Shelf and frame for supporting a container, particularly in refrigerated installations

Abstract

A shelf, particularly for a refrigerator or the like, including at last one panel and at least one attached plastic structure including at least one container support. The shelf is obtained by shrinking the structure after assembling the panel and the structure. The attached plastic structure can mate and/or exert lateral pressure on the edge of the panel.

1 . A shelf, comprising: 
 at least one panel; and    at least one added plastic structure surrounding said panel and including at least one container support,    wherein said shelf is obtained by shrinking of said structure after the panel and the structure have been assembled.    
   
   
       2 . A shelf, comprising: 
 At least one panel; and    at least one added plastic structure surrounding said panel and including at least one container support,    wherein the at least one plastic structure at least mates with or exerts lateral pressure on an edge of the panel.    
   
   
       3 . A shelf as claimed in  claim 1  or  2 , further comprising at least one container.  
   
   
       4 . A shelf as claimed in  claim 1  or  2 , wherein the at least one plastic structure is formed with at least first and second plastics, the first plastic being more flexible than the second plastic and configured to be in contact with the at least one panel and at least partly covering the second plastic that is more rigid than the first plastic.  
   
   
       5 . The shelf as claimed in  claim 1  or  2 , further comprising at least one of a clip and a glue to secure the at least one panel to the at least one plastic structure.  
   
   
       6 . The shelf as claimed in  claim 1  or  2 , further comprising at least one of an elastic adhesive and at least one flexible insulating gasket.  
   
   
       7 . A shelf as claimed in  claim 1  or  2 , further comprising at least one assembly element having at least a first part clipped under the at least one panel against a vertical wall of the at least one plastic structure, a second part clipped under the at least one plastic structure, and a third part bent to border another part of the shelf or to form a runner configured to collaborate for cantilever mounting in a unit.  
   
   
       8 . A shelf as claimed in  claim 1  or  2 , and which is configured to slide in a unit or with respect to a support formed as a single piece.  
   
   
       9 . A shelf as claimed in  claim 1  or  2 , which further comprises rails for sliding of at least a container.  
   
   
       10 . A shelf as claimed in  claim 1  or  2 , wherein the at least one plastic structure is air molded.  
   
   
       11 . A refrigerator comprising at least one shelf as claimed in  claim 1  or  2 .  
   
   
       12 . A method of manufacturing a shelf including at least one panel and at least one plastic structure with at least one container support, comprising: 
 forming the at least one plastic structure with the at least one container support separately from the at least one panel by hot molding; and    assembling the at least one panel with the at least one plastic structure after molding before the at least one plastic has fully shrunk.    
   
   
       13 . The method as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the at least one panel is assembled with the at least one plastic structure after a mold has been opened, before shrinkage has reached 40% of total shrinkage.  
   
   
       14 . The method as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the at least one panel is assembled on an underside or top face of the at least one plastic structure.  
   
   
       15 . The method as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the at least one panel is also held in place by at least one of gluing and clipping.  
   
   
       16 . The method as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein, prior to assembly, at least one of an elastic adhesive and at least one flexible insulating gasket is deposited on at least part of the at least one plastic structure that is to be in contact with the at least one panel.  
   
   
       17 . The method as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the at least one elastic adhesive and at least one flexible insulating gasket deposited has a conical shape.  
   
   
       18 . The method as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein a surface of the at least one panel is pre-treated, prior to application of the at least one adhesive, by at least one of sandblasting, grooving, goffering, forming roughness, and plasma treatment.  
   
   
       19 . The method as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the at least one plastic structure is formed by two-injection molding.  
   
   
       20 . The method as claimed in  claim 12 , whereby the at least one plastic structure is formed by air molding.