Refrigerator shelf support assembly

Claim 2

A support assembly for mounting within a circular aperture in the food liner of a refrigerator employing foamed insulation, said assembly comprising: an anchor member for insertion in said circular aperture from the back side of said liner said member having a generally tubular body portion open at one end into an internally threaded bore, a circular periphery adjacent said open end and defining abutment means generally complementary to said circular aperture in said liner for interference engagement with the inner side of said liner for retention of said end in said aperture, and flange means extending outwardly from said body from a position axially rearwardly of said open end, said flange being generally concave and terminating in an annular sealing lip for facing engagement with the back side of said liner; and, a support member comprising an externally threaded shank portion for receipt in said bore and an enlarged head portion defining a substantially planar face on the side thereof towards said shank, said planar face having an area at least coextensive with said sealing lip, and means extending inwardly for supportingly engaging shelf structure; whereby in assembly, said open end of said anchor member is received in said circular aperture in said liner from the back side prior to the introduction of foam insulation and said shank portion of said support member is inserted into said bore from the front side of said liner with said liner being tightly engaged between said sealing lip of said flange and said planar coextensive portion of said head to distribute a sufficient portion of the load of said supported shelf, transmitted to the liner, to an area of the liner generally remote from said circular aperture to prevent stress failures.

Claim 3

Structure according to claim 1 wherein the diameter of the periphery of said abutment means varies from greater than said aperture to less than said aperture opposite the directions of insertion and wherein the diameter of the portion of the anchor member Received within said aperture is less than the diameter of said aperture.

Claim 4

Structure according to claim 2 wherein said sealing lip resiliently engages the rear side of said liner in an effective sealing engagement when said abutment means engage said opposite side of said liner and said diameter of said complemenatry surface within said aperture is less than the diameter of said aperture.

Claim 5

Structure according to claim 3 wherein said tubular body includes means extending outwardly therefrom to prevent rotation of said body in said foamed insulation subsequent to said foam hardening, said last named means further providing means for distributing the support of the load by said hardened foam to a generally increased area.

Claim 6

Means for supporting shelves or the like within a refrigerator having an outer cabinet generally enclosing a plastic liner forming the interior walls, the space between said cabinet and liner having foamed insulation and wherein said supporting means comprises: an anchor member for insertion in a circular aperture from the backside of said liner said member having a generally tubular body portion with at least one end open defining an internally threaded bore, a circular external periphery adjacent said open end and defining abutment means generally complementary to said circular aperture in said liner for interference engagement of said end with the inner side of said liner, and a generally enlarged flange extending radially from said body from a point axially rearwardly of said open end, said flange terminating in an annular sealing portion facing the backside of said liner; and, a support member having an externally threaded shank portion for complementary threaded receipt in said bore and an enlarged head portion defining a substantially planar face toward said liner with at least a portion thereof generally coextensive with said sealing portion and means extending on the opposite side of said head portion for supportingly engaging shelf structure or the like; so that in assembly, said open end of said anchor member is received within said circular aperture in said liner from the backside and said support member is inserted into said bore from the front side, with said liner being tightly engaged between said sealing portion of said flange and said coextensive portion of said head to distribute a sufficient portion of the load of the shelf transmitted to the liner to an area of the liner generally remote from said circular aperture to prevent stress failures thereat.

Claim 7

Means for supporting shelves or the like within a refrigerator having an outer cabinet generally enclosing a plastic liner forming the interior walls, the space between said cabinet and liner having foamed insulation and wherein said supporting means comprises: an anchor member for insertion in a circular aperture from the backside of said liner said member having a generally tubular body portion with at least one end open defining an internally threaded bore, a circular external periphery adjacent said open end and defining abutment means generally complementary to said circular aperture in said liner for interference engagement of said end with the inner side of said liner, and a generally enlarged flange extending radially from said body from a point axially rearwardly of said open end, said flange terminating in an annular sealing portion facing the backside of said liner; and, a support member having an externally threaded shank portion for complementary threaded receipt in said bore and an enlarged head portion defining a substantially planar face toward said liner with at least a portion thereof generally coextensive with said sealing portion and means extending on the opposite side of said head portion for supportingly engaging shelf structure or the like; so that in assembly, said open end of said anchor member is received within said circular aperture in said liner from the backside and said support member is inserted into said bore from the front side, with said liner being tightly engaged between said sealing portion of said flange and said coextensive portion of said head to distribute a sufficient portion of the load of the shelf transmitted to the liner to an area of the liner generally remote from said circular aperture to prevent stress failures thereat.

Claim 8

Structure according to claim 5 wherein the diameter of the periphery of the abutment means varies from greater than said aperture to less than said aperture opposite the direction of insertion and wherein the diameter of the portion of said anchor member received within said aperture is less than the diameter of said aperture.

Claim 9

Structure according to claim 6 wherein said sealing lip resiliently engages the rear side of said liner in an effective sealing engagement when said abutment means engage said opposite side of said liner and said diameter of said complementary surface within said aperture is less than the diameter of said aperture to prevent said foam insulation from escaping through said aperture.

Claim 10

Structure according to claim 7 wherein said tubular body includes means extending outwardly therefrom to prevent rotation of said body in said foamed insulation subsequent to said foam hardening, said last named means further providing means for distributing the support of the load by said hardened foam to a generally increased area; and, the end of said tubular body adjacent said opening defines a separated surface for interfering resiliently engaging a complimentary surface on said head portion to prevent relative rotation of said support member to said anchor member when assembled together to engage said liner.