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US3320011A - Liner for a refrigerator shelf - Google Patents

Liner for a refrigerator shelf Download PDF

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Publication number
US3320011A
US3320011A US492136A US49213665A US3320011A US 3320011 A US3320011 A US 3320011A US 492136 A US492136 A US 492136A US 49213665 A US49213665 A US 49213665A US 3320011 A US3320011 A US 3320011A
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United States
Prior art keywords
liner
raised
shelf
recessed portions
portions
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US492136A
Inventor
Ben B Sachnoff
Myron M Levin
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
AHP Subsidiary 2 Corp
Original Assignee
EZ Por Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by EZ Por Corp filed Critical EZ Por Corp
Priority to US492136A priority Critical patent/US3320011A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3320011A publication Critical patent/US3320011A/en
Assigned to AHP SUBSIDIARY (2) CORPORATION, A CORP. OF DE reassignment AHP SUBSIDIARY (2) CORPORATION, A CORP. OF DE ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST. Assignors: E-Z POR CORPORATION
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F25D25/00—Charging, supporting, and discharging the articles to be cooled
    • F25D25/02—Charging, supporting, and discharging the articles to be cooled by shelves
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F25D2325/00—Charging, supporting or discharging the articles to be cooled, not provided for in other groups of this subclass
    • F25D2325/023—Shelves made of wires

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a liner for a refrigerator shelf.
  • One of the objects of this invention is to provide a liner which is positioned on the shelf or shelves of a refrigerator.
  • refrigerator shelves are formed of wire mesh, spaced wires, or spaced bars or the' like. If anything should spill on one of the shelves it would drip down to the shelves below and on to the food or other products resting thereon. The shelves also get soiled and have to be repeatedly cleaned. Objects such as baby bottles which have a small base will not be firmly supported on the spaced wire or spaced bar refrigerator shelves and such bottles have a tendency to tip over.
  • the liner forming this invention is positioned on the shelf to cover the refrigerator shelf so that if there is spillage it will be confined to the liner and will not drip down to the other shelves and the objects thereon.
  • the liner also protects the shelf from becoming dirty or messy and it is relatively easy to clean the shelf by removing the liner.
  • an item such as a baby bottle will not tip or tilt when positioned on the liner.
  • the liner is so constructed that it has a plurality of rectangularlyshaped recessed portions so that if anything spills on the liner the spilled material will be confined to the recessed portion on which it spilled and will not flow over to the adjacent recessed portions.
  • Another object of this invention is to provide an integrally formed liner of a plastic composition, which is very inexpensive and which has means whereby it is securely positioned on the shelf against sliding movement relative to the shelf.
  • FIGURE l is a view showing the refrigerator shelf liner of this invention supported on a refrigerator shelf.
  • FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary top plan View.
  • FIGURE 3 is a view partly in section taken on line 3 3 of FIG. 2.
  • FIGURE 4 is a View partly in section taken on line 4-4 of FIG. l.
  • FIGURE 5 is a view taken on line 5-5 of FIG. l.
  • FIGURE 6 is an enlarged perspective broken-away view of a portion of the shelf liner taken at the end thereof.
  • the liner generally indicated by the numeral 10 is generally of rectangular shape and is integrally molded or formed of a transparent plastic material such as polystyrene.
  • the liner is molded to provide a body 12 with equally spaced ribs or raised members 14 extending transversely thereof.
  • the spaced ribs 14 divide the surface or body 12 of the liner into a plurality of rectangularshaped surfaces 16 extending throughout the liner.
  • the spaced ribs 14, as will be best seen in cross-section each have a flat top surface 18 and inclined opposite sides 20 which merge into the body 12.
  • the liner is provided with a continuous raised border 22 which extends along the front 24 and rear 26 and along the opposite spaced ends 28.
  • the continuous raised border 22 along the rear 26 and opposite ends 28 has a sub- 3,326,0ll Patented May 16, 1967 stantially flat top surface 30 and inclined opposite sides 32, similar to the transverse ribs 14.
  • the top 30 of the end and rear border is on the sarne plane as the top 18 of the transverse ribs 14.
  • the front side 24 of the continuous border 22 is shaped somewhat differently than the remainder of the border.
  • the front side 24, best shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, is substantially semi-circular or arcuate in cross-section, as indicated by the numeral 34, and extends'a'bove the plane of the remainder of the border 22.
  • a continuous horizontal flange 36 Extending outwardly of the continuous border along the front, rear, and sides is a continuous horizontal flange 36 which is substantially at right angles to the border.
  • the plane of the horizontal ange 36 is below the plane of the surface or body 12 of the liner.
  • the transverse ribs 14 extend to the front and rear borders. This divides the surface of the liner into the spaced rectangularshaped surfaces 16 which are bounded by the transversely extending ribs 14 and the front and rear borders
  • the spaced rectangular-shaped surfaces 16 each serve keep any spilled material within the confines of the particular shaped rectangular surface.
  • each rectangular-shaped surface 16 forms a rectangularshaped Well, recess, or pocket, so that if any material spills onto the shelf it will normally be retained within the particular rectangular surface 16 rather than flowing or spilling across the surface of the liner.
  • the continuous border serves to prevent the spilled material from :flowing over the edge of the shelf, thus, any spilled material will be retained on the liner in close proximity to Where the spilling took place and will not flow over the entire surface of the liner. It also will not drip down to the lower shelves.
  • the liners may be used to cover all the shelves of a refrigerator and may also be placed on the bottom of the refrigerator. The liner may be readily removed for cleaning and is sturdy enough to last a long time.
  • the refrigerator R has a conventional shelf S supported therein which is formed of spaced rigid wires or bars.
  • the liner 10 ⁇ is positioned to rest on said shelf.
  • the transverse ribs 14 of the liner coincide with the transverse wires TW or bars of the shelf and rest thereon, while the continuous border 22 of the liner rests over the border wire BW of the shelf.
  • the front border wire of the shelf has a greater diameter than the remainder of the border wire and the larger arcuate shaped rib 34 of the liner will accommodate same.
  • the enlarged front rib 34 will positively prevent any spilled material from flowing beyond the front border.
  • the liner when placed on the shelf will Iby reason of the ribs and raised border thereof engaging the Wires or bars of the shelf prevent the liner from shifting or sliding while on the shelf, and the liner will therefore be retained in a set position.
  • the -liner does not extend the complete length or Width of the interior of the refrigerator but is somewhat shorter and narrower to permit circulation of the air within the refrigerator.
  • a liner for refrigerator shelves or the like comprising, a generally rectangular-shaped body, said body having a raised border along the front, rear and opposite ends thereof to prevent or restrict any material spilled on said liner from flowing off of said liner, said body provided with equally spaced raised portions which difp L9 vide the body of the liner into equally spaced and equally sized rectangular-shaped shallow recessed portions which provide with said raised portions a substantially at surface so that an objecty may rest partially on said raised and partially on said recessed portions without capsizing, said rectangular-shaped recessed portions preventing or restricting the flow of material from passing into adjacent recessed portions, said raised portions extending to two oppositely positioned borders.
  • a liner dened in claim 1 which is integrally formed of a plastic material.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Refrigerator Housings (AREA)
  • Cold Air Circulating Systems And Constructional Details In Refrigerators (AREA)

Description

SZM
'i957 E. B. SACHNQFF mm.
LINER FOR A REFRIGERATOR SHELF may Filed Oct. l, 1965 f l 3x.
United States APatent O f 3,320,011 LINER FOR A REFRIGERATOR SHELF Ben B. Sachnof'r' and' Myron M. Levin, Lincolnwood, Ill.,
assignors to E-Z-Por Corporation, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Florida Filed Oct. 1, 1965, Ser. No. 492,136 6 Claims. (Cl. S12- 351) This invention relates to a liner for a refrigerator shelf.
One of the objects of this invention is to provide a liner which is positioned on the shelf or shelves of a refrigerator.
As is well-known, most refrigerator shelves are formed of wire mesh, spaced wires, or spaced bars or the' like. If anything should spill on one of the shelves it would drip down to the shelves below and on to the food or other products resting thereon. The shelves also get soiled and have to be repeatedly cleaned. Objects such as baby bottles which have a small base will not be firmly supported on the spaced wire or spaced bar refrigerator shelves and such bottles have a tendency to tip over.
With the present invention all of the foregoing objections are eliminated in that the liner forming this invention is positioned on the shelf to cover the refrigerator shelf so that if there is spillage it will be confined to the liner and will not drip down to the other shelves and the objects thereon. The liner also protects the shelf from becoming dirty or messy and it is relatively easy to clean the shelf by removing the liner. By virtue of the substantially flat surface an item such as a baby bottle will not tip or tilt when positioned on the liner. The liner is so constructed that it has a plurality of rectangularlyshaped recessed portions so that if anything spills on the liner the spilled material will be confined to the recessed portion on which it spilled and will not flow over to the adjacent recessed portions.
Another object of this invention is to provide an integrally formed liner of a plastic composition, which is very inexpensive and which has means whereby it is securely positioned on the shelf against sliding movement relative to the shelf.
Other objects will become apparent as this description progresses.
In the drawings:
FIGURE l is a view showing the refrigerator shelf liner of this invention supported on a refrigerator shelf.
FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary top plan View.
FIGURE 3 is a view partly in section taken on line 3 3 of FIG. 2.
FIGURE 4 is a View partly in section taken on line 4-4 of FIG. l.
FIGURE 5 is a view taken on line 5-5 of FIG. l, and
FIGURE 6 is an enlarged perspective broken-away view of a portion of the shelf liner taken at the end thereof.
The liner generally indicated by the numeral 10 is generally of rectangular shape and is integrally molded or formed of a transparent plastic material such as polystyrene. The liner is molded to provide a body 12 with equally spaced ribs or raised members 14 extending transversely thereof. The spaced ribs 14 divide the surface or body 12 of the liner into a plurality of rectangularshaped surfaces 16 extending throughout the liner. The spaced ribs 14, as will be best seen in cross-section each have a flat top surface 18 and inclined opposite sides 20 which merge into the body 12.
The liner is provided with a continuous raised border 22 which extends along the front 24 and rear 26 and along the opposite spaced ends 28. The continuous raised border 22 along the rear 26 and opposite ends 28 has a sub- 3,326,0ll Patented May 16, 1967 stantially flat top surface 30 and inclined opposite sides 32, similar to the transverse ribs 14. The top 30 of the end and rear border is on the sarne plane as the top 18 of the transverse ribs 14. The front side 24 of the continuous border 22 is shaped somewhat differently than the remainder of the border. The front side 24, best shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, is substantially semi-circular or arcuate in cross-section, as indicated by the numeral 34, and extends'a'bove the plane of the remainder of the border 22.
Extending outwardly of the continuous border along the front, rear, and sides is a continuous horizontal flange 36 which is substantially at right angles to the border. The plane of the horizontal ange 36 is below the plane of the surface or body 12 of the liner. The transverse ribs 14 extend to the front and rear borders. This divides the surface of the liner into the spaced rectangularshaped surfaces 16 which are bounded by the transversely extending ribs 14 and the front and rear borders The spaced rectangular-shaped surfaces 16 each serve keep any spilled material within the confines of the particular shaped rectangular surface. It might be said that each rectangular-shaped surface 16 forms a rectangularshaped Well, recess, or pocket, so that if any material spills onto the shelf it will normally be retained within the particular rectangular surface 16 rather than flowing or spilling across the surface of the liner. The continuous border serves to prevent the spilled material from :flowing over the edge of the shelf, thus, any spilled material will be retained on the liner in close proximity to Where the spilling took place and will not flow over the entire surface of the liner. It also will not drip down to the lower shelves.
The transverse ribs 14 and continuous rib-bed border 22, in addition to forming the spaced Wells 16, serve to reinforce and rigidity the liner. It will be understood that the liner is made of a thin sheeting and the ribs give it greater strength and body. The liners may be used to cover all the shelves of a refrigerator and may also be placed on the bottom of the refrigerator. The liner may be readily removed for cleaning and is sturdy enough to last a long time.
As shown in the drawings, the refrigerator R has a conventional shelf S supported therein which is formed of spaced rigid wires or bars. The liner 10` is positioned to rest on said shelf. The transverse ribs 14 of the liner coincide with the transverse wires TW or bars of the shelf and rest thereon, while the continuous border 22 of the liner rests over the border wire BW of the shelf. In some instances the front border wire of the shelf has a greater diameter than the remainder of the border wire and the larger arcuate shaped rib 34 of the liner will accommodate same. The enlarged front rib 34 will positively prevent any spilled material from flowing beyond the front border. The liner when placed on the shelf will Iby reason of the ribs and raised border thereof engaging the Wires or bars of the shelf prevent the liner from shifting or sliding while on the shelf, and the liner will therefore be retained in a set position.
The -liner does not extend the complete length or Width of the interior of the refrigerator but is somewhat shorter and narrower to permit circulation of the air within the refrigerator.
It will be understood that various changes and modifications may be made from the foregoing without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
What is claimed is:
1. A liner for refrigerator shelves or the like comprising, a generally rectangular-shaped body, said body having a raised border along the front, rear and opposite ends thereof to prevent or restrict any material spilled on said liner from flowing off of said liner, said body provided with equally spaced raised portions which difp L9 vide the body of the liner into equally spaced and equally sized rectangular-shaped shallow recessed portions which provide with said raised portions a substantially at surface so that an objecty may rest partially on said raised and partially on said recessed portions without capsizing, said rectangular-shaped recessed portions preventing or restricting the flow of material from passing into adjacent recessed portions, said raised portions extending to two oppositely positioned borders.
2. A liner dened in claim 1 in which the raised and recessed portions extend transversely of the body and extend to the front and rear borders,
3. A liner dened in claim 1 in which the raised portions are ribs having their upper surfaces at and in which the spaced shallow portions have at bottoms.
4. A liner dened in claim 1 which is integrally formed of a plastic material.
5. A liner defined in claim 1 in which the spaced raised portions are `adapted to be positioned over and coincide with the transversely extending members of the shelf on which the liner is positioned.
6. A liner dened in claim 1 in which the raised border has a ange extending outwardly thereof, which flange is substantially on the same horizontal plane as the bottom of the recessed portions.
References Cited by the Examiner FOREIGN PATENTS 1,255,023 1/ 1961 France.
CHANCELLOR E. HARRIS, Primary Examiner.
CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Examiner.
F. DOMOTOR, Assistant Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. A LINER FOR REFRIGERATOR SHELVES OR THE LIKE COMPRISING, A GENERALLY RECTANGULAR-SHAPED BODY, SAID BODY HAVING A RAISED BORDER ALONG THE FRONT, REAR AND OPPOSITE ENDS THEREOF TO PREVENT OR RESTRICT ANY MATERIAL SPILLED ON SAID LINER FROM FLOWING OFF OF SAID LINER, SAID BODY PROVIDED WITH EQUALLY SPACED RAISED PORTIONS WHICH DIVIDE THE BODY OF THE LINER INTO EQUALLY SPACED AND EQUALLY SIZED RECTANGULAR-SHAPED SHALLOW RECESSED PORTIONS WHICH PROVIDE WITH SAID RAISED PORTIONS A SUBSTANTIALLY FLAT SURFACE SO THAT AN OBJECT MAY REST PARTIALLY ON SAID RAISED AND PARTIALLY ON SAID RECESSED PORTIONS WITHOUT CAPSIZING, SAID RECTANGULAR-SHAPED RECESSED PORTIONS PREVENTING OR RESTRICTING THE FLOW OF MATERIAL FROM PASSING INTO ADJACENT RECESSED PORTIONS, SAID RAISED PORTIONS EXTENDING TO TWO OPPOSITELY POSITIONED BORDERS.
US492136A 1965-10-01 1965-10-01 Liner for a refrigerator shelf Expired - Lifetime US3320011A (en)

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Cited By (14)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0155674A3 (en) * 1984-03-20 1986-04-23 Licentia Patent-Verwaltungs-GmbH Refrigeration apparatus with a cold product shelf
FR2592144A1 (en) * 1985-12-19 1987-06-26 Bosch Siemens Hausgeraete Refrigerating apparatus, particularly full-size refrigerator for domestic use
US4890746A (en) * 1988-07-06 1990-01-02 True Manufacturing Co., Inc. Gravity feed shelf
US4955486A (en) * 1988-07-06 1990-09-11 True Manufacturing Co., Inc. Gravity feed shelf
US5076443A (en) * 1988-07-06 1991-12-31 True Manufacturing Company, Inc. Gravity feed shelf
US5097969A (en) * 1991-05-29 1992-03-24 International Visual Corporation Shelf
US5188246A (en) * 1991-05-29 1993-02-23 International Visual Corporation Shelf
US5228581A (en) * 1991-09-12 1993-07-20 Hill Refrigeration Division, Falcon Manufacturing Inc. Solid state shelf means for transforming an open wire shelf into a solid support within a refrigerated display case
US5538147A (en) * 1994-11-02 1996-07-23 Fucci; Judith G. Wire shelf and cover assembly
WO2003019094A1 (en) * 2001-08-22 2003-03-06 Engineered Glass Products, Llc Refrigerator shelf and method of making the same
US6672464B2 (en) * 1997-10-01 2004-01-06 Display Industries, Llc. Display shelf track device having attaching means
US20050064776A1 (en) * 2001-06-26 2005-03-24 Sobonya William A. Composite sheet material
US20060040107A1 (en) * 2004-08-20 2006-02-23 Shanon Bassi Fridge mats
US20100072149A1 (en) * 2006-11-28 2010-03-25 Trulaske Sr Steven L Shelf organizer with glide strip

Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR1255023A (en) * 1960-01-20 1961-03-03 Honeycomb tray perfected for meal service

Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR1255023A (en) * 1960-01-20 1961-03-03 Honeycomb tray perfected for meal service

Cited By (16)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0155674A3 (en) * 1984-03-20 1986-04-23 Licentia Patent-Verwaltungs-GmbH Refrigeration apparatus with a cold product shelf
FR2592144A1 (en) * 1985-12-19 1987-06-26 Bosch Siemens Hausgeraete Refrigerating apparatus, particularly full-size refrigerator for domestic use
US4890746A (en) * 1988-07-06 1990-01-02 True Manufacturing Co., Inc. Gravity feed shelf
US4955486A (en) * 1988-07-06 1990-09-11 True Manufacturing Co., Inc. Gravity feed shelf
US5076443A (en) * 1988-07-06 1991-12-31 True Manufacturing Company, Inc. Gravity feed shelf
US5097969A (en) * 1991-05-29 1992-03-24 International Visual Corporation Shelf
US5188246A (en) * 1991-05-29 1993-02-23 International Visual Corporation Shelf
US5228581A (en) * 1991-09-12 1993-07-20 Hill Refrigeration Division, Falcon Manufacturing Inc. Solid state shelf means for transforming an open wire shelf into a solid support within a refrigerated display case
US5538147A (en) * 1994-11-02 1996-07-23 Fucci; Judith G. Wire shelf and cover assembly
US6672464B2 (en) * 1997-10-01 2004-01-06 Display Industries, Llc. Display shelf track device having attaching means
US20050064776A1 (en) * 2001-06-26 2005-03-24 Sobonya William A. Composite sheet material
US7524778B2 (en) 2001-06-26 2009-04-28 Henkel Corporation Composite sheet material
WO2003019094A1 (en) * 2001-08-22 2003-03-06 Engineered Glass Products, Llc Refrigerator shelf and method of making the same
US20060040107A1 (en) * 2004-08-20 2006-02-23 Shanon Bassi Fridge mats
US20100072149A1 (en) * 2006-11-28 2010-03-25 Trulaske Sr Steven L Shelf organizer with glide strip
US8162154B2 (en) * 2006-11-28 2012-04-24 True Manufacturing Co., Inc. Shelf organizer with glide strip

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AS Assignment

Owner name: AHP SUBSIDIARY (2) CORPORATION, 1500 SOUTH WOLF RO

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNOR:E-Z POR CORPORATION;REEL/FRAME:003848/0457

Effective date: 19791207