SIDE SUPPORT ASSEMBLY WITHIN A REFRIGERATOR APPLIANCE

Abstract

A method of assembling a refrigerator appliance includes sliding, approximately in the transverse direction, an inner side of a side support along an inner wall of an inner liner, and aligning, in the transverse direction and the vertical direction, each of a plurality of hooks of the side support with a respective cutout of a plurality of cutouts of the inner liner and a plurality of locators of the side support with a plurality of locating slots of the inner liner.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present subject matter relates generally to refrigerator appliances, and more particularly, to refrigerator appliances having cooled compartments.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Certain refrigerator appliances utilize sealed systems for cooling chilled chambers of the refrigerator appliances. A typical sealed system includes an evaporator and a fan, the fan generating a flow of air across the evaporator and cooling the flow of air. The cooled air is then provided through an opening into the chilled chamber to maintain the chilled chamber at a desired temperature. Air from the chilled chamber is circulated back through a return duct to be re-cooled by the sealed system during operation of the refrigerator appliance, maintaining the chilled chamber at the desired temperature.

Certain refrigerators appliances also include multiple fresh food and/or freezer compartments configured for maintaining different temperatures for storing different types of food and drink. For example, a conventional quad door bottom mount refrigerator has a fresh food chamber positioned above a freezer chamber. More specifically, a freezer compartment may be maintained at a conventional freezer temperature (e.g., around 0° F.), while a fresh food compartment may be at a conventional fresh food compartment temperature (e.g., between 0° F. and 37° F.).

Refrigerator appliances commonly have side supports for supporting drawers or platforms within the fresh food and/or freezer compartments. Typically, the side support is installed after a foaming process and are securely fastened via one or more screws in combination with screw anchors/plates installed before the foaming process. However, this assembly process is laborious and uses many parts: multiple screws and screw anchors are used per side support, each requiring a dedicated assembly step.

Accordingly, a refrigerator appliance including a side support that is easier to install would be useful. More particularly, a refrigerator appliance including a side support assembled without multiple screws and screw anchors would be advantageous.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present subject matter provides a refrigerator appliance including a cooled chamber. Additional aspects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the following description, or may be apparent from the description, or may be learned through practice of the invention.

In one example embodiment, a refrigerator appliance defines a vertical direction, a lateral direction, and a transverse direction. The vertical, lateral, and transverse directions are mutually perpendicular. The refrigerator appliance includes a cabinet extending between a front side and a back side along the transverse direction, and between a top and a bottom along the vertical direction. The cabinet includes an inner liner defining a cooled chamber. The inner liner includes a plurality of cutouts through an inner wall of the inner liner, and a plurality of locating slots on the inner wall of the inner liner. A side support is mounted within the cooled chamber. The side support includes a plurality of hooks and a plurality of locators on an inner side of the side support. Each of the plurality of hooks of the side support is aligned in the transverse direction and in the vertical direction with a respective cutout of the plurality of cutouts of the inner liner and wherein the plurality of locators of the side support are aligned in the transverse direction and in the vertical direction with the plurality of locating slots of the inner liner.

According to another example embodiment is a method of assembling a refrigerator appliance. The refrigerator appliance defines a vertical direction, a lateral direction, and a transverse direction. The vertical, lateral, and transverse directions are mutually perpendicular. The refrigerator appliance includes a cabinet extending between a front side and a back side along the transverse direction, and a top and a bottom along the vertical direction. The cabinet includes an inner liner defining a cooled chamber. The inner liner includes a plurality of cutouts through an inner wall of the inner liner, and a plurality of locating slots on the inner wall of the inner liner. A side support is mounted within the cooled chamber. The side support includes a plurality of hooks and a plurality of locators on an inner side of the side support. The method includes sliding, approximately in the transverse direction, the inner side of the side support along the inner wall of the inner liner, and aligning, in the transverse direction and the vertical direction, each of the plurality of hooks of the side support with a respective cutout of the plurality of cutouts of the inner liner and the plurality of locators of the side support with the plurality of locating slots of the inner liner.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following description and appended claims. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention, including the best mode thereof, directed to one of ordinary skill in the art, is set forth in the specification, which makes reference to the appended figures.

FIG. 1 provides a front elevation view of a refrigerator appliance according to example embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 provides a perspective view of the example refrigerator appliance of FIG. 1, with the doors in an open position.

FIG. 3 provides a side view of an example interior of the example refrigerator appliance of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 provides a front perspective view of an inner liner of a freezer chamber of the example refrigerator appliance of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 provides a perspective view of a section of an inner wall of the inner liner of FIG. 4 according to aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 provides a front perspective view of an example side support according to aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 7 provides a rear perspective view of the example side support of FIG. 6, according to aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 8 provides a rear perspective view of a section of the example side support of FIG. 6.

FIG. 9 provides a rear perspective view another section of the example side support of FIG. 6.

FIG. 10 illustrates a flow diagram of an example method of assembling a refrigerator appliance according to aspects of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference now will be made in detail to embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the invention, not limitation of the invention. In fact, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the scope of the invention. For instance, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used with another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers such modifications and variations as come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

Approximating language, as used herein throughout the specification and claims, may be applied to modify any quantitative representation that could permissibly vary without resulting in a change in the basic function to which it is related. Accordingly, a value modified by a term or terms, such as “generally,” “about,” “approximately,” and “substantially,” are not to be limited to the precise value specified. In at least some instances, the approximating language may correspond to the precision of an instrument for measuring the value, or the precision of the methods or machines for constructing or manufacturing the components and/or systems. For example, the approximating language may refer to being within a ten percent (10%) margin, i.e., including values within ten percent greater or less than the stated value.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, a refrigerator appliance 10 according to an embodiment of the present subject matter defines a vertical direction V, a lateral direction L, and a transverse direction T, each mutually perpendicular to one another. As may be seen, the refrigerator appliance 10 includes a housing or cabinet 12 that extends between a top 14 and a bottom 16 along the vertical direction V, between a left side 18 and a right side 20 along the lateral direction L, and between a front side 15 (FIG. 3) and a rear side 17 (FIG. 3) along the transverse direction T.

Cabinet 12 generally defines a refrigerating compartment 100 (FIG. 2) for receipt of items for storage in cool environments. In particular, refrigerating compartment 100 may be positioned at or adjacent to the top 14 of cabinet 12. It should be appreciated, however, that the refrigerating compartment 100 may be positioned at any suitable location within refrigerator appliance 10. For example, in one embodiment, the refrigerating compartment 100 may extend from top 14 to bottom 16 along the vertical direction V.

The refrigerator appliance 10 may include one or more refrigerator doors 40, 50 rotatably mounted to the cabinet, e.g., such that the refrigerator doors 40, 50 permit selective access to the refrigerating compartment 100. As shown, in some embodiments, the refrigerator doors 40, 50 include a right refrigerator door 40 and a left refrigerator door 50. The right refrigerator door 40 may be rotatably mounted to cabinet 12 at the right side 20 of cabinet 12. The left refrigerator door 50 may be rotatably mounted to the left side 18 of the cabinet 12. A handle 108 may be positioned on each of the refrigerator doors 40, 50 to facilitate movement of the doors 40, 50 between a fully closed position (FIG. 1) and a fully open position (FIG. 2).

The refrigerator appliance 10 may also include a dispenser assembly 132 for dispensing liquid water and/or ice. The dispenser assembly 132 may include a dispenser 134 positioned on or mounted to an exterior portion of the refrigerator appliance 10, e.g., on the left refrigerator door 50. In addition, refrigerator appliance 10 may include a freezer drawer 150 arranged below the refrigerator doors 40, 50 for selectively accessing items within a freezer chamber 149 (FIG. 3). The freezer drawer 150 may include a handle 152 that is slidably mounted to cabinet 12. Accordingly, freezer drawer 150 may be moved in and out of freezer chamber 149 along the transverse direction T.

As shown in FIG. 2, various storage components may be mounted within food storage chamber 100 to generally facilitate storage of food items. In certain embodiments, the storage components include bins 116, drawers 120, and shelves 122 that are mounted within the fresh food chamber 100. The bins 116, drawers 120, and shelves 122 are configured for receipt of items (e.g., beverages and/or solid food items, medications, etc.) and may assist with organizing such food items. In some embodiments, a plurality of shelves 122 may divide the refrigerating compartment 100 into a plurality of cooling zones 110. For instance, as shown in FIG. 2, refrigerating compartment 100 may define a first cooling zone 112, a second cooling zone 113, and a third cooling zone 114.

FIGS. 3 and 4 provide a side view of a liner 101 (FIG. 3) and a front perspective view of an inner liner 151 (FIG. 4) within cabinet 12 of refrigerator appliance 10 according to example embodiments of the present disclosure. One would understand that the embodiment described in FIG. 4 is provided by way of example only, and aspects of the present subject matter may be applied to any type or configuration of cooled chambers in refrigerating appliances, such as fresh food compartments or chambers. In general, liner 101 and inner liner 151 may define refrigerating compartment 100 and freezer chamber 149, respectively. In particular, FIG. 4 illustrates inner liner 151 of refrigerator appliance 10. In particular, inner liner 151 may define freezer chamber 149, e.g., freezer drawer 150 may be received within freezer chamber 149 of inner liner 151. Inner liner may generally define an inner wall 160 within freezer chamber 149, whereby freezer drawer 150 may be slidably attached to inner liner 151 via a side support. Particularly, inner wall 160 and a side support 200 will be described in further detail hereinbelow.

Seen in FIG. 5 is section A of FIG. 4, which provides a closer perspective of elements of inner wall 160 of inner liner 151. For example, as seen in FIG. 5, inner liner 151 may include a support shelf 162 extending in the lateral direction L from the inner wall 160 of the inner liner 151. Further, inner liner 151 may include a plurality of cutouts 164 through inner wall 160 of the inner liner 151, and a plurality of locating slots 166 on inner wall 160 of the inner liner 151. The plurality of cutouts 164 as well as the plurality of locating slots 166 on inner wall 160 may be spread along the transverse direction at varying positions between front side 15 and rear side 17 of cabinet 12. In particular, as shown in FIG. 5, inner wall 160 may include three (3) cutouts 164 defining the plurality of cutouts 164 and three (3) slots defining the plurality of slots 166. In the present example embodiment, at least one slot 166 of the plurality of slots 166 may expand in the vertical direction V, and the other slots 166 of the plurality of slots 166 may expand in the transversal direction T. For example, as seen in FIG. 5, the slot 166 of the plurality of slots 166 positioned proximate front side 15 and the slot 166 of the plurality of slots 166 positioned proximate rear side 17 are wider in the transverse direction T than the vertical direction V. and conversely, the other slot 166 between the two slots defined above, is wider in the vertical direction V than in the transversal direction T. The plurality of cutouts 164 and the plurality of slots 166 will be further described hereinbelow.

Turning now to FIG. 6, an example side support 200 of refrigerator appliance 10 is shown in a front perspective view. In general, side support 200 may be defined between an inner side 202 and an outer side 210, as well as between front side 15 and rear side 17 of cabinet 12. Inner side 202 of side support 200 may be generally configured to mount to inner liner 151 as will be described hereinbelow. Outer side 210 of side support 200 may include a rail 220 configured to couple with freezer drawer 150. For the sake of brevity, the system for sliding freezer drawer 150 along rail 220 of side support 200 has been omitted, as one of skill in the art would generally understand the system for sliding freezer drawer 150 into and out of freezer chamber 149 in the transverse direction T.

Referring now to FIG. 7, shown is a rear perspective view of side support 200 of refrigerator appliance 10. As stated above, inner side 202 of side support 200 may be generally configured to mount to inner liner 151. For example, the side support 200 may include a plurality of hooks 204 and a plurality of locators 206 on inner side 202 of the side support 200. In general, the positioning of each respective hook 204 of the plurality of hooks 204 on inner side 202 of side support 200 may be complementary to the positioning of each respective cutout 164 of the plurality of cutouts 164 through inner wall 160 of the inner liner 151. In general, each hook 204 of the plurality of hooks 204 may locate side support 200 within the freezer chamber 149 in the lateral direction L. Additionally, the positioning of each respective locator 206 of the plurality of locators 206 on inner side 202 of the side support 200 may be complementary to the positioning of each respective slot 166 of the plurality of slots 166 on inner wall 160 of the inner liner 151. In general, the plurality of locators 206 may locate side support 200 within the freezer chamber 149 in both of the transverse direction T and the vertical direction V.

For example, mounting side support 200 to inner liner 151 of the refrigerator appliance 10 may include the process of sliding, approximately in the transverse direction T, inner side 202 of side support 200 along inner wall 160 of inner liner 151. Additionally, mounting side support 200 to inner liner 151 of the refrigerator appliance 10 may include aligning, in the transverse direction T and the vertical direction V, each of the plurality of hooks 204 of side support 200 with the respective cutouts 164 of the plurality of cutouts 164 of inner liner 151 and the plurality of locators 206 of the side support with the respective slots 166 of the plurality of locating slots 166 of inner liner 151. In other words, each of the plurality of hooks 204 of side support 200 may be aligned in the transverse direction T and in the vertical direction V with a respective cutout 164 of the plurality of cutouts 164 of inner liner 151, and the plurality of locators 206 of side support 200 may be aligned in the transverse direction T and in the vertical direction V with the plurality of locating slots 166 of inner liner 151. In some example embodiments, a bottom side 212 of side support 200 may be configured to translate along support shelf 162 of inner liner 151 in order to align each of the plurality of hooks 204 of side support 200 with the respective cutouts 164 of the plurality of cutouts 164 of inner liner 151 and the plurality of locators 206 of side support 200 with the plurality of locating slots 166 of inner liner 151, in the vertical direction V. In particular, one or more locators 206 of the plurality of locators 206 may engage with the respective slots 166 of the plurality of locating slots 166 in order to locate side support 200 in the vertical direction V. Additionally, in some example embodiments, one or more locators 206 of the plurality of locators 206 may engage with the respective slot 166 of the plurality of locating slots 166 in order to locate the side support 200 in the transverse direction T, as will be described hereinbelow.

More specifically, in some example embodiments, like as shown in FIG. 8, which provides a closer perspective of elements in section B of FIG. 7 of side support 200, the one or more locators 206 of the plurality of locators 206 may include a vertical biasing element 214. For example, the vertical biasing element 214 of the one or more locators 206 of the plurality of locators 206 may compress within the respective slots 166 of the plurality of locating slots 166 biasing side support 200 downward in the vertical direction V.

Furthermore, in some example embodiments, like as shown in FIG. 9, which provides a closer perspective of elements in section C of FIG. 7 of side support 200, the one or more locators 206 of the plurality of locators 206 may include a transversal biasing element 216. For example, when mounting side support 200 to inner liner 151, the transversal biasing element 216 of the one or more locators 206 of the plurality of locators 206 may compress within the respective slot 166 of the plurality of locating slots 166 in order to bias side support 200 in the transverse direction T. In general, the transverse locator, e.g., the transversal biasing element 216, may be accessible in the event of desired removal of side support 200, such as for replacement. In such an event, transversal biasing element 216 may be compressed and retracted to allow side support 200 to be pulled, in the transverse direction T, forward and thus removed from inner liner 151. In particular, disposing transversal biasing element 216 at a top edge of side support 200 (FIG. 7) makes transversal biasing element 216 accessible to a user in conjunction with the respective slot 166 of the plurality of locating slots 166. More specifically, access to the transversal biasing element from within the respective slot 166 of the plurality of locating slots 166 permits retraction of transversal biasing element 216, and removal of side support 200 in the transverse direction T out of inner liner 151.

As may be seen in both FIGS. 8 and 9, each hook 204 of the plurality of hooks 204 of side support 200 may include a perimeter surface 208 extending in the lateral direction L from inner side 202 of side support 200. In general, when mounting side support 200 to inner liner 151, perimeter surface 208 of each hook 204 of the plurality of hooks 204 may compress inner liner 151 between perimeter surface 208 and the respective hook 204 of the plurality of hooks 204. In particular, each hook 204 of the plurality of hooks 204 of side support 200 may be generally configured to sealingly compress side support 200 to inner liner 151, whereby the plurality of cutouts 164 of inner liner 151 may be sealed during assembly of refrigerator appliance 10. For example, sealing the plurality of cutouts 164 is important for assembling refrigerator appliance 10, such as during a foaming step where foam is injected between inner liner 151 and cabinet 12 in order to insulate freezer chamber 149.

As one skilled in the art will appreciate, the above described embodiments are used only for the purpose of explanation. Modifications and variations may be applied, other configurations may be used, and the resulting configurations may remain within the scope of the invention. For example, the refrigerator appliance 10 is provided by way of example only and aspects of the present subject matter may be incorporate into any one of a column refrigerator appliance, a built-in refrigerator appliance, a stand-alone refrigerator appliance, a freezer appliance, or any other suitable appliance. In particular, the embodiment of freezer chamber 149 described in FIG. 4 is provided by way of example only, and aspects of the present subject matter may be applied to any type or configuration of cooled chambers in refrigerating appliances.

Referring now to FIG. 10, a flow diagram of one embodiment of a method 300 of assembling a refrigerator appliance 10 is illustrated in accordance with aspects of the present subject matter. In general, method 300 will be described herein with reference to the embodiments of refrigerator appliance 10 and related elements described above with reference to FIGS. 1-9. However, it should be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that the disclosed method 300 may generally be utilized in association with apparatuses and systems having any other suitable configuration. In addition, although FIG. 10 depicts steps performed in a particular order for purposes of illustration and discussion, the method discussed herein is not limited to any particular order or arrangement. One skilled in the art, using the disclosures provided herein, will appreciate that various steps of the method disclosed herein can be omitted, rearranged, combined, and/or adapted in various ways without deviating from the scope of the present disclosure.

As shown in FIG. 10, at (310), method 300 generally includes sliding, approximately in the transverse direction T, inner side 202 of side support 200 along inner wall 160 of inner liner 151. Moreover, at (320), method 300 generally include aligning, in the transverse direction T and the vertical direction V, each of the plurality of hooks 204 of side support 200 with the respective cutouts 164 of the plurality of cutouts 164 of inner liner 151 and the plurality of locators 206 of the side support with the respective slots 166 of the plurality of locating slots 166 of inner liner 151.

As may be seen from the above, the present disclosure provides an apparatus and a method for structurally, accurately, and repeatably mounting a side support structure (e.g., for freezer bin/meat pan drawer slides, or vegetable pan roller guides, etc.) to a liner within the refrigerator appliance prior to a foaming process and without screws/screw anchors. A plurality of biased, two-way locators in combination with paired hooks may hold the side support structure tightly against the liner wall and located firmly against the formed features in the liner. The liner wall structure includes a liner wall, a plurality of cutouts, a support shelf, and a plurality of locating slots, e.g., one or more of the slots configured for restraining up-down and/or restraining front-back. The side support may include a plurality of hooks, perimeter surfaces around each hook, a bottom surface, and a plurality of locators, e.g., one or more of the locators configured for restraining up-down and/or restraining front-back. During the assembly, the side support part is properly oriented and brought into contact with liner wall and support shelf of the liner wall structure. The side support part is pushed back toward the back of the liner. The plurality of hooks may catch the liner cutouts and pull the side support part into the liner. The plurality of locators may engage the slots restraining up-down and front-back.

This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they include structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages of the claims.

Claims

1. A refrigerator appliance defining a vertical direction, a lateral direction, and a transverse direction, the vertical, lateral, and transverse directions being mutually perpendicular, the refrigerator appliance comprising: a cabinet extending between a front side and a back side along the transverse direction, and between a top and a bottom along the vertical direction, the cabinet comprising an inner liner defining a cooled chamber, the inner liner comprising a plurality of cutouts through an inner wall of the inner liner, and a plurality of locating slots on the inner wall of the inner liner; anda side support mounted within the cooled chamber, the side support comprising a plurality of hooks and a plurality of locators on an inner side of the side support,wherein each of the plurality of hooks of the side support is aligned in the transverse direction and in the vertical direction with a respective cutout of the plurality of cutouts of the inner liner and wherein the plurality of locators of the side support are aligned in the transverse direction and in the vertical direction with the plurality of locating slots of the inner liner.

2. The refrigerator appliance of claim 1, wherein the inner liner of the cabinet defines a support shelf, a bottom side of the side support is configured to translate along the support shelf of the inner liner to align each of the plurality of hooks of the side support with the respective cutout of the plurality of cutouts of the inner liner and the plurality of locators of the side support with the plurality of locating slots of the inner liner, in the vertical direction.

3. The refrigerator appliance of claim 1, wherein each hook of the plurality of hooks of the side support comprises a perimeter surface, the perimeter surface extending from the inner side of the side support, wherein, the perimeter surface of each hook of the plurality of hooks is configured to compress the inner liner between the perimeter surface and the respective hook of the plurality of hooks.

4. The refrigerator appliance of claim 1, wherein one or more locators of the plurality of locators each engage with a respective slot of the plurality of locating slots to locate the side support in the vertical direction.

5. The refrigerator appliance of claim 4, wherein the one or more locators of the plurality of locators comprises a vertical biasing element, wherein the vertical biasing element of the one or more locators of the plurality of locators is configured to compress within the respective slots of the plurality of locating slots to bias the side support down in the vertical direction.

6. The refrigerator appliance of claim 1, wherein one or more locators of the plurality of locators each engage with a respective slot of the plurality of locating slots to locate the side support in the transverse direction.

7. The refrigerator appliance of claim 6, wherein the one or more locators of the plurality of locators comprises a transversal biasing element, wherein the transversal biasing element of the one or more locators of the plurality of locators is configured to compress within the respective slots of the plurality of locating slots, whereby the side support is biased in the transverse direction by the transversal biasing element of the one or more locators, and wherein access to the transversal biasing element from within the respective slots of the plurality of locating slots permits retraction of the transversal biasing element, and removal of the side support in the transverse direction out of the inner liner.

8. The refrigerator appliance of claim 1, wherein each hook of the plurality of hooks of the side support is configured to sealingly compress the side support to the inner liner, whereby the plurality of cutouts of the inner liner are sealed during assembly of the refrigerator appliance.

9. The refrigerator appliance of claim 1, wherein each hook of the plurality of hooks is configured to locate the side support within the cooled chamber in the lateral direction.

10. The refrigerator appliance of claim 1, wherein the refrigerator appliance is one of a column refrigerator appliance, a built-in refrigerator appliance, a stand-alone refrigerator appliance, and a freezer appliance.

11. A method of assembling a refrigerator appliance, the refrigerator appliance defining a vertical direction, a lateral direction, and a transverse direction, the vertical, lateral, and transverse directions being mutually perpendicular, the refrigerator appliance comprising a cabinet extending between a front side and a back side along the transverse direction, and between a top and a bottom along the vertical direction, the cabinet comprising an inner liner defining a cooled chamber, the inner liner comprising a plurality of cutouts through an inner wall of the inner liner and a plurality of locating slots on the inner wall of the inner liner, the refrigerator appliance further comprising a side support mounted within the cooled chamber, the side support comprising a plurality of hooks and a plurality of locators on an inner side of the side support, the method comprising: sliding, approximately in the transverse direction, the inner side of the side support along the inner wall of the inner liner; andaligning, in the transverse direction and the vertical direction, each of the plurality of hooks of the side support with a respective cutout of the plurality of cutouts of the inner liner and the plurality of locators of the side support with the plurality of locating slots of the inner liner.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the inner liner of the cabinet defines a support shelf, wherein sliding the inner side of the side support along the inner wall of the inner liner comprises translating a bottom side of the side support along the support shelf of the inner liner to align each of the plurality of hooks of the side support with the respective cutout of the plurality of cutouts of the inner liner and the plurality of locators of the side support with the plurality of locating slots of the inner liner, in the vertical direction.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein each hook of the plurality of hooks of the side support comprises a perimeter surface, the perimeter surface extending from the inner side of the side support, the method further comprising compressing the inner liner between the perimeter surface of each hook and the respective hook of the plurality of hooks when mounting the side support to the inner liner.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein, sliding the inner side of the side support along the inner wall of the inner liner further comprises engaging the one or more locators of the plurality of locators each with a respective slot of the plurality of locating slots to locate the side support in the vertical direction.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the one or more locators of the plurality of locators comprises a vertical biasing element, wherein sliding the inner side of the side support along the inner wall of the inner liner further comprises compressing the vertical biasing element of the one or more locators of the plurality of locators within the respective slots of the plurality of locating slots to bias the side support in the vertical direction.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein sliding the inner side of the side support along the inner wall of the inner liner further comprises engaging one or more locators of the plurality of locators with a respective slot of the plurality of locating slots to locate the side support in the transverse direction.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the one or more locators of the plurality of locators comprises a transversal biasing element, wherein sliding the inner side of the side support along the inner wall of the inner liner further comprises compressing the transversal biasing element of the one or more locators of the plurality of locators within the respective slots of the plurality of locating slots to bias the side support in the transversal direction, further comprising removing the side support, wherein removing the side support comprises accessing the transversal biasing element, retracting the transversal biasing element, and pulling the side support in the transverse direction out of the inner liner.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein aligning each of the plurality of hooks of the side support with the plurality of cutouts of the inner liner further comprises sealingly compressing the side support to the inner liner by each hook of the plurality of hooks of the side support, whereby the plurality of cutouts of the inner liner are sealed during assembly of the refrigerator appliance.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein aligning each of the plurality of hooks of the side support with the plurality of cutouts of the inner liner further comprises locating, by each hook of the plurality of hooks, the side support within the cooled chamber in the lateral direction.

20. The method of claim 11, whereby one of a column refrigerator appliance, a built-in refrigerator appliance, a stand-alone refrigerator appliance, and a freezer appliance is formed.