Refrigerator shelves with rolled hook for cantilever fastening

Abstract

Improved shelving is provided for a refrigerator. The shelving includes a pair of upper and lower rails which extend across the back of the food compartment, and a pair of half-width shelves selectively positionable on either of the upper and lower rails. The shelves can therefore be arranged in a side-by-side manner at the same level, in a side-by-side manner at different levels, or one shelf immediately above the other in closely spaced proximity so as to provide a tall storage area within the food compartment of the refrigerator.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . Improved shelving for a refrigerator having a food compartment with opposite sides and a back wall, the improved shelving comprising: 
 first and second rails extending across the food compartment adjacent the back wall and being closely vertically spaced;    first and second half-width shelves each being selectively positionable on either of the first and second rails such that the shelves can be positioned side-by-side at the same level, side-by-side at different levels, and one immediately above the other in closely spaced proximity.    
     
     
         2 . The improved shelving of  claim 1  wherein each shelf includes a rear edge with a hook adapted to retentively engage one of the rails to support the shelf thereon.  
     
     
         3 . The improved shelving of  claim 2  wherein each rail includes a groove for receiving the hook.  
     
     
         4 . The improved shelving of  claim 2  wherein each shelf further includes a leg for further supporting the shelf on the rail.  
     
     
         5 . The improved shelving of  claim 1  wherein the rails each have opposite ends and are joined at the opposite ends by end plates.  
     
     
         6 . The improved shelving of  claim 1  wherein each rail has a sloped front face such that each shelf can be lifted rearwardly and upwardly for removal from the rail while being maintained in a horizontal orientation.  
     
     
         7 . The improved shelving of  claim 1  wherein the rails comprise an assembly and the assembly is vertically adjustable within the food compartment.  
     
     
         8 . The improved shelving of  claim 1  wherein the shelves are laterally slidable on the rails.  
     
     
         9 . The improved shelving of  claim 1  wherein each shelf has an internal and an external frame, and the hook is formed integrally with the internal frame for each shelf.  
     
     
         10 . A refrigerator comprising: 
 a food compartment having a rear wall and opposite side walls defining a compartment width;    a rail assembly including a pair of interconnected upper and lower rails mounted on the back wall of the food compartment and each rail extending substantially between the opposite side walls;    a pair of shelves independently mountable on each of the rails and having a combined width approximately equal to the compartment width, such that the shelves can be selectively laterally offset, vertically offset, and laterally and vertically offset with respect to one another.    
     
     
         11 . The refrigerator of  claim 10  wherein the upper and lower rails are closely spaced to one another.  
     
     
         12 . The refrigerator of  claim 10  wherein the shelves each include a hook adapted to engage the rails to cantilever the shelves from the rails.  
     
     
         13 . The refrigerator of  claim 12  wherein each rail has a groove for receiving the shelf hooks.  
     
     
         14 . The refrigerator of  claim 12  wherein the shelves each include a leg to engage the rails to further support the shelf thereon.  
     
     
         15 . The refrigerator of  claim 10  wherein the rail assembly includes opposite end plates at each end of the rails.  
     
     
         16 . The improved shelving of  claim 10  wherein each rail has a sloped front face such that each shelf can be lifted rearwardly and upwardly for removal from the rail while being maintained in a horizontal orientation.  
     
     
         17 . The refrigerator of  claim 10  wherein the rail assembly is vertically adjustable in the food compartment.  
     
     
         18 . The refrigerator of  claim 10  wherein the shelves are laterally slidable on the rails.  
     
     
         19 . The improved shelving of  claim 10  wherein each shelf has an internal and external frame, and the hook is formed integrally with the internal frame for each shelf.