Anti-tip and retention assembly for appliance support plate

A shelving assembly includes a support plate, left and right side supports, and rear and front anti-tip and retention features. The side supports each include a front end located adjacent to a front edge of the support plate, and a rear end located adjacent to a rear edge of the support plate. A portion of the rear and front anti-tip and retention features is disposed above the support plate for preventing tipping and for retaining the support plate on the side supports. The front and rear anti-tip and retention features are spaced apart such that a majority of the top surface of the support plate along opposite left and right side edges is freely exposed and unencumbered by the front and rear anti-tip and retention features.

FIELD OF DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure is directed to appliance support plates and, more particularly, to assemblies for supporting appliance support plates in appliance cavities.

BACKGROUND

Appliances contain shelves and similar storage devices within the appliance interior used to organize and support stored goods such as food and containers. These shelves and similar storage devices can be made from a variety of materials including glass, plastic, wood and metals, such as wire and sheet steel.

Conventional appliances are known to include different types of shelving designs. Some conventional shelving designs include assemblies comprising the use of different materials such as glass, plastic and metals. The kinds of materials used in shelf assemblies are chosen for a variety of reasons including cost, strength, quality, features offered, performance characteristics and design flexibility.

Many conventional shelving assemblies are often bulky and frequently utilize a combination of several of the materials identified above. In addition, conventional shelving assemblies can include adhesives, rivets or silicones to help with manufacture and assembly. One common type of conventional shelving assembly design is often referred to as encapsulated glass shelving. In this type of shelving assembly, the perimeter of a piece of glass is encapsulated in plastic such that the plastic covers the sides and adjacent edge portions of the top and bottom of the glass. Such arrangements typically rest on two metal support brackets. Such designs may also be commonly referred to as encapsulated glass cantilever shelving.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure offers improvements over traditional encapsulated glass cantilever shelving. In utilizing a design that eliminates the encapsulating material on the top plane of the glass, an anti-tip and retention feature for the glass support plate is implemented to prevent the glass from tipping to the front or rear, along a transverse axis of the glass, when stored items are placed onto the support plate. By using an anti-tip and retention feature, the disclosed shelving assembly does not require encapsulating the glass support plate in plastic, thereby creating more usable shelf space within the appliance. Obtaining more usable shelf space can be a desirable feature to consumers and original equipment manufacturers. Additionally, through the use of unique side supports, the present disclosure offers a shelf product that can be easily assembled and held together without the use of adhesives or other costly secondary operations and manufacturing equipment.

Low cost tooling, ease of assembly, total shelf assembly cost, the ability to eliminate the use of adhesive, if desired, and added usable shelf space are only several of the improvements realized through the use of the subject matter disclosed herein.

As described in more detail below and in specific reference toFIGS. 1-8, the disclosed shelving assembly includes unique side supports with several features. These side support features include front and rear anti-tip and retention features for the glass support plate. In one version, the front anti-tip and retention feature can include a locking receptacle feature for secure snap fit of a front trim form (e.g., a front trim piece).

For additional support of the shelving assembly, the disclosure describes a square wire frame connected to the side supports. Alternatively, a round wire frame and/or reinforcement rods may be utilized.

It is important to note that the anti-tip and retention features expressly described herein, and as shown in the Figs, may be modified and shaped differently without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure.

In addition to the foregoing, the present disclosure includes LED lighting features that may also be incorporated into the shelf assembly design. In particular, and as will be described below, the shelf assembly may utilize the following:a contact housing containing a contact stripa LED light stripwiring or ribbon cable for getting power to the LED light strip (not shown in the figures)The shelf supports may alternately utilize a central valley (not shown in the figures) in the horizontal cross section to help provide a resting place for the wiring or ribbon cable

As will be appreciated, the LED features are completely optional.

In addition, the shelving assembly described herein may utilize hydrophobic shelf treatments (not shown) that provide the ability to contain spills on the top surface of the support plate of the shelf.

Some versions of the shelving assembly can utilize sheet steel as the side support material, while in others, the side supports may be made of other materials such as plastic without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Also, alternate materials other than glass may be utilized for the support plate.

Finally, the disclosure may also include a rear plastic trim piece with corresponding locking receptacle features located at the rear of the shelf assembly (this version is not shown in the figures but similar to the locking receptacle feature and trim piece at the front of the shelf assembly as shown inFIGS. 1-8).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As mentioned, one version of the present disclosure is directed to a shelving assembly for an appliance, for example, and includes an anti-tip and retention assembly that is arranged and configured such as to maximize the amount of exposed and unencumbered shelf space on the shelving assembly. In the present disclosure, the shelving assembly includes a support plate, left and right side supports, and the anti-tip and retention assembly can include rear and front anti-tip and retention features. The support plate can have opposite top and bottom surfaces, opposite left and right side edges, and opposite front and rear edges extending laterally between the left and right side edges. The left and right side supports can be arranged to support the bottom surface of the support plate at the left and right side edges, respectively. So arranged, the side supports are for supporting the support plate in a cavity of the appliance. Each of the left and right side supports include a front end adapted to be located adjacent to the front edge of the support plate, and a rear end adapted to be located adjacent to the rear edge of the support plate. The rear anti-tip and retention feature is connected to the rear end of at least one of the left and right side supports such that at least a portion of the rear anti-tip and retention feature is disposed above the top surface of the support plate adjacent to the rear edge for preventing tipping of the support plate and for retaining the support plate on the left and right side supports. The front anti-tip and retention feature is connected to the front end of at least one of the left and right side supports such that at least a portion of the front anti-tip and retention feature is disposed above and adjacent to the top surface of the support plate adjacent to the front edge for preventing tipping of the support plate and for retaining the support plate on the left and right side supports. Finally, in this configuration, the front and rear anti-tip and retention features are spaced apart such that a majority of the top surface of the support plate along the left and right side edges is freely exposed and unencumbered by the front and rear anti-tip and retention features or otherwise. Examples of these various details and features will now be described with reference to the Figs.

Referring toFIGS. 1-3, various views of one version of a shelving assembly10constructed in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure are depicted. The shelving assembly10includes a support plate12, left and right side supports14,16, a rear anti-tip and retention feature18, a front anti-tip and retention feature20, and a frame22. The support plate12can include a glass plate (or some other material) having opposite top and bottom surfaces24,26, opposite left and right side edges28,30, and opposite front and rear edges32,34. The glass support plate12can include a conventional glass support plate with or without a treatment coating, for example. In one optional version, the support plate can include a shelf plate having a top surface including a hydrophobic surface arranged on the top surface in a spill containment pattern, for example, as disclosed in U.S. Patent Publication No. 2010/0102693, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference.

As shown, the front and rear edges32,34extend perpendicular to and between the opposite left and right side edges28,30to define the support plate12as having a generally rectangular shape. Other shapes of the support plate12, however, are intended to be within the scope of the present disclosure. The left and right side supports14,16are arranged adjacent to, and in one version in contact with, the bottom surface26of the support plate12at the left and right side edges28,30, respectively. So arranged, the side supports14,16are for supporting the support plate12in a cavity of an appliance, for example, as will be described. As indicated inFIG. 3, each of the left and right side supports14,16includes a generally elongated flat form having a front end36located adjacent to the front edge32of the support plate12, and a rear end38located adjacent to the rear end34of the support plate12. At the rear ends38, each side support14,16of the version disclosed inFIGS. 1-3includes a support bracket42for engaging support forms that can include conventional vertical support members44of an appliance49, as shown inFIG. 9, for example. The appliance49can include a refrigerator, a freezer, or any other appliance or structure defining a storage compartment, for example. InFIG. 9, it can be seen that the conventional appliance49defines a cavity51for receiving the shelving assembly10, and which is defined by opposite side walls53(only one of which is shown), a rear wall55, a bottom wall57, and a top wall (not shown). The vertical support members44are mounted to the rear wall55in a conventional manner. The support brackets42themselves can also be conventional in that they include a hanger portion46and a stabilizing tab48, as best shown inFIGS. 4-6, for engaging a pair of vertically spaced apertures59(shown inFIG. 9) in the conventional vertical support members44.

The side supports14,16can be constructed of sheet metal, plastic, or any other suitable material. In some versions, a top surface40of the side supports14,16can simply engage and contact the bottom surface26of the support plate12adjacent to the left and right side edges28,30, respectively, in order to support the support plate12. In other versions, the top surfaces40of the side supports14,16can be adhered to the bottom surface26of the support plate12such that an adhesive is disposed between at least a portion of the top surface40of the side supports14,16and the bottom surface26of the support plate12.

InFIGS. 3 and 4, one version of the support brackets42is illustrated wherein the side supports14,16, and therefore, the top surfaces40of the side supports14,16, are positioned entirely in-board of the corresponding hanger portions46and stabilizing tabs48. So configured, the support plate12in this version would also be disposed entirely in-board of and between the hanger portions46and stabilizing tabs48of the side supports14,16. In other versions, however, the side supports14,16can be positioned partially in-board and thus, also partially out-board, or even entirely out-board of the corresponding hanger portions46and stabilizing tabs48. In such versions, the left and right side edges28,30of the support plate12would then also extend partially outboard of the hanger portions46and stabilizing tabs48of the side supports14,16, respectively. The specific design and configuration in some versions might be dependent, for example, on the spacing between the spaced apertures59(shown inFIG. 9) in the vertical support members44or for some other reason.

As mentioned, the shelving assembly10of the present version further includes the frame22, as shown inFIGS. 1-3. The frame22of this version can be constructed from a metal wire having a generally rectangular cross-section (e.g., a square cross-section) and is fixed to and beneath the side supports14,16for providing added strength and integrity to the shelving assembly10by assisting with the cantilevered supporting function of the side supports14,16. As shown in exploded perspective view ofFIG. 3, for example, the frame22includes a front frame member50, a rear frame member52, and opposite left and right side frame members54,56, each of which are best shown inFIG. 3.

The front and rear frame members50,52include generally straight forms extending between the front and rear ends36,38, respectively, of the left and right side supports14,16. The opposite left and right frame members54,56include contoured form portions54a,56aand vertical form portions54b,56b. The vertical form portions54b,56bof the present version extend vertically downward from opposite ends of the rear frame member52, while the contoured form portions54a,56aextend rearward and downward from opposite ends of the front frame member50to connect with distal ends of the vertical form portions54b,56b. So configured, the left and right side frame members54,56of the frame22define supporting arches that are fixed to the left and right side supports14,16, respectively. In one version, the frame22can be fixed to the side supports14,16via welding, brazing, adhesives, fasteners, or any other suitable means. In other versions, the shelving assembly10can be constructed without the frame22or the frame22and the side supports14,16can be integral. In versions without the frame22, the side supports14,16can provide sufficient strength to hold the support plate12in a cantilevered fashion or otherwise.

As also mentioned above, the shelving assembly10of the present disclosure includes the rear anti-tip and retention feature18and the front anti-tip and retention feature20. In the version of the assembly10disclosed inFIGS. 1-11, the rear anti-tip and retention feature18includes two (2) separate left and right rear anti-tip and retention forms58aand58bconnected to the rear ends38of the left and right side supports14,16, respectively. In the disclosed version, the rear anti-tip and retention forms58a,58bare formed as one-piece (e.g., integral) with the left and right side supports14,16, respectively. The rear anti-tip and retention forms58a,58bare identical mirror opposites of each other, and therefore, the details of only the right rear form58bwill be described.

With reference toFIGS. 4-7, the right rear anti-tip and retention form58bthat is connected to the right side support16is illustrated in detail. As shown, the rear anti-tip and retention form58bincludes a side plate60, a bearing plate62, and a stop plate64. The side plate60extends upwardly from an outer edge of the top surface40of the side support16. The bearing plate62extends perpendicular to the side plate60such that the bearing plate62is disposed above the top surface40. In the disclosed version, the bearing plate62is disposed a distance D away from the top surface40. The distance D is equal to or slightly greater than a thickness T (shown inFIG. 3) of the support plate12such as to define a gap G for receiving a portion of the support plate12, as shown inFIG. 1, for example. The stop plate64extends downwardly adjacent a rear end66of the bearing plate62and toward the top surface40of the side support16, as depicted inFIG. 5, for example. In the depicted version, and as shown inFIGS. 4-6, for example, the rear anti-tip and retention form58bfurther includes a radiused side portion60adisposed between the side plate60and the bearing plate62and a radiused rear portion62adisposed between the bearing plate62and the stop plate64. The radiused side and rear portions60a,62acan be a by-product of the fact that a version of the integral side support16and anti-tip and retention form58bcan be constructed from formed (e.g., bent, shaped, etc.) sheet metal, for example. Other versions constructed of different materials or through different manufacturing processes certainly may not include the radiused portions60a,62a.

As configured as described above, the side plate60, the bearing plate62, and the stop plate64of the ant-tip and retention form58bdefines an envelope at the gap G that is adapted to accommodate (e.g., receive) a rear corner of the support plate12of the shelving assembly10, as depicted inFIGS. 1 and 2, for example. So configured, when accommodating the support plate12, the side plate60of the rear anti-tip and retention form58bis selectively engaged by the right side edge30to limit lateral displacement of the support plate12, the stop plate64is selectively engaged by the rear edge34to limit rearward displacement of the support plate12, and finally the bearing plate62is selectively engaged by the top surface24to limit upward displacement of the support plate12. As mentioned above, the left rear anti-tip and retention form58ais an identical mirror opposite of the right rear anti-tip and retention form58bsuch that it too limits lateral, rearward, and upward displacement of the support plate12. Therefore, in combination, the left and right rear anti-tip and retention forms58a,58bof the rear anti-tip and retention feature18of the present version of the disclosure suitably prevents tipping of the support plate12off of the rear ends38of the side supports14,16, when the top surface24of the support plate12is loaded, for example, with product adjacent to only the front edge32, for example.

As shown inFIGS. 4,6, and7, for example, the present version of the left and right side supports14,16can also optionally include a side rail61extending between the front and rear ends36,38upward from the outer edge of the top surface40of the side supports14,16. So arranged, the side rails61can be selectively engaged by the side edges28,30of the support plate12to limit lateral displacement of the support plate12on the side supports14,16. In another version not depicted, the support surface40can be discontinuous such that a mid-portion of the support surface40is removed and a front portion of the support surface40adjacent to the front end36would be connected to a rear portion of the support surface40adjacent the rear end38by the side rail61. The removed section of the support surface40could be any amount including for example 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, etc. Such a configuration could be desirable in order to reduce the amount of material to result in potential material cost and weight reductions.

Referring back toFIGS. 1-4, the front anti-tip and retention feature20of the present version of the disclosed shelving assembly10will be described. In this version, and as best shown inFIGS. 1,2, and3, for example, the front anti-tip and retention feature20includes a front trim form68and left and right locking tabs70a,70bcarried by the front ends36of the left and right side supports14,16, respectively. The front trim form68includes an elongated member extending along the front edge32of the support plate12between the front ends36of the left and right side supports14,16.FIG. 11depicts a cross-section of the front trim form68, which includes a bearing portion74, a stop portion76, a lock portion78, and, in some versions, an optional light packaging portion80, as will be described below. The bearing portion74, stop portion76, and locking portion78define an elongated recess (e.g., a channel)82extending the length of the front trim form68and adapted to receive a portion of the support plate12adjacent to the front edge32, including the front edge32.

Referring back toFIGS. 3 and 8, each of the locking tabs70a,70bof the disclosed version of the front anti-tip and retention feature20are part of and extend inwardly from the front ends36of the side supports14,16, toward each other and beneath the support plate12. Moreover, the locking tabs70a,70bdefine locking apertures72a,72bfor connecting the side supports14,16to the front trim form68. For example, as depicted inFIG. 11, each end of the front trim form68includes a locking button84extending upward from the locking portion78and into the elongated recess82. When the front trim form68is arranged on the support plate12, as depicted, the locking buttons84are disposed in the locking apertures72a,72bof the locking tabs70a,70bof the front anti-tip and retention feature20. So disposed, the front trim form68becomes connected to the side supports14,16such that the bearing portion74of the front trim form68is disposed above the top surface24of the support plate12adjacent to the front edge32. As such, the bearing portion74is selectively engaged by the top surface24of the support plate to limit upward displacement of the support plate12and the stop portion76of the front trim form68is selectively engaged by the front edge32of the support plate12to limit forward displacement of the support plate12. Additionally, as shown inFIGS. 1,2, and3, for example, each end of the front trim form68includes an end cap portion90that closes off each respective end of the elongated recess82(shown inFIG. 11). So configured, when the front trim form68is connected to the support plate12and to the locking tabs70a,70bvia the locking apertures72a,72b, the end cap portions90are selectively engaged by the side edges28,30of the support plate12to limit lateral displacement of the support plate12.

From the foregoing, it should be appreciated that the combination of the rear and front anti-tip and retention features18,20of the shelving assembly10disclosed with reference toFIGS. 1-11, effectively and simply serve to retain the support plate12connected to the side supports14,16, while advantageously preventing tipping when the support plate12is unevenly loaded, for example.

Furthermore, as shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, for example, when assembled with the support plate12, the rear and front ant-tip and retention features18,20of the presently disclosed version of the shelving assembly10are spaced apart by a distance S1that is equal to a majority of the length of the left and right side edges28,30of the support plate12. As such, a majority of the top surface24of the support plate12adjacent to the left and right side edges28,30is freely exposed and unencumbered by the rear and front anti-tip and retention features18,20. Said another way, the top surface24of the support plate12includes freely exposed and unencumbered side portions24a,24b(shown inFIG. 1, for example) that extend between the rear and front anti-tip and retention features18,20along the majority of the side edges28,30of the support plate12. Therefore, the left, right, front, and rear edges28,30,32,34of the support plate12define a perimeter of the support plate12that is not completely encapsulated by a plastic encapsulating component, for example, as is common in conventional shelving assemblies.

Similarly, in the version of the shelving assembly10disclosed inFIGS. 1-11, the rear anti-tip and retention forms58a,58bof the rear anti-tip and retention feature18are spaced apart by a distance S2that is equal to a majority of the length of the rear edge34of the support plate12. As such, a majority of the top surface24of the support plate12adjacent to the rear edge34is freely exposed and unencumbered by the rear anti-tip and retention feature18. Said another way, the top surface24of the support plate12includes freely exposed and unencumbered rear portion34a(shown inFIG. 1, for example) that extends between the left and right anti-tip and retention forms58a,58bof the rear anti-tip and retention feature18along the majority of the rear edge34of the support plate12. So configured, the version of the shelving assembly10disclosed inFIGS. 1-11maximizes the useful space on the top surface24of the support plate12, both adjacent to the side edges28,30and adjacent to the rear edge34, while also providing sufficient strength and integrity for performing the supporting function.

Referring back toFIG. 11, and as mentioned above, one version of the front trim form68of the presently disclosed front anti-tip and retention feature20can optionally include the light packaging portion80. As shown inFIG. 11, the light packaging portion80can include an elongated recess92formed in the front trim form68and receiving a light strip94such as an LED light strip for providing a lighting feature beneath the support plate12. To accommodate this lighting feature, the present shelving assembly10can also include a contact housing96containing a contact strip98on one or more of the rear ends38of the side supports14,16, two of which are shown inFIG. 3, for example. Although not shown in the Figs., wiring or ribbon cable for transmitting power to the light strip94can also be provided. In one version, the top surfaces40of the side supports14,16could include a central valley (not shown in the figures) to provide a resting place for the wiring or ribbon cable for extending between the light strip94and contact housing96and contact strip98. To reiterate, the light packaging portion80, light strip94, and related components described above and depicted in the figures are completely optional.

While the shelving assembly ofFIGS. 1-11has been described above as including a rear anti-tip and retention feature18that includes two separate left and right anti-tip and retention forms58a,58bconnected to the rear ends38of the left and right side supports14,16, an alternative version of the shelving assembly can include a rear anti-tip and retention feature18that is more similar to the front anti-tip and retention feature20disclosed inFIGS. 1-11. That is, instead of having the left and right anti-tip and retention forms58a,58b, the rear anti-tip and retention feature18could include a rear trim form and a pair of locking tabs with associated locking apertures connected to the rear ends of the opposite left and right side supports14,16, in a manner identical to or similar to the tabs70a,70bdescribed with reference to the front anti-tip and retention feature20.

While the shelving assembly10has thus far been described as including side supports14,16and the frame22constructed of a wire with a rectangular cross-section, other versions of the shelving assembly10can have frames22formed of different materials and/or with different geometries including, for example, a frame22that is constructed of a wire with a circular cross-section, as depicted inFIG. 12. In other versions, the wire could be flat or have some other cross-section, for example. A further alternative can be a construct that does not include a frame22that is separate from the side supports14,16, but rather, as depicted inFIGS. 13-14, the side supports14,16can be constructed of sheet metal and further include downwardly extending support panels100, thereby alleviating the need for the separate frame22. While in some forms, these side supports14,16themselves may sufficiently support the support plate12, in one version, which is illustrated inFIG. 15, the shelving assembly10can further optionally include two or more reinforcement rods102extending between the side supports14,16beneath the support plate12. Each of the reinforcement rods102can be welded to inside surfaces of the side supports14,16, or connected with fasteners or some other suitable means. Besides the features described above, it should be appreciated that the versions of the shelving assembly10described with reference toFIGS. 12-16are essentially identical in construction to the version described above with reference toFIGS. 1-11. Therefore, each additional detail will not be repeated, but it should be appreciated that they are included within these alternative versions.

Further yet, while the various versions of the shelving assembly10described above with reference toFIGS. 1-16are described as including support brackets42for connecting to the vertical support members44of the appliance49depicted inFIG. 9, for example,FIGS. 17-19illustrate a still further alternative version of the shelving assembly10. InFIGS. 17-19, the shelving assembly10is essentially identical to the versions described above but for the fact that it is adapted to be supported on support forms that include left and right horizontal support ribs104(only the left side are shown inFIG. 19) formed on left and right sidewalls53in the cavity51of the appliance49, as shown inFIG. 19. Therefore, the shelving assembly10inFIGS. 17-19does not include a wire frame22, as described with reference toFIGS. 1-12, or support panels100, as described with respect toFIGS. 12-16. Instead, bottom surfaces of the side supports14,16rest directly on the ribs104. Although not depicted inFIGS. 17-19, the shelving assembly10could include one or more connector components similar to the reinforcement rods102described above, for example, extending between the side supports14,16at one or more location between the front and rear36,38ends, for additional strength, if desired.

Accordingly, based on the foregoing, it can be seen that in each and every version of the shelving assembly10described herein the combination of the rear and front anti-tip and retention features18,20effectively and simply serve to retain the support plate12connected to the side supports14,16, while advantageously preventing tipping when the support plate12is unevenly loaded, for example. Thus, it can be said that the front and rear anti-tip and retention features18,20, in combination, define an anti-tip and retention means for preventing tipping of the support plate12and for retaining the support plate12on the left and right side supports14,16while also leaving a majority of the top surface24of the support plate12along the left and right side edges28,30freely exposed and unencumbered.

Regardless of the materials mentioned herein for any one of the described components of the shelving assembly10, it should be understood that generally any suitable material can be used and is intended to be within the scope or the present disclosure.

While various examples have been described, each potentially including distinct components, etc., it should be appreciated that different components of different examples are intended to be interchanged and combined such that the disclosure as a whole, would be understood by a person having ordinary skill in the art, to include any combination of any of the features described herein or depicted in the figures.

The foregoing description provides numerous examples of shelving assemblies, but the scope of the invention is not intended to be limited by the descriptive examples. Rather, the scope of the invention is to include all which is encompassed by the spirit and scope of the following claims.