Refrigerator storage system

Abstract

A refrigerator storage system includes a storage bin, rails, a protrusion, and a container. The rails define a space below the storage bin. The protrusion extends into the space. The container engages the rails to facilitate movement of the container into and out of the space. The protrusion is operable to engage the container to force the container downward. The rails are sloped downward to bias the container into the space.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A refrigerator comprising:
 a door having an interior surface;   a bin disposed on the interior surface of the door;   opposing rails positioned below the bin such that a space is defined below the bin and between the opposing rails;   a protrusion extending downward from the bin and into the space; and   a container defining grooves on opposing sides of the container, wherein the container is operable to engage the opposing rails within the grooves to facilitate movement of the container into and out of the space, the protrusion is operable to engage a top-rearward region of the container to force the container downward and restrict vertical movement of the container within the space, and rearward regions of the opposing rails are sloped downward to bias the container into the space.   
     
     
         2 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the opposing rails include projections, the container defines notches extending from the grooves, and the projections are configured to engage the container within the notches to secure a position of the container within the space. 
     
     
         3 . The refrigerator of  claim 1  further comprising a stop disposed within the space along a back end of the bin and configured to engage the container to limit travel of the container into the space. 
     
     
         4 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the container includes a removable lid. 
     
     
         5 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the protrusion has a ramped region that extends downward and into the space, and the ramped region is configured to engage the top-rearward region of the container such that the container is wedged between the ramped region and the opposing rails. 
     
     
         6 . The refrigerator of  claim 5 , wherein the ramped region terminates at a stop that is configured to engage the container to limit travel of the container into the space. 
     
     
         7 . A refrigerator storage system comprising:
 a storage bin;   rails positioned below the storage bin and defining a space;   a protrusion extending downward from the storage bin into the space; and   a container operable to engage the rails to facilitate movement of the container into and out of the space, wherein the protrusion is operable to engage the container to force the container downward and the rails are sloped downward to bias the container into the space.   
     
     
         8 . The refrigerator storage system of  claim 7 , wherein the rails include projections, the container defines notches, and the projections are configured to engage the container within the notches to secure a position of the container within the space. 
     
     
         9 . The refrigerator storage system of  claim 7  further comprising a stop extending downward from the storage bin and into the space, wherein the stop is configured to engage the container to limit travel of the container into the space. 
     
     
         10 . The refrigerator storage system of  claim 7 , wherein the container includes a removable lid. 
     
     
         11 . The refrigerator storage system of  claim 7 , wherein the rails include first and second spaced-apart rails and the first and second spaced-apart rails at least partially define the space therebetween. 
     
     
         12 . The refrigerator storage system of  claim 7 , wherein the protrusion has a ramped region that extends downward and into the space, and the ramped region is configured to engage the container such that the container is wedged between the ramped region and the rails. 
     
     
         13 . The refrigerator storage system of  claim 12 , wherein the ramped region terminates at a stop that is configured to engage the container to limit travel of the container into the space. 
     
     
         14 . A refrigerator storage system comprising:
 a container operable to receive items for storage therein;   rails defining a space and operable to guide the container into and out of the space, wherein the rails are sloped downward to bias the container into the space; and   a protrusion extending into the space and operable to engage the container to force the container downward and restrict vertical movement of the container within the space.   
     
     
         15 . The refrigerator storage system of  claim 14 , wherein the rails include projections, the container defines notches, and the projections are configured to engage the container within the notches to secure a position of the container within the space. 
     
     
         16 . The refrigerator storage system of  claim 14  further comprising a stop extending into the space, wherein the stop is configured to engage the container to limit travel of the container into the space. 
     
     
         17 . The refrigerator storage system of  claim 14 , wherein the container includes a removable lid. 
     
     
         18 . The refrigerator storage system of  claim 14 , wherein the rails include first and second spaced-apart rails and the first and second spaced-apart rails at least partially define the space therebetween. 
     
     
         19 . The refrigerator storage system of  claim 14 , wherein the protrusion has a ramped region that extends into the space, and the ramped region is configured to engage the container such that the container is wedged between the ramped region and the rails. 
     
     
         20 . The refrigerator storage system of  claim 19 , wherein the ramped region terminates at a stop that is configured to engage the container to limit travel of the container into the space.