Extension rack assembly for consumer appliance and consumer appliance incorporating same

Abstract

An extension rack assembly is mountable within and removable from a consumer appliance side walls. The extension rack assembly is movable between an overlapped position and an extended position. A mechanism is provided for automatically securing the extension rack assembly in the consumer appliance when the extension rack assembly within the side walls is moved from the overlapped position to the extended position and for allowing removal of the extension rack assembly when the extension rack is maintained in the overlapped position and slid from the side walls. The extension rack assembly may also or alternatively be configured to receive a rack in a first orientation having a first height within the consumer appliance and in a second orientation having a second height within the consumer appliance

1 . An extension rack assembly for a consumer appliance, the extension rack assembly comprising:
 a rack sized for placement within the consumer appliance;   two rack slides, each rack slide including a first rack slide member attachable to a side edge of the rack and a second rack slide member attachable to a side wall of the consumer appliance, the first rack slide members being slidable relative to the respective second rack slide members between an overlapped position and an extended position; and   a latching mechanism attached to at least one of the second rack slide members, each latching mechanism including a lock bar having a locking protrusion movable between a locking position and a sliding position, each latching mechanism including a spring member urging the locking protrusion toward the locking position, the first rack slide members locating the locking protrusion in the sliding position when the rack slide members are in the overlapped position, the spring member locating the locking protrusion in the locking position only when the rack slide members are in the extended position.   
     
     
         2 . The extension rack assembly of  claim 1 , wherein each first rack slide member includes a camming surface and each lock bar includes a cam follower, the locking protrusion position controlled at least in part by the interaction of the camming surface and the cam follower. 
     
     
         3 . The extension rack assembly of  claim 2 , each camming surface being configured so that movement of the rack slide members from the extended position to the overlapped position automatically moves the locking bar to the sliding position by overcoming the spring member. 
     
     
         4 . The extension rack assembly of  claim 2 , each camming surface being configured so that movement of the rack slide members from the overlapped position to the extended position automatically moves the locking bar to the locking position via the spring member. 
     
     
         5 . The extension rack assembly of  claim 1 , the rack slides being configured to be freely slid from the consumer appliance while in the overlapped position with the locking bar spaced from the oven side walls. 
     
     
         6 . The extension rack assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the rack slides may be freely slid from the consumer appliance while in the overlapped position without releasing an engagement between the locking bar and side walls. 
     
     
         7 . The extension rack assembly of  claim 1 , the rack slides being configured to be fixed within the consumer appliance while in the extended position due to contact between the locking bar and the side walls. 
     
     
         8 . The extension rack assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first rack slide members are configured to receive the rack in a first orientation having a first height within the consumer appliance and in a second orientation having a second height within the consumer appliance. 
     
     
         9 . A consumer appliance comprising:
 a cabinet having side walls;   a rack sized for placement within the cabinet;   two rack slides, each rack slide including a first rack slide member attachable to a side edge of the rack and a second rack slide member attachable to a respective side wall, the first rack slide members being slidable relative to the respective second rack slide members between an overlapped position and an extended position; and   a latching mechanism attached to at least one of the second rack slide members, each latching mechanism including a lock bar having a locking protrusion movable between a locking position and a sliding position, each latching mechanism including a spring member urging the locking protrusion toward the locking position, the first rack slide members locating the locking protrusion in the sliding position when the rack slide members are in the overlapped position, the spring member locating the locking protrusion in the locking position only when the rack slide members are in the extended position.   
     
     
         10 . The consumer appliance of  claim 9 , wherein each first rack slide member includes a camming surface and each lock bar includes a cam follower, the locking protrusion position controlled at least in part by the interaction of the camming surface and the cam follower. 
     
     
         11 . The consumer appliance of  claim 10 , each camming surface being configured so that movement of the rack slide members from the extended position to the overlapped position automatically moves the locking bar to the sliding position by overcoming the spring member. 
     
     
         12 . The consumer appliance of  claim 11 , each camming surface being configured so that movement of the rack slide members from the overlapped position to the extended position automatically moves the locking bar to the locking position via the spring member. 
     
     
         13 . The consumer appliance of  claim 9 , the rack slides being configured to be freely slid from the cabinet while in the overlapped position with the locking bar spaced from the side walls. 
     
     
         14 . The consumer appliance of  claim 9 , the rack slides being configured to be fixed within the cabinet while in the extended position due to contact between the locking bar and the side walls. 
     
     
         15 . An oven comprising:
 a cabinet having side walls;   an extension rack assembly mountable within and removable from the oven side walls, the extension rack assembly movable between an overlapped position and an extended position; and   means for automatically securing the extension rack assembly in the oven cabinet when the extension rack assembly within the oven side walls is moved from the overlapped position to the extended position and for allowing removal of the extension rack assembly from the oven cabinet when the extension rack is maintained in the overlapped position and slid from the oven side walls.   
     
     
         16 . The oven of  claim 15 , wherein the means for automatically securing and allowing removal includes at least one latching mechanism attached to the extension rack assembly for selectively engaging the side walls. 
     
     
         17 . The oven of  claim 16 , wherein the latching mechanism includes a locking bar and a spring member, the spring member urging the locking bar toward a locking position. 
     
     
         18 . The oven of  claim 17 , wherein the extension rack assembly is configured to automatically move the locking bar away from the locking position when the extension rack assembly is in the overlapped position. 
     
     
         19 . An extension rack assembly for a consumer appliance, the extension rack assembly comprising:
 a rack sized for placement within the consumer appliance;   two rack slides, each rack slide including a first rack slide member attachable to a side edge of the rack and a second rack slide member attachable to a side wall of the consumer appliance, the first rack slide members being slidable relative to the respective second rack slide members between an overlapped position and an extended position, the first rack slide members being configured to receive the rack in a first orientation having a first height within the consumer appliance and in a second orientation having a second height within the consumer appliance.   
     
     
         20 . The extension rack assembly of  claim 19 , wherein each first rack slide member includes a receiver for receiving the rack in either one of two possible orientations.