Patent · US Expired

Vertically adjustable shelf and support rail arrangement for use in a cabinet

US6065821A · kind A · utility

82Cited by
25References
33Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 15, 1998
Grant dateMay 23, 2000
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 15, 2018

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
  • CPC primaryF25D2500/02
  • WIPO fieldOther consumer goods
  • WIPO sectorOther fields

Abstract

An adjustable shelf is able to be initially attached to support structure within a storage area of a cabinet at any one of a multitude of vertical heights and then can be readily, mechanically adjusted to reposition the shelf as desired. In one embodiment, the shelf includes a pair of sprockets which are interengaged with mating slots formed in a pair of similarly constructed and laterally spaced support rails positioned within the cabinet. The drive arrangement for the sprockets can be manually, electrically or otherwise driven to provide infinite adjustments for the vertical shelf. When an electrical power motor is utilized as the drive source, the motor is preferably mounted upon a frame of the shelf and electrical power is transmitted to the motor through, at least in part, the support rail structure. In addition, the adjustable shelf carries at least one shift limiting member that can be positioned in either an in-use position, wherein the shift limiting member assures that the sprockets are maintained in engagement with the support rails, or in a release position, wherein the shelf can be either removed from or mounted upon the rails. In addition, the support rails are prefer…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.