GB2422775A

GB2422775A - Removable refrigerator shelf

Info

Publication number: GB2422775A
Application number: GB0518148A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Eve Toomey-Rossow
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-02-07
Filing date: 2005-08-31
Publication date: 2006-08-09
Also published as: US20060175273A1; GB0518148D0

Abstract

A removable shelf structure comprises two L-shaped brackets that are insertable into a refrigerator between existing supports and shelves to provide additional storage space below the shelf. The brackets are made from plastics material and comprise mid panels 3,4 that engage with the side walls 10 of the refrigerator. These mid panels have short tabs 1,2 extending horizontally from the uppermost edges and longer tray members 5,6 extending horizontally from the lower edges with these tray members having small lips 7,8 at their extremities.

Description

SPECIFICATION

Removable Refrigerator Shelf

DESCRIPTION

BACKGROUND

Field of Endeavor: Food and beverage apparatus, support:racks Foreign Filing License Granted, 03/09/2005: US 11/051,563 A wide variety of devices have been designed and manufactured for use in home, Restaurant and institutional refrigeration systems to improve storage within. One of the main problems associated with home, restaurant, and institutional refrigeration shelving systems is the insufficient use of available storage space, in particular the vertical space between existing shelving units. Although various shelving systems have been designed to alleviate this particular problem such as the adjustable side mounted systems disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos.540971, 5769520, 4023682, 4828120, 5454638, 5403083., such units were designed to be incorporated as part of particular models of refrigerators since they are rail or slot systems mounted to the side of the refrigerator and are part of the original manufacturing. These adjustable systems therefore are not available for use in existing nnits already in consumers homes. These systems can also not be transferred from one refrigeration unit to another. The existing systems do not allow for easy storage of an extra shelf w*hen not in use in the refrigeration unit. It is therefore a principal aim of the present invention to alleviate some of the short comings associated with the known prior 2.

present invention to alleviate some of the short comings associated with the known prior art devices and to provide a removable shelving system that is compatible with many of the exiting home, restaurant, and institutional refrigeration systems, which is removable, easy to store when not in use and allows the user to utilize the vertical space between existing refrigerator shelving.

The present invention relates to a shelf system for a home, restaurant, institutional refrigeration system and the like, more particularly, to a removable and storable shelving system for use in existing refrigeration shelving systems. This unit would be suspendable from existing shelving space in order to utilize vertical spacing between shelving units.

This increases and maximizes shelf capacity. The preferred embodiment of the invention would be molded into an "L" shaped design to fonn the storage space (see drawing for details). The unit would consist of two separate identical pieces to be used in tandem adjacent to each other for larger items such as large container and pizza boxes or separate for smaller containers or clamshell (to go) containers as well as a variety of other items.

The present refrigerator shelf system has overcome the short comings associated with the known mounted adjustable shelving systems through the removable application allowing the device to be used in various brands of existing refrigeration systems. The tray units would have tabs on the top ends of each unit from which they would suspend from the existing refrigerator shelving unit, sliding into place between the side wall of the refrigeration unit and the existing shelving. The slide mount system which uses tabs to slide on to and hang from an existing shelf allows for use in refrigerators with either acrylic, plastic or wire existing shelving of varying width and depths, with either top/bottom refrigerator freezer construction or side by side refrigerator freezer construction. The hanging "L" shape utilizes little space on the shelf it is supported by and allows for ample storage space on the shelf below the removable apparatus. This shelving system is cost effective since it is constructed to adapt to existing refrigeration shelving equipment, such a support system requires no additional parts, tools to other means of interconnecting the same into various refrigeration systems.

It is a principal objective of the invention to provide a removable shelving system for use with existing shelving systems utilized in many homes, restaurants, institutions and the like. Another objective is to provide a removable shelving unit which more effectively utilizes available refrigerator space by reducing and saving vertical space between existing shelving units. Another objective is to provide a shelving unit that is removable and small enough for easy storage when not in use. Another objective is for the removable shelving to be visually appealing in most models of home refrigeration systems. These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art after considering the following detailed specification which disclosed the preferred embodiment of the present shelving structure in Conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

INTRODUCTION TO DRAWINGS:

Figure 1. of the drawings shows the device being utilized in a refrigeration unit. This depicts how the unit could be utilized to increase space by hanging down from an existing shelf This drawing shows all the main components of said unit: the tabs used to hang the unit from the existing shelf, the "L" construction creating a tray surface for holding a variety of items and the lip to keep items on the tray unit. I-,

Figure 2 is a side view of one unit. This depicts the tabs and "L" shape of the tray, including the lip, as well as depicting the thickness of the unit.

Figure 3. is a top view that depicts the two tabs including the measurement of the space between tabs, the surface area of the tray itself and the thickness of the lip.

Figrue 4. depicts an angled view that displays all of the above mentioned features.

DETAILED REFERENCE TO DRAWINGS

FIG 1. is a perspective view showing the present invention in one form of possible usage within an existing refrigerator unit. The two devices shown are of the same construction and measurements. They ase shown in FIG 1 being used in tandem facing opposite each other. In this view members 1 and 2 are of the same shape and measurement, members 3 and 4 are of the same shape and measurement, members 5 and 6 are of the same shape and measurement, and members 7 and 8 are of the same shape and measurement. The present invention is here shown to slide onto the existing refrigerator shelf (9) fitting between the shelf (9) and the side of the refrigerator unit (10). All measurements are the same for the second device to be used in tandem with the first.

FIG 2 is a partial perspective showing the side view of the present invention. Member 1 measures 2 /4 in width by I /2 in length. The thickness of the unit (8 and 9) measures 1/6 in. The height of the present invention depicted in member 3 is 3 3/4 in. The width of the tray portion of the present invention depicted by member 5 is 7 in. The lip area used to hold boxes onto the tray depicted by member 7 is in. The inner lip measurement depicted by member 10 is 2/5 in. All measurements are the same for the second device to be used in tandem with the first.

FIG 3. is a partial perspective showing the present invention from a top view. The width of the entire present invention is depicted as the tray area shown by member 5 with measurements of 13 Y2 in. length and 7 in length. Both tabs used for securing the present invention to the existing refrigerator shelf are shown depicted by member 1.

Again the width of these tabs are shown by member 10 at I V2 in. The length of these tabs is depicted by member 11 at 2 in. The spacing between the two tabs is depicted by member 12 and measures 9 inches across. The lip area at the end of the tray portion is depicted by member 7. The thickness of the unit is depicted by member 9. All measurements are the same for the second device to be used in tandem with the first.

FIG 4. is a perspective view of the present invention showing all of the surfaces described in the previous views. The tabs represented by member 1. The thickness depicted by member 8. The inner measurement between the tabs depicted by member 12.

The outer edge connecting the support tabs to the tray unit depicted by member 3 measuring 3 % inches. The tray unit depicted by member 5 measuring 7 inches. The lip area at the end of the tray unit depicted by member 7 measuring in by 13 V2 in. All measurements are the same for the second device to be used in tandem with the first. to

Claims

What is claimed is: 1. A shelf support structure adaptable for use with existing refrigerator units composed of two independent members, each of said members placed on opposing sides of the existing refrigerator unit shelving or to be utilized individually, each unit spanning the approximate depth of the existing refrigerator unit with a width that allows for the support of a plurality of items on said shelving member for a plurality of uses.
2. The shelf support structure defined in claim 1 wherein each member is removable from said refrigerator unit allowing for utilization of said shelving unit by sliding along existing refrigerator shelving sides when deemed necessary by the user.
3 The shelf support structure defined in claim 1 wherein an "L" bracket slides and attaches said shelving unit to existing refrigerator shelving to be positioned so that a small tab of the unit rests on the above refrigerator shelving, the side of the member to be parallel with the side walls of the refrigerator and the remaining shelf portion of said member to hang below the existing refrigerator shelf unit.
4. The shelf support member defined in claim 3 wherein said "L" bracket are dimensioned so as to enable said shelf support structure to be attached to the existing shelving members of the exiting refrigeration system at an intermediate location in a flat horizontal position.
5. The shelf support structure defined in claim 1 having two opposing members for use in tandem or individually are constructed of thin food grade material that is capable of withstanding the weight and force of sustaining food items and the like in the refrigeration unit.
6. The improvement defined in claim 2 wherein said shelving units are removable utilizing the space below an existing refrigerator shelf when deemed necessary by the consumer.
7. A shelf support structure for use with existing refrigeration units consisting of first and second removable members, each of said members forming a partial shelf when suspended from the existing refrigerator shelving units to enable the use of the space below said existing shelf.
8. The shelving unit defined in claim 5 being constructed of a food grade material that has the durability to withstand frequent cleaning in a variety of water temperature and cleansing products.