A rack and pinion storage system for use in a refrigerator compartment defined by a liner includes a pair of supports attached to opposing sidewalls of the liner. First and second gear covers snap-fittingly connect first and second gear wheels to respective first and second mounting brackets extendi
A rack and pinion storage system for use in a refrigerator compartment defined by a liner includes a pair of supports attached to opposing sidewalls of the liner. First and second gear covers snap-fittingly connect first and second gear wheels to respective first and second mounting brackets extending from a storage basket, such that the gear wheels are rotatably connected to the storage basket and have equal rotational and linear motion along the respective supports. Retaining bars extending from the storage basket are held within channels defined between the bottom walls of the supports and top walls of opposing telescoping slide assemblies used to movably support a door of the compartment. Tabs extending from the supports limit the sliding movement of the storage basket. A removable divider connects to the storage basket, sectioning the basket into multiple storage compartments.
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1. A method of supporting a storage unit for movement into and out of a refrigerated compartment defined by a liner of a refrigerator comprising: attaching first and second supports to respective opposing side walls of the liner, with the first and second supports including respective first and seco
1. A method of supporting a storage unit for movement into and out of a refrigerated compartment defined by a liner of a refrigerator comprising: attaching first and second supports to respective opposing side walls of the liner, with the first and second supports including respective first and second rack gears;partially mounting a first cover member, which rotatably supports a first gear wheel, to a first mounting bracket secured to one side of the storage unit such that the first gear wheel is spaced above the first rack gear;partially mounting a second cover member, which rotatably supports a second gear wheel, to a second mounting bracket secured to an opposing side of the storage unit such that the second gear wheel is spaced above the second rack gear;interconnecting the first and second gear wheels for co-rotation with an axle extending through respective cut-outs in the first and second mounting brackets; andfully mounting the first and second cover members to the first and second mounting brackets to cause the first and second gear wheels to interengage with the first and second rack gears respectively, with the first and second gear wheels exhibiting equal rotational and linear motion along the respective first and second rack gears upon shifting of the storage unit into and out of the refrigerated compartment. 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: snap-fittingly interconnecting the first and second cover members with the first and second mounting brackets. 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the first and second gear cover members are snap-fittingly connected to the first and second mounting brackets with resilient projections extending into respective cut-out portions on the first and second mounting brackets. 4. The method of claim 3, further comprising: aligning the cut-out portions, which constitute gear wheel cut-out portions, with the axle. 5. The method of claim 1, wherein interconnecting the first and second gear wheels for co-rotation with an axle includes: fitting a first hub of the first gear wheel through a first aperture in the first mounting bracket;fitting a second hub of the second gear wheel through a second aperture in the second mounting bracket; andinserting the axle into each of the first and second hubs. 6. The method of claim 1, further comprising: prior to fully mounting the first and second cover members to the first and second mounting brackets, lifting a front portion of the storage unit in order to position at least one retaining bar extending from the storage unit under at least one tab extending from at least one of the first and second supports, wherein the at least one tab limits movement of the storage unit from the refrigerated compartment. 7. The method of claim 6, further comprising: attaching the first and second supports to respective opposing side walls of the liner directly above bottom slide assembly components attached to the liner, wherein said at least one retaining bar is supported upon and glides along a top wall portion of the bottom slide assembly upon shifting of the storage unit into and out of the refrigerated compartment. 8. The method of claim 1, further comprising: extending the first and second gear cover members about the first and second gear wheels such that the first and second gear wheels are positioned between the first and second supports and the first and second covers, respectively. 9. The method of claim 1, further comprising: sectioning the storage unit into multiple storage compartments with a divider. 10. The method of claim 9, wherein sectioning the storage unit includes removably fitting first and second opposing longitudinally extending arms of the divider over respective opposing end portions of the storage unit such that the divider divides an interior of said storage unit into first and second storage compartments. 11. A method of supporting a storage unit for movement into and out of a refrigerated compartment defined by a liner of a refrigerator comprising: attaching first and second supports to opposing side walls of the liner, with the first and second supports including respective first and second rack gears;mounting first and second gear wheels to opposing sides of the storage unit through first and second mounting brackets;interconnecting the first and second gear wheels for co-rotation with an axle, while also interconnecting the first and second gear wheels to the first and second rack gears so as to exhibit equal rotational and linear motion along the respective first and second rack gears upon shifting of the storage unit into and out of the refrigerated compartment; andattaching a bottom slide assembly to the liner through the first and second supports for supporting a door connected to the storage unit and configured to selectively seal off the refrigerated compartment. 12. The method of claim 11, further comprising: extending at least one retaining bar along a bottom portion of the storage unit, with the at least one retaining bar being supported upon and gliding along a top wall portion of the bottom slide assembly upon shifting of the storage unit into and out of the refrigerated compartment, while tabs, projecting downward from the first and second supports, limit movement of the storage unit from the refrigerated compartment. 13. The method of claim 11, further comprising: providing first and second gear cover members connecting the first and second rotatable gear wheels to the storage unit through the first and second mounting brackets while supporting the first and second gear wheels for rotation relative to the storage unit. 14. The method of claim 13, further comprising: snap-fittingly connecting the first and second gear cover members to the first and second mounting brackets. 15. The method of claim 11, further comprising: sectioning the storage unit into multiple storage compartments with a divider. 16. The method of claim 15, wherein sectioning the storage unit includes removably fitting first and second opposing longitudinally extending arms of the divider over respective opposing end portions of the storage unit such that the divider divides an interior of said storage unit into first and second storage compartments.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (22)
Hagen Magnus F. (Laguna Beach CA) Rask Richard O. (Whittier CA), Anti-rack system for wide drawers and the like.
Wilkins Allen L. (Verona WI) Hottmann Philip F. (Cross Plains WI) Blahnik Mark J. (Sun Prairie WI) Caruso Jerome (Lake Forest IL), Comestible storage compartment for refrigeration unit.
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