US2861695A - Vertically adjustable and laterally slidable shelf structure - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 25, 1958 R. J. CARBARY 2,861,695

VERTICALLY ADJUSTABLE AND LATERALLY- SLIDABLE SHELF STRUCTURE Filed Aug. 25, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 B22/Maud JM Nov. 25, 1958 R. J. cARBARY 2,861,695

VERTICALLY ADJUSTABLE AND LATERALLY SLIDABLE SHELF STRUCTURE Filed Aug. 25, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 N INVENToR. m 5 :l f (kw-afg Nov. 25, 1958 R. J. CARBARY VERTICALLY ADJUSTABLE AND LATERALLY Filed Aug. 25, 1955 SLIDABLE SHELF STRUCTURE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 cc cccc tc i INVENToR.

VERTICALLY ADJUSTABLE AND LATERALLY Y SLIDABLE SHELF STRUCTURE Richard J. Carbary, La Grange, Ill., assgnor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Application August 25,1955, serial No. 530,508

l 7 claims. (cl. :i1- 143) This invention relates to vertically adjustable and laterally slidable shelf structures, and, in particular, to a shelf structure in which the lateral movement of the shelf may automatically elfect the vertical adjustment of the shelf.

Although shelf structures embodying my invention are not limited to any particular environment, their ease of operation and capacity for almost infinite vertical adjustment make them very useful in domestic refrigerators in which it is almost a requisite for commercial success to provide sliding shelves to facilitate access to items occupying the rear areas of the shelves, and easily vertically adjustable shelves to increase or decrease the vertical space between the shelves of the refrigerator. There are,;o f course, numerous examples of sliding shelf constructions in the art, but vertical adjustments are usually accomplished byI means of fixed ladder supports which require the shelf to be completely removed from the refrigerator and reinserted at the new level. Usually, such an operation requires that the shelf be cleared of its contents before it is removed from the refrigerator. The removal of the items and the replacement of them on the shelf when ,the shelf is in its adjusted position are not only bothersome tasks but require the refrigerator door lto be open for a substantial period'of time.

Itisl an object of the present invention to provide a cabinetvshelf adjustment means infwhich the shelf may be adjusted vvertically in either directionmerely by -the lateral-movement of the shelf as it is partially withdrawn from the cabinet and returned thereinto.

It is another object of the ,invention to provide a slidableand vertically adjustable shelf in whichvertical adjustment may or may not result from kthe slidingmovement of the shelf at the option of the user;

It is `a further object of the invention to provide a slidable and vertically adjustable shelf in which the shelf is capable of 'an almost infinite number of vertical adjustments.

It is yet another object of the invention to provide a slidable and vertically adjustable shelf which may be Withdrawn from its support means to any extent'up to apredetermined maximum and in which the extent to which the shelf is withdrawn may establish the degree of vertical adjustment.

It is still a further object of the invention to provide a' slidable and vertically adjustable shelf in which it is not necessary to remove any of the articles from the shelf to elect the vertical adjustment thereof.

f It-is yet another object of the invention to provide a slidable-l and vertically adjustable shelf having a s imple ngercontrol by which the user may if 'desired'utili'ze the sliding movement of ther shelf to effect thervertical,A adjstmentthereof.

AThese-aifid other objectives maybe acco'mplished'fln Y presently preferred 'embodiment byY utilizing a pair` of xed vertical standards or supports spaced apart slightly mgr the width -vof the shelf. The standards have ICC a similar screw-threading throughout the vertical extent thereof representing the desired limits of vertical shelf' Associated with each of the standards so as to be slidable thereon is a shelf guide which slidablyv adjustment.

receives a side edge of the shelf. The respective guides are supported on the standards by a nut screw-threadedly engaging the standardand mechanically associated with' the guides so that the nuts comprise the vertical supports for the guides. Such mechanical association also insures that when a nut is rotated in one or another direction and thus travels along the standard, the asso-A ciated guide is constained `to follow. Means `are provided to cause the sliding movement of the shelf t0 rotate each of the nuts an equal amount, whereby to effect uniform vertical movement of the shelf guides and' thereon-carried shelf, or optionally to make such sliding movement ineffective to rotate either of the nuts, whereupon the shelf would remain in its established position.y Said means includes a finger-operated device which Vtranslates the sliding movement of the shelf into rotation of the nut. It will be obvious that with proper use of the last-named device, the nut may be rotated during'a movement of the shelf outwardly of the standards or during the return movement of the shelf toward the standards, whereupon the direction and extent of rotation of the nut and corresponding direction and extent of vertical travel of the shelf along the standards may be established. Other features and objectives will be apparent from the following detailed description of presently preferred embodiments of the invention, read in connection withk the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. l is a front elevation, partly in section, of a portion-of a cabinet and the supporting standards showing the shelfguides and with the nut actuating means in engaged position; H

Fig. 2 is a partial plan view showing the shelf and associated guide means, portions of the shelf and ofone of the guide means having been broken away to reveal underlying structure; v I f Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side elevation of one of the shelf guide means andassociatedfshelf and supporting standard with portions of the shelf guide means having been broken away to reveal underlyingstructure;

Fig. 4 is a schematic plan View showing the relation-A structure is illustrated in a cabinet 1, which may, for eX ample, be what is known in the art as the inner liner of a refrigerator cabinet, the outer walls of which are not shown. The cabinet or liner 1 includes side walls 2, 3,

rear wall 4, and top andY bottom walls (not shown). A conventional door (not shown) will be provided as a front closure. Except for the angular side wall bulges 2.1 and 3.1 which extend the full height of thecabinet or'linerl, the liner is conventional. j

Vertical standards or* columns 5 aredisposed at each side ofthe cabinetwithinthe respective sidewall bulges; said columns are rigidly secured to the upper and lower cabinetlwalls or other supports byangesfor the vlikeY (not shown). The respective columns mayV advantageously compriseattened cylindrical rods and each -is identically screw-threaded with -a cut screw of suitable pitch.. As shown best in Figs, 1 and 3the screw forma#Y tion provides substantial smooth areaA 6 alon'gtwhich the: shelf,L guide structures maygsvmoothly slide, las presently explained.

Ashelf guide 7 is carried by each column. The shelf guides are advantageously formed of relatively heavy stamped metal and are essentially channel shape for rigidity. Asappearsin Fig. 6, the respective shelfl guides comprisea central web portion y8 arrangedto bear against a flattened side wall of the associated column and upper` and lower web portions9, 10, respectively, formed with` thevtabsill, 12, which, as best shown in Fig. 6, ernv bra,c,:e tl1ev column 5,. Each saidtab includes-a suitable sleeve portion (see 11.4and 12.1, Fig. 3) for slidably engaging said column., It will be obvious that the engagementof the web 8 andthe tabs 11 and 12 with the Hat side ofthe column 5, secures each guide 7 against rotation onrthecolumn andrthat the wide spacing of the:tabs,11,and12 best shown in Fig.- 3, offers support of theguide: against Lundesirable tilting.

Theguidesare providedgwith guideblocks 14,. 15 at' theends-` thereof. Said guide blocks act as shelf bearings .and-maybe molded of nylon orV the like, or'fabricated as metalbearing elements.. As shown, the guide blocks have rounded end portions respectively identified as I14.1 and 15.1 and rounded chain guides 14.2 and 15.2. Theblocks 14 and 15 are firmly secured to the web 8 as .by suitable screws 13, or equivalent.

Arcylindrical nut 16,is operatively associatedwith eachcolumn 5 and is loosely conned within the web 8 of the associated guide 7. Conveniently, the association maybeestablished and maintained by having the nut occupy an opening 17 in the web 8; the upper and lower walls of said opening include tabs 17.1 which extend over the upper and lower flanges 16.1 of the nut 16. Means for rotating the nut on the column 5 comprise the sprocket teeth 18 formed on the cylindrical barrel of the nut and an endless chain 19 of the bead chain, variety,v looped twice about the barrel in engagement with the sprocket teeth and passed over the chain guides 14.2 and 15.2. As best shown in Fig. 2, a substantial length of said chain extends parallel to the flange 8, of the` associated guide block. The sprocket teeth and associated chain may be termed the nut actuator, because it is obvious that drawing on the chain 19 in either'horizontal direction will rotate the nut 16 and cause it to traversethe column 5 in accordance with the direction of rotation., It will be obvious also that the travel of the nut will cause Ythe travel of the guide 7 therewith. It'isdesirable that the columns 5, guides 7, and nutsI 16 `be identical to reduce manufacturing and inventory problems. This is possible if the chains 19 are looped about the sprocket teeth in the fashion indicatedvinAFig. 4, whereby the movement of the chains 19 in the same direction will produce the, proper rota-v tion of the associated nuts to insure uniform direction and extent of travel along the columns 5.

The respective guides 7 are for the express purpose of guiding' theisliding movement of an associated shelf in a -planenormal to the columnsS and, as earlier stated, the sliding movement of the shelf Vmay optionally be used t :raise or lower the guides 7 on the associated columns. -v As bestshown in Figs. 2 and 3, the shelf 20 is .a simple adaptation of the conventional refrigerator shelf.l A channel rim 21 extends along each side andv across-the rearvof the shelf. The depth of the channel, assshown in Fig. 3, smoothly receives the portions 14.1 and 15.1 of the guide blocks which therefore provide spaced..bearingsalong which the shelf may be slid. The fronttrim. 22 is applied asV a handle Vor hand-grip portion. A fsuitable stopl 21.1 within eachV side channel limits the 'extent of movement of shelf 20 outwardly of f Means are-provided to engage the chain 19 by an. ele-- ters a cam slot 28 formed in a cam plate 29 extending.

through a guide slot 26.1 in the' shelf element 26. The

Y cam slot comprises two equal branches sloping equally outwardly toward the rear, as viewed in Fig. 2: Ears 30 struck from the plate 29 serve as stops to limit the sliding movement of the cam plate forwardly of the shelf, as viewed in Fig. 2. The cam plate is attached to, or may be integral with, a at slide arm 31 which extends-slidably through leg portion 22.1 of theshelf front 22 asy indicated in Fig.13. Said' slidearm termi# nates in a hook 33 (Fig; 3)bel0wY said'fron't 22. A re' turn spring 34 disposed n an`opening'35 in the arm" 31 and held herein by tongues 36 or the like, biases'the' arm for movement `rearwardly ofthe shelf, asviewed' in Fig. 5.

When thev arm31'and cam plate 29 occupy their nor# mal position, the rods V23will each have beenoperated inwardly ofthe side walls Vof theshelf 20 by the action of the associated cam slot- 28.V Such inward movementdisengages the forked portions 24 from the adjacent beadv chain. In this situation, theshelf 20 Vmay be freely drawn forwardly of, and returned to, the columns 5 without lin any way affecting the position of the shelf guides 7, for it is obvious that such shelf vmovement will be without effect on rthe chains19 which therefore remain` stationary.

However, if it isA desired to vertically adjustl the-shelf: 20 on'the columns 5, the operator grasps the'tngerpiecet 33 of the slide arm 31 and draws the-slide arm'outwardly'f which causes the cam plate 29 to Aextendthe two-`rods 23,v so Vthat the forked ends 24 thereof=engage-thechaih 19,v as .shown in Fig. 2.v When-the rshelf is thereupon drawnrforwardly of the columns 5, the chain 19 `wi1l be caused to move ina fashion rotating the'respectivenuts 16.` This will causefa vertical movement of -the shelfvvv guides andthe assocated-shelf along the columnY 5.-4 The direction and extent of such movement depends of course on the pitch and direction ofthe screwhthread of the@ column 5. If the initial sliding movement` of the rshelf does ,not `produce `the desired extent of vertical adjust# ment., the operator releases'the arm 31,*permittingY-spring' 34 to return the cam. plate to its home positionin which the rods are withdrawn4 from the chains'19, and 'slides the, shelf inwardly of VtheV cabinet.. This'inward move-'-v ment iswithout effectromth'e shelfiguidesf7 because; thel respective chains 19 are stationary. Then by againi dra-wa* ingoutwardly on the arm 31 to cause camfplate 29 .again to extend therods 23, the. chains are.' again' engaged and another slidable outward` displacementofV the shelf .20'A

will produce another vertical displacementof the shelf; Thisv can be repeatedaas'` often as necessary; and of course a relatively. fine verticali guides and associatedshelf.

adjustment may be laccomplishedr by withdrawing? the shelf only partially and then releasing lthe arm 31 so that; the chains 19v become disengaged.` The shelf may beA returned to home position within the cabinet without, of course, further affecting the vertical adjustment thereof.

Itwillbe, obvious thatifthe shelf adjustment is toV be.

made. in the reversedirection, the operator; need only toi withdraw the shelf 20 tofitspermitted limit beforeactuat-g' ing the arm 31 to extend the rods 23, whereupon,Y the return movement of the shelf will rotate the nut inthe opposite direction and effect the Y oppositeY vertical travel of the shelf guides and shelf.

While there has,beendescribedwhatris latp'prersenft conf sidered to be the preferred embodiment 'O f the invention,

it will be understood that various modifications may be made therein, and it is intended to cover in the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A vertically adjustable and laterally slidable shelf structure, comprising fixed, vertical, screw-threaded support means, shelf guide means carried by said vertical support means for slidable vertical travel thereon, said guide means including a nut in screw-threaded relation with said support means to effect vertical travel of said guide means along said support means according to the direction of rotation of said nut, a shelf carried by said guide means for sliding movement thereon in either of two directions normal to said support means, actuator mechanism engaging said nut and disposed between said shelf and said nut for rotating said nut in one or another direction according to the direction of horizontal movement of said shelf, and means carried by said shelf to selectively effect the operation of said actuator mechanism and associated nut in a direction determined solely by the direction of horizontal movement of said shelf relative to said nut.

2. A vertically adjustable and laterally slidable shelf, comprising fixed, vertical, screw-threaded support means, shelf guide means including a nut in screw-threaded relation with said support means to effect vertical travel of said guide means along said support means according to the direction of rotation of said nut, means including an endless chain engaging with said nut for rotating said nut, a shelf structure carried by said guide means for sliding movement normal to said support means, means for mechanically connecting said shelf structure to said nut rotating chain to effect rotation of said nut upon sliding said shelf, said means including a bar member movable into or out of engagement with said chain, and means for optionally moving said bar member into or out of such engagement, whereby the sliding movement of said shelf may or may not be used to rotate said nut, at the decision of the operator.

3. A vertically adjustable and laterally slidablev shelf according to claim 2, in which said chain is of the bead chain variety, and said bar member has a forked end portion which engages said chain between successive beads.

4, A vertically adjustable and laterally slidable shelf structure, comprising fixed, vertical, screw-threaded support means, shelf guide means carried by said support means for slidable vertical travel thereon, said guide means including a nut in screw-threaded relation with said support means to effect vertical travel of said guide means along said support means according to the direction of rotation of said nut, a shelf carried by said guide means for sliding movement normal to said support means, actuating means for rotating said nut in one or another direction according to the direction of sliding movement of said shelf, said actuating means including a toothed portion on said nut, and an endless chain engaging said nut and arranged in said guide means with a portion of said chain extending in proximity to said shelf in the direction of sliding movement of said shelf, a fork member movably mounted on said shelf, manually operable means for moving said fork member into'engagement with said chain to cause movement of said chain relative to said nut upon sliding movement of said shelf, whereby to effect rotation of said nut, and means for establishing a normal position of said fork member out' of engagement with said chain to permit sliding movement of said shelf independent of said nut actuator.

5. A vertically adjustable and laterally slidable shelf structure, comprising horizontally spaced and mutually aligned non-circular vertical columns having a continuous screw thread, a shelf guide for each of said columns, each of said guides including a channel member slidably secured to the associated column in right angular relationship therewith, means including vertically spaced sleeve members extending from said channel member about said standard to maintain said shelf guide against undesirable tilting relative to said column, a nut rotatably mounted within each said channel in screw-threaded association with said column, sprocket means on said nut, a continuous chain in permanent engagement with said sprocket, means to effect rotation of said nut on said column upon movement of said chain relative to said column, means for guiding said chain for movement over a fixed path within said channel member, a shelf slidably carried by and between the respective channel members for sliding movement in either of two directions normal to said column, said directions being parallel to a portion of said chain, means on said shelf to grip said chain to enforce movement thereof during movement of said shelf, and means for optionally actuating said chain gripping means to grip or release said chain.

6. A vertically adjustable and laterally slidable shelf structure, comprising fixed, vertical, support means, shelf guide means carried by said support means for slidable vertical travel thereon, a shelf carried by said guide means for horizontal sliding movement thereon in either of two directions relative to said support means in a plane normal thereto, shelf guide positioning means rotatably held by said guide means in engagement with said support means to raise or lower said guide means according to the direction of rotation of said positioning means, mechanism for rotating said positioning means, and means carried by said shelf and engageable with said mechanism to operate the same for rotating said positioning means in a desired direction solely by a sliding movement of said shelf.

7. A vertically adjustable and laterally slidable shelf structure, comprising fixed, vertical, screw-threaded support means, a nut on said support means, shelf guide means carried by said vertical support means for slidable travel thereon, said shelf guide means rotatably confining said nut whereby rotation of said nut will effect vertical displacement of said shelf guide means according to the direction of rotation of said nut, said shelf guide means, further, having a horizontally disposed guide member, a shelf slidably carried in said guide member for movement toward or away from said support means, nut actuator mechanism including an elongated member carried by said shelf guide means for horizontal movement relative to said nut and means for drivingly connecting said member to said nut, whereby horizontal movement of said actuator member effects rotation of said nut in a direction established by the direction of horizontal movement of said member relative thereto, means mounted on said shelf for mechanically connecting said shelf to said actuator member for movement of said member by horizontal sliding movement of said shelf in said guide member, and means for optionally connecting or disconnecting said shelf-mounted means and said actuator member. i

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,421,012 Koepsell June 27, 1922 1,777,529 Neldner Oct. 7, 1930 2,066,303 Schulz Dec. 29, 1936 2,182,003 Roark Dec. 5, 1939 2,564,831 Butkus Aug. 21, 1951 2,609,267 Hallock Sept. 2, 1952

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