MX2007004515A

MX2007004515A - Method of manufacturing a vertically adjustable shelf bracket.

Info

Publication number: MX2007004515A
Application number: MX2007004515A
Authority: MX
Inventors: Craig Bienick
Original assignee: Gemtron Corp
Priority date: 2006-04-14
Filing date: 2007-04-13
Publication date: 2008-12-01
Also published as: EP1844679A1; US20070246625A1; CA2583887A1; JP2007289688A; KR20070102437A

Abstract

A shelf bracket is manufactured by providing a shelf bracket member having an opening of a predetermined size. A pin includes opposite end portions, a medial portion and a single collar which is of a size larger than the size of the opening of the shelf bracket member. The medial portion of the pin is inserted into the shelf bracket member opening and a portion of the volume of the medial portion of the pin is swaged toward the one collar creating a second collar such that the shelf bracket and pin are clamped together by the two collars.

Description

A METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING A VERTICALLY ADJUSTABLE SHELF SUPPORT FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to adjustable shelving for refrigerators, but is equally adaptable for use in a wide variety of different environments, such as furniture shelves, cabinets shelves, display screens at points of sale and the like.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION More specifically, the invention relates to a novel method of manufacturing a shelf support that can be used singularly or in multiple varieties to support a cantilevered shelf, relative to a vertical plane. When the shelf is used in conjunction with a refrigerator compartment, the refrigerator compartment preferably includes one or more vertical rails, tracks, or tracks along which the shelf, and particularly shelf racks thereof, can be selectively adjusted and vertically to accommodate the heights of said shelves and achieve a desired spacing between them and / or accommodate articles of different heights supported thereon. The shelf supports of said cantilever shelves are conventionally provided with one or more hooks that engage in one or more grooves of the tracks to effect a vertical adjustment. However, instead of said single or multiple hooks for each shelf support, the present invention provides a novel shelf support that includes a pin having axially opposite end portions that can move selectively along a track and selectively they can be secured in opposite closing slots of the track to place the shelf in any of the plurality of selected adjusted positions of the cantilever support.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION To conform to the manufacturing method of the cantilever shelf support according to the present invention, a shelf support member having front and rear end portions with an opening of a predetermined size in the rear end portion is provided. A pin is provided having opposite end portions and a mid portion of a size corresponding to the predetermined size of the shelf support member whose opening is defined in an annular shoulder with one of the axial end portions of the pin. The middle portion also includes a collar of a size greater than the size of the opening of the shelf support element. Both the pin and the opening are assembled in such a way that the middle portion is located in the opening of the shelf support member and the collar contacts the shelf support member. Subsequently, the middle portion is assembled in a direction towards the collar by applying a force against the annular shoulder in a direction towards the collar. The latter forms a collar folded from the material of the middle portion of a size larger than the opening of the shelf support element thereby securing the pin to the shelf support member by sandwiching the rear end portion of the support element of shelf between the two collars. Further in accordance with the method of the present invention, the pin is preferably constructed of metal and is of a one-piece construction before and after the folding operation. Additionally, the pin axially opposite the end portions, the middle portion and the first mentioned collar, each preferably and substantially are cylindrical and the opening of the shelf support member is circular. However, the opening of the shelf support element and the pin can be of a polygonal, oval shape or the like. Further in accordance with the present invention further, the elongate shelf support element is preferably constructed of metal and the rear end portion includes a plurality of flanges that reinforce the shelf support and establish a predetermined distance between the peaks of the ridges corresponding to a transverse dimension of an associated path to reduce waste of an associated support when it is supported or moved along one or more associated paths. Further in accordance with the present invention they are formed by a braking or folding operation wherein at least there are two flanges with a flange projecting from each of the opposite sides of the elongate element of the shelf support. In addition still with another aspect of the present invention, the elongate shelf support element preferably carries a separately fixed lubrication block to reduce friction and facilitate the adjustment movement of the shelf support relative to the associated track. One or more of the shelf supports or shelf support elements of the present invention can be used to manufacture a shelf assembly or rack by means of known manufacturing methods. Said method includes unifying a tempered piece of glass to a pair of shelf support elements by means of an injection molded encapsulation or frame, as described in U.S. Patent No. 5,428,433 issued on July 4, 1995 to Kevin C. Bird et al.; U.S. Patent No. 5,540,493 issued July 30, 1996 to Edmond J. Kane et al .; and U.S. Patent No. 5,705,113 issued January 6, 1998 to Edmond J. Kane et al., subject matter that is incorporated in the present invention by reference. Instead of an encapsulated / injection molded frame, the shelf support of the present invention can be used to manufacture a refrigerator shelf of the type described in US Patent No. 4,934,541 issued on June 19, 1990 to Marc R. Bussan et al; wherein two frame elements are adhesively joined together and one with the other, which are captured by a peripheral edge of a piece of tempered glass. The shelf support of the present invention can also be used as part of an entirely metal support, using a wire support, instead of a piece of tempered glass, as described in U.S. Patent No. 5,004,302, issued 2 April, 1991, in the name of George E. Stocking et al. Alternatively, two of the shelf supports of the present invention can be connected to each other in the manner described in the shelf of US Patent No. 4,923,260, issued May 8, 1990, to Douglas Poulsen. As a final example, a single shelf support of the present invention can be used to fabricate a cantilever shelf as described in Figures 24 and 25 of the co-pending application of series 11 / 088,837, filed on March 25, 2005 , in the name of Craig Bienick et al, and entitled "Vertically Adjustable Shelves and Refrigerator Compartment Housing the Same" ("Vertically adjustable shelves and refrigerator compartment housing them"). The entire description of this latter application is incorporated in the present invention by reference. However, without considering the characteristics or specifications of the particular shelf that can be manufactured using the shelf support of the present invention, the meaning of the method point of view involves the novel and unobvious method of manufacturing the shelf support specifically by means of its folding, a portion of a pin housed within an opening of the shelf support or shelf support element for retaining the shelf support element assembled to the pin, through a pair of collars at least one of them It is formed from the folded material of the pin. With these and other objects in view that will appear in this invention, the nature thereof will be more clearly understood by reference to the following detailed description, its appended claims and the various figures illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of the interior of a refrigerator compartment, and illustrates a shelf or shelf assembly formed by a piece of tempered glass encapsulated by a frame molded by injection to a pair of supports of shelf that can be adjusted in steps, relative to the slots in a couple of ways of the refrigerator compartment. Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of one of the shelf supports and the associated track of Fig. 1, and illustrates details of said track including a vertical rail and a plurality of pairs of vertically spaced slots in which a support or snap pin may be received, loaded by a rear end portion of the shelf support.

Figure 3 that appears on the drawing sheet containing Figure 1, is a perspective view in fragments of a rear portion of a shelf support, and illustrates an opening therein. A pin prior to insertion into said opening, and folding tools, in the form of a die for folding a collar of the material of the pin to secure said pin to the shelf support. Figure 4 is an axial cross-sectional view in fragments, taken through the rear end portion of the shelf support, and illustrates an opening in the rear end portion and the pin that initially includes axially opposite end portions of substantially the same diameter, a larger middle portion, defining an annular shoulder or wall, and a larger collar, before it can be seated against the rear end portion of the shelf support. Figure 5 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view similar to Figure 4, and illustrates the rack and pin holder of Figure 4 in an assembled relationship, prior to being secured together by means of a folding operation with the collar more Large seated against the rear end portion of the shelf support. Figure 6 is an axial cross-sectional view illustrating the position of the shelf support, pin, die and female die prior to folding the material from the middle portion of the pin to the collar, applying a force to the ring shoulder of the middle portion . Figure 7 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the shelf support similar to Figure 5, and illustrates the shelf support substantially and rigidly connected to the pin in an interleaved relationship between the two collars.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, a novel refrigerator assembly or novel shelf assembly constructed in accordance with the present invention is illustrated, and is generally designated by the reference number 10. The shelf or shelf assembly 10 includes a shelf 15 defined by substantially identical and parallel parallel metallic shelf supports, or shelf support elements 16, 17, unified to a peripheral edge (without number) of a tempered glass shelf element or panel 18, by means of an encapsulation injection molded, or a flange or edge 20 formed in accordance with the method described in the aforementioned US Patent No. 5,362,149. Each position support 16, 17 of the shelf assembly 10 includes a front end portion (not numbered) and a rearmost end portion 19, the latter includes a pin means 30 for effecting the vertical step-by-step adjustment with respect to vertically spaced support means, slots or openings 50 of the vertical tracks 25, 26 (Figure 1), of a refrigerator compartment Re of a refrigerator R. Each shelf support or shelf support element 16, 17, includes a plurality of bending and braking stabilizing means or parallel flanges 22 (Figure 2), and a separately fixed lubrication block 24, which is specifically described in the previously identified pending application. It is sufficient to establish that when the lubrication block 24 is secured to the shelf supports 16, 17, and the tracks 26 are secured in the refrigerator compartment Re by means of conventional screws S (figure 2), the shelf 15 can be inserted in and vertically adjusted with respect to the tracks 26 and secured in any desired position of adjustment desired upon achieving a secure engagement between the pins 30 and the slot 50. Reference is specifically made to Figure 3 of the drawings illustrating the rearmost end portion 19 of the shelf support or elongate element 16, 17, and an opening substantially circular O in it, which has a diameter D (figure 4). The pin 30 (FIGS. 3 through 6) is made of a single piece of substantially homogeneous metallic material, and is defined by the substantially axial opposite cylindrical end portions 31, 32, ending in substantially circular end faces or end faces. 33, 34, respectively. The axial end portions 31, 32 each have a diameter d that is slightly smaller than the diameter D of the opening 0 of the shelf supports 16, 17. A substantially cylindrical middle portion 35 of the pin 30 is of a diameter Dm (figure 5), which is substantially identical to the diameter D of the opening O of the shelf supports 16, 17, and as it is larger than the diameter d of the axial end portion 31, defines between them an annular wall or shoulder annular 36. The radial width of the annular shoulder 36 is the difference between the diameters d and Dm (figures 4 and 5). A substantially cylindrical collar 38 is remote from the annular wall 36 and a diameter De (FIGS. 4 and 5) thereof is substantially larger than the diameter D of the opening O of the shelf supports 16, 17. Having then described the pin 30 prior to assembly to the shelf supports 16, 17, the tool operation for developing the assembly method, is generally designated with the reference number 60 (figure 3 and 6) including a male die 65 and a female die 70 The male die 60 includes a cylindrical force application end portion 61 and an elongated collar 62, having an inner annular end face 63, which is a cylindrical bore 64. A diameter Db (FIG. 6), of the cylindrical bore 64, substantially corresponds to the diameter d of the axial end portion 31 of the pin 30. The female die 70 includes a force application end face 71, an end face for the opposite shelf support 72 (FIG. 6) and between the faces 71, 72, a cylindrical bore 73 and a larger cylindrical bore 74. The bore 73 has a diameter Db (FIG. 6) corresponding substantially to the diameter d of the axial end portion 32, of the pin 30, while the against perforation 74 has a diameter Dc (FIG. 6) corresponding substantially to the diameter Dc of the collar 38. The first step in the assembly method is developed relatively by moving the element of to the shelf support 16, 17, relative to the pin 30, such that the opening O of the shelf support 16, 17, encompasses the middle portion 35 of the pin 30 and sits on the collar 38, as shown in FIG. Figure 5 of the drawings. The last assembly is then positioned with the pin end portion 32 and the collar 38, respectively received in the cylindrical bore 73 and the larger bore 74 of the female die 70 and with the rearmost end portion 19 of the shelf support 16, 17, seated on the shelf support whose end face supported 72 is as illustrated in Figure 6 of the drawings. It should be understood that instead of a pre-assembly illustrated in Figure 5, the pin 30 may be inserted first into the perforations 73, 74 of the female die 70 and the shelf support 16, 17, assembled therein. In any event, after the male die 65 is placed as shown in figure 6 with the annular end face 73 immediately adjacent the perforation 64, and placed on the annular collar 36 of the pin 30. A conventional die can be used and die press (not shown) to impart axial force F (FIG. 6) preferably to male die 65, or female die 70, or both, to relatively move male die 65 and female die 70 in a direction towards them at which time, an annular volume of material of the cylindrical middle portion 35 of the pin 30 (not listed) between the annular wall 36 and the collar 38 is progressively folded toward (downwardly in Figure 6), and finally very close against the rear end portion 19 of the shelf support 16, 17, forming a folded collar 39 (FIG. 7) same that under the extreme force F of the folding operation, rigidly adjusts the connection of the holder you 16, 17 between the necklaces 38, 39 of the pin 30. The volume of folded material is such that (a) the diameter DS (FIG. 7) of the collapsed collar 39, corresponds substantially to the diameter of the collar 38, and (b) the axial lengths Al, A2 (figure 7), between the collars 39, 38 and the respective pin end faces 33, 34, are substantially the same according to the diameters d of the pin end portions 31, 32. The shelf supports 16, 17 are substantially identical and interchangeable as left or right supports of the shelf 15 and the pins 30 thereof are likewise functionally operative with the slot 50 of either of the tracks 26. In addition still according to another aspect of this invention, a pin can be provided that excludes one of the end portions and said otherwise, in one of the end portions the pin includes a collar, followed by a portion medium, the annular wall of the latter, and a final portion. The pin is assembled in an opening of a shelf support such that the shelf support rests on a collar after which the middle portion is folded to create a second collar with the shelf support being clamped therebetween. The final result is a shelf support having a pin with an axial end portion projecting only from one side thereof. A shelf manufactured with said shelf support would move in one or more ways with the support or pin engaging in a single slot of each track, Opposed to a pair of pins that are attached to the opposite slots of the same track. Although it is specifically illustrated to a preferred embodiment of the invention, and has been described therein, it should be understood that there may be minor variations in the apparatus without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention, as defined in the following claims.

Claims

NOVELTY OF THE INVENTION Having described the present invention, it is considered as a novelty and, therefore, the content of the following is claimed as a priority: CLAIMS 1. - A shelf support comprising an elongate element having backward and forward end portions, an opening of a predetermined size in a backward end portion, a pin, wherein said pin has axially opposite ends, and the pin has a pin portion between said axially opposite ends, said pin portion is located in said opening, said pin portion includes a pair of axially spaced collars each of a larger size than said opening, and said elongated element is a portion of backward end which is sandwiched between said collars wherein at least one axial end portion of said pin projects outwardly from an adjacent portion of said collars that can be coupled to an associated support. 2. - The rack support according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one of said collars is formed of the material of said pin. 3. - The shelf support according to claim 1, characterized in that said collars are both formed of material of said pin. 4. - The shelf support according to claim 1, characterized in that said pin and at least one of said collars are constructed in one piece of a substantially homogeneous material. 5. - The shelf support according to claim 1, characterized in that said pin and pair of collars are constructed from a single piece of a substantially homogeneous material. 6. - The rack support according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one of said collars is formed from the material of said folded pin of a size corresponding to said opening of predetermined size to said larger collar size. 7. - The shelf support according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one of said collars is folded from a material portion of said pin portion. 8. - The shelf support according to claim 2, characterized in that said pin and pair of collars are constructed in one piece of a substantially homogeneous material, and one of said pairs of collars is from the material of said pin portion . 9. - The rack support according to claim 6, characterized in that said collars are both formed from the material of said pin. 10. - The shelf support according to claim 6, characterized in that said pin and pair of collars are constructed in a single piece of a substantially homogeneous material. 11. - The shelf support according to claim 7, characterized in that said collars are both formed from the material of said pin. 12. - The rack support according to claim 7, characterized in that said pin and pair of collars are constructed in one piece of a substantially homogeneous material. 13. - A method for manufacturing a shelf support comprising the steps of: (a) providing a shelf support element having an opening of a predetermined size, (b) providing a pin defined by opposite end portions and a a median portion therebetween of a size substantially corresponding to the aperture size and a collar of a size greater than the aperture size separated from an annular shoulder, (c) relatively moving the aperture and pin in such a way that the medial portion enters the opening, and (d) folding the middle portion toward the collar by applying a force against the annular shoulder in a direction toward the collar, thereby forming a collapsed collar of a size greater than the size of the opening where the pin it is secured to the shelf support element by means of the collars. 14. - The method according to claim 13, which includes the step of constructing the pin end portions of substantially the same size. 15. - The method according to claim 13, which includes the step of constructing the pin end portions substantially thereof and the middle portion of a size greater than the last mentioned size. 16. - The method according to claim 13, which includes the step of constructing at least one of the pin end portions of a size smaller than the opening size and the average portion size. 17. - The method according to claim 13, characterized in that the pin is made of metal. 18. - The method according to claim 14, characterized in that the opening size is substantially greater than the size of the pin end portions. 19. - The method according to claim 15, characterized in that the average portion size corresponds substantially to the predetermined size of opening. 20. The method according to claim 14, characterized in that the pin end portions are each substantially cylindrical. 21. The method according to claim 15, characterized in that the pin end portions are each substantially cylindrical. 22. The method according to claim 16, characterized in that the pin end portions are each substantially cylindrical. 23. - The method according to claim 17, characterized in that the pin end portions are each substantially cylindrical. 24. - The method according to claim 18, characterized in that the pin end portions are each substantially cylindrical. 25. - The method according to claim 19, characterized in that the pin end portions are each substantially cylindrical. 26. - A shelf assembly comprising an elongate support element having front and rear end portions. Means for defining a substantially vertical path along which said rear end portion can slide to effect a vertical adjustment movement of said support element, cooperative securing means of said rear end portion for securing said support element to selected adjustment positions along said path, and means carrying each rear end portion to increase the lubrication thereof with respect to said path to thereby reduce the force required to adjust the support element relative to said way. 27. - A shelf support comprising a shelf support member adapted to slide vertically in a track of a predetermined width, said shelf support member having a front end portion and a rear end portion, said rear end portion having a transverse thickness substantially less than the width of an associated track where a relatively unwanted loose sliding movement could occur, between the rear end portion of the shelf support member, and the track, unless otherwise provided, and means for defining a transverse elongation of an area of said rear end portion of the shelf support element, which increases the effective thickness in said area to substantially coincide with a predetermined width, thereby reducing the movement toward the sides of the shelf support when associated with a path of predetermined width. 28. - A pin particularly adapted to be assembled to a shelf support member, comprising an elongate element having axially opposite end portions, a middle portion between said axial opposite end portions, and a collar between the middle portion and a first axial opposite end portion, said collar has a periphery greater than the periphery of said middle portion, said middle portion being of a size peripherally larger than the peripheral size of said axial opposite end portions and defining therewith an annular shoulder and an annular volume of material of said middle portion, between said annular shoulder, and said collar being sufficient when axially it has been folded towards said collar to form a second collar in a separate relationship adjacent to said first mentioned collar. 29.- A pin particularly adapted for assembly to a shelf support element, which comprises an elongate element having axially opposite end portions, a middle portion between said axial opposite end portions and a collar between the middle portion and a first of said axial opposite end portions, said collar having a periphery greater than a periphery of said middle portion, said middle portion being of a size peripherally larger than the peripheral size of a second of said axial opposite end portions and defining therewith an annular shoulder, and an annular volume of material of said middle portion between said shoulder ring and said collar being sufficient when axially folded towards said collar to form a second collar in spaced relationship adjacent said first mentioned collar, and having a periphery corresponding in size thereto. 30. The rack support according to claim 26, further characterized in that said end portion toward the rear includes upper and lower portions, said cooperative securing means being at least in part loaded by the upper portion of said portion. from end to back, and said means for increasing lubrication, are placed in said end portion backward in its lowermost portion. 31.- A shelf support comprises an elongated element having end portions back and forth, an opening of a predetermined size at said end portion backward, a pin, said pin having axially opposite ends, said pin having a pin portion between said axially opposite ends, said pin portion located in said opening, said pin portion includes a pair of axially spaced collars each of a size larger than said opening, said end portion of the elongate element being sandwiched between said collars, said pin has axially opposite end portions, a first of said opposite end portions is separated between a first of said pin ends and a first of said collars and a second of said axially opposite end portions are separated by a second of said pin ends and a second of said collars wherein said first and second axially opposite pin end portions can couple an associated support. 32.- The shelf support according to claim 31, characterized in that at least one of said collars is formed of the material of said pin. 33.- The shelf support according to claim 31, characterized in that said collars are both formed of material of said pin. 34. - The shelf support according to claim 31, characterized in that said pin and at least one of said collars are constructed in a single piece of a substantially homogeneous material. 35. - The shelf support according to claim 31, characterized in that said pin and pair of collars are constructed from a single piece of a substantially homogeneous material. 36.- The rack support according to claim 31, characterized in that at least one of said collars is formed of the material of said folded pin of a size corresponding to said opening of predetermined size to said larger collar size. 37. - The shelf support according to claim 31, characterized in that at least one of said collars is folded from a material portion of said pin portion. 38.- The shelf support according to claim 31, characterized in that said first and second pin end portions are substantially of the same axial length. 39.- The shelf support according to claim 32, characterized in that said pin and pair of collars are constructed from a single piece of substantially homogeneous material, and one of said pair of collars is folded from the material of said portion. of pin. 40.- The shelf support according to claim 36, characterized in that said pin and pair of collars are constructed from a single piece of substantially homogeneous material. 41. - The shelf support according to claim 37, characterized in that said collars are both formed of material of said pin. 42. - The shelf support according to claim 37, characterized in that said pin and pair of said collars are constructed in a single piece of a substantially homogeneous material. 43. - A shelf support comprising an elongate element having backward and forward end portions, an opening of a predetermined size in a backward end portion, a pin, wherein said pin has axially opposite ends, a collar in a of said axially opposite ends, said pin has a pin portion between said collar and another of said axially opposite ends, said pin portion being located in said opening, another collar deployed separated by a space from said first mentioned collar and said collars each one of a size greater than said pin, and said elongated element is a rear end portion that is sandwiched between said collars wherein at least one axial end portion of said pin projects outwardly from said collars that are can attach to an associated support. 44. - The shelf support according to claim 31, characterized in that said pin and at least one of said collars are constructed in a single piece of a substantially homogeneous material. 45.- The shelf support according to claim 31, characterized in that said pin and pair of collars are constructed from a single piece of a substantially homogeneous material. 46. - A pin particularly adapted to be assembled to a shelf support member, comprising an elongate element having axially opposite end portions, a middle portion between said axially opposed ends, a collar at one of said ends adjacent to the middle portion, said collar has a periphery greater than the periphery of said middle portion, said middle portion being of a size peripherally larger than the peripheral size of an axial end portion of said elongated element, and defining with said middle portion an annular shoulder and a volume annular material of said middle portion, between said annular shoulder, and said collar being sufficient when axially it has been folded towards said collar to form a second collar in a spaced relation adjacent to said first mentioned collar.