Patent Application
20240200861
The present embodiments relate to the method and apparatus for dividing a space within a basket of an appliance.
A divider within a basket is typically fixed in position or slidable between positions to organize contents. The divider may not allow enough customization for the user to organize contents as desired. As such, it may be beneficial to have one or more stowable dividers allowing the user to customize the basket space, minimize the loss of volume within the space when using dividers, and/or organize the contents (e.g. freezer contents) therein.
Therefore, there remains a need in the art to improve the storage of one or more baskets within an appliance.
In some embodiments of the invention, for example, a refrigerator appliance may include a basket body having a space therein for storing food, the space formed by a plurality of walls may include a first wall and an opposing second wall, wherein the basket body includes a first divider and at least one second divider, and wherein the first divider may include opposing first ends engaging the first wall and the opposing second wall, respectively, and wherein at least one second divider includes opposing second ends. In various embodiments, at least one second divider may be positioned in a stowed position engaged to the first divider and a deployed position disengaged from the first divider, and wherein when in the deployed position the opposing second ends of at least one second divider may engage the first wall and the opposing second wall, respectively.
In addition, in some embodiments, at least one second divider may be parallel to the first divider in both the stowed position and the deployed position. In various embodiments, the first divider may be fixed in position to the first wall and the opposing second wall. In some embodiments, the basket body may include an engagement mechanism releasably engaging at least one second divider to the first divider. In various embodiments, the engagement mechanism may be at least one of a pocket engagement, a clip engagement, and/or a magnetic engagement. In some embodiments, each one of the first wall and the opposing second wall includes a plurality of openings therein, wherein the opposing second ends of at least one second divider engage at least one first opening of the plurality of openings of the first wall and at least one second opening of the plurality of openings of the second wall when in the deployed position. In some embodiments, the first divider may include a first top wall and at least one second divider may include a second top wall, wherein the first top wall may be at a higher elevation that the second top wall when at least one second divider is in the deployed position. In various embodiments, the basket body may be a freezer basket.
In some embodiments, a basket for an appliance may include a body having a space therein for storing food, the space may be formed by a plurality of walls including a first wall and a second wall, wherein the body may include a first divider and at least one second divider, and wherein the first divider may include opposing first ends engaging the first wall and the second wall, respectively, and wherein at least one second divider includes opposing second ends. In various embodiments, at least one second divider may be positioned in a stowed position engaged to the first divider and at least one deployed position disengaged from the first divider, and wherein when in at least one deployed position the opposing second ends of at least one second divider may engage the first wall and the second wall, respectively.
In addition, in some embodiments, at least one second divider may be parallel to the first divider in both the stowed position and at least one deployed position. In various embodiments, the first divider may be fixed or movable in position relative to the first wall and the second wall. In some embodiments, the body may include an engagement mechanism releasably engaging at least one second divider to the first divider. In various embodiments, the engagement mechanism may be at least one of a pocket engagement, a clip engagement, and/or a magnetic engagement. In some embodiments, each one of the first wall and the second wall includes a plurality of openings therein, wherein the opposing second ends of at least one second divider may engage at least one first opening of the plurality of openings of the first wall and at least one second opening of the plurality of openings of the second wall when in at least one deployed position. In various embodiments, the first divider may include a first top wall and at least one second divider may include a second top wall, wherein the first top wall may be at a higher elevation than the second top wall when at least one second divider is in at least one deployed position. In various embodiments, at least one second divider may fit within an outer periphery of the first divider when in the stowed position.
In some embodiments, a method of partitioning the space of a basket of an appliance may include providing a basket body having a space therein for storing contents, the space may be formed by a plurality of walls including a first wall and an opposing second wall, wherein the basket body includes at least one first divider and at least one second divider, and wherein at least one first divider may include opposing first ends engaging the first wall and the opposing second wall, respectively, and wherein at least one second divider includes opposing second ends. In various embodiments, the method may include stowing at least one second divider in engagement with at least one first divider in a stowed position. In some embodiments, the method may include deploying at least one second divider away from at least one first divider to at least one deployed position, wherein when in at least one deployed position the opposing second ends of at least one second divider may engage the first wall and the opposing second wall, respectively.
In addition, in some embodiments, the method may include releasably engaging an engagement mechanism between at least one first divider and at least one second divider when in the stowed position. In various embodiments, the method may include engaging the opposing second ends of at least one second divider to at least one opening of a plurality of openings of each one of the first wall and the opposing second wall, respectively, when in at least one deployed position. In some embodiments, at least one second divider may be parallel to at least one first divider when in at least one deployed position and the stowed position.
This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter. All of the above-outlined features are to be understood as exemplary only, and many more features and objectives of the various embodiments may be gleaned from the disclosure herein. Therefore, no limiting interpretation of this summary is to be understood without further review of the entire specification, claims, and drawings included herewith. A more extensive presentation of features, details, utilities, and advantages of the present disclosure is provided in the following written description of various embodiments of the disclosure, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and defined in the appended claims.
In the drawings, like reference characters generally refer to the same parts throughout the different views. Also, the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead generally being placed upon illustrating the principles of the disclosure
Numerous variations and modifications will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art, as will become apparent from the description below. Therefore, the invention is not limited to the specific implementations discussed herein.
The embodiments discussed hereinafter will focus on the implementation of the hereinafter-described techniques and apparatuses within a residential refrigerator appliance such as refrigerator appliance 10, such as the type that may be used in single-family or multi-family dwellings, or in other similar applications. However, it will be appreciated that the herein-described techniques and apparatuses may also be used in connection with other types of refrigerator/freezer/dishwasher appliances in some embodiments. For example, the herein-described techniques may be used in commercial applications in some embodiments. Moreover, the herein-described techniques may be used in connection with various refrigerator appliance configurations. Implementation of the herein-described techniques within refrigerators, freezers, fresh food compartments, bottom freezer refrigerators, compact refrigerators/freezers, chest freezers, standing freezers, side by side refrigerator, etc. would be well within the abilities of one of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the instant disclosure, so the embodiments are not limited to the freezer refrigerator implementation as shown in
Turning now to the drawings, the Figures illustrate an example refrigerator appliance 10 in which the various technologies and techniques described herein may be implemented. Refrigerator appliance 10 is depicted in this example as a bottom freezer refrigerator, and as such includes a front-mounted bottom freezer door 12 in a cabinet or housing 14 that provides access to the freezer compartment 13 housed within the cabinet or housing 14, and when in the open position (
In some implementations, the one or more dividers 20 may include at least one first divider 20a and at least one second divider 20b. The first divider 20a (e.g. body) may be an elongated wall having opposing first ends 20a1. The first ends 20a1 may engage opposing walls 33 of the basket 30. The first ends 20a1 of the first divider 20a may engage the first wall 33a and the second wall 33b, respectively, at one or more locations. The first divider 20a may be positioned perpendicular to the bottom/first/second wall 33d/33a/33b and/or parallel to one or more side walls 33c. The first divider 20a may be fixed in a single position/location between the first wall 33a and the second wall 33b as shown in the one embodiment in
In some implementations, the second divider 20b may be positionable between at least one stowed position and at least one deployed position. When in the stowed position, one or more second dividers 20b engage the first divider 20a. As shown in the Figures, two second dividers 20b may be stowed with the first divider. For example, one second divider may be stowed on each side 23a of the first divider 20a. Alternatively, only one second divider 20b may be stowed with the first divider or more than two second dividers. The first divider or sides 23a thereof may be similar as shown in the Figures. Alternatively, the sides 23a of the first divider may be different. For example, if different, one side 23a may not stow a second divider 20b or may be able to stow a different second divider 20b than the other side 23a. In the stowed position, the second divider 20b may be positioned parallel to the first divider 20a and/or one or more side walls 33c. The second divider 20b may be sized/shaped to fit within the outer periphery of the first divider when stowed. In the stowed position, at least a portion of the second divider 20b may engage or directly contact the first divider 20a. In some embodiments as shown in the Figures, the second divider 20b may only engage the first divider 20a when in the stowed position. In the stowed position, if the first divider 20a is movable the second divider 20b may be carried with the first divider 20a between one or more positions. In at least one deployed position, the second divider 20b is disengaged from and/or spaced away the first divider 20a. In the one or more deployed positions, the second divider 20b partitions the remaining space/volume 32 defined by the first divider 20a. In the deployed position, the second divider 20b may be positioned parallel to the first divider 20a. The second divider 20b (e.g. body) may be an elongated wall having opposing second ends 20b1. The second ends 20b1 may engage opposing walls 33 of the basket 30 when in the deployed position. The second ends 20b1 of the second divider 20b may engage the first wall 33a and the second wall 33b, respectively, at one or more deployed locations/positions. In the deployed position, the second divider 20b may be positioned perpendicular to the bottom/first/second wall 33d/33a/33b and/or parallel to one or more side walls 33c and/or first divider 20a. The second divider 20b may be releasably engaged in a single deployed position/location between the first wall 33a and the second wall 33b in some embodiments. As shown in
In some implementations, the appliance 10, basket 30, and/or dividers 20 (e.g. first, second), or portions thereof, may include one or more first engagement mechanisms 40 releasably engaging at least one second divider 20b to at least one first divider 20a in the stowed position. One or both sides 23a, 23b of the first/second divider may have a portion of the first engagement mechanism 40. The first engagement mechanism 40 may releasably engage the second divider 20b between the stowed position and the deployed position relative to the first divider 20a. The first engagement mechanism 40 may be a variety of shapes, sizes, quantities, and constructions and still be within the scope of the invention. For example, as shown in the one embodiment in
In some implementations, the appliance 10, basket 30, and/or dividers 20 (e.g. first, second), or portions thereof, may include one or more second engagement mechanisms 50 releasably engaging at least one second divider to the basket, or portions thereof, in the deployed position. The second engagement mechanism 50 may releasably engage the second divider 20b in the stowed position relative to the first divider 20a and/or basket 30, or portions thereof. The second engagement mechanism 50 releasably engages the opposing second ends 20b1 of the second divider 20b to the walls 33 (e.g. opposing walls, first wall and second wall, opposing side walls) of the basket 30 (e.g. body) when in at least one deployed position. The second engagement mechanism 50 may be a variety of shapes, sizes, quantities, and constructions and still be within the scope of the invention. For example, the one or more second engagement mechanisms 50 may be a releasable engagement between one or more protrusions 51 and one or more openings 52 between the second divider 20b, or portions thereof, (e.g. opposing second ends) and body 31, or portions thereof. For example as shown in the one embodiment in
In use, the user may select the positions of the one or more dividers 20 to partition a variety of spaces 32 to organize one or more contents within the basket 30 (e.g. freezer). If the one or more second dividers 20b are in the stowed position with the first divider 20a and the first divider 20a is movable, the user may position the combined first and second dividers 20a and 20b in one position in a variety of positions. For example, if slidable the user may slide the first/second divider to a predetermined position. In embodiments where the first divider is in a fixed/movable position within the basket body, the user may, if desired, deploy at least one of the second dividers 20b to at least one of the deployed positions on one or more sides of the first divider 20a. The user may disengage the first engagement mechanism 40 to deploy the second divider 20b away from the first divider 20a. The user may then releasably engage the second engagement mechanism 50 of the second divider 20b with the basket body 31. For example, the opposing second ends 20b1 may be engaged to the opposing walls 33 (e.g. first and second walls, one or more openings) of the basket 30 when in the deployed position. If another second divider 20b is stowed with the first divider 20a, the user may disengage the first engagement mechanism 40 and deploy the additional second divider 20b on the same side/space of the first divider 20a within the basket or the other side/space of the first divider 20a within the basket at another deployed position engaging the second engagement mechanism 50. The user may stow the one or more second dividers if desired to increase the space or volume previously partitioned. The user may disengage the second engagement mechanism 50 between the second divider and the basket body 31 (e.g. opposing walls, one or more openings) and releasably engage the second divider 20b with the first divider 20a in the stowed position by engaging the first engagement mechanism 40.
While several inventive embodiments have been described and illustrated herein, those of ordinary skill in the art will readily envision a variety of other means and/or structures for performing the function and/or obtaining the results and/or one or more of the advantages described herein, and each of such variations and/or modifications is deemed to be within the scope of the inventive embodiments described herein. More generally, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that all parameters, dimensions, materials, and configurations described herein are meant to be exemplary and that the actual parameters, dimensions, materials, and/or configurations will depend upon the specific application or applications for which the inventive teachings is/are used. Those skilled in the art will recognize, or be able to ascertain using no more than routine experimentation, many equivalents to the specific inventive embodiments described herein. It is, therefore, to be understood that the foregoing embodiments are presented by way of example only and that, within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereto, inventive embodiments may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described and claimed. Inventive embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to each individual feature, system, article, material, kit, and/or method described herein. In addition, any combination of two or more such features, systems, articles, materials, kits, and/or methods, if such features, systems, articles, materials, kits, and/or methods are not mutually inconsistent, is included within the inventive scope of the present disclosure.
All definitions, as defined and used herein, should be understood to control over dictionary definitions, definitions in documents incorporated by reference, and/or ordinary meanings of the defined terms.
The indefinite articles “a” and “an,” as used herein in the specification and in the claims, unless clearly indicated to the contrary, should be understood to mean “at least one.”
The phrase “and/or,” as used herein in the specification and in the claims, should be understood to mean “either or both” of the elements so conjoined, i.e., elements that are conjunctively present in some cases and disjunctively present in other cases. Multiple elements listed with “and/or” should be construed in the same fashion, i.e., “one or more” of the elements so conjoined. Other elements may optionally be present other than the elements specifically identified by the “and/or” clause, whether related or unrelated to those elements specifically identified. Thus, as a non-limiting example, a reference to “A and/or B”, when used in conjunction with open-ended language such as “comprising” can refer, in one embodiment, to A only (optionally including elements other than B); in another embodiment, to B only (optionally including elements other than A); in yet another embodiment, to both A and B (optionally including other elements); etc.
As used herein in the specification and in the claims, “or” should be understood to have the same meaning as “and/or” as defined above. For example, when separating items in a list, “or” or “and/or” shall be interpreted as being inclusive, i.e., the inclusion of at least one, but also including more than one, of a number or list of elements, and, optionally, additional unlisted items. Only terms clearly indicated to the contrary, such as “only one of” or “exactly one of,” or, when used in the claims, “consisting of,” will refer to the inclusion of exactly one element of a number or list of elements. In general, the term “or” as used herein shall only be interpreted as indicating exclusive alternatives (i.e. “one or the other but not both”) when preceded by terms of exclusivity, such as “either,” “one of,” “only one of,” or “exactly one of.” “Consisting essentially of,” when used in the claims, shall have its ordinary meaning as used in the field of patent law.
As used herein in the specification and in the claims, the phrase “at least one,” in reference to a list of one or more elements, should be understood to mean at least one element selected from any one or more of the elements in the list of elements, but not necessarily including at least one of each and every element specifically listed within the list of elements and not excluding any combinations of elements in the list of elements. This definition also allows that elements may optionally be present other than the elements specifically identified within the list of elements to which the phrase “at least one” refers, whether related or unrelated to those elements specifically identified. Thus, as a non-limiting example, “at least one of A and B” (or, equivalently, “at least one of A or B,” or, equivalently “at least one of A and/or B”) can refer, in one embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one, A, with no B present (and optionally including elements other than B); in another embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one, B, with no A present (and optionally including elements other than A); in yet another embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one, A, and at least one, optionally including more than one, B (and optionally including other elements); etc.
It should also be understood that, unless clearly indicated to the contrary, in any methods claimed herein that include more than one step or act, the order of the steps or acts of the method is not necessarily limited to the order in which the steps or acts of the method are recited.
In the claims, as well as in the specification above, all transitional phrases such as “comprising,” “including,” “carrying,” “having,” “containing,” “involving,” “holding,” “composed of,” and the like are to be understood to be open-ended, i.e., to mean including but not limited to. Only the transitional phrases “consisting of” and “consisting essentially of” shall be closed or semi-closed transitional phrases, respectively, as set forth in the United States Patent Office Manual of Patent Examining Procedures, Section 2111.03. It should be understood that certain expressions and reference signs used in the claims pursuant to Rule 6.2(b) of the Patent Cooperation Treaty (“PCT”) do not limit the scope.
