Abstract:
A refrigerator includes a plurality of side walls defining an internalcompartment. Each side wall including supports. A glass shelf includes parallel sides that each include an element having a C-shaped cross-section for embedding, at least partially, respective edges of a glass member. Each element includes a first elastic portion configured to cooperate with a corresponding seat of a molded part disposed on one of the plurality of side walls.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to European Patent Application No. EP 16176460.0, filed Jun. 27, 2016, entitled “REFRIGERATOR WITH GLASS SHELVES,” the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0002]    The present disclosure relates to a refrigerator, in particular a domestic refrigerator, having an internal compartment with side walls, each side wall being provided with molded parts for supporting at least one glass shelf. 
       SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0003]    One aspect of the present disclosure includes a refrigerator having a plurality of side walls defining an internal compartment. A glass shelf includes parallel sides, each having an element including a C-shaped cross-section for embedding, at least partially, respective edges of a glass member. Each element includes a first elastic portion configured to cooperate with a corresponding seat of a molded part disposed on one of the plurality of side walls. Raised portions are disposed on each element. The raised portions include hook-shaped parts configured to cooperate with corresponding side rails of a drawer for preventing tilting movement of the drawer. 
         [0004]    Another aspect of the present disclosure includes a refrigerator having a plurality of side walls defining an internal compartment. A glass shelf includes parallel sides that each have an element with a C-shaped cross-section for embedding, at least partially, respective edges of a glass member. Each element includes a first elastic portion configured to cooperate with a corresponding seat of a molded part disposed on one of the plurality of side walls. 
         [0005]    Yet another aspect of the present disclosure includes a refrigerator having a compartment defined by a plurality of side walls. Supports are formed on each side wall. A glass shelf includes an element having a C-shaped cross-section for receiving a portion of a glass member. The element includes a first elastic portion configured to cooperate with a corresponding support disposed on one of the plurality of side walls. 
         [0006]    Traditional glass shelf refrigerator systems are often quite complex and typically require at least three elements on each side of the shelf (i.e., the groove, the support rail, and a shaped rail) fixed to the shelf. Moreover, this solution is mainly focused on sliding shelves and not sliding drawers. 
         [0007]    In modern refrigerators, there is the trend of allowing the user to arrange the inner part of the refrigerator, depending on the preference of the user. The user can decide to have simple glass shelves or sliding drawers in the refrigerator cavity. 
         [0008]    One object of the present disclosure is to provide a refrigerator in which the user can easily pass from a cavity with shelves only to a cavity with shelves and drawers. 
         [0009]    Another object of the present disclosure is to provide the user with good feedback during the use of the drawers. 
         [0010]    In particular, the present disclosure avoids the lateral wobbling of the drawer and vertical movement of the drawer. In this way, during use of the drawer, the user feels a precise extraction of the drawer, similar to the use of metal telescopic rails. 
         [0011]    The basic concept of the present disclosure consists of two plastic elements inserted at the glass shelf sides. 
         [0012]    In the upper part of the plastic elements, some protrusions allow to block the sliding movement of the drawer. 
         [0013]    According to another concept, lateral parts of the plastic elements maintain the glass shelf in the center of the compartment or cell. 
         [0014]    According to another concept, in the front part of each shelf, two elastic ribs with pins block the glass shelf on the cell, such that the glass shelf avoids movement during handling of food items or during pull out of the drawer. In addition, the elastic ribs compensate the unavoidable deformation of the cabinet. 
         [0015]    Plastic elements are made of polyoxymethylene (POM) to allow a better sliding of the drawer. In an alternative solution, plastic elements may be made of cheaper plastic material (for instance polypropylene (PP)) with co-molded shaped protrusion of POM on which the drawer can slide. 
         [0016]    These and other features, advantages, and objects of the present invention will be further understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art by reference to the following specification, claims, and appended drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0017]    Further advantages and features of the present disclosure will be clear from the detailed description of one embodiment thereof, with reference to the attached drawings in which: 
           [0018]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a portion of a shelf according to the disclosure immediately before mounting of the shelf on the side walls of the refrigerator compartment; 
           [0019]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a portion of the shelf mounted on the side walls of the refrigerator compartment; 
           [0020]      FIG. 3  is a partial cross-sectional view of the shelf of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a sliding drawer mounted on the shelf, where the side walls of the compartment have been removed; 
           [0022]      FIG. 5  is an enlarged bottom perspective view of the shelf of  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0023]      FIG. 6  is another enlarged bottom perspective view of the shelf of  FIG. 4 ; and 
           [0024]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a component according to the disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
       [0025]    For purposes of description herein, the terms “upper,” “lower,” “right,” “left,” “rear,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention as oriented in  FIG. 1 . Unless stated otherwise, the term “front” shall refer to the surface of the device closer to an intended viewer of the device, and the term “rear” shall refer to the surface of the device further from the intended viewer of the device. However, it is to be understood that the invention may assume various alternative orientations, except where expressly specified to the contrary. It is also to be understood that the specific devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the following specification are simply exemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts defined in the appended claims. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims expressly state otherwise. 
         [0026]    The terms “including,” “comprises,” “comprising,” or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. An element proceeded by “comprises a . . . ” does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of additional identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises the element. 
         [0027]    With reference to  FIGS. 1-7 , a refrigerator R includes an inner cavity defined by a compartment C, wherein a plurality of glass shelves G are mounted within the refrigerator R. Each shelf G is provided, on parallel sides, with plastic elements  10  having a C-shaped cross-section mounted on an edge  12  of the shelf G. Each plastic element  10  may have a continuous C-shaped portion  11   a  (as shown in  FIG. 7 ). Alternatively, each plastic element  10  may have a C-shaped slotted portion  11   b  (as shown in  FIG. 6 ). Both C-shaped portions  11   a,    11   b  (continuous or slotted) have the same purpose for mounting the plastic element  10  on the shelf. 
         [0028]    Inner walls W of the compartment C present two molded parts  14  and  17 , each of which may define a lowered seat. The two molded parts  14  and  17  may be obtained by thermoforming a plastic inner liner, or by using components (such as foam) obtained by injection molding, and insert the components into an aperture defined by the liner in a tight manner. The term “molded parts” includes the above solutions, and any alternative solution as well. 
         [0029]    A front molded part  14  includes a blind hole  14   a  for receiving a pin  16   a  of an elastic portion  16  of the plastic element  10 , which protrudes laterally and in a front portion thereof. The elastic portion  16  extends downwardly from the shelf G. The detail of the mounted configuration is shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , wherein the pin  16   a  is elastically inserted in the blind hole  14   a.    
         [0030]    The front portion of the plastic element  10  includes a cross part  10   a,  which avoids any sliding of the glass shelf G toward the outside, while any backward movement of the shelf G is prevented by a similar cross part  10   b  present in a rear portion of the plastic element  10  ( FIG. 5 ) or by a rear wall of the compartment. 
         [0031]    With reference again to  FIG. 2 , an upper side of each plastic element  10  includes two series of protrusions  18 ,  20 . A first series of protrusions  18  are simple linear protrusions on which a bottom portion or bottom wall of a plastic drawer  22  can slide. The protrusions  20  of the second series are hook-shaped and are configured to cooperate with side rails  24  of the bottom of the drawer  22  for avoiding any tilting movement thereof. Each hook-shaped protrusion  20  opens toward an adjacent linear protrusion  18 . Moreover, each plastic element  10  is provided with a guide protrusion  26  on the front part of the element  10 , which is shaped so as to guide the drawer  22  and its side rails  24  in the initial mounting sliding movement of the drawer itself. The guide protrusion includes an angled forward portion and a rearward portion that is generally parallel with an adjacent protrusion  18 . 
         [0032]    Each plastic element  10  is also provided with a second elastic portion in the form of a side elastic tongue  28 , which keeps the glass shelf G in the center of the compartment. 
         [0033]    From the above description it is clear how the mounting of the glass shelf G in the inner compartment C is simple and safe, since one plastic element  10  is coupled with each of two opposite sides of a glass plate, and then the glass shelf G (including the glass plate and the plastic element  10 ) is inserted elastically in the molded parts  14 ,  17 . If a user wants to install a sliding drawer  22  in the space defined by two glass shelves G, the user simply inserts the drawer  22  on the glass shelf G, and in this coupling movement, the user is helped by the shaped guide protrusion  26 . 
         [0034]    For avoiding the tilting movement when the drawer  22  reaches a fully opened configuration, the drawer  22  includes a lateral protrusion  30  configured to cooperate with a corresponding protrusion (not shown) of the inner liner. 
         [0035]    The series of protrusions  18 ,  20 , wherein the drawer  22  slides may be of a plastic co-molded material different from the material of the plastic element  10  and having a lower friction coefficient may reduce the overall cost of the plastic elements  10 . 
         [0036]    It will be understood by one having ordinary skill in the art that construction of the described invention and other components is not limited to any specific material. Other exemplary embodiments of the invention disclosed herein may be formed from a wide variety of materials, unless described otherwise herein. 
         [0037]    For purposes of this disclosure, the term “coupled” (in all of its forms, couple, coupling, coupled, etc.) generally means the joining of two components (electrical or mechanical) directly or indirectly to one another. Such joining may be stationary in nature or movable in nature. Such joining may be achieved with the two components (electrical or mechanical) and any additional intermediate members being integrally formed as a single unitary body with one another or with the two components. Such joining may be permanent in nature or may be removable or releasable in nature unless otherwise stated. 
         [0038]    It is also important to note that the construction and arrangement of the elements of the invention as shown in the exemplary embodiments is illustrative only. Although only a few embodiments of the present innovations have been described in detail in this disclosure, those skilled in the art who review this disclosure will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible (e.g., variations in sizes, dimensions, structures, shapes and proportions of the various elements, values of parameters, mounting arrangements, use of materials, colors, orientations, etc.) without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the subject matter recited. For example, elements shown as integrally formed may be constructed of multiple parts or elements shown as multiple parts may be integrally formed, the operation of the interfaces may be reversed or otherwise varied, the length or width of the structures and/or members or connector or other elements of the system may be varied, the nature or number of adjustment positions provided between the elements may be varied. It should be noted that the elements and/or assemblies of the system may be constructed from any of a wide variety of materials that provide sufficient strength or durability, in any of a wide variety of colors, textures, and combinations. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present innovations. Other substitutions, modifications, changes, and omissions may be made in the design, operating conditions, and arrangement of the desired and other exemplary embodiments without departing from the spirit of the present innovations. 
         [0039]    It will be understood that any described processes or steps within described processes may be combined with other disclosed processes or steps to form structures within the scope of the present invention. The exemplary structures and processes disclosed herein are for illustrative purposes and are not to be construed as limiting. 
         [0040]    It is also to be understood that variations and modifications can be made on the aforementioned structures and methods without departing from the concepts of the present invention, and further it is to be understood that such concepts are intended to be covered by the following claims unless these claims by their language expressly state otherwise.