Patent Abstract:
A shelf for a cabinet, for a refrigerator or the like, includes a glass plate for holding items which is supported along its side edges by track or rail type brackets suitable for fastening or mounting in said cabinet and aligned with a support structure formed or held by said cabinet. The brackets are joined by at least one crosspiece and with said crosspiece(s) form a cradle to hold said plate that is suitable for supporting the mechanical strength of the shelf.

Full Description:
REFERENCE TO PRIOR APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to French patent application 08 55260, filed Jul. 30, 2008, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    I. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    This invention relates to a shelf or rack for holding items, configured to be fastened or mounted advantageously in a removable manner in the frame of a cabinet. In particular, it relates to a shelf suitable for use in refrigerated compartments, such as reach-in coolers, refrigeration units, and refrigerators, for holding items, especially food items, and it more particularly relates to a shelf with a curved shape, especially at its edges, for example a drip pan shape. 
         [0004]    II. Description of Related Art 
         [0005]    A similar shelf of the prior art includes an essentially transparent panel with a curved shape, usually made of glass, which is supported along its side edges by brackets or tracks or rails suitable for being fastened or mounted on a support structure, such as a rack bar, inside the refrigerator. The lower side of the panel is glued to said brackets or tracks or rails on the sloped part of the brackets and the panel, respectively. 
         [0006]    A major disadvantage of this type of shelf is that it is solely the glue on the brackets or tracks or rails of the curved glass panel which bears all the load applied to the shelf, including the weight of the glass panel and the objects it holds, ultimately destroying the glue with the risk of the glass panel breaking, allowing the objects the shelf holds to fall, and damaging the shelves located below. 
         [0007]    Thus, in particular the tracks, which support the glass plate and are fastened to the refrigeration unit by rear rack bars or are supported by ribs in the side walls of the unit, do not form a solid structure. Their connection to the glass panel is even more problematic when the panel is not flat. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The object of this invention is to resolve these problems. In this connection, it is proposed according to the invention that the two side brackets or tracks or rails or the like, which in the past were independent of each other, be joined by at least one crosspiece, thus forming a mechanically strong carrier or cradle, without the need for glass and glue to support that strength. 
         [0009]    Therefore, the first object of this invention is a shelf for a cabinet, in particular a refrigerator or the like, comprising a glass panel or plate for holding items which is supported along its side edges by track or rail type brackets suitable for fastening or mounting in said cabinet and working together for this purpose with a support structure formed or held by said cabinet, wherein the track or rail type brackets are joined by at least one crosspiece and form with said crosspiece(s) a cradle to hold said plate for holding items that is suitable for supporting the mechanical strength of the shelf, in particular without applying loads to said track or rail type brackets or to their connections with the panel or plate for holding items. 
         [0010]    The plate for holding items advantageously has a general curved shape, of a drip pan or basin type, with the crosspiece(s) having a shape that is correspondingly curved. 
         [0011]    According to a first variant, the track or rail type brackets are joined by a central crosspiece. 
         [0012]    According to a second variant, the track or rail type brackets are joined by crosspieces arranged under the front transverse edge and/or under the rear transverse edge of the plate for holding items if considering the shelf when oriented in its usage position. 
         [0013]    The cradle may advantageously comprise means for guiding the plate for holding items at the time it is installed in said cradle. It may also advantageously comprise means for centering in its cradle the plate for holding items. 
         [0014]    In addition, the plate for holding items may be mounted so as to be removable from its cradle, the crosspiece(s) of this cradle having means for maintaining said plate in its cradle in the usage position, said maintaining means including, for example, of anti-slide stops associated with holes formed in the crosspieces(s) and having means of a dowel type or a spherical or semi-spherical head type suitable for fitting into said holes. 
         [0015]    Thus, the maintaining means may, for example, include anti-slide stops set in holes formed in the crosspiece(s) and having, for this purpose, adhesive or non-adhesive blocks suitable for softly and silently being pressed against the outer wall of said plate, and also having maintaining means of a dowel type or a spherical or semi-spherical head type designed to fit into holes in the crosspieces. 
         [0016]    The crosspiece(s) may also comprise means for being joined to the plate for holding items, said means including, for example, of spots of adhesive. 
         [0017]    The components that laterally support the plate for holding items may, for example, include brackets or rails designed to work together with rack bars supported by the walls of the cabinet and/or by brackets designed to slide in rails fastened to the back of the cabinet. 
         [0018]    The components that laterally support the plate for holding items may therefore, for example, include brackets such as tracks, rails designed to work together with rack bars supported by the side walls or the back of the cabinet and hooking onto these rack bars or to work with projecting ribs or rods on the side walls of the cabinet. 
         [0019]    Another object of the invention is a cabinet, such as a reach-in freezer, refrigeration unit, or refrigerator, comprising at least one shelf as defined above. 
         [0020]    To better illustrate the shelf according to this invention, several particular embodiments are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0021]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a refrigerator shelf according to a first embodiment of this invention, showing the upper side of the shelf in its usage position. 
           [0022]      FIG. 2  is a partial cutaway view on a larger scale of II-II of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0023]      FIG. 3  is a view similar to  FIG. 1  of a refrigerator shelf according to a second embodiment of the invention. 
           [0024]      FIG. 4  is a view similar to  FIG. 1  of refrigerator shelf according to a third embodiment of the invention. 
           [0025]      FIG. 5  is a partial cutaway view on a larger scale of the shelf in  FIG. 3  in the areas of an anti-slide block and a spot of adhesive, respectively, between the glass plate and a crosspiece joining the two side brackets of the shelf. 
           [0026]      FIG. 6  is a partial cutaway view on a larger scale of the shelf in  FIG. 4  in the areas of an anti-slide block and a spot of adhesive, respectively, between the glass plate and a crosspiece joining the two side brackets of the shelf. 
           [0027]      FIG. 7  is a view similar to  FIG. 1  of a refrigerator shelf according to a fourth embodiment of this invention. 
           [0028]      FIG. 8  is a partial cutaway view on a larger scale of VIII-VIII of  FIG. 7 . 
           [0029]      FIG. 9  is a partial perspective view of a refrigerator shelf according to a fifth embodiment of this invention, showing the upper side of the shelf in its usage position, with said shelf represented in its mid-course position during its placement on side brackets forming tracks designed to hook to the back of the refrigeration cabinet. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0030]    In the following description of the shelves according to the invention, the terms “front” and “back,” “left” and “right,” “vertical” and “horizontal,” and the equivalent expressions, will be used in reference to their position in a refrigerator with the user facing the shelf in question. 
         [0031]      FIGS. 1 and 2  show a shelf assembly  1  for a refrigerator, including a plate  2  for holding food items and a cradle  3  for holding the plate  2 . 
         [0032]    The plate  2  includes a solid rectangular or square plate having four edges raised to form an indentation, for example, similar to a drip pan. The indentation makes it possible to store food items that can spill or slide, interfering with the proper use of the refrigerator. In accordance with the variants of the plate  2 , the plate  2  could have a conventional flat shape or it could be a plate in which the part for holding food items has a curved basin-like shape. 
         [0033]    The plate  2  is made of mineral or organic glass such as polycarbonate or methyl polymethacrylate, which can be solid or laminated, and transparent, translucent, or opaque. 
         [0034]    The cradle  3  holding the plate  2  includes two side brackets  4  designed to hook at the back to rack bars or to fit between projecting ribs or rods each supported or formed on an internal side wall of the refrigeration cabinet. Each bracket  4  includes a formed part with a general L-shape having a vertical arm  5  and an arm  6  that extends in a generally horizontal manner while sloping toward the inside so as to follow the curvature of the corresponding side edge of the plate  2 . 
         [0035]    The vertical arm  5  presses against the corresponding rack bar in an assembled position and includes, for example, a taller portion at the back forming a hook  7  designed, in the assembled position, to fit into a corresponding hole in the area of the back end of the rack bar in order to hook the shelf  1  into its cabinet. 
         [0036]    The two horizontal arms  6  that hold the plate  2  are joined by a central crosspiece  8  including a flat strip of material, of which the two edges are raised to form a concavity, making it possible to follow the curve of the glass plate  2 . 
         [0037]    Furthermore, vertical cuts  9  are made starting from the lower edges of each of the vertical arms  5  in the area of the crosspiece  8 , making it possible to cut out a tongue  10  folded upward and projecting over the glass plate  2  in the assembled position. 
         [0038]    The cradle  3  can be made of a metal, such as aluminum or steel, and/or a plastic material. The crosspiece  8  has been shown in  FIG. 1  as being all of one piece with the side brackets. However, the crosspiece  8  could be in the form of an independent piece fastened to the brackets  4  as soon as a cradle  3  for holding the glass plate  2  is constructed, making it possible to avoid having the strength of the unit dependent on only one connection by gluing the glass onto the upper sloped part of the brackets  4 . 
         [0039]    In addition, in the assembled position, spots of adhesive  11  join the plate  2  and the cradle  3  at the crosspiece  8 . 
         [0040]    To assemble the shelf  1 , the glass plate  2  is slid onto the cradle  3 , the curved tabs  10  acting as a guide, and when the plate  2  is in its final position, it rests on the crosspiece  8  to which the spots of adhesive  11  were applied. These spots of adhesive then ensure that the bottom part of the plate  2  is joined to the cradle  3 , keeping the plate  2  centered on the cradle  3 . 
         [0041]    It therefore can be seen that the cradle  3  provides a mechanically strong support on which the glass plate  2  rests and which alone supports the strength of the shelf  1 . This strength is therefore not based on an adhesive connection of the side edges of the glass plate  2  to the brackets or tracks  4 . 
         [0042]    With reference now to  FIGS. 3 ,  4 ,  7 , and  9 , a shelf  101 ,  201 ,  301 ,  401  is shown, according to the second through fifth embodiments, respectively, with parts that are identical or similar to those of the shelf  1  being designated by reference numbers greater by 100, 200, 300, and 400, respectively, than those used to describe the shelf  1 . In the following, therefore, only the differences with respect to the shelf  1  will be described. 
         [0043]    The shelf  101  of the second embodiment does not include the central crosspiece  8  as the shelf  1  does, but rather two crosspieces  108  arranged under each of the front and back edges, respectively, of the glass plate  2 . The cradle  103  includes a frame of which the L-shaped side arms form the brackets  104  with their hooks  107  and the transverse arms are formed by a single L-shaped piece of which the horizontal parts form the crosspieces  208  and of which the vertical arms are folded upward to form folds  112  that project over the glass plate  102 . Spots of adhesive  111  are placed in the same manner as previously on the two crosspieces  108 . 
         [0044]    The second embodiment is assembled in the same manner as the first embodiment, with the glass plate fitting laterally onto the cradle  103 , the folds  112  acting as a guide during this fitting, then as a safety device, preventing the glass plate  102  from sliding when the shelf  101  is removed from its cabinet for cleaning, for example, and when it is put back in. 
         [0045]    The shelf  201  of the third embodiment does not include the central crosspiece  8  of the shelf  1 , but rather two crosspieces  208  which intersect at the center of the cradle  203 . Tabs  210  similar to the tabs  10  of the shelf  1  are formed by cuts  213  in the part  206  of each bracket  204  starting from the inner edge, making it possible to cut out a band of material that is lifted and curved inward. Spots of adhesive  211  are placed near each end of the crosspieces  208 . 
         [0046]    The shelf  201  of the third embodiment is assembled in the same manner as the shelf  1 . 
         [0047]    Spots of adhesive  111 ,  211  are shown in  FIG. 6 , but as can be seen in  FIG. 5 , a hole  114 ,  214  can instead be provided in a crosspiece  108 ,  208  for the passage of a plastic stop including a central body  115   a ,  215   a  having a semi-spherical head  115   b ,  215   b  on one side and a block  115   c ,  215   c  on the other side. Such a stop is placed in each hole by insertion from below, such that its block protrudes from the inner surface of the crosspiece  108 ,  208 . The blocks  115   c ,  215   c  prevent the glass plate from sliding out of the cradle  103 ,  203  and also reduce noise. In addition, the blocks  115   c ,  215   c  could be coated with an adhesive on their flat upper face if a complete adherence of the glass plate  102 ,  202  to its cradle  103 ,  203  is desired. These stops can also be formed from the block  115   c ,  215   c  equipped with a dowel on the lower side suitable for fitting into a hole  114 ,  214  in the crosspiece  108 ,  208  or in a component of the carrier. The upper face of the block  115   c ,  215   c  may possibly be glued under the glass plate  102 ,  202 . If there is no such gluing, the glass plate  102 ,  202  can be removed from its cradle  103 ,  203 , for example for complete cleaning of the shelf  101 ,  201 . 
         [0048]    The shelf  301  of the fourth embodiment includes, instead of the bracket  4  of the shelf  1 , a hollow lateral bar  304  including a section formed of a band of material (metal, for example) folded to form an inner vertical wall  316 , a lower horizontal wall  317 , an outer vertical wall  305 , and a sloped upper wall  306  following the curve of the glass plate  302 . The lateral bar  304  is designed to be fastened with the rear hook formed on the wall  305  in order to act as a bracket against the back of the refrigerator cabinet. The two sloped upper walls are joined by a central crosspiece  308  equivalent to the crosspiece  8  of the shelf  1  and having spots of adhesive  311  to join it to the glass plate  302 . 
         [0049]    The shelf  401  of the fifth embodiment differs from the shelf  301  by the fact that the bar  404  does not include the hook  407 . That hook  407  is on a bar  418  and allows fastening the bar  418  to the back of the refrigeration cabinet to form the supporting bracket. The hollow bar  404  forms a track suitable for accepting the bar-bracket  418 . The hollow bar  404  is shorter than the side edge of the plate  402 , leaving room in the back to provide the space required for the hook  407  when the shelf  401  is completely pushed in, i.e., in the usage position. Tracks of another type may also be provided, in particular of another shape and/or equipped with ball bearing sliding systems. 
         [0050]    It is clearly understood that the embodiments just described were given as illustrations and are not exhaustive and that modifications may be made without departing from the scope of this invention.

Technology Classification (CPC): 5