Patent ID: 8668290

Claim:
A refrigerator comprising: a refrigerated compartment defined by a liner having opposing side walls; a storage unit provided within the refrigerated compartment, wherein the storage unit is coupled to the liner with a rack and pinion system comprising: opposing first and second mounting brackets coupled to the storage unit; 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, wherein the first and second supports include respective downwardly projecting tabs for limiting movement of the storage unit from the refrigerated compartment; 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 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, said first and second gear cover members being detachably connected to the first and second mounting brackets, wherein the first and second gear wheels exhibit 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.