Under mount roller for crisper system

A refrigerator is provided that includes a crisper system having one or more moveable and removable drawers. The drawers include rollers extending downwardly and outwardly from the drawers to provide maximum storage volume. The rollers are configured to work with channels formed in a support system, which may be integrally formed with a bottom floor of a compartment of the refrigerator. Therefore, the rollers and channels of the support system provide easy access and removability of the drawers of the crisper system.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to refrigerators. More particularly, but not exclusively, the invention relates to a crisper system for use in a refrigerator compartment including an under mount rolling system.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Bottom mount refrigerators include a freezer compartment on the bottom, with the fresh food or refrigerator compartment above the freezer compartment. One or more doors provide access to the fresh food compartment, and a separate door provides access to the freezer compartment. The freezer door or doors may be drawer-type doors that are pulled out, or they may be hingedly connected similar to the refrigerator compartment doors, such that they are rotated to provide access within.

Both the refrigerator and freezer compartments may contain storage drawers or compartments that are used to store items. These drawers may be separately climate controlled from the rest of the compartment in order to store certain types of perishables. For example, many refrigerator compartments include crisper drawers that are configured to store fruits and vegetables. The drawers generally are controlled such that the humidity in the drawers is higher than in the rest of the compartment in order to increase the storage life of the fruits and/or vegetables.

Generally, the crisper drawers are hanged on shelves, side plates, or compartment walls of the refrigerator. A track may be included on the walls or underside of the shelves, with a portion of the drawers fitting into the tracks and movable within the same. The drawers may be completely removable from the tracks by continuing to move the drawers relative to the tracks past the front edge of the track or connecting member.

However, having such a hanging design for the drawers of a compartment is complex. The structure to allow the drawers to move can be complex for both installation and for removal of the drawer. As the drawer is moved within the track, one side may be moved faster than the other, which can cause binding or the like. This will make it more difficult to remove the drawer from the refrigerator, or to open the drawer to provide access to the interior.

Therefore, there is a need in the art for an improved crisper drawer assembly that is less complex, and that is easy to install. There is also a need in the art for a drawer or drawers that can be quickly and easily removed from the compartment of the refrigerator.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, it is a primary object, feature, and/or advantage of the present invention to provide an apparatus that overcomes the deficiencies in the art.

It is another object, feature, and/or advantage of the present invention to provide a drawer system for a refrigerator that includes easy to remove and reinstall drawers relative to the system.

It is yet another object, feature, and/or advantage of the present invention to provide a crisper system that includes an under mount roller for the drawers.

It is still another object, feature, and/or advantage of the present invention to provide a roller system for crisper system that includes rollers that have even resistance when travelling out and into the compartment.

It is a further object, feature, and/or advantage of the present invention to provide an integral support system for the crisper that is integral with a wall or floor of the compartment.

It is yet a further object, feature, and/or advantage of the present invention to provide a drawer for a crisper system that has rollers that do not reduce the storage capacity of the drawer.

It is still a further object, feature, and/or advantage of the present invention to provide a crisper system that includes a plurality of drawers that are able to move and be removed from the refrigerator.

These and/or other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The present invention is not to be limited to or by these objects, features and advantages. No single embodiment need provide each and every object, feature, or advantage.

According to an aspect of the present invention, a refrigerator is provided. The refrigerator includes a cabinet, a compartment within the cabinet, at least one door for providing access to the compartment, a support system in the compartment comprising at least two channels extending generally outward therefrom, and a drawer forming a storage area, the drawer comprising a plurality of rollers extending away from the storage area and configured to move between the two channels. The rollers may extend generally out and down from the storage area such that the drawer is moved via the rollers on the underside of the drawer.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a refrigerator is provided. The refrigerator includes a refrigerator compartment comprising a support system formed as part of a bottom wall of said compartment, the support system comprising a plurality of channels. At least one drawer is positioned at the support system and a plurality of rollers are included extending outwardly and downwardly from a portion of the drawer. The rollers of the drawer are configured to be placed in the channels of the support system to aid in the movement of the drawer relative to the refrigerator compartment.

According to yet another aspect of the invention, a crisper system including a support system and drawer for use in a compartment of a refrigerator is provided. The system includes a base, a plurality of channels extending from the base comprising a generally vertical wall and a lip extending generally perpendicular to the wall, and a drawer comprising a storage area and a plurality of wheels extending from the storage area. The wheels are configured to move under the lip and adjacent the wall.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1is a front elevation view of a bottom mount refrigerator10. The bottom mount refrigerator10includes a cabinet12encapsulating the compartments of the refrigerator10. As shown inFIG. 1, the upper compartment is a refrigerator or fresh food compartment14. First and second doors16,17provide access to the interior of the refrigerator compartment14. A dispenser15is positioned on one of the doors16,17of the refrigerator compartment14. The dispenser15may be a water dispenser, ice dispenser, other beverage dispenser, or some combination thereof. Furthermore, the dispenser15may be placed on any door of the refrigerator10, or the dispenser15may be placed within one of the compartments of the refrigerator10. For example, the dispenser15may be placed at one of the interior walls of the refrigerator compartment14, thus being part of the cabinet12. The placement of the dispenser15is not to limit the present invention.

Positioned generally below the refrigerator compartment14is a pantry compartment11. The pantry compartment11is a compartment having different climates than the refrigerator compartment14. For example, the pantry11may be at a warmer temperature than the refrigerator compartment14such that it is used to defrost items or to keep items at a certain humidity. The pantry compartment also includes a door13, which is shown as a drawer-type door. However, the present invention contemplates that the pantry door13may be a drawer, a hinged door, multiple doors or drawers, or some combination thereof.

Positioned below the pantry compartment11is a freezer compartment18. The freezer compartment18is generally set to be at or below 0° F., while the refrigerator compartment14is set to be at a warmer temperature so as to prevent freezing of the items stored therein. The freezer door19provides access to within the freezer compartment18. The freezer door19ofFIG. 1is shown as a drawer-type door. However, the present invention contemplates that the freezer door19may be a drawer, a hinged door, multiple doors or drawers, or some combination thereof.

It should also be appreciated that while the figures show a bottom mount style refrigerator10, the present invention contemplates that any style of a refrigerator may be included as part of the invention. The figures merely depict examples of a type of refrigerator that can be used with the present invention.

FIG. 2is a perspective view of the refrigerator compartment14with the cabinet, the insulation, and the doors removed to show the interior of the compartment14. The refrigerator compartment14ofFIG. 2has been isolated to show the interior of the compartment, including the walls forming the interior. Positioned within the refrigerator compartment14is a crisper system20including a plurality of drawers that may be considered crisper drawers. Crisper drawers are climate controlled storage areas for storing perishable items. For example, the crisper drawers may include a higher humidity level than the rest of the refrigerator compartment14such that it is an ideal climate for storing fruits, vegetables, or other perishable items. While the figures show the use of a first drawer84, second drawer86, and third drawer88positioned within the refrigerator compartment14, it should be appreciated that any number of drawers may be utilized with the crisper system20of the present invention, and the exact number shown is not to limit the system. For example, only one drawer expanding the full width or a partial width of the refrigerator compartment14may be utilized with the crisper system20of the present invention.

The interior of the refrigerator compartment14also includes a plurality of shelves23for organizing and storing items thereon. The crisper system20shown near the bottom of the refrigerator compartment14includes a cover shelf24, as will be shown and described in greater detail below. On the underside of the crisper system20is a support system22, which aids in the movements of the drawers of the crisper system20. In addition, the crisper system20shown inFIG. 2includes both larger drawers (which also may be known as pan crispers)26, as well as smaller crisper drawers28. The exact size of the crisper drawers is not to limit the present invention, and it is contemplated that any size of drawer be used with the crisper system20of the invention. The notations of large and small drawers are merely used to describe the differences of the drawers shown in the figures.

FIG. 3is a front elevation view of the refrigerator compartment14of the refrigerator10with the drawers removed.FIG. 3, similar toFIG. 2, shows the crisper system20of the invention.FIG. 3also shows a configuration of the shelves23of the refrigerator compartment14.FIG. 3shows the support system22of the crisper system20. As discussed, the support system22is configured to work with the drawers84,86,88to allow the drawers to be moved from a closed position to an open position. The support system22may be formed integrally with the refrigerator compartment14, such that it forms the bottom wall or floor of the refrigerator compartment14. Thus, the integrally formed support system22may be formed at the time of the refrigerator compartment14such that no additional steps need to be taken to install said support system22.FIG. 3also shows handles60,78attached to the drawers to aid in the movement of the drawers by a user. The handles add an ease of use such that applying a slight pressure at the handles will cause the drawers to roll about the support system22to an open position, providing access to the interior or storage area of the drawers. In addition, continued movement of the drawers relative to the support system22will allow removal of the drawers from the crisper system20, and thus, refrigerator10. The easy removal of the drawers will allow a user to more easily access the storage area of the drawers.

FIG. 4Ais a side sectional view of the refrigerator10ofFIG. 3taken along line4-4ofFIG. 3.FIG. 4Ashows a more detailed configuration of the crisper system20, including the support system22. Shown inFIG. 4Ais a sectional view of the smaller drawer28having a storage area66defined by upstanding walls extending from a bottom68. A handle78is attached to the drawer to aid in movement of the drawer relative to the support system22.

As discussed, the support system22may be integrally formed with the bottom floor of the refrigerator compartment14. As shown inFIG. 4A, the support system includes a plurality of channels30extending generally upward from the support system22. The channels30include a channel wall32extending generally vertically from a top surface of the support system22, as well as a channel lip34extending from the top end of the channel wall32. The channel wall32extends generally upward from the channel30and the lip34extends generally perpendicular to the channel wall32. Thus, the channels30may be a T-shape or half a T-shape when viewing a sectional view from the front. Rollers82extending from the drawer28are configured to be positioned within the channels30to allow the rollers82of the drawer28to move within the channel30. As the drawer will include rollers82on both sides of the drawer, the rollers will aid in providing an equal removal of the rollers of the drawer such that the drawer will not bind or become friction fit against one or more of the channels.

Furthermore, the support system22may include a plurality of fixed rollers36at least partially positioned within the support system22. The fixed rollers36are fixed in that they are able to rotate, but they are not connected to the drawers. It is contemplated that the fixed rollers36be mounted on one or more axles, with the axles being moveable in a vertical manner to slightly move into the support system22to move out of the way of a removed drawer. The fixed rollers36aid in the movement of the drawer such that they reduce the friction of the movement of the drawers to allow for less force to be required to open and close the drawers, as well as removing the drawers from the refrigerator10. The number of fixed rollers may be varied, may include bearings or other friction reducing mechanisms, and also may be evenly spread out along the length or width of the support system22to aid in the movement of all of the drawers of the crisper system20.

The support system22may also include a lock38comprising an indent40and a lip42formed therein. The lock38is best seen in the enlarged portion ofFIG. 4Ashown inFIG. 4B. The lock38can be configured to selectively block the removal of the drawer from the crisper system20by temporarily blocking a stopper69that extends generally downwardly from the bottom of a drawer or crisper tray. As mentioned previously, the drawer is removable from the crisper system20. However, the lock38provides some resistance such that the drawer is only removed when the user so desires. Thus, the indent40and lip42of the lock38make it such that the lock will block the removal of the drawer during normal opening of the drawer by blocking the stopper69of the drawer. However, the blocking caused by the indent50and lip42may be overcome by slightly lifting the drawer to allow the stopper69to move beyond the lock38to remove the drawer from the crisper system20.

The operation of the crisper system20is as follows. The rollers82of the drawer28, as shown inFIG. 4A, are positioned within channels30on opposite sides of the drawer28that are spaced approximately equal to the spacing of the rollers82on the opposite sides of the drawer28. The channels30allow the rollers82to move therein, while aiding the movement by ensuring that one side of the drawer28does not move faster than the other side. In the closed position shown inFIG. 4A, a user may grasp the handle78of the drawer28to provide force to pull the drawer28towards the front of the refrigerator compartment14. The rollers provide movement of the drawer28in the channels30along with the fixed rollers36of the support system22. The drawer28will be moveable until the stopper69reaches the lock38in the support system22, as is shown inFIG. 4B. At this point, the lock38will at least temporarily stop the movement of the drawer28relative to the crisper system20. If the user desires to fully remove the drawer28from the refrigerator10, an additional force, such as a lifting force, may be applied to overcome the indent40and lip42of the lock38to move the stopper69beyond the lock38to remove the drawer28from the refrigerator10. To replace the drawer28, the rollers82on opposite sides of the drawer28are aligned with the channels30and the drawer is simply pushed through the channels30to the closed position shown inFIG. 4A.

FIG. 5is a perspective view of the cover shelf24for the crisper system20according to an embodiment of the invention. The cover shelf24may be similarly manufactured to the other shelves23as shown in the figures. Thus, the shelf may be used to store and organize items thereon. In addition, the shelf24will include a rear support44and a front support46. The front and rear supports are configured to work with the drawers of the crisper system20.

FIG. 6is an exploded view of a large drawer/pan crisper26for use with a crisper system20of the refrigerator10. As noted, the mention of large and small drawers are not limiting to the invention and are simply used to distinguish the drawer shown inFIG. 6and the drawer shown inFIG. 7. The drawer26ofFIG. 6includes a storage area48defined by a bottom50, first wall52, second wall54, third wall56, and front wall58. The walls extend generally upward from the bottom50and can be configured to be as high as desired for the refrigerator10that the crisper system20is used in. The walls and bottom of the drawer or pan crisper26may comprise a general purpose polystyrene (GPPS) plastic that can be one step molded or can be individually molded and attached to one another to form the storage area50. As shown in the embodiment ofFIG. 6, a crisper tray62may be attached to the bottom of the drawer26. The crisper tray62, while not used in all embodiments, can be used to hide the support system under the drawer26. The crisper tray62may include a stopper, such as that shown inFIG. 4Aas well. The crisper tray62can be snap fit to the drawer to easily attach one to the other. In addition, the crisper tray62may comprise a high impact polystyrene (HIPS) material. The handle60can be attached to either the front wall58of the drawer56or the crisper tray62. If attached to the crisper tray62, the handle60can be attached to the tray62by heat staking posts of the crisper tray62through the handle60.

Also extending from either the bottom50of the drawer26or the bottom side of the crisper tray62is a roller mount65on either side of the tray or drawer26. The roller mount65extends generally downwardly and outwardly from the tray or drawer and includes an axle for attaching a roller64thereto. Roller bearings may also be included the roller mount65for the roller64to allow easier movement of the roller64. The roller64is attached to the roller mount65. The roller64comprises a two shot molded roller and can include a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) treading thereon to provide for better traction within the channels30of the support system22. It should be appreciated that the location of the roller mount65being downward and outward from the crisper tray62or drawer26is beneficial for multiple reasons. For example, as the roller mount65is not formed in one of the walls of the drawer56, the storage area48of the drawer26is allowed to be at a maximum volume. In other words, the roller mount65and/or roller64do not require an indent into the storage area such that the volume of the storage area is decreased. This allows the drawers to be as large as possible. The design of the rollers also has even resistance from traveling into and out of the channels30of the support system22, which provides a consistent evenness for the user.

FIG. 7is an exploded view of a smaller drawer28for use with a crisper system20of the present invention. Similar to the drawer shown inFIG. 6, the drawer28ofFIG. 7includes a storage area66defined by a bottom68, first wall70, second wall72, third wall74, and a front wall76. The walls generally extend upward from the bottom68to form the storage area66. Similarly, the walls of the drawer28may comprise a GPPS material. Also shown inFIG. 7is a smaller crisper tray80configured to be snap fit to the drawer28, which can be used to aid in hiding at least a portion of the support system22. The crisper tray80includes the stopper69extending generally downward from the tray80. The crisper tray80ofFIG. 7can comprise a HIPS material as well. The handle78shown inFIG. 7may be attached to either the crisper tray80or the front76of the drawer28. In addition, similar to the crisper tray62ofFIG. 6, the crisper tray80ofFIG. 7includes roller mounts83extending generally downwardly and outwardly from a portion of the crisper tray80. The roller mounts83are configured to attach to the rollers82on both sides of the crisper tray80. The rollers82may also be two shot molded rollers and can include a TPE tread thereon. The roller mount83of the crisper tray80are also shown to extend generally downward and outwardly from the crisper tray80to allow for the maximum volume of the drawer28.

FIG. 8is a perspective view of the floor of the refrigerator compartment14including the support system22for the crisper system20. As discussed, the support system22may be formed integrally with the refrigerator compartment14to form the bottom floor of the compartment. A plurality of channels30including a channel wall32extending generally upward from the channel30and a lip34extending generally perpendicular to the channel wall32may also be formed. In addition, a plurality of fixed rollers36may be rotatably positioned within the support system22to aid in the movement of the drawers relative to the support system22. The fixed rollers36may be located inboard of the rollers64disposed on the respective drawers52. The number and configuration of these fixed rollers36may be determined by the size of the support system, refrigerator, and/or number of drawers used therewith.

As shown in an embodiment of the invention ofFIG. 8, the support system22includes a first channel90, a second channel92spaced from the first channel90, a third channel94spaced from the second channel92, and a fourth channel96spaced from the third channel94. The first and fourth channels90,96are positioned generally on the outer edges of the support system22and coincide with the upstanding walls of the refrigerator compartment14. The placements of the second and third channels92,94are configured such that different sizes of drawers may be positioned between the channels. For example, between the first channel90and the second channel92may be positioned a larger drawer26, as is shown in the figures above. As the second and third channels92,94are generally closer to one another, a smaller drawer28would be positioned therebetween. Finally, the spacing of the third and fourth channels94,96would indicate the use of a large drawer26therein. Thus, the support system22shown inFIG. 8is configured to support a crisper system20, including two large drawers surrounding a smaller drawer. Thus, the crisper system would include a total of three crisper drawers having two different sizes to hold perishable items therein. However, the invention contemplates that any number and size of drawers be used with the crisper and support systems of the invention. The drawers will be able to be moved relative the support system22and the channels30to open and close the drawers, as well as to remove the drawers if wanted. The drawers can be easily removed and replaced due to the configuration of the rollers and channels.

The foregoing description has been presented for purposes of illustration and description, and is not intended to be an exhaustive list or to limit the invention to precise forms disclosed. It is contemplated that other alternative processes obvious to those skilled in the art are considered to be included in the invention. The description is merely examples of embodiments. For example, the shape and size of the drawers and thus, channels may be varied according to the type of refrigerator and desires for a consumer. The number in position of the rollers on the drawers may also be configured to provide easy movement in and out of the refrigerator. It is understood that any other modifications, substitutions, and/or additions may be made that are within the intended spirit and scope of the invention. From the foregoing, it can be seen that the present invention accomplishes at least all of the stated objectives.