US2973998A - Slidable shelf construction - Google Patents

Description

March 7, 1961 D. A. RACKLIFFE 2,973,998

SLIDABLE SHELF CONSTRUCTION Filed March 5, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 [HIWLHLMI'M gj'yg fr INVENTOR. jai/zj /7 dc//z'f/e.

JINI/sf March 7, 1961 D. A. RAcKLlFl-E 2,973,998

SLIDABLE SHELF CONSTRUCTION Filed March 5, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 sLrnAnLn snare coNsTnUcrroN David A. Raclrliife, Greenville, Mich., assignor to Ranney Refrigerator Company, Greenville, Mich., a corporau tion of Michigan Filed Mar. 5, 1958, Ser. No. 719,256

3 Claims.l (Cl. 312 332) This invention relates to a slidable shelf construction, particularly for refrigerators,A food freezers and the like.

In many types of cabinets, including refrigerators, food freezers, and other relatively deep cabinets in which food and other articles are stored on shelves, it is advantageous to provide means for sliding the shelves outwardly far enough that easy access may be had to articles on the rear of the shelves. -Where cabinets are constructed of tion of one of the shelves, and appurtenant supporting sheet metal, as in the manufacture of refrigerators and food freezers, it has been found extremely difficult to maintain the close tolerances ordinarily requisite for the construction of smoothly sliding, efficiently operating shelves, because of the tendency of sheet metal to bow during assembly. Where porcelain enamel is applied to the walls, as is the case with the inner side-wall liners of refrigerators and freezers, severe warpage often occurs, and it has been found that the side walls can frequently buckle or bow as much as one quarter of an inch one Way or the other, which is sufficient to bind shelves operating on fixed supports, or alternatively, to render them so loose as to be insecure. It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide a sliding shelf construction the proper operation of which is independent of variations in the inner width of the cabinet such as may be caused by bowing out or buckling of the inner liners forming the side walls.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a shelf construction which will rigidly and securely support food articles and containers while the shelf is in the extended position projecting out of the cabinet.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a shelf construction which is easily removable from the cabinet for cleaning and which will remain in assembled condition during and after said removal so that the housewife does not have to hold several loose pieces in order to prevent them from falling, or attempt to reassemble separable parts in order to reinstall the shelf.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a slidable shelf construction which automatically aligns itself in its proper operating position upon installation of the shelf in the refrigerator.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a shelf construction of the above-mentioned character which consistently operatess in a smooth gliding manner, is constructed from easily cleaned materials, yet is inexpensive of manufacture.

Other objects and advantageous features of novelty of the present invention will be specifically pointed out or otherwise become apparent when referring, for a better understanding of the invention to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a fragmentary frontelevational view of a refrigerator cabinet provided with slidable shelves ernbodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective View on a larger scale of a por 2,973,998 Patented Mar. 7, 1961 parts;

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 2, indicating in broken lines the positions of the shelf during its removal from the cabinet;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale of the structure illustrated in Fig. r2 taken along the lines 4 4 thereof;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale of the structure illustrated in Fig. 4 taken along the line' 5 5 thereof;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of the structure illustrated inV Fig. 5 taken along the lines 6 6 thereof;

Fig. 7 is a'sectional view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 4 taken along the lines 7 7 thereof;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 2 taken along the lines 8 8 thereof;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 8 taken substantially along the lines 9 9 thereof, part of the structure being shown in elevation and a part being broken away; and

Fig. 10 is a sectional view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 9 taken along the lines 1(3 10` thereof and having a part broken away.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 illustrates a refrigerator cabinet including an outer metal shell 11 having spaced metal liners 13 and 15 forming opposite inner side walls and a liner forming an inner rear wall 16.

Supported within the cabinet and extending horizontally between the side walls 13 and 15 are a plurality of vertically spaced identical slidable shelves, generally indicated at i7. The construction of the shelves 1'7 and their manner of support is illustrated in detail in Fig. 2. While Fig. 2 illustrates only one-half of the shelf 17, both halvesof the shelf are identical and a description of the structure illustrated in Fig. 2 will therefore serve to describe the entire shelf.

The shelf proper includes a lfront frame member 19 secured at its opposite ends to the opposite ends of a U-shaped sheet metal frame member 2t) which is bent to provide a pair of parallel spaced side frame elements 21 extending from opposite ends of a rear frame element 23. Both the top and bottom margins of the side frame elements 21 are benty outwardly to form a top flange 25 and a bottom flange 27 disposed at right angles to the plane of the side frame element 21. The front frame member 19 consists of a strip of sheet metal bent at a right angle along its length to form a forwardly extending upper portion 29, the foremost edge of which is curved downwardly and rearwardly to dene a handle 31 which may be grasped by the user in order to slide the shelf back yand forth on its supporting structure. A

p plurality of identical parallel supporting bars 32 are supported between a front frame member 19 and the rear frame element 23 in closely spaced relation and on a common horizontal plane so as to uprightly support a solid article of food or food container thereon. The entire shelf 17 is constructed from anodized aluminum which provides a smooth, easily cleaned and corrosion resistant surface.

The shelf 17 is slidably supported between a pair of I-beams 33 extending from the rear wall 16 to the front part of the side walls 13 Iand 15. The lI-bearns 33 may also be conveniently constructed from anodized aluminum, although it wil be appreciated that other suitably rigid materials could beA used. The rear of each I-beam 33 is supported vin the rea-r walll 16 of the cabinet by means of a pair of identical rubber grommets. 35 which` defines pockets adapted lto receive the rear en'ds'l of therv I-beams 33. VEach -grommet 35 is secured in an identical aperture 3'7 formed in the rear Wall 16 by means of a groove `38 formed peripherally around the gromme't so as to receive the edges defining the aperture 37. Since the grommets 35 are suspended in the rear wall 16, their lateral and vertical positioning is correct, and any bowing of the rear panel 16 will have'no effect on this alignment.

The forward end of each I-beam 33 is supported by means of a bracket 41, which is adjustably secured to a shelf supporting post 39, mounted one in each of the two side walls 13 and 15. The shelf post 39 is provided with a main supporting portion 43 of a square cross section which extends laterally inwardly from a liange portion 47 which is adapted to abut the side wall 15 of the cabinet. An aperture 49 is formed in the side walls 13 and 15 through which a stud portion 51 of each post 39 extends. The post 39 is held to the wall by means of a locking spring 53 which extends through the stud portion 51 and bears against the outer side of the side wall, urging the flange 47 against the side wall. The post 39 may be formed from a variety of suitable substantially rigid materials, such as polystyrene.

The bracket 41 is fixedly secured to the forward end of the `I-beam 33 by means of a rivet 55 and is held against rotation by grooves 57 and 59 which surround and engage the enlarged top and bottom portions of the I-beam 33. A clip portion 61 of the bracket 41 extends downwardly and inwardly beneath the I-bcam 33 and includes a pair of spaced resilient fingers 63 and 65 designed to clasp the squared portion 43 of the post 41 and hold the bracket 41 thereto. The lower finger 65 is provided with a pair of spaced raised ribs or shoulders 67 and 69 engaging opposite sides of the post 39, thereby retarding movement of the bracket laterally of the post. The free end of the lower finger 65 is provided with a downwardly sloping tab 71 for manually defiecting the finger 65 downwardly and clearing the ribs 67 and 69 beneath the post 39 and removing the shelf as will be more fully explained hereinafter.

In order to maintain the shelf 17 and the bracket 41 4in assembled relationship and to provide means for guiding the movement of the shelf 17 along the bracket 41, the top of the bracket 41 is provided with a pair of spaced laterally inwardly extending arms 73 and 75 disposed on opposite sides of the upper side frame flange 25. The upper arm 75 projects inwardly beyond the side frame element21 and has its free end bent downwardly to form an end projection 77 overengaging the side frame element 21 to trapthe upper flange 25 between the arms 73 and 75. The end 77 is disposed laterally opposite the top of the side frame element 21 and is therefore in a position to limit lateral movement of the shelf in one direction. The lower arm 73 terminates laterally outwardly of the side frame element 21 and is therefore in a position to limit lateral movement of the shelf in the opposite direction. As will be seen in Fig. 4 some lateral movement of said parts is provided for in order to assure a free sliding action in the relative longitudinal movement of the parts. Thus the arms 73 and 75 form track or guide means to direct the movement of the shelf in and out of the cabinet.

Sliding support for the shelf 17 is provided by the top surface of the finger 63, on which the lower flange 27 of the side frame element 21 slidably rests. Additional support for the shelf 17 is provided by a second supporting slide member 79, located at the junction of each side frame element 21 with the rear frame element 23. The supporting member 79 includes a collar portion 81 encircling the I-beam 33 for relative sliding movement, and a pair of perpendicular arms 83 and 85 riveted to the side frame element 21 and rear frame element 23. Both the supporting member 79 and the bracket 41 are constructed from nylon. Other suitable material having long wearing, low friction qualities on sliding contact with anodized aluminum could be used, although particularly in the case of bracket 41 the resiliency and high strength of nylon are advantageous, permitting the spring finger portion 65 to be formed as an integral part of the bracket.

The supporting member 79 cooperates with the bracket 41 in supporting the shelf 17 and guiding its travel back land forth between the I-beams 33. The supporting member 79 is carried by the shelf and travels up and down the I-beam 33 with the shelf while the bracket 41 remains stationary on the post 39 with the lower fiange 27 of the side frame element 21 sliding on the top surface of the finger 63 of the bracket 41. Rearward movement of the shelf into the refrigerator cabinet is limited by engagement of the front frame member 19 with the upper finger 63 of the bracket 41. Withdrawal of the shelf is limited by engagement of the collar 81 of the support 79 with a stop nib 93 which is pressed out of the side of the I-beam 33 in a predetermined location to.give the desired amount of shelf extension.

The method of removing the entire shelf construction from the cabinet for cleaning is best illustrated by reference to Fig. 3. The lower fingers 65 of the brackets 41 are first depressed to the position indicated in the solid line drawing of Fig. 3 in order to clear the ribs 67 and 69 beneath the post 39. The shelf is then pushed rearwardly until the rib 67 is disposed to the rear of the post 39. It should be pointed out that when the I-beams 33 are in their normal operating position their rear ends are not fully inserted within the pocket of the grommets 35 but project therein only a sufficient amount to be supported. Therefore suliicient room exists within the grommet 35 for further rearward movement of the I-beams 33 to the position stated. When the shelf has been moved to a position with the rib 67 to the rear of the post 39, the shelf may be released and it will be supported with its side frame element 21 resting on the post 39. Thereafter the shelf may be grasped at its handle 31 and lifted upwardly. Should the lower nger 65 not be fully to the rear of the post, the sloping surface of the tab 71 will engage the lower rear edge 83 of the post 39 and cam past the post, clearing the entire bracket 41 upwardly of the post to the position shown in the dotted lines of Fig. 3. The entire'shelf assembly, including the shelf 17, the I-bearns 33, the brackets 41, and the supports 79, may then be withdrawn directly out of the cabinet. Upon removal of the shelf assembly from the cabinet, the I- beams 33 are maintained in assembled relationship with the shelf 17 by means of the brackets 41 and supporting member 79 and therefore no separate components exist which may fall apart during the removal washing, or reinstallation operation.

In order to reinstall the shelf in the refrigerator the shelf is moved into the cabinet above its supporting post 39. The rear ends of I-beams 33 are inserted in their associated grommets and the shelf is pushed rearwardly until the foremost point of the lower finger 65 is disposed rearwardly of the post 39. Should theV lower finger 65 fail to clear the post 39 it may be manually deflected downwardly and rearwardly due to its resilient character. The forward end of the shelf is then moved downwardly so that the fingers 63 and 65 are substantially aligned on opposite sides of the post 39 with the sloping surface of the tab 71 engaging the edge 83 of the post 39. The handle 31 of the shelf 17 is then` grasped and the entire shelf pulled forwardly out of the cabinet until it reaches the end of its normal extension with the collars 81 of the supports 79 abutting the stop nibs 93 of the I-beams 33. Further outward pressure on the shelf 17 is then transmitted through the I-beams to the bracket 41 to cam the lower finger 65 downwardly and cause the fingers 63 'and 65 to snap into clasping engagement on opposite sides of the squared portion 43 of the post 39.

It will be seen in Fig. 5 that a bead-like projection 95 depends from the underside of the upper finger 63 of the bracket 41. The projection 95 is designed to engage within one of a plurality of serrations 97 formed on the top side of the post 39 when the bracket 41 is snapped on the post 39. Which one of the serrations 97 the bead projection 95 will engage is dependent upon the distance between the'opposite posts 39. Despite normally encountered variations in the width of the cabinet, thus varying the distance between the posts 39, a suicient length of serrations 97 is provided that one will always align with the projetcion 95. Engagement of the projection 95 in one of the serrations 97 operates to retard relative movement of the bracket 41 and post 39 transversely of the cabinet. Combined with the effectof the ribs 67 and 69, which retard movement of the bracket longitudinally of the cabinet, the bracket 41 is secured on the post 39 for eliicient sliding of the shelf 17 relative thereto.

While it will be apparent that the preferred embodiment herein demonstrated is well calculated to fulfill the objects above stated, it will be appreciated that the invention is susceptible to modification, variation and change without departing from the proper scope or fair meaning of the subjoined claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a storage cabinet having a rear wall and a pair of parallel spaced side walls perpendicular to the rear wall, a sliding shelf construction including a pair of laterally spaced beam members, a shelf slidably supported between said beam members and maintained in assembled relation therewith, a pair of supporting posts extending laterally inwardly from opposite of the side walls, a pair of supporting portions secured one to the forward end of each of said beam members and each having a pair of spaced lingers operable to clamp the adjacent of said posts transversely thereacross for supporting the forward ends of said beam members, means for supporting the rear ends of said beam members permitting longitudinal movement of said beam members during application of said fingers to said posts, and shoulder means on each of said supporting portions engageable with said posts to limit longitudinal movement of said beam members when said fingers are applied to said posts.

2. In a storage cabinet having a rear wall and a pair of parallel spaced side walls perpendicular to the rear wall, a sliding shelf construction including a pair of laterally spaced parallel beam members, a shelf slidably supported between said beam members, said shelf and said beam members being maintained in assembled relation by a pair of supporting members carried at the rearofy said shelf on opposite sides thereof and slidably'intercon, nected with the adjacent of said beam members and a` extending laterally inwardly from opposite of the side walls, and a spring clip portion on each ofsaid brackets Y operable to clamp the adjacent of said posts for supporting the forward ends of said beam members, and aperture-defining portions on the rear wall `for supporting the rear ends of said beam members.

3. In a storage cabinet having a rear wall yand a pair of parallel spaced side walls perpendicular to the rear wall, a sliding shelf construction including a pair of laterally spaced parallel beam members, a shelf slidably supported between said beam members and held in assembled relationship therewith, a pair of spaced aperturedefining portions in the rear wall for supporting the rear ends of said beam members, a pair of posts extending laterally inwardly from opposite of the side walls, a pair of brackets secured one to the forward end of each of said beam members and each having a spring clip portion adapted to be applied transversely across the adjacent of said posts from the rearward side thereof, said spring clip portion having a cam surface on the forward end thereof whereby said shelf and beam members may be installed in the cabinet by first inserting the rear ends of said beam members in said aperture-defining portions, positioning said clip portions rearwardly of said posts and then drawing said beam members forwardly to cam lsaid clip v portionopen and into clamping relation with said posts.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,748,843 Kuckel Feb. 25, 193()` l,828,435 Otte Oct. 20, 1931 1,953,688 Otte Apr. 3, 1934 2,494,221 Wojakowski Jan. 10, 1950 2,872,270 DOlive Feb. 3, 1959

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