Shelf support arm with locking mechanism

Abstract

A refrigerator shelf support arm includes a main body portion, a hook and a locking mechanism. The main body portion is generally planar in a vertical plane. The hook extends from the main body portion. The hook and the main body portion define an opening therebetween for receiving a portion of the refrigerator to which the arm is to be mounted. The locking mechanism is carried by the main body portion. The locking mechanism is moveable between a first position and a second position such that in the first position the portion of the refrigerator may be received in the opening and in the second position the portion of the refrigerator is captured in the opening.

1 . A refrigerator shelf support arm comprising:
 a main body portion being generally planar in a vertical plane;   a hook extending from the main body portion, the hook and the main body portion defining an opening therebetween for receiving a portion of the refrigerator to which the arm is mounted; and   a locking mechanism carried by the main body portion, the locking mechanism moveable between a first position and a second position such that in the first position the portion of the refrigerator may be received in the opening and in the second position the portion of the refrigerator is captured in the opening.   
   
   
       2 . The refrigerator shelf support arm of  claim 1 , wherein the locking mechanism is linearly translatable between the first and second positions. 
   
   
       3 . The refrigerator shelf support arm of  claim 2 , wherein the main body portion slidably receives a portion of the locking mechanism. 
   
   
       4 . The refrigerator shelf support arm of  claim 1 , further comprising a motion arresting element for maintaining the locking mechanism in the second position. 
   
   
       5 . The refrigerator shelf support arm of  claim 4 , wherein the motion arresting element is a fastener that rotatably engages the main body portion and is tightened to secure the locking mechanism to the main body portion. 
   
   
       6 . The refrigerator shelf support arm of  claim 5 , wherein the fastener passes through an elongated opening defined by the main body portion. 
   
   
       7 . The refrigerator shelf support arm of  claim 3 , wherein the main body portion defines an elongated slot and the locking mechanism defines a slot engaging portion extending into the slot. 
   
   
       8 . The refrigerator shelf support arm of  claim 7 , wherein the slot engaging portion includes a pair of rearwardly extending legs connected to a flange portion, the flange portion extending generally parallel to the plane of the main body portion. 
   
   
       9 . The refrigerator shelf support arm of  claim 8 , wherein the flange portion has a vertical height greater than a vertical width of the slot. 
   
   
       10 . The refrigerator shelf support arm of  claim 1 , wherein the locking member includes an end having a tapered lead in surface that is angled rearwardly to facilitate introduction of the end into an opening adjacent the web. 
   
   
       11 . A refrigerator comprising:
 a cabinet;   an upright member carried by the cabinet, the upright member including a plurality of horizontally extending webs;   a shelf support arm engaging the upright member, the shelf support arm including a hook having an end spaced from the remainder of the shelf support arm to define an opening;   a locking mechanism carried by the shelf support, the locking mechanism moveable between a first position and a second position such that in the first position the portion of the refrigerator may be received in the opening and in the second position the portion of the refrigerator is captured in the opening.   
   
   
       12 . The refrigerator of  claim 11 , wherein the locking mechanism is linearly translatable between the first and second positions. 
   
   
       13 . The refrigerator of  claim 12 , wherein the shelf support are slidable receives the locking mechanism. 
   
   
       14 . The refrigerator of  claim 11 , further comprising a motion arresting element for maintaining the locking mechanism in the second position. 
   
   
       15 . The refrigerator of  claim 14 , wherein the motion arresting element is a fastener that rotatably engages the main body portion and is tightened to secure the locking mechanism to the main body portion. 
   
   
       16 . The refrigerator of  claim 14 , wherein the further passes through an elongated opening defined by the shelf support arm. 
   
   
       17 . The refrigerator of  claim 13 , wherein the shelf support arm defines an elongated slot and the locking mechanism defines a slot engaging portion extending into the sot. 
   
   
       18 . The refrigerator of  claim 17 , wherein the slot engaging portion includes a pair of rearwardly extending legs connected to a flange portion, the flange portion extending generally parallel to the plane of the main body portion. 
   
   
       19 . The refrigerator of  claim 18 , wherein the flange portion has a vertical height greater than a vertical width of the slot. 
   
   
       20 . The refrigerator of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the locking member includes an end having a tapered lead in surface that is angled rearwardly to facilitate introduction of the end into an opening adjacent the web.