The present disclosure relates, generally, to refrigerator appliances and, more particularly, to systems and methods for powering lighted shelves in refrigerator appliances.
A refrigerator is an appliance used to store food items at preset temperatures. A refrigerator appliance typically includes one or more temperature-controlled compartments into which food items may be placed to preserve the food items for later consumption. A refrigerator appliance also typically includes a plurality of shelves on which the food items may be arranged within the one or more temperature-controlled compartments. In some refrigerator appliances, the plurality of shelves may be adjustable (i.e., the shelves may each be removably mounted in a plurality of shelf mounting positions). Some or all of the plurality of shelves may also carry one or more lighting devices for illuminating food items placed in the one or more temperature-controlled compartments.
According to one aspect, a refrigerator appliance may include a cabinet having a temperature-controlled compartment defined therein, a shelf ladder disposed in the temperature-controlled compartment and providing a plurality of shelf mounting positions, an electrical connector corresponding to each of the plurality of shelf mounting positions, wherein each of the electrical connectors comprises an actuator movable from a first position to a second position and an electrical contact configured to automatically move from a disengaged position to an engaged position in response to the actuator moving from the first position to the second position, and an adjustable shelf removably mountable in one of the plurality of shelf mounting positions such that the actuator of the corresponding electrical connector is held in the second position by a weight of the adjustable shelf and the electrical contact of the corresponding electrical connector engages the adjustable shelf.
In some embodiments, each of the electrical connectors may further include a resilient member that biases the actuator toward the first position, the resilient member being deformable by the weight of the adjustable shelf The adjustable shelf may include a mounting bracket configured to be cantilevered on the shelf ladder, and the mounting bracket may include a tab configured to extend through a slot formed in the shelf ladder to engage the corresponding electrical connector. A first surface of the tab that is configured to engage the actuator of the corresponding electrical connector and a second surface of the tab that is configured to interface with the electrical contact of the corresponding electrical connector may be perpendicular to one another.
In some embodiments, each of the electrical connectors may further include an additional electrical contact configured to automatically move from the disengaged position to the engaged position in response to the actuator moving from the first position to the second position. The electrical contact and the additional electrical contact may be configured to supply power at different current levels. The tab of the mounting bracket may include at least two conductors configured to interface with the electrical contact and the additional electrical contact of the corresponding electrical connector.
According to another aspect, an electrical connector for an adjustable refrigerator shelf may include a first lever having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the first lever being movable from a first position to a second position when a mounting bracket of the adjustable refrigerator shelf engages the first lever, and a second lever having a first section and a second section disposed at an angle to the first section, the second lever being movable from a disengaged position to an engaged position in which a first electrical contact carried by the second section engages the mounting bracket to supply power to the adjustable refrigerator shelf, wherein the first end of the first lever is coupled to the first section of the second lever such that movement of the first lever from the first position to the second position causes movement of the second lever from the disengaged position to the engaged position.
In some embodiments, the electrical connector may further include a resilient member that biases the first lever toward the first position. The first end of the first lever may include a protrusion extending therefrom which engages a track formed in the first section of the second lever.
In some embodiments, a housing supporting the electrical connector may be coupled to a shelf ladder having a slot formed therein. The first electrical contact carried by the second section of the second lever may be configured to interface with a first conductor carried by a tab of the mounting bracket that extends through the slot when the mounting bracket is cantilevered on the shelf ladder. The first lever may be pivotably coupled to the housing at the second end of the first lever, and the second lever may be pivotably coupled to the housing at a location where the first and second sections of the second lever meet.
In some embodiments, the electrical connector may further include a second electrical contact carried by the second section of the second lever. The second electrical contact may be configured to interface with a second conductor carried by the tab when the mounting bracket is cantilevered on the shelf ladder. The first and second electrical contacts may be configured to supply power to the adjustable refrigerator shelf at different current levels.
According to yet another aspect, a method may include removably mounting an adjustable shelf in a temperature-controlled compartment of a refrigerator such that a weight of the adjustable shelf rests against an actuator disposed in the refrigerator, wherein the weight of the adjustable shelf causes the actuator to move from a first position to a second position, and automatically moving an electrical contact from a disengaged position to an engaged position in response to the actuator moving from the first position to the second position, wherein the electrical contact supplies power to the adjustable shelf when in the engaged position.
In some embodiments, removably mounting the adjustable shelf in the temperature-controlled compartment of the refrigerator may include cantilevering a mounting bracket of the adjustable shelf on a shelf ladder disposed in the temperature-controlled compartment, where the actuator is disposed behind the shelf ladder. Cantilevering the mounting bracket of the adjustable shelf on the shelf ladder may cause a tab of the mounting bracket to extend through a slot formed in the shelf ladder and to engage the actuator. A first surface of the tab that is configured to engage the actuator and a second surface of the tab that is configured to interface with the electrical contact when in the engaged position may be perpendicular to one another.
In some embodiments, automatically moving the electrical contact from the disengaged position to the engaged position may include pivoting a first lever carrying the electrical contact, wherein the actuator comprises a second lever coupled to the first lever. The method may further include automatically moving an additional electrical contact from the disengaged position to the engaged position in response to the actuator moving from the first position to the second position, wherein the additional electrical contact supplies power to the adjustable shelf when in the engaged position. The electrical contact and the additional electrical contact may supply power at different current levels.
In some embodiments, the method may further include removing the weight of the adjustable shelf from the actuator such that the actuator moves from the second position to the first position under the influence of a resilient member that biases the actuator toward the first position and automatically moving the electrical contact from the engaged position to the disengaged position in response to the actuator moving from the second position to the first position, wherein the electrical contact remains clear of the adjustable shelf when in the disengaged position.
The detailed description particularly refers to the following figures, in which:
Where considered appropriate, reference labels have been repeated among the figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements.
While the concepts of the present disclosure are susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific exemplary embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intent to limit the concepts of the present disclosure to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
Referring to
The lower temperature-controlled compartment 106 is a freezer compartment 106A, and the refrigerator 100 includes a drawer 108 that is positioned in the freezer compartment 106A. The drawer 108 is moveable relative to the cabinet 104 such that food items may be placed in the drawer 108 for storage in the freezer compartment 106A and retrieved from the drawer 108 when ready for use. A handle 110 is located on the drawer 108 so that a user may open and close the drawer 108.
The upper temperature-controlled compartment 106 is a refrigerated compartment 106B into which a user may place and store food items such as milk, cheese, produce, etcetera. A pair of doors 112 are each hinged to the front of the cabinet 104 via a pair of hinge assemblies 114. The doors 112 permit user access to the refrigerated compartment 106B such that food items may be placed in and retrieved from the refrigerated compartment 106B. A handle 116 is located on each of the doors 112 so that a user may open and close the doors 112.
While the illustrative embodiment of the refrigerator 100 shown in
As shown in
The adjustable shelves 120 may be removably mounted within the refrigerated compartment 106B using any suitable mechanism. In the illustrative embodiment of the refrigerator 100 shown in
One illustrative embodiment of an adjustable shelf 120 that is removably mountable within the refrigerated compartment 106B is shown in
In the illustrative embodiment, the adjustable shelf 120 includes a pair of mounting brackets 204 that are spaced apart from one another the same distance as a pair of the shelf ladders 126 of the refrigerator 100. As described further below (with reference to
Some or all of the adjustable shelves 120 may carry one or more lighting devices 210 for illuminating food items placed in the refrigerated compartment 106B. For instance, each of the adjustable shelves 120 may carry one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs) 210. It is contemplated that, in some embodiments, some of the adjustable shelves 120 of the refrigerator 100 may not carry a lighting device (i.e., the refrigerator 100 may include both lighted and non-lighted adjustable shelves 120). Each lighting device 210 carried by an adjustable shelf 120 may be electrically coupled to a conductor 208 carried by one of the tabs 206 of a mounting bracket 204 of the adjustable shelf 120. As described further below, the conductor 208 may be electrically coupled to an electrical connector disposed behind one of the shelf ladders 126 when the adjustable shelf 120 is removably mounted in the refrigerated compartment 106B. As such, the corresponding lighting device 210 will also be electrically coupled to the electrical connector when the adjustable shelf is removably mounted in the refrigerated compartment 106B.
As shown in more detail in
In the illustrative embodiment of the refrigerator 100, one or more of the shelf ladders 126 may include a housing 304 positioned behind the shelf ladder(s) 126, as illustrated in
As described above (with reference to
As shown in the illustrative embodiment of
In the illustrative embodiment, the lever 402 of the electrical connector 306 includes two sections that are disposed at an angle to one another. This angle (denoted a in
The medial end of the lever 400 and the medial end of the lever 402 may be coupled to one another in any suitable fashion. In the illustrative embodiment shown in
The electrical connector 306 also includes a resilient member 420 that biases the lever 400 toward the slot 300 in the shelf ladder 126. In the illustrative embodiment of
The engagement of a mounting bracket 204 of an adjustable shelf 120 with the electrical connector 306 of
As the adjustable shelf 120 is positioned, the tab 206 of the mounting bracket will pass through the slot 300 and enter the housing 304. When the tab 206 reaches the electrical connector 306, the tab 206 will engage the protrusion 410 of the lever 400. The weight of the adjustable shelf 120 (or a portion thereof) will oppose the biasing force of the resilient member 420, causing the resilient member 420 to deform and the lever 400 to pivot on the hinge 408. As the lever 400 pivots, the interaction of the lever 400 and the lever 402 at the sliding joint 404 will cause the lever 402 to also pivot on its hinge 408. In this way, the lever 400 serves as an actuator of the electrical connector 306, causing the lever 402 to automatically move when the lever 400 is moved. This action results in the electrical contact 414 approaching and engaging the adjustable shelf 120.
When the electrical connector 306 is in the engaged position shown in
So long as the adjustable shelf 120 remains removably mounted, the weight of the adjustable shelf 120 will maintain the electrical connector in the position shown in
Referring now to
The electrical connector 306 illustrated in
In some embodiments, the two electrical contacts 414A, 414B may supply power at different current levels. For instance, one electrical contact 414A may supply power at a current level of 100 milliamps, while the other electrical contact 414B supplies power at a lower current level, such as, for example, 30 or 50 milliamps. Where the two electrical contacts 414A, 414B are configured to supply power to each adjustable shelf 120 at different current levels (e.g., 30, 50, or 100 milliamps), the adjustable shelves 120 may carry different types of LEDs 210. For instance, some adjustable shelves 120 may carry white LEDs 210, other adjustable shelves 120 may carry color LEDs 210, and still other adjustable shelves 120 may carry both white and color LEDs 210. Each adjustable shelf 120 may then electrically couple each of the LEDs 210 to the appropriate electrical contact 414 to receive power at the appropriate current level for that LED 210.
There are a plurality of advantages of the present disclosure arising from the various features of the systems, apparatus, and methods described herein. It will be noted that alternative embodiments of the systems, apparatus, and methods of the present disclosure may not include all of the features described yet still benefit from at least some of the advantages of such features. Those of ordinary skill in the art may readily devise their own implementations of the systems, apparatus, and methods that incorporate one or more of the features of the present disclosure and fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.
This application is a continuation of and claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/623,021, filed on Feb. 16, 2015, entitled “ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR FOR ADJUSTABLE REFRIGERATOR SHELF,” which is pending, which is a continuation of and claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/761,800, filed on Feb. 7, 2013, entitled “ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR FOR ADJUSTABLE REFRIGERATOR SHELF,” granted as U.S. Pat. No. 8,967,740, the entire disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
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