The present disclosure generally relates to a rear bracket, and more specifically, to a rear bracket for a shelf assembly.
Refrigerator appliance shelves may be mounted to a wall of the appliance and configured to support various goods including bottles. Where a shelf is configured to support bottles (e.g., a wine bottle rack), additional bracket support may be needed.
According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a rear bracket for a wall-mounted, appliance shelf assembly includes a central portion that defines a plurality of receiving wells. A first mounting portion is configured to align with a first wall of an appliance cabinet. The first mounting portion has a planar extent that extends parallel to a planar extent of the central portion. A second mounting portion is configured to align with a second wall of the appliance cabinet. The second mounting portion has a planar extent that extends perpendicular to the planar extent of the central portion. The second wall is positioned perpendicular to the first wall. A first fastener is configured to couple the first mounting portion with the first wall. A second fastener is configured to couple the second mounting portion with the second wall.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a wall-mounted shelf assembly for an appliance includes a rear bracket operably coupled with an appliance cabinet. The rear bracket includes a central portion that defines a plurality of receiving wells. A first mounting portion is aligned with a first wall of the appliance cabinet. The first mounting portion has a planar extent that extends parallel to a planar extent of the central portion. A second mounting portion is aligned with a second wall of the appliance cabinet. The second mounting portion has a planar extent that extends perpendicular to the planar extent of the central portion. The second wall is positioned perpendicular to the first wall. A shelf is configured to be operably coupled with the rear bracket.
According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, a wall-mounted shelf assembly for an appliance includes a rear bracket operably coupled with an appliance cabinet. The rear bracket includes a central portion that defines a plurality of receiving wells. A first mounting portion is operably coupled with a first wall of the appliance cabinet. The first mounting portion has a planar extent that extends parallel to a planar extent of the central portion. A second mounting portion is operably coupled with a second wall of the appliance cabinet. The second mounting portion has a planar extent that extends perpendicular to the planar extent of the central portion. A shelf is configured to be operably coupled with the rear bracket. A cover is configured to be positioned over the second mounting portion to at least partially conceal the rear bracket.
These and other features, advantages, and objects of the present disclosure will be further understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art by reference to the following specification, claims, and appended drawings.
In the drawings:
The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles described herein.
The present illustrated embodiments reside primarily in combinations of method steps and apparatus components related to a rear bracket for a shelf assembly. Accordingly, the apparatus components and method steps have been represented, where appropriate, by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present disclosure so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein. Further, like numerals in the description and drawings represent like elements.
For purposes of description herein, the terms “upper,” “lower,” “right,” “left,” “rear,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and derivatives thereof shall relate to the disclosure as oriented in
The terms “including,” “comprises,” “comprising,” or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. An element proceeded by “comprises a . . . ” does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of additional identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises the element.
Referring to
Referring now to
A plurality of shelves 38 are positioned within the cabinet 24 and extend between the first and second sidewalls 28A, 28B. In various examples, the plurality of shelves 38 may be parallel with the top wall 42 and/or the bottom wall 44. However, it is contemplated that the plurality of shelves 38 may have any orientation configured to retain bottles 40 without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.
The cabinet 24 further defines an access opening 50. A door assembly 52 may selectively cover the access opening 50, and a handle 54 may be provided to facilitate the opening and closing of the door assembly 52. Although the appliance 14 is illustrated as a wine cooler, or wine cellar, it is contemplated that the appliance 14 may be in the form of any appliance, which may include cooling appliances such as a refrigerator, a freezer, and any combination thereof. In some examples, the appliance 14 may include a vacuum insulated cooling appliance.
Referring still to
Referring now to
As illustrated in
Referring now to
The first and second central extensions 56, 58 are integrally formed with the central portion 16. In various examples, the first and second central extensions 56, 58 may extend forward of the central portion 16 such that the first and second central extensions 56, 58 intersect the central portion 16. Where the first and second central extensions 56, 58 extend forward from the central portion 16, the first and second central extensions 56, 58 frame the plurality of receiving wells 18.
With continued reference to
The first mounting portion defines a first opening 66 configured to receive the fastener 30. The first opening 66 may be generally circular and sized to receive the first fastener 30. Alternatively, the first opening 66 may be configured as a slot configured to slidably receive the first fastener 30 and extending horizontally across the first mounting portion 20. The spacing of the first mounting portion 20 relative to the rear wall 22 is configured to at least partially accommodate the first fastener 30 when the first fastener 30 is received through the first opening 66. As illustrated, the first fastener 30 may be a weld stud. However, it will be understood that the first fastener 30 may be a screw, adhesive, welding, or other fastener type based on the configuration of the cabinet 24 of the appliance 14.
As illustrated, the first opening 66 may be one of a plurality of first openings 66 that are longitudinally spaced apart along the first mounting portion 20. Where the first opening 66 is one of a plurality of first openings 66, the first fastener 30 may be one of a plurality of first fasteners 30. The number of first fasteners 30 may be the same or less than the number of first openings 66. The first mounting portion 20 is configured to be operably coupled with the real wall 22 by each of the plurality of fasteners 30 extending through one of the plurality of first openings 66.
Referring still to
The second mounting portion 26 defines a second opening 70 configured to receive the second fastener 32. The second opening 70 may be generally circular and sized to receive the second fastener 32. Alternatively, the second opening 70 may be configured as a slot extending horizontally across the second mounting portion 26. The second opening 70 as a slot may be configured to slidably receive the first fastener 30. As illustrated, the second fastener 32 may be a weld stud. However, it will be understood that the second fastener 32 may be a screw, adhesive, welding, or other fastener type based on the configuration of the cabinet 24 of the appliance 14. It is further contemplated that the first and second fasteners 30, 32 may be the same type of fastener or may be different types of fasteners without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.
As illustrated, the second opening 70 may be one of a plurality of second openings 70 spaced longitudinally along the second mounting portion 26. Where the second opening 70 is one of a plurality of second openings 70, the second fastener 32 may be one of a plurality of second fasteners 32. The number of second fasteners 32 may be the same or less than the number of second openings 70. The second mounting portion 26 is configured to be operably coupled with the respective sidewall 28A, 28B by each of the plurality of second fasteners 32 extending through one of the plurality of second openings 70.
As illustrated in
Referring still to
Referring now to
Referring again to
The cover 80 includes a first leg 82 positioned perpendicular to a second leg 84. The cover 80 is sized to cover at least the second fastener 32 and the second mounting portion 26. The first leg 82 of the cover 80 is generally planar and includes the retention hook 86 extending longitudinally along an end of the first leg 82, as introduced above. The retention hook 86 extends from the first leg 82 and is configured to be engaged with the engagement feature 74 of the second mounting portion 26. The retention hook 86 may be configured to fit over the engagement feature 74 of the second mounting portion 26. Alternatively, the retention hook 86 may be configured to engage with the engagement feature 74 by any other method configured to couple the cover 80 with the rear bracket 10.
The second leg 84 of the cover 80 is generally planar and may be positioned to abut the first central extension 56 between the first and second central extensions 56, 58. When the second leg 84 abuts, and/or is aligned with, the first central extension 56 forward of the central portion 16 of the rear bracket 10, the retention hook 86 of the first leg 82 of the cover 80 may be engaged with the engagement feature 74 of the bracket 10.
Referring again to
Referring now to
Each of the plurality of shelves 38 includes first and second edges 100, 102 aligned with the first and second sidewalls 28A, 28B of the cabinet 24. The first and second edges 100, 102 are integrally formed with a rear edge 106 aligned with one of the liner member 90 and the rear wall 22. While the plurality of shelves 38 are illustrated as bottle racks, it is contemplated that any storage feature may be supported by the rear bracket 10, including, for example, baskets, planar shelves, or sliding shelves.
Each shelf of the plurality of shelves 38 includes a plurality of hooks 110 extending from the rear edge 106. Each of the plurality of hooks 110 is configured to be received by one of the plurality of receiving wells 18 of the rear bracket 10. Each of the hooks 110 is selectively and removably engaged with one of the receiving wells 18. In various examples, where the first and second central extensions 56, 58 extend forward of the central portion 16 to frame the plurality of receiving wells 18, the first and second central extension 56, 58 may be configured to guide the hooks 110 into engagement with the respective receiving wells 18. The engagement between the plurality of hooks 110 and the plurality of receiving wells 18 couples the shelf 38 with the rear bracket 10. When the shelf 38 is coupled with the rear bracket 10, the second leg 84 of the cover 80 is aligned with, and may abut, one of the first and second edges 100, 102 of the shelf 38
Referring again to
According to one aspect, a rear bracket for a wall-mounted, appliance shelf assembly includes a central portion that defines a plurality of receiving wells. A first mounting portion is configured to align with a first wall of an appliance cabinet. The first mounting portion has a planar extent that extends parallel to a planar extent of the central portion. A second mounting portion is configured to align with a second wall of the appliance cabinet. The second mounting portion has a planar extent that extends perpendicular to the planar extent of the central portion. The second wall is positioned perpendicular to the first wall. A first fastener is configured to couple the first mounting portion with the first wall. A second fastener is configured to couple the second mounting portion with the second wall.
According to another aspect, first and second fasteners are weld studs.
According to another aspect, a longitudinal extent of a first mounting portion is parallel to a longitudinal extent of a second mounting portion.
According to another aspect, a rear bracket includes first and second central extensions that extend from a central portion and that are positioned to space the central portion away from a first wall.
According to another aspect, a first mounting portion extends from one of first and second central extensions.
According to another aspect, a first mounting portion includes a foot to space the first mounting portion away from a first wall.
According to another aspect, a wall-mounted shelf assembly for an appliance includes a rear bracket operably coupled with an appliance cabinet. The rear bracket includes a central portion that defines a plurality of receiving wells. A first mounting portion is aligned with a first wall of the appliance cabinet. The first mounting portion has a planar extent that extends parallel to a planar extent of the central portion. A second mounting portion is aligned with a second wall of the appliance cabinet. The second mounting portion has a planar extent that extends perpendicular to the planar extent of the central portion. The second wall is positioned perpendicular to the first wall. A shelf is configured to be operably coupled with the rear bracket.
According to another aspect, a wall-mounted shelf assembly includes a first fastener configured to couple a first mounting portion with a first wall. A second fastener is configured to couple a second mounting portion with a second wall.
According to another aspect, first and second fasteners are weld studs.
According to another aspect, a first wall is a rear wall of an appliance cabinet.
According to another aspect, a shelf includes a hook configured to be received by one of a plurality of receiving wells.
According to another aspect, a shelf is configured as a bottle rack.
According to another aspect, a wall-mounted shelf assembly includes a cover operably coupled with a second mounting portion. The cover is configured to at least partially conceal a rear bracket.
According to another aspect, a cover is configured to match an interior surface of an appliance cabinet.
According to another aspect, a wall-mounted shelf assembly for an appliance includes a rear bracket operably coupled with an appliance cabinet. The rear bracket includes a central portion that defines a plurality of receiving wells. A first mounting portion is operably coupled with a first wall of the appliance cabinet. The first mounting portion has a planar extent that extends parallel to a planar extent of the central portion. A second mounting portion is operably coupled with a second wall of the appliance cabinet. The second mounting portion has a planar extent that extends perpendicular to the planar extent of the central portion. A shelf is configured to be operably coupled with the rear bracket. A cover is configured to be positioned over the second mounting portion to at least partially conceal the rear bracket.
According to another aspect, a wall-mounted shelf assembly includes first and second central extensions extending from a central portion and positioned to space the central portion away from a first wall.
According to another aspect, a shelf is configured to be at least partially received by one of a plurality of receiving wells.
According to another aspect, a cover is generally L-shaped.
According to another aspect, a shelf is at least partially flush with a cover.
According to another aspect, a cover is operably coupled with a second mounting portion
It will be understood by one having ordinary skill in the art that construction of the described disclosure and other components is not limited to any specific material. Other exemplary embodiments of the disclosure disclosed herein may be formed from a wide variety of materials, unless described otherwise herein.
For purposes of this disclosure, the term “coupled” (in all of its forms, couple, coupling, coupled, etc.) generally means the joining of two components (electrical or mechanical) directly or indirectly to one another. Such joining may be stationary in nature or movable in nature. Such joining may be achieved with the two components (electrical or mechanical) and any additional intermediate members being integrally formed as a single unitary body with one another or with the two components. Such joining may be permanent in nature or may be removable or releasable in nature unless otherwise stated.
It is also important to note that the construction and arrangement of the elements of the disclosure as shown in the exemplary embodiments is illustrative only. Although only a few embodiments of the present innovations have been described in detail in this disclosure, those skilled in the art who review this disclosure will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible (e.g., variations in sizes, dimensions, structures, shapes and proportions of the various elements, values of parameters, mounting arrangements, use of materials, colors, orientations, etc.) without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the subject matter recited. For example, elements shown as integrally formed may be constructed of multiple parts or elements shown as multiple parts may be integrally formed, the operation of the interfaces may be reversed or otherwise varied, the length or width of the structures and/or members or connector or other elements of the system may be varied, the nature or number of adjustment positions provided between the elements may be varied. It should be noted that the elements and/or assemblies of the system may be constructed from any of a wide variety of materials that provide sufficient strength or durability, in any of a wide variety of colors, textures, and combinations. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present innovations. Other substitutions, modifications, changes, and omissions may be made in the design, operating conditions, and arrangement of the desired and other exemplary embodiments without departing from the spirit of the present innovations.
It will be understood that any described processes or steps within described processes may be combined with other disclosed processes or steps to form structures within the scope of the present disclosure. The exemplary structures and processes disclosed herein are for illustrative purposes and are not to be construed as limiting.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20210231363 A1 | Jul 2021 | US |