Drawer assembly for a refrigerator appliance

Abstract

A drawer assembly for a refrigerator appliance is provided. The drawer assembly includes a bin and a sealing plate configured for sealing the bin when the bin is in a closed position. By sealing the bin, the sealing plate can increase the useful life of food items stored within the bin.

1 . A drawer assembly for a refrigerator appliance, the drawer assembly extending between a top and a bottom along a vertical direction, the drawer assembly further extending between a front and a back along a transverse direction, the transverse direction being perpendicular to the vertical direction, the drawer assembly comprising:
 a first guide rail defining a first plurality of guides, the first plurality of guides extending longitudinally along the vertical and transverse directions on said first guide rail;   a second guide rail spaced apart from said first guide rail said second guide rail defining a second plurality of guides, the second plurality of guides extending longitudinally along the vertical and transverse directions on said second guide rail;   a bin having a pair of slide rails mounted on opposite sides of said bin, each slide rail of the pair of slide rails received by a respective one of said first guide rail and said second guide rail such that said bin is slidingly mounted to said first guide rail and said second guide rail;   a sealing plate positioned above said bin on the vertical direction;   a first plurality of bosses fixed to a first side of said sealing plate, said first plurality of bosses received within the first plurality of guides of said first guide rail; and   a second plurality of bosses fixed to a second side of said sealing plate, said second plurality of bosses received within the second plurality of guides of said second guide rail.   
     
     
         2 . The drawer assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said sealing plate further comprises a biasing member that urges said sealing plate towards the front of the drawer assembly along the transverse direction when said bin is in a closed position. 
     
     
         3 . The drawer assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said sealing plate further comprises a gasket disposed on a bottom surface of said sealing plate, said gasket being complementary in shape to a lip of said bin. 
     
     
         4 . The drawer assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said sealing plate further comprises a ledge that extends downwardly from a bottom surface of said sealing plate, said ledge configured for engagement with a back of said bin. 
     
     
         5 . The drawer assembly of  claim 4 , wherein said sealing plate further comprises a biasing member mounted to said ledge, said biasing member urging said sealing plate towards the front of the drawer assembly along the transverse direction when said bin is in a closed position. 
     
     
         6 . The drawer assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said sealing plate is positioned immediately adjacent a top of said bin when said bin is in a closed position, wherein said sealing plate is spaced apart from the top of said bin along the vertical direction when said bin is in an open position. 
     
     
         7 . The drawer assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a catch for securing said bin in a closed position. 
     
     
         8 . A drawer assembly for a refrigerator appliance, the drawer assembly extending between a top and a bottom along a vertical direction, the drawer assembly further extending between a front and a back along a transverse direction, the transverse direction being perpendicular to the vertical direction, the drawer assembly comprising:
 a first guide rail;   a first plurality of bosses fixed to said first guide rail;   a second guide rail spaced apart from said first guide rail;   a second plurality of bosses fixed to said second guide rail;   a bin having a pair of slide rails mounted on opposite sides of said bin, each slide rail of the pair of slide rails received by a respective one of said first guide rail and said second guide rail such that said bin is slidingly mounted to said first guide rail and said second guide rail, said bin having a lip positioned adjacent a top of said bin;   a sealing plate positioned above said bin on the vertical direction, said sealing plate defining a first plurality of guides and a second plurality of guides, said first plurality of guides receiving said first plurality of bosses, said second plurality of guides receiving said second plurality of bosses.   
     
     
         9 . The drawer assembly of  claim 8 , wherein said sealing plate further comprises a biasing member that urges said sealing plate towards the front of the drawer assembly along the transverse direction when said bin is in a closed position. 
     
     
         10 . The drawer assembly of  claim 8 , wherein said sealing plate further comprises a gasket disposed on a bottom surface of said sealing plate, said gasket being complementary in shape to the lip of said bin. 
     
     
         11 . The drawer assembly of  claim 8 , wherein said sealing plate further comprises a ledge that extends downwardly from a bottom surface of said sealing plate, said ledge configured for engagement with a back of said bin. 
     
     
         12 . The drawer assembly of  claim 11 , wherein said sealing plate further comprises a biasing member mounted to said ledge, said biasing member urging said sealing plate towards the front of the drawer assembly along the transverse direction when said bin is in a closed position. 
     
     
         13 . The drawer assembly of  claim 8 , wherein said sealing plate is positioned immediately adjacent the top of said bin when said bin is in a closed position, wherein said sealing plate is spaced apart from the top of said bin along the vertical direction when said bin is in an open position. 
     
     
         14 . The drawer assembly of  claim 8 , further comprising a catch for securing said bin in a closed position. 
     
     
         15 . A refrigerator appliance, the refrigerator appliance extending between a top and a bottom along a vertical direction, the refrigerator appliance also extending between a first side and a second side along a horizontal direction, the refrigerator appliance further extending between a front and a back along a transverse direction, the transverse direction being perpendicular to the vertical and horizontal directions, the refrigerator appliance comprising:
 a cabinet defining a chilled chamber for receipt of food items, the chilled chamber of said cabinet having a pair of opposing sidewalls spaced apart along the horizontal direction;   a pair of guide rails positioned within the chilled chamber of said cabinet, each guide rail of the pair of guide rails mounted to a respective one of the pair of opposing sidewalls and, defining a plurality of guides that extend along the vertical and transverse directions;   a bin positioned within the chilled chamber of said cabinet, said bin having a pair of slide rails mounted on opposite sides of said bin, each slide rail of the pair of slide rails received by a respective one of said pair of guide rails such that said bin is slidingly mounted to said pair of guide rails, said bin having a lip positioned adjacent a top of said bin;   a sealing plate positioned above said bin along the vertical direction; and   a plurality of bosses fixed to said sealing plate, said plurality of bosses received within the plurality of guides;   wherein, said sealing plate is positioned immediately adjacent the top of said bin when said bin is in a closed position, wherein said sealing plate is spaced apart from the top of said bin along the vertical direction when said bin is in an open position.   
     
     
         16 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 15 , wherein said sealing plate further comprises a biasing member that urges said sealing plate towards the front of the refrigerator appliance along the transverse direction when said bin is in a closed position. 
     
     
         17 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 15 , wherein said sealing plate further comprises a gasket disposed on a bottom surface of said sealing plate, said gasket being complementary in shape to the lip of said bin. 
     
     
         18 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 15 , wherein said sealing plate further comprises a ledge that extends downwardly from a bottom surface of said sealing plate, said ledge configured for engagement with a back of said bin. 
     
     
         19 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 18 , wherein said sealing plate further comprises a biasing member mounted to said ledge, said biasing member urging said sealing plate towards the front of the refrigerator appliance along the transverse direction when said bin is in a closed position. 
     
     
         20 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 15 , further comprising a catch for securing said bin in a closed position.