Multi-material basket for refrigerator or freezer
View Patent ↗A storage basket used for storing and displaying food products and packages in a refrigerator or freezer unit may include a single-material first portion including a bottom wall and an upright wall that extends away from the bottom wall. The bottom wall and the upright wall are imperforate, thereby creating a solid barrier to transfer and fall-through of materials contained in the storage basket. The storage basket may also include a single-material second portion coupled to and extending from the upright wall, and the second portion may include a plurality of perforations. The plurality of perforations may permit airflow around and about the materials contained in the storage basket.
1. A storage basket used for storing and displaying food products and packages in a refrigerator or freezer unit, the storage basket comprising:
a first portion including an upright wall, the upright wall including sheet material defining a planar front wall, a planar rear wall, a planar first side wall, and a planar second side wall, wherein one or more of the front wall, the rear wall, the first side wall, and the second side wall includes one or more slots in the sheet material to facilitate a minimal airflow and allow some visibility into the first portion of the storage basket, wherein an entire cross-sectional shape of each of the planar front wall, the planar rear wall, the planar first side wall, and the planar second side wall extends from a first end to a second end along a linear axis such that a top portion of the cross-sectional shape adiacent to a top perimeter edge of the upright wall is not curved;
a second portion coupled to and extending entirely below the upright wall of the first portion, wherein the second portion comprises a wire grid secured to a bottom perimeter edge of the upright wall such that the wire grid and the upright wall are not a single-piece member, wherein the wire grid defines a plurality of perforations that cooperate to permit solid particles, liquids, and/or gases to flow through the second portion, thereby allowing visibility or airflow around and about materials contained in the storage basket.
2. The storage basket of claim 1 , wherein the second portion is coupled to the first portion adjacent to a bottom perimeter edge of the upright wall.
3. The storage basket of claim 1 , wherein the wire grid of the second portion comprises:
a plurality of first support members each having vertical portions coupled to the upright wall;
a plurality of second support members each having vertical portions coupled to the upright wall.
4. The storage basket of claim 3 , wherein the first support member and the second support member are made from a metal wire, and the upright wall is formed from a single sheet of metal.
5. The storage basket of claim 3 , wherein the first support member and the second support member are made from a metal wire, and the upright wall is formed from one of a plastic material or a glass material.
6. The storage basket of claim 3 , wherein the first support member, the second support member, and the upright wall are each formed from one of a plastic material or a glass material.
7. The storage basket of claim 1 , wherein each of the front wall, the rear wall, the first side wall, and the second side wall includes a plurality of slots in the sheet material.
8. The storage basket of claim 1 , wherein the second portion includes at least one side portion that is in plane parallel to the first portion, and a bottom portion that is in a plane perpendicular to the first portion.
9. The storage basket of claim 1 , wherein the linear axis extends in a vertical direction.
10. A storage basket used for storing and displaying food products and packages in a refrigerator or freezer unit, the storage basket comprising:
a first portion formed entirely of sheet material and including an upright wall, the upright wall including a planar front wall, a planar rear wall, a planar first side wall, and a planar second side wall, wherein one or more of the front wall, the rear wall, the first side wall, and the second side wall includes one or more slots in the sheet material to facilitate a minimal airflow and allow some visibility into the first portion of the storage basket, wherein an entire cross-sectional shape of each of the planar front wall, the planar rear wall, the planar first side wall, and the planar second side wall extends from a first end to a second end along a linear axis such that a top portion of the cross-sectional shape adjacent to a top perimeter edge of the upright wall is not curved;
a second portion coupled to and extending entirely below the upright wall of the first portion, wherein the second portion comprises a wire grid secured to a bottom perimeter edge of the upright wall such that the wire grid and the upright wall are not a single-piece member, wherein the wire grid defines a plurality of perforations that cooperate to permit solid particles, liquids, and/or gases to flow through the second portion, thereby allowing visibility or airflow around and about materials contained in the storage basket.
11. The storage basket of claim 10 , wherein the second portion is coupled to the first portion adjacent to a bottom perimeter edge of the upright wall.
12. The storage basket of claim 10 , wherein the wire grid of the second portion comprises:
a plurality of first support members each having vertical portions coupled to the upright wall;
a plurality of second support members each having vertical portions coupled to the upright wall.
13. The storage basket of claim 12 , wherein the first support member and the second support member are made from a metal wire, and the upright wall is formed from sheet metal.
14. The storage basket of claim 12 , wherein the first support member and the second support member are made from a metal wire, and the upright wall is formed from one of a plastic material or a glass material.
15. The storage basket of claim 12 , wherein the first support member, the second support member, and the upright wall are each formed from one of a plastic material or a glass material.
16. The storage basket of claim 10 , wherein each of the front wall, the rear wall, the first side wall, and the second side wall includes a plurality of slots in the sheet material.
17. The storage basket of claim 10 , wherein the second portion includes at least one side portion that is in a plane parallel to the first portion, and a bottom portion that is in a plane perpendicular to the first portion.
18. The storage basket of claim 10 , wherein the linear axis extends in a vertical direction.