Full and Partial Oven Rack Assembly

Abstract

An oven rack assembly ( 100 ′) is utilized within an oven ( 128′ ) having a pair of ladder frames ( 1221 ) mounted to the sides of the oven interior surfaces ( 124′ ). The oven rack assembly ( 100 ′) includes a pair of support stampings ( 112′ ) coupled to an oven rack ( 102 ′) so that the support stampings ( 112′ ) will move in unison with the rack ( 102′ ). The oven rack assembly ( 100 ′) also includes a slide ( 114′ ) comprising an outer bracket ( 144′ ) and an inner, slidable bracket ( 148 ′). The inner bracket ( 1481 ) is secured to the support stamping ( 112′ ). A connection stamping ( 116′ ) includes a pair of catches ( 118′, 120′ ) and is secured to the outer bracket ( 144′ ) of the slide ( 114′ ). The oven rack ( 102′ ) is extendable between retracted and extended positions.

1 . An oven rack assembly for use in an oven cavity, said oven cavity having means for supporting said oven rack assembly within said oven cavity, said oven rack assembly comprising:
 an oven rack comprising means for supporting items to be cooked or otherwise heated within said oven cavity, said oven rack being manually extendable between a retracted position and an extended position;   a pair of support stampings, each stamping being fixedly secured to one of opposing sides of said oven rack;   a pair of slides, each of said slides comprising an outer bracket and an inner, slidable bracket, said inner slidable bracket being fixedly secured to said support stamping;   a pair of connection stampings, each of said connection stampings being positioned outwardly from a corresponding one of said slides, and fixedly secured to said outer bracket of said slide; and   each of said connection stampings comprising catch means for capturing said means for supporting said oven rack assembly within said oven cavity.   
   
   
       2 . An oven rack assembly in accordance with  claim 1 , characterized in that said catch means associated with a corresponding one of said connection stampings comprises a rear tab catch having a rearwardly extending finger, and a front tab catch positioned forwardly of said rear tab catch.