Locking divider for a refrigerator storage compartment
원문보기
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
A47B-096/04
A47B-096/00
출원번호
US-0061517
(2005-02-22)
등록번호
US-7490915
(2009-02-17)
발명자
/ 주소
O'Halloran,Jeffrey
Silbaugh,Eric
Chen,Xiaojian James
출원인 / 주소
Maytag Corporation
대리인 / 주소
Goodwin,Kirk
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
3인용 특허 :
8
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▼
We claim: 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
We claim: 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 pieces pivotally interconnected at a connector joint, said divider extending between and having end portions of the first and second pieces against the front and rear walls of the storage drawer, with the connector joint being substantially intermediate the divider so as to be spaced from the end portions of the first and second pieces, wherein the connector joint locks in position through relative over-center pivoting of the first and second pieces at the connector joint, in order to secure the divider in the storage drawer and divide the storage drawer into multiple storage zones. 2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the divider is attached to one of the front and rear walls of the storage drawer. 3. The refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein the rear wall of the storage drawer includes an upper rear flange projecting from the rear wall of the storage drawer, said divider being connected to the upper rear flange. 4. The refrigerator according to claim 3, wherein the first piece of the divider is provided with a hook element which hooks about the upper rear flange of the rear wall. 5. 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. 6. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein said connector joint includes a groove defined by the first piece and a tongue element extending from the second piece, wherein the tongue element projects into the groove. 7. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the first and second pieces are locked in position through the over-center pivoting action at the connector joint. 8. 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. 9. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the first piece abuts the rear wall and the second piece abuts the front wall. 10. A divider for use in separating a storage drawer in a refrigerator into multiple storage zones comprising: a first piece provided with a hook element; and a second piece pivotally interconnected with the first piece at a connector joint, said divider being adapted to extend between and having end portions of the first and second pieces against front and rear walls of a refrigerator storage drawer, with the connector joint being substantially intermediate the divider so as to be spaced from the end portions of the first and second pieces, wherein the connector joint locks in position upon relative over-center pivoting of the first and second pieces at the connector joint in order to secure the divider in a storage drawer and divide the storage drawer into multiple storage zones, with said hook element being adapted to hook onto one of front and rear walls of the refrigerator storage drawer. 11. The divider according to claim 10, wherein said connector joint includes a groove defined by the first piece and a tongue element extending from the second piece, wherein the tongue element projects into the groove. 12. The divider according to claim 10, wherein the first and second pieces are locked in position through the over-center pivoting action of the connector joint. 13. The divider according to claim 10, wherein the relative pivoting of the first and second pieces is limited to not substantially greater than forty-five degrees. 14. The divider according to claim 10, wherein the first piece abuts the rear wall and the second piece abuts the front wall. 15. 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 pieces pivotally interconnected through a connector joint between front and rear walls of the storage drawer; pivoting the first and second pieces of the divider relative to each other; and locking the divider within the storage drawer through an over-center pivoting action at the connector joint in order to divide the storage drawer into multiple storage zones. 16. The method of claim 15, further comprising: applying a compressive force on the divider by the storage drawer to maintain the divider locked in position. 17. 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; pivoting the first and second pieces of the divider relative to each other through a connector joint; locking the divider within the storage drawer through an over-center pivoting action at the connector joint in order to divide the storage drawer into multiple storage zones; and initially hooking the first piece of the divider onto the storage drawer upon positioning the divider between the front and rear walls. 18. 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; pivoting the first and second pieces of the divider relative to each other through a connector joint; locking the divider within the storage drawer through an over-center pivoting action at the connector joint in order to divide the storage drawer into multiple storage zones; abutting the first piece against the rear wall; and abutting the second piece against the front wall upon locking the divider through the over-center pivoting action. 19. The method of claim 18, further comprising: deflecting at least one of the front and rear walls of the storage drawer upon locking the divider through the over-center pivoting action.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (8)
Santucci Donald G. (Naperville IL), Adjustable self supporting shelf and method for installing same.
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