MXPA06000148A

MXPA06000148A - Shelf assembly for a refrigerator compartment.

Info

Publication number: MXPA06000148A
Application number: MXPA06000148A
Authority: MX
Inventors: Ole Carl Buesing
Original assignee: Gemtron Corp
Priority date: 2005-01-06
Filing date: 2006-01-05
Publication date: 2006-07-14
Also published as: US20090085453A1; US20060145577A1; KR20060080870A; EP1686337A1; CN1834559A; CA2531946A1; JP2006187604A

Abstract

A sliding or vertically step-adjustable shelf includes a panel of tempered glass and two open frames. A peripheral edge of the glass panel is sandwiched between the two open frames and the latter are staked together. Alternatively, a pair of metal shelf brackets can be staked to the frames to provide vertical step-adjustment of the shelf. The vertically step-adjustable shelf can be further simplified by eliminating one of the open frame members and staking the metal shelf brackets to side frame portions of but a single outer/uppermost open frame member. In each of the shelves various components utilized in the assembly thereof, such as stake projections, heads and openings are hidden from view when the shelves are in their horizontal in-use position. Hence, each shelf presents a highly desirable aesthetic appearance, yet is strong and can be manufactured and sold at a reasonable price.

Description

GRILL ASSEMBLY FOR A REFRIGERATOR COMPARTMENT FIELD OF THE INVENTION Conventionally adjustable shelves are associated with both the freezer compartment and the fresh food compartment of conventional refrigerators. Such grill or shelf assemblies are typically constructed as an adjustable cantilever shelf or as a slide grill which slides along channels or ridges on opposite side walls of the freezer compartment or fresh food. In the following patents are described such typical shelves and shelves, both slidable and cantilevered.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION U.S. Patent No. 1,119,982 issued to Ohnstrand discloses a glass plate 3 which sits on "a filler 7 of suitable material, such as cement" (page 1, lines 52-53). A flange 1 of an annular frame or "reinforcement flange 2" (page 1, line 40) supports the entire grid. The glass plate 3 is basically "dropped" from above. Instead of attaching a piece of glass to a frame, several patents for Bienick (U.S. Patent Nos. 6,422,673 and 6,679,573) provide a slidable grill in which a piece of tempered glass is snapped into a substantially polygonal plastic frame. The latter is an innovation - which excludes the use of a separately applied adhesive and does not include full-ring encapsulation, as described in US Pat. Nos. 5,362,145; 5,429,433 and 5,524,981, each of which is assigned to the assignee of the present application. The last three patents require sophisticated molding techniques to be precisely clamped to metal grill clamps and a piece of tempered glass during the closure of an injection mold and subsequently a polymer / copolymer material is injected into the mold to create a ring or an encapsulation which holds the clamps of the grill to the piece of tempered glass. Thus, the glass-frame, snap fit, and the like encapsulation are all a very common place whether the shelving assembly is slidable or that can be adjusted vertically through the use of rack rails. conventional refrigerator. US Patent No. 4,886,236 in the name of Randall discloses a grill having a ring in which an edge of a piece of tempered glass is inserted, followed by the insertion of a plurality of wedge members which are urged or forced inside. of a notch or slot that receives the edge of the glass to retain these last assembled components. Numerous other patents describe frameworks made from a single piece of plastic material, as in US Patent No. 3,633,983 for hitcomb; individual frame members, as in U.S. Patent No. 4,923, 260 granted to Poulsen; extruded rings, as in U.S. Patent No. 5,947,574 in the name of Avendano; and reinforced multi-piece frames as in US Patent No. 4,960,308 in the name of Donaghy. The shelves of the above patents and the patents listed in US Patent No. 6,422,673 clearly reflect the scope and content of the prior art as a whole in the field of shelving, particularly shelving or grill assemblies used in refrigerators, which are sliding shelves or shelves adjustable in steps vertically. The particular grill that is selected for a particular refrigerator depends on numerous factors, mainly among which is the price. Obviously, for the so-called first quality refrigerators, a more expensive, durable, aesthetic shelving is generally used, and the best shelving for the best and / or most expensive refrigerators is the encapsulated shelving manufactured by the assignee of the present application. , and is reflected in patents such as U.S. Patent Nos. 5, 524, 981; 5, 362, 145; 5,429,433; etc. This encapsulated shelving, whether sliding shelves or vertically adjustable shelves, are the so-called "Cadillac" of the industry and are used in most of the more expensive refrigerators that are on the market. As total wholesale / retail prices become more competitive, particularly in order to make coolers of intermediate quality and lower cost, more expensive shelves, such as encapsulated shelves, may prove to be competitively disadvantageous, without taking into account the quality of the products and their aesthetics. Due to the foregoing, shelves of US Patents Nos. 6,422,673 and 6,679,573 were developed because they provide excellent aesthetics at a lower price without unfavorably affecting functionality. However, the optimal grille or grill assembly would be a combination of maximum functionality, the highest aesthetics and the lowest price. In an effort to achieve the above, the present invention provides each of the last three objectives at the lowest possible manufacturing cost.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A novel grill assembly or grill is constructed in accordance with the present invention from a single panel of tempered glass and two plastic frame members in the case of a sliding grill and a single piece of glass tempered, a single frame member, and two support clamps in the case of a grill or grid assembly adjustable in steps vertically. In both cases, adhesive is not required and instead of the latter, the components of the shelves, whether slidable or vertically adjustable, are provided with a plurality of inter-engaging post projections and openings for post projection. When properly assembled, the axial end portions of the pole protrusions are altered or staked to form elongated heads which are used in grill frames for the tempered glass panel or a pair of grid clamps, a frame of an single grill and tempered glass panel to each other in the manufacture of the sliding shelf and adjustable in vertical steps, respectively. Additionally in accordance with the present invention, both in the case of the sliding grid and a grid adjustable in steps vertically, two polymeric / copolymer plastic frames are used and they are assembled as posts to each other to impart an additional strength / reinforcement. to the grill assemblies. According to the present invention, in the case of a grill assembly made of a single piece of tempered glass and two frame members, one of the frame members is provided with pole protrusions and the other frame member is provided with openings to receive the post projections therein. A peripheral edge of the tempered glass panel is sandwiched between two frame members and when stacking the axial ends of the pole protrusions, the three components of the grate are secured and assembled securely and rigidly to one another with the absence of the addition of adhesive, or bonding material, sealants or the like. In the case of a vertically adjustable step grid, preferably at least one of a pair of frame members includes dependent vertical tabs, which carry the pole projections which are inserted into and through the openings of the grid clamps. and are stacked accordingly or directed to retain the grill components in a rigid, unified and aesthetic grill assembly.

In view of the foregoing and other objects appearing hereinafter, the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by reference to the following detailed description, the appended claims and the various views illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGURE 1 is a front top perspective view of a novel grille assembly or grille constructed in accordance with this invention, and illustrates a pair of metal grille clamps each having a pair of hooks, a tempered glass panel and two generally polygonal open frame members that collectively define a ring delimitation for the glass panel of the grill. FIGURE 2 is an exploded fragmentary perspective view of the lower part of the grill assembly of Figure 1, and from the bottom to the top illustrates an upper / outer polygonal open frame member, the tempered glass panel, a member of lower / internal polygonal open frame and pair of grid clamps prior to assembly of components. FIGURE 3 is a top perspective view of the partially assembled Figure 2 grill assembly, and illustrates a peripheral edge of the tempered glass panel sandwiched between the upper and lower polygonal open frame members with pole protrusions of the open frame member upper outermost one each received in a post projecting aperture of the lower innermost open frame member. FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the grill assembly of Figure 3, and illustrates the post-protruding openings of the metal grill clamps that receive the pole protrusions from the side portions of the frame of the upper open frame member . FIGURE 5 is a top perspective view of the grille assembly of Figure 4, and illustrates the axial ends of the pole lugs that are stacked or enlarged to retain the components of the grille assembly in the assembled relationship. FIGURE 6 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view taken generally along line 6-6 of Figure 4, and illustrates the transverse cross-sectional configuration generally L-shaped of the side portions of the frame of the limb members. internal and external open frame and clamp for the metal grill; a locating member or tongue of the outer shell member secured under pressure in the location opening of the internal open frame member; a pole projection of the outer frame member projecting through a pole projection aperture of the grid clamp, and a horizontal flange of the grill clamp coupled below an L-shaped location portion or leg generally The inverted member of the inner open frame member with the peripheral edge of the tempered glass panel which is sandwiched between the horizontal flanges and the side portions of the internal and external open frame member. FIGURE 7 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view taken generally along line 7-7 of Figure 5, and illustrates the identical components described with respect to Figure 6 and which traditionally illustrate an axial terminal end portion of the post projection that is stacked within an elongated stacked head to retain the grid components in the assembled relationship. FIGURE 8 is a cross-sectional view enlarged frame taken generally along line 8-8 of FIG. 5, and illustrates a plurality of pole lugs having elongated stacking heads disposed along a rear frame portion of the grid assembly with axes in FIG. the same are essentially normal for the axes of the vertical projections of the vertical flanges of the lateral portions of the outer frame member. FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary perspective view of the exploded view of another grill assembly, specifically a slide grill, and illustrates a pair of generally open polygonal upper and lower frame members and a polygonal tempered glass panel prior to using, a plurality of splice bars for locating the tempered glass panel relative to the upper open frame member, projecting the pole protrusions of the latter, and the post projecting openings of the lower open frame member associated therewith. FIGURE 10 is a perspective view of the slide grill or sliding grill assembly of Figure 9, and illustrates the components stacked together in the assembled relationship. FIGURE 11 is a fragmentary enlarged cross-sectional view taken generally along line 11-11 of Figure 10, and illustrates the manner in which the peripheral edge of the polygonal tempered glass panel is sandwiched between the horizontal flanges of the upper / outer and lower / internal open frame members which in turn are held together by a plurality of the pole protrusions received each through an aperture for pole protrusion and retained thereon by an elongated head / stacked FIGURE 12 is a fragmentary front perspective view of a refrigerator including one of a pair of compartments attached thereto, and illustrates the shelves of Figures 1 and 10 assembled respectively for a pair of vertical grooved and slidable rails on the flanges of the opposite side wall. FIGURE 13 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken generally along line 3-3 of Figure 12, and illustrates the manner in which a bottom surface of a vertical flange of a side portion of the shell of the frame member Open external slides on an upper surface of one of the flanges of the refrigerator compartment. FIGURE 14 is a bottom perspective view of another step adjustable grill or grill assembly constructed in accordance with this invention, and illustrates a generally upper / outer polygonal open frame member, a substantially polygonal tempered glass panel, and a pair of metal grill clamps which collectively are held in the assembled relation by a plurality of pole protrusions of the open frame member housed in the openings of the pole protrusion of the metal grill clamps and having axial ends of the same stacked elongated heads. FIGURE 15 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view taken generally along line 15-15 of Figure 14, and illustrates the components of Figure 14 in greater detail, including one of the projections of the projecting post through the opening of the post projection and the elongated stacked head of the post projection.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION A novel grille or grill assembly that is constructed in accordance with this invention is illustrated in Figures 1 to 8 of the drawings and is generally designated by reference numeral 10. Grille assembly 10 or grill is designed for a vertical step adjustment with respect to TI, T2 grooved rails disposed substantially vertically (Figure 12) in a compartment C of the freezer and / or fresh food of a conventional R cooler which also includes pairs of flanges Ll, L2 vertically spaced and aligned horizontally opposite on the respective side walls Si, S2 of the compartment C to slidably accommodate another grill 10 'of the invention which will be fully described in the following. The grill assembly 10 of Figures 1 to 8 and 12 is defined by a pair of polymeric plastic / copolymer synthetic material frame members substantially polygonal, which includes an outer or outermost, upper, uppermost open-frame member 11 and a substantially polygonal internal open frame member 31, more internal, lower or lower. The grill assembly 10 further includes a substantially polygonal tempered glass panel or a piece of glass 50 and a pair of substantially identical metal grill clamps or grate support brackets 70, 70. The outer open frame member 11 includes an internal polygonal peripheral edge 12 defining a substantially polygonal aperture 13; a pair of portions 14, 15 of the side frame member substantially parallel; a front frame member portion 16 having a forwardly and downwardly curved finger grip wall portion 19 and a rear frame member portion 17 which is substantially parallel to the front frame member portion 16.

The portions 14, 15 of the side frame member each include a horizontal flange 18 and, as seen in Figure 1, a vertical flange 20 directed downwardly with the horizontal flanges IB, 18 of the portions 14, 15 of the frame member. laterally they are substantially in an opposite relationship to one another. Each horizontal flange 18, 18 of the portions 14, 15 of the side frame member carries the means in the form of rods or location bars 21 which are also provided along the flanges 18, 18 which continue along the length of the flange. portion 16 of the front frame member and portion 17 of the rear frame member. The positioning rods, bars or splices 21 initiate a peripheral dimension which substantially corresponds to a peripheral edge 51 of the tempered glass panel 50. This allows the glass panel 50 to be inserted "by drop" into the upper open frame member 11 from the position shown in Figure 2 to the apparent position of Figure 3 in which the glass panel 50 is accurately positioned inside and closes the opening 13 of the outer frame member 11. The vertical flanges 20, 20 of the portions 14, 15 of the lateral frame member each include four inwardly facing opposing locating or locking tabs or lugs 22 which are each received within and are secured by pressure to a associated location aperture 32 (Figures 2, 6 and 7) in a vertical flange 38 of the lower / inner open frame member 31. Since the tongues 22 align with the openings 32 (Figure 2), the lower open frame member 31 need not be moved downwardly from the position shown in Figure 2 within the upper / outer open frame member 11 and the tongues 22 each press into one of the openings 32 during outward deflection and subsequent inward rebound of the vertical flanges 20 of the portions 14, 15 of the side frame member. The outer open frame member 11 also includes four pole protrusions 25 along the portion 16 of the front frame member, the portion 17 of the rear frame member and the three pole projections 25 along each of the vertical flanges 20 of the portions 14, 15 of the side frame member. The post projections 25 of the portions 14, 15 of the side frame member are aligned axially in an oppositional relation to one another and the axes (not numbered) thereof are substantially normal to the axes of the projections 25. of the portions 16, 17 of the front and rear frame member, respectively. The substantially open inner / lower frame member 31 similarly includes an inner peripheral edge (not numbered) corresponding in size to the inner peripheral edge 12 of the outer frame member 11 and defines a substantially polygonal opening 33. The internal open frame framework member 31 includes portions 34, 35 of substantially parallel spaced apart side frame members, a front frame member portion 36, and a rear frame member portion 37 which are oriented for the assembly aligned with the frames. portions 14 to 17 of the respective frame member of the external open frame member 11. Each of the portions 34, 35 of the side frame member is of a transverse cross-sectional configuration generally L-shaped (Figures 6 to 8) and is defined by the vertical dependent flange 38 and a horizontal flange 40 with the flanges 40 horizontals that are arranged in an aligned oppositional relationship. The horizontal tabs 40 have four legs, stops or retention feet 41 that are substantially L-shaped whose ends 42 (Figure 6) are spaced above the respective horizontal tabs 40 and define a retention channel 43 therein. or location for a horizontal flange 73 each of the respective grid clamps 70 / as will be more apparent thereafter. Each of the vertical flanges 38 of the portions 34, 35 of the side frame member includes four of the location openings or slots 32 described above, and three of the four previous location openings 32 in each flange 38 are in a slot 45. upwardly opening, as seen in Figure 2. The slots 45 of the vertical flanges 38 of the portions 34, 35 of the side frame member align with each other and are each aligned with the post projecting receiving aperture. or the post projection aperture 71 in a vertical flange 72 of each of the metal grid clamps 70 which also includes the horizontal flanges 73 arranged in an opposing relationship aligned with each other and a pair of hooks 75. The notches or grooves 45 each receive or house the projecting projections 25 projecting inwardly from the vertical flanges 20 of the portions 14, 15 of the frame member l. at the end, as will be readily apparent in Figure 3. In the partially assembled condition of the grid 10 in Figure 3, the pole projections 25 of the portion 16 of the front frame member and the portion 17 of the frame back frame member 11 are projecting inwardly and through the openings 39 of the post projections of the portion 36 of the respective front frame member and the portion 37 of the rear frame member of the internal or lower open frame member 31. The post projections 25 of the portions 14, 15 of the side frame member of the outer frame member 11 project each through the notches 45 in the vertical flanges 38 of the portions 34, 35 of the member side frame member. 31 of the lower frame and also pass through the post projecting reception openings 71 of the brackets 20 for the grill (Figure 4), as will be immediately described hereinafter. In this way, fourteen terminal axial ends (not numbered) of the post projections 25, of which eleven are illustrated in Figure 3, are accessible for a subsequent stacking or an elongation under deformation by heat and pressure, as will be described hereafter. After the partial assembly of the grill assembly 10 illustrated in Figure 3 has been completed, each of the grill clamps 70 slides either from left to right, as seen in Figures 3 and 4, to insert each 70 clamp for grill in the position shown in Figure 4 in which the pole projections 25 of the vertical flanges 20 of the portions 14, 15 of the side frame member project through the stacking openings 71 of the clamps 70 for grill while each horizontal flange 73 engages below its associated leg 42 (Figure 6) and within channel 43 formed in that manner of each locating member 41. Instead of sliding clamp 70, 70 for the metal grill from left to right just described with respect to Figure 3, the grill clamps 20 can instead be placed substantially as shown in Figure 2 in the attached relationship to the portions 14, 34 of the side frame member; 15, 35 of Figure 3. The horizontal tabs 73 then simply slide under the legs or stops 41 of the locating members 41 which temporarily causes the vertical tabs 20 to deflect outwardly although they subsequently bounce back to the assembled position shown. in Figures 4 and 6. After full assembly of the grill or grill assembly 10 of Figure 4, the exposed (unnumbered) axial ends of each of the fourteen pole projections 25 are stacked simultaneously in a conventional manner under the application of heat and pressure resulting in the deformation of the plastic material and the formation of elongated heads or stacked heads 60 which maintain and retain the components of the grill 10 rigidly assembled. The grill or grill assembly 10 may thereafter be used in compartment C (Figure 12) of the refrigerator R by hooking the hooks 75 of the grill brackets 70 into any selected pair of horizontally aligned (not numbered) grooves in the Ti rails. , T2 to allow stepwise adjustment of the grill 10 in the compartment C in a conventional manner. The grill or grill assembly 10 'referred to above will be illustrated in Figures 9 to 11 of the drawings and has premium reference numbers applied thereto to identify the structure corresponding substantially in identical manner to the structure described above with respect to the grill or the grill assembly 10. However, the main difference between the two shelves 10, 10 'resides in the fact that the grate 10 includes the two clamps 70, 70 for metal grate to achieve the stepwise adjustment described above, while the grate 10' excludes such metal grill clamps and is formed as a sliding grill defined by three components, i.e., a pair of frame members of polymeric plastic / copolymer plastic substantially open polygonal material, including an outer open frame member 11 ' , further upper, more upper, and a member 31 'of open frame substantially internal polygonal, more internal, lower or lower. The grill assembly 10 'further includes a substantially polygonal tempered glass panel or a piece of glass 50' having a peripheral polygonal edge 51 '. The outer open frame member 11 'includes sixteen upwardly directed stacking projections 25' having their axes substantially in one parallel relationship with each other with each pole projection 25 'which is aligned for an inter-coupling within and with the post projection receiving the openings or openings 39' for post projection of the inner lower open frame member 31 ' (Figure 9). As in the case of the grill assembly 10 described with respect to Figures 2 to 4, the slide grill 10 'is assembled in a similar manner by a drop insertion or fitting of the tempered glass panel 50' within the member 11 '. of the upper open frame with an accurate location thereof which is secured by the positioning rods 21 '. Then, the lower open frame member 31 'moves downwardly from the position shown in Figure 9 towards the position shown in Figure 10 in which the axial (non-numbered) end portions of each of the pole led projections ascendingly projecting in and through the openings 39 'of the post projection and with the peripheral edge 51' of the tempered glass panel 50 'interposed between the flanges IB1, 40' of the open frame members 11 ', 31' respective. How best to illustrates in Figure 11, tab 38! directed downwardly vertical of the lower open frame member 31 'extends around the entire outer periphery of the lower open frame member 31' and bears against an internal (unnumbered) surface of the horizontal flange 18 'of the frame member 11' open external / superior. Thus, the vertical peripheral flange 38 'reinforces the entire periphery of the lower open frame member 31' to prevent it from deforming under the application of heat and pressure when the axial end of each pole protrusion 25 'is stacked low. heated pressure to form the elongated stacked heads 60 'thereof (Figure 11). The sixteen stacked projections 25 'including the post / elongated heads 60' thereof keep the grid 10 'slidable in a rigid assembly relationship for use in conjunction with the flanges Ll, L2 of the refrigerator compartment C (Figure 12) in a conventional way. It should be particularly emphasized from Figure 13 that each vertical flange 20 'dependent on the portions 14', 15 'of the side frame member has a surface 65 lowermost which is mounted along the flanges Ll, L2 and support the grate 10 'in such a way that the elongated stacked heads 60' are well spaced above and do not slide along the upper (unnumbered) surfaces of the flanges Ll, L2. This prevents the elongated stacked heads 60 'from wearing out under the influence of a constant sliding friction during the use of the grill 10', particularly under the load of articles placed on it. Due to the absence of wear with respect to the elongated stacked heads 60 ', the longevity of the grate 10' is improved and increased. It should also be noted particularly that from an aesthetic point of view, none of the post projections 25, 25 'or for this matter the positioning members or tabs 22, the legs 41 or the openings 32 are visible from above when the shelves 10, 10 'are in use (Figure 12). In other words, the uppermost, most external (unnumbered) surface of the uppermost open frame members 11, 11 'are essentially smooth, uninterrupted and offer no visible evidence of the internally described components described above. Thus, when viewed in the positions in use (Figure 12), the shelves 10, 10 'give the appearance of an encapsulated grate of a highly expensive finish absent a relatively higher cost thereof while retaining the excellent functionality and high aesthetics of the encapsulated shelving. Figures 14 and 15 illustrate another vertically adjustable grid or 10"rack assembly of the drawings and corresponds in all material respects except one to the grid 10, i.e., the grill 10"'excludes the corresponding corresponding open lower internal frame member 31 while including the upper outer open frame member 11"', a piece of thermal glass or glass panel 50"', and a pair of 70"'clamps for metal grill having each flange 72' 'vertical with a plurality of openings 71"' of post protrusion therein, a pair of hooks 75"'and a horizontal flange 73'". evident from Figure 15, the peripheral edge 51 '"of the tempered glass panel 50"' is accurately located and interspersed between the flanges 18"'of the member 11'" of the internal open frame and the flange 73"'of each of the metal grill clamps 70"'The pole projections 25'" of each of the vertical flanges 20 '"of the outer upper open frame member 11"' project through the openings 71"' of post protrusion and are provided with 60"'stacked heads elongated under heat and pressure as described above to assemble the components into a rigid assembly suitable for supporting products in the compartment C of the refrigerated R. However, since there are no 25"'pole projections along the portions 16"', 17"' of front or rear member respectively, of the upper open frame member 11"" of the grill 10"', an appropriate bonding material or adhesive may be used in those areas to gum or bond a top surface (not numbered) of the tempered glass panel 50 '"directly to the underside of the horizontal flanges 18"' and the portions 16"', 17"' of the front and rear frame member, respectively. Although a preferred embodiment of the invention has been specifically illustrated and described herein, it should be understood that minor variations can be made in the apparatus without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

NOVELTY OF THE INVENTION Having described the present invention, it is considered as a novelty and therefore the property described in the following claims is claimed as property.
CLAIMS 1. A grill assembly characterized in that it comprises a pair of substantially open frame members each defining an opening and including a plurality of at least one of the pole projections and the post projecting openings, a grill panel having an outer peripheral edge sandwiched between the frame members, the pole projections projecting into the post projecting apertures, and the post projections having axial end ends stacked to form elongated stacking heads by the same they retain the frame members and the grill panel in an assembled relationship. The grill assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that it includes at least one grill support having at least one opening for pole projection therein and the pole projection of at least one of the frame members that inter-engages with the grid support in at least one post projection aperture, and the aforementioned post projection having a stacked head that retains the grid support and at least one frame member in an assembled relation.
3. The grill assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the axes of at least two of the plurality of pole projections are substantially normal for a plane of the grill panel.
The grill assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the axes of at least two of the plurality of pole projections are substantially parallel to the plane of the grill panel.
The grill assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the axes of at least two of the plurality of pole projections are substantially normal for a plane of the grill panel, and the axes of at least two others of the plurality of post projections are substantially parallel to the plane of the grill panel.
The grill assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that one of the frame members is arranged in the uppermost part when the grill assembly is located in a position of use in which the grill panel is substantially horizontal , a frame member includes an outermost surface, and an outermost surface of the frame member is devoid of perceptible stacked heads.
The grill assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that one of the frame members is disposed in the uppermost part when the grill assembly is located in a position of use in which the grill panel is substantially horizontal , a frame member includes an outermost surface, an outermost surface of the frame member is devoid of perceptible stacked heads, another of the frame members is disposed in the lowermost part in the use position, the other frame member is disposed. it includes an outermost surface and perceptible stacked heads on the other outermost surface of the frame member.
The grill assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that one of the frame members is disposed in the lower part when the grill assembly is located in a position of use in which the grill panel is substantially horizontal , a frame member includes an outermost surface, and perceptible stacked heads on an outermost surface of the frame member.
The grill assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that it includes means for supporting the grill assembly in a position of use in which the grill panel is substantially horizontal.
10. The grill assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that it includes means for supporting the grill assembly in a position of use in which the grill panel is substantially horizontal, and means for locating support means with respect to one of the frame members.
The grill assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that it includes means for supporting the grill assembly in a position of use in which the grill panel is substantially horizontal, and means for slidably assembling support means with respect to one of the frame members.
12. The grill assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that it includes means for locating the pair of frame members relative to each other.
13. The grill assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that it includes means for clamping the pair of frame members relative to one another.
14. The grill assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that it includes means for locating the grill panel with respect to one of the frame members.
15. The grill assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the frame members are each of a substantially polygonal configuration defined by opposite substantially parallel side frame portions and opposite and substantially parallel front and back frame portions, and the plurality of inter-coupled pole lugs and the post lug openings are defined by side frame portions of frame members.
16. The grill assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the frame members are each of a substantially polygonal configuration defined by opposite substantially parallel side frame portions and opposite and substantially parallel front and back frame portions, and the plurality of inter-coupled pole lugs and the post lug openings are defined by front and back frame portions of frame members.
The grill assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the frame members are each of a substantially polygonal configuration defined by opposite substantially parallel side frame portions and opposite and substantially parallel front and back frame portions opposite, and the plurality of inter-coupled post lugs and the post lug openings are defined by side frame portions of frame members, back frame portions and front frame portions.
18. The grill assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the frame members are each of a substantially polygonal configuration defined by opposed substantially parallel laterally opposed side frame portions and opposite substantially parallel front and back frame portions, the a plurality of inter-coupled pole lugs and the post lug openings are defined by side frame portions of frame members, and axes of at least two lug lugs are substantially normal to one another.
19. The grill assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the frame members are each of a substantially polygonal configuration defined by opposite substantially parallel side frame portions and opposed and substantially parallel front and back frame portions opposite, the a plurality of interconnected post lugs and post lug openings are defined by side frame portions of frame members, and axes of at least two of the lug projections are substantially parallel to one another.
20. The grill assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the frame members are each of a substantially polygonal configuration defined by opposed parallel substantially parallel side frame portions and opposite substantially parallel front and rear frame portions, and the plurality of inter-coupled pole projections and openings for pole protrusions are defined by side frame portions of frame members, the axes of at least two of the pole protrusions are substantially normal to each other, and the axes of at least two of other pole protrusions are substantially parallel at each other.
The grill assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that each frame member includes opposed parallel substantially parallel frame portions each of a substantially L-shaped transverse cross-sectional configuration defined by a substantially horizontal flange and a flange. substantially vertical when the grill assembly is located in a position of use in which the grill panel is substantially horizontal.
The grill assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that each frame member includes opposed parallel substantially parallel frame portions each of a substantially L-shaped transverse cross-sectional configuration defined by a substantially horizontal flange and a flange. substantially vertical when the grill assembly is located in a position of use in which the grill panel is substantially horizontal, and the vertical tabs project downwardly and the horizontal tabs are arranged in a horizontal plane substantially common in the position of use.
23. The grill assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that each frame member includes opposed parallel substantially parallel frame portions each of a substantially L-shaped transverse cross-sectional configuration defined by a substantially horizontal flange and a flange. substantially vertical when the grill assembly is located in a position of use in which the grill panel is substantially horizontal, and the outer peripheral edge of the grill panel is sandwiched between the horizontal tabs.
24. The grill assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that each frame member includes opposed parallel substantially parallel frame portions each of a substantially L-shaped transverse cross-sectional configuration defined by a substantially horizontal flange and a substantially vertical flange. when the grill assembly is located in a position of use in which the grill panel is substantially horizontal, and the plurality of pole projections project from at least two of the vertical tabs.
25. The grill assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that each frame member includes opposed parallel substantially parallel frame portions each of a substantially L-shaped transverse cross-sectional configuration defined by a substantially horizontal flange and a flange. substantially vertical when the grill assembly is located in a position of use in which the grill panel is substantially horizontal, and the plurality of pole projections project from the vertical flanges of the same frame member.
The grill assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that each frame member includes opposed parallel substantially parallel frame portions each of a substantially L-shaped transverse cross-sectional configuration defined by a substantially horizontal flange and a flange. substantially vertical when the grill assembly is located in a position of use in which the grill panel is substantially horizontal, and the plurality of pole projections project from the vertical flanges of the same frame member in opposite directions.
27. The grill assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that each frame member includes opposed parallel substantially parallel frame portions each of a substantially L-shaped transverse cross-sectional configuration defined by a substantially horizontal flange and a flange. substantially vertical when the grill assembly is located in a position of use in which the grill panel is substantially horizontal, the vertical flanges project downwardly and the horizontal flanges are arranged in a horizontal plane substantially common in the position of use, pair of means for supporting the grill assembly in the position of use, and means for securing one of the support means in at least one vertical flange of one of the opposite substantially parallel spaced frame portions of the frame member.
28. The grill assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that each frame member includes opposed parallel substantially parallel frame portions each of a substantially L-shaped transverse cross-sectional configuration defined by a substantially horizontal flange and a flange. substantially vertical when the grill assembly is located in a position of use in which the grill panel is substantially horizontal, the vertical flanges project downwardly and the horizontal flanges are arranged in a horizontal plane substantially common in the position of use, pair of means for supporting the grill assembly in the position of use, means for securing one of the support means to at least one vertical flange of one of the opposite substantially parallel frame portions of the frame member, and the means of Assurance includes post protrusions of the aforementioned vertical tabs projecting through the openings for the support means each having a stacked head.
29. The grill assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the pole projections and the post projecting openings are on the outside of an outer peripheral edge of the grill panel.
30. The grill assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the frame members include an upper frame member and a lower frame member, the upper frame member carries at least some of the pole projections, and the member of the lower frame carries at least some of the openings for the post projection.
The grille assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the frame members include an upper frame member and a lower frame member, the upper frame member carries the pole lugs, and the lower frame member carries the openings for the post protrusion.
The grill assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that one of the frame members includes opposite side frame portions of a substantially L-shaped transverse cross-sectional configuration defined by substantially vertical and horizontal tabs, the vertical tabs peripherally they cover an outer peripheral edge of the grill panel of the opposite side frame portions.
33. The grill assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the frame members collectively start at the uppermost and lowermost opposing surfaces of the grill assembly, and the stacking heads are located between the uppermost and most opposite opposing surfaces. inferiors
34. A grill assembly characterized in that it comprises at least one substantially open frame member having an internal peripheral edge defining an opening and a grill panel having an outer peripheral edge, the frame member including substantially parallel frame portions opposing separate each of a substantially L-shaped transverse cross-sectional configuration defined by a substantially horizontal flange and a vertical flange directed substantially in a downward direction when the grid assembly is located in a position of use in which the grid panel is substantially horizontal, a pair of support clamps each of a transverse cross-sectional configuration substantially L-shaped defined by a substantially horizontal flange and a vertical flange directed substantially downwardly in the position of use of the grid assembly, and the outer peripheral edge of the grill panel which is sandwiched between the horizontal flanges of the frame member and the pair of support clamps, the means for securing at least the flanges of the selected support bracket and support member to each other, at least one open frame member and the pair of support clamps that are formed of a polymeric plastic / polymeric synthetic material, and the securing means which is defined by a plurality of inter-coupled pole projections formed from the plastic material polymeric / copolymeric and pole protruding openings with the post protrusions having stacking heads that secure the selected flanges to each other.
35. The grill assembly according to claim 34, characterized in that the substantially horizontal flanges of the support clamps are in a substantially aligned relationship opposite one another.
36. The grill assembly according to claim 34, characterized in that it includes means for locating the grill panel with respect to the frame member.
37. The grill assembly according to claim 34, characterized in that it includes means for locating the grill panel with respect to the frame member, and the location means are carried by the flanges of the frame member.
38. The grill assembly according to claim 34, characterized in that one of the frame member is selected and the tabs of the support bracket are horizontal tabs.
39. The grill assembly according to claim 34, characterized in that one of the frame member is selected and the tabs of the support bracket are vertical tabs.
40. The grill assembly according to claim 34, characterized in that one is selected from the frame member and the tabs of the support bracket are horizontal tabs and vertical tabs.
41. The grill assembly according to claim 34, characterized in that the frame member has a more external surface, and the outermost surface of the frame member is devoid of perceptible stacking heads.
42. The grill assembly according to claim 34, characterized in that it includes means for locating the grill panel with respect to the frame member.
43. The grill assembly according to claim 34, characterized in that it includes means for locating the grill panel with respect to the frame member, and the location means are carried by the flanges of the frame member.
44. The grill assembly according to claim 35, characterized in that the frame member has a more external surface, and the outermost surface of the frame member is devoid of perceptible stacking heads.
45. The grill assembly according to claim 36, characterized in that the frame member has a more external surface, and the outermost surface of the frame member is devoid of perceptible stacking heads.
46. The grill assembly according to claim 38, characterized in that the frame member has a more external surface, and the outermost surface of the frame member is devoid of perceptible stacking heads.
47. The grill assembly according to claim 39, characterized in that the frame member has a more external surface, and the outermost surface of the frame member is devoid of perceptible stacking heads.
48. The grill assembly according to claim 40, characterized in that the frame member has a more external surface, and the outermost surface of the frame member is devoid of perceptible stacking heads.
49. The grill assembly according to claim 34, characterized in that the frame member is formed of the polymeric plastic / synthetic copolymer material, and the pair of support clamps are each made of metal.
50. A method for manufacturing a grill assembly characterized in that it comprises the steps of (a) providing an open frame member formed of a synthetic polymeric / copolymer plastic material that defines an opening and that includes at least a portion of a frame of a frame. substantially transverse L-shaped cross-sectional configuration defined by a substantially horizontal flange and a vertical flange directed downwardly when the grate assembly is located in a substantially horizontal position for use with at least one of the vertical and horizontal flanges having a plurality of polymeric plastic / synthetic copolymer plastic material post projections formed in situ, (b) providing a grill panel having an outer peripheral edge, (c) providing at least one grid clamp of a substantially transverse cross-sectional configuration L-shaped defined by a a substantially horizontal flange and a vertical flange directed downwardly in the position of use with a plurality of apertures for pole protrusion in at least one of the aforementioned horizontal and vertical flanges, (d) sandwiching the peripheral edge of the grill panel between the horizontal tabs, (e) inserting the post projections into the post projecting openings, and (f) stacking the terminal end portions of the post projections for form elongated stacking heads.
51. The method according to claim 50, characterized in that the vertical flanges of the open frame and the grid clamp include the pole protrusions and the post protrusion openings.
52. The method according to claim 50, characterized in that the horizontal flanges of the open frame and the grid clamp include the pole protrusions and the post protrusion openings.
53. The method according to claim 50, characterized in that the vertical and horizontal flanges of the open frame and the grid clamp include the pole projections and the openings for the post projection.
54. The method according to claim 50, characterized in that the open frame includes a more upper surface and a lower surface in the position of use of the grill assembly and the method includes the additional steps of orienting the open frame of another So with its uppermost surface during the most superior execution of stage (d).
55. The method according to claim 50, characterized in that the open frame includes a more upper surface and a lower surface in the position of use of the grid assembly and the method includes the additional steps of orienting the open frame of another so that with its uppermost surface during the most superior execution of the stage (e).
56. The method according to claim 50, characterized in that the open frame includes a more upper surface and a lower surface in the position of use of the grid assembly and the method includes the additional steps of orienting the open frame of another So with its uppermost surface during the most superior execution of stages (d) and (e).
57. A method for manufacturing a grill assembly characterized in that it comprises the steps of (a) providing a pair of open frame members each defining an opening and including substantially parallel opposed frame portions each of a transverse cross section configuration substantially L-shaped defined by a substantially horizontal flange and a vertical flange directed downwardly when the grid assembly is located in a substantially horizontal position of use with the vertical flanges of one of the frame members having post led projections opposite, (b) providing a grill panel having an outer peripheral edge, (c) providing a pair of grid clamps each of a substantially L-shaped transverse cross-sectional configuration defined by a substantially horizontal flange and a flange vertical directed descending In the position of use with a plurality of openings for post projection in the aforementioned vertical tabs, (d) insert the peripheral edge of the grill panel between the horizontal tabs of the frame members, (e) insert the projections of post within the post projecting apertures of each grid clamp, and (f) stacking the terminal end portions of the post projections to form elongate stacking heads.
58. The method according to claim 57, characterized in that it includes the step of securing the frame members to one another before executing step (e).
59. The method according to claim 57, characterized in that it includes the step of press-securing the frame members to one another before executing step (e).
60. The method according to claim 57, characterized in that it includes the step of clamping each support bracket to a horizontal flange of the innermost frame member prior to the execution of step (e).
61. The method according to claim 57, characterized in that it includes the step of clamping each support bracket to a horizontal flange of the innermost frame member after the execution of step (d).
62. A method for manufacturing a panel assembly characterized in that it comprises the steps of (a) providing a pair of open frame members each defining an opening and including a plurality of at least one of the pole projections and the openings for post projection (b) providing a panel having an outer peripheral edge, (c) sandwiching the outer peripheral edge of the panel between the pair of open frame members, (d) inserting the post projections into the openings for projecting projection. post, and (e) stacking the terminal end portions of the post projections to form elongated stacking heads.
63. The method according to claim 62, characterized in that the frame members of the panel assembly include a more upper frame member and a lower frame member, and step (d) is carried out when inserting the protrusions. of the uppermost frame member post within the post projecting openings of the lowermost frame member.
64. The method according to claim 62, characterized in that the frame members of the panel assembly include a more upper frame member and a lower frame member, step (d) is carried out by inserting the projecting projections. post of the uppermost frame member within the post projecting openings of the lowermost frame member, and step (e) is executed by confining the elongated stacking heads between the upper and lower surface of the uppermost frame member.
65. The method according to claim 62, characterized in that it includes the steps of providing one of the frame members with the pole protrusions and providing the other of the frame members with the pole protrusion openings.
66. The method according to claim 62, characterized in that the frame members of the panel assembly include a more upper frame member having a more upper outer surface and a lower outer surface and a lower frame member. having a more upper and lower surface, step (d) is carried out by inserting the pole protrusions of the uppermost frame member into the post projecting openings of the lowermost frame member, and the stage (FIG. e) is executed by confining the elongated stacking heads between the lowermost outermost surface of the uppermost frame member and the lowermost surface of the lowermost frame member.
67. The method according to claim 62, characterized in that the frame member includes a more upper frame member and a lower frame member, and provides the uppermost frame member with the pole lugs and the frame member lower with the openings for the post projecting.
68. A refrigerator compartment characterized in that it has opposite side walls, each side wall having means for slidably supporting a grill assembly therein, a grill assembly including a pair of substantially open frame members each defining an opening and which includes a plurality of at least one of the post projections and the post projection openings, a grid panel having an outer peripheral edge sandwiched between the frame members, the post projections projecting into the openings for post ledge, the post projections having axial end ends stacked to form elongated stacking heads thereby retaining the frame members and the grill panel in an assembled relationship, and one of the frame members includes opposite side frame portions each one slidably supported on one of the support means of the side wall.
69. The refrigerator compartment according to claim 68, characterized in that the pole projections and the post projection openings are on the outside of the outer peripheral edge of the grill panel.
70. The refrigerator compartment according to claim 68, characterized in that the frame members include an upper frame member and a lower frame member, the upper frame member carries at least one of the pole projections and the openings for post projection, and the lower frame member carries at least one of the post projections and the post projection openings.
71. The refrigerator compartment according to claim 68, characterized in that the frame members include an upper frame member and a lower frame member, the upper frame member carries at least one of the pole projections, and the member of the lower frame carries at least one of the openings for the post projection.
72. The reflector compartment according to claim 68, characterized in that one of the opposite side frame portions of the opposite side frame member of the frame member is each of a substantially L-shaped transverse cross section configuration. by substantially vertical and horizontal flanges, and the vertical flanges peripherally cover the outer peripheral edge of the grill panel at the opposite side frame portions.
The refrigerator compartment according to claim 68, characterized in that the frame members collectively start at the uppermost and lowermost opposing surfaces of the grill assembly, and the stacking heads are located between the uppermost and lowermost opposite surfaces. .
74. The refrigerator compartment according to claim 68, characterized in that one of the open frame members and the post projections thereof is in a member of synthetic plastic / copolymer plastic material molded in situ in one piece.
75. The refrigerator compartment of

according to claim 69, characterized in that one of the open frame members and the post projections thereof is in a member of polymer plastic / synthetic copolymer material molded in situ in one piece.
76. The refrigerator compartment according to claim 70, characterized in that one of the open frame members and the post projections thereof are in a member of polymer plastic / synthetic copolymer material molded in situ in one piece.
77. The refrigerator compartment according to claim 71, characterized in that one of the open frame members and the post projections thereof is a member of synthetic plastic / copolymer plastic material molded in situ in one piece.
78. The refrigerator compartment according to claim 72, characterized in that one of the open frame members and the post projections thereof is in a member of synthetic plastic / copolymer plastic material molded in situ in one piece.
79. The refrigerator compartment according to claim 73, characterized in that one of the open frame members and the post projections thereof is in a member of synthetic plastic / copolymer plastic material molded in situ in one piece.