Spill containing refrigerator shelf assembly

摘要

The specification discloses a method for containing spills on shelving and the like, and the resulting support members made in accordance with the method, by providing the generally flat top surface of a support with a hydrophobic surface which is arranged in a spill containment pattern and which is generally in the plane of the top surface of the support. The majority of the top surface of the support consists of one or more spill containment areas which are of a non-hydrophobic nature and which are bounded by the hydrophobic surfaces, such that spills on the shelving collect in the non-hydrophobic spill containment area or areas and are prevented from spreading by the hydrophobic surfaces.

主权项

1. A shelf assembly comprising:
a shelf panel having a top surface for supporting articles; and a hydrophobic surface applied in a spill containment pattern on the top surface of the shelf panel such that the hydrophobic surface defines a boundary of a central portion of the top surface of the shelf panel, the hydrophobic surface comprising a frit layer applied in the spill containment pattern on the top surface of the shelf panel and a hydrophobic compound coated over the frit layer, the hydrophobic surface comprising a plurality of edge containment strips, each edge containment strip disposed adjacent to one of a plurality of perimeter edges of the shelf panel, and wherein:
(a) the frit layer of at least one of the edge containment strips is offset inward from the respective perimeter edge of the shelf panel, or(b) the frit layer of each of the edge containment strips is located directly at a respective perimeter edge of the shelf panel.