Shelf for an appliance

Abstract

A spill proof shelf and a refrigerator using the same are disclosed. The shelf has a glass plate formed through a glass-slumping process. The shelf also has a metal bracket coupled to the plate for supporting the plate. The bracket provides an interface of the shelf with the refrigerator. The plate has a lower planar portion and an upper planar portion surrounding the lower planar portion. The upper planar portion is smoothly transitioned to the lower planar portion through the glass-slumping process, to define a central recess. The plate also has a side portion extending perpendicularly from the upper planar portion. In case food or beverage spill occurs, it will be confined in the recess.

1 . A shelf comprising:
 a plate comprising a lower planar portion and an upper planar portion substantially surrounding the lower planar portion to define a central recess, the plate further comprising at least one side portion extending downwardly from the upper planar portion; and   at least one bracket coupled to the plate for supporting the plate.   
     
     
         2 . The shelf of  claim 1 , wherein the plate comprises a glass pane, the lower planar portion, the upper planar portion and the at least one side portion of the glass pane being formed through a glass-slumping process. 
     
     
         3 . The shelf of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one side portion extends substantially perpendicularly from the upper planar portion. 
     
     
         4 . The shelf of  claim 3 , wherein the bracket comprises an inner wall, an outer wall, and a bottom wall connecting the inner wall and the outer wall. 
     
     
         5 . The shelf of  claim 4 , wherein the inner wall and the outer wall are substantially parallel to the at least one side portion of the plate and spaced from each other, for defining a space to receive the at least one side portion. 
     
     
         6 . The shelf of  claim 5 , wherein the inner wall of the bracket comprises a sloped terminal portion extending inwardly and upwardly from the inner wall. 
     
     
         7 . The shelf of  claim 1  further comprising a cross-brace attached to the bracket for enhancing the strength of a depending wall of the bracket. 
     
     
         8 . The shelf of  claim 1 , wherein the bracket comprises a top wall supporting the upper planar portion of the plate, and a depending wall extending downwardly from the top wall and adjacent to the at least one side portion of the plate. 
     
     
         9 . The shelf of  claim 8 , wherein the depending wall of the bracket extends substantially perpendicularly from the top wall. 
     
     
         10 . The shelf of  claim 8  further comprising at least one stopper integrally formed with the plate for preventing sliding of the plate relative to the bracket in a given direction. 
     
     
         11 . The shelf of  claim 8 , wherein the depending wall of the bracket comprises at least one elongated lateral slot formed through the depending wall. 
     
     
         12 . The shelf of  claim 11  further comprising a cross-brace attached to the bracket for enhancing the strength of the depending wall of the bracket. 
     
     
         13 . The shelf of  claim 11 , wherein the side portion of the plate comprises at least one through hole in substantially alignment with the elongated lateral slot. 
     
     
         14 . The shelf of  claim 11  further comprising a fixing member configured to extend through the at least one elongated lateral slot and attached to the depending wall of the bracket, the fixing member being configured to move along the elongated lateral slot. 
     
     
         15 . The shelf of  claim 13  further comprising a fixing member configured to extend through the at least one elongated lateral slot and the at least one through hole, the fixing member being configured to move along the elongated lateral slot. 
     
     
         16 . The shelf of  claim 8 , wherein the depending wall of the bracket comprises at least one through hole and the side portion of the plate comprises at least one through hole in substantially alignment with the at least one through hole of the depending wall of the bracket. 
     
     
         17 . The shelf of  claim 16  further comprising a fixing member extending through the at least one through hole of the depending wall of the bracket and the at least one through hole of the side portion of the plate, for fixing the depending wall of the bracket to the side portion of the plate. 
     
     
         18 . A refrigerator comprising:
 at least one storing compartment; and   at least one shelf disposed in the compartment, comprising:
 a plate comprising a lower planar portion and an upper planar portion substantially surrounding the lower planar portion to define a central recess, the plate further comprising at least one side portion extending downwardly from the upper planar portion; and 
 at least one bracket coupled to the plate for supporting the plate. 
   
     
     
         19 . The refrigerator of  claim 18 , wherein the plate comprises a glass pane, the lower planar portion, the upper planar portion and the at least one side portion of the glass pane being formed through a glass-slumping process. 
     
     
         20 . The refrigerator of  claim 18 , wherein the at least one side portion extends substantially perpendicularly from the upper planar portion. 
     
     
         21 . The refrigerator of  claim 20 , wherein the bracket comprises an inner wall, an outer wall, and a bottom wall connecting the inner wall and the outer wall. 
     
     
         22 . The refrigerator of  claim 21 , wherein the inner wall and the outer wall are substantially parallel to the at least one side portion of the plate and spaced from each other, for defining a space to receive the at least one side portion. 
     
     
         23 . The refrigerator of  claim 22 , wherein the inner wall of the bracket comprises a sloped terminal portion extending inwardly and upwardly from the inner wall. 
     
     
         24 . The refrigerator of  claim 18  further comprising a cross-brace attached to the bracket for enhancing the strength of a depending wall of the bracket. 
     
     
         25 . The refrigerator of  claim 18 , wherein the bracket comprises a top wall supporting the upper planar portion of the plate, and a depending wall extending downwardly from the top wall and adjacent to the at least one side portion of the plate. 
     
     
         26 . The refrigerator of  claim 25 , wherein the depending wall of the bracket extends substantially perpendicularly from the top wall. 
     
     
         27 . The refrigerator of  claim 25  further comprising at least one stopper integrally formed with the plate for preventing sliding of the plate relative to the bracket in a given direction. 
     
     
         28 . The refrigerator of  claim 25 , wherein the depending wall of the bracket comprises at least one elongated lateral slot formed through the depending wall. 
     
     
         29 . The refrigerator of  claim 28  further comprising a cross-brace attached to the bracket for enhancing the strength of the depending wall of the bracket. 
     
     
         30 . The refrigerator of  claim 28 , wherein the side portion of the plate comprises at least one through hole in substantially alignment with the elongated lateral slot. 
     
     
         31 . The refrigerator of  claim 28  further comprising a fixing member configured to extend through the at least one elongated lateral slot and attached to the depending wall of the bracket, the fixing member being configured to move along the elongated lateral slot. 
     
     
         32 . The refrigerator of  claim 30  further comprising a fixing member configured to extend through the at least one elongated lateral slot and the at least one through hole, the fixing member being configured to move along the elongated lateral slot. 
     
     
         33 . The refrigerator of  claim 25 , wherein the depending wall of the bracket comprises at least one through hole and the side portion of the plate comprises at least one through hole in substantially alignment with the at least one through hole of the depending wall of the bracket. 
     
     
         34 . The refrigerator of  claim 33  further comprising a fixing member extending through the at least one through hole of the depending wall of the bracket and the at least one through hole of the side portion of the plate, for fixing the depending wall of the bracket to the side portion of the plate.