Storage assemblies for discrete storage units

摘要

A storage assembly supports and stores storage units at a storage facility such as a refrigerated compartment interior. The storage assembly can include (1) support bars that extend between each support bar's first end and second end and are mounted within the storage facility and (2) storage unit carriers that are supported at the support bars, with the storage unit carriers including a holding structure configured to selectively hold and release a storage unit. Either the support bars can be mounted within the storage facility for selective positioning within the storage facility at a plurality of locations laterally of the direction in which the support bars extend, or the storage unit carriers can be supported at the support bars for selective positioning at a plurality of locations along the support bars between each support bar's first end and second end. Alternatively, both arrangements can be implemented.

主权项

1. An appliance including:
at least one refrigerated compartment that includes a refrigerated compartment interior at which a storage assembly configured to support and store one or more storage units is located, the storage assembly including:
a plurality of support bars, at least one of the plurality of support bars extending between a support bar first end and a support bar second end and mounted within the refrigerated compartment interior; anda plurality of storage unit carriers supported at the at least one of the plurality of support bars, each storage unit carrier including a holding structure configured to selectively alternatively hold and release an individual storage unit at each storage unit carrier,wherein the plurality of support bars are mounted within the refrigerated compartment interior for selective slidable positioning within the refrigerated compartment at a plurality of locations laterally of the direction in which the plurality of support bars extend and the plurality of storage unit carriers supported at the plurality of support bars are supported for selective slidable positioning at a plurality of locations along the at least one of the plurality of support bars between the support bar first end and the support bar second end, and wherein at least one of the plurality of storage unit carriers includes:
a storage unit carrier first portion that is slidably supported within a recess of at least one of the plurality of support bars, the storage unit carrier first portion comprising a circular disk geometry that is capable of rotation within said recess; anda storage unit carrier second portion that includes the holding structure depending below and connected to the storage unit carrier first portion; and wherein the holding structure includes: a slot that is open at a slot first end for the insertion into the slot through the slot first end a retaining portion of the storage unit; and a restraining element that is movable into and out of restraining engagement with the retaining portion of the storage unit to selectively alternatively retain and release, respectively, the storage unit at the holding structure.