Powered adjustable shelf for refrigerator appliance
원문보기
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
F25D-025/02
A47B-057/42
F25D-027/00
F25D-011/00
출원번호
US-0422509
(2017-02-02)
등록번호
US-9989298
(2018-06-05)
발명자
/ 주소
Wantland, Louis A.
Chellappan, Bagawathkumar
Leachman, William Jeremy
출원인 / 주소
Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
대리인 / 주소
Dority & Manning, P.A.
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
0인용 특허 :
5
초록▼
A refrigerator appliance includes a cabinet and a powered track disposed within the cabinet for receiving adjustable shelves at various shelf mounting positions. The powered track can include a first and a second power bus in electrical communication with a power source. The adjustable shelf can inc
A refrigerator appliance includes a cabinet and a powered track disposed within the cabinet for receiving adjustable shelves at various shelf mounting positions. The powered track can include a first and a second power bus in electrical communication with a power source. The adjustable shelf can include a first electrical connector and a second electrical connector that are biased in electrical communication with the first and second power bus, respectively, when the adjustable shelf is mounted to the powered track.
대표청구항▼
1. A refrigerator appliance, comprising: a cabinet defining a volume;a powered track disposed within the cabinet for providing a plurality of shelf mounting positions and configured in electrical communication with a power source, the powered track extending between a top portion and a bottom portio
1. A refrigerator appliance, comprising: a cabinet defining a volume;a powered track disposed within the cabinet for providing a plurality of shelf mounting positions and configured in electrical communication with a power source, the powered track extending between a top portion and a bottom portion, the powered track comprising: a first support member defining a plurality of openings;a first bus bar coupled with the first support member and defining a plurality of openings each in alignment with a corresponding one of the plurality of openings of the first support member, the first bus bar extending between the top portion and the bottom portion of the powered track;a second support member coupled with the first support member; anda second bus bar spaced from the first bus bar and coupled with the second support member, the second bus bar extending between the top portion and the bottom portion of the powered track; andan adjustable shelf having at least one bracket attached to or formed integrally with the adjustable shelf for mounting the adjustable shelf to the powered track in one of the shelf mounting positions, the at least one bracket comprising: a body extending between a first end and a second end;a first tab extending from the second end of the body and having a first electrical connector, wherein when the adjustable shelf is mounted to the powered track at any one of the shelf mounting positions, the first electrical connector is in electrical communication with the first bus bar; anda second tab extending from the second end of the body and having a second electrical connector, wherein when the adjustable shelf is mounted to the powered track at any one of the shelf mounting positions, the second electrical connector is in electrical communication with the second bus bar. 2. The refrigerator appliance of claim 1, wherein the first tab includes a hook for securing the adjustable shelf to the powered track, and wherein the first electrical connector is positioned on the hook. 3. The refrigerator appliance of claim 2, wherein the cabinet defines a vertical direction, and wherein the hook comprises a vertical face oriented substantially along the vertical direction, and wherein the first electrical connector is positioned on the vertical face of the hook such that when the adjustable shelf is mounted to the powered track, the first electrical connector is biased against the first bus bar. 4. The refrigerator appliance of claim 1, wherein the first bus bar comprises a front surface and a rear surface, the front surface positioned flush with the first support member, and wherein the first electrical connector of the at least one bracket is positioned on a hook, and wherein when the adjustable shelf is mounted to the powered track at one of the shelf mounting positions, the first electrical connector is in electrical communication with the rear surface of the first bus bar. 5. The refrigerator appliance of claim 1, wherein the powered track defines the plurality of openings of the first support member and the plurality of openings of the first bus bar, together, defining a plurality of mounting openings for receiving the adjustable shelf, and wherein the first support member comprises a forward surface and the second bus bar comprises a forward surface, and wherein a depth of at least one of the mounting openings extends between the forward surface of the first support member and the forward surface of the second bus bar, and wherein, when the adjustable shelf is mounted to the powered track, the bracket extends into the at least one mounting opening a distance greater than the depth in such a way that the second electrical contact deflects the second bus bar, biasing the second bus bar against the second electrical contact. 6. The refrigerator appliance of claim 1, wherein the cabinet defines a vertical direction, a horizontal direction, and a transverse direction, the cabinet further defining a vertical centerline along the horizontal direction, and wherein the powered track is oriented substantially along the vertical centerline of the cabinet. 7. The refrigerator appliance of claim 1, wherein the refrigerator appliance defines a vertical direction and a horizontal direction and wherein the plurality of openings of the first support member and the first bus bar are oriented in two or more columns in the vertical direction and one or more rows in the horizontal direction. 8. The refrigerator appliance of claim 1, wherein the powered track is powered by a constant voltage source. 9. The refrigerator appliance of claim 1, wherein the powered track is powered by a constant current source. 10. The refrigerator appliance of claim 1, wherein the adjustable shelf comprises a light source in electrical communication with the first and second electrical connectors for delivering power to the light source, wherein the light source is in electrical communication with the first and second electrical connectors by a wired connection. 11. The refrigerator appliance of claim 1, wherein the at least one bracket attached to or formed integrally with the adjustable shelf supports at least a part of the adjustable shelf by cantilever. 12. A refrigerator appliance defining a vertical direction, a horizontal direction, and a transverse direction, comprising: a cabinet defining a volume;a powered track disposed within the cabinet and configured to be in electrical communication with a power source, the powered track extending between a top portion and a bottom portion, the powered track comprising: a first support member defining a plurality of openings;a first bus bar coupled with the first support member and defining a plurality of openings each in alignment with a corresponding one of the plurality of openings of the first support member, the first bus bar extending between the top portion and the bottom portion of the powered track; anda second bus bar spaced from the first bus bar, the second bus bar extending between the top portion and the bottom portion of the powered track; andan adjustable shelf extending between a first end and a second end, the second end having a first electrical connector and a second electrical connector located thereon or integral with the second end; andwherein, when the adjustable shelf is mounted to the powered track, the first electrical connector is in electrical communication with the first bus bar and the second electrical connector is in electrical communication with the second bus bar. 13. The refrigerator appliance of claim 12, wherein the adjustable shelf comprises at least one bracket attached to or formed integrally with the adjustable shelf, the bracket extending along the transverse direction between a first end and a second end and having a mounting hook located at the second end of the bracket for securing the adjustable shelf to the powered track, and wherein the first electrical connector is positioned on the hook. 14. The refrigerator appliance of claim 13, wherein the hook comprises a vertical face oriented along the vertical direction, and wherein the first electrical connector is positioned on the vertical face of the hook such that when the hook is inserted through one of the openings in the first support member and the first bus bar, the first electrical connector is biased in contact with the first bus bar. 15. The refrigerator appliance of claim 12, wherein the powered track defines the plurality of openings of the first support member and the plurality of openings of the first bus bar, together, as a plurality of mounting openings, and wherein the first support member comprises a forward surface and the second bus bar comprises a forward surface, and wherein a depth of the mounting opening extends between the forward surface of the first support member and the forward surface of the second bus bar, and wherein, when the adjustable shelf is mounted to the powered track, the bracket and the second electrical contact extend into the mounting opening a distance greater than the depth in such a way that the second electrical contact deflects the second bus bar, thereby biasing the second bus bar against the second electrical contact. 16. The refrigerator appliance of claim 12, wherein the second bus bar is spaced from the first bus bar in the transverse direction by a second support member. 17. A refrigerator appliance defining a vertical direction, a horizontal direction, and a transverse direction, the refrigeration appliance extending in the transverse direction between a front end and a rear end, the refrigerator appliance comprising: a cabinet defining a volume;a powered track mounted to a rear wall of the cabinet and configured to be in electrical communication with a power source, the powered track comprising: a first support member defining a plurality of openings arranged in a first column and a second column;a first, left bus bar coupled with the first support member and defining a plurality of openings each in alignment with a corresponding one of the plurality of openings arranged in the first column of the first support member, the first, left bus bar positioned rearward of the first support member along the transverse direction;a first, right bus bar coupled with the first support member and defining a plurality of openings each in alignment with a corresponding one of the plurality of openings arranged in the second column of the first support member, the first, right bus bar positioned rearward of the first support member along the transverse direction and spaced from the first, left bus bar along the horizontal direction;a second support member coupled with the first support member; anda second, left bus bar positioned rearward of and spaced from the first, left bus bar along the transverse direction, the second, left bus bar coupled with the second support member;a second, right bus bar positioned rearward of and spaced from the first, right bus bar along the transverse direction, the second, right bus bar spaced from the second, left bus bar along the horizontal direction, the second, right bus bar coupled with the second support member; andan adjustable shelf having a bracket attached to or formed integrally with the adjustable shelf for mounting the adjustable shelf to the powered track, the bracket comprising: a body extending between a first end and a second end;a first tab extending from the second end of the body and having a first electrical connector, wherein when the adjustable shelf is mounted to the powered track, the first electrical connector is in electrical communication with the first, left bus bar or the first, right bus bar; anda second tab extending from the second end of the body and having a second electrical connector, wherein when the adjustable shelf is mounted to the powered track, the second electrical connector is in electrical communication with the second, left bus bar or the second, right bus bar. 18. The refrigerator appliance of claim 17, wherein the second support member comprises: a pair of opposed transverse members extending along the transverse direction between a front portion and a rear portion and along the vertical direction between a top portion and a bottom portion, wherein a gap is defined between the opposed transverse members;a plurality of horizontal members, at least one of the plurality of horizontal members extending between the opposed transverse members proximate the top portion and at least one of the plurality of horizontal members extending between the opposed transverse members proximate the bottom portion; anda plurality of retention members, at least one of the retention members extending between the opposed transverse members proximate the top portion and rearward of the horizontal member extending between the opposed transverse members proximate the top portion along the transverse direction and at least one of the retention members extending between the opposed transverse members proximate the bottom portion and rearward of the horizontal member extending between the opposed transverse members proximate the bottom portion along the transverse direction, wherein a slit is defined between the horizontal member and the retention member extending between the opposed transverse members proximate the top portion and wherein a slit is defined between the horizontal member and the retention member extending between the opposed transverse members proximate the bottom portion;wherein the second, left bus bar and the second, right bus are disposed within the slits such that the second, left bus bar and the second, right bus bar are coupled with the second support member. 19. The refrigerator appliance of claim 17, wherein the first, right bus bar is electrically connected in series with the second, right bus bar, the second, right bus bar is electrically connected in series with the first, left bus bar, and the first, left bus bar is electrically connected in series with the second, left bus bar.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (5)
Kerner, James, Electrical connector for adjustable refrigerator shelf.
Slesinger Bruce M. (70 Lundy\s La. San Francisco CA 94110) Collom Thomas L. (1449 Willard St. San Francisco CA 94117) Neidhardt Frank (320 Webster St. Palo Alto CA 94301), Integrally powered modular furniture.
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