Shelf Or Shelf-supporting Structure Patents (Class 312/408)
  • Patent number: 11953259
    Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein are directed to a shelf and shelving system for a refrigerator door having a door liner with opposing side walls, where each side wall includes a row of ditch steps. The shelf or shelves includes a gap wall at each end of the shelf. A switch is positioned above each gap wall. Each switch includes a handle, a mounting rod and a biasing member for biasing a long component of the handle outwardly away from the gap wall such that an engagement surface of the long component will engage a ditch step and thereby secure the shelf in place within the refrigerator door. The switch is actuatable by a user to allow for vertical adjustment of the shelf along the rows of ditch steps or to remove the shelf therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: BBY Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Weichao Chen, Kaixuan He
  • Patent number: 11859898
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes a cabinet defining a storage chamber, a drawer door configured to be inserted into and withdrawn out of the storage chamber, a driving device provided at the door part, an elevation device provided at the drawer part and having a scissors lift assembly, and a connecting assembly that couples the driving device to the scissors lift assembly to transfer driving force from the driving device to the scissors lift assembly. The elevation device is configured, based on being uncoupled from the connecting assembly, to be separable from the drawer part, and the elevation device includes a restricting unit configured to restrict the scissors lift assembly from unfolding when the elevation device is separated from the drawer part. The drawer door includes a drawer part and a door part that is configured to, based on the drawer door being inserted into the storage chamber, close the storage chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Kwanghyun Choi
  • Patent number: 11828529
    Abstract: An appliance mounting assembly includes a mounting bracket with first and second distal arms that flare outward in opposing directions from an attachment body and couple to a panel. The mounting bracket includes a pair of coupling members that extend from the attachment body toward the panel surface and distal ends that curve inward toward one another. A self-clinching nut has an undercut, serrated clinching ring, and base. The undercut and the serrated clinching ring are disposed within an aperture defined by the attachment body. A ladder rack has first and second sides coupled via an attachment wall. The first and second sides define protrusions that engage the pair of coupling members in an interference fit. The attachment wall defines a receiving hole that aligns with the aperture. A threaded fastener extends through the receiving hole and engages the self-clinching nut to fasten the ladder rack to the mounting bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Atishkumar S. Dhage, Sanket Vivek Phalak
  • Patent number: 11779113
    Abstract: An appliance includes a cabinet that has an inner surface. A frame is coupled to the inner surface of the cabinet. The frame includes a frame boss that extends from a bottom surface thereof. A panel is positioned within the frame. The frame extends along a perimeter of the panel. An inner trim member has a flange that extends therefrom. The flange defines an aperture configured to align with the frame boss. A fastener is configured to extend through the aperture and engage the frame boss to couple the inner trim member with the frame. An outer trim member is disposed over the inner trim member. The inner trim member is configured to slidably receive the outer trim member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Pratik P. Chavan, Shrawan Kumar, Pranav Karan
  • Patent number: 11740007
    Abstract: Provided is a refrigerator and control method for refrigerator and method for opening a refrigerator door. While a user is holding an object in both hands, a door may be automatically and additionally opened using another part of a body other than hands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Minsub Kim, Hongsik Kwon, Dongjeong Kim, Jungjae Lee, Jaehoon Shin
  • Patent number: 11713917
    Abstract: A refrigerator appliance includes a housing, a mullion, and a biasing element. The housing defines an internal cavity and door frame that accesses the internal cavity. The mullion is disposed within the cavity and divides the cavity into a freezer compartment and a refrigerator compartment. A position of the mullion is adjustable within the cavity such that movement of the mullion away from the freezer compartment and toward the refrigerator compartment increases a volume of the freezer compartment and decreases a volume of the refrigerator compartment, and such that movement of the mullion away from the refrigerator compartment and toward the freezer the compartment decreases the volume of the freezer compartment and increases the volume of the refrigerator compartment. The biasing element is secured to the housing and the mullion. The biasing element is configured to bias the mullion toward the freezer compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Alexandre Oliveira De Albuquerque, Rafael Sottili Chaves, Adalberto Matias Beppler, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11598577
    Abstract: A refrigerator cabinet including a first shelf defining a U-shape, wherein the U-shape is off-center so that a first side of the U-shape is wider than the an opposite, second side of the U-shape, a second U-shaped shelf having left, right and back portions located in a horizontal fashion above the first shelf, and a mounting structure for supporting the first and second U-shaped shelves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Julia B. Burke, Daniel Chow, Juan F. Flores, Todd Tunzi
  • Patent number: 11397045
    Abstract: Provided is a refrigerator including a supporting projection to reduce noise created from a rack. The refrigerator includes an outer case, an inner case arranged inside the outer case to define a storeroom, a rack removably arranged in the storeroom, a projection protruding from a side of the inner case, on which to put a side end of the rack, and at least one side supporting projection forming a separation space between the side of the inner case and a side of the rack to prevent the side of the rack from contacting the side of the inner case, wherein the side supporting projection includes a rack contact portion arranged between the side of the rack and the side of the inner case and formed into a curved plane to reduce an area of contact with the side of the rack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Inyong Hwang, Byungsu Kim, Sanghyeok Park, Sangjoon Im
  • Patent number: 11371771
    Abstract: The present disclosure refers to a household refrigeration appliance and, more specifically, to a household refrigeration appliance with a multifunctional shelf. A multifunctional shelf arrangement is provided, including: a shelf comprising a frame that is physically associated to the walls of an internal box by shelf rails; the frame comprising lateral, front and rear portions, as well as at least one accessory physically associated to the shelf by accessory rails defining at least one track for displacement of the accessory. Specifically, in accordance with this disclosure, the frame comprises a plurality of receiving structures and the accessory rails comprise fitting projections which engage directly with the receiving structures of the frame, so that the attachment rails are removably fitted with the receiving structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Luiz Afranio Alves Ferreira, Edson Isaltino Bento, Guilherme Nehring, Ademar Testoni
  • Patent number: 11002480
    Abstract: A shelving system for an appliance may include a sidewall adapter coupled to a side of a cabinet liner. The sidewall adapter may include a body defining at least one ledge and a base plate coupled to the at least one ledge. The base plate may define at least one aperture configured to receive a tab on a glide assembly. At least two adjustable fasteners may be coupled to the cabinet liner and may be configured to mount the sidewall adapter to the cabinet liner. A shelf may be coupled to the glide assemblies such that the shelf is slideable within the cabinet liner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Kamil El Sayed, Karol MichaƂ Kostka
  • Patent number: 10935305
    Abstract: A shelf assembly for installation in a household cooling appliance has a first shelf plate with a rear edge profile and a separate second shelf. A carrier frame for supporting the shelves has a guiding for the first shelf. The carrier frame has first and second side bars on which the guiding is arranged. The rear edge profile has a laterally protruding guiding pin that is coupled to the guiding. Guiding lay-ons are arranged in front of the second shelf at the side bars. The first shelf rests on the strip-shaped guiding lay-ons upon shifting and it is completely exposed to the top in the surface area of the guiding lay-ons. The first shelf has a front length half guided only by resting on the guiding lay-ons, and the guiding lay-ons extend over at least 90% of the length of the first shelf in the depth direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: BSH Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventors: Daniel Bassler, Cetin Abdullah Celik, Andrea Fink, Felix Haenssler, Christian Legner, Thomas Wykydal
  • Patent number: 10921050
    Abstract: A vacuum insulated appliance includes an outer wrapper and an inner liner. A ladder rack is coupled to the inner liner. The ladder rack includes first and second sidewalls coupled together by a connecting wall that defines a plurality of apertures. An adapter member includes a hook configured to extend through an aperture of the plurality of apertures when coupled to the ladder rack. The adapter member is coupled with a locking member that engages inner surface of first and second sidewalls of the ladder rack. A cantilever support is coupled to the adapter member and extends outward from the ladder rack. A rail assembly is coupled to an upper surface of the cantilever support. A spacer is coupled to an end of the cantilever support and abuts an inner liner surface. A storage feature is coupled to the rail assembly and is operable between stowed and deployed positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Kamil El-Sayed, Abhay Naik, Chad Rotter, Bartosz Stawczyk, Karol Michal Kostka
  • Patent number: 10852004
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates a shelf support device and a cooking appliance with the same. The shelf support device includes a rail extending in forward and backward directions to locate a front end portion over a rear end portion, including an upper surface portion and a lower surface portion; and a support unit at which a shelf is mounted at an upper portion of the support unit, coupled to the rail to be movable along the movement path formed by each of the upper surface portion and the lower surface portion, and configured to change a position of the shelf in an upward direction when being moved in the forward direction and the position of the shelf in a downward direction when being moved in the backward direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Kyoung-Joon Park, Hoon Seob Sim, Jaekyung Yang, Suyong Lee, Yongsoo Lee, Yong Hyun Lee
  • Patent number: 10775099
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes at least one compartment having an open face. A closure is movable relative to the open face to selectively close the open face. At least one glass shelf is provided within the compartment. The at least one glass shelf has an upper surface. A contour can at least partially bound an area within the upper surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Angshuman Bharadwaz, Devidas B. Raskar, Lorraine J. Westlake
  • Patent number: 10634420
    Abstract: A refrigerator appliance having a liner supported shelf is provided. The liner includes mounting features that provide for secure mounting of a shelf thereto. The shelf includes mounting features that securely engage the mounting features of the liner at multiple contact loading points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Louis A. Wantland, Bagawathkumar Chellappan
  • Patent number: 10502480
    Abstract: A shelf in a cooled compartment (10) has gaskets (32,42) selectively attachable and removable at sides (22,24,26) of the shelf. The gaskets (32,42) are configured to obstruct the flow of air at at least a portion of a gap between the shelf and a wall (14,16,18) of the compartment (10) on the side of the shelf where the gasket is attached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: Electrolux Home Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Salvador Ponce de Leon Dominguez, Danny Ray Parker, Jr., Troy Botts, Sandeep Kumar
  • Patent number: 10189497
    Abstract: An adjustable steering column assembly comprises a steering column shroud, a support bracket, and a clamp mechanism. The support bracket comprises two arms having a portion of the column shroud located therebetween. The clamp mechanism comprises a pin that passes through slots in the arms and carries a fixed cam portion and moving cam portion, relative rotation of the fixed cam portion and moving cam portion causing the clamp mechanism to move between a locked position and an unlocked position. The fixed cam portion has an anti-rotation feature that sits at least partially within one of the slots in one of the arms and which co-operates with the side walls of the slot to substantially prevent unwanted rotation of the fixed portion of the cam mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: TRW Limited
    Inventors: Stephen Butler, Niclas Davies, Prasanna Chaturacharimath
  • Patent number: 10145605
    Abstract: The refrigerator includes item storage units arranged in multiple layers in a storage compartment, horizontal frames arranged in multiple layers, the horizontal frames respectively supporting the item storage units, a vertical frame coupled to each of the horizontal frames, the vertical frame extending vertically, first rail units arranged in multiple layers, the first rail units respectively supporting the horizontal frames so that the horizontal frames is movable in a front-to-back direction relative to the storage compartment, a link to connect any one of the horizontal frames arranged and the door to each other so as to move the horizontal frames in the front-to-back direction in response to rotation of the door, and a second rail unit located between the item storage unit and the horizontal frame arranged in the same layer so as to movably support the item storage unit in the front-to-back direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Changwoan Yang, Seungjin Choi, Hanhyo Kim, Yoomin Park
  • Patent number: 9596934
    Abstract: A shelving assembly includes a support plate, left and right side supports, and a support frame. The side supports each include a front end located adjacent to a front edge of the support plate, and a rear end located adjacent to a rear edge of the support plate. The support frame includes a front frame member, a rear frame member, and opposite left and right side frame members that extend from the rear frame member to the front frame member. The front frame member is disposed adjacent to the bottom surface of the support plate at the front edge and the rear frame member is disposed adjacent to the bottom surface of the support plate at the rear edge. The left and right side frame members are disposed adjacent to the left and right side supports, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: SSW Holding Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew McMillin, Jason Robert Yochum
  • Patent number: 9504324
    Abstract: A shelving assembly includes a support plate, left and right side supports, and a front anti-tip and retention feature. The side supports each include a front end located adjacent to a front edge of the support plate, and a rear end located adjacent to a rear edge of the support plate. A portion of the front anti-tip and retention feature is disposed above the support plate for preventing tipping and for retaining the support plate on the side supports. The front anti-tip and retention feature is configured such that a majority of the top surface of the support plate along opposite left and right side edges is freely exposed and unencumbered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: SSW Holding Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew McMillin, Jason Robert Yochum
  • Patent number: 9372027
    Abstract: A refrigerator and a shelf assembly for a refrigerator are provided. The refrigerator may include a cabinet provided with a storage compartment, and a shelf assembly mounted in the storage compartment to adjust a height of a shelf. The shelf assembly may include a shelf mounted to vertically move in the storage compartment, a frame mounted to be vertically movable and support the shelf, at least one rotation gear provided at each of opposite sides of the frame, a pair of guide brackets provided at the opposite sides of the frame, a pair of sliders moved within the pair of guide brackets by the rotation gears, an exterior of each of the pair of sliders being provided with at least one protrusion, a power transmission to transmit rotatory power of the rotation gears to the pair of sliders, at least one guide groove formed on each of opposite inner surfaces of the storage compartment to guide movement of the protrusions, and a rotation device to rotate the rotation gears.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Daehyun Yoo, Jaeyoul Lee
  • Patent number: 9353987
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes: a refrigerator main body having a cooling chamber; a cooling chamber door for opening and closing the cooling chamber; a shelf assembly provided within the cooling chamber such that a height thereof is adjustable; and a basket provided in any one of the refrigerator main body and the cooling chamber door such that a height thereof is adjustable. A space of the refrigerator main body or the cooling chamber door can be utilized to facilitate receiving and keeping food items.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Hongsik Kwon, Sanghun Kim, Seonkyu Kim, Hyokku Kwon, Sungkyong Han, Hangbok Lee
  • Patent number: 9250008
    Abstract: A rail assembly for a refrigerator is provided. The rail assembly may include a pair of pinions respectively provided in a pair of rails installed on two opposite walls of a storage chamber of a refrigerator. A pair of racks is respectively coupled to the pair of the pinions to guide motion of the pinions. One of the racks includes an extended portion that allows the pinions move without engaging the racks so as to align the drawer door horizontally when a force is applied to a left or right portion of the drawer door coupled to the refrigerator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Lyunsu Kim, Sukhun Jung, Sungki Jung, Gyumyeong Kang, Jaekoo Kang, Seongmin Song
  • Patent number: 9127877
    Abstract: A refrigerator having a cantilever shelf which includes a pair of side frames, a fixed shelf including a rear frame that connects the pair of side frames and is coupled to a shelf coupling unit, a slide shelf provided so as to be slidably movable in forward and rearward directions between the pair of side frames, and a folding shelf rotatably provided between the pair of side frames at a rear side of the slide shelf.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hyung Bum Lee, Jong Eun Chae
  • Patent number: 9113705
    Abstract: An adjustable shelving assembly includes at least two support rails, at least one geared rack provided in each of the at least two support rails, and an actuating mechanism placed adjacent to the at least one geared rack. The actuating mechanism is configured to support at least one shelf and facilitates movement of the at least one shelf along the at least two support rails. The actuating mechanism includes a pinion mating with the at least one geared rack, a plurality of permanent magnets mounted coaxially inside the pinion, ferromagnetic disks provided on either ends of the pinion, and a shaft placed axially in the pinion, connecting the permanent magnets. The permanent magnets magnetize or demagnetize the ferromagnetic disks when the shaft is rotated for locking or unlocking the at least one shelf.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: Wipro Limited
    Inventors: Jejju Jacob, Puneet Makkar
  • Patent number: 9078521
    Abstract: A height adjustable resting device including a first plate fixable in use against a wall of an electric household appliance; a the second plate having a resting guide slidingly carried along longitudinal edges vertical to the first; a slider sliding on a first face of the first plate, facing an opposite second face of the second plate, transversally to the longitudinal edges, integrally provided with a pin which overhangingly protrudes from the first face; a channel-shaped track on the second face, slidingly engaged by the pin and having two branches parallel to the longitudinal edges, having on an upper edge a plurality of recesses adapted to engage the pin resting thereon and for each recess, at least one pair of abutting surfaces obtained on a lower edge to guide the pin from a recess to the next as a consequence of a vertical movement of the second plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventor: Alberto Bassi
  • Patent number: 9038623
    Abstract: A pull-out guide for a baking oven. The pull-out guide includes a guide rail fixed in a position and configured as a hollow profile. The pull-out guide further includes a running rail movably mounted on the guide rail, and a bar inserted is into the guide rail, at least in sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: PAUL HETTICH GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Peter JĂ€hrling, Daniel Rehage, Daniel Reidt, Timo Kaps
  • Patent number: 9033438
    Abstract: A shelf assembly is provided for a refrigerator with a food compartment that includes a rear wall and a pair of opposed side walls. The shelf assembly includes a first and second shelf portion with first and second support surfaces. The second shelf portion is slidably moveable relative to the first shelf portion between an extended position and a retracted position. In the extended position, the second shelf portion is arranged such that the second support surface is substantially coplanar with the first support surface and the second support surface is located generally between a first support surface and a side wall of the food compartment. In the retracted position, the second planar support surface is arranged subjacent to the first planar support surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: ELECTROLUX HOME PRODUCTS, INC.
    Inventors: Paul H. Kelly, Benjamin Mobley, Akhil Karibandi, Caleb Gossens, Peter Jenkinson
  • Patent number: 9028020
    Abstract: A stabilizing panel for placing items thereon is provided with a first surface including a plurality of parallelogram areas including four corners and four sides. Each corner of the parallelogram areas includes a peak, and the peaks are aligned so as to be parallel with one of the four sides of the parallelogram areas on the first surface. Each of the parallelogram areas defines a depression. The stabilizing panel may be rectangular and includes a pair of adjacent first edges and a pair of adjacent second edges. Each first edge is configured with a male connecting section and each second edge is configured with a female connecting section configured to interlock with the male connecting section of a neighboring stabilizing panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Electrolux Home Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Caleb Gossens, Nicolas Saeger
  • Publication number: 20150123532
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes: a refrigerator main body having a cooling chamber; a cooling chamber door for opening and closing the cooling chamber; a shelf assembly provided within the cooling chamber such that a height thereof is adjustable; and a basket provided in any one of the refrigerator main body and the cooling chamber door such that a height thereof is adjustable. A space of the refrigerator main body or the cooling chamber door can be utilized to facilitate receiving and keeping food items.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2015
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Inventors: Hongsik KWON, Sanghun KIM, Seonkyu KIM, Hyokku KWON, Sungkyong HAN, Hangbok LEE
  • Patent number: 9022495
    Abstract: A refrigerator is provided with rotatable shelves for easy food/item access and cleaning. In one embodiment a stationary or fixed shelf includes a rotatable disk mounted on a bearing retainer having bearings therein for manual, three hundred sixty degree (360°) rotation as desired. In another embodiment a quarter-round pivotable shelf is attached to a stanchion to enable the shelf to be manually pivoted ninety degrees (90°) for withdrawing and returning the shelf to the refrigerator food storage compartment as needed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Inventor: Michael E. Conner, Sr.
  • Patent number: 9010890
    Abstract: A cabinet-like domestic appliance is provided having an interior in which a height-adjustable support system is mounted. The support system includes a vertical rail provided with a plurality of snap-in recesses and a supporting arm that has a plurality of projections each of which engages with one of the snap-in recesses. The rail includes a profiled element that is immobilized on a wall via an at least one fastener and a strip is provided that can be vertically displaced in the profiled element between a position in which the at least one fastener is accessible through an opening on one side of the profiled element that faces away from the wall and another position in which the at least one fastener is concealed behind the strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignees: BSH Bosch und Siemens HausgerÀte GmbH, Miele & Cie. KG
    Inventor: Peter Eckartsberg
  • Publication number: 20150102718
    Abstract: A shelf assembly and a refrigerator including the same. The shelf assembly includes: a shelf plate having first to fourth mounting members, and first to fourth brackets each having a fitting slot, in which the first and second brackets are disposed at a left and right side of the shelf plate respectively. The fitting slot of each of the first and second brackets includes a first sliding groove and a plurality of first receiving grooves. The first and second mounting members are slidable within the first sliding groove of the first and second brackets along the vertical direction so as to selectively fit within one of the plurality of the first receiving grooves. The third and fourth mounting members are fitted within the fitting slot of the third and fourth brackets and a position of the third and fourth mounting members are adjustable along the vertical direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2011
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Applicants: HEFEI HUALING CO., LTD., HEFEI MIDEA REFRIGERATOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Dongxian Liu, Jun Yao, Wei Ren, Jian Cheng, Lingyun Li
  • Patent number: 9004432
    Abstract: A rotatable housing assembly for use in mounting slides to equipment racks has components for different mounting options on different sides of the housing, and a retractable pin for use in positioning the housing. In some embodiments the housing is rotatably mounted to a bracket attached to a slide member, for example approximate a front of the side, and the retractable pin extends into a semicircular slot of the bracket for use in indexing position of the housing. The housing may include a button for use in retracting the retractable pin, and the assembly may provide for toolless mounting of the slide, and do so in a variety of rack configurations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Accuride International Inc.
    Inventor: David Laniado Lacarra
  • Publication number: 20150097475
    Abstract: Described herein are methods for creating spill-proof or spill-resistant surfaces through the use of hydrophobic or oleophobic (H—SH) edges, borders and/or boundaries that contain the water and other liquids within the inside edges, borders and/or boundaries. Also described herein are spill-proof/spill-resistant surfaces. Liquid (e.g., water and other aqueous solutions/suspensions) heights of 3-6 mm on a level planar surface can be sustained by such edges, borders and/or boundaries. The H—SH borders can be created on glass, metal, wood, plastic, and concrete surfaces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2014
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Inventors: Vinod K. Sikka, Andrew K. Jones, Russell Ross
  • Publication number: 20150091430
    Abstract: A storage basket is configured to hold multiple product units such as blood bags within the cabinet of a freezer. The storage basket includes first and second spaced-apart sidewalls and a plurality of inclined shelves extending between and coupled to these sidewalls. The inclined shelves include a plurality of air flow apertures that defined storage receptacles for product units as well as additional flow apertures to ensure minimal hindrance of cooling air flow within the freezer. The storage basket also includes handles that enable easy grasping and movement of multiple product units at once into and out of the freezer. As a result, the amount of time needed to cool product units down to a desired temperature with the freezer is reduced and the storage density within the freezer is increased.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2013
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Applicant: THERMO FISHER SCIENTIFIC (ASHEVILLE) LLC
    Inventors: Lou Spencer Popovitch, Christopher Enright Bruchs, Dan Joseph Mangan
  • Publication number: 20150076985
    Abstract: A refrigerator and a shelf assembly for a refrigerator are provided. The refrigerator may include a cabinet provided with a storage compartment, and a shelf assembly mounted in the storage compartment to adjust a height of a shelf. The shelf assembly may include a shelf mounted to vertically move in the storage compartment, a frame mounted to be vertically movable and support the shelf, at least one rotation gear provided at each of opposite sides of the frame, a pair of guide brackets provided at the opposite sides of the frame, a pair of sliders moved within the pair of guide brackets by the rotation gears, an exterior of each of the pair of sliders being provided with at least one protrusion, a power transmission to transmit rotatory power of the rotation gears to the pair of sliders, at least one guide groove formed on each of opposite inner surfaces of the storage compartment to guide movement of the protrusions, and a rotation device to rotate the rotation gears.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2014
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Applicant: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Daehyun YOO, Jaeyoul LEE
  • Patent number: 8979225
    Abstract: A refrigeration device is provided having a vertical rail that has through-openings arranged at a distance from each other and that is securely connected to a body of the refrigeration device. The refrigeration device includes a shelf support having a rear flank oriented towards the front side of the vertical rail and upper and lower hooks each having a downward oriented tip that protrudes over the rear flank and engages in one of the through-openings of the vertical rail. Only the tip of the upper hook touches the rear side of the rail and only the section of the rear flank that is arranged below the lower hook touches the front side of the rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignees: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH, Miele & Cie. KG
    Inventors: Peter Eckartsberg, Frank Placke, Matthias Stahl, Ulrich van Pels
  • Publication number: 20150071757
    Abstract: Systems for repositioning objects, such as, for example, food items in a refrigerator, are provided. The systems may include a platform having a support surface upon which the objects are supported, an electromagnet positioned beneath the platform, a motion system coupled to electromagnet, and a control system electronically and/or communicatively coupled to the motion system and the electromagnet. The control system may be configured to controllably move the electromagnet beneath the support surface and to selectively activate and deactivate the electromagnet in coordination with said movement to reposition the objects. Related methods of repositioning objects are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2014
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Inventors: Mateus Daczko, Gordon W. Brown
  • Patent number: 8973389
    Abstract: A mobile cooler having an ice maker includes: a main body having first and second spaces which are thermally blocked; a cooling device positioned at a lower portion of the main body and providing cooling air to the first and second spaces; a plurality of shelves installed in the first space; an ice tray installed in the second space; an ice bank positioned on a lower surface of the ice tray and detachably mounted in the main body; and a cover that covers an opening in which the ice bank is inserted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Namgi Lee, Sungil Park, Sangoh Kim
  • Patent number: 8966932
    Abstract: A refrigerator having an ice thermal storage device. The refrigerator includes a cabinet, a storage compartment defined in the cabinet, and an ice thermal storage device placed in the storage compartment. The ice thermal storage device includes a case including at least one heat transfer plate, and an ice thermal storage pack received in the case and arranged to come into contact with the at least one heat transfer plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sang Hoon Lee, Mi Sun Park, Ji Young Lee
  • Patent number: 8967740
    Abstract: A refrigerator appliance may include a cabinet having a temperature-controlled compartment defined therein, a shelf ladder disposed in the temperature-controlled compartment and providing a plurality of shelf mounting positions, an electrical connector corresponding to each of the plurality of shelf mounting positions, wherein each of the electrical connectors comprises an actuator movable from a first position to a second position and an electrical contact configured to automatically move from a disengaged position to an engaged position in response to the actuator moving from the first position to the second position, and an adjustable shelf removably mountable in one of the plurality of shelf mounting positions such that the actuator of the corresponding electrical connector is held in the second position by a weight of the adjustable shelf and the electrical contact of the corresponding electrical connector engages the adjustable shelf.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventor: James Kerner
  • Patent number: 8960827
    Abstract: A shelving assembly includes a support plate, left and right side supports, and rear and front anti-tip and retention features. The side supports each include a front end located adjacent to a front edge of the support plate, and a rear end located adjacent to a rear edge of the support plate. A portion of the rear and front anti-tip and retention features is disposed above the support plate for preventing tipping and for retaining the support plate on the side supports. The front and rear anti-tip and retention features are spaced apart such that a majority of the top surface of the support plate along opposite left and right side edges is freely exposed and unencumbered by the front and rear anti-tip and retention features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: SSW Holding Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew McMillin, Jason Robert Yochum
  • Patent number: 8960825
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes: a refrigerator main body having a cooling chamber; a cooling chamber door for opening and closing the cooling chamber; a shelf assembly provided within the cooling chamber such that a height thereof is adjustable; and a basket provided in any one of the refrigerator main body and the cooling chamber door such that a height thereof is adjustable. A space of the refrigerator main body or the cooling chamber door can be utilized to facilitate receiving and keeping food items.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Hongsik Kwon, Sanghun Kim, Seonkyu Kim, Hyokku Kwon, Sungkyong Han, Hangbok Lee
  • Patent number: 8960826
    Abstract: A refrigerator is provided. The refrigerator may include a cabinet having a first storage region with a plurality of shelves, a first door coupled to the cabinet by a first connection member and having a second storage region with a plurality of shelves and an opening providing to access to the second storage region, and a second door rotatably coupled to the first door by a second connection member so as to selectively provide access to the second storage region through the opening in the first door. An auxiliary shelf may be rotatably coupled in the opening formed in the first door such that an axis of rotation of the auxiliary shelf crosses, or is orthogonal to, the axis of rotation of the first and second doors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Ayoung Choo, Jaeyoul Lee, Taegyeong Kim
  • Publication number: 20150035426
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes a body provided with a storage compartment having a front side opening, a door rotatably coupled by a coupling member to one side of the body to open/close the front side opening of the storage compartment; and at least one door pocket coupled to an inner side of the door in a way to have a storage space and provided with a first side surface and a second side surface, the second side surface provided at a side facing the storage compartment and the first side surface connected to the second side surface to be positioned adjacent to a side of the door that is open. The second side surface is formed at a position higher than a position of the first side surface to prevent cool air from leaking outside, and stored goods positioned in the storage space are withdrawn through the first side surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2014
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jang Won KIM, Amitoj SINGH, Seok Woo CHOI, Jin JEONG, Hyung Yong CHOI
  • Patent number: 8936332
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes a refrigerator main body having a cooling chamber, a cooling chamber door configured to open and close the cooling chamber, a rear storage member disposed at a rear area to be drawn out along back and forth directions of the cooling chamber, and a front storage member disposed at the front of the rear storage member and configured to be relatively movable with respect to the rear storage member, whereby goods and/or food stuffs can be easily stored and drawn out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Kyutae Park, Kyungsoo Park, Seonkyu Kim, Hyokku Kwon, Hangbok Lee
  • Publication number: 20150015132
    Abstract: A refrigerator comprising a cabinet, a liner disposed within the cabinet and defining an interior fresh food compartment, a wine rack rotatably mounted within the fresh food compartment, the wine rack comprising a substantially planar plate having a first end and a second end with at least one aperture sized to receive a neck portion of a bottle to hold the bottle substantially horizontally in a cantilever fashion; a pair of attachment elements disposed on the first end and second end of the substantially planar plate to support the substantially planar plate and configured to secure the substantially plate to the refrigerator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2013
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Inventor: MICHAEL S. SEELEY
  • Patent number: 8925346
    Abstract: A high performance freezer includes a deck and a cabinet supported above the deck and having a cabinet housing defining a generally cylindrical shape. The freezer includes a door supported by the cabinet housing that moves between open and closed positions by sliding or pivoting generally along the side wall of the cabinet. The freezer further includes a refrigeration system mounted at least partially within the deck and partially within the cabinet to refrigerate an inner chamber of the freezer. The cylindrical shape of the cabinet enables rotation of shelves within the inner chamber and a maximized storage space with a minimal floor space required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Thermo Fisher Scientific (Asheville) LLC
    Inventors: Mahesh Natarajan, Tushar Ingle, Rajendra Khadatkar
  • Patent number: 8926034
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes a body having a storage space for keeping food at low temperature, a door movably attached to the body to selectively open and close the storage space, a first shelf movably provided in the storage space and having a first side surface, a second shelf movably provided in the storage space next to the first shelf and having a second side surface which faces the first side surface of the first shelf, a first pressing portion including a plurality of protrusions formed on the first side surface of the first shelf, and a second pressing portion formed on the second side surface of the second shelf and facing the first pressing portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Jinwook Park