US20240200861A1

US20240200861A1 - Basket divider apparatus and method

Info

Publication number: US20240200861A1
Application number: US18/068,060
Authority: US
Inventors: Pierce R. Woodling; Eric L. Scalf
Original assignee: Midea Group Co Ltd
Current assignee: Midea Group Co Ltd
Priority date: 2022-12-19
Filing date: 2022-12-19
Publication date: 2024-06-20

Abstract

An appliance or basket having one or more dividers. The dividers may include a stowed position and a deployed position relative to each other. A divider may include one or more engagement mechanisms to engage portions of the basket in the deployed position and/or engage portions of another divider in the stowed position.

Description

BACKGROUND

The present embodiments relate to the method and apparatus for dividing a space within a basket of an appliance.
A divider within a basket is typically fixed in position or slidable between positions to organize contents. The divider may not allow enough customization for the user to organize contents as desired. As such, it may be beneficial to have one or more stowable dividers allowing the user to customize the basket space, minimize the loss of volume within the space when using dividers, and/or organize the contents (e.g. freezer contents) therein.
Therefore, there remains a need in the art to improve the storage of one or more baskets within an appliance.

SUMMARY

In some embodiments of the invention, for example, a refrigerator appliance may include a basket body having a space therein for storing food, the space formed by a plurality of walls may include a first wall and an opposing second wall, wherein the basket body includes a first divider and at least one second divider, and wherein the first divider may include opposing first ends engaging the first wall and the opposing second wall, respectively, and wherein at least one second divider includes opposing second ends. In various embodiments, at least one second divider may be positioned in a stowed position engaged to the first divider and a deployed position disengaged from the first divider, and wherein when in the deployed position the opposing second ends of at least one second divider may engage the first wall and the opposing second wall, respectively.
In addition, in some embodiments, at least one second divider may be parallel to the first divider in both the stowed position and the deployed position. In various embodiments, the first divider may be fixed in position to the first wall and the opposing second wall. In some embodiments, the basket body may include an engagement mechanism releasably engaging at least one second divider to the first divider. In various embodiments, the engagement mechanism may be at least one of a pocket engagement, a clip engagement, and/or a magnetic engagement. In some embodiments, each one of the first wall and the opposing second wall includes a plurality of openings therein, wherein the opposing second ends of at least one second divider engage at least one first opening of the plurality of openings of the first wall and at least one second opening of the plurality of openings of the second wall when in the deployed position. In some embodiments, the first divider may include a first top wall and at least one second divider may include a second top wall, wherein the first top wall may be at a higher elevation that the second top wall when at least one second divider is in the deployed position. In various embodiments, the basket body may be a freezer basket.
In some embodiments, a basket for an appliance may include a body having a space therein for storing food, the space may be formed by a plurality of walls including a first wall and a second wall, wherein the body may include a first divider and at least one second divider, and wherein the first divider may include opposing first ends engaging the first wall and the second wall, respectively, and wherein at least one second divider includes opposing second ends. In various embodiments, at least one second divider may be positioned in a stowed position engaged to the first divider and at least one deployed position disengaged from the first divider, and wherein when in at least one deployed position the opposing second ends of at least one second divider may engage the first wall and the second wall, respectively.
In addition, in some embodiments, at least one second divider may be parallel to the first divider in both the stowed position and at least one deployed position. In various embodiments, the first divider may be fixed or movable in position relative to the first wall and the second wall. In some embodiments, the body may include an engagement mechanism releasably engaging at least one second divider to the first divider. In various embodiments, the engagement mechanism may be at least one of a pocket engagement, a clip engagement, and/or a magnetic engagement. In some embodiments, each one of the first wall and the second wall includes a plurality of openings therein, wherein the opposing second ends of at least one second divider may engage at least one first opening of the plurality of openings of the first wall and at least one second opening of the plurality of openings of the second wall when in at least one deployed position. In various embodiments, the first divider may include a first top wall and at least one second divider may include a second top wall, wherein the first top wall may be at a higher elevation than the second top wall when at least one second divider is in at least one deployed position. In various embodiments, at least one second divider may fit within an outer periphery of the first divider when in the stowed position.
In some embodiments, a method of partitioning the space of a basket of an appliance may include providing a basket body having a space therein for storing contents, the space may be formed by a plurality of walls including a first wall and an opposing second wall, wherein the basket body includes at least one first divider and at least one second divider, and wherein at least one first divider may include opposing first ends engaging the first wall and the opposing second wall, respectively, and wherein at least one second divider includes opposing second ends. In various embodiments, the method may include stowing at least one second divider in engagement with at least one first divider in a stowed position. In some embodiments, the method may include deploying at least one second divider away from at least one first divider to at least one deployed position, wherein when in at least one deployed position the opposing second ends of at least one second divider may engage the first wall and the opposing second wall, respectively.
In addition, in some embodiments, the method may include releasably engaging an engagement mechanism between at least one first divider and at least one second divider when in the stowed position. In various embodiments, the method may include engaging the opposing second ends of at least one second divider to at least one opening of a plurality of openings of each one of the first wall and the opposing second wall, respectively, when in at least one deployed position. In some embodiments, at least one second divider may be parallel to at least one first divider when in at least one deployed position and the stowed position.
This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter. All of the above-outlined features are to be understood as exemplary only, and many more features and objectives of the various embodiments may be gleaned from the disclosure herein. Therefore, no limiting interpretation of this summary is to be understood without further review of the entire specification, claims, and drawings included herewith. A more extensive presentation of features, details, utilities, and advantages of the present disclosure is provided in the following written description of various embodiments of the disclosure, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and defined in the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings, like reference characters generally refer to the same parts throughout the different views. Also, the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead generally being placed upon illustrating the principles of the disclosure

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a freezer basket with a first divider, and illustrating a second divider in one deployed position and another second divider in a stowed position with the first divider, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the freezer basket of FIG. 1 , illustrating a second divider exploded away from the stowed position with the first divider.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the freezer basket taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1 .

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another freezer basket with a first divider, and illustrating a second divider in one deployed position and another second divider in a stowed position with the first divider, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the freezer basket of FIG. 4 , illustrating a second divider exploded away from the stowed position with the first divider.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the freezer basket taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 4 .

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the freezer baskets of FIGS. 1 and 4 slideably engaging rails of a freezer compartment of an appliance.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the engagement between the second divider in the stowed position with the first divider.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Numerous variations and modifications will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art, as will become apparent from the description below. Therefore, the invention is not limited to the specific implementations discussed herein.
The embodiments discussed hereinafter will focus on the implementation of the hereinafter-described techniques and apparatuses within a residential refrigerator appliance such as refrigerator appliance 10, such as the type that may be used in single-family or multi-family dwellings, or in other similar applications. However, it will be appreciated that the herein-described techniques and apparatuses may also be used in connection with other types of refrigerator/freezer/dishwasher appliances in some embodiments. For example, the herein-described techniques may be used in commercial applications in some embodiments. Moreover, the herein-described techniques may be used in connection with various refrigerator appliance configurations. Implementation of the herein-described techniques within refrigerators, freezers, fresh food compartments, bottom freezer refrigerators, compact refrigerators/freezers, chest freezers, standing freezers, side by side refrigerator, etc. would be well within the abilities of one of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the instant disclosure, so the embodiments are not limited to the freezer refrigerator implementation as shown in FIG. 7 . Although two or more baskets 30 are shown in the appliance compartment, in some embodiments a single basket may be used. In some embodiments, the appliance basket using the method and apparatus of a divider(s) may not be a freezer basket, or even a basket for an appliance.
Turning now to the drawings, the Figures illustrate an example refrigerator appliance 10 in which the various technologies and techniques described herein may be implemented. Refrigerator appliance 10 is depicted in this example as a bottom freezer refrigerator, and as such includes a front-mounted bottom freezer door 12 in a cabinet or housing 14 that provides access to the freezer compartment 13 housed within the cabinet or housing 14, and when in the open position (FIG. 7 ), food, contents, and beverage items may be inserted into and removed from the space(s) of one or more freezer baskets 30. The housing 14 may define at least a portion of an opening 13 a into the freezer compartment 13. Freezer door 12 is pivotably/hingedly attached to the housing 14 adjacent the freezer compartment 13 and/or opening 13 a. The freezer door 12 may be a bottom freezer door as shown in the one embodiment. Freezer door 12 may be generally provided with a hinge 17 along a corresponding side or front edge of the housing 14 adjacent the freezer compartment 13 and is pivotable between a closed position (FIGS. 1 and 4 ) and an open position (FIGS. 2, 3, 5, and 6 ). Moreover, in some embodiments, when the door 12 or appliance is in an open position, one or more baskets, racks, and/or shelves utilizing the divider(s) 20 may be deployed (e.g. slidably removed) or accessible from the appliance (e.g. freezer compartment 13). In some embodiments, one or more baskets 30 may be provided within a compartment (e.g. freezer, fresh food) of an appliance (e.g. refrigerator). For example, in the one embodiment as shown in FIG. 7 , one or more baskets 30 may be slidably positioned relative to the freezer compartment 13. The basket 30 may be, but is not limited to, a freezer basket in some embodiments. The basket 30 may have a body 31 defining a space/volume 32 therein for storing food or contents. The space 32, body 31, or basket 30 may be formed by a plurality of walls 33. The basket/ body 30, 31 may have a top opening 34 defined by a first wall 33 a and an opposing second wall 33 b interconnected by opposing side walls 33 c. A bottom wall 33 d may be opposite the opening 34. The first wall 33 a may be adjacent the user/opening 13 a in some embodiments. The space or opening 34 and/or basket body 31, or portions thereof, may be partitioned by one or more dividers 20.
In some implementations, the one or more dividers 20 may include at least one first divider 20 a and at least one second divider 20 b. The first divider 20 a (e.g. body) may be an elongated wall having opposing first ends 20 a 1. The first ends 20 a 1 may engage opposing walls 33 of the basket 30. The first ends 20 a 1 of the first divider 20 a may engage the first wall 33 a and the second wall 33 b, respectively, at one or more locations. The first divider 20 a may be positioned perpendicular to the bottom/first/second wall 33 d/33 a/33 b and/or parallel to one or more side walls 33 c. The first divider 20 a may be fixed in a single position/location between the first wall 33 a and the second wall 33 b as shown in the one embodiment in FIGS. 1-3 . In other embodiments as shown in FIGS. 4-6 , the first divider 20 a may be positionable or movable between positions relative to the first wall 33 a and the second wall 33 b of the body 31. The first divider 20 a may slide, be fastened, and/or be clipped between positions or releasably engage one or more portions or structures (e.g. one or more openings, walls) of the basket 30. The first divider 20 a may be movable between a plurality of positions or locations to create a variety of partitioned spaces.
In some implementations, the second divider 20 b may be positionable between at least one stowed position and at least one deployed position. When in the stowed position, one or more second dividers 20 b engage the first divider 20 a. As shown in the Figures, two second dividers 20 b may be stowed with the first divider. For example, one second divider may be stowed on each side 23 a of the first divider 20 a. Alternatively, only one second divider 20 b may be stowed with the first divider or more than two second dividers. The first divider or sides 23 a thereof may be similar as shown in the Figures. Alternatively, the sides 23 a of the first divider may be different. For example, if different, one side 23 a may not stow a second divider 20 b or may be able to stow a different second divider 20 b than the other side 23 a. In the stowed position, the second divider 20 b may be positioned parallel to the first divider 20 a and/or one or more side walls 33 c. The second divider 20 b may be sized/shaped to fit within the outer periphery of the first divider when stowed. In the stowed position, at least a portion of the second divider 20 b may engage or directly contact the first divider 20 a. In some embodiments as shown in the Figures, the second divider 20 b may only engage the first divider 20 a when in the stowed position. In the stowed position, if the first divider 20 a is movable the second divider 20 b may be carried with the first divider 20 a between one or more positions. In at least one deployed position, the second divider 20 b is disengaged from and/or spaced away the first divider 20 a. In the one or more deployed positions, the second divider 20 b partitions the remaining space/volume 32 defined by the first divider 20 a. In the deployed position, the second divider 20 b may be positioned parallel to the first divider 20 a. The second divider 20 b (e.g. body) may be an elongated wall having opposing second ends 20 b 1. The second ends 20 b 1 may engage opposing walls 33 of the basket 30 when in the deployed position. The second ends 20 b 1 of the second divider 20 b may engage the first wall 33 a and the second wall 33 b, respectively, at one or more deployed locations/positions. In the deployed position, the second divider 20 b may be positioned perpendicular to the bottom/first/second wall 33 d/33 a/33 b and/or parallel to one or more side walls 33 c and/or first divider 20 a. The second divider 20 b may be releasably engaged in a single deployed position/location between the first wall 33 a and the second wall 33 b in some embodiments. As shown in FIGS. 1-7 , the second divider 20 b may be positionable or movable between multiple deployed position relative to the first wall 33 a and the second wall 33 b of the body 31. The second divider 20 b, or portions thereof, may be moved between deployed positions or releasably engage one or more portions or structures (e.g. one or more openings, walls) of the basket 30. The second divider 20 b, in the deployed position, may be movable between a plurality of positions or locations to create a variety of partitioned spaces 32. In some embodiments as shown more clearly in FIGS. 3 and 6 , a first top wall 21 a of the first divider 20 a may be at a higher elevation than a second top wall 21 b of the deployed second divider 20 b. Further, when deployed a second bottom wall 22 b of the second divider 20 b may be at the same elevation or adjacent the bottom wall 33 d as a first bottom wall 22 a of the first divider 20 a. When stowed, the second bottom wall 22 b may be positioned at a higher elevation than the first bottom wall 22 a. Further, the second top wall 21 b may be positioned at a lower elevation than or equal in elevation to the first top wall 21 a when stowed. Moreover, the second top wall 21 b may be positioned at a higher elevation within the basket 30 when in the stowed position than when in the deployed position.
In some implementations, the appliance 10, basket 30, and/or dividers 20 (e.g. first, second), or portions thereof, may include one or more first engagement mechanisms 40 releasably engaging at least one second divider 20 b to at least one first divider 20 a in the stowed position. One or both sides 23 a, 23 b of the first/second divider may have a portion of the first engagement mechanism 40. The first engagement mechanism 40 may releasably engage the second divider 20 b between the stowed position and the deployed position relative to the first divider 20 a. The first engagement mechanism 40 may be a variety of shapes, sizes, quantities, and constructions and still be within the scope of the invention. For example, as shown in the one embodiment in FIGS. 1-3 , the first engagement mechanism 40 may be one or more clip/fastener engagements 40 a on one or more sides 23 a, 23 b of the dividers (e.g. first, second). The clip engagement 40 a may be one or more protrusions/first structures 40 a 1 having an interference relationship with one or more openings/second structures 40 a 2 to engage/disengage therefrom. Although the clip engagement 40 a may be in a variety of positions between the first and second dividers, in the one embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-3 the second divider 20 b may include one or more openings 40 a 2 adjacent the second bottom wall 22 b releasably engaging one or more protrusions 40 a 1 adjacent the first bottom wall 22 a of the first divider. Alternatively, the protrusions 40 a 1 and openings 40 a 2 may be reversed between the first and second dividers in some embodiments. In another embodiment shown in FIGS. 4-6 , the first engagement mechanism 40 may be one or more pocket engagements 40 b on one or more sides 23 a, 23 b of the dividers (e.g. first, second). The second divider 20 b, or portions thereof, (e.g. one or more ends) may be releasably received within one or more pockets 40 b 1 on one or more opposing sides 23 a of the first divider 20 a. The pockets 40 b 1 may have openings facing upwardly. The pockets 40 b 1 may be at one or both opposing first ends 20 a 1 of the first divider 20 a on one or more sides 23 a thereof. Alternatively, the pockets may be reversed between the first and second dividers in some embodiments. In another embodiment shown in FIG. 8 , the first engagement mechanism 40 may be one or more magnetic engagements 40 c. The magnetic engagement 40 c may be one or more magnets 40 c 1 having a magnetic/releasable engagement with one or more magnetic portions 40 c 2 (e.g. magnetic surfaces, metal, ferromagnetic metals, etc.). Although the magnetic engagement 40 c may be in a variety of positions between the first and second dividers, in the one embodiment shown in FIG. 8 the second divider 20 b in the stowed position may include one or more magnets 40 c 1 adjacent the second bottom wall 22 b releasably engaging one or more magnetic portions 40 c 2 adjacent the first bottom wall 22 a of the first divider 20 a. Alternatively, the magnets and magnetic portions may be reversed between the first and second dividers in some embodiments.
In some implementations, the appliance 10, basket 30, and/or dividers 20 (e.g. first, second), or portions thereof, may include one or more second engagement mechanisms 50 releasably engaging at least one second divider to the basket, or portions thereof, in the deployed position. The second engagement mechanism 50 may releasably engage the second divider 20 b in the stowed position relative to the first divider 20 a and/or basket 30, or portions thereof. The second engagement mechanism 50 releasably engages the opposing second ends 20 b 1 of the second divider 20 b to the walls 33 (e.g. opposing walls, first wall and second wall, opposing side walls) of the basket 30 (e.g. body) when in at least one deployed position. The second engagement mechanism 50 may be a variety of shapes, sizes, quantities, and constructions and still be within the scope of the invention. For example, the one or more second engagement mechanisms 50 may be a releasable engagement between one or more protrusions 51 and one or more openings 52 between the second divider 20 b, or portions thereof, (e.g. opposing second ends) and body 31, or portions thereof. For example as shown in the one embodiment in FIGS. 1-7 , the first and second walls 33 a, 33 b include a plurality of openings 52 therein. When in the stowed position the opposing second ends 20 b 1 of the second divider 20 b engages at least one first opening 52 of the plurality of openings 52 of the first wall 33 a and at least one second opening 52 of the plurality of openings 52 of the second wall 33 b. It should be understood that the opposing walls (e.g. first and second walls) may include a first pair of opposing openings for a second divider and/or a second pair of opposing openings for another second divider in some embodiments. The protrusions 51 on opposing second ends 20 b 1 of the second divider 20 b and/or the openings 52 on the opposing basket walls 33 may not be the same (e.g. shape) as shown in the Figures. Alternatively, the openings/protrusions may be the same in some embodiments. As shown in FIGS. 1-3 , the second ends 20 b 1 of the second divider 20 b may have different shaped/sized protrusions 51. Further, the protrusions 51 may rest upon or contact one or more portions of the outer periphery/wall of the opening 52 (e.g. bottom wall, one or more lateral sides, and/or top wall) when the second divider 20 b is in the stowed position. As shown in FIGS. 1-3 , each second end 20 b 1 includes a single protrusion 51 at two different elevations. One protrusion 51 adjacent the second top wall 21 b/second wall 33 b and the other protrusion adjacent the second bottom wall 22 b/first wall 33 a. As shown in FIGS. 4-6 , one second end 20 b 1 includes a single protrusion 51 and the other second end 20 b 1 includes two protrusions 51. The single protrusion 51 may be adjacent the second top wall 21 b/first wall 33 a and the two protrusions on the other second end 20 b 1 may be stacked in elevation and spaced away from each other and adjacent the second wall 33 b and opposing top/ bottom walls 21 b, 22 b. The two stacked protrusions 51 engage two separate openings 52 in the basket wall 33 (e.g. first wall 33 a). Further, as shown in FIG. 6 , the one or more protrusions 51 (e.g. stacked, spaced apart in elevation) may be hook-shaped such that the hook extends through the respective opening 52 and extends in a traverse direction (e.g. downwardly) to engage the outside of the basket body 31 or wall 33. The opening 52 and/or protrusion 51 may be a variety of shapes, sizes, quantities, and constructions and still be within the scope of the invention. For example, although the openings 52 (e.g. slot) and/or protrusions 51 are elongated in the vertical direction, the one or more openings and corresponding protrusions may be a different shape. In some embodiments, the second divider 20 b may be tilted or angle when inserted into the walls 33 (e.g. first and second walls) of the basket and subsequently rotated/pivoted into a final/deployed position (e.g. horizontal) to engage the second engagement mechanism 50. For example, one wall 33 may need to be engaged prior to the other wall. In some embodiments, a reverse movement or order may release the second engagement mechanism 50 when removing the second divider 20 b from the opposing walls 33. It should be understood that the first divider may include a variety of engagement mechanisms with the walls 33 of the basket 30 and still be within the scope of the invention. For example, the first divider may include one or more engagement mechanisms (e.g. 50). It should be understood that the second engagement mechanism 50, or portions thereof, of the second divider may be different that the first engagement mechanism 40, of portions thereof, of the second divider. Alternatively, the first and second engagement mechanisms, or portions thereof, of the second divider may be similar or used between engagement mechanisms in some embodiments.
In use, the user may select the positions of the one or more dividers 20 to partition a variety of spaces 32 to organize one or more contents within the basket 30 (e.g. freezer). If the one or more second dividers 20 b are in the stowed position with the first divider 20 a and the first divider 20 a is movable, the user may position the combined first and second dividers 20 a and 20 b in one position in a variety of positions. For example, if slidable the user may slide the first/second divider to a predetermined position. In embodiments where the first divider is in a fixed/movable position within the basket body, the user may, if desired, deploy at least one of the second dividers 20 b to at least one of the deployed positions on one or more sides of the first divider 20 a. The user may disengage the first engagement mechanism 40 to deploy the second divider 20 b away from the first divider 20 a. The user may then releasably engage the second engagement mechanism 50 of the second divider 20 b with the basket body 31. For example, the opposing second ends 20 b 1 may be engaged to the opposing walls 33 (e.g. first and second walls, one or more openings) of the basket 30 when in the deployed position. If another second divider 20 b is stowed with the first divider 20 a, the user may disengage the first engagement mechanism 40 and deploy the additional second divider 20 b on the same side/space of the first divider 20 a within the basket or the other side/space of the first divider 20 a within the basket at another deployed position engaging the second engagement mechanism 50. The user may stow the one or more second dividers if desired to increase the space or volume previously partitioned. The user may disengage the second engagement mechanism 50 between the second divider and the basket body 31 (e.g. opposing walls, one or more openings) and releasably engage the second divider 20 b with the first divider 20 a in the stowed position by engaging the first engagement mechanism 40.
While several inventive embodiments have been described and illustrated herein, those of ordinary skill in the art will readily envision a variety of other means and/or structures for performing the function and/or obtaining the results and/or one or more of the advantages described herein, and each of such variations and/or modifications is deemed to be within the scope of the inventive embodiments described herein. More generally, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that all parameters, dimensions, materials, and configurations described herein are meant to be exemplary and that the actual parameters, dimensions, materials, and/or configurations will depend upon the specific application or applications for which the inventive teachings is/are used. Those skilled in the art will recognize, or be able to ascertain using no more than routine experimentation, many equivalents to the specific inventive embodiments described herein. It is, therefore, to be understood that the foregoing embodiments are presented by way of example only and that, within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereto, inventive embodiments may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described and claimed. Inventive embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to each individual feature, system, article, material, kit, and/or method described herein. In addition, any combination of two or more such features, systems, articles, materials, kits, and/or methods, if such features, systems, articles, materials, kits, and/or methods are not mutually inconsistent, is included within the inventive scope of the present disclosure.
All definitions, as defined and used herein, should be understood to control over dictionary definitions, definitions in documents incorporated by reference, and/or ordinary meanings of the defined terms.
The indefinite articles “a” and “an,” as used herein in the specification and in the claims, unless clearly indicated to the contrary, should be understood to mean “at least one.”
The phrase “and/or,” as used herein in the specification and in the claims, should be understood to mean “either or both” of the elements so conjoined, i.e., elements that are conjunctively present in some cases and disjunctively present in other cases. Multiple elements listed with “and/or” should be construed in the same fashion, i.e., “one or more” of the elements so conjoined. Other elements may optionally be present other than the elements specifically identified by the “and/or” clause, whether related or unrelated to those elements specifically identified. Thus, as a non-limiting example, a reference to “A and/or B”, when used in conjunction with open-ended language such as “comprising” can refer, in one embodiment, to A only (optionally including elements other than B); in another embodiment, to B only (optionally including elements other than A); in yet another embodiment, to both A and B (optionally including other elements); etc.
As used herein in the specification and in the claims, “or” should be understood to have the same meaning as “and/or” as defined above. For example, when separating items in a list, “or” or “and/or” shall be interpreted as being inclusive, i.e., the inclusion of at least one, but also including more than one, of a number or list of elements, and, optionally, additional unlisted items. Only terms clearly indicated to the contrary, such as “only one of” or “exactly one of,” or, when used in the claims, “consisting of,” will refer to the inclusion of exactly one element of a number or list of elements. In general, the term “or” as used herein shall only be interpreted as indicating exclusive alternatives (i.e. “one or the other but not both”) when preceded by terms of exclusivity, such as “either,” “one of,” “only one of,” or “exactly one of.” “Consisting essentially of,” when used in the claims, shall have its ordinary meaning as used in the field of patent law.
As used herein in the specification and in the claims, the phrase “at least one,” in reference to a list of one or more elements, should be understood to mean at least one element selected from any one or more of the elements in the list of elements, but not necessarily including at least one of each and every element specifically listed within the list of elements and not excluding any combinations of elements in the list of elements. This definition also allows that elements may optionally be present other than the elements specifically identified within the list of elements to which the phrase “at least one” refers, whether related or unrelated to those elements specifically identified. Thus, as a non-limiting example, “at least one of A and B” (or, equivalently, “at least one of A or B,” or, equivalently “at least one of A and/or B”) can refer, in one embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one, A, with no B present (and optionally including elements other than B); in another embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one, B, with no A present (and optionally including elements other than A); in yet another embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one, A, and at least one, optionally including more than one, B (and optionally including other elements); etc.
It should also be understood that, unless clearly indicated to the contrary, in any methods claimed herein that include more than one step or act, the order of the steps or acts of the method is not necessarily limited to the order in which the steps or acts of the method are recited.
In the claims, as well as in the specification above, all transitional phrases such as “comprising,” “including,” “carrying,” “having,” “containing,” “involving,” “holding,” “composed of,” and the like are to be understood to be open-ended, i.e., to mean including but not limited to. Only the transitional phrases “consisting of” and “consisting essentially of” shall be closed or semi-closed transitional phrases, respectively, as set forth in the United States Patent Office Manual of Patent Examining Procedures, Section 2111.03. It should be understood that certain expressions and reference signs used in the claims pursuant to Rule 6.2(b) of the Patent Cooperation Treaty (“PCT”) do not limit the scope.

Claims

1. A refrigerator appliance comprising:

a basket body having a space therein for storing food, the space formed by a plurality of walls including a first wall and an opposing second wall, wherein the basket body includes a first divider and at least one second divider, and wherein the first divider includes opposing first ends engaging the first wall and the opposing second wall, respectively, and wherein the at least one second divider includes opposing second ends; and

wherein the at least one second divider is positioned in a stowed position engaged to the first divider and a deployed position disengaged from the first divider, and wherein when in the deployed position the opposing second ends of the at least one second divider engages the first wall and the opposing second wall, respectively.

2. The refrigerator appliance of claim 1 wherein the at least one second divider is parallel to the first divider in both the stowed position and the deployed position.

3. The refrigerator appliance of claim 1 wherein the first divider is fixed in position to the first wall and the opposing second wall.

4. The refrigerator appliance of claim 1 wherein the basket body includes an engagement mechanism releasably engaging the at least one second divider to the first divider.

5. The refrigerator appliance of claim 4 wherein the engagement mechanism is at least one of a pocket engagement, a clip engagement, and/or a magnetic engagement.

6. The refrigerator appliance of claim 1 wherein each one of the first wall and the opposing second wall includes a plurality of openings therein, wherein the opposing second ends of the at least one second divider engage at least one first opening of the plurality of openings of the first wall and at least one second opening of the plurality of openings of the second wall when in the deployed position.

7. The refrigerator appliance of claim 1 wherein the first divider includes a first top wall and the at least one second divider includes a second top wall, wherein the first top wall is at a higher elevation that the second top wall when the at least one second divider is in the deployed position.

8. The refrigerator appliance of claim 1 wherein the basket body is a freezer basket.

9. A basket for an appliance comprising:

a body having a space therein for storing food, the space formed by a plurality of walls including a first wall and a second wall, wherein the body includes a first divider and at least one second divider, and wherein the first divider includes opposing first ends engaging the first wall and the second wall, respectively, and wherein the at least one second divider includes opposing second ends; and

wherein the at least one second divider is positioned in a stowed position engaged to the first divider and at least one deployed position disengaged from the first divider, and wherein when in the at least one deployed position the opposing second ends of the at least one second divider engages the first wall and the second wall, respectively.

10. The basket of claim 9 wherein the at least one second divider is parallel to the first divider in both the stowed position and the at least one deployed position.

11. The basket of claim 9 wherein the first divider is fixed or movable in position relative to the first wall and the second wall.

12. The basket of claim 9 wherein the body includes an engagement mechanism releasably engaging the at least one second divider to the first divider.

13. The basket of claim 12 wherein the engagement mechanism is at least one of a pocket engagement, a clip engagement, and/or a magnetic engagement.

14. The basket of claim 9 wherein each one of the first wall and the second wall includes a plurality of openings therein, wherein the opposing second ends of the at least one second divider engage at least one first opening of the plurality of openings of the first wall and at least one second opening of the plurality of openings of the second wall when in the at least one deployed position.

15. The basket of claim 9 wherein the first divider includes a first top wall and the at least one second divider includes a second top wall, wherein the first top wall is at a higher elevation than the second top wall when the at least one second divider is in the at least one deployed position.

16. The basket of claim 9 wherein the at least one second divider fits within an outer periphery of the first divider when in the stowed position.

17. A method of partitioning the space of a basket of an appliance comprising the steps of:

providing a basket body having a space therein for storing contents, the space formed by a plurality of walls including a first wall and an opposing second wall, wherein the basket body includes at least one first divider and at least one second divider, and wherein the at least one first divider includes opposing first ends engaging the first wall and the opposing second wall, respectively, and wherein the at least one second divider includes opposing second ends;

stowing the at least one second divider in engagement with the at least one first divider in a stowed position; and

deploying the at least one second divider away from the at least one first divider to at least one deployed position, wherein when in the at least one deployed position the opposing second ends of the at least one second divider engages the first wall and the opposing second wall, respectively.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising releasably engaging an engagement mechanism between the at least one first divider and the at least one second divider when in the stowed position.

19. The method of claim 17 further comprising engaging the opposing second ends of the at least one second divider to at least one opening of a plurality of openings of each one of the first wall and the opposing second wall, respectively, when in the at least one deployed position.

20. The method of claim 17 wherein the at least one second divider is parallel to the at least one first divider when in the at least one deployed position and the stowed position.