IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0577147
(2005-10-13)
|
등록번호 |
US-8262177
(2012-09-11)
|
국제출원번호 |
PCT/US2005/036992
(2005-10-13)
|
§371/§102 date |
20081014
(20081014)
|
국제공개번호 |
WO2006/044641
(2006-04-27)
|
발명자
/ 주소 |
- Picken, Alan D.
- Beckman, William
- Nestell, David E.
- Repp, R. Scott
- Schroeder, Kevin J.
|
출원인 / 주소 |
|
대리인 / 주소 |
Gardner, Linn, Burkhart & Florey, LLP
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
12 인용 특허 :
48 |
초록
▼
A shelf assembly for use in a refrigerator includes a shelf panel and a pair of opposite support rails. The shelf panel has upwardly angled perimeter regions and may comprise a strengthened glass material, such as a transparent strengthened glass material, such as tempered glass. Each of the support
A shelf assembly for use in a refrigerator includes a shelf panel and a pair of opposite support rails. The shelf panel has upwardly angled perimeter regions and may comprise a strengthened glass material, such as a transparent strengthened glass material, such as tempered glass. Each of the support rails includes a base portion and an angled portion that extends at an angle from the base portion. The angled portions of the support rails are bonded along the lower surface of the upwardly angled side perimeter regions of the shelf panel.
대표청구항
▼
1. A shelf assembly for use in a refrigerator, said shelf assembly comprising: a shelf panel comprising a single glass panel;said shelf panel comprising a generally planar glass shelf portion, a front perimeter bent glass region, a rear perimeter bent glass region and side perimeter bent glass regio
1. A shelf assembly for use in a refrigerator, said shelf assembly comprising: a shelf panel comprising a single glass panel;said shelf panel comprising a generally planar glass shelf portion, a front perimeter bent glass region, a rear perimeter bent glass region and side perimeter bent glass regions;said front perimeter bent glass region, said rear perimeter bent glass region and said side perimeter bent glass regions being upwardly angled relative to said generally planar glass shelf portion;said upwardly angled side perimeter bent glass regions and said upwardly angled front and rear perimeter bent glass regions cooperating to provide a substantially continuous upwardly angled perimeter lip around said generally planar glass shelf portion;said side perimeter bent glass regions having upwardly angled lower attachment surfaces;a pair of support rails, each of said support rails having a generally vertical portion and an angled portion that extends at an angle from an upper edge region of said generally vertical portion, said angled portions of said support rails being angled to generally correspond to the angle of said upwardly angled side perimeter bent glass regions of said shelf panel, said angled portions of said support rails being bonded via a cured adhesive layer along said lower attachment surfaces of said side perimeter bent glass regions of said shelf panel; andwherein each of said support rails includes an attachment element at an end portion of said support rail that is proximate said rear perimeter bent glass region of said shelf panel, and wherein said attachment element is configured to attach to an attaching structure of a refrigerator to mount said shelf assembly at the refrigerator. 2. The shelf assembly of claim 1, wherein said shelf panel comprises strengthened glass. 3. The shelf assembly of claim 1, wherein said angled portions of said support rails include generally planar portions that are bonded to said lower attachment surfaces of said side perimeter bent glass regions of said shelf panel. 4. The shelf assembly of claim 3, wherein said angled portions of said support rails comprise curved portions. 5. The shelf assembly of claim 1, wherein each of said support rails comprises a slide mechanism. 6. The shelf assembly of claim 1, wherein each of said support rails comprises a fixed rail that is mountable in the refrigerator and a movable rail, and wherein said movable rails include said angled portions that are bonded to said lower attachment surfaces of said side perimeter bent glass regions of said shelf panel, said movable rails being movable along said fixed rails of said support rails to move said shelf panel relative to said fixed rails. 7. The shelf assembly of claim 6, wherein one of said fixed rail and said movable rail includes at least one roller and the other of said fixed rail and said movable rail defines a track therealong, said roller rolling along said track as said shelf panel moves relative to said fixed rail. 8. The shelf assembly of claim 1 including a frame portion bonded to an upper surface of said shelf panel. 9. The shelf assembly of claim 8, wherein said frame portion is bonded along at least one of said perimeter bent glass regions of said shelf panel. 10. The shelf assembly of claim 8, wherein said frame portion provides a storage function for holding at least one item. 11. The shelf assembly of claim 1 including a frit layer along said upwardly angled side perimeter bent glass regions of said shelf panel. 12. The shelf assembly of claim 1, wherein said shelf panel comprises tempered glass. 13. The shelf assembly of claim 1, wherein said shelf panel comprises thermally tempered glass. 14. The shelf assembly of claim 1, wherein said cured adhesive comprises a UV cured adhesive. 15. The shelf assembly of claim 14, wherein said UV cured adhesive comprises a substantially transparent UV cured adhesive. 16. The shelf assembly of claim 1, wherein said cured adhesive comprises a UV cured acrylate adhesive. 17. The shelf assembly of claim 1, wherein said shelf panel comprises a substantially clear glass shelf panel. 18. The shelf assembly of claim 17, wherein said support rails are viewable through said shelf panel when viewing said shelf panel from above said shelf assembly. 19. The shelf assembly of claim 1, wherein said support rails comprise coated metallic support rails. 20. The shelf assembly of claim 1, wherein said support rails comprise coated steel support rails. 21. The shelf assembly of claim 1, wherein said support rails comprise white coated metallic support rails. 22. The shelf assembly of claim 1, wherein said support rails comprise white powder coated metallic support rails. 23. The shelf assembly of claim 1, wherein said shelf panel comprises a bent glass panel that is formed via a heated glass substrate and a contoured form. 24. The shelf assembly of claim 1, wherein said shelf panel comprises a bent glass panel that is formed via urging a heated glass substrate against a contoured form so as to form said generally planar glass shelf portion and said upwardly angled front, rear and side perimeter bent glass regions. 25. The shelf assembly of claim 1, wherein said angled portions of said support rails include generally planar portions that are bonded to generally planar lower attachment surfaces of said side perimeter bent glass regions of said shelf panel. 26. The shelf assembly of claim 1, wherein said angled portions of said support rails are bonded to curved lower attachment surfaces of said side perimeter bent glass regions of said shelf panel. 27. The shelf assembly of claim 1, wherein said generally planar glass shelf portion comprises a storage portion of said shelf panel and said upwardly angled front, rear and side perimeter bent glass regions comprise a substantially spill proof portion of said shelf panel. 28. The shelf assembly of claim 1, wherein said support rails movably support said shelf panel such that said shelf panel is movable between an extended position and a retracted position. 29. The shelf assembly of claim 28 further comprising a handle element bonded to said front perimeter bent glass region. 30. A shelf assembly for use in a refrigerator, said shelf assembly comprising: a shelf panel comprising a single tempered glass panel;said shelf panel comprising a generally planar glass shelf portion, a front perimeter bent glass region, a rear perimeter bent glass region and side perimeter bent glass regions;said front perimeter bent glass region, said rear perimeter bent glass region and said side perimeter bent glass regions being upwardly angled relative to said generally planar glass shelf portion;said upwardly angled side perimeter bent glass regions and said upwardly angled front and rear perimeter bent glass regions cooperating to provide a substantially continuous upwardly angled perimeter lip around said generally planar glass shelf portion;said side perimeter bent glass regions having upwardly angled lower attachment surfaces;a pair of support rails, each of said support rails having a generally vertical portion and an angled portion that extends at an angle from an upper edge region of said generally vertical portion;said angled portions of said support rails including generally planar portions and being angled to generally correspond to the angle of said upwardly angled side perimeter bent glass regions of said shelf panel, said generally planar portions of said angled portions of said support rails being bonded along said lower attachment surfaces of said side perimeter bent glass regions of said shelf panel via a cured adhesive layer; andwherein each of said support rails includes an attachment element at an end portion of said support rail that is proximate said rear perimeter bent glass region of said shelf panel, and wherein said attachment element is configured to attach to an attaching structure of a refrigerator to mount said shelf assembly at the refrigerator. 31. The shelf assembly of claim 30, wherein said generally planar portions include a plurality of protrusions to set a bond layer thickness of said cured adhesive layer between said support rails and said lower attachment surfaces of said shelf panel. 32. The shelf assembly of claim 30, wherein said glass shelf panel comprises a substantially transparent glass material, said cured adhesive layer comprising a substantially transparent material. 33. The shelf assembly of claim 32, wherein said cured adhesive layer comprises an optical index that generally corresponds with an optical index of said substantially transparent glass material. 34. The shelf assembly of claim 30, wherein said support rails movably support said shelf panel such that said shelf panel is movable between an extended position and a retracted position. 35. The shelf assembly of claim 34, wherein each of said support rails comprises a fixed rail that is mountable in the refrigerator and a movable rail, and wherein said movable rails include said angled portions that are bonded to said lower attachment surfaces of said side perimeter bent glass regions of said shelf panel, said movable rails being movable along said fixed rails of said support rails to move said shelf panel relative to said fixed rails and between said extended and retracted positions. 36. The shelf assembly of claim 34, wherein each of said support rails includes at least one roller for rolling engagement between a movable portion and a fixed portion of said support rail. 37. The shelf assembly of claim 34 further comprising a handle element bonded to said front perimeter bent glass region. 38. The shelf assembly of claim 30, wherein each of said support rails comprises a fixed support rail. 39. The shelf assembly of claim 30, wherein said cured adhesive comprises a UV cured adhesive. 40. The shelf assembly of claim 30, wherein said cured adhesive comprises a UV cured acrylate adhesive. 41. A shelf assembly for use in a refrigerator, said shelf assembly comprising: a shelf panel comprising a single substantially transparent glass panel having a first optical index;said shelf panel comprising a generally planar glass shelf portion, a front perimeter bent glass region, a rear perimeter bent glass region and side perimeter bent glass regions;said front perimeter bent glass region, said rear perimeter bent glass region and said side perimeter bent glass regions being upwardly angled relative to said generally planar glass shelf portion;said upwardly angled side perimeter bent glass regions and said upwardly angled front and rear perimeter bent glass regions cooperating to provide a substantially continuous upwardly angled perimeter lip around said generally planar glass shelf portion;said side perimeter bent glass regions having upwardly angled lower attachment surfaces;a pair of support rails, each of said support rails having a generally vertical portion and an angled portion that extends at an angle from an upper edge region of said generally vertical portion, said angled portions of said support rails being angled to generally correspond to the angle of said upwardly angled side perimeter bent glass regions of said shelf panel;said angled portions of said support rails being bonded along said lower attachment surfaces of said side perimeter bent glass regions of said shelf panel via a cured adhesive layer, said cured adhesive layer having a second optical index, said first optical index substantially matching said second optical index; andwherein each of said support rails includes an attachment element at an end portion of said support rail that is proximate said rear perimeter bent glass region of said shelf panel, and wherein said attachment element is configured to attach to an attaching structure of a refrigerator to mount said shelf assembly at the refrigerator. 42. The shelf assembly of claim 41, wherein said angled portions of said support rails include generally planar portions that are bonded to said lower attachment surfaces of said side perimeter bent glass regions of said shelf panel. 43. The shelf assembly of claim 42, wherein said generally planar portions include a plurality of protrusions to set a bond layer thickness of said cured adhesive layer between said support rails and said lower attachment surfaces of said shelf panel. 44. The shelf assembly of claim 42 including spacing elements between said generally planar portions of said support rails and said lower attachment surfaces of said shelf panel, said spacing elements having a third optical index that substantially matches said first and second optical indexes. 45. The shelf assembly of claim 42, wherein said support rails include a plurality of protrusions extending from said generally planar portions to set a thickness of said adhesive layer between said generally planar portions of said support rails and said lower attachment surfaces of said shelf panel. 46. A shelf assembly for use in a refrigerator, said shelf assembly comprising: a shelf panel comprising a single substantially transparent tempered glass panel;said shelf panel comprising a generally planar glass shelf portion, a front perimeter bent glass region, a rear perimeter bent glass region and side perimeter bent glass regions;said front perimeter bent glass region, said rear perimeter bent glass region and said side perimeter bent glass regions being upwardly angled relative to said generally planar glass shelf portion;said upwardly angled side perimeter bent glass regions and said upwardly angled front and rear perimeter bent glass regions cooperating to provide a substantially continuous upwardly angled perimeter lip around said generally planar glass shelf portion;each of said side perimeter bent glass regions having an upwardly angled lower attachment surface, said upwardly angled lower attachment surfaces comprising generally planar surfaces;a pair of support rails, each of said support rails having a generally vertical portion and an angled portion that extends at an angle from an upper edge region of said generally vertical portion, said support rails comprising a coated metallic material;said angled portions of said support rails including generally planar portions and being angled to generally correspond to the angle of said upwardly angled side perimeter bent glass regions of said shelf panel, said generally planar portions of said angled portions of said support rails being bonded along said generally planar lower attachment surfaces of said side perimeter bent glass regions of said shelf panel via a UV cured adhesive layer, said support rails being viewable through said shelf panel when viewing said shelf panel from above said shelf assembly; andwherein each of said support rails includes an attachment element at an end portion of said support rail that is proximate said rear perimeter bent glass region of said shelf panel, and wherein said attachment element is configured to attach to an attaching structure of a refrigerator to mount said shelf assembly at the refrigerator. 47. The shelf assembly of claim 46, wherein said support rails movably support said shelf panel such that said shelf panel is movable between an extended position and a retracted position. 48. The shelf assembly of claim 47, wherein each of said support rails comprises a fixed rail that is mountable in the refrigerator and a movable rail, and wherein said movable rails include said angled portions that are bonded to said lower attachment surfaces of said side perimeter bent glass regions of said shelf panel, said movable rails being movable along said fixed rails of said support rails to move said shelf panel relative to said fixed rails and between said extended and retracted positions. 49. The shelf assembly of claim 47, wherein each of said support rails includes at least one roller for rolling engagement between a movable portion and a fixed portion of said support rail. 50. The shelf assembly of claim 47 further comprising a handle element bonded to said front perimeter bent glass region. 51. The shelf assembly of claim 46, wherein each of said support rails comprises a fixed support rail. 52. The shelf assembly of claim 46, wherein said support rails comprise white coated metallic support rails. 53. The shelf assembly of claim 46, wherein said cured adhesive comprises a substantially transparent UV cured adhesive. 54. A shelf assembly for use in a refrigerator, said shelf assembly comprising: a shelf panel comprising a glass material;said shelf panel comprising a generally planar glass shelf portion, a front perimeter region, a rear perimeter region and side perimeter bent glass regions;wherein said side perimeter bent glass regions are angled relative to said generally planar glass shelf portion;said side perimeter bent glass regions having lower attachment surfaces;a pair of support rails, each of said support rails having a generally vertical portion and an angled portion that extends at an angle from an upper edge region of said generally vertical portion, said angled portions of said support rails being angled to generally correspond to said lower attachment surfaces of said side perimeter bent glass regions of said shelf panel, said angled portions of said support rails being bonded via a cured adhesive layer along said lower attachment surfaces of said side perimeter bent glass regions of said shelf panel; andwherein each of said support rails includes an attachment element at an end portion of said support rail that is proximate said rear perimeter region of said shelf panel, and wherein said attachment element is configured to attach to an attaching structure of a refrigerator to mount said shelf assembly at the refrigerator. 55. The shelf assembly of claim 54, wherein said angled portions of said support rails include generally planar portions that are bonded to said lower attachment surfaces of said side perimeter bent glass regions of said shelf panel. 56. The shelf assembly of claim 54, wherein said angled portions of said support rails comprise curved portions. 57. The shelf assembly of claim 54, wherein said angled portions of said support rails include a plurality of protrusions extending therefrom to set a bond layer thickness of said cured adhesive layer between said angled portions of support rails and said lower attachment surfaces of said shelf panel. 58. The shelf assembly of claim 54, wherein said support rails movably support said shelf panel such that said shelf panel is movable between an extended position and a retracted position. 59. The shelf assembly of claim 58 further comprising a handle element bonded to said front perimeter region. 60. The shelf assembly of claim 58, wherein each of said support rails comprises a fixed rail that is mountable in the refrigerator and a movable rail, and wherein said movable rails include said angled portions that are bonded to said lower attachment surfaces of said side perimeter bent glass regions of said shelf panel, said movable rails being movable along said fixed rails of said support rails to move said shelf panel relative to said fixed rails. 61. The shelf assembly of claim 60, wherein one of said fixed rail and said movable rail includes at least one roller and the other of said fixed rail and said movable rail defines a track therealong, said roller rolling along said track as said shelf panel moves relative to said fixed rail. 62. The shelf assembly of claim 54 including a frame portion bonded to an upper surface and along at least one of said perimeter bent glass regions of said shelf panel, and wherein said frame portion provides a storage function for holding at least one item. 63. The shelf assembly of claim 54 including a frit layer along said side perimeter bent glass regions of said shelf panel. 64. The shelf assembly of claim 54, wherein said shelf panel comprises a substantially transparent glass material having a first optical index and said cured adhesive layer has a second optical index, said first optical index substantially matching said second optical index. 65. The shelf assembly of claim 64 including spacing elements between said angled portions of said support rails and said lower attachment surfaces of said shelf panel, said spacing elements having a third optical index that substantially matches said first and second optical indexes. 66. The shelf assembly of claim 54, wherein said shelf panel comprises tempered glass. 67. The shelf assembly of claim 54, wherein said cured adhesive comprises a UV cured adhesive. 68. The shelf assembly of claim 54, wherein said shelf panel comprises a substantially clear glass shelf panel, and wherein said UV cured adhesive comprises a substantially transparent UV cured adhesive, and wherein said support rails are viewable through said shelf panel when viewing said shelf panel from above said shelf assembly. 69. The shelf assembly of claim 54, wherein said support rails comprise coated metallic support rails. 70. The shelf assembly of claim 54, wherein said side perimeter bent glass regions comprise upwardly angled side perimeter bent glass regions and wherein said angled portions of said support rails comprise upwardly angled portions. 71. The shelf assembly of claim 70, wherein said front and rear perimeter regions comprise front and rear upwardly angled perimeter bent glass regions that are upwardly angled relative to said generally planar shelf portion. 72. A shelf assembly for use in a refrigerator, said shelf assembly comprising: a shelf panel comprising a single substantially transparent tempered glass panel;said shelf panel comprising a generally planar glass shelf portion, a front perimeter glass region, a rear perimeter glass region and side perimeter bent glass regions;wherein said side perimeter bent glass regions are angled relative to said generally planar glass shelf portion;each of said side perimeter bent glass regions having a lower attachment surface;a pair of support rails, each of said support rails having a generally vertical portion and an angled portion that extends at an angle from an upper edge region of said generally vertical portion, said support rails comprising a coated metallic material;wherein said support rails movably support said shelf panel such that said shelf panel is movable between an extended position and a retracted position, and wherein each of said support rails comprises a fixed rail that is mountable in the refrigerator and a movable rail, and wherein said movable rails include said angled portions that are bonded to said lower attachment surfaces of said side perimeter bent glass regions of said shelf panel, said movable rails being movable along said fixed rails of said support rails to move said shelf panel relative to said fixed rails and between said extended and retracted positions;wherein said angled portions of said support rails are angled to generally correspond to said lower attachment surfaces of said side perimeter bent glass regions of said shelf panel, said angled portions of said support rails being bonded along said lower attachment surfaces of said side perimeter bent glass regions of said shelf panel via a UV cured adhesive layer, and wherein said support rails are viewable through said shelf panel when viewing said shelf panel from above said shelf assembly; andwherein each of said support rails includes an attachment element at an end portion of said support rail that is proximate said rear perimeter glass region of said shelf panel, and wherein said attachment element is configured to attach to an attaching structure of a refrigerator to mount said shelf assembly at the refrigerator. 73. The shelf assembly of claim 72, wherein at least one of said front and rear perimeter glass regions comprises a generally planar perimeter glass region that is generally coplanar with said generally planar glass shelf portion. 74. The shelf assembly of claim 72, wherein said front and rear perimeter regions comprise generally planar perimeter regions that are generally coplanar with said generally planar glass shelf portion. 75. The shelf assembly of claim 72, wherein said front and rear perimeter regions comprise front and rear upwardly angled perimeter bent glass regions that are upwardly angled relative to said generally planar glass shelf portion. 76. The shelf assembly of claim 72, wherein said side perimeter bent glass regions comprise upwardly angled side perimeter bent glass regions and wherein said angled portions of said support rails comprise upwardly angled portions that generally correspond to said upwardly angled side perimeter bent glass regions of said shelf panel. 77. The shelf assembly of claim 72, wherein said lower attachment surfaces comprise generally planar surfaces, and wherein said angled portions of said support rails comprise generally planar portions. 78. The shelf assembly of claim 72, wherein each of said support rails includes at least one roller for rolling engagement between a movable portion and a fixed portion of said support rail. 79. The shelf assembly of claim 72 further comprising a handle element bonded to said front perimeter region. 80. The shelf assembly of claim 72, wherein said cured adhesive comprises a substantially transparent UV cured adhesive.
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