Shelf assembly for appliance

Abstract

A shelf assembly for a refrigerator includes a frame assembly having front and rear frame members with respective front and rear channels. A panel includes first and second ends, wherein the first end is fully received in the front channel, and further wherein the second end is partially received in the rear channel. A spacer assembly includes a spacer member and one or more clip members extending upwardly from a base portion. The clip members are clipped to mounting apertures disposed on the second portion of the rear frame member. The spacer member is received through a receiving aperture disposed through the rear frame member. The spacer member extends into the rear channel and engages the second end of the panel when the spacer assembly is clipped to the rear frame member to retain the panel in the channels of the front and rear frame members.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A shelf assembly, comprising:
 a peripheral frame assembly having front and rear frame members spaced-apart from one another and interconnected by first and second side frame members that are spaced-apart from one another to define a receiving area therebetween;   a support ledge having front and rear portions spaced-apart from one another and inwardly extending from the front and rear frame members, respectively, towards one another into the receiving area, wherein the support ledge further includes first and second side portions spaced-apart from one another and inwardly extending from the first and second side frame members, respectively, towards one another into the receiving area, and further wherein the first and second side portions of the support ledge each include one or more mounting apertures disposed therethrough;   a glass panel having upper and lower surfaces, wherein the glass panel is supported on the support ledge at the lower surface of the glass panel; and   a retaining frame having front and rear portions spaced-apart from one another and interconnected by first and second side portions that are spaced-apart from one another, wherein the retaining frame includes an inner edge abutting the upper surface of the glass panel, and further wherein the first and second side portions of the retaining frame each include one or more clip members received in the one or more mounting apertures of the first and second side portions of the support ledge, respectively.   
     
     
         2 . A shelf assembly, comprising:
 a peripheral frame assembly having front and rear frame members spaced-apart from one another and interconnected by first and second side frame members that are spaced-apart from one another to define a receiving area therebetween;   a support ledge having front and rear portions spaced-apart from one another and inwardly extending from the front and rear frame members, respectively, towards one another into the receiving area, wherein the support ledge further includes first and second side portions spaced-apart from one another and inwardly extending from the first and second side frame members, respectively, towards one another into the receiving area, wherein the support ledge includes one or more mounting apertures disposed therethrough;   a panel supported on the support ledge at a lower surface thereof, the panel including an upper surface; and   a retaining frame having first and second side portions that are spaced-apart from one another, wherein the first and second side portions include an inwardly extending inner edge abutting the upper surface of the panel, and further wherein the retaining frame includes one or more clip members received in the one or more mounting apertures of the support ledge.   
     
     
         3 . A shelf assembly, comprising:
 a peripheral frame assembly having front and rear frame members spaced-apart from one another and interconnected by first and second side frame members that are spaced-apart from one another to define a receiving area therebetween;   a support ledge having front and rear portions spaced-apart from one another and inwardly extending from the front and rear frame members, respectively, towards one another into the receiving area, wherein the support ledge further includes first and second side portions spaced-apart from one another and inwardly extending from the first and second side frame members, respectively, towards one another into the receiving area, and further wherein the support ledge includes one or more mounting apertures disposed therethrough;   a panel supported on the support ledge at a lower surface thereof, the panel including an upper surface; and   a retaining frame having front and rear portions spaced-apart from one another and interconnected by first and second side portions that are spaced-apart from one another, wherein the retaining frame includes an inner edge abutting the upper surface of the panel, and further wherein the retaining frame includes one or more clip members received in the one or more mounting apertures of the support ledge.   
     
     
         4 . The shelf assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the inner edge of the retaining frame is disposed along the front and rear portions of the retaining frame. 
     
     
         5 . The shelf assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the inner edge of the retaining frame is disposed along the front and rear portions and the first and second side portions of the retaining frame. 
     
     
         6 . The shelf assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the one or more clip members includes one or more clip members disposed on both the first and second side portions of the retaining frame. 
     
     
         7 . The shelf assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the one or more mounting apertures includes mounting apertures disposed on both the first and second side portions of the support ledge. 
     
     
         8 . The shelf assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the one or more clip members includes first and second clip members disposed on both the first and second side portions of the retaining frame. 
     
     
         9 . The shelf assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the one or more one or more mounting apertures includes first and second one or more mounting apertures disposed on both the first and second side portions of the support ledge. 
     
     
         10 . The shelf assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the retaining frame surrounds an outer periphery of the panel.