Pull-Out Freezer Floor for Refrigerator and Freezers

The present invention relates to domestic refrigeration devices, particularly to a stacked refrigerator/freezer cabinet, and in particular to a sliding shelf or floor installed into the cabinet.

Guided sliding shelves for freezers and refrigerators are generally known from U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,299,863 and 2,719,772.

In known refrigerator devices, a freezer compartment is divided horizontally with a wire shelf. This shelf allows the user to more conveniently organize items for later, easier access. Typically, one area that is difficult to access in a top mounted freezer is a rear portion of the area under the fixed wire shelf. In order to reach items in that area, it is necessary to move items out of the way, or to fully extend the user's arm to reach to the rear of the compartment.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a convenient storage system for a refrigerator and/or freezer. It is an object of the present invention to provide an extendable storage shelf or tray which allows for the circulation of cold air beneath the shelf notwithstanding items placed on the shelf. It is an object of the present invention to provide a two layer shelf system, a first layer being the extendable shelf or tray and the second layer being a base located below the extendable shelf, wherein each layer is capable of holding items and assuring proper cold air flow within the cabinet. It is an object that the first layer be removable from the second layer for cleaning. It is an object that the first layer provides an encircling wall, including portions of a back wall which are removable for cleaning the cabinet behind the first layer.

The objects are inventively achieved in that a pull-out, extendable tray assembly is provided to increase access to articles within the cabinet, particularly to an area under an intermediate wire shelf. The pull-out, extendable tray assembly provides a base and an overlying platform. In its retracted position, the tray assembly functions as a standard, fixed refrigerator or freezer floor. When the user desires access to the articles under the wire shelf, the platform of the tray assembly can be pulled and extended so that the items stored at the rear, on the platform, can be more easily accessed. When the user is finished, the platform is pushed back into place.

The base for the tray assembly performs many functions. It can function as a component of the air flow system of the refrigerator or freezer, ducting air from the front of the freezer compartment back to an evaporator mounted within an evaporator compartment behind the freezer compartment. In this regard, the base provides air openings at front end communicating into an air flow channel formed below the base to a rear end of the freezer compartment. The base provides a mounting system for drop-in rollers that support the platform of the tray assembly and provide smooth sliding movement. Slots in the rear of the base allow tip-up tabs on the platform to pass through the base and into proper position for operation. Longer slots allow the tabs to travel forward and engage the base, eliminating the possibility of the platform tipping up and falling out of the freezer as it travels forward on the front rollers. The base mounts to four screw anchors placed in a foamed-in place partition between the refrigerator and freezer compartments. Ribs placed on the bottom of the base support the base during operation and pass the load of the platform onto the partition and form an under base air flow passage.

On the platform, a front lip provides a handle to actuate the platform. Air return slots allow air to reach the duct formed by the base. The handle is raised in a vertical direction to help contain items stored on the platform. Swept ribs and access areas on either side of the front lip allow the user to wipe spills out of the product for easy cleaning. Structurally designed ribs and coated steel channels provide sufficient strength to resist downward deflection of the platform which might cause damage to other components of the refrigerator, or breakage of the platform itself. Rollers at the rear of the platform mounted to the coated steel channels prevent dragging of the platform as it is pushed backward. Detachable rear wall panels or "fences" at the rear of the upper platform prevent packages from sliding off the rear of the platform while it is extended and also allow access to the area behind the platform to remove any spills or objects that fall into the operational area of the extendable tray assembly. The platform of the extendable tray assembly is designed to be removed by the user for cleaning. The refrigeration system will function while the platform is removed. Objects can be stored on the base itself due to the design of the air openings in the base and the air flow channel of the base.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a refrigerator/freezer of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of a freezer compartment of the refrigerator/freezer of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken generally along line III--III of FIG. 4;

FIG. 4 is a partial plan view of the freezer compartment shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a base arranged below a tray of the freezer compartment of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the pull-out tray of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken generally along line VII--VII of FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken generally along line VIII--VIII of FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a perspective bottom view of the tray shown in FIG. 6; and

FIG. 10 is a perspective bottom view of the base shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 1 illustrates a stacked refrigerator/freezer 12 having a freezer compartment 13 above a refrigerator compartment 14. The freezer compartment 13 is also shown in FIG. 2 and is defined by a top wall 16, opposing side walls 18, 20, a partition or mullion 24, an evaporator cover 26 and an independently openable door 30. Mounted on the partition 24 is a slidable tray assembly 35. Although the slidable tray assembly 35 could also be used in a refrigerator compartment 14, the tray assembly 35 is particularly adapted for use on the partition 24 as the freezer compartment 13 is usually mounted at a less convenient elevation with a smaller volume to access than the refrigerator compartment 14. FIG. 2 illustrates holes 36 are applied in the sidewalls 18, 20 for holding a wire shelf 21 at selective elevations above the tray assembly 35. The slidable tray assembly is particularly advantageous for reaching items otherwise located beneath the wire shelf.

FIG. 2 shows the tray assembly 35 fit within the freezer compartment 13. The freezer compartment 13 provides an air tower 37 against the back wall 26. The air tower provides air vents 37a into the freezer compartment 13 for cold air circulation. The air tower also provides an air duct 37b for cold air circulation into the refrigerator compartment 14 below. The tray assembly 35 provides a U-shaped center back wall 38 for close fitment around the air duct 37b, and left and right removable fences 39a, 39b mounted vertically adjacent opposite sides of the center back wall 38.

FIG. 3 shows the compartment 13 defined in part by the top wall 16, the partition 24 and the back wall 26a. An evaporator compartment 40 is located between the evaporator cover 26 and a rear wall 26a. In the evaporator compartment 40 is mounted an evaporator 41 (shown schematically in FIG. 3) and an evaporator fan 42 which draws air through the evaporator 41 to cool the air and force the air through air openings 37a into the compartment 13 and through the air duct 37b into the compartment 14.

The tray assembly 35 is shown to have two major components, a base 50 upon which is slidably mounted a platform 52. The base 50 is inlaid into a recess 24a in the partition 24. A plurality of rollers 56 are allocated between the platform 52 and the base 50 to allow sliding movement of the platform 52 with respect thereto. As shown in this figure, an air flow passage 57 is provided between the tray assembly 35 and the partition 24 to allow air circulation from the compartment 13 to the evaporator 41. Air openings 58 are provided through the platform 52 which directs air through further openings 60 in the base which allows air to pass between the base 50 and the partition 24 in a rearward direction to an opening 64 below the evaporator cover 26 to allow air to pass to the evaporator 41. The openings 58 on the platform 52 are formed into a front lip 66 raised on the platform 52 which assists in retaining items on the platform 52 and provides a convenient handle for pulling the platform to its forward position (shown dashed), and pushing the platform to its retracted position.

FIG. 4 illustrates the tray assembly 35 which includes inclined back wall 70, platform 52, arcuate raised ribs 72 arranged spaced apart between the back wall 70 and the inclined front lip 66, raised package retainer 74 and finger recess 76 between the retainer 74 and the front lip 66. Side walls 78a, 78b connect the back wall 70 with the front lip 66. Sockets 80a, 80b, 80c, 80d are provided on a top surface of the back wall 70 to receive pegs 82, 84 (FIG. 6) arranged on bottom sides of the fences 39a, 39b to install the fences to the platform 52.

FIG. 5 illustrates the base 50 of the present invention. The base provides a base back wall 90 and an inclined back ramp 92, center slots 94a, 94b, and left and right slots 94c, 94d. Each slot provides a wide portion 95a,b,c,d for receiving anti-tip tabs (described with regard to FIG. 9). Disposed on a front portion of the base 50 are six roller indents 96 each of which provide a central opening 96a and dished areas 96b, 96c on opposite sides of the central opening 96a. At a front side of the base 50 are arranged the air openings 60. A plurality of screws 99 pass through molded screw guides 99a (FIG. 10) and secure the base 50 to the partition 24.

FIG. 6 shows the tray assembly 35 in perspective view and including trough regions 66a, 66b arranged on the front lip 66 which allows easy manual cleaning of the tray when removed. Also shown are the fences 39a, 39b with pegs 82, 84 for installation onto the platform 52. The pegs can be round in cross section as shown or can have a "cross" cross section such as a "+" sign, tapering slightly in a direction of insertion to assure a tight fit. The fences 39a, 39b have lips 39c, 39d which overlie the center wall 38 which also provides support to the fences. A flexible trim piece 67 is snap-fit to the front lip 66 to improve the cosmetic appearance of the tray assembly 35 and to cover the base 50 from view.

FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate the rollers 56 having molded-in axles 56a which interfit into the dished portions 96b, 96c formed in the base 50. The rollers 56 interfit into the opening 96a of the base 50 and guide a roller channel 98 which is attached to the platform 52 between walls 100a, 100b formed on the bottom of the tray platform 52. The roller channel 98 can be a coated steel channel. The opening 96a is formed by a rectangular cylinder 97 which also supports the platform 52 off the partition 24. At a back end 98a of the channels 98 are rotationally mounted surface rollers 102 which roll along a surface 50a of the base 50 during extension and retraction of the platform 52. The steel channels 98 provide a smooth surface for rolling contact with the rollers 56 and structurally reinforce the platform 52 against bending. The channels 98 can be adhesively secured to the platform or mechanically fastened.

FIG. 9 illustrates the underside structure of the tray platform 52. A plurality of criss-crossed reinforcing ribbing 120 is formed with the platform 52 to give the otherwise thin walled platform rigidity while maintaining a light weight. Three longitudinal channels 124, 126, 128 are provided defined by walls 100a,b; 100c,d; and 100e,f respectively. These channels each receive a roller channel 98 as described with respect to FIG. 8. At the back end 98a of each roller channel 98 is rotatably mounted the surface roller 102. An axle 102a can be carried by sidewalls of the channel 98. At a back end of the channel 124 are mounted anti-tip tabs 130,132 facing in opposite lateral directions. At a back end of the channel 126 is mounted an anti-tip tab 134 facing inwardly of the platform 52. At a back end of channel 128 is mounted an anti-tip tab 136 facing inwardly of the platform 52. The anti-tip tabs 130, 132, 134, 136 fit into the wide slot portions 95a, 95b, 95d, 95c (FIG. 5) respectively when the platform 52 is mounted, at approximately 1" forward of the fully retracted position, to the base 50. When the platform 52 is extended forwardly the anti-tip tabs pass through the slots 94a,b,c,d with a head portion 130a, 132a, 134a, 136a captured beneath the base 50, which prevents disengagement between the platform and base at the extended position.

FIG. 10 illustrates the underside structure of the base 50. At a back half of the base are arranged rails 140, 142, 144, 146, 148, 150 and 152. The slot 94a (not shown)is between the rails 146, 148; the slot 94b (not shown) is between the rails 144, 146; the slot 94c (not shown)is between the rails 150, 152 and the slot 94d (not shown)is between the rails 140, 142. The anti-tip tab head portion 130a rides between the rails 146, 148; the anti-tip tab head portion 132a rides between the rails 144, 146; the anti-tip tab head portion 134a rides between the rails 140, 142; and the anti-tip tab head portion 136a rides between the rails 150, 152, while the platform is being extended. The rails 140-152 provide structural support against the partition 24, as do the cylinders 97 and intermediate rails 160, 162, 164, 166. The rails, by spacing an underside of the base 50 from a top side of the partition 24, form the air channels 57 to the opening 64 between the base 50 and the evaporator cover 26.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to a specific embodiment, those of skill in the art will recognize that changes may be made thereto without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.