Shelf Or Shelf-supporting Structure Patents (Class 312/408)
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Publication number: 20140375199Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: May 21, 2014Publication date: December 25, 2014Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.Inventors: Hyung Bum Lee, Jong Eun Chae
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Patent number: 8915561Abstract: A refrigerator includes a shelf assembly positioned within a compartment. The shelf assembly includes a first shelf portion attached to a first slide and having at least one projection, and a second shelf portion attached to a second slide and having at least one receiving portion. The first and second shelf portions are movable between a retracted position and an extended position. The at least one projection selectively engages the at least one receiving portion. Further, the first shelf portion is movable between a lowered position and a raised position when the first shelf portion is in the retracted position.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2013Date of Patent: December 23, 2014Assignee: Electrolux Home Products, Inc.Inventors: Jay Eichman, Carson Smith
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Publication number: 20140368104Abstract: A sliding drawer storage rack for cold storage units includes a rack body and a plurality of shelves operatively coupled to the rack body. A drawer defines a storage cavity and is configured to be supported for sliding movement by at least one of the plurality of shelves. A plurality of divider lips extends upwardly from the drawer to divide the storage cavity into a plurality of box receptacles sized to receive a storage box. At least some of the plurality of shelves are defined by opposing first and second L-shaped supports laterally spaced from each other and coupled to the rack body, thereby reducing material use and weight of the storage rack.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 4, 2014Publication date: December 18, 2014Inventors: Dennis D. Ward, John P. Hutchinson, Steven A. George
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Publication number: 20140366569Abstract: Provided is a storage system and a refrigeration appliance including the storage system for storing food items in a temperature-controlled environment. The storage system includes a bin and a tab attached to the bin. The tab is configured to couple the bin to a track and guide the bin along a continuum of positions on the track. The storage system further includes an actuator attached to the bin that is selectively movable between a first position and a second position. The storage system still further includes a pin slidingly engaged with the bin. The bin is movable into a plurality of positions relative to the track. The pin in an engaged position is configured to prevent movement of the bin at any desired point within the continuum of positions on the track.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 18, 2013Publication date: December 18, 2014Inventors: Tyler Babinski, Cory Dale Simpson, Nilton Carlos Bertolini
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Patent number: 8911042Abstract: An adjustable refrigerator shelf assembly receives electrical power through a loosely draped conductor held within a pocket on one side of the shelf assembly. The shelf assembly may include a detent mechanism allowing adjustment of the shelf assembly upward and downward by successive lifting and lowering of the shelf without direct manipulation of a detent or a lock allowing both the detent mechanism and conductor to be wholly covered at all times.Type: GrantFiled: August 12, 2011Date of Patent: December 16, 2014Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.Inventors: Alberto Bassi, Marco Sclip
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Patent number: 8899704Abstract: A shelf is defined by a tempered glass panel bonded to opposing flanges of a pair of metal shelf brackets carrying hooks for connection to and adjustment along vertical trackways in refrigerator compartments. Adhesive constitutes the sole means for maintaining the shelf substantially rigidly united. Each shelf bracket includes at least one abutment surface for engaging an edge of the shelf panel or a handgrip member carried thereby to assure perfect alignment between the components during curing of the adhesive. Each shelf bracket is defined by a shelf arm and a flange with the flanges having pockets housing the adhesive. The shelf arms may additionally include uppermost projections for engaging side edges of the shelf panel and/or at least one additional flange, such that side edge portions of the shelf panel can be housed between the pair of vertically spaced longitudinally offset flanges of each shelf bracket.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 2005Date of Patent: December 2, 2014Assignee: Gemtron CorporationInventor: Craig Bienick
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Patent number: 8881466Abstract: An insulated door (10029 includes a door frame made of four side members (1006, 1008, 1010, 1012) connected by four corner connectors (1014, 1016, 1018, 1020). The frame members are profiled āLā shaped extrusions having outer panel locating ribs (6035), and inner panel retaining slots (6007). The corner connector has a base (4044) with a projecting post (4040). A first pair of connector tabs (4022, 4044) project from adjacent sides of the base to cooperate with first connection slots (6028) of adjacent side members and a second pair of connector tabs (4042, 4043) project from the post to cooperate with connection slots (6026) of the adjacent side members. The outer panel is located on the opposite side of the frame by location ribs (6036). The legs (6009, 6011) of the extrusion define a space D between the inner and outer door panels, and this space is filled with foam insulation.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 2010Date of Patent: November 11, 2014Assignee: AB ElectroluxInventor: Mark Roberts
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Patent number: 8882211Abstract: A refrigerator having an improved structure of a storage box and a shelf thereof so as to achieve increased space utilization of a storage compartment. The storage box may have slide protrusions respectively formed on both of outer side-faces of the storage box at a lower portion thereof to allow the storage box to be slidably retracted in or extended from the storage compartment. The shelf may have a support structure to support food thereon and slide grooves respectively formed above both sides of the support structure, each groove receiving the corresponding slide protrusion of the storage box. When the storage box is mounted on the shelf, food may be put in the inner space of the storage box, whereas when the storage box is dismounted from the shelf, a food storage space may be present on the support structure of the shelf.Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 2012Date of Patent: November 11, 2014Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Myoung Jin Jang, Chul Woo Kim, Sung Cheul Park
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Publication number: 20140300266Abstract: A rotatable shelf for use in a refrigerator that may include a support bracket configured to support a turntable but is not required. A bearing ring may be disposed between the support bracket and the turntable, wherein the bearing ring is configured to facilitate the rotation of the turntable relative to the support bracket. The support bracket may further be configured to be installed into an interior space of a refrigerator such that the rotatable shelf assembly is oriented in a substantially horizontal direction. A user may then place items onto the turntable and manually or automatically rotate the turntable to access the items. Sensors may be configured to receive user input.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 17, 2014Publication date: October 9, 2014Inventors: Phillip Rindlisbach, NICHOLAS JAMES GREGORY
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Patent number: 8851588Abstract: A sliding drawer storage rack for cold storage units includes a rack body and a plurality of shelves operatively coupled to the rack body. A drawer defines a storage cavity and is configured to be supported for sliding movement by at least one of the plurality of shelves. A plurality of divider lips extends upwardly from the drawer to divide the storage cavity into a plurality of box receptacles sized to receive a storage box. At least some of the plurality of shelves are defined by opposing first and second L-shaped supports laterally spaced from each other and coupled to the rack body, thereby reducing material use and weight of the storage rack.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2012Date of Patent: October 7, 2014Assignee: Thermo Fisher Scientific (Asheville) LLCInventors: Dennis D. Ward, John P. Hutchinson, Steven A. George
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Patent number: 8851307Abstract: A frame for attachment to the periphery of a panel having a main portion, a surrounding wall designed to surround an edge of the panel, and attachment means for attaching the frame relative to the panel having at least one locking element, the locking element being connected to the main portion by a hinge and being movable relative to the main portion between an open position, in which the panel is capable of being inserted into the surrounding wall without interaction with the locking element, and a closed position, in which, when the surrounding wall surrounds the edge of the panel, the locking element is facing a main face of the panel.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2011Date of Patent: October 7, 2014Assignee: Saint-Gobain Glass FranceInventors: Pascal Lefevre, Gerard Huchet, Francois Vardon, Beatrice Mottelet
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Patent number: 8840205Abstract: A shelf assembly for a refrigerator appliance is provided. The shelf assembly includes a pair of brackets, a fixed shelf mounted to the pair of brackets, and a movable shelf. The shelf assembly also includes features for slidably mounting the movable shelf to said fixed shelf and for limiting movement of the movable shelf along a transverse direction.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2013Date of Patent: September 23, 2014Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Bagawathkumar Chellappan, Louis Anthony Wantland
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Publication number: 20140265803Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2013Publication date: September 18, 2014Inventors: Paul H. Kelly, Benjamin Mobley, Akhil Karibandi, Caleb Gossens, Peter Jenkinson
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Publication number: 20140265807Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method for storage in a refrigerated appliance. One aspect includes glides or slides underneath and within the bottom perimeter dimensions of any bin or bin carrier relative to its supporting structure in the refrigerated appliance. This allows adjacent bins to more efficiently utilize lateral storage space in the refrigerator. It also promotes hiding of the glide or slides from view.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2013Publication date: September 18, 2014Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: JAMES W. KENDALL, MICHAEL C. LAH
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Publication number: 20140265808Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method for storage in a refrigerated appliance. One aspect includes glides or slides underneath and within the bottom perimeter dimensions of any bin or bin carrier relative to its supporting structure in the refrigerated appliance. This allows adjacent bins to more efficiently utilize lateral storage space in the refrigerator. It also promotes hiding of the glide or slides from view.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 13, 2014Publication date: September 18, 2014Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: JAMES W. KENDALL, MICHAEL C. LAH, TIMOTHY T. MURPHY, TODD J. TUNZI
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Publication number: 20140265806Abstract: A refrigerator is provided including a refrigerator compartment with slides configured to be positioned within the refrigerator compartment, a bin door configured to cover a front of the refrigerator compartment and attached to the slides, a storage bin configured to be supported by the slides, and a lift mechanism including a first support structure configured to support the storage bin, a second support structure attached to the bin door, at least one support assembly attaching the first support structure and the second support structure, and a drive unit operatively connected to the support assembly to selectively change the distance between the first and second support structure.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 14, 2013Publication date: September 18, 2014Applicant: ELECTROLUX HOME PRODUCTS, INC.Inventors: David L. Hall, Partap Chaudhary, Avinash Gholap
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Patent number: 8833875Abstract: A wine presenter is provided for presenting one or more bottles of wine. The wine presenter has a base portion configured to support the wine presenter, a foot portion operatively coupled to a bottom side of the base portion and configured to rest the wine presenter on a surface, and an elongated portion having a bottom end, a top end, a front side, and a back side. The elongated portion is operatively coupled to the base portion at the bottom end and extends in an orthogonal direction from the base portion and the elongated portion has one or more grooves configured to hold at least a portion of a wine bottle. The wine presenter is configured to hold one or more wine bottles on both the front side and the back side of the elongated portion of the wine presenter.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2011Date of Patent: September 16, 2014Assignee: BSH Home Appliances CorporationInventors: Ziya Arslankiray, Phelan Miller, Laura Ringemann, Andrew Roberson
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Publication number: 20140252937Abstract: Disclosed is a refrigerator including a main body, a storage chamber provided within the main body, a drawer assembly provided in the lower portion of the storage chamber, a cover shelf covering at least a part of the upper surface of the drawer assembly, a lower shelf disposed between the cover shelf and the sidewall of the storage chamber and provided with one side supported by the sidewall of the storage chamber so as to be pulled out and the other side supported by the upper surface of the drawer assembly so as to be pulled out, and an upper shelf disposed above the lower shelf and provided with one side supported by the sidewall of the storage chamber so as to be pulled out and the other side supported by a shelf frame mounted on the rear wall of the storage chamber so as to be pulled out.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 6, 2014Publication date: September 11, 2014Inventors: Daesung LEE, Seonkyu KIM, Soomin SEO, Woonkyu SEO
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Publication number: 20140252939Abstract: A shelving assembly includes ladder rails mounted within spaced elongated pockets formed in the rear wall of a refrigerator compartment. Each ladder rail presents a front, side, rear wall portions. Adjacent the front wall portion, a vertical slot is defined, at least in part, by an in-turned portion of the front wall portion. Offset from the slot, the in-turned portion is formed with a plurality of vertically spaced and rearwardly projecting hooks. Each shelf of the assembly includes arms, each having an anchoring pin and a support foot. In mounting the shelf, the support foot and the anchoring pin of each arm are placed through a cutout formed in the front wall portion of a respective ladder, the shelf is arranged in a desired vertical position with the arm sliding within the slot, and then the anchoring pin is supported upon a respective one of the hooks.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 7, 2013Publication date: September 11, 2014Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventor: TODD TUNZI
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Patent number: 8820865Abstract: Provided is a refrigeration appliance (2) that includes a fresh food compartment (8) and a freezer compartment (4). A refrigerator liner (14) is located within the fresh food compartment. The liner includes one or more recesses for receiving brackets (10). Each bracket may be removably inserted into a recess (12) such that when the bracket is inserted into the recess, the bracket and recess form a substantially planar plane across the liner.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2010Date of Patent: September 2, 2014Assignee: Electrolux Home Products, Inc.Inventors: Cory Dale Simpson, Nilton Carlos Bertolini
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Publication number: 20140239792Abstract: A shelf assembly for a refrigerator appliance is provided. The shelf assembly includes a pair of brackets, a fixed shelf mounted to the pair of brackets, and a movable shelf. The shelf assembly also includes features for slidably mounting the movable shelf to said fixed shelf and for limiting movement of the movable shelf along a transverse direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 22, 2013Publication date: August 28, 2014Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Bagawathkumar Chellappan, Louis Anthony Wantland
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Patent number: 8814287Abstract: A refrigerator with a shelf varied by sliding and pivoting to store thick food items in a storage chamber. The refrigerator includes a main body which has an inner case defining a storage chamber and an outer case defining an external appearance thereof, a first shelf portion arranged at the storage chamber so as to be slidable in front and rear directions, a second shelf portion arranged at the storage chamber so as to be pivotable together with the first shelf portion received in a first shelf receiving portion, and support portions to support the first and second shelf portions, wherein each of the support portions includes a support wall integrally formed with the inner case and an insulation material foamed in a foam space of the support wall.Type: GrantFiled: July 18, 2012Date of Patent: August 26, 2014Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventor: Myoung Jin Jang
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Publication number: 20140220833Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: February 7, 2013Publication date: August 7, 2014Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventor: JAMES KERNER
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Publication number: 20140217879Abstract: Illustrative embodiments of systems and methods for powering lighted shelves in refrigerator appliances are disclosed. In one embodiment, a refrigerator appliance may comprise a cabinet having a temperature-controlled compartment defined therein and a plurality of electrical connectors disposed at a plurality of shelf mounting positions within the temperature-controlled compartment. The refrigerator appliance may also comprise a plurality of adjustable shelves each carrying at least one light emitting diode (LED), where each of the plurality of adjustable shelves may be removably mounted in one of the plurality of shelf mounting positions such that the at least one LED is electrically coupled to one of the plurality of electrical connectors. The refrigerator appliance may further comprise a power supply circuit that is electrically coupled to the plurality of electrical connectors and that is configured to selectively supply power to only a subset of the plurality of electrical connectors.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 7, 2013Publication date: August 7, 2014Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventor: JAMES KERNER
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Patent number: 8777341Abstract: Sliding shelves (2a, 2b, 4a, 4b) are provided for refrigerators and freezers, which have a movement along side support guides (1) that enable the retracting, fitting and bounce of the shelves, allowing the choice of different configurations for the inner space of the household appliance, according to the area to be used to store food. This configuration enables different arrangement of shelves, including: extended shelves, retracted shelves, vertically bounced shelves, or even, in an associated form, an extended shelf and another bounced one.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 2010Date of Patent: July 15, 2014Assignee: Electrolux Do Brasil S.A.Inventors: Gustavo Gnoatto Amaral, Adriano Davin, Valkiria Pedri Fialkowski, Jacques Edouard de Holanda Miranda, Rodrigo Telles Wolff, Mario Filho Gnypek, Rafael Amaral Alonso Lopes
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Patent number: 8767382Abstract: A server rack according to the present invention mounts a plurality of servers. The server rack includes a plurality of central power supply units, each of which arranged between the plurality of servers with regular intervals, each of the plurality of central power supply units supplying electric power to one or more of the servers; and a direct-current power supply cable that connects the server and the central power supply unit. The direct-current power supply cable connects each of the servers and the central power supply units within a range of a predetermined distance.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 2011Date of Patent: July 1, 2014Assignee: NEC CorporationInventor: Katsutoshi Mori
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Patent number: 8757743Abstract: A support system for use in an appliance includes at least one brace including a locking bar and at least one substantially vertical track configured to support the at least one brace. The at least one track includes a first side wall and a second side wall defining a channel therebetween, and a first series of teeth extending from the first side wall into the channel. The locking bar is configured to be supported at a first end on a tooth of the first series of teeth at a selected height within the appliance.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 2011Date of Patent: June 24, 2014Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventor: Mark Wayne Wilson
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Patent number: 8746819Abstract: The present cooling device (1) comprises a shelf (3) the height of which can be adjusted. The cooling device (1) further comprises a body (2), at least one shelf (3) disposed inside the body (2) whereon the foodstuffs are placed and which can be raised or lowered.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2010Date of Patent: June 10, 2014Inventors: Ersin Donmez, Osman Cengiz, Levent Hasanreisoglu
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Patent number: 8740322Abstract: A refrigerator includes a sliding rail assembly of a triple rail type, which is slidably installed to a sidewall of a storage compartment, a rail cover to cover the sliding rail assembly, and a sliding shelf removably coupled at one end thereof to the rail cover so as to slide forward or rearward relative to the storage compartment, which prevents sagging of the sliding shelf despite an increased withdrawal distance of the shelf, and results in enhanced quality.Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 2012Date of Patent: June 3, 2014Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Young Kyu Moon, Hyun Sang Yoo, Sang Bum Kim, Yun Ho Yang, Sang Woon Jeon, Hyoung Min Go
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Patent number: 8732975Abstract: A work surface device for a domestic household appliance and a household appliance having a work surface. The work surface device includes a housing having a cavity accessible by an opening formed in a sidewall of the housing, and a pivotally-deployable work surface supported by the housing at a pivot point, wherein the pivotally-deployable work surface is movable about the pivot point from a stored position within the cavity to a deployed position outside of the housing, and wherein the pivotally-deployable work surface has a planar upper support surface.Type: GrantFiled: May 10, 2011Date of Patent: May 27, 2014Assignee: BSH Home Appliances CorporationInventors: Sam Rhodes, Oliver Schƶne
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Patent number: 8721014Abstract: A refrigerator includes a shelf having one end supported by a protruded end and an other end fixed to a shelf mounting member to more stably mount the shelf. Also, a structure for mounting the shelf is simplified.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 2012Date of Patent: May 13, 2014Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.Inventor: Changwoan Yang
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Publication number: 20140117831Abstract: A refrigerator includes a body having a storage chamber, a drawer slidably mounted in the storage chamber, the drawer having an opened top side, and a shelf slidably mounted in the storage chamber, to selectively close at least a portion of the open top side of the drawer.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 9, 2013Publication date: May 1, 2014Applicant: LG ELECTRONICS INC.Inventors: Daesung LEE, Seonkyu KIM, Woonkyu SEO
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Patent number: 8702049Abstract: An ergonomic portable space saving workstation includes at least one rail, at least one support arm connected to the rail for supporting different types of components, and a mounting interface connected to the rail for connecting the rail to a wall, desktop, or wheel mount. The workstation can be used by individuals in lying, sitting, or standing positions and used with objects of various sizes and shapes, such as computer keyboards, monitors, notebooks, desktop computers, footrests, printers, fax machines, projectors, televisions, canvases, desktop surfaces, whiteboards, or chalkboards. The support arm can be adjusted vertically and horizontally to facilitate use in various positions and with various objects.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2012Date of Patent: April 22, 2014Inventor: Benedict Vieira
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Publication number: 20140091696Abstract: A shelf system for use in displaying and storing merchandise is especially suited for use in a refrigerated or chiller compartment that can be used with other conventional display sections. The shelving system or unit includes a squared frame that is mounted in a refrigeration compartment. Side or knife brackets are mounted on opposite sides of the frame and shelves on which items of merchandise are stored in spring loaded pusher track systems are mounted on the side brackets. Guide members mounted on the side brackets allow the shelves to slide between a retracted and an extended position on a planar path, but when the shelves reach the extended position, the glide members tilt allowing the shelves to tile for easier access to items stored thereon.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 2, 2012Publication date: April 3, 2014Inventors: Brian Hart Welker, Gregory Scott Isaacs
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Patent number: 8684479Abstract: A refrigeration device, in particular a household refrigerator, includes at least one internal container having at least one storage shelf. An edge strip or framing element is attached along at least one edge portion of the storage shelf. Seated on the edge strip or framing element of the storage shelf along part of or all of its longitudinal extent is at least one outer profiled strip and connected by at least one snap connection, plug-in connection and/or clamp connection.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2009Date of Patent: April 1, 2014Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbHInventors: Yufa Bai, Lulu Huang, Wuba Lei, Alexander Rupp
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Patent number: 8657392Abstract: A refrigerator (1) has one or more movable members (6) which are contactlessly powered for activating a power consuming device (14). The refrigerator (1) according to the invention includes a cabinet (2) provided with a primary electrical circuit (7) connected to a main alternate voltage power supply and a movable member (6) associable to the cabinet (2) provided with a secondary electrical circuit (11). The secondary circuit (11) is powered contactlessly by the primary circuit (7) and supplies electrical energy to a power consuming device (14).Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2006Date of Patent: February 25, 2014Assignee: Electrolux Home Products Corporation N.V.Inventors: Edi Fabbro, Giancarlo Arrigoni, Dario Muzzolini
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Patent number: 8651600Abstract: A shelf and a refrigerator having such a shelf are provided. The shelf may include a support frame fixed to an inner surface of a storage compartment of the refrigerator, the support frame including body having a plurality of coupling holes formed along a longitudinal direction, spaced apart at predetermined intervals, and a cover coupled to the body to selectively open and close the plurality of the coupling holes. The cover may include a fixing portion for fixing the cover to the support frame body, and a plurality of opening/closing portions extending from the fixing portion, corresponding to the plurality of the coupling holes, to independently open and close the plurality of the coupling holes. One or more of the plurality of the opening/closing portions may be moved by the shelf plate to couple the shelf plate to the support frame.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2013Date of Patent: February 18, 2014Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.Inventors: Minho Cheong, Moonseok Lee, Seonkyu Kim, Daesung Lee, Woonkyu Seo, Youngnam Kim
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Patent number: 8651599Abstract: A refrigerator includes a heat-insulated housing having an interior space in which a pair of chilled-goods containers are disposed adjacent to one another at a spacing from the floor. Each chilled-goods container is mounted on extending elements that guide chilled-goods container into and out of the interior space. A longitudinal beam extends between the chilled-goods containers and each of the extractable elements is supported on sidewalls of the housing via at least one crossbeam.Type: GrantFiled: January 16, 2013Date of Patent: February 18, 2014Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbHInventors: Thomas Benz, Alexander Gƶrz, Karl-Friedrich Laible
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Patent number: 8641158Abstract: 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 (360Ā°) 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 (90Ā°) for withdrawing and returning the shelf to the refrigerator food storage compartment as needed.Type: GrantFiled: July 14, 2011Date of Patent: February 4, 2014Inventor: Michael E. Conner, Sr.
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Patent number: 8640482Abstract: A refrigerator includes an ice maker disposed at one side of a storage chamber for storing food, a folding shelf disposed at the ice maker to be folded in a vertical direction or unfolded in a horizontal direction to efficiently use a space formed on the side of the ice maker, a shelf supporting member fixed to the ice maker to rotatably support the folding shelf, and a locking part disposed at the shelf supporting member to support the folding shelf when the folding shelf is unfolded to be arranged in a horizontal direction. When the folding shelf disposed in the storage chamber is folded in a vertical direction, there is formed a space capable of storing containers or food products having a great height. When the folding shelf is unfolded in a horizontal direction, containers or food products having a small height can be put on the folding shelf.Type: GrantFiled: August 2, 2007Date of Patent: February 4, 2014Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Jae Hoon Lim, Jong Dal Lee, Myung Hoon Cho, Seung Tae Lim, Dong Nyeol Ryu
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Publication number: 20140020412Abstract: A refrigerator includes a refrigerator cabinet, an inner liner disposed within the refrigerator cabinet, a first shelf disposed within the refrigerator cabinet, the first shelf having a back end and an opposite front end, the first shelf positioned to allow air flow between the back end and the inner liner, and a plurality of shelves disposed within the cabinet, each of the shelves having a back end and an opposite front end, each of the shelves is positioned to allow air flow between the back end of each of the shelves and the inner liner. The refrigerator further includes a conduit providing supply air, a baffle positioned above the first shelf and fluidly connected to the conduit, and an elongated air outlet positioned above the baffle and fluidly connected to the conduit for providing a first cold air stream from the supply air proximate a ceiling of the refrigerator cabinet.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 18, 2012Publication date: January 23, 2014Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventor: KYUNG J. JANG
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Patent number: 8622494Abstract: A shelf assembly for use in a refrigerator includes a glass panel having a central region and a perimeter region, with the perimeter region having an upwardly turned spill prevention lip. The upwardly turned spill prevention lip is upwardly turned relative to the central region via a glass forming process. The upwardly turned spill prevention lip includes upwardly turned lip portions at the front, rear, left and right sides of the glass panel. The central region of the glass panel includes a storage portion. The upwardly turned spill prevention lip circumscribes the periphery of the central region to limit spillage of liquid over the sides of the glass panel. The shelf assembly may include a pair of support rails bonded at lower surfaces of the left and right sides of the glass panel and having attachment elements configured to mount the shelf assembly at the refrigerator.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2012Date of Patent: January 7, 2014Assignees: Donnelly Corporation, Clarion Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Alan D. Picken, William Beckman, David E. Nestell, R. Scott Repp, Kevin J. Schroeder
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Publication number: 20130334952Abstract: A storage rack configured to be removably attached to an inner refrigerator door liner to enable storage of canned and/or bottled beverages is defined by an open body formed from a peripheral frame member, a base member fixed to and extending between side portions of the peripheral frame member and an angled support member. A front segment of the angled support member and a frontal section of the peripheral frame member include a series of aligned arcuate portions. Bottles, such as soda, water, wine and the like bottles, can be stored upright in the rack, resting on the base member between the frontal section of the peripheral frame member and a rear segment of the angled support member, while beverage cans can be stored at an angle, abutting the rear segment of the angled support member while spaced side portions of the cans rest upon the aligned arcuate portions.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 14, 2012Publication date: December 19, 2013Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventor: DAVID L. MEESE
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Patent number: 8608264Abstract: A repositionable rail system for a refrigerator includes first and second rails, each rail having a plurality of spaced-apart apertures. A crossbar has first and second ends adapted to fit within respective apertures on the first and second rails. After inserting the crossbar into the apertures, the crossbar is rotated to a fixed angled position. A half-width shelf having a hook is adapted to removably supported, in a cantilevered manner, by the crossbar. The half-width shelf can be slid along the crossbar for repositioning within the refrigerator cabinet, or may be placed alongside another half-width shelf on a crossbar, or replaced with a full width shelf mounted on the first and second rails in a corresponding, cantilevered manner.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 2006Date of Patent: December 17, 2013Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventor: Forrest F. Wing
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Publication number: 20130320833Abstract: A sliding drawer storage rack for cold storage units includes a rack body and a plurality of shelves operatively coupled to the rack body. A drawer defines a storage cavity and is configured to be supported for sliding movement by at least one of the plurality of shelves. A plurality of divider lips extends upwardly from the drawer to divide the storage cavity into a plurality of box receptacles sized to receive a storage box. At least some of the plurality of shelves are defined by opposing first and second L-shaped supports laterally spaced from each other and coupled to the rack body, thereby reducing material use and weight of the storage rack.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 5, 2012Publication date: December 5, 2013Applicant: THERMO FISHER SCIENTIFIC (ASHEVILLE) LLCInventors: Dennis D. Ward, John P. Hutchinson, Steven A. George
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Publication number: 20130320832Abstract: A cold storage unit includes a side access storage rack for holding storage boxes. The storage rack includes a housing with a top wall, a bottom wall, and a rear side wall extending between the top and bottom walls to define a storage space. The storage rack also includes a plurality of vertical dividers extending from the rear side wall and a horizontal shelf configured to be engaged with the plurality of vertical dividers to split the storage space into a grid of box receptacles for the storage boxes. The horizontal shelf includes an angled front portion that is bent and is configured to frictionally engage divider slots in the vertical dividers to thereby hold the horizontal shelf in position with respect to the housing. This frictional engagement simplifies manufacturing and improves the functionality of the storage rack.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 5, 2012Publication date: December 5, 2013Applicant: THERMO FISHER SCIENTIFIC (ASHEVILLE) LLCInventors: Dennis D. Ward, John P. Hutchinson, Brian E. Schott
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Patent number: 8596205Abstract: The specification discloses a method for containing spills on shelving and the like, and the resulting support members made in accordance with the method, by providing the generally flat top surface of a support with a hydrophobic surface which is arranged in a spill containment pattern and which is generally in the plane of the top surface of the support. The majority of the top surface of the support consists of one or more spill containment areas which are of a non-hydrophobic nature and which are bounded by the hydrophobic surfaces, such that spills on the shelving collect in the non-hydrophobic spill containment area or areas and are prevented from spreading by the hydrophobic surfaces.Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 2012Date of Patent: December 3, 2013Assignee: SSW Holding Company, Inc.Inventors: John P. Driver, Matthew McMillin, Bradley M. Nall
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Publication number: 20130278128Abstract: Reclosable compartment for refrigerators, particularly suitable for incorporation in removable shelves, openable and reclosable by means of a front cover (30) which is rotatable around a first set of pins (70) on the lateral portions (50, 60) of the said container. In the closed configuration at least one portion of this front cover (30) is in a substantially vertical position, while in the open configuration the said portion (30) is in a substantially horizontal position. The said container also has an auxiliary upper cover (40) rotationally coupled to the lateral portions (50, 60), and rotatable around a second set of pins (80) during its opening and/or closing movement, through contact with the said front cover (30).Type: ApplicationFiled: November 22, 2011Publication date: October 24, 2013Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: Alberto Borgonovo, Fabio Moneta
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Patent number: 8534783Abstract: A shelf assembly includes a shelf pane having perimeter edges. A single-piece frame structure is fitted around the perimeter of the shelf pane. The frame structure includes a unitary upper frame member that extends inwardly from the pane edges along a top surface of the shelf pane. A respective lower frame member is connected to the upper frame member along each edge of the shelf pane and is pivotally configured with the upper frame member. The lower frame members are folded under and extend inwardly along a bottom surface of the shelf pane. An attachment mechanism is configured between the respective lower frame members and the upper frame member outward of the edges of the shelf pane.Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 2010Date of Patent: September 17, 2013Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Jonathan Ian Nash, Donald Joseph Breit
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Patent number: 8529000Abstract: A shelf assembly for a refrigerator comprises upper and lower frames wherein the upper and lower frames enclose a peripheral edge of a supporting plate, each frame includes a groove to receive a sealing member, and the frames are preassembled through locking parts, and then fusion-bonded in the preassembled state. Accordingly, a waterproof effect and durability of the shelf assembly are improved.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 2010Date of Patent: September 10, 2013Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Jae Hoon Lim, In Yong Hwang, Woo Yeol Yoo, Jong Eun Chae, Sun Keun Lee