Refrigerator shelf

Abstract

A refrigerator shelf includes a support frame having left and right sideplate brackets and at least a first cross-bar extending between and attached to the sideplate brackets. A shelf panel is supported on the support frame in contact with the left and right sideplate brackets and above the first cross-bar. The shelf panel has top and bottom surfaces, left and right edges, and front and rear edges. A first trim and retention feature is attached to a selected edge of the front or rear edge of the shelf panel and mounts the shelf panel to the support frame. The first trim and retention feature includes first and second trim components cooperatively securing the selected edge of the shelf panel to the support frame. The first trim component extends across a width of the shelf panel between the left and right edges and includes a mounting feature disposed adjacent to the selected edge of the shelf panel and a securing arm extending from the mounting feature adjacent to the bottom surface of the shelf panel and coupled to the support frame. The second trim component is removably attached to the mounting feature of the first trim component and includes a flange portion extending above and in contact with the top surface of the shelf panel.

1 . A refrigerator shelf comprising:
 a support frame comprising left and right sideplate brackets and at least a first cross-bar extending between and attached to the left and right sideplate brackets;   a shelf panel supported on the support frame in contact with the left and right sideplate brackets and above the first cross-bar, the shelf panel having top and bottom surfaces, left and right edges, and front and rear edges;   a first trim and retention feature attached to a selected edge of the front or rear edge of the shelf panel and mounting the shelf panel to the support frame, the first trim and retention feature comprising first and second trim components cooperatively securing the selected edge of the shelf panel to the support frame,
 the first trim component extending across a width of the shelf panel between the left and right edges and including a mounting feature disposed adjacent to the selected edge of the shelf panel and a securing arm extending from the mounting feature adjacent to the bottom surface of the shelf panel and coupled to the support frame, and 
 the second trim component removably attached to the mounting feature of the first trim component and including a flange portion extending above and in contact with the top surface of the shelf panel. 
   
     
     
         2 . The refrigerator shelf of  claim 1 , wherein the securing arm of the first trim component comprises a leg portion extending from the mounting feature and a hook portion extending from the leg portion, the leg portion disposed between and in contact with the bottom surface of the shelf panel and the first cross-bar and the hook portion hooked around the first cross-bar 
     
     
         3 . The refrigerator shelf of  claim 1 , wherein the mounting feature on the first trim component includes a T-shaped cross-section and the second trim component includes a T-shaped recess receiving the T-shaped mounting feature. 
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . The refrigerator shelf of  claim 1 , wherein the first trim component of the first trim and retention feature at least one of: (a) does not extend above the top surface of the shelf panel and/or (b) does not contact the top surface of the shelf panel. 
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . The refrigerator shelf of  claim 1 , wherein the first cross-bar is disposed adjacent to the front edge of the shelf panel and the first trim and retention feature is attached to the front edge of the shelf panel. 
     
     
         8 . The refrigerator shelf of  claim 7 , further comprising a second cross-bar disposed adjacent to the rear edge of the shelf panel, and a second trim and retention feature attached to the rear edge of the shelf panel 
     
     
         9 . The refrigerator shelf of  claim 8 , wherein the second trim and retention feature includes a third trim component extending across a width of the shelf panel between the left and right edges, the third trim component including a securing arm extending adjacent to the bottom surface of the shelf panel and coupled to the support frame, and
 wherein the securing arm of the third trim component comprise a leg portion and a hook portion extending from the leg portion, the leg portion disposed between and in contact with the bottom surface of the shelf panel and the second cross-bar and the hook portion hooked around the second cross-bar, and   wherein the third trim component comprises a mounting feature disposed adjacent to the rear edge of the shelf panel and connected to the securing arm, and further comprising a fourth trim component removably attached to the mounting feature of the third trim component and including a flange portion extending above and in contact with the top surface of the shelf panel such that the third and fourth trim components cooperatively secure the rear edge of the shelf panel to the support frame.   
     
     
         10 - 11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . The refrigerator shelf of  claim 1 , wherein each sideplate bracket includes:
 an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface attached to the at least one first cross-bar and facing the opposite sideplate bracket;   a front end and a rear end, the rear end including at least one hook for mounting the support bracket in a cantilevered fashion; and   a rib protruding inward from the inner surface and extending along substantially the entire length between the front and rear ends of the sideplate bracket;   the shelf panel supported on the support frame such that the bottom surface of the shelf panel can contact the rib on each of the left and right side supports such that the ribs extend substantially entirely between the front edge and the rear edge of the shelf panel.   
     
     
         13 . The refrigerator shelf of  claim 1 , wherein the top surface of the shelf panel is disposed above a top edge of the sideplate brackets, and the bottom surface of the shelf panel is disposed below the top edge of the sideplate brackets. 
     
     
         14 . The refrigerator shelf of  claim 1 , wherein the shelf panel is not secured to the support frame with adhesive. 
     
     
         15 . A refrigerator shelf comprising:
 a support frame comprising opposite left and right sideplate brackets and opposite front and rear cross-bars extending between and attached to the left and right sideplate brackets;   each sideplate bracket including:
 an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface attached to the front and rear cross-bars and facing the opposite sideplate bracket, 
 a front end and a rear end, the rear end including at least one hook for mounting the support bracket in a cantilevered fashion, and 
 a rib protruding inward from the inner surface and extending substantially entirely between the front and rear ends of the sideplate bracket; and 
   a shelf panel having opposite top and bottom surfaces, opposite front and rear edges, and opposite left and right edges, the shelf panel supported on the support frame such that the bottom surface of the shelf panel can contact with the rib on each of the left and right sideplate brackets such that (a) the ribs extend substantially entirely between the front edge and the rear edge of the shelf panel, or (b) the bottom surface of the shelf panel is located below a top edge of the sideplate brackets and the top surface of the shelf panel is located above the top edge of the sideplate brackets.   
     
     
         16 . The refrigerator shelf of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a first trim and retention feature attached to a selected edge of the front or rear edge of the shelf panel adjacent to a selected cross-bar of the front or rear cross-bars and mounting the shelf panel to the support frame, the first trim and retention feature comprising first and second trim components cooperatively securing the selected edge of the shelf panel to the support frame,
 the first trim component extending across a width of the shelf panel between the left and right side edges, the first trim component including a mounting feature disposed adjacent to the selected edge of the shelf panel and a securing arm extending from the mounting feature adjacent to the bottom surface of the shelf panel and coupled to the support frame, and 
 the second trim component removably attached to the mounting feature of the first trim component and including a flange portion extending above and in contact with the top surface of the shelf panel. 
   
     
     
         17 . The refrigerator shelf of  claim 16 , wherein the securing arm comprises a leg portion extending from the mounting feature and a hook portion extending from the leg portion, the leg portion disposed between and in contact with the bottom surface of the shelf panel and the selected cross-bar and the hook portion hooked around the selected cross-bar 
     
     
         18 . The refrigerator shelf of  claim 16 , wherein the mounting feature on the first trim component includes a T-shaped cross-section and the second trim component includes a T-shaped recess receiving the T-shaped mounting feature. 
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . The refrigerator shelf of  claim 16 , wherein the first trim component of the first trim and retention feature at least one of: (a) does not extend above the top surface of the shelf panel, or (b) does not contact the top surface of the shelf panel. 
     
     
         21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . The refrigerator shelf of  claim 16 , wherein the selected edge is the front edge and the selected cross-bar is the front cross-bar. 
     
     
         23 . The refrigerator shelf of  claim 22 , further comprising a second trim and retention feature attached to the rear edge of the shelf panel and the rear cross-bar of the support frame,
 wherein the second trim and retention feature includes a third trim component extending across a width of the shelf panel between the left and right side edges, the third trim component including a securing arm extending adjacent to the bottom surface of the shelf panel and coupled to the support frame, and   wherein the securing arm comprises a leg portion extending and a hook portion extending from the leg portion, the leg portion disposed between and in contact with the bottom surface of the shelf panel and the rear cross-bar and the hook portion hooked around the rear cross-bar.   
     
     
         24 - 25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . The refrigerator shelf of  claim 23 , wherein the third trim component further comprises a mounting feature disposed adjacent to the rear edge of the shelf panel connected to the securing arm, and further comprising a fourth trim component removably attached to the mounting feature of the third trim component and including a flange portion extending above and in contact with the top surface of the shelf panel such that the combination of the third and fourth trim components secures the shelf panel to the support frame. 
     
     
         27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . The refrigerator shelf of  claim 15 , wherein the shelf panel is not secured to the support frame with adhesive. 
     
     
         29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . The refrigerator shelf of  claim 15 , further comprising at least one of a front trim and retention feature mounted on the front edge of the shelf panel and securing the shelf panel to the support frame, and a rear trim and retention feature mounted on the rear edge of the shelf panel and securing the shelf panel to the support frame, wherein the front trim and retention feature is a one-piece or a two-piece trim and retention feature and the rear trim and retention feature is a one-piece or a two-piece trim and retention feature. 
     
     
         31 - 46 . (canceled)