Abstract:
A shelf for a refrigerator and a refrigerator having the same are provided. The shelf includes a support plate having an upper surface, a frame formed to correspond to a shape of a periphery of the support plate and having, at an inner side thereof, a coupling portion to which the support plate is coupled to the coupling portion by a bonding member, and a fixing device that fixes the support plate to the coupling portion. The fixing device may include a fixing member having a supporting protrusion that penetrates though a sidewall of the frame to support the support plate from below. Alternatively, the fixing device may include an elastically deformable resilient hook and a fixing protrusion formed to face the resilient hook, all of which are provided on the frame. With the shelf for a refrigerator constructed as above, there are advantages in that the shelf has a secure coupling structure, the process of coupling the components of the shelf is simplified, the shelf has improved durability, and production costs are reduced.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of Invention 
   The present invention relates to a refrigerator, and more particularly, to a shelf for a refrigerator, which allows various kinds of foods to be accommodated in a classified state within a refrigerating chamber of the refrigerator, and a refrigerator having the shelf. 
   2. Description of the Prior Art 
   Generally, a plurality of shelves are installed one above another in a refrigerating chamber of a refrigerator so that various kinds of foods can be put thereon, respectively. The shelves for a refrigerator are generally made of transparent synthetic resin. Alternatively, such a shelf is manufactured by placing a glass support plate in a mold and performing insert molding so that the support plate can be integrated with a frame. 
     FIG. 1  shows a side sectional view of a conventional shelf for a refrigerator. 
   Referring to the figure, the shelf comprises a frame  4  for defining the body of the shelf, and a support plate  6  installed inside the frame  4  to support an article thereon. The frame  4  is made of synthetic resin. An inner surface of the frame  4  is provided with a seating surface  8  on which the support plate  6  can be seated. 
   A projection  9  is formed at a side on the seating surface  8 . The projection  9  supports the support plate  6  so that the support plate cannot move in a lateral direction. A supporting portion  10  is coupled from below the frame  4  so that the support plate  6  seated on the seating surface  8  cannot come off downward. 
   A contact surface of the frame  4  to be brought into surface contact with an upper surface of the support plate  6  is recessed so that a sealing member  12  can be seated therein. The sealing member  12  prevents moisture and the like flowing along the upper surface of the support plate  6  from being introduced into a space between the frame  4  and the supporting portion  10 . 
   However, the conventional shelf for a refrigerator described above has the following problem. 
   The support plate  6  is fixed to the frame  4  by means of bonding in the prior art. However, if the protrusion  9  of the frame  4  does not come into contact with a side surface of the support plate  6  due to tolerance, there is a risk of play of the support plate  6  before a bonding member on the support plate  6  attached to the seating surface  8  is cured. 
   Further, if an article is put and thus exerts a load on the upper surface of the support plate  6 , the weak coupling between the frame  4  and the supporting portion  10  causes the frame  4  and the supporting portion  10  to be easily separated from each other, resulting in lowered durability. 
   Moreover, the supporting portion  10  for supporting the support plate  6  to the frame  4  is mounted to the frame  4  by means of thermal bonding. To perform the thermal bonding, there is a need for thermal bonding equipment. Thus, facility investment costs are increased. In addition, processing costs involving processes of heating and melting a low melting fiber are increased. Accordingly, there is a problem of increased production costs in the prior art. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention is conceived to solve the aforementioned problems in the prior art. An object of the present invention is to provide a shelf for a refrigerator, wherein a support plate of the shelf does not move relative to a frame of the shelf before a bonding member is completely cured. 
   Another object of the present invention is to provide a shelf for a refrigerator, wherein a support plate of the shelf is not easily separated from a frame of the shelf even through an article is put and exerts a load on the support plate. 
   A further object of the present invention is to provide a shelf structure for a refrigerator, which can be manufactured at low costs. 
   According to an aspect of the present invention for achieving the objects, there is provided a shelf for a refrigerator, comprising a support plate having an upper surface on which an article is to be put; a frame formed to correspond to the shape of a periphery of the support plate and having, at an inner side thereof, a coupling portion to which the support plate is coupled by means of a bonding member; and a fixing device for fixing the support plate to the coupling portion, wherein the fixing device comprises a fixing member supported by the frame and having a supporting protrusion for supporting the support plate from below. 
   Here, the frame may have a sidewall formed with a through-hole, and the fixing member may comprise a body brought into close contact with the sidewall of the frame, and a supporting protrusion extending from the body to pass through the through-hole so that the supporting protrusion can be in contact with the support plate. 
   The supporting protrusion may have an upper surface with a supporting ridge protruding therefrom. 
   The fixing member may be provided at each of both lateral sides of the frame. 
   The supporting protrusion may be formed as an elastically deformable resilient member. 
   According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a shelf for a refrigerator, comprising a support plate having an upper surface on which an article is to be put; a frame formed to correspond to the shape of a periphery of the support plate and having, at an inner side thereof, a coupling portion to which the support plate is coupled by means of a bonding member; and a fixing device for fixing the support plate to the coupling portion, wherein the fixing device comprises an elastically deformable resilient hook and a fixing protrusion formed to face the resilient hook, the resilient hook and the fixing protrusion being provided on the frame. 
   The coupling portion may comprise a catching protrusion brought into contact with the upper surface of the support plate, and a flange protruding perpendicularly to the catching protrusion so as to be in contact with a side surface of the support plate. 
   The resilient hook may have a slant portion in a bent shape to be elastically deformed, an end of the support plate may be moved while being guided along the slant portion, and a distal end of the slant portion may support the upper surface of the support plate when the support plate is seated on the coupling portion. 
   A first supporting member for supporting the support plate may be fastened to a portion of the frame close to a corner of the support plate. 
   The first supporting member may be formed with a first screw hole through which a screw is fastened to fix the first supporting member to the frame. 
   The first supporting member may be further formed with a first supporting hole through which a screw is fastened to support the support plate. 
   Meanwhile, a second supporting member for supporting the support plate may be fastened to a portion of each lateral side of the frame. 
   Here, the second supporting member may be formed with a second screw hole through which a screw is fastened to fix the second supporting member to the frame. 
   A distal end of the flange may be provided with a fastening boss to which a screw can be fastened and fixed so that the screw can be fastened to the fastening boss and the second screw hole. 
   Moreover, the second supporting member may be formed with a second supporting hole to which a screw can be fastened to support the support plate. 
   With the shelf for a refrigerator according to the present invention constructed as above, the support plate can be securely coupled to the frame. Therefore, even after the bonding member is cured, the fixing device can support the weight of a food put on the support plate, thereby improving durability of the shelf. Further, upon attachment of the support plate to the bonding member applied to the frame, the support plate is stably fixed until the bonding member is cured, resulting in a lowered percent defective. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments given in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a side sectional view of a conventional shelf for a refrigerator; 
       FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view showing the structure of a shelf for a refrigerator according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 3  is a side sectional view showing a major portion of the shelf according to the embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a shelf for a refrigerator according to another embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view showing a first supporting member of the shelf according to the other embodiment of the present invention; and 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view showing a second supporting member of the shelf according to the other embodiment of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of a shelf for a refrigerator according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view showing the structure of a shelf for a refrigerator according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention,  FIG. 3  is a side sectional view showing a major portion of the shelf according to the embodiment of the present invention,  FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a shelf for a refrigerator according to another embodiment of the present invention,  FIG. 5  is a perspective view showing a first supporting member of the shelf according to the other embodiment of the present invention, and  FIG. 6  is a perspective view showing a second supporting member of the shelf according to the other embodiment of the present invention. 
   Referring to these figures, the shelf comprises a support plate  22  for supporting an article thereon, and a frame  24  for defining the body of the shelf. The support plate  22  supports an article to be accommodated in a refrigerating chamber (not shown) of the refrigerator. Therefore, the support plate  22  is generally made of transparent synthetic resin or reinforced glass so that it cannot be broken due to ordinary impact while supporting the weight of an article put on an upper surface of the support plate  22 . The support plate  22  is generally formed to take the shape of a rectangular plate. However, it may be formed in different shapes if necessary. 
   The frame  24  is made of synthetic resin to define the body of the shape. The frame is formed to conform to the shape of the support plate  22 . That is, if the support plate  22  is formed in a rectangular shape, the frame  24  is also formed in a rectangular shape. 
   A skirt  26  is vertically formed at a periphery of the frame  24  such that the skirt can be seated on and guided by rails (not shown) provided in a refrigerating chamber (not shown). In other words, the skirt is formed perpendicularly to the support plate  22 . That is, a lower end of the skirt  26  is seated on the rails so that the shelf can be moved horizontally along upper surfaces of the rails. 
   A horizontal portion  28  is formed inwardly from and integrally with the skirt  26 . The horizontal portion  28  is orthogonal to the skirt  26 . A coupling portion  30  to be coupled to the support plate  22  is formed inwardly from the horizontal portion  28 . The coupling portion  30  comprises a flange  30   a  extending perpendicularly to the horizontal portion  28 , and a catching protrusion  30   b  extending parallel to the horizontal portion  28 . 
   The flange  30   a  fixes the support plate  22  seated thereon, so that the support plate  22  cannot be moved in a fore and aft direction and in a lateral direction. The flange  30   a  should be formed such that a distal end thereof does not extend beyond a lower surface of the support plate  22 . This is to ensure that supporting protrusions  34   b  of a supporting member  34 , which will be described later, are brought into sufficient contact with the lower surface of the support plate  22 . An inner side surface of the catching protrusion  30   b  is in close contact with an edge of the upper surface of the support plate  22  so that the support plate  22  cannot come off upwardly. 
   To achieve coupling between an edge of the support plate  22  and the coupling portion  30 , a bonding member  32  is applied to an inner side surface of the coupling portion  30 . The bonding member  32  applied to the inner side surface of the coupling portion  30  completely fixes the edge of the support plate  22  to the inner side surface of the coupling portion  30 . 
   Meanwhile, the frame is provided with a fixing device for fixing the support plate  22  to the coupling portion  30 . 
   As for the fixing device in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the fixing member  34  is used to fix the support plate  22  to the coupling portion  30  of the frame  24 . The fixing member  34  is formed with a body  34   a  to be brought into close contact with the skirt  26 . The body  34   a  is provided with the supporting protrusions  34   b  protruding perpendicularly to the body  34   a.    
   At this time, the skirt  26  is formed with a plurality of through-holes  27 . The through-holes  27  allow the supporting protrusions  34   b  of the supporting member  34  to penetrate therethrough. The through-holes  27  may be formed to correspond to each other in opposite portions of the skirt  26 . 
   The supporting protrusions  34   b  penetrate through the through-holes  27  and support the lower surface of the support plate  22  that has been fixed to the coupling portion  30  by means of the bonding member  32 . 
   When the supporting protrusions  34   b  are engaged with the through-holes  27  of the skirt  26 , the supporting protrusions  34   b  exert elastic forces. This is because the supporting protrusions  34   b  have elasticity due to the characteristics of their material and shape. Therefore, the support plate is in close contact with the lower surface of the catching protrusion  30   b . Further, a contact surface of each of the supporting protrusions  34   b , which comes into the contact with the support plate  22 , may be formed with a supporting ridge  34   c . The supporting ridge  34   c  is to more stably support the lower surface of the support plate  22 . Depending on the through-holes  27  formed in the skirt  26 , a plurality of fixing members  34  may be provided. 
   As for a fixing device in another embodiment of the present invention, the fixing device comprises a plurality of fixing protrusions  40  formed at a predetermined interval at a rear end of the frame  24 , and a plurality of resilient hooks  42  formed at a predetermined interval at a front end of the frame  24 , as shown in  FIG. 4 . 
   The fixing protrusions  40  function to prevent a rear end of the support plate  22  coupled to the frame  24  from being raised upwardly. That is, after the support plate  22  is coupled to the frame  24 , the rear end of the support plate  22  is placed between the coupling portion  30  and the fixing protrusions  40 . At this time, the fixing protrusions  40  press down the upper surface of the support plate  22  so that the rear end of the support plate  20  can be securely supported by the fixing protrusions  40 . Meanwhile, the fixing protrusions  40  are formed integrally with the frame  24  by means of injection molding out of synthetic resin. 
   In the meantime, each of the resilient hooks  42  has a slant portion  42   a  in a bent shape such that it can be elastically deformed. The slant portion  42   a  ensures smooth coupling of the support plate  22  to the frame  24 . That is, the support plate  22  is coupled to the frame  24  by placing the rear end of the support plate between the coupling portion  30  and the fixing protrusions  40  and lowering the front end of the support plate. 
   Here, the supporting plate  22  is in contact with the slant portions  42   a . Since the slant portions  42   a  of the resilient hooks can be elastically deformed, the support plate  22  can be seated on the coupling portion  30  without being disturbed by the resilient hooks  42 . Meanwhile, the resilient hooks  42  are formed integrally with the frame  24  by means of injection molding out of synthetic resin. 
   The resilient hooks  42  prevent the front end of the support plate  22  coupled to the frame  24  from being raised upwardly. That is, after the support plate  22  is coupled to the frame  24 , the front end of the support plate  22  is positioned between the coupling portion  30  and the resilient hooks  42 . At this time, since distal ends of the slant portions  42   a  of the resilient hooks press down the upper surface of the support plate  22 , the rear end of the support plate  22  is securely supported by the resilient hooks  42 . 
   Meanwhile, a flange  30   a  of the coupling portion at a corner of the frame  24  is provided with a fastening boss  44 , as well shown in  FIG. 6 . The fastening boss  44  functions to fix supporting members  46  and  50 , which will be described below, to the frame  24 . That is, screws S are fastened to the fastening boss  44  through screw holes  46   a  and  50   a  formed in the supporting members  46  and  50 . Therefore, the supporting members  46  and  50  are fixed to the frame  24 . The position and number of the fastening boss  44  can be arbitrarily selected. However, it is preferred that such fastening bosses be uniformly distributed at predetermined intervals at corners and intermediate portions of sides of the frame  24  in consideration of stable distribution of supporting forces. 
   For the sake of convenience of description, the supporting members  46  and  50  will be described herein by dividing them into the first supporting member  50  and the second supporting member  46 . The first and second supporting members  50  and  46  have the same structure but are different from each other only in their positions. That is, to support the support plate  22  by the supporting members  46  and  50 , it is preferred in view of mechanics that the supporting members  46  and  50  be installed at the corners of the frame  24 . At this time, a supporting member provided at a corner of the frame  24  is referred to as the “first supporting member  50 .” If an additional supporting member is installed, e.g., a supporting member is provided at a portion of a side of the frame  24 , the supporting member is referred to as the “second supporting member  46 .” 
   Meanwhile, the support plate  22  is coupled to the frame  24 . The support plate  22  is fixed to the frame  24  by being attached to the bonding member  32  provided in the coupling portion  30 . Of course, the fixing protrusions  40  and the resilient hooks  42  also securely fix the support plate  22  to the frame  24  as described above. The support plate  22  is made of glass or plastics. 
   Meanwhile, to more securely fix the support plate  22  coupled to the frame  24 , the shelf of the present invention comprises the first supporting members  50 . The first supporting member  50  is formed with a first screw hole  50   a . The first supporting member  50  is coupled to the frame  24  in such a manner that a screw S is fastened through the first screw hole  50   a . Further, the first supporting member  50  may have a first supporting hole  50   b  at a portion thereof brought into contact with the support plate  22 . The first supporting hole  50   b  is used for fixing the support plate  22  to the first supporting member by means of thread engagement of a screw S. 
   After the first supporting member  50  is coupled to the frame  24 , a part of the first supporting member  50  supports the support plate  22  to further prevent play of the support plate  22 . Meanwhile, the first supporting members  50  are preferably coupled to comers of the frame  24 , which are close to comers of the front end of the support plate  22 , so as to support the corners of the support plate  22 . 
   The shelf of the present invention further comprises the second supporting members  46  for more securely fixing the support plate  22  to the frame  24  in the same manner as the first supporting members  50 . The second supporting member  46  is formed with a second screw hole  46   a.    
   The second supporting member  46  is coupled to the frame  24  in such a manner that a screw S is fastened through the second screw hole  46   a . The second supporting member  46  is further provided with a second supporting hole  46   b  at a portion thereof brought into contact with the support plate  22 . The second supporting hole  46   b  is used for fixing the support plate  22  to the second supporting member by means of thread engagement of a screw S. 
   After the second supporting member  46  is coupled to the frame  24 , a part of the second supporting member  46  supports the support plate  22  to further prevent play of the support plate  22 . Meanwhile, the second supporting member  46  is preferably coupled to an intermediate portion of each lateral side of the frame  24 , which is close to an intermediate portion of each lateral side of the support plate  22 , so as to support the intermediate portion of the lateral side of the support plate  22 . 
   The operation of the shelf for a refrigerator according to the present invention constructed as above will be specifically described in order of assembly. 
   First, the operation of the shelf according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention will be explained. The frame  24  is turned over such that the flange  30   a  of the frame  24  is directed upward. Then, the bonding member  32  is applied to the inner side surface of the coupling portion  30  of the frame  24 . The support plate  22  is seated on the inner side surface of the coupling portion  30  to which the bonding member  32  has been applied. When the support plate  22  is seated on the coupling portion  30 , the periphery of the support plate  22  is brought into close contact with the inner side surface of the coupling portion  30 . That is, an upper peripheral surface of the support plate  22  is brought into close contact with the lower surface of the catching protrusion  30   b , while a side peripheral surface of the support plate  22  is brought into close contact with the inner side surface of the flange  30   a.    
   After the support plate  22  is seated on the frame  24  through the bonding member  32 , the support plate  22  may be detached from the frame  24  before the bonding member  32  is cured and the support plate  22  is completely fixed to the frame  24 . To prevent the support plate  22  from being detached from the frame  24 , the supporting protrusions  34   b  of the supporting member  34  are passed through the through-holes  27  formed in each lateral side of the skirt  26 . At this time, a surface of each of the supporting protrusions  34   b  is in close contact with the lower surface of the supporting plate  22 . Particularly, the supporting ridge  34   c  of the supporting protrusion  34   b  is in close contact with the lower surface of the supporting plate  22 . 
   Since the support plate  22  is supported from below by the supporting protrusions  34   b  of the fixing member  34 , the supporting protrusions  34   b  partially support the weight of a food put on the support plate  22 . 
   Next, the operation of the shelf according to the other embodiment of the present invention will be explained. The rear end of the support plate  22  is inserted into the space between the coupling portion  30  and the fixing protrusions  40  and the raised front end of the support plate  22  is lowered so that the front end of the support plate  22  can be moved while coming into contact with the slant portions  42   a.    
   Here, the resilient hooks  42  are elastically deformed due to the structural features of the slant portions  42   a  and thus do not disturb the downward movement of the support plate  22 . Once the front end of the support plate  22  has passed by the slant portions  42   a , the slant portions  42   a  are restored to their original states so that the distal ends of the slant portions can press down the support plate  22 . When the support plate  22  is seated on the coupling portion  30 , the support plate  22  is primarily fixed to the frame  24  by means of the bonding member  32  attached to the coupling portion  30 . 
   After the support plate  22  is seated on the coupling portion  30 , the first supporting members  50  are coupled to both comers of the front end of the frame  24  by means of thread engagement of the screw S. Then, the second supporting members  46  are coupled to the intermediate portions of the both lateral sides of the frame  24  by means of thread engagement of the screw S. At this time, to more securely fix the support plate  22 , the support plate  22  may be supported by threadly engaging the screws S with the first and second supporting holes  50   b  and  46   b  formed respectively in the first and second supporting members  50  and  46 . 
   In the assembled state of the shelf of the present invention, the fixing protrusions  40  support the rear end of the support plate  22 . The slant portions  42   a  of the resilient hooks  42  support the front end of the support plate  22 . Therefore, the support plate  22  is not arbitrarily moved. 
   The first and second supporting members  50  and  46  support the front end and intermediate portions of the support plate  22 , respectively. Thus, the support plate  22  is more securely fixed to the frame  24 . 
   This embodiment of the present invention can be modified in various manners. For example, although the first supporting members  50  are fastened to the comers of the front end of the frame  24 , they may be fastened to comers of the rear end of the frame  24 . 
   In the illustrated embodiment, the resilient hooks  42  and the fixing protrusions  40  are provided at the front and rear ends of the frame  24 , respectively. On the contrary, the resilient hooks  42  and the fixing protrusions  40  may be provided at the rear and front ends of the frame  24 , respectively. 
   In the shelf for a refrigerator according to the present invention described in detail above, the following advantages can be expected. 
   Since the supporting protrusions of the fixing member support the support plate from below in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, they upwardly support the support plate so that the support plate cannot be moved before the bonding member is cured upon attachment of the support plate to the bonding member applied to the frame. Thus, the support plate can be stably fixed, resulting in a lowered percent defective. 
   Further, since the supporting protrusions of the fixing member continuously support the support plate from below, they partially support the weight of a food put on the shelf even when the bonding member of the shelf is cured. Therefore, the shelf has improved durability. 
   Meanwhile, in the other embodiment of the present invention, the shelf of the present invention has an advantage in that the resilient hooks and the fixing protrusions provided respectively in the front and rear ends of the frame securely support the support plate coupled to the frame. Furthermore, since the resilient hooks have the elastically deformable slant portions, the front end of the support plate can be smoothly seated on the coupling portion. 
   Moreover, since the first and second supporting members are fastened to the frame so that they can support the front end and intermediate portions of the support plate, there is an advantage in that the support plate coupled to the frame can be more securely fixed. 
   Consequently, since the resilient hooks, the fixing protrusions, and the first and second supporting members all of which are means for securely fixing the support plate to the frame can be formed by means of injection molding, the support plate can be securely fixed to the frame, and at the same time, production costs can be reduced. Accordingly, there is an advantage in that consumer&#39;s purchase desire is increased. 
   The scope of the present invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiments but defined by the appended claims. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and changes can be made thereto within the spirit and scope of the present invention defined by the claims.