Refrigerator shelving system
View Patent ↗A refrigerator shelving system includes an item retainer for securing items carried on a shelf, a mounting member for releasably securing a shelf to a cabinet of the refrigerator, and a spill tray carried by the shelf. The item retainer is movable between a first position and a second position such that when in the first position, a first side upwardly extends from the shelf and defines a fence and when in the second position the first side is parallel and adjacent to an upper surface of the shelf. The shelf mounting member includes a first portion rotatably interconnected to a lateral side of the shelf and a second portion for selectively engaging a horizontal slot of a cabinet of the refrigerator. The mounting member is rotatable from a first position to a second position to engage the second portion with the horizontal slot. The spill tray includes a main body portion and a plurality of mounting elements. The main body portion is disposed parallel to and substantially adjacent a lower side of the shelf and is positioned completely below the shelf. The plurality of mounting elements releasably engage the shelf.
1. An item retainer for a shelf of a refrigerator, the shelf having a plurality of parallel and spaced apart wires at least partially defining a support surface, the item retainer comprising:
a main body portion for extending in a directional generally perpendicular to the plurality of wires; and
a first mounting portion extending from the main body portion for engaging a first of the plurality of wires;
whereby the item retainer is movable between a first position and a second position such that when in the first position a first side of the main body portion upwardly extends from the shelf and defines a fence and when in the second position the first side is parallel and adjacent to the plurality of wires such that the first of the plurality of wires is captured between the first side of the main body portion and the first mounting portion.
2. The item retainer for a shelf of a refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the main body portion further includes a second side, the second side being generally perpendicular to the first side.
3. The item retainer for a shelf of a refrigerator of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of wires forwardly terminate at a forward edge of the shelf and wherein the second side is positioned forward of the forward edge when the item retainer is in the second position.
4. The item retainer for a shelf of a refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the first and second mounting portions slidably receive the first and second wires such that the item retainer is translatable relative to the shelf in a direction parallel to the plurality of wires when the item retainer is in the second position.
5. The item retainer for a shelf of a refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the item retainer rotates about an axis parallel to the plurality of wires between the first and second positions.
6. The item retainer for a shelf of a refrigerator of claim 1 , in combination with the refrigerator.
7. The item retainer for a shelf of a refrigerator of claim 1 , further comprising a second mounting portion extending from the main body portion for engaging a second of the plurality of wires.
8. An item retainer for a shelf of a refrigerator, the shelf having a plurality of parallel and spaced apart wires at least partially defining a support surface, the item retainer comprising:
a main body portion for extending in a directional generally perpendicular to the plurality of wires; and
a first and second mounting portions for connecting the main body portion to the plurality of wires for movement between a first position and a second position such that when in the first position a first side of the main body portion upwardly extends from the shelf and defines a fence and when in the second position the first side is parallel to and in contact with the plurality of wires, the first and second mounting portions defining channels for receiving respective wires of the plurality of wires in a snap-fit relationship in the first position.
9. The item retainer for a shelf of a refrigerator of claim 8 , wherein the main body portion further includes a second side, the second side being generally perpendicular to the first side.
10. The item retainer for a shelf of a refrigerator of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of wires forwardly terminate at a forward edge of the shelf and wherein the second side is positioned forward of the forward edge when the item retainer is in the second position.
11. The item retainer for a shelf of a refrigerator of claim 9 , in combination with the refrigerator.
12. The item retainer for a shelf of a refrigerator of claim 8 , wherein the first and second mounting portions slidably receive the first and second wires such that the item retainer is translatable relative to the shelf in a direction parallel to the plurality of wires when the item retainer is in the second position.
13. The item retainer for a shelf of a refrigerator of claim 8 , wherein the item retainer rotates about an axis parallel to the plurality of wires between the first and second positions.
14. An item retainer in combination with a shelf of a refrigerator, the shelf having a plurality of parallel and spaced apart wires at least partially defining a support surface, the item retainer comprising:
a main body portion including a first side and a second side oriented generally orthogonal to one another; and
first and second mounting portions extending from the first side and adapted to engage respective ones of the plurality of wires in first and second positions such that in the first position the first side of the main body portion upwardly extends from the shelf and defines a fence and when in the second position the first side is substantially parallel and adjacent to the plurality of wires such that at least one of the respective ones of the plurality of wires is captured between the first side of the main body portion and the first mounting portion;
wherein the first and second mounting portions at least partially define channels for slidably receiving the respective ones of the wires.
15. The item retainer in combination with the shelf of a refrigerator of claim 14 , wherein in the second position the respective ones of the wires are captured between the first side of the main body portion and the second mounting portion.
16. The item retainer in combination with a shelf of a refrigerator of claim 14 , wherein the plurality of wires forwardly terminate at a forward edge of the shelf and wherein the second side is positioned forward of the forward edge when the item retainer is in the second position.
17. The item retainer in combination with a shelf of a refrigerator of claim 14 , wherein the item retainer rotates about an axis parallel to the plurality of wires between the first and second positions.
18. An item retainer for a shelf of a refrigerator, the shelf having a plurality of parallel and spaced apart wires at least partially defining a support surface, the plurality of wires terminate at a forward edge of the shelf, the item retainer comprising:
a main body portion for extending in a directional generally perpendicular to the plurality of wires, the main body portion includes a first side and a second side, the second side being generally perpendicular to the first side;
a first mounting portion extending from the main body portion, the first mounting portion partially defining a first cylindrical opening for engaging a first of the plurality of wires in a snap-fit relationship; and
a second mounting portion extending from the main body portion, the second mounting portion partially defining a second cylindrical opening for engaging a second of the plurality of wires in a snap-fit relationship;
whereby the item retainer is movable between a first position and a second position such that when in the first position the first side of the main body portion upwardly extends from the shelf and defines a fence and when in the second position the first side is parallel and adjacent to the plurality of wires such that the first of the plurality of wires is in contact with and captured between the first side of the main body portion and the first mounting portion, the second of the plurality of wires is in contact with and captured between the first side of the main body portion and the second mounting portion, and the second side is positioned forward of the forward edge of the shelf;
wherein the first and second cylindrical openings of the first and second mounting portions, respectively, extend parallel to the plurality of wires when the item retainer is in the first position.