Glass or glass-ceramic plate-shaped part, particularly a flat surface or shelf   

This invention relates to the field of household appliances, in particular glass or glass-ceramic plate-shaped pieces and in particular trays or shelves, and it has as its object such a piece.

Currently, the trays or shelves that are used in the field of domestic appliances, in particular in refrigerators, are generally made of glass or glass-ceramic or else metal, and they generally comprise a peripheral framing that is preferably made of a synthetic material that is added by crimping or by injection.

For this purpose, WO 02/40180 describes a glass or glass-ceramic plate-shaped piece, in particular a tray or shelf, on which are assembled a frame that covers the periphery of said plate or extruded plastic elements attached to each side of said plate.

Furthermore, U.S. Pat. No. 6,811,045 has as its object a glass or plastic plate-shaped piece, in particular a tray for a refrigerator, on which is mounted a plastic frame that is made of a single piece by molding and that covers the periphery of said plate to form an edge that is designed to hold the liquids.

A glass shelf for a refrigerator on which is assembled a rectangular frame that is made of a single piece by a plastic molding with a J-shaped crosswise section is also known from US 2004/056575.

A glass or ceramic refrigerator shelf that is made of a single piece with a peripheral edge that makes it possible to prevent contact between the food to be refrigerated and the wall of the evaporator is also known from EP 1 099 917.

Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 4,934,541 describes a shelf for a refrigerator that comprises a glass plate that is designed to support the items to be refrigerated that is assembled at its peripheral edge with a plastic frame that is made of two upper and lower parts that sandwich said plate between said parts.

The trays or shelves that are made in this way do not, however, make full use of the glass or the glass-ceramic of which they are made, in particular because of their edge, and also a liquid accidently spilled on these trays or shelves can be held there, if the case arises.

This invention has as its object to eliminate these drawbacks by proposing a glass or glass-ceramic plate-shaped piece, in particular a tray or a shelf, that can be made simply and quickly and that has improved aesthetics relative to the existing pieces of this type.

For this purpose, the glass or glass-ceramic plate-shaped piece, in particular a tray or shelf, that is outfitted on all or a portion of at least one of its surfaces, close to the edges, with a band-shaped raised surface, is characterized in that said band consists of an acrylic resin that is deposited on the piece.

The invention will be better understood using the description below that relates to a preferred embodiment, provided by way of nonlimiting example and explained with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a bird\'s eye view of a plate-shaped piece according to the invention, and

FIG. 2 is a cutaway view, on a larger scale, according to A-A of FIG. 1.

FIGS. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings show a glass or glass-ceramic plate-shaped piece 1, in particular a tray or a shelf.

According to the invention, the piece 1 is outfitted on all or a portion of at least one of its surfaces, close to the edges, with a band-shaped raised surface 2. This band 2 can be made of a single layer or in the form of several successive superposed layers. In the latter case, it is possible to obtain a relatively significant thickness such that the band 2 can form a means for holding a liquid or a pasty product that was accidentally spilled.

According to one characteristic of the invention, the band 2 can advantageously consist of an acrylic resin that is deposited on the piece 1, for example by means of an automatic deposition device comprising a metering gun coupled to a guide and support table that controls the movements in a plane. Thus, it is possible to produce, quickly and repetitively, a continuous or intermittent band at all of the predetermined locations of a piece 1, whereby the flow rate of the metering gun as well as its movement are managed by the automatic device.

It is also possible, according to a variant embodiment of the invention, to produce the band 2 in glass, metal or wood, and to attach it to the corresponding surface of the piece 1 by means of an adhesive. The use of an added material, optionally other than glass, makes it possible to achieve a new aesthetic effect in the field of pieces of this type.

According to another characteristic of the invention, not shown in the accompanying drawing, the plate-shaped piece 1 that is made of glass or glass-ceramic has carved and optionally polished edges and is outfitted in advance on at least one portion of a surface with a decoration made by color silkscreen, by enameling or by metallization. Furthermore, the piece 1 can also be treated in advance by soaking. Thus, the piece 1 can have all of the characteristics of a so-called safety glass.

Finally, it is also possible to equip the piece 1, on its section, with a peripheral band (not shown) that is similar to the band 2 that forms the raised surface. In such a case, the piece 1, made of glass or glass-ceramic, will be perfectly protected against impacts. The provision of such a peripheral band makes it possible to use—simultaneously on the same piece 1—a perfect finishing of the edges of the latter and the desired raised surface optionally to form a means for holding a liquid or pasty product that was accidentally spilled.

Finally, according to another characteristic of the invention, it is also possible to ensure that the piece 1 and the band 2 are provided with a coating of an antibacterial and/or antimicrobial agent or have undergone a preliminary antibacterial and/or antimicrobial treatment. Thus, the piece 1 simultaneously fills a role for preserving the hygiene of the products deposited on it, in particular when it is used as a tray or shelf, for example in a refrigerator or the like.

With this invention, it is possible to produce a glass or glass-ceramic plate-shaped piece, in particular a tray or a shelf, in particular for refrigerators, whose aesthetics is improved relative to the known trays or shelves. In addition, the band 2 that outfits this piece 1, which is made directly on said glass piece 1, advantageously replaces the frame that is made of synthetic material or the conventional crimping, in the prior art, and makes it possible to hold possibly spilled liquids on the piece 1.

In addition, the band 2 can also be used as an insert during the superposition of pieces 1, after their production, during storage and/or shipping.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiment described and shown in the accompanying drawing. Modifications are possible, in particular from the standpoint of the composition of various elements or by substitution of equivalent techniques, without thereby exceeding the field of protection of the invention.