Removable shelf support assembly for oven appliance

Abstract

Removable shelf support assemblies for oven appliances are provided. A removable shelf support assembly includes a shelf having a pair of opposing sides for positioning near opposing side walls of the oven appliance and a pair of slide assemblies. At least one of the slide assemblies includes a slide rack coupled to one of the opposing sides of the shelf, the slide rack comprising a slide member and a stationary member, the slide member movable along the transverse direction relative to the stationary member. At least one of the slide assemblies further includes an outer bracket coupled to the slide rack, the outer bracket engageable with one of the opposing side walls, and a handle extending generally along the lateral direction from the outer bracket.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A removable shelf support assembly for an oven appliance, the oven appliance including a door for access to a cavity having a pair of opposing side walls, the oven defining vertical, lateral, and transverse directions that are orthogonal to each other, the removable shelf support assembly comprising:
 a shelf having a pair of opposing sides for positioning near the opposing side walls;   a pair of slide assemblies, at least one slide assembly comprising:
 a slide rack coupled to one of the opposing sides of the shelf, the slide rack comprising a slide member and a stationary member, the slide member movable along the transverse direction relative to the stationary member; 
 an outer bracket coupled to the slide rack, the outer bracket engageable with one of the opposing side walls; and 
 a handle extending generally along the lateral direction from the outer bracket. 
   
     
     
         2 . The removable shelf support assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the handle is positioned proximate a front end of the shelf. 
     
     
         3 . The removable shelf support assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the handle is positioned below the front end along the vertical direction. 
     
     
         4 . The removable shelf support assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the handle is cantilevered. 
     
     
         5 . The removable shelf support assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the handle comprises a vertical portion extending generally along the vertical direction from the outer bracket and a lateral portion extending generally along the lateral direction from the vertical portion. 
     
     
         6 . The removable shelf support assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one slide assembly further comprises an inner bracket coupled to the slide rack, the inner bracket coupling the slide rack to the one of the opposing sides of the shelf. 
     
     
         7 . The removable shelf support assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the outer bracket comprises a slot engageable with a rod extending from the one of the opposing side walls. 
     
     
         8 . The removable shelf support assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the outer bracket comprises an inner flange and an outer flange each engageable with a rod extending from the one of the opposing side walls. 
     
     
         9 . The removable shelf support assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the outer bracket comprises a tab engageable with a slot extending from the one of the opposing side walls. 
     
     
         10 . The removable shelf support assembly of  claim 1 , wherein each of the pair of slide assemblies comprises:
 a slide rack coupled to one of the opposing sides of the shelf, the slide rack comprising a slide member and a stationary member, the slide member movable along the transverse direction relative to the stationary member;   an outer bracket coupled to the slide rack, the outer bracket engageable with one of the opposing side walls; and   a handle extending generally along the lateral direction from the outer bracket.   
     
     
         11 . An oven appliance defining vertical, lateral, and transverse directions that are orthogonal to each other, the oven appliance comprising:
 an oven body defining an oven cavity for the receipt of food items for cooking operations, the cavity having a pair of opposing side walls, the cavity having an opening positioned near a front of the oven body;   a door for selectively closing the opening to the cavity of the oven body;   a removable shelf having a pair of opposing sides that are separated along the lateral direction, the shelf slidable in and out of the cavity;   a pair of slide assemblies, each slide assembly comprising:
 a slide rack coupled to one of the opposing sides of the shelf, the slide rack comprising a slide member and a stationary member, the slide member movable along the transverse direction relative to the stationary member; 
 an outer bracket coupled to the slide rack, the outer bracket engageable with one of the opposing side walls; and 
 a handle extending generally along the lateral direction from the outer bracket. 
   
     
     
         12 . The oven appliance of  claim 11 , wherein the handle is positioned proximate a front end of the shelf. 
     
     
         13 . The oven appliance of  claim 12 , wherein the handle is positioned below the front end along the vertical direction. 
     
     
         14 . The oven appliance of  claim 11 , wherein the handle is cantilevered. 
     
     
         15 . The oven appliance of  claim 11 , wherein the handle comprises a vertical portion extending generally along the vertical direction from the outer bracket and a lateral portion extending generally along the lateral direction from the vertical portion. 
     
     
         16 . The oven appliance of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one slide assembly further comprises an inner bracket coupled to the slide rack, the inner bracket coupling the slide rack to the one of the opposing sides of the shelf. 
     
     
         17 . The oven appliance of  claim 11 , wherein the outer bracket comprises a slot engageable with a rod extending from the one of the opposing side walls. 
     
     
         18 . The oven appliance of  claim 11 , wherein the outer bracket comprises an inner flange and an outer flange each engageable with a rod extending from the one of the opposing side walls. 
     
     
         19 . The oven appliance of  claim 11 , wherein the outer bracket comprises a tab engageable with a slot extending from the one of the opposing side walls.