초록 ▼

A removable, spill-proof refrigerator shelf includes a glass shelf panel, a one-piece molded plastic frame member extending about the periphery of and supporting the glass shelf panel, and an adhesive injected into a channel created by the frame member for sealingly fixing the shelf panel within the

A removable, spill-proof refrigerator shelf includes a glass shelf panel, a one-piece molded plastic frame member extending about the periphery of and supporting the glass shelf panel, and an adhesive injected into a channel created by the frame member for sealingly fixing the shelf panel within the frame member. The top of the adhesive is made flush with the top surface of the shelf panel, thereby forming a substantially continuous and easily cleaned surface. An integral outer rim is provided about the periphery of the frame member and acts as a barrier to prevent any liquid spilled on the shelf from flowing onto shelves and/or food below.

대표청구항 ▼

1. In a refrigerator including a liner mounted within a cabinet shell so as to define a refrigerator storage compartment, a spill-proof shelf assembly for supporting articles comprising:a shelf panel having upper and lower spaced surfaces and a peripheral edge portion; a frame member having a side w

1. In a refrigerator including a liner mounted within a cabinet shell so as to define a refrigerator storage compartment, a spill-proof shelf assembly for supporting articles comprising:a shelf panel having upper and lower spaced surfaces and a peripheral edge portion; a frame member having a side wall section with a top end portion and a bottom end portion, a base wall section formed integral with and extending from the bottom end portion of the side wall section, and a bearing wall section integrally formed with and extending upward from the base wall section at a position spaced from the side wall section, said shelf panel being supported on said bearing wall section with the peripheral edge portion of the shelf panel being spaced from the side wall section and cantilevered over the bearing wall section, and the top end portion of said side wall section projecting above the shelf panel and defining a rim, wherein the peripheral edge portion, the side wall section, the lower surface of the shelf panel, the base wall section and the bearing wall section collectively define a channel; and an adhesive filling said channel and securing the peripheral edge portion of the shelf panel to the frame member in a fluid tight manner, wherein liquid spilled on the shelf is prevented from spilling off the shelf assembly by the rim. 2. The spill-proof shelf assembly of claim 1, wherein a top of the adhesive is substantially flush with the upper surface of the shelf panel, thereby forming a continuous and easily cleaned shelf surface.3. The spill-proof shelf assembly of claim 1, wherein the shelf panel constitutes a rectangular glass panel.4. The spill-proof shelf assembly of claim 3, wherein the shelf panel has planar upper and lower surfaces.5. The spill-proof shelf assembly of claim 1, wherein the bearing wall section extends at an obtuse angle with respect to the base wall section.6. The spill-proof shelf assembly of claim 5, wherein the bearing wall section defines a substantially planar surface on which the shelf panel is supported.7. The spill-proof shelf assembly of claim 1, wherein the frame member has a substantially J-shaped cross-section.8. A spill-proof refrigerator shelf assembly adapted to support articles within a refrigerator comprising:a shelf panel having upper and lower spaced surfaces and a peripheral edge portion; a frame member having a side wall section with a top end portion and a bottom end portion, a base wall section formed integral with and extending from the bottom end portion of the side wall section, and a bearing wall section integrally formed with and extending upward from the base wall section at a position spaced from the side wall section, said shelf panel being supported on said bearing wall section with the peripheral edge portion of the shelf panel being spaced from the side wall section and cantilevered over the bearing wall section, and the top end portion of said side wall section projecting above the shelf panel and defining a rim, wherein the peripheral edge portion, the side wall section, the lower surface of the shelf panel, the base wall section and the bearing wall section collectively define a channel; and an adhesive filling said channel and securing the peripheral edge portion of the shelf panel to the frame member in a fluid tight manner, wherein liquid spilled on the shelf is prevented from spilling off the shelf assembly by the rim. 9. The spill-proof shelf assembly of claim 8, wherein a top of the adhesive is substantially flush with the upper surface of the shelf panel, thereby forming a continuous and easily cleaned shelf surface.10. The spill-proof shelf assembly of claim 8, wherein the shelf panel constitutes a rectangular glass panel.11. The spill-proof shelf assembly of claim 10, wherein the shelf panel has planar upper and lower surfaces.12. The spill-proof shelf assembly of claim 8, wherein the bearing wall section extends at an obtuse angle with respect to the base wall section.13. The spill-proof shelf assembly of claim 12, wherein the bearing wall section defines a substantially planar surface on which the shelf panel is supported.14. The spill-proof shelf assembly of claim 8, wherein the frame member has a substantially J-shaped cross-section.15. A method of manufacturing a spill-proof shelf comprising:forming a frame member having a substantially J-shaped cross section including a side wall section with a top end portion and a bottom end portion, a base wall section formed integral with and extending from the bottom end portion of the side wall section, and a bearing wall section integrally formed with and extending upward from the base wall section at a position spaced from the side wall section; placing a shelf panel having upper and lower spaced surfaces and a peripheral edge portion on the frame member such that the lower surface of the shelf panel is supported by the bearing surface of the frame member and the peripheral edge portion is cantilevered over the bearing wall section and spaced from the side wall section, and the upper end portion of the side wall section projects above the shelf panel to define a rim; and pouring adhesive in a channel collectively defined by the peripheral edge portion, the side wall section, the lower surface of the shelf panel, the base wall section and the bearing wall section to seal the shelf panel to the frame member in a fluid tight manner. 16. The method of claim 15, further comprising: pouring the adhesive into the channel until a top of the adhesive is arranged substantially flush with the upper surface of the shelf panel, thereby forming a continuous and easily cleaned shelf surface.17. The method of claim 15, further comprising: forming the shelf panel from a rectangular glass panel.18. The method of claim 17, further comprising: forming the shelf panel with planar upper and lower surfaces.19. The method of claim 15, further comprising: extending the bearing wall section at an obtuse angle with respect to the base wall section.20. The method of claim 19, further comprising: supporting the shelf panel on a substantially planar surface of the bearing wall section.