Upright rear wall extension for refrigerator shelves

Abstract

An extending vertical wall is provided that secures to the rear edge of a shelf assembly inside a refrigerator compartment. The vertical wall comprises a vertical panel with two downwardly protruding legs. The legs removably reside within sockets included in the rear edge of the refrigerator shelf assembly. When the vertical wall is attached to the refrigerator shelf assembly, the vertical wall prevents items placed on the shelf from toppling off the back edge of the shelf assembly. At the user's discretion, the vertical wall may be quickly and easily removed from the shelf assembly. In an alternative embodiment, the wall is a formed retainer having an inserted U-shape such that the legs are received in the shelf sockets.

1 . A shelf for use in a refrigerator having a refrigerated compartment with opposite side walls, a rear wall, a top wall, and a bottom wall, the shelf comprising:
 a pair of support brackets extending forwardly from the rear wall;   a shelf member slidably mounted on the brackets for forward and rearward movement between extended and retracted positions;   the shelf member having a molded perimeter edge with a pair of sockets in a rear portion of the perimeter edge; and   a wall member having a pair of legs adapted for receipt in the sockets such that the wall member extends upwardly from the rear portion of the shelf member.   
   
   
       2 . The shelf of  claim 1  wherein the wall member is molded. 
   
   
       3 . The shelf of  claim 1  wherein the wall member is a formed wire. 
   
   
       4 . The shelf of  claim 1  wherein the legs of the wall member are slidably received in the sockets of the shelf member. 
   
   
       5 . The shelf of  claim 1  wherein the wall member is at least 1½ inches tall. 
   
   
       6 . The shelf of  claim 1  wherein the wall member extends substantially vertically. 
   
   
       7 . A refrigerator shelf, comprising:
 a pair of support brackets adapted to be mounted in the refrigerator;   a shelf member mounted on the brackets and having at least one socket formed therein; and   a wall member having at least one leg for mating receipt in the socket such that the wall member extends upwardly from the shelf member.   
   
   
       8 . The refrigerator shelf of  claim 7  wherein the shelf member is slidably mounted on the brackets. 
   
   
       9 . The refrigerator shelf of  claim 7  wherein the sockets are formed in a rear portion of the shelf member such that the wall member is located at the rear portion of the shelf member. 
   
   
       10 . The refrigerator shelf of  claim 7  wherein the wall member is molded. 
   
   
       11 . The refrigerator shelf of  claim 7  wherein the wall member is a formed wire. 
   
   
       12 . The refrigerator shelf of  claim 7  wherein the legs of the wall member are slidably received in the sockets of the shelf member. 
   
   
       13 . The refrigerator shelf of  claim 7  wherein the wall member is at least 1½ inches tall. 
   
   
       14 . The refrigerator shelf of  claim 7  wherein the wall member extends substantially vertically. 
   
   
       15 . A two-piece shelf for a refrigerator, comprising:
 a shelf member adapted to be mounted within the refrigerator; and   a wall extension adapted to mount onto the shelf member without spring clip action.   
   
   
       16 . The two-piece shelf of  claim 15  wherein the wall extension and the shelf member having mating male and female members. 
   
   
       17 . The two-piece shelf of  claim 15  wherein the shelf member includes a socket, and the wall extension includes a leg adapted for mating receipt in the socket. 
   
   
       18 . The two-piece shelf of  claim 15  wherein the wall extension is located at a rearward edge of the shelf member. 
   
   
       19 . The two-piece shelf of  claim 15  wherein the wall extension is molded. 
   
   
       20 . The two-piece shelf of  claim 15  wherein the wall extension is a formed wire.