WO2009115277A2 - An improved appliance such as a refrigerator, freezer or combination thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

An appliance (002) comprising a cabinet (511), at least one moveable door panel (121) and at least one respective rear panel (018) being held in a spaced apart relationship defining a storage or other space therebetween, the door panel (121) and rear panel (121) being moveable together and are held apart by means of two spaced apart struts (034, 038) located at a first height on the panels. The rear panel 018 having a series, or an array, of apertures therethrough. The door panel (121) ad the rear panel 018 can have a frame (020) including a pair of substantially parallel L-shaped legs joined at or proximate the top by a cross member (022). A cable management system the appliance (002) is also provided, as is a roller or runner attachment arrangement. The door panel (121) and the rear panel (018) are being movable together, the drawer or carriage (008) including a laterally mounted drawer (014) which is adapted to move laterally of the cabinet. The two doors (121) and (141) which are adjacent to each other can include on an adjacent or opposed side edge (013) a lighting means (131) to provide light onto or into the storage space associated with the drawer (050). A display panel and controls and or a control panel (070). The present invention also provides an appliance (002) having at least one cabinet area (004) and including at least one drawer (008) moving in and out of the cabinet volume and a door (121) associated therewith, the door (121) including on an inboard face thereof an elongated lighting source (040) which extends from an upper region on the inboard face to a lower region thereof.

Description

An improved appliance such as a refrigerator, freezer or combination thereof

Field of the invention

[001] The present invention relates to refrigerators and freezers and other appliances and the manner in which they are constructed and more particularly the invention relates to a sliding drawer frame and a drawer assembly using such a frame.

Background of the invention

[002] Fridges, freezers, and fridge-freezer combinations have been in existence for a long time. From time to time there is need to provide improved product for consumer choice.

[003] There are a number of technical and aesthetic design considerations which must be taken into account in the design of a refrigerator. The refrigerator must be energy efficient, easy to use, and have aesthetic appeal.

[004] Any reference herein to known prior art does not, unless the contrary indication appears, constitute an admission that such prior art is commonly known by those skilled in the art to which the invention relates, at the priority date of this application.

Summary of the invention

[005] The present invention provides an appliance comprising a cabinet, at least one moveable door panel and at least one respective rear panel being held in a spaced apart relationship defining a storage or other space therebetween, the door panel and rear panel being moveable together and are held apart by means of two spaced apart struts located at a first height on the panels.

[006] The appliance can also have at least one strut located at a second height on the panels.

[007] The at least one strut can be located at a central location of the panels with respect to the width of panels.

[008] The two struts are preferably located at or near the lower end of the panels.

[009] The at least one strut can be located at or near an upper end of the panels.

[010] The two struts can be located at the upper end of the panels.

[011] The at least one strut can be located at the lower end of the panels. [012] The at least one strut can be formed from two struts positioned side by side and centrally located with respect to the width of the panels.

[013] The struts can be parts of a telescoping or drawer type runner system.

[014] The telescoping or drawer type runner system can include a soft close mechanism.

[015] The door panel and rear panel can be moveable by motorised means.

[016] The rear panel can have a series, or an array, of apertures therethrough.

[017] The apertures can perform one or more of the following functions: flow through of air or gases to decrease a vacuum effect when the door panels are being moved; a peg board type arrangement to allow shelves which extend across the storage space to be connected to the rear panel; allow air flow into and out of the storage space for cooling or heating purposes.

[018] The two struts or rear panel and door panel can have laterally extending runners to allow a drawer to move laterally of the cabinet.

[019] The drawer can be moved to both the left and right sides of the panels.

[020] The drawer and or associated runners can include a means for the drawer to come to rest within the width of the door panel.

[021] The door panel can receive power from a cabinet closed by the door panel.

[022] The door panel can receive power from the cabinet by means of induction pick ups in or on the door panel and induction coils in the cabinet.

[023] The door panel can receive power from the cabinet by means of cables which move into and out of the cabinet by a cable stacker

[024] An edge of the door panel can include a display and controls and or a control panel to operate or control the conditions in the storage space associated with the door panel or a storage space located near to the door panel.

[025] The door panel can include a battery or other electrical energy storage means to power controls and or the panel when the door panel is moved from a closed to an open condition.

[026] The controls and or the control panel and or the door panel communicates with the cabinet associated with the door panel, by means of a wireless communication means.

[027] The appliance can have a plurality of door panels. [028] Preferably the appliance has two doors, wherein at least one of the two doors is constructed as described above.

[029] Both doors can have the same construction.

[030] An interlock can operate with respect to the doors, whereby one of the doors will not be able to be moved, or can only be partially moveable, from a closed to an open condition while the other of the doors is in an open condition.

[031] The doors can be located adjacent to each other in a side by side relationship.

[032] The doors can include on their adjacent or opposed side edges lighting means to provide light onto or into the storage space associated with the adjacent door.

[033] An upper or side edge of a door includes controls and or a control panel to operate or control the conditions in the storage space associated with the respective door or the other door.

[034] The doors can be located one above the other.

[035] The upper door includes on its lower edge lighting means to provide light onto or into the storage space associated with the lower door.

[036] The upper edge of the lower door includes controls and or a control panel to operate or control the conditions in the storage space associated with the upper door.

[037] The present invention also provides an appliance comprising a cabinet and at least one moveable door panel and a respective rear panel being held in a spaced apart relationship defining a storage space therebetween and moveable together, the door panel and rear panel being held apart by means of struts, the rear panel having a series, or an array, of apertures therethrough.

[038] The apertures can perform one or more of the following functions: flow through of air or gases to decrease a vacuum effect when the door panels are being moved; a peg board type arrangement to allow shelves which extend across the storage space to be connected to the rear panel; allow air flow into and out of the storage space for cooling or heating purposes.

[039] The present invention also provides a frame for an appliance compartment, the frame including a pair of substantially parallel L-shaped legs joined at or proximate the top by a cross member.

[040] The frame can include roller, slider, or extension slide attachment brackets attached to the lower portion of each L-shaped legs. [041] The frame can include attachment plates at the distal ends of the lower portions of the L-shaped legs.

[042] The frame can include a brace attached to the cross member and extending parallel to the lower portions of the L-shaped legs.

[043] The brace can have a channel cross section adapted to support a cable.

[044] The invention also provides a sliding drawer arrangement for an appliance, the arrangement including a frame as described above, and a pair of rollers, slides, or extension slides attached to the roller, slide or extension slide attachment brackets.

[045] The sliding drawer arrangement can include a rear panel within the space defined by the pair of substantially parallel upright segments of the L-shaped legs and the cross member, and a door, the attachment plates the frame being attached to the door by attachment means.

[046] The sliding drawer arrangement can include a brace as claimed in claim 4 attached between the frame and the door.

[047] The sliding drawer arrangement as can include a drawer having a pair of lateral skirts forming seating channels, the seating channels being adapted to fit over the lower portions of the L-shaped legs.

[048] The lateral skirts can at least partially or wholly conceal the rollers.

[049] The present invention also provides a cable management system for an appliance having a cabinet and a sliding drawer or carriage arrangement, wherein the sliding drawer or carriage arrangement has a travel limiter to limit the distance the drawer or carriage arrangement can travel, the cable management system including a cable having a cable with a first segment which is freely suspended between the drawer or carriage arrangement and the cabinet, the first segment of cable being of sufficient length to accommodate the travel of the drawer or carriage arrangement,

[050] The cable management system can include a cable fold bias means adapted to cause at least a segment of the cable to fold in a preferred manner.

[051] The cable fold bias means can include a weight connected to the first segment of cable to cause the first segment of cable to fold in a preferred manner.

[052] The cable fold bias means can include a memory material. [053] The memory element can include one or more of a preformed resiliently deformable metal wire, a preformed resiliently deformable plastic strand, a preformed resiliently deformable cable sleeve.

[054] The sliding drawer or carriage arrangement can include a door and a cable duct or channel extending from the door for the length of the drawer or carriage arrangement, with a second segment of the cable being located in the duct or channel.

[055] The inner end of the duct or channel can be radiused to a curve having a radius greater than a minimum bending radius of the cable.

[056] The duct or channel can serves a structural function with respect to the structural integrity of the drawer or carriage arrangement.

[057] The duct or channel can be located at an uppermost location on the drawer.

[058] The duct or channel can located between shelves in the appliance, and or is formed as part of one of the shelves.

[059] The cable management system as described above can be adapted for use in a refrigerator.

[060] An appliance comprising a cabinet and at least one moveable door panel and a respective rear panel being held in a spaced apart relationship defining a storage space therebetween and moveable together, the door panel and rear panel being held apart by means of struts, the rear panel having a series, or an array, of apertures therethrough, the apertures performing one or more of the following functions: flow through of air or gases to decrease a vacuum effect when the door panels are being moved; apertures receive peg or protrusions on a shelf to allow the shelf which extend across the storage space to be connected to the rear panel; allow air flow into and out of the storage space for cooling or heating purposes.

[061] The present invention also provides a roller or runner attachment arrangement including a projecting bracket adapted to provide a connection for an inner sliding member of a roller or runner arrangement having at least two nesting, relatively slidable members with the inner member being connected to a first object, and an outer sliding member connected to a second object, the outer sliding member or the second object substantially covering the inner sliding member on three sides.

[062] The roller arrangement can include an inner sliding member, an intermediate sliding member, and an outer sliding member, and wherein the outer sliding member or the second object substantially covers the intermediate member on three sides. [063] The roller or runner attachment arrangement can include a bracket forming a roller receiving channel adjacent to a wall, and wherein the inner sliding member is connected to the inner limb of the bracket.

[064] The roller or runner attachment arrangement can include a sliding drawer or carriage arrangement having a projecting inverted channel adapted to receive a roller or runner, and wherein the outer sliding member of the roller or runner arrangement is attached to the outer wall of the inverted channel.

[065] The roller or runner attachment arrangement can include a drawer having a skirt arrangement along two opposite sides and adapted to fit over corresponding inverted projecting channels, the skirt being adapted to cover at least part of the outer roller or runner.

[066] The present invention also provides an appliance comprising a cabinet and at least one carriage or drawer which moves into and out of cabinet in a first direction, the at least one carriage or drawer including a movable door panel and a rear panel being held a spaced apart relationship defining a storage or other space therebetween, the door panel and the rear panel being movable together, the drawer or carriage including a laterally mounted drawer which is adapted to move laterally of the cabinet once the first mentioned drawer or carriage has moved a predetermined distance out of the cabinet.

[067] The drawer is able to move to either the left and or right hand directions of the cabinet.

[068] The laterally mounted drawer and or associated runners includes a means for the drawer to centre within the width of the door panel.

[069] The runners associated with the laterally sliding drawer extend from, or are connected to, or form part of a side of a drawer construction located above the laterally sliding drawer.

[070] The carriage or first mentioned drawer includes laterally mounted slides in a lower region thereof to receive or mount the laterally sliding drawer.

[071] The drawer or carriage can include an open box-like formation, which forms the surfaces of a drawer or storage area, the open box-like formation being removable from the drawer or carriage.

[072] The present invention also provides an appliance having one or two cabinet areas and a slideable drawer associated with at least one of the cabinet areas, the appliance including two or more doors, wherein the doors are located so that edges of at least two of the doors are adjacent to each other, at least one of the two doors which are adjacent to each other includes on an adjacent or opposed side edge to the slideable drawer, a lighting means to provide light onto or into the storage space associated with the drawer.

[073] The at least two of the doors can located one above the other.

[074] The at least two of the doors can be located side by side.

[075] The upper door can include on its lower edge lighting means to provide light onto or into the storage space associated with the lower door.

[076] The present invention further provides an appliance having one or two cabinet areas and including two or more doors to close off openings associated with the cabinet areas, wherein the doors are located so that edges of at least two of the doors are adjacent to each other, the doors being characterized by there being along at least one adjacent edge of the doors a display panel and controls and or a control panel to operate or control the conditions in the storage space associated with the respective door or the other door.

[077] The upper or side edge of a door can include the display panel and controls and or a control panel.

[078] The upper edge of a lower door can include the display panel and controls and or a control panel.

[079] The present invention further provides an appliance having at least one cabinet area and including at least one drawer moving in and out of the cabinet volume and a door associated therewith, the door including on an inboard face thereof an elongated lighting source which extends from an upper region on the inboard face to a lower region thereof.

[080] The elongated lighting source can be selected from one or a combination of one or more of the following: incandescent lamps, a series of incandescent globes; a fluorescent tube, a CCFL tube; a compact fluorescent tube; an LED; an LED strip or strips.

[081 ] The drawer can include two or more shelving units carried thereon.

[082] The lighting source can extend from a location above the uppermost of the shelving units to a location above or below the lowermost shelving unit.

Brief description of the drawings

[083] An embodiment or embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: [084] Figure 1 is a perspective view of an appliance being a refrigerator with a bottom mount freezer;

[085] Figure 2 is an upper perspective view of the appliance of Figure 1;

[086] Figure 3 is a perspective view similar to that Figure 2 showing a vegetable or crisper drawer sliding laterally of the door panels;

[087] Figure 4 is a perspective view similar to that of Figure 3 with the draw slid to the side opposite to that of Figure 3;

[088] Figure 5 is a front view of the appliance of Figures 1 to 4 with the upper and lower door panels removed;

[089] Figure 6 is a section through the appliance of Figure 5;

[090] Figure 7 is an upper perspective view of a shelf and drawer or carriage arrangement (with front or door panel removed) for use with the appliance of Figures 1 to 6;

[091] Figure 8 is a lower perspective view of the apparatus of Figure 7;

[092] Figure 9 is a lower rear perspective of the shelf and drawer arrangement of Figure

7(with rear panel removed showing front or door panel engagement);

[093] Figure 10 illustrates a set of door panels behind which is mounted the fridge/freezer of previous Figures.

[094] Figure 11 illustrates the appliance of previous Figures with both the freezer and the fridge doors in the open condition;

[095] Figure 12 is front view similar to that Figure 6 showing an embodiment with two upper struts;

[096] Figure 13 illustrates a bottom mount freezer and refrigerator with the doors removed;

[097] Figure 14 illustrates the refrigerator of Figure 13 with a drawer or carriage arrangement in the open state;

[098] Figure 15 illustrates an exploded view of the drawer or carriage arrangement of

Figure 13;

[099] Figure 16 is an illustration of the drawer of Figure 15 in an assembled state;

[0100] Figure 17 illustrates a top view of a roller suitable for use with the drawer arrangement of Figures 14 & 15; [0101] Figure 18 is an end view of the roller arrangement of Figure 17;

[0102] Figure 19 is a side view of the roller arrangement of Figure 17;

[0103] Figure 20 is a front view of the refrigerator drawer or carriage assembly;

[0104] Figure 21 illustrates detail of the roller attachment arrangement of the drawer or carriage assembly of Figure 20;

[0105] Figure 22 is an exploded partial view of the roller arrangement;

[0106] Figure 23 is a first perspective illustration of a frame for a sliding drawer or carriage arrangement ;

[0107] Figure 24 is a second perspective illustration of a frame for a sliding drawer or carriage arrangement;

[0108] Figure 25 is a rear perspective illustration of the sliding drawer or carriage arrangement of Figure 16.

[0109] Figure 26 illustrates some of the components of Figure 15 in an assembled condition including a laterally sliding crisper drawer;

[0110] Figure 27 shows the sub assembly of Figure 26 in a front perspective view,

[0111] Figure 28 illustrates the assembly of Figures 26 and 27 with the crisper or lateral sliding drawer in a centrally located position;

[0112] Figure 29 illustrates an underneath perspective view of the drawer sub assembly with the drawer moved to one side.

[01 13] Figure 30 illustrates a side view of a runner used with the sub assembly of Figures

26 and 27;

[0114] Figure 31 illustrates a front view of the runner of Figure 30 showing the moving portion extended to the left and right hand sides,

[0115] Figure 32 illustrates a plan view of the runner of Figure 30 showing the moving portion extended to the left and right hand sides;

[0116] Figure 33 illustrates a plan view showing the runner in retracted condition;

[0117] Figure 34 illustrates an exploded perspective of the drawer subassembly of Figure

15; [0118] Figure 35, located on drawing sheet 15, is a schematic section view of the refrigerator of Figure 1 ;

[0119] Figure 36 is an upper perspective view of the appliance of Figure 1 with the lower door open and upper door closed;

[0120] Figure 37 is a lower perspective view of the appliance of Figure 36;

[0121] Figure 38, located on drawing sheet 1 1, is view similar to that of Figure 12 illustrating the absence of an upper strut or struts;

[0122] Figure 39 illustrates a lower perspective view of a shelf edge and its engagement with an inboard face of an appliance door; and

[0123] Figure 40 illustrates a perspective view of a shelf arrangement.

[0124] The numbering convention used in Figures 1 to 35 of the drawings and the associated description is that the digits in front of the full stop or period or decimal point indicate the drawing number, and the digits after the full stop or period or decimal point are the element reference numbers. Where possible, the same element reference number is used in different drawings to indicate corresponding elements.

Detailed description of the embodiment or embodiments

[0125] Illustrated in Figure 1 is an appliance 1.002 with a refrigerator cabinet 1.004 in the upper portion closed by a door panel 1.121, and a freezer cabinet 1.006 in the lower portion closed by a door panel 1.141.

[0126] The door panel 1.121 and a rear panel 1.018 form a drawer or carriage unit 1.008 defining a space between them, with the door panel 1.121 and rear panel 1.018 moving together and being held in a spaced apart relationship, by means of two lower struts 1.034 and 1.038 (see Figures 2 and 3) and an upper strut 1.022.

[0127] The struts 1.034, 1.038 and 1.022 are of any appropriate shape or cross section, such as generally C-shape or L-shape in cross section, and form rails which are part of a sliding drawer mechanism or a telescoping mechanism, which carries and transmits the weight forces of the carriage unit 1.008 and all that it contains, to the refrigerator cabinet 1.51 1.

[0128] The lower struts 1.034 and 1.038 are located at a height above the lower most edge 1.013 of the door panel 1.121, so as to accommodate the height of a crisper or vegetable bin or drawer 1.014 both within the refrigerator cabinet and above the bottom edge 1.013 of the door 1.121. [0129] The upper strut 1.022 is located near the centre of the door panel 1.121 at an upper edge thereof. While one strut 1.022 is used, two struts 1.022 and 1.023 which form a composite strut can replace the single strut 1.022, as illustrated in Figure 12 as described below.

[0130] The rear panel 1.018 has a series of apertures or holes 1.081, which in this instance are through holes, each of an obround shape, while the inboard facing side of the door panel 1.121 as illustrated in Figure 9, has respective or corresponding locking formations 9.721 in the shape of obround projections. By these features at least one or a multiple of shelves 1.326, 1.328 and 1.330, can be suspended between the rear panel 1.018 and inboard face of the door panel 1.121. As can be seen from Figures 7, 8 and 9 the shelf 7.330 is the full width of the carriage unit 7.008 formed by the door panel 1.121 and rear panel 1.018, as is shelf 7.328, whereas shelf 7.326 is approximately half the width of the carriage unit 7.008.

[0131] The array or series of apertures or holes 1.081 and corresponding locking formations 9.721 on the inboard face of the door panel 9.121 allow the removable/repositionable shelves to be installed in a number of different positions on the carriage unit 9.008, and at a variety of heights or width locations when a partial width shelf unit is used, or at a selection of heights when a full width shelf unit is used.

[0132] If desired or to comply with regulations in various countries, repositionable shelving as described above can be replaced with secured or fixed shelving. The fixing can be to prevent movement vertically say with respect to the full width shelves, whereas the half shelves can be mounted so as to slide from side to side. In some countries safety regulations require that the shelves can only be repositionable or removable if the internal free spaces are less than 6OL.

[0133] As illustrated in Figures 7, 8, 9, 39 and 40, the shelves have rearwardly extending obround projections 9.181 which fit into the apertures or holes 8.081, while at the front edges thereof the shelves have half obround recesses 8.067, 39.067 which receive the obround projections 9.721, 39.721 to mount a shelf between rear panel 1.018 and front door panel 9.121.

[0134] The shelf 9.324 has its base secured to the bases of the struts 9.034 and 9.038, and is not repositionable like the other shelves 9.326, 9.328 and 9.330, relative to the rear panel 18.

[0135] However, as can be seen from Figure 5, the use of the half or fraction width shelf

5.326 allows the shelf 5.324 to be used to carry or hold bottles in a standing or vertical orientation, which will extend past the height of shelf 5.326, and this allows sufficient space above the bottles to assist in their removal from the carriage unit. [0136] The shelves 7.326, 7.328 and 7.330, as illustrated in Figure 7 have wire side rims

7.360 and 7.366 (see also 40.360 and 40.366), while some of the shelves such as shelf 7.328 and shelf 7.326, have extending between their wire side rims or surrounds, sliding stops 7.329 and 7.325 respectively. These stops are slidably positionable at either intermittent or continuous locations along the wires 7.360 and 7.366, so that bottles can be prevented from sliding when the carriage unit 7.008 is moved and then brought to a stop.

[0137] The holes 7.081, once they receive a horizontally extending spigot 8.181 on the shelf unit (see Figure 6), by means of the rim of the holes 7.081 will vertically and horizontally bear the load from the shelf and its contents, and prevent any movement in either vertical direction or either horizontal direction. However, the holes 7.081 will allow rotation about a horizontal axis of the spigot 8.181 and shelf to allow insertion and removal of the spigot 8.181.

[0138] Whereas the locking formations on the inboard face of the door panel 9.121 which will be received in downwardly directed recesses 8.067 (see Figures 7, 8 and 9) while also bearing the load in a vertically downward direction and in a horizontal direction, will allow movement vertically upward for shelf removal or repositioning purposes.

[0139] The holes 1.081 in the rear panel 1.018 have several purposes. A first is that when a spigot 8.181 is not located therein, if they are through holes, they allow the flow through of air or gases to decrease a vacuum effect that would otherwise be produced when carriage unit 1.008 is being moved out of the refrigerator cabinet or a piston effect when the carriage unit 1.008 is being moved into the refrigerator cabinet.

[0140] A second function is the one mentioned earlier which is to provide a peg board type arrangement to allow the shelves to be supported and located by the rear panel 1.018. For this second function through holes can be used, but if desired and other functions are not required, then blind holes or recesses can be used.

[0141] The third function, if they are through holes, is to allow air flow into and out of the space between the rear panel 1.018 and door panel 1.121 space for cooling purposes (or heating purposes if the appliance were an oven or cooking appliance).

[0142] Mounted to the base of rear panel 1.018 and on the inboard face of the door panel

1.121, are lateral rails or runners 1.333 at the rear panel 1.018 and a corresponding rail or runner 1.333 at the rear face of the door panel 1.121. These runners allow the lateral slide mounting of the crisper or drawer 1.014, so that as can be seen in Figure 3, the drawer 3.014 can be slid laterally of the refrigerator cabinet 3.51 1 when the carriage unit 3.008 has been slid out therefrom a sufficient distance. The drawer 3.014 can laterally slide so as to have clear access to at least half the width of the drawer 3.014, and is then prevented by locks or detents to limit any further lateral sliding or movement.

[0143] As can be seen from Figures 3 and 4, the drawer 4.014 is able to be moved to the right hand side and the left hand side of the refrigerator cabinet 4.511, an equal amount of distance or width of the drawer 4.014. While the embodiment of Figures 1 to 5 only has the drawer 1.014 moving so as to clear approx half the width of the drawer 1.014, in other embodiments this can be increased to approximately three quarters or seven eighths of the width of the drawer 1.014, with appropriate support and roller arrangements.

[0144] The rails or runners 1.333 can provide a centering mechanism for the drawer

1.014 movement, whereby the drawer 1.014 readily finds the central location so that it is within the confines of the width of the refrigerator cabinet opening 5.117, so as to allow the retraction of the carriage unit 1.008 back into the refrigerator cabinet.

[0145] As illustrated in Figures 5 and 6 the appliance 5.002 has a bottom mount freezer cabinet 5.006 which is closed by the door panel 6.141, which is mounted on telescoping struts or runners 5.052 and 5.051. The freezer drawer 5.050 is attached to the struts 5.052 and 5.051 so that as the door panel 5.141 is pulled out the drawer 5.050 also is moved out of the freezer cabinet 5.006. However a second freezer drawer 5.054 is located above the drawer 5.050, and slides independently of the drawer 5.050.

[0146] Above the drawer 5.054 is an ice making unit 5.056, with a twist handle to manually remove the ice from the ice moulds, while a smaller quick chill drawer 5.058 is also provided for the speedy cooling of drink cans or bottles placed in the drawer 5.058.

[0147] As can be best seen in Figure 36 , the top edge of the door panel 36.141 includes a control panel 36.070 having control buttons and one or more LCD panels to display settings conditions or changes for the purpose of controlling conditions in the refrigerator and or the freezer cabinets. The door panel 36.141 can receive power from the freezer cabinet for powering the controls and LCD panels and communicating control inputs to the appropriate equipment in the manner as described below with respect to Figure 35.

[0148] Alternatively to the method illustrated and described with respect to Figure 35, the door panel 36.141 can have wires on a biased spool connecting the cabinet 36.51 1 to the door panel 36.141, which wires can carry current or signals to switch on or off motors and or compressors, or open or close vents etc. [0149] Alternatively the door panel 36.141 can include, near one or more of its edges, induction pick ups, so that when the door 36.141 is closed or adjacent the cabinet 36.511 which has coils imbedded therein, the induction pick ups will have generated in them an EMF to provide a current to power the controls and or control panels and LCD panels 36.070. In such an arrangement a battery can be provided in the door 36.141 so that the controls and LCD panels will continue to operate when the door 36.141 is in the open condition. The battery can supply current in the open condition to a wireless communication system so that when the door 36.141 is in the open or the closed condition, a control signal is transmitted to the control the appropriate motor or system.

[0150] As another alternative, the door panel 36.141 and freezer cabinet can have breakable contacts and in conjunction with a battery located in the door panel 36.141, so that when the door 36.141 is closed the contacts are closed, and the controls are signalling to the motors and systems etc, and the battery is being charged. When the door panel 36.141 is open, that is moved away from the freezer cabinet, the contacts are open, and the battery then supplies power to the control panels and LCD, so that instructions or changes to the conditions in the freezer or refrigerator cabinet can be input, which changes will not be acted upon until the door 36.141 is again moved to the closed condition, and the control circuit is being powered from the cabinet.

[0151] It will be seen from Figure 36 that the controls and LCD display panels 36.070 are on the top edge of the door panel 36.141. However they could likewise be mounted on a side edge or on the front face of the door panels.

[0152] As illustrated in Figures 10 and 11, the appliance 11.002 is shown with both door panels 11.121 and 11.141 being open whereas in Figure 10 both door panels 10.121 and 10.141 are closed. It will be noticed that the door 11.141 is not open to the same extent as the door 11.121. This can be achieved by means of an interlock system whereby the opening of door 11.121 prevents door 11.141 being opened to a predetermined amount to prevent injury to a user. If desired such an interlock can be made to prevent the lower door from opening at all when the upper door is open, and vica versa.

[0153] Illustrated in Figures 9 and 37 it can be seen that the lower edge 9.013, 37.013 of the upper door panel 9.121, 37.121 includes a light source 9.131, 37.131 so as to illuminate the contents of the lower cabinet or drawer 9.141, 37.141 when the lower door panel 9.141, 37.141 is withdrawn from the cabinet. In this instance it is desirable that an interlock prevent the lower door 37.141 from opening if the upper door is already open, and vica versa to ensure that the contents of the lower cabinet is illuminated.

[0154] In a side by side arrangement of door panels 10.121 and 10.141, the side edges of the door panels can house light sources similar to lights 9.131, and can be used to illuminate the adjacent cabinet's contents, when the adjacent door panel is opened.

[0155] In the above description and referred to drawings the carriage 1.008 is provided with a central strut and two lower spaced struts. However, it will be understood that the lower door 1.141 can be constructed in the same manner, or in the case of a top mounted freezer, the lower cabinet can include this construction.

[0156] While the above described embodiment has the two spaced apart struts located at the bottom of the carriage unit, and the centrally located strut or struts at the top, if desired this could be reversed whereby the two spaced struts are located at the top with a single or dual centrally located struts located at the bottom.

[0157] The above described embodiment is readily adapted to the carriage unit being motorized for moving the carriage unit into and out of the refrigerator cabinet.

[0158] An appliance such as that described above can contain considerable mass in the storage spaces defined between the rear panel 1.018 and door panel 1.121. As such a mounting plinth 1.161 may need to be heavily weighted to prevent the appliance 10 from tipping over when the carriage unit is in the open condition and a free standing unit is envisaged. In this respect the use of an interlock system preventing more than one door at a time being opened, will help to keep the cabinet 1.51 1 in equilibrium.

[0159] Alternatively the cabinet 1.51 1 can be secured to adjacent walls or cabinets in which the appliance is to be located, by currently known and available techniques and brackets.

[0160] Illustrated in Figures 12 and 38 are embodiments which have some differences to that described above.

[0161] The carriage of Figure 12 has a composite central upper strut made from two vertically oriented struts 22 and 23, whereas the carriage 38.008 of Figure 38 has no upper strut or struts as the carriage frame door and rear panels together with the shelves has sufficient structural rigidity. In such an arrangement the interlocking of the shelves with the rear panel 1.018 and door panel 1.121, will mean that the shelves function in a structural manner unlike the embodiments described above. [0162] The drawer 1.014 is illustrated as not being of full depth. That is, the rearward most or back side of drawer 1.014 will clear the cabinet edge 5.117, before the carriage 1.008 is fully extended out of the fridge cabinet 1.004. As can be seen from Figure 1 1, this feature assists when installed in a wall arrangement, to ensure that the drawer 11.014 does not hit cabinet doors (which may include timber panels mounted thereto) located at either side of the carriage 11.008. Clearly, if desired the rearward most or back side of drawer 1.014 can be located further away from the door 1.121, but this is a design compromise which may need to be made on a case by case basis. If desired the shelves 1.324, 1.326, 1.328 and 1.330 illustrated in Figure 1 can have a series of holes or apertures in their glass panels or shelf surface so as to enable cold air to flow through from the top of the refrigerator cabinet. If desired the glass bases of the shelving units can be replaced by wire shelving panels.

[0163] If shelves having wire construction are used, wire spigots which form a recess or space between them can be included to allow the wire spigots to either be inserted into vertically oriented apertures on the panel 1.018 or door 1.121, or the space between such spigots can receive a rearwardly projecting spigot like spigot 9.721 on the rear face of door panel 9.121.

[0164] Preferably as illustrated in Figure 9, the rear face of door panel 9.121 can include rearwardly directed light panels 9.040 which have LEDs or incandescent globes or fluorescent tubes located in or behind them. The light panels 9.040 are oriented so that they extend in a vertical direction. By this means the one lighting panel will illuminate shelves at different heights in the refrigerator, particularly in low ambient light conditions, whereas in high ambient light conditions the opening of the main refrigerator drawer will expose the shelves to a large degree of ambient lighting. In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 9, the lighting panels 9.040 start below the upper shelf location and extend downwardly past the next two shelves.

[0165] In the embodiment of Figures 1 to 12, the struts 2.034 and 2.038 are structural functional and aesthetic in their formation. Once assembled the shelf 1.324 need not be readily removable, as it is part of the structural frame work of the carriage 1.008. This is in contrast to the embodiments depicted and described with respect to Figures 13 to 34, where the struts 038 and 034 are formed as part of the chassis or frame 020 of the carriage 008 with the shelf 324 being removable and not performing a structural role, as will be evident from the following description.

[0166] Figure 13 illustrates another embodiment of a refrigerator 13.002 having a refrigerator compartment 13.004, and a freezer compartment 13.006. A slidable drawer or carriage assembly is indicated generally at 13.008. [0167] Figure 14 illustrates the arrangement of Figure 13 with the drawer or carriage assembly 14.008 in the open state. The drawer assembly includes a frame 14.020, a back wall or panel 14.018, a crisper drawer 14.014, and a refrigeration or drinks drawer 14.324 which can be provided with bottle tray 14.016. The crisper drawer 14.014 can be adapted to slide transversely relative to the main drawer arrangement, with a pair of parallel roller arrangements such as 14.333 being provided for this purpose, the rear parallel roller not being visible in this illustration, in a manner similar to that described above.

[0168] Cooled air is supplied to the space of the carriage 14.008 from behind the rear wall panel 14.018 by a refrigeration unit (not shown). The rear wall 14.018 is provided with both vents for proper circulation of the cooled air and with attachment apertures for the attachment of additional trays as illustrated in more detail in Figures 15 & 16. The attachment apertures can also function to deliver cooled air to the refrigeration compartment.

[0169] Figure 15 is an exploded view of a sliding drawer arrangement

[0170] The door 15.121 includes lights 15.040, such as fluorescent tubes or other suitable lights such as LED strips arranged to deliver light to the different sections of the refrigeration compartment, eg, above and below the shelves 15.324, 15.326, in a rearward projecting direction.

[0171] The frame 15.020 can be formed from a fabrication of individual members welded or joined together, but is preferably formed from a single elongate member. However, the frame connection between the bottom and top brackets can be formed by other suitable means, such as a tubular section or formed from sheet metal. The frame 15.020 is bent or shaped to provide a pair of parallel generally L-shaped segments joined at the top. An upper brace 15.022 can also be provided to provide physical stability and rigidity for the drawer arrangement 15.008. This can also serve as an electrical cable duct to deliver electric power and/or electronic signals to and from the door panel 15.121. An attachment point 15.124 is provided in the door to which the brace attaches. The attachment point 15.124 can also have provision for electrical connections or wires to pass through. The frame is described in more detail with reference to Figures 23 & 24.

[0172] The rear panel 15.018 also includes an array of attachment apertures 15.081 to enable the attachment of one or more full or partial trays such as 15.326. Additional attachment apertures or formations 15.721 can also be provided on the inner skin of the door for securing such trays. The trays can be made of any suitable material, such as glass, plastic, wire, or a combination of these. The trays are provided with rearwardly projecting obround attachment lugs 15.181.

[0173] The back wall panel 15.018 includes upper vent apertures 15.024, and lower vent apertures 15.026 to permit circulation of cooled air from the cooling system (not shown). The positioning of the vents 15.024, 15.026 at the top and bottom respectively of rear panel 15.018 ensures that cooling can be provided above and below the tray 15.326. The rear panel 15.018 can be either separate or formed integrally with components of the frame.

[0174] The bases or struts 15.034 and 15.038 of the L-shaped sides of the frame 15.020 provide support for the drinks drawer or shelf 15.324. The drawer 15.324 has a pair of side skirts or left and right sides 15.350, 15.352 projecting from either side of the drawer to provide an attachment channel so the drawer can be fitted to and or over the base segments or struts 15.034 and 15.038 of the L-shaped sides of frame 15.020.

[0175] A further pair of depending skirts 15.042, 15.044 can be provided at the lower portion of drawer 15.324 for attachment of the crisper drawer 14.014 slide arrangement 14.333. The crisper drawer slides 14.333 can be adapted to permit the crisper drawer 14.014 to slide transversely relative to the sliding direction of the drawer assembly 15.008.

[0176] The rear wall of the drawer 15.324 can have a flange 15.046 adapted to overlap the lower edge 15.048 of the rear wall panel 15.018 when assembled.

[0177] Figure 16 is an illustration of a drawer or carriage arrangement similar to that of

Figure 15 in the assembled state. As shown, the intermediate shelf 16.326 is located between the vents 16.024 and 16.026. Thus, even though tray 16.326 substantially occludes the space above it from the space below it, the vent arrangement ensures access to the cooled air in both regions from cool air delivery ducts mounted behind the drawer in the cabinet.

[0178] Figure 17 is a schematic illustration of an off-the shelf telescoping roller arrangement which can be used with the drawer or carriage 15.008 described above. The roller includes three members adapted for relative sliding, being an outer member 17.754, an intermediate member 17.756, and an inner member 17.758. Such an arrangement can include bearings or rollers and travel limiters located to ensure that there is adequate overlap between the sliding arms to enable the arrangement to carry a predetermined design load.

[0179] The outer member 17.754 includes an attachment or alignment projection 17.764.

[0180] Figure 18 is an end view of the roller arrangement of Figure 17. The roller includes outer member, 18.754, intermediate sliding member 18.756, and inner sliding member 18.758. Bearings 18.760 and 18.762 are provided between the intermediate member 18.756 and the outer and inner members respectively.

[0181] As shown in Figure 19, the outer member 19.754 projects above the intermediate member 19.756, and the inner member 19.758 projects below the intermediate member 19.756. This arrangement ensures that there is a clearance between the intermediate member 19.756 and the surfaces to which the outer and inner members are attached.

[0182] Figure 20 is an illustrative front view of the drawer or carriage 20.008 arrangement showing the attachment of the roller arrangement. A three part roller arrangement 20.766 is attached to the inner skin 20.773 of the cabinet and to the sliding drawer or carriage 20.008. The manner of this attachment has been designed to provide a concealed movement, so that the user is not exposed to the mechanical sliding movement of the roller arrangement and this makes cleaning easier and protects the roller arrangement from falling food and drink. The roller arrangement can be an off-the-shelf component having three sliding members, an outer member, an intermediate member, and an inner member, adapted to carry the weight of the refrigerator drawer arrangement and to operate at reduced temperatures experienced in a refrigerator.

[0183] Figure 21 shows a detailed exploded view of the attachment of the roller to the cabinet and drawer.

[0184] The side wall of the cabinet inner liner or skin 21.773 includes an elongated indentation 21.780 extending horizontally to coincide with the roller arrangement 20.766. A channel shaped bracket 21.770 is attached to the cabinet wall on the insulating cavity 21.776 side of the indentation 21.780 by screws such as 21.778 before foam insulation is installed or foamed into place. The bracket 21.770 can be provided with projecting flanges to provide a grip between the bracket and the installed insulation so the bracket can be held in place by the insulation after assembly. The insulation can be blown plastics material.

[0185] Once the insulation is installed, the screws can be removed and an elongated S- shaped bracket 21.772 being a pair of parallel limbs joined by a transverse segment, hereafter referred to as an S-shaped bracket, installed using the opposite side of the channel bracket 21.770 again using screws such as 21.778 or other appropriate means, to hold the S-shaped bracket 21.772 to the reinforcing channel 21.770.

[0186] The inner sliding member 21.758 of the roller arrangement is attached to the S- shaped bracket 21.772, for example, by screws 21.777. Thus the outer sliding member 21.758 is able to be attached to the struts or bases 23.034, 23.038. [0187] The outer member 21.754 is attached to the struts 1.034, 1.038 of the frame of the sliding drawer or carriage 20.008 arrangement, for example via the attachment or alignment projection 19.764 and a cooperating attachment projection (not shown) on the frame or any appropriate means. The frame 20.020, 22.020 includes an inverted L-shaped projecting bracket 21.784, 22.784, shown in dashed line in Figure 21, to which the outer sliding member 21.754 can be attached. In addition the projection 21.782 of the sliding drawer arrangement can rest on the upper side of the bracket 21.784. The drawer skirt 21.052 can extend below the lower edge of the bracket 21.784 and occlude or conceal at least part of the outer surface of the outer sliding member 21.754 when viewed from an angle which is above or to the sides, and to a lesser extent below, the roller or runner arrangement. When the drawer 20.324 is placed over the frame, the roller arrangement is at least partially concealed by the skirt 21.052 and there is no relative movement between the outer sliding member 21.754 and the drawer 20.324 when the drawer 20.324 is being opened or closed.

[0188] Figure 22 is a schematic exploded perspective illustration of the depth dimension of the roller attachment arrangement of Figure 21. The S-shaped bracket 22.772 forms a channel against the cabinet wall 22.773 which is adapted to receive the roller 22.766.

[0189] The outer sliding member 22.754 of the roller is attached to the S-shaped bracket

22.772 as shown in Figure 21. The S-shaped bracket is attached to channel member 22.770 through the cabinet wall 22.783 and provides strengthening to support the load of the refrigerator drawer arrangement.

[0190] The outer slide member 22.754 presents an outer face 22.790 which is stationary relative to the frame 22.020 and drawer 20.008 and encloses the intermediate and inner slide members. The struts 22.034 of frame 22.020 has an inverted L-shaped bracket 22.784, to which the roller 22.766 can be attached. The skirt 15.050 of the drawer fits over the L-shaped bracket 22.784 when the drawer 15.324 is in place.

[0191] The crimping of, or rolling of a channel in the liner skin 21.773 to form the indentation 21.780 strikes a balance between insulation thickness, the width of the drawer 20.008, and the width of the roller assembly. The installation of the S-shaped bracket 22.772 enables the roller arrangement to be installed "back-to-front" in that the innermost roller member 22.758 is attached to the S-shaped bracket 22.772, and thus to the cabinet 22.780, while the outermost sliding member 22.754 is attached to the sliding drawer frame 22.020. This results in the normally exposed edges and apertures of the intermediate and innermost sliding members of the roller arrangement being concealed by the outermost sliding member which is stationary in relation to the wall of the drawer arrangement during movement in or out.

[0192] In the above description, the roller or runner arrangement includes outer and inner arms, and possibly an intermediate arm, which are described as "sliding members". This expression is intended to describe the relative linear movement between the armatures, and is intended to cover the case where there are wheels or bearings between the armature members.

[0193] Figures 23 & 24 are front and rear views of a frame 15.020 for the drawer or carriage assembly 15.008 described above.

[0194] The frame 23.020, 24.020, includes a pair of substantially L-shaped segments having upright portions 23.116, 23.118 and transverse lower portions or struts 23.034, 23.038. The L-shaped segments are joined at the top by cross-piece 23.120. A pair of attachment brackets 23.112, 23.114 are attached to the distal ends of the struts 23.034, 23.038 respectively for mounting to a door panel such as 15.121. An additional brace member 23.022 is attached to the cross-piece 23.120. Roller attachment brackets or flanges 23.784, 23.785 depend from the lower portions or struts 23.034, 23.038 respectively.

[0195] As discussed with reference to Figures 23 & 24, the roller outer sliding members

22.754 of the roller arrangement are attached to attachment brackets 23.784, 23.785 of the frame 23.020, and the skirts such as 21.052 of the refrigeration drawer 20.324 overhang the lower segments or struts 23.034, 23.038 of the frame.

[0196] As shown in Figure 25, the brace member 25.022 is connected to the centre of the cross beam 25.120 of frame 25.020 and to the attachment point 25.124 on the inner lining of the door 25.030.

[0197] As illustrated in Figures 15 and 26 to 34, the refrigerator compartment drawer or carriage 26.008 includes in a lower portion thereof the drinks drawer (or it can be used for other purposes) or shelf 15.324. The drinks shelf 15.324 is removable, for cleaning or other purposes and is formed from left and right side members 15.050 and 15.052, with a front member 15.245 and a rear member 15.246, which each include a flange to support a tray or shelf 15.247. The drinks drawer 15.324 can also include separators 34.244 (see Figure 34) which will assist in maintaining drink bottles in their desired locations, and prevents them from moving when the drawer or carriage 26.008 comes to a halt at its limit of travel. The separators or dividers 34.244 also help to reduce the amount of free space in the refrigerator. [0198] The drinks drawer 15.324 also supports a laterally sliding crisper drawer 26.014 which can slide, as discussed previously with respect to the earlier Figures, in either the left or right hand side direction once the drawer 26.014 has its rearward face clear of the cabinet front edge 14.1 17.

[0199] The drawer 15.324, 34.324 can be constructed from a single piece of material, or fabricated from parts as in Figure 34. Further for ease of cleaning or assembly, the drawer 15.324, 34.324 is preferably readily removable from the frame 15.020, and it can be constructed so that it is readily disassembled either to assist its removal from the frame 15.020, or if removed from the frame 15.020 as a single unit, disassembled on a bench for cleaning. If desired the crisper drawer 14.014 can be sized so that in its central position on its runners 14.333, the crisper drawer together with the drawer 15.324 can be removed from the frame 15.020, rather than first having to remove the crisper drawer 14.014.

[0200] From Figures 26 and 27 it can be seen that the crisper drawer 26.014 includes separators 26.344 to prevent the contents thereof when in use, form moving with respect to the drawer 26.014, when it comes to a stop.

[0201] The drawer 26.014 receives or has mounted to it in the region of 26.333 of Figure

26, the portion 33.202 of the drawer runner or slide 33.333 which remains stationary relative to the drawer 26.014. The runner is illustrated in a dotted outline for representation purposes. The runners utilised can be such as that depicted in Figures 30 to 33 which provide a single stationary slide 31.201 which is mounted to a relatively stationary part of the refrigerator drawer 26.324 or carriage 26.008 and a movable portion 31.202 which is depicted in Figure 31 for attachment to the drawer 26.014, so as to provide movement either to the left or to the right of the cabinet.

[0202] As illustrated in Figure 15 the stationary portion 15.201 is mounted to the slide mounts 15.241 and 15.242 which are integrally formed from projecting extensions 15.042 and 15.044. The extensions 15.042 and 15.044 can be either integrally formed with the sides 15.245 and 15.246 of the drinks drawer 15.324, or attached thereto.

[0203] By having the "stationary" runners 31.201 mounted to support 15.241 and 15.242 the manufacturing tolerances from such a construction will ensure that the crisper drawer 26.014 will readily assemble. Whereas an assembly such as that as described with respect of Figures 1 to 5 where the runners 1.333 are mounted to the rear panel 1.018 and door 1.121, may require a much greater degree or control of tolerances between the rear panel and the front door panel 1.018 and 1.121 respectively, which might subsequently cause issues with regard to the assembly of the drawer 26.014 therein as the runners and drawer 26.014 sides may not be spaced at an appropriate spacing due to inability to accurately control the tolerances on a production line.

[0204] In relation to Figure 35 if the connection of the door 35.121 to the frame 35.020 via mounts 15.112, 15.114 is robust and provides sufficient strength, then the brace 35.022 need only be sized to be able to carry a cable, and may not need to serve a structural purpose. However, to keep the frame simple and the attachment of the door thereto simple as well, thus keeping down costs, the brace 35.022 is preferably load bearing whereby it will assist with the structural integrity of the carriage or drawer 5.014.

[0205] In Figure 35, a cable 35.292 is shown suspended from the inner end of the duct

35.022 and the rear wall 35.298 of the refrigeration chamber 35.296. The cable attaches to a first connector in the door and can connect to a second connector in the cabinet. The cable extends along the duct and then has a suspended portion with sufficient slack to ensure that, when the drawer arrangement is fully extended, the cable is not under a tension sufficient to cause the cable connectors to become unplugged. The cable 35.292 is of sufficient length to accommodate the travel of the drawer or carriage 35.008 arrangement.

[0206] A weight 35.294 is attached to the cable. The weight 35.294 ensures that, when the drawer arrangement is being closed, the cable 35.292 will behave in a predictable manner and fold in two. The weight can be fixed proximate the mid-point of the freely suspended portion of the cable, or the weight can be connected by a lose loop, or by friction reducing means such a roller yoke, to permit the weight to slide to the centre of the suspended cable section.

[0207] In an alternative arrangement, the cable can include a memory element adapted to cause the cable to fold in a desired manner. The memory element can be built into the cable, for example as a resiliently deformable metal wire or plastic string having a preformed shape to cause the cable to fold in the preferred manner. The memory element can be built into the cable jacket. The memory element can be a separate resiliently deformable U shaped sleeve applied to the cable. The cable fold bias means can include one or more of these elements.

[0208] The inner end 35.023 of the duct 35.022 can be curved to ensure that the cable is not bent beyond its minimum bending radius. The drawer can be designed so that, in the closed state, there is sufficient space between the rear panel 35.018 and the inner wall 35.298 of the refrigeration chamber 35.004 to receive the cable.

[0209] The mass of the weight 35.294 is chosen to control the folding of the ribbon cable while not imposing an excessive load on the cable. [0210] While the above describes the cable 35.292 passing from the cabinet 35.004 to the door 35.121 via an upper brace 35.022, if desired the cable 35.292 can pass at a lower location, such as through a front to rear duct underneath a shelf. If this is done and the door panel 35.121, rear panel 35.018 and the lower struts 15.034 and 15.038 between them provide sufficient rigidity, then the duct/strut 35.022 can be omitted.

[0211] In this specification, terms indicating orientation or direction, such as "up",

"down", "vertical", "horizontal", "left", "right" "upright", "transverse" etc. are not intended to be absolute terms unless the context requires or indicates otherwise.

[0212] Where ever it is used, the word "comprising" is to be understood in its "open" sense, that is, in the sense of "including", and thus not limited to its "closed" sense, that is the sense of "consisting only of. A corresponding meaning is to be attributed to the corresponding words "comprise", "comprised" and "comprises" where they appear.

[0213] It will be understood that the invention disclosed and defined herein extends to all alternative combinations of two or more of the individual features mentioned or evident from the text. All of these different combinations constitute various alternative aspects of the invention.

[0214] While particular embodiments of this invention have been described, it will be evident to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments and examples are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and all modifications which would be obvious to those skilled in the art are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

Claims

Claims

1. An appliance comprising a cabinet, at least one moveable door panel and at least one respective rear panel being held in a spaced apart relationship defining a storage or other space therebetween, said door panel and rear panel being moveable together and are held apart by means of two spaced apart struts located at a first height on said panels.

2. An appliance as claims in claim 1, wherein at least one strut is located at a second height on said panels.

3. An appliance as claimed in any one of claims 1 or 2, wherein said two struts are located at or near the lower end of said panels.

4. An appliance as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein said at least one strut is located at or near an upper end of said panels.

5. An appliance as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein said struts are parts of a telescoping or drawer type runner system.

6. An appliance as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein said rear panel has a series or an array of apertures therethrough, said apertures performing one or more of the following functions: flow through of air or gases to decrease a vacuum effect when said door panels are being moved; a peg board type arrangement to allow shelves which extend across said storage space to be connected to said rear panel; allow air flow into and out of said storage space for cooling or heating purposes.

7. An appliance as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein one of said two struts or said rear panel and said door panel or an open box-like formation located between said door and said rear panel, have laterally oriented runners associated therewith, or connected thereto, to allow a drawer to be mounted and to move laterally with respect to said cabinet.

8. An appliance as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein said drawer is able to move to both the left and right sides of said cabinet, and optionally said drawer and or associated runners includes a means for said drawer to come to rest within the width of said door panel.

9. An appliance as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein an edge of said door panel includes a display and controls and or a control panel to operate or control the conditions in the storage space associated with said door panel or a storage space located near to said door panel.

10. An appliance as claimed any one of the preceding claims, wherein said appliance includes two doors which are located adjacent to each other.

11. An appliance as claimed in claim 10, wherein the doors include on their adjacent or opposed side edges lighting means to provide light onto or into storage space associated with the adjacent door.

12. An appliance comprising a cabinet and at least one moveable door panel and a respective rear panel being held in a spaced apart relationship defining a storage space therebetween and moveable together, said door panel and rear panel being held apart by means of struts, said rear panel having a series, or an array, of apertures therethrough, said apertures performing one or more of the following functions: flow through of air or gases to decrease a vacuum effect when said door panels are being moved; apertures receive peg or protrusion on a shelf to allow a shelf which extends across said storage space to be connected to said rear panel; allow air flow into and out of said storage space for cooling or heating purposes.

13. A frame for an appliance compartment, the frame including a pair of substantially parallel L-shaped legs joined at or proximate the top by a cross member.

14. A frame as claimed in claim 13, including roller attachment brackets attached to the lower portion of each of the L-shaped legs.

15. A frame as claimed in claim 13 or claim 14, including attachment plates at the distal ends of the lower portions of the L-shaped legs.

16. A frame as claimed in any one of the claims 13 to 15, including a brace or strut attached to the cross member and extending parallel to the lower portions of the L-shaped legs.

17. A frame as claimed in claim 16, wherein the brace or strut has a channel cross section adapted to support a cable.

18. A sliding drawer arrangement for an appliance, the arrangement including a frame as claimed in any one of claims 13 to 17, and a pair of roller means attached to the roller attachment brackets.

19. A sliding drawer arrangement as claimed in claim 18, including a rear panel within the space defined by the pair of substantially parallel upright segments of the L-shaped legs and the cross member, and a door, with the attachment plates of the frame being attached to the door by attachment means.

20. A sliding drawer arrangement as claimed in any one of claims 18 to 19, including an open box-like formation or drawer having a pair of lateral skirts forming seating channels, the seating channels being adapted to fit over the lower portions of the L-shaped legs.

21. A sliding drawer arrangement as claimed in claim 20, wherein the lateral skirts at least partially or wholly conceal the rollers.

22. An appliance comprising a cabinet and at least one carriage or drawer which moves into and out of cabinet in a first direction, said at least one carriage or drawer including a movable door panel and a rear panel being held a spaced apart relationship defining a storage or other space therebetween, said door panel and said rear panel being movable together, said drawer or carriage including a laterally mounted drawer which is adapted to move laterally of said cabinet once said first mentioned drawer or carriage has moved a predetermined distance out of said cabinet.

23. An appliance as claimed in claim 22, wherein said drawer is able to move to either the left and or right hand directions of said cabinet and optionally said laterally mounted drawer and or associated runners includes a means for said drawer to centre within the width of said door panel.

24. An appliance as claimed in claim 22 or 23, wherein runners associated with said laterally sliding drawer extend from, or are connected to, or form part of a side of one or more of the following: a drawer construction located above said laterally sliding drawer; said door and said rear panel; struts holding said door and rear panel in spaced apart relationship.

25. An appliance as claimed in any one of claims 22 to 24, wherein said drawer or carriage includes an open box -like formation, which forms the surfaces of a drawer or storage area said open box-like formation being removable, as a single unit, or by disassembly into pieces, from said drawer or carriage.

26. A roller or runner attachment arrangement including a projecting bracket adapted to provide a connection for an inner sliding member of a roller or runner arrangement having at least two nesting, relatively slidable members with said inner member being connected to a first object, and an outer sliding member connected to a second object, the outer sliding member or the second object substantially covering the inner sliding member on three sides.

27. A roller or runner attachment arrangement as claimed in claim 26, wherein the roller arrangement includes an inner sliding member, an intermediate sliding member, and an outer sliding member, and wherein the outer sliding member or the second object substantially covers the intermediate member on three sides.

28. A roller or runner attachment arrangement as claimed in claim 26 or 27, including a bracket forming a roller receiving channel adjacent to a wall, and wherein the inner sliding member is connected to the inner limb of the bracket.

29. A roller or runner attachment arrangement as claimed in any one of claims 26 to 28, including a sliding drawer or carriage arrangement having a projecting inverted channel adapted to receive a roller or runner, and wherein the outer sliding member of the roller or runner arrangement is attached to the outer wall of the inverted channel.

30. A roller or runner attachment arrangement as claimed claim 29, including a drawer having a skirt arrangement along two opposite sides and adapted to fit over corresponding inverted projecting channels, the skirt being adapted to cover at least part of the outer roller or runner.

31. A cable management system for an appliance having a cabinet and a sliding drawer arrangement, wherein the sliding drawer arrangement has a travel limiter to limit the distance the drawer arrangement can travel, the cable management system including a cable having a cable with a first segment which is freely suspended between the drawer arrangement and the cabinet, the first segment of cable being of sufficient length to accommodate the travel of the drawer arrangement.

32. An appliance having one or more cabinet areas and a slidable drawer associated with one of said cabinet areas, said appliance including two or more doors to close said cabinet areas, wherein the doors are located so that edges of at least two of said doors are adjacent to each other, at least one of said two doors which are adjacent to each other includes on an adjacent or opposed side edge to a door associated with said slidable drawer, a lighting means to provide light onto or into the storage space associated with said drawer.

33. An appliance as claimed in claim 32, wherein said at least two of said doors are located one above the other, or side by side.

34. An appliance having one or two cabinet areas and including two or more doors to close openings associated with said cabinet areas, wherein the doors are located so that edges of at least two of said doors are adjacent to each other, said doors being characterized by there being along at least one adjacent edge of said doors a display panel and controls and or a control panel to operate or control the conditions in the storage space associated with the respective door or the other door.

35. An appliance as claimed in claim 34, wherein an upper edge of a lower door or side edge of a door includes said display panel and controls and or a control panel.

36. An appliance having at least one cabinet area and including at least one drawer slidable with respect to said cabinet volume and a door associated therewith, said door including on an inboard face thereof an elongated lighting source which extends from an upper region on said inboard face to a lower region thereof.

37. An appliance as claimed in claim 36, wherein said elongated lighting source is selected from one or a combination of one or more of eth following: a series of incandescent globes; a fluorescent tube, LEDs; an LED strip or strips.

38. An appliance as claimed in claim 50 or 51 wherein said drawer includes two or more shelving units carried thereon and said lighting source extending from a location above the uppermost of said shelving units to a location above or below the lowermost shelving unit.