US3647075A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Shelf construction for a refrigerator door
Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp
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Filing: 1970-04-30
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Granted: 1972-03-07
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Expires: 1990-04-30
Abstract
Abstract A refrigerator door shelf is formed from a single piece of metallic sheet metal bent into an L-shape along its width to form the front wall and bottom of the shelf and bent into a general Ushape along the front wall to form the end walls of the shelf. A bent over tab is provided at the bottom termination of each of the end walls or legs forming the U-shape so that the bottom and end walls of the shelf may be riveted together to form a substantially rigid structure. The shelf is secured to a pair of stringer members extending in a vertical direction on and attached to the refrigerator door. The stringers include a series of vertically aligned rectangular apertures so that the shelf may be placed at varying heights on the refrigerator door. The shelf includes a pair of hooked portions at the inward termination of each of the end walls, with each of these hooked portions including upper and lower projections so that the shelf may be engaged in pairs of the vertical aligned apertures so as to not be easily accidentally knocked from its connection with the stringer members.
Inventors
- 👤 John R Aue
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 00:31
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47B; A47B57/00; A47B57/30; A47B57/40; A47B57/42; F; F25; F25D; F25D23/00; F25D23/02; F25D23/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
143 words
A shelf adapted to be adjustably positioned on a stringer means including; a. a one piece sheet member bent in an L-shape to form an integral bottom pan and front wall, b. end walls extending at least partially along ends of said bottom pan and formed integrally from said one piece sheet member by bending end portions of said front wall to form an Lshape at each end of said front wall, c. said end walls including integral hook means formed from said one piece sheet member for engagement with complementary means on said stringer means, and d. tab means integral with said end walls and formed from said one piece sheet member by bending bottom portions of said end walls at substantially right angles to said end walls for supporting at least a portion of said bottom pan from said end walls.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
143 words
A shelf adapted to be adjustably positioned on a stringer means including; a. a one piece sheet member bent in an L-shape to form an integral bottom pan and front wall, b. end walls extending at least partially along ends of said bottom pan and formed integrally from said one piece sheet member by bending end portions of said front wall to form an Lshape at each end of said front wall, c. said end walls including integral hook means formed from said one piece sheet member for engagement with complementary means on said stringer means, and d. tab means integral with said end walls and formed from said one piece sheet member by bending bottom portions of said end walls at substantially right angles to said end walls for supporting at least a portion of said bottom pan from said end walls.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The shelf set out in claim 1 wherein; a. fastening means maintain said tab means and bottom pan in rigid assembled relation.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
83 words
The shelf set out in claim 1 wherein; a. said integral bottom pan includes forward and rearward portions, b. said forward portion is offset vertically higher than said rearward portion, c. said forward and rearward portions extend substantially horizontal, and d. said tab means abuts the bottom of said forward portion and has its bottom in the same horizontal plane as the bottom of said rearward portion so that said forward and rearward portions are offset substantially the thickness of said tab means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
The shelf set out in claim 1 wherein; A. said bottom pan has formed at its rearward extent a downturned flange formed by bending the rear portion of said bottom pan in substantially a right angle.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
The shelf set out in claim 1 wherein; a. said hook means include integral upper and lower projections for maintaining said shelf on said stringer means by resisting turning movements imparted thereto.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
79 words
The shelf set out in claim 5 wherein; a. said integral upper and lower projections cooperate with said end walls of said shelf for forming said hook means, and b. at least one of said upper projections includes an angularly disposed edge, said angularly disposed edge being situated between the rearward termination of one of said end walls and the rearward termination of said one of said upper projections for facilitating engagement of said shelf with said stringer means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
145 words
A shelf for a refrigerator door including an end wall adapted to be adjustably positioned on a stringer member including; a. vertically aligned apertures in said stringer member, b. spacer members on said stringer member between said apertures, c. vertically aligned and vertically displaced hook means on said shelf, d. each of said hook means including upper and lower projections, e. notch means formed between each of said lower projections and said end wall, f. said shelf being normally supported by engagement of said notch means and said spacer members, g. said shelf being prevented from tipping dislodgement by said upper projections, h. one of said upper projections including an edge angulated relative to said end wall, and i. said angulated edge extending from adjacent said end wall to form an acute angle therebetween for ease in assembly of said shelf and said stringer member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
145 words
A shelf for a refrigerator door including an end wall adapted to be adjustably positioned on a stringer member including; a. vertically aligned apertures in said stringer member, b. spacer members on said stringer member between said apertures, c. vertically aligned and vertically displaced hook means on said shelf, d. each of said hook means including upper and lower projections, e. notch means formed between each of said lower projections and said end wall, f. said shelf being normally supported by engagement of said notch means and said spacer members, g. said shelf being prevented from tipping dislodgement by said upper projections, h. one of said upper projections including an edge angulated relative to said end wall, and i. said angulated edge extending from adjacent said end wall to form an acute angle therebetween for ease in assembly of said shelf and said stringer member.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-03-07 | 1975-09-06 | 1976-03-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-03-07 | 1979-09-06 | 1980-03-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-03-07 | 1983-09-06 | 1984-03-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |