully extended, hanger 144 is provided with a tab 176 at the rear distal end 164. Tab 176 extends along lateral direction L to engage a flange portion 140 of one of the shelf supports and prevent shelf 120 from tipping. One or both hangers 144 provided with a shelf 120 can be equipped with tab 168.

As will be appreciated by one of skill in the art from the teachings disclosed herein, the construction of shelf supports 138 from metal sheets 136 that are placed on (or form part of) the walls of the oven chamber, as described in the above embodiments, provides strength for the support of shelf 120 as well as food or utensils placed thereon. Additionally, such construction is relatively compact and allows for numerous locations along the vertical direction at which shelf support assembly 106 with shelf 120 can be located. Increased flexibility is provided particularly as compared to conventional constructions using stamped protrusions or projections formed in vertical walls, which traditionally provide only a limited number of heights at which shelves or racks may be placed.

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. An appliance, comprising:

a cabinet having a cavity defined in part by a pair of opposing side walls, each opposing side wall comprising a metal sheet forming a plurality of shelf supports extending longitudinally along a transverse direction, the shelf supports parallel to each other and formed integrally from the metal sheet, the shelf supports spaced apart from each other along a vertical direction; and

a shelf extending between the opposing side walls, the shelf suspended upon a pair of the shelf supports.

2. An appliance as in claim 1, wherein each shelf support comprises a flange portion extending upwardly along a vertical direction.

3. An appliance as in claim 2, wherein the shelf further comprises a pair of hangers, each hanger positioned at opposing sides of the shelf near one of the opposing side walls of the cabinet, each hanger forming a channel opening downwardly along the vertical direction, each channel in receipt of the flange portion of one of the shelf supports so as to suspend the shelf between the pair of shelf supports.

4. An appliance as in claim 3, wherein each of the shelf supports defines an aperture, and wherein at least one hanger defines a protrusion that extends downwardly along a vertical direction and is received into one of the apertures of the shelf supports so as to limit movement of the at least one hanger along a transverse direction.

5. An appliance as in claim 4, wherein each hanger extends longitudinally between a pair of distal ends, and wherein at least one of the distal ends includes a finger along a lateral direction that is configured to engage the flange portion of one of the shelf supports so as to limit the movement of the shelf along a transverse direction.

6. An appliance as in claim 5, further comprising a pair of slide assemblies, each slide assembly positioned along one of the opposing sides of the shelf, each slide having a stationary portion connected with one of the hangers, each slide having a movable portion connected with one of the opposing sides of the shelf

7. An appliance as in claim 1, wherein the shelf comprises an expanded metal.

8. A shelf support assembly for an appliance, the appliance having a cooking chamber, the shelf support assembly comprising:

a pair of frames positioned on opposing sides of the cooking chamber, each frame comprising a metal sheet forming a plurality of shelf supports, each shelf support formed by bending a portion of the sheet to create a vertically-extending flange portion positioned beside a slot;

a shelf extending between a pair of opposing sides;

a pair of slide assemblies, each slide assembly attached to one of the opposing sides of the shelf; and

a pair of hangers, each hanger attached to one of the slide assemblies along one of the opposing sides of the shelf, each hanger received onto one of the shelf supports in a complementary manner so that the shelf is supported between the pair of frames.

9. A shelf support assembly for an appliance as in claim 8, wherein each hanger forms a channel opening downwardly along the vertical direction, each channel in receipt of the flange portion of one of the shelf supports so as to suspend the shelf between the pair of shelf supports.

10. A shelf support assembly for an appliance as in claim 8, wherein each of the shelf supports defines an aperture, and wherein each hanger defines a protrusion that extends downwardly along a vertical direction and is received into one of the apertures of the shelf supports so as to limit movement of the shelf along a transverse direction.

11. A shelf support assembly for an appliance as in claim 8, wherein each hanger extends longitudinally between a pair of distal ends, and wherein at least one of the distal ends includes a finger extending along a lateral direction and configured to engage the flange portion of one of the shelf supports so as to limit the movement of the shelf along a transverse direction.

12. A shelf support assembly for an appliance as in claim 8, wherein the shelf has a pair of opposing sides, and wherein the shelf support assembly further comprising a pair of slide assemblies, each slide assembly positioned along one of the opposing sides of the shelf, each slide having a stationary portion connected with one of the hangers, each slide having a movable portion connected with one of the opposing sides of the shelf.

13. A shelf support assembly for an appliance as in claim 8, wherein the shelf comprises a plurality of elongated metal rods.

14. An oven appliance, comprising:

a cabinet that includes a cooking chamber having side walls;

a pair of frames positioned on side walls of the cooking chamber, each frame comprising a metal sheet forming a plurality of shelf supports, each shelf support formed by bending a portion of the sheet to create a vertically-extending flange portion;

a shelf extending between a pair of opposing sides;

a pair of slide assemblies, each slide assembly attached to one of the opposing sides of the shelf; and

a pair of hangers, each hanger attached to one of the slide assemblies along one of the opposing sides of the shelf, each hanger received onto a pair of the shelf supports in a complementary manner so that the shelf is supported between the pair of frames.

15. An oven appliance as in claim 14, wherein each hanger comprises a channel opening downwardly along the vertical direction, each channel in receipt of the flange portion of one of the shelf supports so as to suspend the shelf between the pair of shelf supports.

16. An oven appliance as in claim 15, wherein each flange portion defines an inside surface facing one of the opposing sides of the cooking chamber, and where hanger further comprises a foot extending towards one of the opposing sides of the cooking chamber and supported upon the inside surface of one of the flange portions.

17. An oven appliance as in claim 16, wherein one or more of the shelf supports defines an aperture, and wherein each foot of the hangers defines a protrusion that extends downwardly along a vertical direction and is received into one of the apertures of the shelf supports so as to limit movement of the shelf along a transverse direction.

18. An oven appliance as in claim 14, wherein each hanger extends longitudinally between a pair of distal ends, and wherein at least one of the distal ends includes a finger extending along a lateral direction and configured to engage the flange portion of one of the shelf supports so as to limit the movement of the shelf along a transverse direction.