Support assembly for an appliance

Abstract

A support assembly includes a support surface configured to selectively transition between a stowed position, a deployed position, and an intermediate position defined between the stowed position and the deployed position. A retention feature is operably coupled to the support surface and is configured to transition the support surface between the stowed position and the deployed position. The retention feature includes a projection about which the support surface pivots to define a pivot axis. A bracket is coupled to the support surface and is configured to distribute a load along the support assembly in the intermediate position and the deployed position.

1 . An appliance, comprising:
 a cabinet;   an inner liner coupled to the cabinet;   a mullion coupled to the inner liner and defining a retaining space; and   a support assembly selectively disposed within the retaining space, the support assembly comprising:
 a support surface operably coupled to the cabinet, the support surface configured to transition between a stowed position and a deployed position; 
 a retention feature operably coupled to the support surface; and 
 a bracket coupled to and disposed along a length of the support surface, the bracket including flanges selectively coupled to the mullion and configured to at least partially brace the support surface in the deployed position. 
   
     
     
         2 . The appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the support surface is disposed within the retaining space defined by the mullion in the stowed position and rotatably coupled to the mullion. 
     
     
         3 . The appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the support assembly is wire and is hingedly coupled to the inner liner via the retention feature. 
     
     
         4 . The appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the bracket is pivotally coupled to the retention feature and configured to distribute a load along the support surface, and wherein the support surface is disposed on and operably coupled to at least one of the flanges of the bracket in the deployed position. 
     
     
         5 . The appliance of  claim 4 , wherein the bracket is configured to rotate the support surface between the stowed position to the deployed position. 
     
     
         6 . The appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the support surface is operable between a lowered position and a raised position relative to the inner liner. 
     
     
         7 . The appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the support surface is disposed within the retaining space in the stowed position. 
     
     
         8 . A support assembly for a cabinet, comprising:
 a support surface configured to selectively transition between a stowed position, a deployed position, and an intermediate position defined between the stowed position and the deployed position;   a bracket coupled to and disposed along a length of the support surface and configured to distribute a load along the support surface in the intermediate position and the deployed position; and   a retention feature operably coupled to the bracket and the support surface and configured to hingedly couple the support surface to a mullion of said cabinet, the retention feature including a projection pivotably coupled to an end of the support surface to define a pivot axis.   
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . The support assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the support surface is a shelf defining a grasping aperture on an edge of the support surface. 
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . The support assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the support surface is further transitionable to a support position about the pivot axis via the bracket. 
     
     
         14 . The support assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the retention feature is a hinge operably coupled to the support surface, the hinge configured to hingedly translate the support surface between the stowed position and the deployed position. 
     
     
         15 . A cabinet, comprising:
 an inner liner defining a retaining space; and   a support assembly operably coupled to the inner liner, the support assembly including:
 a support surface operable between a first position and a second position, the support surface comprising an insulated panel; 
 a retention feature rotatably coupled to the support surface, the retention feature including a projection operably coupled to the support surface; and 
 a bracket coupled to the support surface and including flanges selectively coupled to the inner liner and configured to brace the support surface in the second position of the support surface. 
   
     
     
         16 . The cabinet of  claim 15 , wherein the support assembly is disposed within the retaining space of the inner liner and hingedly coupled to the inner liner to define a pivot axis about which the support surface is translated. 
     
     
         17 . The cabinet of  claim 16 , wherein the support surface rotates about the projection of the retention feature and the pivot axis. 
     
     
         18 . The cabinet of  claim 15 , wherein the first position is a stowed position and the second position is a deployed position of the support surface, and wherein the support surface slidably transitions between the stowed position and the deployed position. 
     
     
         19 . The cabinet of  claim 15 , wherein the retention features are rotatable between a raised position and a lowered position relative to the inner liner and the support surface. 
     
     
         20 . The cabinet of  claim 15 , wherein the first position is a stowed position vertically aligned relative to the cabinet and the second position is a deployed position horizontally aligned relative to the cabinet. 
     
     
         21 . The appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the retaining space defines grooves in which the flanges of the bracket are selectively disposed in the stowed position. 
     
     
         22 . The appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the retaining space includes guide rails and the support surface includes rotatable features, and wherein the rotatable features are operably coupled to the guide rails and configured to translate the support surface between the stowed position and the deployed position. 
     
     
         23 . The support assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the bracket includes flanges extending along a length of the support surface and configured to brace the support surface in the deployed position.