REFRIGERATOR CAN STORAGE ORGANIZATION

Abstract

A beverage chute is configured to removably mount within a refrigerator appliance. The beverage chute includes a front wall, a back wall, a first side wall, a second side wall, and a floor. The floor of the beverage chute is angled downward in the vertical direction from the back wall to the front wall.

Claims

1. A refrigerator appliance defining a vertical direction, a lateral direction, and a transverse direction, the vertical, lateral, and transverse directions being mutually perpendicular, the refrigerator appliance comprising: a cabinet defining a food storage chamber, the food storage chamber extending between a top portion and a bottom portion along the vertical direction, a first side portion and a second side portion along the lateral direction, and a front portion and a back portion along the transverse direction; a first support member and a second support member disposed proximate the back portion of the food storage chamber for providing a plurality of shelf mounting positions; a shelf extending between and mounted on the first and second support members within the food storage chamber, the shelf extending between a front side and a back side; and a beverage chute positioned under the shelf, the beverage chute mounted between the front side of the shelf and the first or second support members, the beverage chute comprising a front wall, a back wall, a first side wall, a second side wall, and a floor.

2. The refrigerator as in claim 1, wherein the beverage chute comprises a first mounting lip extending from the front wall, the first mounting lip removably coupled to the front side of the shelf.

3. The refrigerator as in claim 2, wherein the beverage chute comprises a second mounting lip extending from the back wall, the second mounting lip removably coupled to one or more of the first or second support members and the back side of the shelf.

4. The refrigerator as in claim 1, wherein the floor of the beverage chute is angled downward in the vertical direction from the back wall to the front wall.

5. The refrigerator as in claim 4, wherein the beverage chute comprises an inlet defined in the first side wall, the inlet configured for receipt of beverage canisters.

6. The refrigerator as in claim 5, wherein the inlet defines an opening between two and three quarters inches and four inches.

7. The refrigerator as in claim 5, wherein the beverage chute comprises an outlet defined in the first side wall, the outlet configured for dispensing beverage canisters.

8. The refrigerator as in claim 7, wherein the outlet defines an opening between three inches and six inches.

9. The refrigerator as in claim 7, wherein the inlet is positioned on the first side wall proximate the back wall in the transverse direction, and the outlet is positioned on the first side wall proximate the front wall in the transverse direction.

10. The refrigerator as in claim 4, wherein the floor is angled between one and thirty-five degrees from a plane defined by the lateral and transverse directions.

11. A beverage chute defining a vertical direction, a lateral direction, and a transverse direction, the vertical, lateral, and transverse directions being mutually perpendicular, the beverage chute configured to removably mount within a refrigerator appliance, the beverage chute comprising: a front wall, a back wall, a first side wall, a second side wall, and a floor, wherein the floor of the beverage chute is angled downward in the vertical direction from the back wall to the front wall.

12. The beverage chute as in claim 11, wherein the beverage chute comprises a first mounting lip extending from the front wall, the first mounting lip removably coupled to a shelf within the refrigerator appliance.

13. The beverage chute as in claim 12, wherein the beverage chute comprises a second mounting lip extending from the back wall, the second mounting lip removably coupled to the shelf within the refrigerator appliance.

14. The beverage chute as in claim 11, wherein the beverage chute comprises an inlet defined in the first side wall, the inlet configured for receipt of beverage canisters.

15. The beverage chute as in claim 14, wherein the inlet defines an opening between two and three quarters inches and four inches.

16. The beverage chute as in claim 14, wherein the beverage chute comprises an outlet defined in the first side wall, the outlet configured for dispensing beverage canisters.

17. The beverage chute as in claim 16, wherein the outlet defines an opening between three inches and six inches.

18. The beverage chute as in claim 16, wherein the inlet is positioned on the first side wall proximate the back wall in the transverse direction, and the outlet is positioned on the first side wall proximate the front wall in the transverse direction.

19. The beverage chute as in claim 11, wherein the floor is angled between one and thirty-five degrees from a plane defined by the lateral and transverse directions.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention, including the best mode thereof, directed to one of ordinary skill in the art, is set forth in the specification, which makes reference to the appended figures.

[0010] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a refrigerator appliance according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0011] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the example refrigerator appliance of FIG. 1 with doors shown in an open configuration.

[0012] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a beverage chute shown in FIG. 2 and according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0013] FIG. 4 is side, elevation view of the beverage chute of FIG. 3 according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0014] Repeat use of reference characters in the present specification and drawings is intended to represent the same or analogous features or elements of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] Reference now will be made in detail to embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the invention, not limitation of the invention. In fact, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. For instance, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used with another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers such modifications and variations as come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

[0016] As used herein, the terms first, second, and third may be used interchangeably to distinguish one component from another and are not intended to signify location or importance of the individual components. The terms upstream and downstream refer to the relative flow direction with respect to fluid flow in a fluid pathway. For example, upstream refers to the flow direction from which the fluid flows, and downstream refers to the flow direction to which the fluid flows. The terms includes and including are intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term comprising. Similarly, the term or is generally intended to be inclusive (i.e., A or B is intended to mean A or B or both).

[0017] Approximating language, as used herein throughout the specification and claims, is applied to modify any quantitative representation that could permissibly vary without resulting in a change in the basic function to which it is related. Accordingly, a value modified by a term or terms, such as about, approximately, and substantially, are not to be limited to the precise value specified. In at least some instances, the approximating language may correspond to the precision of an instrument for measuring the value. For example, the approximating language may refer to being within a ten percent (10%) margin.

[0018] Referring now to the figures, an example appliance will be described in accordance with example aspects of the present subject matter. Specifically, FIG. 1 provides a perspective view of an example refrigerator appliance 100, and FIG. 2 illustrates refrigerator appliance 100 with some of the doors in the open position. As illustrated, refrigerator appliance 100 generally defines a vertical direction V, a lateral direction L, and a transverse direction T that are mutually perpendicular and form an orthogonal coordinate system.

[0019] According to example embodiments, refrigerator appliance 100 includes a cabinet 102 that is generally configured for containing and/or supporting various components of refrigerator appliance 100 and which may also define one or more internal chambers or compartments of refrigerator appliance 100. In this regard, as used herein, the terms cabinet, housing, and the like are generally intended to refer to an outer frame or support structure for refrigerator appliance 100, e.g., including any suitable number, type, and configuration of support structures formed from any suitable materials, such as a system of elongated support members, a plurality of interconnected panels, or some combination thereof. It should be appreciated that cabinet 102 does not necessarily require an enclosure and may simply include open structure supporting various elements of refrigerator appliance 100. By contrast, cabinet 102 may enclose some or all portions of an interior of cabinet 102. It should be appreciated that cabinet 102 may have any suitable size, shape, and configuration while remaining within the scope of the present subject matter.

[0020] As illustrated, cabinet 102 generally extends between a top portion 104 and a bottom portion 106 along the vertical direction V, between a first side portion 108 (e.g., the left side when viewed from the front as in FIG. 1) and a second side portion 110 (e.g., the right side when viewed from the front as in FIG. 1) along the lateral direction L, and between a front portion 112 and a back portion 114 along the transverse direction T. In general, terms such as left, right, front, rear, top, or bottom are used with reference to the perspective of a user accessing refrigerator appliance 100. As shown in FIG. 2, cabinet 102 may include a top wall 160 and a pair of side walls 162, e.g., that are spaced apart along the lateral direction L.

[0021] Cabinet 102 defines chilled chambers for receipt of food items for storage. In particular, cabinet 102 defines fresh food chamber 122 positioned at or adjacent top portion 104 of cabinet 102 and a freezer chamber 124 arranged at or adjacent bottom portion 106 of cabinet 102. As such, refrigerator appliance 100 is generally referred to as a bottom mount refrigerator. It is recognized, however, that the benefits of the present disclosure apply to other types and styles of refrigerator appliances such as, e.g., a top mount refrigerator appliance, a side-by-side style refrigerator appliance, or a single door refrigerator appliance. Consequently, the description set forth herein is for illustrative purposes only and is not intended to be limiting in any aspect to any particular appliance or configuration.

[0022] Refrigerator doors 128 are rotatably hinged to an edge of cabinet 102 for selectively accessing fresh food chamber 122. In addition, a freezer door 130 is arranged below refrigerator doors 128 for selectively accessing freezer chamber 124. Freezer door 130 is coupled to a freezer drawer (not shown) slidably mounted within freezer chamber 124. In general, refrigerator doors 128 form a seal over a front opening 132 defined by cabinet 102. In this regard, a user may place items within fresh food chamber 122 through front opening 132 when refrigerator doors 128 are open and may then close refrigerator doors 128 to facilitate climate control. Refrigerator doors 128 and freezer door 130 are shown in the closed configuration in FIG. 1. One skilled in the art will appreciate that other chamber and door configurations are possible and within the scope of the present invention.

[0023] FIG. 2 provides a perspective view of refrigerator appliance 100 shown with refrigerator doors 128 in the open position. As shown in FIG. 2, various storage components are mounted within fresh food chamber 122 to facilitate storage of food items therein as will be understood by those skilled in the art. In particular, the storage components may include pans 134 and shelves 136. Each of these storage components are configured for receipt of food items (e.g., beverages and/or solid food items) and may assist with organizing such food items. As illustrated, pans 134 may be mounted on refrigerator doors 128, referred to then as bins, or may slide into a receiving space in fresh food chamber 122. It should be appreciated that the illustrated storage components are used only for the purpose of explanation and that other storage components may be used and may have different sizes, shapes, and configurations.

[0024] Turning back to FIG. 1, a dispensing assembly 140 is generally configured for dispensing liquid water and/or ice. Dispensing assembly 140 and its various components may be positioned at least in part within a dispenser recess 142 defined on one of refrigerator doors 128. In this regard, dispenser recess 142 is defined on a front portion 112 of refrigerator appliance 100 such that a user may operate dispensing assembly 140 without opening refrigerator door 128. In addition, dispenser recess 142 is positioned at a predetermined elevation convenient for a user to access ice and enabling the user to access ice without the need to bend-over. In the exemplary embodiment, dispenser recess 142 is positioned at a level that approximates the chest level of a user.

[0025] Dispensing assembly 140 includes an ice dispenser 144 including a discharging outlet 146 for discharging ice from dispensing assembly 140. An actuating mechanism 148, shown as a paddle, is mounted below discharging outlet 146 for operating ice or water dispenser 144. In alternative exemplary embodiments, any suitable actuating mechanism may be used to operate ice dispenser 144. For example, ice dispenser 144 can include a sensor (such as an ultrasonic sensor) or a button rather than the paddle. Discharging outlet 146 and actuating mechanism 148 are an external part of ice dispenser 144 and are mounted in dispenser recess 142. By contrast, refrigerator door 128 may define an icebox compartment 150 (FIG. 2) housing an icemaker and an ice storage bin (not shown) that are configured to supply ice to dispenser recess 142.

[0026] A control panel 152 is provided for controlling the mode of operation. For example, control panel 152 includes one or more selector inputs 154, such as knobs, buttons, touchscreen interfaces, etc., such as a water dispensing button and an ice-dispensing button, for selecting a desired mode of operation such as crushed or non-crushed ice. In addition, inputs 154 may be used to specify a fill volume or method of operating dispensing assembly 140. In this regard, inputs 154 may be in communication with a processing device or controller 156. Signals generated in controller 156 operate refrigerator appliance 100 and dispensing assembly 140 in response to selector inputs 154. Additionally, a display 158, such as an indicator light or a screen, may be provided on control panel 152. Display 158 may be in communication with controller 156, and may display information in response to signals from controller 156.

[0027] As used herein, processing device or controller may refer to one or more microprocessors or semiconductor devices and is not restricted necessarily to a single element. The processing device can be programmed to operate refrigerator appliance 100, dispensing assembly 140 and other components of refrigerator appliance 100. The processing device may include, or be associated with, one or more memory elements (e.g., non-transitory storage media). In some such embodiments, the memory elements include electrically erasable, programmable read only memory (EEPROM). Generally, the memory elements can store information accessible by a processing device, including instructions that can be executed by processing device. Optionally, the instructions can be software or any set of instructions and/or data that when executed by the processing device, cause the processing device to perform operations.

[0028] Referring again to FIG. 2, for this example embodiment, fresh food chamber 122 of refrigerator appliance 100 includes a first support member 170 and a second support member 172 disposed proximate the back portion 114, e.g., mounted to a back wall 115 of cabinet 120. The first and second support members 170 and 172 may be oriented generally along the vertical direction V. One or more adjustable shelves 136 may be mounted to the first and second support members 170 and 172. In general, adjustable shelves 136 may extend between a front side 137 and a back side 139 in the transverse direction T within refrigerator appliance 100. First and second support members 170 and 172 may structurally support one or more adjustable shelves 136. Moreover, first and second support members 170 and 172 may structurally support the weight of other components, e.g., the additional weight from a beverage chute 200 (FIG. 3). First and second support members 170 and 172 may be made of any suitable structural material, e.g., in some embodiments, first and second support members 170 and 172 may be made of steel.

[0029] In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, four (4) adjustable shelves 136 are mounted within fresh food chamber 122 and are arranged in two columns and two rows as shown. Adjustable shelves 136 may be selectively positioned by a user in different shelf mounting positions within fresh food chamber 122. For instance, one adjustable shelf 136 could be removed from its position and moved upward or downward along the vertical direction V or moved from a position proximate first side portion 108 to a position proximate second side portion 110 of refrigerator appliance 100 along the lateral direction L. Adjustable shelves 136 may also be removed from refrigerator appliance 100. For example, if storage room is needed for a particularly tall pot, adjustable shelves 136 may be removed from refrigerator appliance 100 and stowed elsewhere. Although four (4) adjustable shelves 136 are depicted in FIG. 2, more or less than four (4) adjustable shelves 136 may be provided in refrigerator appliance 100.

[0030] Turning now to FIGS. 3-4, illustrated in FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an example embodiment of a beverage chute 200, and illustrated in FIG. 4 is an elevation, side view of the example embodiment of beverage chute 200. Beverage chute 200 may be generally defined by a front wall 202, a back wall 204, a first side wall 206, a second side wall 208, and a floor 210. In general, beverage chute 200 may be formed as a single piece construction, e.g., beverage chute 200 may be fabricated through injection molding or additive manufacturing. In other example embodiments, beverage chute 200 may be a wire rack, e.g., a grid pattern of wires, bent to form the features of beverage chute 200 as will be described hereinbelow. In the illustrated embodiment shown in FIGS. 3-4, floor 210 may curve upward, in the vertical direction V, into the front wall 202 and the back wall 204. A person having ordinary skill in the art would understand that such curvature of floor 210 is provided for example purposes only and may be, in certain example embodiments, omitted, resulting in a box-like structure at junctions between both front and back wall 202, 204 and floor 210.

[0031] In general, beverage chute 200 may be positioned under one of the adjustable shelves 136, e.g., beverage chute 200 may be mounted between front side 137 and back side 139 of one of the adjustable shelves 136 and/or the first or second support members 170, 172. For example, beverage chute 200 may include a first mounting lip 212 extending backward along the transverse direction from front wall 202. The first mounting lip 212 may be generally configured to removably couple to front side 137 of one of the adjustable shelves 136. Additionally, a second mounting lip 214 may extend forward from the back wall 204 along the transverse direction of beverage chute 200. The second mounting lip 214 may be generally configured to removably couple to one or more of the first or second support members 170, 172 and/or back side 139 of one of the adjustable shelves 136.

[0032] As may be seen in FIG. 4, floor 210 of beverage chute 200 may be angled downward, e.g., in the vertical direction V, from back wall 204 to front wall 202, such that the floor 210 at back wall 204 is higher in the vertical direction V than the floor 210 at front wall 202. Specifically, floor 210 may be angled at an angle from a plane 216 defined by the lateral direction L and transverse direction T, where angle may be between one degree (1) and thirty-five degrees (35), such as between two degrees (2) and thirty degrees (30), such as between five degrees (5) and twenty degrees (20) from plane 216. Accordingly, floor 210 may generally define a slope downwards in the vertical direction V from back wall 204 to front wall 202. As stated above, floor 210 may curve upward, in the vertical direction V, into the front wall 202 and the back wall 204. The portions of curved floor 210 may deviate from angle , however, floor 210 may maintain the general slope downwards in the vertical direction V from back wall 204 to front wall 202.

[0033] Referring again to FIG. 3-4, in the present example embodiment, beverage chute 200 includes an inlet 220 defined in the first side wall 206. In general, inlet 220 may be configured for receipt of beverage canisters 300, e.g., soda/pop cans, energy drinks, adult beverages (alcoholic drinks), bottles, or other suitable beverage canisters, etc., such as a beverage canister having an internal volume of about twelve fluid ounces (12 fl. oz) or less. In particular, inlet 220 may define an opening 221 through first side wall 206. Opening 221 may generally be circular shaped with a diameter between two and three quarters inches (2.75 in) and four inches (4 in), such as between three inches (3 in) and three and three quarters inches (3.75 in), such as between three and one quarter inches (3.25 in) and three and a half inches (3.5 in). In general, opening 221 of inlet 220 may be no less than two and six tenths inches (2.6 in), e.g., the diameter of the widest part of a typical soda beverage canister 300. While opening 221 of inlet 220 is described and shown as circular, opening 221 may be any shape suitable for receiving beverage canisters 300, such as square and rectangular shapes.

[0034] In the present example embodiment, beverage chute 200 may also include an outlet 222 defined in the first side wall 206. In general, outlet 222 may be configured for dispensing beverage canisters 300. In particular, outlet 222 may define an opening 223 through first side wall 206. Opening 223 may generally be circular shaped with a diameter between three inches (3 in) and six inches (6 in), such as between four inches (4 in) and five inches (5 in), such as approximately four and a half inches (4.5 in). In the present example embodiment, opening 223 of outlet 222 is illustrated as a rotated tear shape, e.g., having a circular form at one side and tapering to a point at the other side, or may taper to an arcuate end having a smaller radius than the circular form at the one side, such as a radius of about one half of the radius of the circular form at the one side. While illustrated having the teardrop shape, opening 223 of outlet 222 may have any shape suitable for a user to retrieve beverage canister 300, e.g., reach into outlet 222, grasp beverage canister 300, and pull the beverage canister 300 out of beverage chute 200.

[0035] As shown in FIG. 4, inlet 220 may be positioned on the first side wall 206 proximate the back wall 204 in the transverse direction T, and outlet 222 may be positioned on the first side wall 206 proximate the front wall 202 in the transverse direction T. Accordingly, as beverage canisters 300 are loaded into inlet 220, gravity may advantageously roll the beverage canisters 300 down the slope (angle ) of floor 210 towards outlet 222. While inlet 220 and outlet 222 are illustrated and described on first side wall 206, a person having ordinary skill in the art would understand that in other example embodiments, inlet 220 and outlet 222, and thus respective openings 221, 223, may be positioned on second side wall 208 as well as or instead of the first side wall 206.

[0036] As shown in FIG. 4, beverage chute 200 may hold six (6) beverage canisters 300. In general, beverage chute 200 may be sized along the transverse direction T to match a depth, e.g., from front side 137 to back side 139, of the adjustable shelves 136. However, beverage chute 200 may be larger or smaller in other example embodiments, depending on the depth of the shelf that beverage chute 200 is mounted thereto. Accordingly, depending on the length of beverage chute 200 in the transverse direction T, beverage chute 200 may hold between two (2) beverage canisters 300 and sixteen (16) beverage canisters 300, such as between three (3) beverage canisters 300 and twelve (12) beverage canisters 300, such as between four (4) beverage canisters 300 and eight (8) beverage canisters 300. As such, beverage chute 200 may advantageously aid utilizing the dead space within refrigerator appliance 100 by holding beverage canisters 300 which would typically be placed on one or more of the adjustable shelves 136. Additionally, since the canisters which would typically be placed on one or more of the adjustable shelves 136 are stored in beverage chute 200, the emptied space on the adjustable shelves 136 advantageously becomes available for other items to be placed thereupon.

[0037] As may be seen from the above, a refrigerator appliance may include a drink, beverage, can, bottle storage chute that may use the dead space within the refrigerator appliance by attaching to an underside of a refrigerator shelf. The chute may include a forward slope, e.g., slopes downward from a rear side of the shelf towards a front side of the shelf. The beverage containers may be inserted into the chute at a rear portion of the chute, and gravity may roll the containers forward for access to a user of the refrigerator appliance. Based on a depth of the shelf, the chute may store varying number of cans.

[0038] This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they include structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages of the claims.