GB2027184A

GB2027184A - Freezer shelves

Info

Publication number: GB2027184A
Application number: GB7926672A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: FULTON Ltd
Current assignee: FULTON Ltd
Priority date: 1978-08-02
Filing date: 1979-07-31
Publication date: 1980-02-13

Abstract

A freezer shelf assembly 10 comprises a planar tubular heat exchange member 11 through which a refrigerant fluid may be circulated and a tray 13 made of plastics material mounted upon the upper side of said heat exchange member, resilient clip means 16 being provided to secure the tray to the heat exchange member. Formations may be provided at or adjacent the forward edge of the plastics trays whereby a door may be hinged between two adjacent trays to form a separate compartment. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Freezer shelves This invention relates to shelves for use in freezers or refrigerators (hereinafter referred to for convenience as freezers), and in particular to freezer shelves in which provision is made for circulation of a refrigerant gas or liquid through the shelf.

According to one aspect of the present invention, the freezer shelf comprises a planar tubular heat exchange member through which refrigerant fluid may be circulated and a tray made of plastics material mounted upon the upper side of said heat exchange member, resilient clip means being provided to secure the tray to the heat exchange member.

Preferably the planar tubular heat exchange member is formed from as ingle length of the tube bent into a planar sinuous configuration, for example a serpentine form, which extends across substantially the whole area of the shelf. A shelf assembly, comprising at least two freezer shelves according to the present invention, may be formed with a heat exchange member defining each shelf from a single length of tubing, in accordance with our co-pending British Patent Application No.

37870/77.

The plastics tray, which may be moulded from any suitable plastics material, should preferably overhang the extremities of the heat exchange member, and define the area of the shelf. The plastic tray is preferably perforated in order to permit free circulation of cold air throughout the freezer cabinet. However, non-perforated trays may be used where it is desired to segregate the freezer cabinet into separate compartments.

Furthermore doors may be fitted between adjacent shelves in order to form separate compartments, these doors being hinged to the shelves by a suitable formation on the shelf moulding.

The resilient clip means which secure the shelf to the heat exchange member, are preferably provided as an integral part of the tray moulding, on the underside thereof. Said resilient clip means may comprise one or more formations of substantially "C" shaped cross-section, each being positioned to engage and grip individual portions of the tube forming the heat exchange member, or may comprise one or more pairs of spaced fromations arranged to engage separate though opposed portions of the tubular heat exchange member. Alternatively one or more resilient clips may be provided independantly of the shelf moulding, said clips having formations adapted to engage the tubular heat exchange member and cooperating formations on the tray moulding.

An embodiment of the present invention is now described, by way of an example only, with reference to the accompanying drawing which shows a part sectional isometric view of a freezer shelf assembly formed in accordance with the present invention.

The freezer shelf assembly 1 0 shown in the accompanying drawing, comprises a series of shelf defining heat exchange members 11 (only two shown) connected together by vertical lengths of tube 1 2 so that refrigerant medium may be circulated throughout the shelf assembly 1 0.

The heat exchange members 11 are of planar serpentine configuration and are formed from a single length tube in accordance with the method disclosed in our co-pending British Patent Application No. 37870/77.

Plastic trays 1 3 are mounted upon the upper surface of each of the heat exchange members 11.

These plastic trays have a perforated base portion 14 and a lip portion 1 5 which extends downwardly along both sides of the base portion 14, the lip portion 1 5 extending over the edge of the heat exchange member 11 when the tray 13 is in position.

Resilient plastic clips 1 6 of "C" shaped cross section, are moulded to the underside of the trays 1 3 and are positioned and dimensioned such that when a tray 13 is in position on a heat exchange member 4 the clips 16 on the underside thereof will snap over and grip adjacent portions of the heat exchange member 11, to locate and maintain the tray 1 3 in position.

The freezer shelf assembly described above provides a straightforward construction that is relatively easy to manufacture and assemble. The trays 13 of the above assembly may easily be removed for cleaning or replacement. Furthermore by replacing the trays 13 by trays of similar design but having hinge portions moulded onto the front edges thereof, the open shelf system illustrated may easily be converted into a series of separate compartments with individual doors hinged between adjacent shelves.

1. A freezer shelf comprising a planar tubular heat exchange member through which a refrigerant fluid may be circulated and a tray made of plastics material mounted upon the upper side of said heat exchange member, resilient clip means being provided to secure the tray to the heat exchange member.

2. A freezer shelf according to claim 1 in which the heat exchange member is formed from a single length of tube bent into a planar sinuous configuration, which extends across substantially the whole area of the shelf.

3. A freezer according to claim 2 in which the tubular heat exchange member is of serpentine form.

4. A freezer shelf according to any one of the preceding claims in which the resilient clip means forms an integral part of the shelf and is positioned on the underside thereof.

5. A freezer shelf according to claim 4 in which the resilient clip means comprises at least one formation of C-shaped cross section positioned to engage a portion of the tube forming the heat exchange member.

6. A freezer shelf according to claim 4 in which

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Freezer shelves This invention relates to shelves for use in freezers or refrigerators (hereinafter referred to for convenience as freezers), and in particular to freezer shelves in which provision is made for circulation of a refrigerant gas or liquid through the shelf. According to one aspect of the present invention, the freezer shelf comprises a planar tubular heat exchange member through which refrigerant fluid may be circulated and a tray made of plastics material mounted upon the upper side of said heat exchange member, resilient clip means being provided to secure the tray to the heat exchange member. Preferably the planar tubular heat exchange member is formed from as ingle length of the tube bent into a planar sinuous configuration, for example a serpentine form, which extends across substantially the whole area of the shelf. A shelf assembly, comprising at least two freezer shelves according to the present invention, may be formed with a heat exchange member defining each shelf from a single length of tubing, in accordance with our co-pending British Patent Application No. 37870/77. The plastics tray, which may be moulded from any suitable plastics material, should preferably overhang the extremities of the heat exchange member, and define the area of the shelf. The plastic tray is preferably perforated in order to permit free circulation of cold air throughout the freezer cabinet. However, non-perforated trays may be used where it is desired to segregate the freezer cabinet into separate compartments. Furthermore doors may be fitted between adjacent shelves in order to form separate compartments, these doors being hinged to the shelves by a suitable formation on the shelf moulding. The resilient clip means which secure the shelf to the heat exchange member, are preferably provided as an integral part of the tray moulding, on the underside thereof. Said resilient clip means may comprise one or more formations of substantially "C" shaped cross-section, each being positioned to engage and grip individual portions of the tube forming the heat exchange member, or may comprise one or more pairs of spaced fromations arranged to engage separate though opposed portions of the tubular heat exchange member. Alternatively one or more resilient clips may be provided independantly of the shelf moulding, said clips having formations adapted to engage the tubular heat exchange member and cooperating formations on the tray moulding. An embodiment of the present invention is now described, by way of an example only, with reference to the accompanying drawing which shows a part sectional isometric view of a freezer shelf assembly formed in accordance with the present invention. The freezer shelf assembly 1 0 shown in the accompanying drawing, comprises a series of shelf defining heat exchange members 11 (only two shown) connected together by vertical lengths of tube 1 2 so that refrigerant medium may be circulated throughout the shelf assembly 1 0. The heat exchange members 11 are of planar serpentine configuration and are formed from a single length tube in accordance with the method disclosed in our co-pending British Patent Application No. 37870/77. Plastic trays 1 3 are mounted upon the upper surface of each of the heat exchange members 11. These plastic trays have a perforated base portion 14 and a lip portion 1 5 which extends downwardly along both sides of the base portion 14, the lip portion 1 5 extending over the edge of the heat exchange member 11 when the tray 13 is in position. Resilient plastic clips 1 6 of "C" shaped cross section, are moulded to the underside of the trays 1 3 and are positioned and dimensioned such that when a tray 13 is in position on a heat exchange member 4 the clips 16 on the underside thereof will snap over and grip adjacent portions of the heat exchange member 11, to locate and maintain the tray 1 3 in position. The freezer shelf assembly described above provides a straightforward construction that is relatively easy to manufacture and assemble. The trays 13 of the above assembly may easily be removed for cleaning or replacement. Furthermore by replacing the trays 13 by trays of similar design but having hinge portions moulded onto the front edges thereof, the open shelf system illustrated may easily be converted into a series of separate compartments with individual doors hinged between adjacent shelves. CLAIMS

6. A freezer shelf according to claim 4 in which the resilient clip means comprises at least one pair of spaced formations adapted to engage separate though opposed portions of the heat exchange member.

7. A freezer shelf according to any one of claims 1 to 3 in which the resilient clip means comprises.

at least one separate clip having formations adapted to engage a portion of the heat exchange member and cooperating formations on the tray.

8. A freezer shelf according to any of the preceding claims in which the plastics tray is perforated.

9. A freezer shelf according to any one of claims 1 to 8 in which formations are provided on the front edge of the plastics tray by means of which a door may be hinged between a pair of such shelves positioned one beneath the other.

1 0. A freezer shelf assembly comprising a plurality of shelves as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9 having a plurality of planar heat exchange members arranged one above the other and formed from a single length of tube.

11. A freezer shelf substantially as described herein with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawing.

12. A freezer shelf assembly substantially as described herein with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawing.