STORAGE DRAWER ASSEMBLY FOR A REFRIGERATOR APPLIANCE

Abstract

A refrigerator appliance may define a vertical direction, a lateral direction, and a transverse direction and may include a cabinet that may define a chilled chamber, a door rotatably coupled to the cabinet, the door may be rotatable between an open position and a closed position, and a storage drawer assembly positioned within the chilled chamber. The storage drawer assembly may include a drawer positioned within the cabinet that may define a storage compartment. The storage drawer assembly may include a side support. The storage drawer assembly may include a lid moveably mated to the side support. The lid may be moveable between a shut position and a tucked position. The storage drawer assembly may include a locking assembly that may include a latch disposed at the side support in selective engagement with the lid in the tucked position to selectively lock the lid in the tucked position.

Claims

1. A refrigerator appliance defining a vertical direction, a lateral direction, and a transverse direction, the refrigerator appliance comprising: a cabinet defining a chilled chamber; a door rotatably coupled to the cabinet, the door being rotatable between an open position and a closed position; a storage drawer assembly positioned within the chilled chamber, the storage drawer assembly comprising: a drawer positioned within the cabinet, the drawer defining a storage compartment, a side support positioned above the drawer, a lid moveably mated to the side support, the lid being moveable between a shut position and a tucked position, wherein in the shut position the lid is positioned at a front end of the drawer, wherein in the tucked position the lid is positioned behind the front end along the transverse direction, and a locking assembly comprising a latch disposed at the side support in selective engagement with the lid in the tucked position to selectively lock the lid in the tucked position.

2. The refrigerator appliance of claim 1, wherein the locking assembly further comprises a trigger positioned outside of the side support, to be engageable with the door in the closed position of the door, and wherein the locking assembly comprises a connector to connect the trigger to the latch.

3. The refrigerator appliance of claim 2, wherein the connector comprises one or more linkage arms, wherein the trigger is mechanically connected to the latch via the one or more linkage arms.

4. The refrigerator appliance of claim 2, wherein the connector comprises one or more electrical connectors, and wherein the trigger is electrically connected to the latch via the one or more electrical connectors.

5. The refrigerator appliance of claim 2, wherein the side support defines an enclosure therewithin, wherein the side support comprises a front surface at a front thereof, and wherein the trigger extended through the front surface into the enclosure.

6. The refrigerator appliance of claim 2, wherein the locking assembly further comprises a lock spring biasing the latch toward a locked position.

7. The refrigerator appliance of claim 1, wherein the side support defines an enclosure therewithin, and wherein the locking assembly is positioned within the enclosure.

8. The refrigerator appliance of claim 1, wherein the side support comprises an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein the inner surface is positioned inward of the outer surface along the lateral direction, and wherein the inner surface defines a guide track for receiving the lid.

9. The refrigerator appliance of claim 8, wherein the guide track comprises a front portion and a rear portion spaced apart along the transverse direction, and wherein the front portion is positioned below the rear portion along the vertical direction to define a back-to-front slope.

10. The refrigerator appliance of claim 1, wherein the side support is a first side support, wherein the storage drawer assembly further comprises a second side support, wherein the first side support and the second side support are spaced apart along the lateral direction, wherein a first side of the lid is moveably mated to the first side support, wherein a second side of the lid is moveable mated to the second side support, wherein the latch is a first latch disposed at the first side support, wherein the locking assembly further comprises a second latch disposed at the second side support, and wherein the first latch and the second latch together selectively lock the lid in the tucked position of the lid.

11. A refrigerator appliance defining a vertical direction, a lateral direction, and a transverse direction, the refrigerator appliance comprising: a cabinet defining a chilled chamber; a door rotatably coupled to the cabinet, the door being rotatable between an open position and a closed position; a storage drawer assembly positioned within the chilled chamber, the storage drawer assembly comprising: a drawer positioned within the cabinet, the drawer defining a storage compartment; a side support positioned above the drawer; a lid moveably mated to side support, the lid being moveable between shut position and a tucked position, wherein in the shut position the lid is positioned at a front end of the drawer, wherein in the tucked position the lid is positioned behind the front end of the drawer along the transverse direction; and a locking assembly comprising a latch and a paddle, the latch being positioned within the side support, the paddle comprising a head and a linkage arm extending from the head into the side support, the linkage arm forming a pivot joint with the latch to selectively actuate the latch between a locked position and a free position.

12. The refrigerator appliance of claim 11, wherein the latch comprises a lock portion attached to the linkage arm at the pivot joint, wherein the lock portion comprises a locking surface extending along the lateral direction, wherein the locking surface that is selectively engageable with the lid to lock the lid in the tucked position thereof.

13. The refrigerator appliance of claim 11, wherein the head of the paddle is positioned at an exterior wall of the side support, wherein the head is selectively engageable with the door in the closed position of the door.

14. The refrigerator appliance of claim 11, wherein the side support defines an enclosure therewithin, wherein the side support comprises a front face at a front thereof, and wherein the paddle is extended through the front face into the enclosure.

15. The refrigerator appliance of claim 11, wherein the pivot joint defines a pivot axis extending parallel to the vertical direction.

16. The refrigerator appliance of claim 11, wherein the locking assembly further comprises a lock spring biasing the latch toward the locked position.

17. A refrigerator appliance defining a vertical direction, a lateral direction, and a transverse direction, the refrigerator appliance comprising: a cabinet defining a chilled chamber; a door rotatably coupled to the cabinet, the door being rotatable between an open position and a closed position; a storage drawer assembly positioned within the chilled chamber, the storage drawer assembly comprising: a drawer positioned within the cabinet, the drawer defining a storage compartment; a side support positioned above the drawer, the side support defining an enclosure therewithin; a lid moveably mated to side support, the lid being moveable between a shut position and a tucked position, wherein in the shut position the lid is positioned at a front end of the drawer, wherein in the tucked position the lid is positioned behind the front end of the drawer along the transverse direction; and a locking assembly comprising a latch and a switch, the latch being mounted to the side support within the enclosure the switch being positioned outside of the enclosure, the switch being electrically connected to the latch via one or more electrical connectors to selectively actuate the latch from a locked position to a free position.

18. The refrigerator appliance of claim 17, wherein the latch comprises a lock portion, wherein the lock portion comprises a locking surface extending along a frontal plane, wherein the locking surface is selectively engageable with the lid to lock the lid in the tucked position thereof.

19. The refrigerator appliance of claim 17, wherein the switch is disposed on an internal wall of the cabinet to be selectively engageable with the door in the closed position of the door.

20. The refrigerator appliance of claim 17, wherein the latch comprises a base and a plunger, wherein the base is mounted within the enclosure, and wherein the plunger is moveable attached within the base between a locked position and a free position along the vertical direction.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] 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.

[0011] FIG. 1 provides a perspective view of a refrigerator appliance according to one or more exemplary embodiments of the present subject matter.

[0012] FIG. 2 provides a perspective view of the exemplary refrigerator appliance of FIG. 1, with the doors of the fresh food chamber shown in an open position.

[0013] FIG. 3 provides a perspective view of a fresh food liner and a storage drawer assembly of the exemplary refrigerator appliance of FIG. 1, wherein a lid assembly of the storage drawer assembly is in a shut position.

[0014] FIG. 4 provides a perspective view of a fresh food liner and a storage drawer assembly of the exemplary refrigerator appliance of FIG. 1, wherein a lid assembly of the storage drawer assembly is in a tucked position.

[0015] FIG. 5 provides a close-up perspective view of a portion of the storage drawer assembly of the exemplary refrigerator appliance of FIG. 1.

[0016] FIG. 6 provides a top-down view of the storage drawer assembly of the exemplary refrigerator appliance of FIG. 1, wherein a door of the refrigerator appliance is in an open position.

[0017] FIG. 7 provides a top-down view of the storage drawer assembly of the exemplary refrigerator appliance of FIG. 1, wherein a door of the refrigerator appliance is in a closed position.

[0018] FIG. 8 provides a side view of a storage drawer assembly according to one or more exemplary embodiments of the present subject matter.

[0019] FIG. 9 provides a side view of a storage drawer assembly according to one or more exemplary embodiments of the present subject matter.

[0020] 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

[0021] 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 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.

[0022] 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 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). In addition, here and throughout the specification and claims, range limitations may be combined or interchanged. Such ranges are identified and include all the sub-ranges contained therein unless context or language indicates otherwise. For example, all ranges disclosed herein are inclusive of the endpoints, and the endpoints are independently combinable with each other. The singular forms a, an, and the include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

[0023] Approximating language, as used herein throughout the specification and claims, may be 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 generally, 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, or the precision of the methods or machines for constructing or manufacturing the components or systems. For example, the approximating language may refer to being within a 10 percent margin (i.e., including values within ten percent greater or less than the stated value). In this regard, for example, when used in the context of an angle or direction, such terms include within ten degrees greater or less than the stated angle or direction (e.g., generally vertical includes forming an angle of up to ten degrees in any direction, such as, clockwise or counterclockwise, with the vertical direction V).

[0024] The word exemplary is used herein to mean serving as an example, instance, or illustration. In addition, references to an embodiment or one embodiment does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, although it may. Any implementation described herein as exemplary or an embodiment is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other implementations.

[0025] Except as explicitly indicated otherwise, recitation of a singular processing element (e.g., a controller, a processor, a microprocessor, etc.) is understood to include more than one processing element. In other words, a processing element is generally understood as one or more processing element. Furthermore, barring a specific statement to the contrary, any steps or functions recited as being performed by the processing element or said processing element are generally understood to be capable of being performed by any one of the one or more processing elements. Thus, a first step or function performed by the processing element may be performed by any one of the one or more processing elements, and a second step or function performed by the processing element may be performed by any one of the one or more processing elements and not necessarily by the same one of the one or more processing elements by which the first step or function is performed. Moreover, it is understood that recitation of the processing element or said processing element performing a plurality of steps or functions does not require that at least one discrete processing element be capable of performing each one of the plurality of steps or functions.

[0026] Generally, a refrigerator appliance may be provided in some aspects of the present disclosure. The refrigerator appliance can include a cabinet defining one or more chilled chambers. One or more doors can be rotatably coupled to the cabinet to selectively provide access to the one or more chilled chambers. The refrigerator appliance can also include a storage drawer assembly positioned within the chilled chamber. The storage drawer assembly may include a drawer defining a storage compartment, a side support positioned above the drawer, and a lid moveably mated to the side support. The lid can be moveable between a shut position (e.g., to prohibit access to the storage compartment) and a tucked position (e.g., to permit access to the storage compartment).

[0027] Often a user of the refrigerator appliance may wish to retrieve a food item from the storage compartment of the storage drawer assembly. In such instances, the user can open the one or more doors of the refrigerator appliance to permit access to the chilled chamber. The user may then transition the lid of the storage drawer assembly from the shut position to the tucked position to permit access to the storage compartment such that they may retrieve the food item from the storage compartment. Often after the user has retrieved the food item from the storage compartment, the user may forget to close the lid of the storage drawer assembly and close the doors of the refrigerator appliance. Leaving the lid of the storage drawer assembly may negatively impact user experience or the performance of the refrigerator appliance. For instance, the storage drawer assembly may include temperature or humidity controls that are separate from other areas within the chilled chamber. In this regard, when the lid of the storage drawer assembly is left in the tucked position, the performance of the storage drawer appliance, and more broadly the refrigerator appliance may be impacted.

[0028] Notably, embodiments of the present subject matter provide a locking assembly that can permit movement of the lid from the tucked position to the shut position when the one or more doors of the refrigerator appliance are closed. For instance, the locking assembly may generally include a latch for selectively locking or unlocking the lid (e.g., in or from the tucked position thereof). Moreover, the locking assembly may include a trigger that is connected (e.g., mechanically, or electronically) to the latch. The trigger may be engageable with the door (e.g., when the door is in the closed position). When the trigger is engaged with the door, the trigger may advantageously transition the latch from a locked position to a free position thereof. Thus, when the lid of the storage drawer assembly is in the tucked position and the one or more doors of the refrigerator appliance are closed, the lid of the storage drawer assembly may automatically be transitioned to the shut position.

[0029] Referring now to the figures, FIG. 1 provides a perspective view of a refrigerator appliance 100 according to one or more exemplary embodiments of the present subject matter. The refrigerator appliance 100 may define a vertical direction V, a lateral direction L, and a transverse direction T. Each of the vertical direction V, lateral direction L, and transverse direction T being mutually perpendicular to one another to form an orthogonal coordinate system. Refrigerator appliance 100 may include a housing or a cabinet 102 that may extend between a top 104 and a bottom 106 along the vertical direction V, between a first side 108 and a second side 110 along the lateral direction L, and between a front side 112 and a rear side 114 along the transverse direction T.

[0030] Cabinet 102 may define one or more chilled chambers for receipt of food items for storage. In particular, cabinet 102 may include a fresh food liner 121 positioned at or adjacent top of the cabinet 102 and a freezer liner 123 arranged at or adjacent bottom 106 of the cabinet 102. The fresh food liner 121 may define a fresh food chamber 122 for the receipt of food items that require refrigeration. The freezer liner 123 may define a freezer chamber 124 for the receipt of food items that require freezing. As such, the refrigerator appliance 100 may generally be referred to as a bottom mount or French door refrigerator appliance. 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 may be for illustrative purposes only and is not intended to be limiting in any aspect to any particular refrigerator chamber configuration.

[0031] The refrigerator appliance 100 may include refrigerator doors 128 that may be rotatably hinged to an edge of cabinet 102 for selectively accessing the fresh food chamber 122. In addition, a freezer door 130 may be arranged below the refrigerator doors 128 for selectively accessing the freezer chamber 124. Freezer door 130 may be coupled to a freezer drawer (not shown) that may be slidably mounted within freezer chamber 124. Refrigerator doors 128 and freezer door 130 may be 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.

[0032] Referring now to FIG. 2, a perspective view of the refrigerator appliance 100 shown with the refrigerator doors 128 in the open position is provided. As shown in FIG. 2, various storage components may be mounted to the fresh food liner 121, e.g., 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 be defined by one or more drawers 134 or one or more shelves 136. In some embodiments, the one or more drawers 134 include a storage drawer assembly 200 (e.g., described in more detail below) positioned at a bottom of the fresh food liner 121. Additionally or alternatively, in some embodiments, the one or more drawers include a pair of half width storage drawers 201 positioned above (e.g., directly, or indirectly) the storage drawer assembly 200.

[0033] Each of these storage components are configured for receipt of food items (e.g., beverages or solid food items, etc.) and may assist with organizing such food items. As illustrated, drawers 134 may be mounted on refrigerator doors 128 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.

[0034] In some embodiments, a dispensing assembly 140 is provided. 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 side 112 of refrigerator appliance 100 such that a user may operate dispensing assembly 140 without opening refrigerator door 128. In addition, dispenser recess 142 may be 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 may be positioned at a level that approximates the chest level of a user.

[0035] Dispensing assembly 140 may include an ice dispenser 144 that may include a discharging outlet 146 for discharging ice pieces from dispensing assembly 140. An actuating mechanism 148, shown as a paddle, may be mounted below discharging outlet 146 for operating ice or water dispenser 144. Discharging outlet 146 and actuating mechanism 148 may be an external part of the ice dispenser 144 and may be mounted in dispenser recess 142.

[0036] 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.

[0037] Inside refrigerator appliance 100, refrigerator door 128 may define an icebox 150 that may house an ice maker 180 and an ice storage bin 182 that may be configured to supply ice pieces to dispenser recess 142. In this regard, for example, the icebox 150 may define an ice making chamber 154 for housing an ice making assembly, a storage mechanism, and a dispensing mechanism.

[0038] A control panel 160 may be provided for controlling the mode of operation. For example, control panel 160 may include one or more selector inputs 162, such as knobs, buttons, touchscreen interfaces, for selecting a desired mode of operation, for example an ice-dispensing button that may be provided for selecting crushed or non-crushed ice pieces. In addition, the one or more selector inputs 162 may be used to specify a fill volume or method of operating dispensing assembly 140. In this regard, the one or more selector inputs 162 may be in communication with a processing device or controller 164. Signals generated in controller 164 may operate the refrigerator appliance 100 and the dispensing assembly 140 in response to the one or more selector inputs 162. Additionally, a display 166, such as an indicator light or a screen, may be provided on control panel 160. Display 166 may be in communication with controller 164 and may display information in response to signals from controller 164.

[0039] 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 and dispensing assembly 140. 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 to the processing device, including instructions that can be executed by processing device. Optionally, the instructions can be software or any set of instructions or data that when executed by the processing device, cause the processing device to perform operations.

[0040] Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, perspective view of a fresh food liner 121 of the refrigerator appliance 100 is provided according to one or more exemplary embodiments of the present subject matter. The fresh food liner 121 may include a top wall 202, a bottom wall 204, a pair of sidewalls 206, and a rear wall 208 that together define the fresh food chamber 122.

[0041] As briefly mentioned above, the refrigerator appliance 100 may include one or more bins or drawers 134 that define one or more storage compartments for the receipt of food items therein. Particularly, the exemplary refrigerator appliance 100 may include a storage drawer assembly 200 positioned at the bottom wall 204 of the refrigerator appliance 100, and more particularly, of the fresh food liner 121. The exemplary storage drawer assembly 200 may include a lid assembly 210. The lid assembly 210 may be positioned directly above the drawer 212 to selectively permit access to the storage compartment 220 defined by the drawer 212. The lid assembly 210 may generally include a cover 222 and a lid 214 moveably mated to the cover 222. In some embodiments, the lid 214 is moveable relative to the cover 222 between a shut position (e.g., FIG. 3) and a tucked position (e.g., FIG. 4).

[0042] As used herein the shut position of the lid assembly 210 may generally correspond to a position of the lid assembly 210 wherein the lid blocks or inhibit access to the storage compartment 220 defined by the drawer 212. In the shut position of the lid assembly 210 the lid 214 may be translated to a forward most position within respective guide tracks 306 (e.g., described in more detail below) defined by the cover 222. In some embodiments, in the shut position of the lid assembly 210, a front end of the lid assembly 210 is positioned at or in front of (e.g., along the transverse direction T), a front end 211 of the drawer 212.

[0043] As used herein the tucked position may generally correspond to a position of the lid assembly 210 wherein the lid 214 permits access to the full width of the storage compartment 220. In the tucked position of the lid assembly 210, the lid 214 may be translated to a rearward most position within guide tracks 306 defined by the cover 222. In some embodiments, in the tucked position of the lid assembly 210, a front end of the lid assembly 210 is positioned behind the front end 211 of the drawer (e.g., along the transverse direction T). To move the lid assembly 210 from the shut position to the tucked position, the lid 214 may be translated (e.g., by a user along the transverse direction T) toward the rear wall 208 of the fresh food liner 121. In some embodiments, in the tucked position, the lid 214 may be positioned within the storage compartment 220.

[0044] Particularly, as will be described in more detail below, the lid 214 of the lid assembly 210 can advantageously automatically close (e.g., move from the tucked position to the shut position) when the door 128 of the refrigerator appliance 100 is moved from the open position to the closed position. Notably, as will be described in more detail below, the lid assembly 210 includes a locking assembly 300 that can selectively engage with the door(s) 128 of the refrigerator appliance 100 to trigger the closing of the lid 214 (e.g., without direct interaction from a user). Particularly, this may allow the lid 214 to close when the lid 214 of the lid assembly 210 is in the tucked position and the door(s) 128 of the refrigerator appliance 100 is in the closed position (e.g., in response to a door 128 being moved to the closed position).

[0045] Referring still to FIGS. 3 and 4, the drawer 212 may span, e.g., along the lateral direction L, the width of the fresh food liner 121. For instance, the drawer 212 may span or be extended from a first sidewall of the pair of sidewalls 206 to a second sidewall of the pair of sidewalls 206 opposite the first side wall. In this regard, the storage compartment 220 defined by the drawer 212 may span the approximate width of the fresh food liner 121. In some embodiments, the drawer 212 is slidably attached to pair of sidewalls 206 such that the drawer 212 may move between a retracted position (e.g., FIG. 3) and an extended position (not depicted) along the transverse direction T. It should be appreciated that the drawer 212 may be capable of moving from the retracted position to the extended position when the doors 128 of the refrigerator appliance 100 are in the open position. For example, when the doors 128 of the refrigerator appliance 100 are in the open position, the drawer 212 may be free to slide from the retracted position to the extended position.

[0046] The cover 222 may include a structural frame that defines the shape of a top shelf 223 of the lid assembly 210. In some embodiments, the top shelf 223 is constructed from a transparent material such as glass, acrylic, plexiglass, or any other suitable transparent material. In some embodiments, the structural frame comprises a plurality of members. The plurality of members may define a ledge to hold the top shelf 223 thereon. In some embodiments, the cover 222 of the lid assembly 210 includes a pair of side supports (e.g., a first side support 234 and a second side support 236) positioned at opposing sides (e.g., along the lateral direction L) of the lid assembly 210.

[0047] Referring now to FIG. 5, a portion of the storage drawer assembly 200 including the first side support 234 is provided. As should be appreciated only the first side support 234 is described in detail herein for brevity and clarity purposes only. One of ordinary skill in the art would recognize that the structure, function, or configuration of the second side support 236 may be identical to, or may mirror that of, the first side support 234 described herein.

[0048] As mentioned above, the lid 214 of the lid assembly 210 may be moveably mated to the first side support 234. For instance, the lid 214 may be moveable between the shut position and the tucked position. In addition, the storage drawer assembly 200 may include a locking assembly 300. The locking assembly 300 may selectively lock the lid 214 in place, such as when the lid 214 is in tucked position Additionally or alternatively, the locking assembly 300 may selectively release or unlock the lid 214 from the tucked position when the door(s) 128 of the refrigerator appliance 100 are transitioned from the open position to the closed position (e.g., in response to the same).

[0049] The locking assembly 300 may generally include a latch 302 (e.g., FIGS. 6 and 7), a connector (e.g., linkage arms 314, 316 or electrical connector 411 described in more detail below) and a trigger 304. The trigger 304 may generally be positioned outside of the first side support 234. The trigger 304 may be engageable with the door 128 of the refrigerator appliance 100. For instance, when the door 128 of the refrigerator appliance 100 is engaged with the trigger 304, the trigger 304 may actuate the latch 302 positioned within the first side support 234. The first side support 234 may define a guide track 306 for receiving the lid 214. Particularly, the guide track 306 may receive followers (e.g., front follower 308) that may be extended from a side surface of the lid 214. The guide track 306 of the first side support 234 may define a back-to-front slope. For instance, the guide track 306 may include a front portion 307 and a rear portion 309 spaced apart along the transverse direction T. The rear portion 309 of the guide track 306 may be positioned higher (e.g., along the vertical direction V) than the front portion 307 of the guide track 306 to define the back-to-front slope of the guide track 306. Notably, the back-to-front slope of the guide track 306 may allow the lid 214 to transition from the tucked position to the shut position via the gravitational force that may be acting on the lid 214.

[0050] Referring now to FIGS. 6 and 7, top-down views of the storage drawer assembly 200 of the refrigerator appliance 100 are provided. Particularly, FIG. 6 illustrates a top-down view of the storage drawer assembly 200 wherein the lid 214 of the lid assembly 210 is in a tucked position and the latch 302 of the locking assembly 300 is in a locked position. Moreover, as illustrated in FIG. 6, the door 128 of the refrigerator appliance 100 is in the open position. As is illustrated in FIG. 7, the door 128 of the refrigerator appliance 100 is in the closed position.

[0051] In some embodiments, the trigger 304 includes a paddle 310 that is extended through a front surface 235 of the first side support 234. The first side support 234 may define an enclosure 301 therewithin for housing the locking assembly 300. The paddle 310 may include a head 312 that is positioned outside of the enclosure 301 of the first side support 234. The head 312 may be engageable with a portion of the door 128 of the refrigerator appliance 100. The paddle 310 may also include a first linkage arm 314 that is pivotably attached to a second linkage arm 316 of the latch 302. Particularly, the first linkage arm 314 of the paddle 310 and the second linkage arm 316 of the latch 302 may form a pivot joint 318 therebetween. The pivot joint 318 may define a pivot axis 320 (e.g., extending along the vertical direction V) that the paddle 310 and the latch 302 may pivot about.

[0052] In some embodiments, the latch 302 includes a locking portion 322 that engages with the lid 214, and more particularly, with a front follower 308 of the lid 214. The locking portion 322 may include a biasing surface 324 and a locking surface 326. The biasing surface 324 may be a sloped or ramped inward facing surface of the locking portion 322. As the lid 214 is transitioning from the shut position to the tucked position, the front follower 308 may interface or engage with the biasing surface 324. Due to the sloped or ramped shape of the biasing surface 324, the front follower 308 may bias or force the locking portion 322 from a locked position (e.g., FIG. 6) to or toward a free position (e.g., FIG. 7). Once the front follower 308 has cleared the locking surface 326 (e.g., along the transverse direction T), the locking portion 322 may be motivated back toward the locked position. For instance, the locking portion 322 may be biased toward the locked position by a lock spring 330 (e.g., a coiled compression spring, leaf spring, torsion spring, air or fluid compression cylinder, etc.) that may be attached or coupled to the locking portion 322. In some embodiments, the lock spring 330 exerts an inward force onto the locking portion 322 to bias the locking portion 322 toward the locked position. In this regard, once the front follower 308 of the lid 214 has cleared the locking surface 326, the locking portion 322 may be motivated back to the locked position and the front follower 308 may rest on the locking surface 326 to lock (e.g., hold) the lid 214 in the tucked position.

[0053] As an illustrative example, referring still to FIGS. 6 and 7, when the lid 214 is left in the tucked position and the door 128 of the refrigerator appliance 100 is transitioned from the open position to the closed position, a portion of the door 128 may engage with the head 312 of the paddle 310. As the door 128 engages with the head 312 of the paddle 310, the door 128 may actuate the paddle 310. The paddle 310 may then actuate the latch 302 from the locked position to the free position (e.g., via the mechanical linkage connection formed between the trigger 304 and the latch 302). Once the latch 302 is in the free position, the lid 214 may be free to move along the back-to-front sloped of the guide track 306 from the tucked position to the shut position via the gravitational force acting on the lid 214.

[0054] Referring now to FIGS. 8 and 9, side views of a locking assembly 400 for the storage drawer assembly 200 in accordance with another exemplary aspect of the present disclosure are provided. The exemplary locking assembly 400 of FIGS. 8 and 9 may be configured in substantially the same manner as the exemplary locking assembly 300 of FIGS. 6 and 7, and accordingly, the same or similar numbers may refer to the same or similar parts.

[0055] For example, the exemplary locking assembly 400 of FIGS. 8 and 9 generally includes a trigger 304 and a latch 302. However, for the embodiment of FIGS. 8 and 9, the trigger 304 is now electrically connected to the latch 302. Particularly, for the embodiment of FIGS. 8 and 9, the trigger 304 may include a switch 410 that is electrically connected to the latch 302. For example, the locking assembly 400 may include one or more electrical connectors 411 (e.g., in the form of wires or wireless transmitters) that electrically or operably connect the trigger 304 and the latch 302. The switch 410 may be transitionable between an off-position and an on position. In the off position, an electrical connection between the switch 410 and the latch 302 may be temporarily broken. In this regard, an electrical signal or electrical current may not flow to the latch 302. In the on position, the electrical connection between the switch 410 and the latch 302 may be completed. In this regard, an electrical signal or electrical current may flow to the latch 302. Similar to the paddle 310 of FIGS. 6 and 7, the switch 410 may be engageable with a portion of the door 128 of the refrigerator appliance. For instance, when the door 128 of the refrigerator appliance 100 is in the closed position, the door 128 may engage with the switch 410 and place the switch in the on position.

[0056] Moreover, the latch 302 of FIGS. 8 and 9 generally includes a base 412, an actuation member 414, a plunger 416. The plunger 416 may be moveably attached to the base 412. For instance, the plunger 416 may be moveably attached within an opening defined by the base 412. The plunger 416 may be moveable along the vertical direction V between a locked position (e.g., FIG. 8) and a free position (e.g., FIG. 9). The plunger 416 may be biased toward the locked position by the actuation member 414. For example, the actuation member 414 may be hydraulic member, a motor, or any other suitable member or element that is capable of actuating the plunger 416. The plunger 416 may include a biasing surface 418 and a locking surface 420. The biasing surface 418 may be engageable with the lid 214. More particularly, the biasing surface 418 may be engageable with the front follower 308 of the lid 214. For instance, when the lid 214 is moved from the shut position to the locked position, the front follower 308 of the lid 214 may engage with the biasing surface 418. Due to the sloped or the ramped shape of the biasing surface 418, the lid 214 may motivate or force the plunger toward the free position as it engages with the biasing surface 418. After the lid 214 has passed over the biasing surface 418, the plunger 416 may be motivated back to the locked position (e.g., via the actuation member 414). Moreover, the lid 214 may be locked in the tucked position by the plunger 416. For instance, the lid 214 may interface with the locking surface 420 when in the tucked position to prevent the lid 214 from transitioning to the shut position.

[0057] When the lid 214 of the lid assembly 210 is in the tucked position and a door 128 of the refrigerator appliance 100 is closed, a portion of the door 128 may engage with the switch 410 to transition the switch 410 from the off position to the on position. When in the on position, the switch may transmit an electrical signal to the actuation member 414 to command the actuation member 414 to actuate the plunger 416 from the locked position to the free position. After the actuation member 414 has actuated the plunger 416, the lid 214 may be capable of sliding from the tucked position to the shut position along the guide track 306 via the gravitational force acting on the lid 214.

[0058] 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.