Patent Publication Number: US-9835372-B2

Title: Under mount roller for crisper system

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a Continuation of and claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/678,261, filed on Apr. 3, 2015, entitled “UNDER MOUNT ROLLER FOR CRISPER SYSTEM,” pending, which is a Continuation of and claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/832,471, filed on Mar. 15, 2013, entitled “UNDER MOUNT ROLLER FOR CRISPER SYSTEM,” issued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,039,110, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. 
    
    
     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. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front elevation view of a bottom mount refrigerator. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the refrigerator compartment with the doors removed to show the interior of the compartment. 
         FIG. 3  is front elevation view of the refrigerator compartment of the refrigerator with the doors removed. 
         FIG. 4A  is a side sectional view of the refrigerator of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 4B  is an enlarged view of a portion of the view from  FIG. 4A . 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the cover for the crisper system according to an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 6  is an exploded view of a large drawer for use with the crisper system. 
         FIG. 7  is an exploded view of a smaller drawer for use with the crisper system. 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the floor of the refrigerator compartment and support system for the crisper system. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       FIG. 1  is a front elevation view of a bottom mount refrigerator  10 . The bottom mount refrigerator  10  includes a cabinet  12  encapsulating the compartments of the refrigerator  10 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the upper compartment is a refrigerator or fresh food compartment  14 . First and second doors  16 ,  17  provide access to the interior of the refrigerator compartment  14 . A dispenser  15  is positioned on one of the doors  16 ,  17  of the refrigerator compartment  14 . The dispenser  15  may be a water dispenser, ice dispenser, other beverage dispenser, or some combination thereof. Furthermore, the dispenser  15  may be placed on any door of the refrigerator  10 , or the dispenser  15  may be placed within one of the compartments of the refrigerator  10 . For example, the dispenser  15  may be placed at one of the interior walls of the refrigerator compartment  14 , thus being part of the cabinet  12 . The placement of the dispenser  15  is not to limit the present invention. 
     Positioned generally below the refrigerator compartment  14  is a pantry compartment  11 . The pantry compartment  11  is a compartment having different climates than the refrigerator compartment  14 . For example, the pantry  11  may be at a warmer temperature than the refrigerator compartment  14  such that it is used to defrost items or to keep items at a certain humidity. The pantry compartment also includes a door  13 , which is shown as a drawer-type door. However, the present invention contemplates that the pantry door  13  may be a drawer, a hinged door, multiple doors or drawers, or some combination thereof. 
     Positioned below the pantry compartment  11  is a freezer compartment  18 . The freezer compartment  18  is generally set to be at or below 0° F., while the refrigerator compartment  14  is set to be at a warmer temperature so as to prevent freezing of the items stored therein. The freezer door  19  provides access to within the freezer compartment  18 . The freezer door  19  of  FIG. 1  is shown as a drawer-type door. However, the present invention contemplates that the freezer door  19  may 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 refrigerator  10 , 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. 2  is a perspective view of the refrigerator compartment  14  with the cabinet, the insulation, and the doors removed to show the interior of the compartment  14 . The refrigerator compartment  14  of  FIG. 2  has been isolated to show the interior of the compartment, including the walls forming the interior. Positioned within the refrigerator compartment  14  is a crisper system  20  including 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 compartment  14  such that it is an ideal climate for storing fruits, vegetables, or other perishable items. While the figures show the use of a first drawer  84 , second drawer  86 , and third drawer  88  positioned within the refrigerator compartment  14 , it should be appreciated that any number of drawers may be utilized with the crisper system  20  of 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 compartment  14  may be utilized with the crisper system  20  of the present invention. 
     The interior of the refrigerator compartment  14  also includes a plurality of shelves  23  for organizing and storing items thereon. The crisper system  20  shown near the bottom of the refrigerator compartment  14  includes a cover shelf  24 , as will be shown and described in greater detail below. On the underside of the crisper system  20  is a support system  22 , which aids in the movements of the drawers of the crisper system  20 . In addition, the crisper system  20  shown in  FIG. 2  includes both larger drawers (which also may be known as pan crispers)  26 , as well as smaller crisper drawers  28 . 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 system  20  of the invention. The notations of large and small drawers are merely used to describe the differences of the drawers shown in the figures. 
       FIG. 3  is a front elevation view of the refrigerator compartment  14  of the refrigerator  10  with the drawers removed.  FIG. 3 , similar to  FIG. 2 , shows the crisper system  20  of the invention.  FIG. 3  also shows a configuration of the shelves  23  of the refrigerator compartment  14 .  FIG. 3  shows the support system  22  of the crisper system  20 . As discussed, the support system  22  is configured to work with the drawers  84 ,  86 ,  88  to allow the drawers to be moved from a closed position to an open position. The support system  22  may be formed integrally with the refrigerator compartment  14 , such that it forms the bottom wall or floor of the refrigerator compartment  14 . Thus, the integrally formed support system  22  may be formed at the time of the refrigerator compartment  14  such that no additional steps need to be taken to install said support system  22 .  FIG. 3  also shows handles  60 ,  78  attached 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 system  22  to 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 system  22  will allow removal of the drawers from the crisper system  20 , and thus, refrigerator  10 . The easy removal of the drawers will allow a user to more easily access the storage area of the drawers. 
       FIG. 4A  is a side sectional view of the refrigerator  10  of  FIG. 3  taken along line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 3 .  FIG. 4A  shows a more detailed configuration of the crisper system  20 , including the support system  22 . Shown in  FIG. 4A  is a sectional view of the smaller drawer  28  having a storage area  66  defined by upstanding walls extending from a bottom  68 . A handle  78  is attached to the drawer to aid in movement of the drawer relative to the support system  22 . 
     As discussed, the support system  22  may be integrally formed with the bottom floor of the refrigerator compartment  14 . As shown in  FIG. 4A , the support system includes a plurality of channels  30  extending generally upward from the support system  22 . The channels  30  include a channel wall  32  extending generally vertically from a top surface of the support system  22 , as well as a channel lip  34  extending from the top end of the channel wall  32 . The channel wall  32  extends generally upward from the channel  30  and the lip  34  extends generally perpendicular to the channel wall  32 . Thus, the channels  30  may be a T-shape or half a T-shape when viewing a sectional view from the front. Rollers  82  extending from the drawer  28  are configured to be positioned within the channels  30  to allow the rollers  82  of the drawer  28  to move within the channel  30 . As the drawer will include rollers  82  on 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 system  22  may include a plurality of fixed rollers  36  at least partially positioned within the support system  22 . The fixed rollers  36  are fixed in that they are able to rotate, but they are not connected to the drawers. It is contemplated that the fixed rollers  36  be mounted on one or more axles, with the axles being moveable in a vertical manner to slightly move into the support system  22  to move out of the way of a removed drawer. The fixed rollers  36  aid 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 refrigerator  10 . 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 system  22  to aid in the movement of all of the drawers of the crisper system  20 . 
     The support system  22  may also include a lock  38  comprising an indent  40  and a lip  42  formed therein. The lock  38  is best seen in the enlarged portion of  FIG. 4A  shown in  FIG. 4B . The lock  38  can be configured to selectively block the removal of the drawer from the crisper system  20  by temporarily blocking a stopper  69  that extends generally downwardly from the bottom of a drawer or crisper tray. As mentioned previously, the drawer is removable from the crisper system  20 . However, the lock  38  provides some resistance such that the drawer is only removed when the user so desires. Thus, the indent  40  and lip  42  of the lock  38  make it such that the lock will block the removal of the drawer during normal opening of the drawer by blocking the stopper  69  of the drawer. However, the blocking caused by the indent  50  and lip  42  may be overcome by slightly lifting the drawer to allow the stopper  69  to move beyond the lock  38  to remove the drawer from the crisper system  20 . 
     The operation of the crisper system  20  is as follows. The rollers  82  of the drawer  28 , as shown in  FIG. 4A , are positioned within channels  30  on opposite sides of the drawer  28  that are spaced approximately equal to the spacing of the rollers  82  on the opposite sides of the drawer  28 . The channels  30  allow the rollers  82  to move therein, while aiding the movement by ensuring that one side of the drawer  28  does not move faster than the other side. In the closed position shown in  FIG. 4A , a user may grasp the handle  78  of the drawer  28  to provide force to pull the drawer  28  towards the front of the refrigerator compartment  14 . The rollers provide movement of the drawer  28  in the channels  30  along with the fixed rollers  36  of the support system  22 . The drawer  28  will be moveable until the stopper  69  reaches the lock  38  in the support system  22 , as is shown in  FIG. 4B . At this point, the lock  38  will at least temporarily stop the movement of the drawer  28  relative to the crisper system  20 . If the user desires to fully remove the drawer  28  from the refrigerator  10 , an additional force, such as a lifting force, may be applied to overcome the indent  40  and lip  42  of the lock  38  to move the stopper  69  beyond the lock  38  to remove the drawer  28  from the refrigerator  10 . To replace the drawer  28 , the rollers  82  on opposite sides of the drawer  28  are aligned with the channels  30  and the drawer is simply pushed through the channels  30  to the closed position shown in  FIG. 4A . 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the cover shelf  24  for the crisper system  20  according to an embodiment of the invention. The cover shelf  24  may be similarly manufactured to the other shelves  23  as shown in the figures. Thus, the shelf may be used to store and organize items thereon. In addition, the shelf  24  will include a rear support  44  and a front support  46 . The front and rear supports are configured to work with the drawers of the crisper system  20 . 
       FIG. 6  is an exploded view of a large drawer/pan crisper  26  for use with a crisper system  20  of the refrigerator  10 . As noted, the mention of large and small drawers are not limiting to the invention and are simply used to distinguish the drawer shown in  FIG. 6  and the drawer shown in  FIG. 7 . The drawer  26  of  FIG. 6  includes a storage area  48  defined by a bottom  50 , first wall  52 , second wall  54 , third wall  56 , and front wall  58 . The walls extend generally upward from the bottom  50  and can be configured to be as high as desired for the refrigerator  10  that the crisper system  20  is used in. The walls and bottom of the drawer or pan crisper  26  may 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 area  50 . As shown in the embodiment of  FIG. 6 , a crisper tray  62  may be attached to the bottom of the drawer  26 . The crisper tray  62 , while not used in all embodiments, can be used to hide the support system under the drawer  26 . The crisper tray  62  may include a stopper, such as that shown in  FIG. 4A  as well. The crisper tray  62  can be snap fit to the drawer to easily attach one to the other. In addition, the crisper tray  62  may comprise a high impact polystyrene (HIPS) material. The handle  60  can be attached to either the front wall  58  of the drawer  56  or the crisper tray  62 . If attached to the crisper tray  62 , the handle  60  can be attached to the tray  62  by heat staking posts of the crisper tray  62  through the handle  60 . 
     Also extending from either the bottom  50  of the drawer  26  or the bottom side of the crisper tray  62  is a roller mount  65  on either side of the tray or drawer  26 . The roller mount  65  extends generally downwardly and outwardly from the tray or drawer and includes an axle for attaching a roller  64  thereto. Roller bearings may also be included the roller mount  65  for the roller  64  to allow easier movement of the roller  64 . The roller  64  is attached to the roller mount  65 . The roller  64  comprises a two shot molded roller and can include a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) treading thereon to provide for better traction within the channels  30  of the support system  22 . It should be appreciated that the location of the roller mount  65  being downward and outward from the crisper tray  62  or drawer  26  is beneficial for multiple reasons. For example, as the roller mount  65  is not formed in one of the walls of the drawer  56 , the storage area  48  of the drawer  26  is allowed to be at a maximum volume. In other words, the roller mount  65  and/or roller  64  do 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 channels  30  of the support system  22 , which provides a consistent evenness for the user. 
       FIG. 7  is an exploded view of a smaller drawer  28  for use with a crisper system  20  of the present invention. Similar to the drawer shown in  FIG. 6 , the drawer  28  of  FIG. 7  includes a storage area  66  defined by a bottom  68 , first wall  70 , second wall  72 , third wall  74 , and a front wall  76 . The walls generally extend upward from the bottom  68  to form the storage area  66 . Similarly, the walls of the drawer  28  may comprise a GPPS material. Also shown in  FIG. 7  is a smaller crisper tray  80  configured to be snap fit to the drawer  28 , which can be used to aid in hiding at least a portion of the support system  22 . The crisper tray  80  includes the stopper  69  extending generally downward from the tray  80 . The crisper tray  80  of  FIG. 7  can comprise a HIPS material as well. The handle  78  shown in  FIG. 7  may be attached to either the crisper tray  80  or the front  76  of the drawer  28 . In addition, similar to the crisper tray  62  of  FIG. 6 , the crisper tray  80  of  FIG. 7  includes roller mounts  83  extending generally downwardly and outwardly from a portion of the crisper tray  80 . The roller mounts  83  are configured to attach to the rollers  82  on both sides of the crisper tray  80 . The rollers  82  may also be two shot molded rollers and can include a TPE tread thereon. The roller mount  83  of the crisper tray  80  are also shown to extend generally downward and outwardly from the crisper tray  80  to allow for the maximum volume of the drawer  28 . 
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the floor of the refrigerator compartment  14  including the support system  22  for the crisper system  20 . As discussed, the support system  22  may be formed integrally with the refrigerator compartment  14  to form the bottom floor of the compartment. A plurality of channels  30  including a channel wall  32  extending generally upward from the channel  30  and a lip  34  extending generally perpendicular to the channel wall  32  may also be formed. In addition, a plurality of fixed rollers  36  may be rotatably positioned within the support system  22  to aid in the movement of the drawers relative to the support system  22 . The fixed rollers  36  may be located inboard of the rollers  64  disposed on the respective drawers  52 . The number and configuration of these fixed rollers  36  may 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 of  FIG. 8 , the support system  22  includes a first channel  90 , a second channel  92  spaced from the first channel  90 , a third channel  94  spaced from the second channel  92 , and a fourth channel  96  spaced from the third channel  94 . The first and fourth channels  90 ,  96  are positioned generally on the outer edges of the support system  22  and coincide with the upstanding walls of the refrigerator compartment  14 . The placements of the second and third channels  92 ,  94  are configured such that different sizes of drawers may be positioned between the channels. For example, between the first channel  90  and the second channel  92  may be positioned a larger drawer  26 , as is shown in the figures above. As the second and third channels  92 ,  94  are generally closer to one another, a smaller drawer  28  would be positioned therebetween. Finally, the spacing of the third and fourth channels  94 ,  96  would indicate the use of a large drawer  26  therein. Thus, the support system  22  shown in  FIG. 8  is configured to support a crisper system  20 , 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 system  22  and the channels  30  to 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.