A shelf assembly includes a frame assembly having a side member, wherein the frame assembly is operable between stowed and extended positions. A rack assembly includes a first rack hingedly coupled to a second rack. The first rack and the second rack are pivotally coupled to the side member of the frame assembly, and the rack assembly is operable between first and second positions. The first rack and the second rack are angled towards a pivot axis defined between the first rack and the second rack when the rack assembly is in the second position. The rack assembly moves from the first position to the second position as the frame assembly moves from the stowed position to the extended position.

A refrigerator includes a cabinet having a storage space therein, and a drawer slidably movable forward and backward from the storage space. The drawer includes a door, a storage box provided at a rear surface of the door, an elevation plate disposed within the storage box, and an elevation device connected with one side of the elevation plate to vertically elevate the elevation plate. The elevation device includes a driving motor, a first curved rack to rotate by a rotational force generated by the driving motor, the first curved rack being curved at a predetermined curvature and having an outer circumferential surface, a first elevation bar to connect the first curved rack with the elevation plate, a second curved rack being curved at a predetermined curvature and having an outer circumferential surface to engage with the outer circumferential surface of the first curved rack, and a second elevation bar to connect the second curved rack with the elevation plate.

An elevation device for a refrigerator drawer includes a lower frame, an upper frame, and a lifting assembly. The lifting assembly includes: a pair of first rods having a first end rotatably coupled to the lower frame and a second end that translates along the upper frame; and a pair of second rods having a first end rotatably coupled to the upper frame and a second end that translates along the lower frame. The second rod is rotatably coupled to and crosses the first rod. The first or second rod is connected to a driving device via the first end of the first or second rod, with the driving device disposed outside the upper frame and the lower frame. The first and second rods are configured to, based on power from the driving device, rotate about their respective first ends to elevate the upper frame relative to the lower frame.

A refrigerator includes a cabinet defining a storage chamber, a drawer door, a rail assembly that slidably couples the drawer door to the cabinet, a driving device disposed at the door part, and an elevation device disposed at the drawer part to vertically elevate at least a portion of the drawer part. The driving device includes a motor assembly, a pair of screw units, and a pair of levers, each of the pair of levers being coupled to and configured to be rotated by a corresponding one of the pair of screw units to elevate the elevation device. The drawer door includes a door part configured to open and close the storage chamber and a drawer part that is configured to be inserted into and withdrawn out of the storage chamber and defines a storage space.

A refrigerator appliance including a drawer lifting assembly is provided herein. The drawer lifting assembly may generally employ a motor to rotate a first linkage. The first linkage may be connected to a second linkage so that rotation of the first linkage causes movement of the second linkage. Movement of the second linkage may be constrained by interaction of a guide post connected to the second linkage and a horizontal rail on support frame assembly. This constraint may permit generally linear movement and pivoting of the second linkage. A basket may be connect to an end of the second linkage, wherein pivoting of the second linkage raises the basket.

A sliding-pivoting mechanism of a shelf of a piece of furniture or of a household appliance for extracting and raising the shelf out of a body of the piece of furniture or of the household appliance is provided. The mechanism includes at least two pivot arms of a pivoting mechanism, which are rotatably fixed by a first end to at least one of the side walls of the body, parallel to the plane of the side walls, and which are arranged parallel to and at a distance from each other. At respective second ends of the pivot arms, a guide rail of a sliding mechanism is pivotably fixed parallel to the plane of the side walls such that the guide rail is pivotable from a lower position within the body into a raised, upper position at least partially outside the body, at least one running rail that is linearly displaceable in the guide rail and to which the shelf is fixed. The sliding-pivoting mechanism includes a lever unit supporting raising and lowering of the pivoting mechanism and is pivotably fixed to the running rail parallel to the plane of the side walls. A coupling element of a first coupling unit is arranged on the lever unit such that the coupling element is couplable to at least one of the pivot arms with a corresponding element of the first coupling unit, which corresponds to the coupling element, by displacing the running rail into a predetermined pivoting position.

A refrigerator appliance including a drawer lifting assembly is provided herein. The drawer lifting assembly may generally employ a motor to rotate a first linkage. The first linkage may be connected to a second linkage so that rotation of the first linkage causes movement of the second linkage. Movement of the second linkage may be constrained by interaction of a guide post connected to the second linkage and a horizontal rail on support frame assembly. This constraint may permit generally linear movement and pivoting of the second linkage. A basket may be connect to an end of the second linkage, wherein pivoting of the second linkage raises the basket.

A refrigerator may include a rack gear assembly provided on a lower surface of a drawer. The rack gear assembly may have a first rack member and a second rack member that are pushed out by being moved forward sequentially so that a pushing-out distance of the drawer is maximized and the drawer is fully closed even when opposite sides thereof are pushed in a storage chamber without being in parallel.

A refrigerator may include: a cabinet, a drawer, and a shock absorption module. The shock absorption module may be provided on a lower surface of a front panel (constituting the drawer) and may be configured to absorb a shock caused by a hitting on a floor when the drawer is opened. A user may be prevented from suffering a safety accident caused by automatic opening of the drawer, and the user may easily install the shock absorption module and easily perform maintenance thereof.

A refrigerator includes a rack gear assembly provided on a lower surface of a drawer, wherein the rack gear assembly has a first rack member and a second rack member sequentially moved forward such that an opening distance of the drawer is maximized, and a wing end of the second rack member and a blocking part of a bottom of a storage chamber are provided such that exact engagement of a rack gear with a pinion is maintained during opening of the drawer. In addition, while the drawer is opened, an unwanted movement of the drawer in a closing direction thereof is prevented.