Crisper pan guide system for a domestic refrigerator

Abstract

A domestic refrigerator includes a cabinet having a temperature-controlled compartment defined therein, and a plate positioned in the temperature-controlled compartment including a first rail and a first roller secured to an inner surface of the plate. A pan is positioned adjacent to the inner side of the plate. The pan includes an outer flange extending toward the inner surface of the plate, and a second rail extending vertically from the outer flange. The second rail is positioned in the groove defined in the first roller. A second roller is secured to the pan, and the second roller has a groove defined therein. The first rail of the plate is positioned in the groove of the second roller.

1 . A domestic refrigerator comprising:
 a cabinet having a temperature-controlled compartment defined therein,   a plate positioned in the temperature-controlled compartment, the plate including (i) a lower flange having a rail extending upwardly therefrom, and (ii) an upper flange having a rail extending downwardly toward the rail of the lower flange, a roller secured to the plate, the roller of the plate having a groove defined therein,   a pan including a rail positioned in the groove of the roller of the plate, the pan having a storage chamber defined therein and being movable relative to the plate between (i) a closed position in which a user is prevented from accessing the storage chamber, and (ii) an open position in which the user is permitted to access the storage chamber, and   a roller secured to the pan, the roller of the pan having a groove defined therein,   wherein (i) the rail of the lower flange of the plate and the rail of the upper flange of the plate are positioned in the groove of the roller of the plan, and (ii) the roller of the pan is configured to roll along the rail of the lower flange of the plate and the rail of the upper flange of the plate when the pan is moved between the closed position and the open position.   
     
     
         2 . The domestic refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the groove of the roller of the plate is vertically aligned with the rail of the lower flange of the plate and the rail of the upper flange of the plate. 
     
     
         3 . The domestic refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the pan includes:
 a pan body having the roller of the plan secured at an upper end thereof, and   an outer flange extending outwardly from the pan body below the upper end, the outer flange having the rail of the pan extending downwardly therefrom.   
     
     
         4 . The domestic refrigerator of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the pan body has a front end and a rear end,   the plate has a front end positioned adjacent to the front end of the pan body when the pan is in the closed position,   the roller of the plate is secured to the front end of the plate, and   the roller of the pan is secured to the rear end of the pan body.   
     
     
         5 . The domestic refrigerator of  claim 4 , wherein:
 the outer flange extends from a first side of the pan body, and   the pan includes another outer flange that extends outwardly from second side wall of the pan body, the another outer flange having a rail extending downwardly therefrom.   
     
     
         6 . The domestic refrigerator of  claim 5 , wherein the domestic refrigerator further comprises:
 another plate positioned in the temperature-controlled compartment opposite the plate, and   a roller secured to the another plate, the roller of the another plate having a substantially smooth cylindrical outer surface,   wherein (i) the cylindrical outer surface of the roller of the another plate engages a bottom surface of the rail of the another outer flange, and (ii) the roller of the another plate is configured to be rotated by the rail of the another outer flange when the pan is moved between the closed position and the open position.   
     
     
         7 . The domestic refrigerator of  claim 6 , wherein the domestic refrigerator further comprising:
 a another roller secured at an upper end of the second side wall of the pan body, the roller of the second side wall of the pan body having a cylindrical outer surface, and   the another plate includes a flange that extends toward the plate,   wherein the cylindrical outer surface of the another roller of the second side wall of the pan body is configured to roll along a substantially planar upper surface of the flange of the another plate when the pan is moved between the closed position and the open position.   
     
     
         8 . The domestic refrigerator of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a cover panel coupled to the plate and the another plate, and   a tab extending downwardly from a front end of the cover panel into the storage chamber of the pan,   wherein a gap is defined between the tab and the plate, the gap being sized to receive a side wall of the pan body and the roller of the plate.   
     
     
         9 . The domestic refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the rail of the lower flange of the plate includes:
 a first rail section,   a second rail section spaced apart from the first rail section, and   a third rail section extending downwardly from an upper end secured to the first rail section to a lower end attached to the second rail section.   
     
     
         10 . The domestic refrigerator of  claim 9 , wherein the pan includes a stop configured to engage the plate to prevent the roller of the plan from engaging the second rail section. 
     
     
         11 . A domestic refrigerator, comprising:
 a cabinet having a temperature-controlled compartment defined therein,   a plate positioned in the temperature-controlled compartment, the plate includes a rail,   a roller secured to an inner surface of the plate, the roller of the plate having a groove defined therein,   a pan positioned adjacent to the inner surface of the plate, the pan having (i) a storage chamber defined therein, (ii) an outer flange extending toward the inner surface of the plate, and (iii) a rail extending vertically from the outer flange, the rail of the pan being positioned in the groove defined in the roller of the plate, and   a roller secured to the pan, the roller of the pan having a groove defined therein,   wherein the rail of the plate is positioned in the groove of the roller of the pan.   
     
     
         12 . The domestic refrigerator of  claim 11 , wherein the plate includes another rail positioned above the rail of the plate, the another rail being positioned in the groove of the roller of the pan. 
     
     
         13 . The domestic refrigerator of  claim 12 , wherein the plate includes:
 an upper flange extending from the inner surface, the upper flange having the rail extending downwardly therefrom, and   a lower flange extending from the inner surface below the upper flange, the lower flange having the another rail of the plate extending upwardly therefrom.   
     
     
         14 . The domestic refrigerator of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a cover panel secured to an upper end of the plate, and   a tab extending downwardly from a front end of the cover panel into the storage chamber of the pan,   wherein a gap is defined between the tab and the plate, the gap being sized to receive the roller of the pan.   
     
     
         15 . The domestic refrigerator of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the pan has a front end and a rear end,   the plate has a front end positioned adjacent to the front end of the pan,   the roller of the plate is secured to the front end of the plate, and   the roller of the pan is secured to the rear end of the pan.   
     
     
         16 . A pan system for a domestic refrigerator, comprising:
 a plate having a track defined therein,   a roller secured to the plate, the roller of the plate having a groove defined therein,   another plate positioned opposite the plate,   a roller secured to the another plate, the roller of the another plate having a substantially smooth outer surface,   a pan positioned between the plate and the another plate, the pan including (i) a side wall having a flange extending outwardly therefrom and a rail extending vertically from the flange, and (ii) another side wall having another flange extending outwardly therefrom and a rail extending vertically from the another flange, and   a roller secured to the pan,   wherein (i) the rail of the flange of the pan is received in the groove of the roller of the plate, (ii) a bottom surface of the rail of the another flange of the pan engages the substantially smooth outer surface of the roller of the another plate, and (iii) the another roller of the pan is positioned in the track of the plate.   
     
     
         17 . The pan system of  claim 16 , wherein the plate includes an upper rail and a lower rail that define the track, and the another roller of the pan has a groove defined therein that is sized to receive the upper rail and the lower rail. 
     
     
         18 . The pan system of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 another roller secured to the another side wall of the pan,   wherein (i) the another plate includes a flange that extends toward the plate, and (ii) the another roller of the another side wall of the pan engages a substantially planar upper surface of the flange of the another plate.   
     
     
         19 . The pan system of  claim 16 , wherein:
 the another roller of the pan is secured to an upper end of the side wall of the pan, and   the flange of the side wall is positioned below the upper end of the side wall.   
     
     
         20 . The pan system of  claim 16 , wherein the pan includes a panel secured to the side wall and the another side wall, and a handle attached to the panel.