IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0385609
(2003-03-12)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
- O'Halloran, Jeffrey
- Silbaugh, Eric
- Chen, Xiaojian James
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출원인 / 주소 |
|
대리인 / 주소 |
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
8 인용 특허 :
5 |
초록
▼
A divider for a pan, drawer or the like compartment in a refrigerator is constituted by multiple, pivotally interconnected pieces which can be selectively locked in a desired position to compartmentalize the storage compartment. The divider defines an over-center device that can be snapped into a lo
A divider for a pan, drawer or the like compartment in a refrigerator is constituted by multiple, pivotally interconnected pieces which can be selectively locked in a desired position to compartmentalize the storage compartment. The divider defines an over-center device that can be snapped into a locked in a desired position in the compartment, while being locked in position as a result of compressive forces being applied by front and rear walls of the pan or drawer. That is, the pan or drawer is preferably made of plastic and includes walls which deflect upon locking the divider in place. When the divider is opened or unlatched, all compressive forces are removed and the divider can be easily adjusted within the pan or drawer.
대표청구항
▼
1. A refrigerator comprising:a cabinet within which is defined a fresh food compartment and a freezer compartment; a plurality of shelves arranged in the fresh food compartment; a storage drawer provided in the fresh food compartment, said storage drawer including front, bottom, rear and side walls;
1. A refrigerator comprising:a cabinet within which is defined a fresh food compartment and a freezer compartment; a plurality of shelves arranged in the fresh food compartment; a storage drawer provided in the fresh food compartment, said storage drawer including front, bottom, rear and side walls; and a divider including first and second pivotally interconnected pieces, said divider extending between and against the front and rear walls of the storage drawer, while being locked in position through relative pivoting of the first and second pieces, in order to divide the storage drawer into multiple storage zones, wherein the first piece is provided with a vertex section which abuts rear wall and acts as a fulcrum in mounting of said divider. 2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the second piece of said divider is provided with an apex section which abuts the front wall of the storage drawer in mounting of said divider.3. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the front and rear walls of the storage drawer applies a compressive force tending to maintain the divider locked in position.4. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the first and second pieces of the divider are pivotally interconnected through a connector joint, said connector joint including a groove defined by the first piece and a tongue element extending from the second piece, wherein the tongue element projects into the groove.5. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the first and second pieces are locked in position through an over-center pivoting action.6. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the relative pivoting of the first and second pieces is limited to not substantially greater than forty-five degrees.7. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the divider is attached to one of the front and rear walls of the storage drawer.8. The refrigerator according to claim 7, wherein the rear wall of the storage drawer includes an upper rear flange, said divider being connected to the upper rear flange.9. The refrigerator according to claim 8, wherein the first piece of the divider is provided with a hook element which extends about the upper rear flange of the rear wall.10. A refrigerator comprising:a cabinet within which is defined a fresh food compartment and a freezer compartment; a plurality of shelves arranged in the fresh food compartment; a storage drawer provided in the fresh food compartment, said storage drawer including front, bottom, rear and side walls; and a divider including first and second pivotally interconnected pieces, said divider extending between and against the front and rear walls of the storage drawer, while being locked in position through relative pivoting of the first and second pieces, in order to divide the storage drawer into multiple storage zones, wherein the first and second pieces of the divider are pivotally interconnected through a connector joint, said connector joint including a first arcuate wall and a disk element positioned within the first arcuate wall. 11. The refrigerator according to claim 10, wherein said connector joint includes a second arcuate wall, separate and distinct from the first arcuate wall, said disk element being positioned between the first and second arcuate walls.12. A divider for use in separating a storage drawer in a refrigerator into multiple storage zones comprising:a first piece provided with a vertex section; and a second piece pivotally interconnected with the first piece, said divider being adapted to extend between and against front and rear walls of a refrigerator storage drawer and to be locked in position upon relative pivoting of the first and second pieces, with the vertex section being adapted to act as a fulcrum in mounting of the divider, in order to divide the storage drawer into multiple storage zones. 13. The divider according to claim 12, wherein the first piece of the divider is provided with a hook element.14. The divider according to claim 12, wherein the second piece of said divider is provided with an apex section.15. The divider according to claim 12, wherein the first and second pieces of the divider are pivotally interconnected through a connector joint, said connector joint including a groove defined by the first piece and a tongue element extending from the second piece, wherein the tongue element projects into the groove.16. The divider according to claim 12, wherein the first and second pieces are locked in position through an over-center pivoting action.17. The divider according to claim 12, wherein the relative pivoting of the first and second pieces is limited to not substantially greater than forty-five degrees.18. A divider for use in separating a storage drawer in a refrigerator into multiple storage zones comprising:a first piece; and a second piece pivotally interconnected with the first piece, said divider being adapted to extend between and against front and rear walls of a refrigerator storage drawer and to be locked in position upon relative pivoting of the first and second pieces in order to divide the storage drawer into multiple storage zones, wherein the first and second pieces of the divider are pivotally interconnected through a connector joint, said connector joint including a first arcuate wall and a disk element positioned within the first arcuate wall. 19. The divider according to claim 18, wherein said connector joint includes a second arcuate wall, separate and distinct from the first arcuate wall, said disk element being positioned between the first and second arcuate walls.20. A method of dividing a storage drawer provided in a fresh food compartment of a refrigerator into multiple storage zones comprising:positioning a divider including first and second pivotally interconnected pieces between front and rear walls of the storage drawer; positioning a vertex section of the first piece to abut the rear wall of the storage drawer; pivoting the first and second pieces of the divider relative to each other, while utilizing the vertex section as a fulcrum in mounting of said divider; and locking the divider within the storage drawer through an over-center pivoting action in order to divide the storage drawer into multiple storage zones. 21. The method of claim 20, further comprising: initially hooking the first piece of the divider to the storage drawer upon positioning the divider between the front and rear walls.22. The method of claim 20, further comprising: applying a compressive force on the divider by the storage drawer to maintain the divider locked in position.
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