Slide mechanism for a built-in refrigerator

Abstract

A sliding and connecting device configured for slidably connecting a refrigerator appliance door to a cabinet panel includes a sliding element, a rail element, and a removable portion. The sliding element defines a channel, and is configured to be mounted to one of the refrigerator appliance door or the cabinet panel. The rail element is separated from the sliding element, is configured for disposal within the channel such that rail element engages the sliding element and is slidable within the channel, and is configured to be mounted to the other of the refrigerator appliance door or the cabinet panel. The removable portion is secured to a first of the sliding element or rail element. The removeable portion includes at least one cover and at least one bridge securing the at least one cover to the first of the sliding element or rail element.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A sliding and connecting device configured for slidably connecting a refrigerator appliance door to a cabinet panel comprising:
 a sliding element (i) defining a channel, (ii) configured to be mounted to one of the refrigerator appliance door or the cabinet panel, and (iii) defining at least one first orifice configured to receive fasteners for mounting the sliding element;   a rail element (i) separated from the sliding element, (ii) configured for disposal within the channel such that rail element engages the sliding element and is slidable within the channel, (iii) configured to be mounted to the other of the refrigerator appliance door or the cabinet panel, and (iv) defining at least one second orifice configured to receive fasteners for mounting the sliding element; and   a removable portion secured to a first of the sliding element or rail element, wherein the removeable portion (i) includes at least one cover, (ii) includes at least one bridge securing the at least one cover to the first of the sliding element or rail element, (iii) is configured to engage an edge of the refrigerator appliance door or an edge of the cabinet panel for aligning the first of the sliding element or rail element relative to the refrigerator appliance door for installation of the first of the sliding element or rail element onto the cabinet panel, and (iv) is configured for removal from the first of the sliding element or rail element after installation of the first of the sliding element or rail element onto the cabinet panel, wherein the at least one cover is configured to be secured to the sliding element or to the rail element for disposal over the at least one first orifice or the at least one second orifice, respectively, upon removal of the at least one cover from the first of the sliding element or rail element.   
     
     
         2 . The sliding and connecting device of  claim 1 , wherein (i) the first of the sliding element or rail element is the rail element, (ii) the at least one cover includes a rail element cover and a sliding element cover, and (iii) the at least one bridge includes a first bridge securing the rail element cover to the rail element and a second bridge securing the sliding element cover to the rail element cover. 
     
     
         3 . The sliding and connecting device of  claim 2 , wherein (i) the rail element is configured for installation onto the cabinet panel and (ii) an outer edge of the sliding element cover is configured to align with and engage a side edge of a cabinet door to align the rail element relative to the refrigerator appliance door in a first direction prior to installation of the rail element onto the cabinet panel. 
     
     
         4 . The sliding and connecting device of  claim 3 , wherein an upper edge of the first bridge is configured to align with and engage a lower edge of a door bushing on the refrigerator appliance door to align the rail element relative to the refrigerator appliance door in a second direction prior to installation of the rail element onto the cabinet panel. 
     
     
         5 . The sliding and connecting device of  claim 2 , wherein the rail element cover includes clips configured to engage the rail element to secure the rail element cover to the rail element and over the at least one second orifice. 
     
     
         6 . The sliding and connecting device of  claim 2 , wherein the sliding element cover includes clips configured to engage the sliding element to secure the sliding element cover to the sliding element and over the at least one first orifice. 
     
     
         7 . The sliding and connecting device of  claim 1 , wherein (i) the first of the sliding element or rail element is the sliding element, (ii) the at least one cover includes a rail element end cover, and (iii) the at least one bridge includes first and second bridges securing the rail element end cover to the sliding element. 
     
     
         8 . The sliding and connecting device of  claim 7 , wherein the removable portion further comprises a gate extending outward from each of and spanning the first and second bridges. 
     
     
         9 . The sliding and connecting device of  claim 8 , wherein the gate is substantially perpendicular to the first and second bridges. 
     
     
         10 . The sliding and connecting device of  claim 8 , wherein (i) the sliding element is configured for installation onto the cabinet panel and (ii) the gate is configured to align with and engage a side edge of the refrigerator appliance door to align the sliding element relative to the refrigerator appliance door prior to installation of the sliding element onto the cabinet panel. 
     
     
         11 . The sliding and connecting device of  claim 7 , wherein the rail element is configured for installation onto the refrigerator appliance door. 
     
     
         12 . The sliding and connecting device of  claim 11 , wherein the rail element end cover includes clips configured to engage the rail element to secure the rail element end cover to the rail element and over the at least one second orifice. 
     
     
         13 . A method for installation of a sliding and connecting device having a rail element and a sliding element to a refrigerator appliance door and a cabinet panel comprising:
 integrating the rail element, a rail element cover, and a sliding element cover into a single component;   positioning the rail element in a first direction by aligning an edge of the sliding element cover with a side edge of the cabinet panel;   securing the rail element to the cabinet panel while the edge of the sliding element cover is aligned with the side edge of the cabinet panel;   engaging the sliding element with the rail element; and   securing the sliding element to an edge of the refrigerator appliance door.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising positioning the rail element in a second direction prior to securing the rail element to the cabinet panel by aligning an upper edge of a bridge, which secures the rail element cover to the rail element, with a lower edge of a door bushing on the refrigerator appliance door. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising (i) detaching the rail element cover from the rail element via severing a bridge that connects the rail element cover to the rail element and (ii) reattaching the rail element cover to the rail element via clips. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising (i) detaching the sliding element cover from the rail element via severing a bridge that connects the sliding element cover to the rail element cover and (ii) attaching the sliding element cover to the sliding element via clips. 
     
     
         17 . A method for installation of a sliding and connecting device having a rail element and a sliding element to a refrigerator appliance door and a cabinet panel comprising:
 integrating the (i) sliding element, (i) a rail element cover, (iii) bridges extending between the sliding element and rail element cover, and (iv) a gate extending between the bridges into a single component;   positioning the sliding element relative to the cabinet panel by aligning the gate with protrusions extending outward from an edge of the refrigerator appliance door;   securing the sliding element to the cabinet panel while positioned relative to the cabinet panel;   engaging the rail element with the sliding element; and   securing the rail element to the edge of the refrigerator appliance door.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising detaching the rail element cover from the sliding element via severing the bridges. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising attaching the rail element cover to the rail element via clips. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising detaching the sliding element from the bridges and gate via severing the bridges.