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  Mounting arrangement for the internal dividing elements of refrigerators and freezersUSPTO Application #: 20070103044Title: Mounting arrangement for the internal dividing elements of refrigerators and freezers Abstract: A mounting arrangement for the internal dividing elements of refrigerators and freezers, which comprise a compartment (C) having two lateral walls (14), each carrying at least one rail (20) on which is slidingly seated an adjacent lateral portion (30) of an internal dividing element (E) to be horizontally displaced between a first position, in which it is retracted inside the compartment (C), and second positions, in which it is partially displaced forwardly and outwardly from the compartment (C). According to the invention, each rail (20) comprises a flat horizontal upper track (23) and a lower track (24), each lateral portion (30) of the internal dividing element (E) comprising a seating surface (31), to be slidingly seated on the upper track (23) of the respective rail (20), and a retaining surface (32) disposed below the lower track (24). (end of abstract) Agent: Darby & Darby P.C. - New York, NY, US Inventors: Claiton Emilio Do Amaral, Ricardo Kolb Filho, Jair Cordova Henrique USPTO Applicaton #: 20070103044 - Class: 312334460 (USPTO) The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070103044. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention refers to an arrangement for providing the sliding assembly of internal dividing elements, such as shelves, drawers, and other elements, in simple or combined refrigerators and freezers, in order to allow these internal dividing elements to be selectively, adequately and safely slid in a horizontal direction between a totally retracted position inside a refrigerating compartment of the appliance and a position, defined by travel end stop means and in which they are partially displaced outwardly. PRIOR ART [0002] The simple or combined refrigerators and freezers comprise one or more refrigerating compartments provided with a front door and with a pair of opposite lateral walls, each carrying at least one support element or rail, on which is seated an adjacent lateral portion of an internal dividing element, in the form of a shelf, a drawer or other elements designed to store food articles to be maintained under refrigeration inside the compartment. [0003] In some constructions, the support elements, which can take the form of projections or rails, are integrally formed with lateral walls of the compartment during the molding of the internal box of the cabinet that defines the refrigeration appliance. [0004] In other constructions, said support elements are manufactured separately and then affixed to the lateral walls of the compartment by any adequate process. [0005] Independently of how they are affixed, the support elements, when defining rails, should present a construction which allows the horizontal displacement of the shelves or drawers between a retracted position inside the compartment and positions in which they are partially displaced forwardly and outwardly from the compartment. [0006] In a large number of mounting arrangements, each rail defines an upper track and a lower track, against which are respectively slidingly seated a seating surface and a retaining surface, provided in an adjacent lateral portion of the internal dividing element. [0007] By reason of the dimensional variations, which are invariably present in the internal box of the cabinet, particularly in relation to the distance between the opposite lateral walls of the compartment along the height thereof, it is necessary that the mounting of the internal dividing elements to the support elements allows, simultaneously, the absorption of said dimensional variations and an adequate sliding of the internal dividing elements. Therefore, it is usual to provide fitting gaps, in the direction transversal to the sliding movement, which are dimensioned as a function of the maximum dimensional variations. This procedure conducts to an excessively loose sliding of the internal dividing elements, causing discomfort to the user, who has to take certain cares to obtain the desired sliding of the internal dividing element. This unpleasant operation is particularly critical in the case of drawers and trays, which have their lateral portions slidingly seated on rails provided on the opposite lateral walls of the compartment. [0008] Besides the disadvantage above, these known bearing constructions with large transversal gaps are not provided with travel limiting means for defining a maximum operational extracting position for the internal dividing elements. [0009] The constructions proposed up to now to provide a safe and comfortable mobility for the internal dividing elements of the type considered herein have resulted in complex constructions, of high cost and little versatility of use. Some of these constructions can be verified in patent documents U.S. Pat. No. 3,456,996 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,366,284. Although guaranteeing a rectilinear slide to the internal dividing elements, these constructions present engaging systems between the movable element and the rails which are complex, relatively fragile, and subject to be stuck. OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION [0010] By reason of the disadvantages mentioned above and related to the prior art constructions, it is an object of the present invention to provide a mounting arrangement for the internal dividing elements of refrigerators and freezers, which allows, through a simple and resistant construction of high versatility and low cost, the provision of shelves, drawers and other internal dividing elements which require a safe and comfortable horizontal movement between a retracted position and a maximum operational displacement position forwardly and outwardly from the compartment. DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION [0011] As previously mentioned, the present mounting arrangement is applied to the internal dividing elements of refrigerators and freezers which comprise a compartment having two lateral walls, each carrying at least one rail on which is slidingly seated an adjacent lateral portion of an internal dividing element to be horizontally displaced between a first position, in which it is retracted inside the compartment, and second positions in which it is partially displaced forwardly and outwardly from the compartment. [0012] According to the invention, each rail comprises a flat horizontal upper track and a lower track, parallel to the upper track and which is provided with at least one stop means and one longitudinal guide rail. Each lateral portion of the internal dividing element comprises a seating surface, to be slidingly seated on the upper track of the respective rail, and a retaining surface, disposed below the lower track and which carries a lock, which in an operative position, is slidingly seated against the lower track of the same rail, in order to abut said stop means to define a second maximum displacement position of the internal dividing element. At least one of the lateral portions of the internal dividing element further comprises, in distinct regions of the longitudinal extension of the retaining surface thereof, a guide follower which is slidingly fitted in the guide rail of the lower track of the respective rail. [0013] The construction defined above allows the internal dividing element to be horizontally slid on the pair of opposite rails, until the pair of lower locks which are provided in the lateral portions of said internal dividing element, reach the respective stop means provided in the lower track of each of said rails, defining the maximum displacement of the internal dividing element forwardly and outwardly from the compartment, preventing said internal dividing element from reaching an unbalance position. [0014] In order to maintain the internal dividing element aligned during its horizontal displacement, independently of the transversal gaps which are necessary to absorb the dimensional variations of the internal box of the cabinet, the retaining surface of one of the lateral portions of the internal dividing element carries the guide follower slidingly fitted in the guide rail provided in the lower track of the respective rail, allowing the internal dividing element to maintain a exclusively rectilinear path while it is horizontally moved between its different operational positions. [0015] The gaps resulting from the dimensional variations are absorbed by the adaptation of the other lateral portion of the internal dividing element on the respective rail and without the interference of a guide follower in the guide rail of the lower track of this rail. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0016] The invention will be described below, with reference to the enclosed drawings given by way of example of a possible construction of the present arrangement, and in which: [0017] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a cabinet of a combined refrigerator, whose internal box carries, on one of its lateral walls, a pair of rails for the sliding assembly of the respective internal dividing elements (not illustrated); [0018] FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating an internal dividing element in the form of a shelf, as well as guide elements and lock elements to be operatively associated with the present mounting arrangement; [0019] FIG. 3 is an elevational lateral view of one of the rails illustrated in FIG. 1; Continue reading... Full patent description for Mounting arrangement for the internal dividing elements of refrigerators and freezers Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Mounting arrangement for the internal dividing elements of refrigerators and freezers patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Mounting arrangement for the internal dividing elements of refrigerators and freezers or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Method and apparatus for installing a sliding drawer within a cabinet Next Patent Application: Pull-out slide for drawers and drawer Industry Class: Supports: cabinet structure ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Mounting arrangement for the internal dividing elements of refrigerators and freezers patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 0.39708 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Novartis , Pfizer , Philips , Polaroid , Procter & Gamble , |
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