Patent ID: 7997667

Claim:
A refrigerator comprising: a refrigerated compartment defined by a liner having opposing side walls; a door movably mounted relative to the liner to selectively seal off or provide access to the compartment; and a rack and pinion storage system comprising: a storage unit including opposing first and second mounting brackets; first and second supports including respective first and second rack gears, said first and second supports being mounted to the opposing side walls of the liner; first and second gear wheels interconnected by an axle for co-rotation, said first and second gear wheels being engaged with the first and second rack gears, respectively; and first and second gear cover members connecting the first and second rotatable gear wheels to the storage unit through the first and second mounting brackets while supporting the first and second gear wheels for rotation relative to the storage unit, wherein the first and second gear cover members extend about respective first and second gear wheels such that the first and second gear wheels are positioned between the first and second supports and the first and second covers, respectively, with the first and second gear wheels exhibiting equal rotational and linear motion along the respective first and second rack gears upon shifting of the storage unit into and out of the refrigerated compartment.