Patent Application
20070119807
This invention relates to a moveable bin divider for use in a door bin, and which is constructed for being moved and held in rigid engagement with a bin to securely divide the bin into at least two, and optimally more than two (multiple) storage regions. More specifically, the invention relates to such a bin divider and a combination of a bin with such a moveable bin divider for use, in particular, in a bin supported on the inside wall of a door of a storage compartment such as a refrigerator.
Bins have been known for use in storage compartments, such as, for example, in refrigerators for many years. Such bins are typically used for storing smaller articles and/or selected specialty articles such as milk bottles, jam bottles, ketchup bottles, etc. and other like small items which are desired to be easily reached when searching for an item, for example, which is stored in a refrigerator.
In the past, such bins have been supported against the inside wall of at least one door of a refrigerator, for example, in secure engagement through a number of securing mechanisms. Typically, in many cases such bins are mounted on an inner wall thereof flush against the inner wall of the refrigerator door. In more recent times, it has become desirable to provide dividers for sectioning off different sections of the bin such that, for example, smaller items can be stored in a smaller section without becoming mixed with larger items and therefore becoming more difficult to access. The bin divider can be separate from or integral with the bin. Clearly, integral dividers allow the user no flexibility in the divider location.
A problem with moveable arrangements has often been however, that there is no way to conveniently and securely attach a moveable bin divider within the bin in a manner where the bin divider does not move and is tightly engaged by the bin. Examples of such arrangements include and are not limited to dividers, which overlap a front wall of the bin in sliding engagement. Any jostling of items as a result of opening and closing the refrigerator door will result in movement of the bin divider if the bin is not completely filled, such that an attempt at defining a precise divided space within the bin is frustrated.
In accordance with the invention, these and other problems of the existing constructions are avoided.
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a moveable bin divider for use in a door bin. The divider includes a divider plate of a size for extending a length from the rear wall of a bin and through at least a portion of the depth thereof to divide the bin into storage sections. The bin with which the divider is used is of the type which is supported on an inner door of a storage compartment in a manner wherein the outside of a rear wall of the bin is spaced from the inner wall of the door on which it is supported. A panel is integral with the divider plate at a rear thereof and is perpendicular thereto. The panel includes a first portion extending vertically at least above the height of a rear wall of a bin in which it is used, with a bridge portion extending over a rear wall of the bin and connecting a second portion of the panel to the first portion to have the second portion parallel and partly coextensive with the first portion, on the outside of the rear wall of the bin. The second portion terminates at the bottom end in one of a tongue or groove integral therewith to be engaged in a respective corresponding one of a groove and tongue located on the outside rear wall of the bin with which it is engaged.
In one aspect, the one of a tongue and groove at the end of the second portion is a tongue, with the corresponding one of a groove and tongue on the bin being a groove. Alternatively, the reverse arrangement can be provided.
The bridge portion is sized to have the first portion and the second portion be biased in physical contact with a wall of the bin with which it is used, on both sides of the wall. In this manner, by engagement between the respective tongue and grooves of the second portions and outside portion of the bin wall, combined with the physical contact between the portions of the divider and the wall of the bin, a secure and relatively non-moveable engagement, except when a user actually exerts a physical force thereon to move the divider, is accomplished resulting in a secure but removable, where desired, bin divider and bin arrangement.
In another aspect, there is provided a combination bin and bin divider for the door of a storage compartment substantially in a manner described previously, with the bin having either a tongue or groove at the rear thereof in engagement with a corresponding one of a groove or tongue at the end of the second portion of the panel of the bin divider. In another aspect, the storage compartment is a refrigerator.
Having thus briefly described the invention, the same will become better understood from the following detailed description made with reference to the several views of the drawing, wherein:
More specifically, as shown in
In order to mount the bins 2 and the support member 10, the lugs 19 are received in slots 12 in a manner such that the rear face 17 of sidewall 16 abuts against front walls 13 with sidewall 18 facing sidewalls 11 of the supporting members 10. The spacing bar 7 abuts against the rear wall of sidewalls 18 to assist in having the bins 2 in relatively horizontal position without contacting the inner wall 4, and maintaining a space between the outside 15 of the rear wall of the bin 2 and the inner wall 4 of the refrigerating door 1, so that a moveable or adjustable bin divider 31 as shown in
The moveable divider 31 in accordance with the invention is illustrated in
In terms of preferred materials, as will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, the divider 31 can be made of semi-flexible material similar to those for the bin 2 such as plastic material. The first portion 37, the bridge portion 41 and a second portion 39 preferably are shaped and dimensioned to provide a clamping force on the wall 15. The second portion 39 and bridge 41 are required to have some elasticity to be allowed to widen and be received over the back wall 15 of the bin 2 for engagement therewith. The dividing plate 33 can be pulled up by a user to disengage or slide the divider 31 along the bin 2 to remove or adjust the divider to a different lateral location in the bin 2. Such materials are well known to those of ordinary skill in the art and need not be explained in further detail herein.
Similarly, while a specific engagement arrangement has been shown for engaging the divider 31 with the bins 2 supported adjacent the inner wall 4 of a refrigerator door 1, it need not be limited to this specific arrangement and other alternative arrangements can be provided so long as a sufficient space is maintained between the rear wall 15 of the bin 2 and the inner wall 4 of the refrigerator door 1. Further, although not preferable, the divider can be engaged on the front wall 9 of the bin 2.
Finally, while the invention has been described in the context of a refrigerator and refrigerator bins, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that it need not be limited to refrigerators and can be implemented in any storage arrangement, such as a pantry, etc. in which a door is used to support bins in a spaced manner from the inner wall of the door, so that a bin and bin divider arrangement in accordance with the description herein can be employed.
Having thus generally described the invention, the same will become better understood from the claims which follow in which it is set forth in a non-limiting manner.
