Appliance having shelving

Abstract

Disclosed is an appliance having shelving in which the outer door is connected to the inner shelving. The appliance may be smaller than a standard size appliance.

I claim:  
     
         1 . An appliance having a door assembly, a main body, and an inner compartment, comprising: at least one shelf assembly attached to the door assembly, wherein the inner compartment is adapted to receive the at least one shelf assembly.  
     
     
         2 . The appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the appliance comprises at least one of a refrigerator, freezer, and oven.  
     
     
         3 . The appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the door assembly comprises a means for attaching the at least one shelf assembly to the door assembly.  
     
     
         4 . The appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the appliance comprises a means for facilitating the opening or closing of the door assembly.  
     
     
         5 . The appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one shelf assembly comprises lighting.  
     
     
         6 . The appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the appliance comprises: 
 (a) at least one of a refrigerator, freezer, and oven;    (b) the door assembly comprises a means for attaching the at least one shelf assembly to the door assembly;    (c) the appliance comprises a means for facilitating the opening or closing of the door assembly; and    (d) wherein the shelf assembly comprises lighting.    
     
     
         7 . The appliance of  claim 6 , wherein the door assembly comprises a means for stabilizing the door assembly.  
     
     
         8 . The appliance of  claim 6 , wherein the appliance comprises a means for substantially sealing the door assembly to the appliance main body when the door assembly is in a closed position.  
     
     
         9 . The appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the appliance is sized to be placed in a non-standard sized area.  
     
     
         10 . The appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the appliance is insulated.  
     
     
         11 . The appliance of  claim 10 , wherein the insulation comprises at least one of a fibrous material, high resistance foam, vacuum insulating panel, high resistance plastic foam, and Reflectix® (aluminum plus polyethylene).  
     
     
         12 . The appliance of  claim 11 , wherein the appliance further comprises: 
 (a) at least one of a refrigerator, freezer, and oven;    (b) the door assembly comprises a means for attaching the at least one shelf assembly to the door assembly;    (c) the appliance comprises a means for facilitating the opening or closing of the door assembly;    (d) the shelf assembly comprises lighting;    (e) the door assembly comprises a means for stabilizing the door assembly;    (f) the appliance comprises a means for substantially sealing the door assembly to the appliance main body when the door assembly is in a closed position; and    (g) the appliance is sized to be placed in a non-standard sized area.    
     
     
         13 . An appliance, comprising: 
 (a) an appliance main body, the main body having an inner compartment, the inner compartment having a runner assembly adapted to receive a door assembly;    (b) the door assembly having at least one shelf assembly attached to a door back surface;    
     
     
         14 . The appliance of  claim 13 , wherein the appliance main body comprises a spacer configured to space the appliance main body away from another object.  
     
     
         15 . The appliance of  claim 14 , wherein the spacer comprises at least one a wheel, leg, caster, height adjuster, and stand.  
     
     
         16 . The appliance of  claim 13 , wherein the appliance includes a vacuum apparatus to create vacuum in the inner compartment.  
     
     
         17 . The appliance of  claim 16 , wherein the vacuum is adapted to be activated with the closing of the door assembly.  
     
     
         18 . The appliance of  claim 17 , wherein the appliance main body comprises a spacer configured to space the appliance main body away from another object, and the spacer comprises at least one a wheel, leg, caster, height adjuster, and stand.  
     
     
         19 . The appliance of  claim 13 , wherein the runner assembly comprises at least one of a track, groove, guide, rod, channel, slide, wheel, ball bearing, roller, and wire.  
     
     
         20 . The appliance of  claim 19 , wherein the appliance main body comprises a spacer configured to space the appliance main body away from another object, and the spacer comprises at least one of a wheel, leg, caster, height adjuster, and stand.  
     
     
         21 . The appliance of  claim 20 , wherein a vacuum apparatus is adapted to be activated with the closing of the door assembly.  
     
     
         22 . The appliance of  claim 13 , wherein the shelf assembly includes a vertical attachment component and a horizontal component, the vertical component disconnectably connecting the horizontal component to the door back surface, and the horizontal component comprising at least one shelf.  
     
     
         23 . The appliance of  claim 13 , wherein the shelf assembly comprises at least one of a shelf, a shelf adjustment mechanism, a shelf wheel, a shelf attachment, a shelf frame, a shelf side, a collapsible shelf side, and lighting.  
     
     
         24 . The appliance of  claim 23 , wherein the appliance main body comprises a spacer configured to space the appliance main body away from another object, and the spacer comprises at least one a wheel, leg, caster, height adjuster, and stand.  
     
     
         25 . The appliance of  claim 24 , wherein a vacuum apparatus is adapted to be activated with the closing of the door assembly.  
     
     
         26 . The appliance of  claim 25 , wherein the door assembly comprises a gasket.  
     
     
         27 . A modular appliance system, comprising: 
 (a) a first appliance and a second appliance; and    (b) the first and second appliance, each having a door assembly, a main body, and an inner compartment, further comprising at least one shelf assembly attached to the door assembly, wherein the inner compartment is adapted to receive the at least one shelf assembly.    
     
     
         28 . The modular appliance system of  claim 27 , wherein the first appliance comprises at least one a refrigerator, freezer, and oven; and the second appliance comprises at least one of a refrigerator, freezer, and oven.  
     
     
         29 . The modular appliance system of  claim 28 , wherein the first and second appliances are different.  
     
     
         30 . The modular appliance system of  claim 28 , wherein the first and second appliances are positioned side-by-side.  
     
     
         31 . The modular appliance system of  claim 28 , wherein the first and second appliances are stackable.  
     
     
         32 . The modular appliance system of  claim 28 , wherein the first and second appliances are disconnectably connected.  
     
     
         33 . The modular appliance system of  claim 28 , wherein the door assembly of the first and second appliances comprise a means for attaching the at least one shelf assembly to the door assembly.  
     
     
         34 . The modular appliance system of  claim 28 , wherein the first and second appliances comprise a means for facilitating opening or closing of the door assembly.  
     
     
         35 . The modular appliance system of  claim 28 , wherein the shelf assembly comprises lighting.  
     
     
         36 . The modular appliance system of  claim 27 , wherein: 
 (a) the first appliance is a refrigerator, and the second appliance is selected from the group consisting of a freezer or an oven;    (b) the door assembly comprises a means for attaching the at least one shelf assembly to the door assembly;    (c) the first and second appliances comprise a means for facilitating the opening or closing of the door assembly; and    (d) the shelf assembly comprises lighting.    
     
     
         37 . The modular appliance system of  claim 36 , wherein the first appliance comprises a vacuum apparatus adapted to be activated with the closing of the door assembly.  
     
     
         38 . The modular appliance system of  claim 30 , wherein the first and second appliances are integrally formed in a side-by-side arrangement, the first appliance having a shared wall with the second appliance, and the shared wall being insulated.  
     
     
         39 . The modular appliance system of  claim 38 , wherein the insulation comprises at least one of a fibrous material, high resistance foam, vacuum insulating panel, plastic foam, and Reflectix® (aluminum plus polyethylene).  
     
     
         40 . The modular appliance system of  claim 39 , wherein the first and second appliances comprise a spacer configured to space the appliances away from a floor, and the spacer comprises at least one of a wheel, leg, caster, height adjuster, and stand.  
     
     
         41 . The modular appliance system of  claim 39 , wherein the shelf assembly comprises at least one of a shelf, a shelf adjustment mechanism, a shelf wheel, a shelf attachment, a shelf frame, a shelf side, a collapsible shelf side, and lighting.  
     
     
         42 . The modular appliance system of  claim 39 , wherein the size of the side by side configuration of the first and second appliance is sized to fit into a standard sized area.  
     
     
         43 . The modular appliance system of  claim 42 , wherein the first appliance is a refrigerator and the second appliance is an oven.  
     
     
         44 . The modular appliance system of  claim 42 , wherein the first appliance is a refrigerator and the second appliance is a freezer.  
     
     
         45 . The modular appliance system of  claim 42 , wherein the first appliance is a freezer and the second appliance is an oven.  
     
     
         46 . The modular appliance system of  claim 31 , wherein the first appliance is a refrigerator and the second appliance is a freezer.  
     
     
         47 . The modular appliance system of  claim 31 , wherein the first appliance is a refrigerator and the second appliance is an oven.  
     
     
         48 . The modular appliance system of  claim 31 , wherein the first appliance is a freezer and the second appliance is an oven.  
     
     
         49 . The modular appliance system of  claim 31 , wherein the door assembly of the first and second appliances comprise a means for attaching the at least one shelf assembly to the door assembly.  
     
     
         50 . The modular appliance system of  claim 31 , wherein the first and second appliances comprise a means for facilitating opening or closing of the door assembly.  
     
     
         51 . The modular appliance system of  claim 31 , wherein the shelf assembly comprises lighting.  
     
     
         52 . The modular appliance system of  claim 31 , wherein the first appliance comprises a vacuum apparatus adapted to be activated with the closing of the door assembly.  
     
     
         53 . The modular appliance system of  claim 31 , wherein the appliances are integrally formed in a stackable arrangement, the first appliance having a shared ceiling with the bottom floor of the second appliance, and the shared ceiling/floor being insulated.  
     
     
         54 . The modular appliance system of  claim 53 , wherein the insulation comprises at least one of a fibrous material, high resistance foam, vacuum insulating panel, plastic foam, and Reflectix® (aluminum plus polyethylene).  
     
     
         55 . The modular appliance system of  claim 31 , wherein at least one of the first appliance and second appliance comprises a spacer configured to space the at least one first appliance and second appliance away from a floor, and the spacer comprises at least one of a wheel, leg, caster, height adjuster, and stand.  
     
     
         56 . The modular appliance system of  claim 31 , wherein the shelf assembly comprises at least one of a shelf, a shelf adjustment mechanism, a shelf wheel, a shelf attachment, a shelf frame, a shelf side, a collapsible shelf side, and lighting.  
     
     
         57 . The modular appliance system of  claim 31 , wherein: 
 (a) the door assembly of the first and second appliances comprise a means for attaching the at least one shelf assembly to the door assembly;    (b) the first and second appliances comprise a means for facilitating opening or closing of the door assembly;    (c) the first appliance comprises a vacuum apparatus adapted to be activated with the closing of the door assembly;    (d) the first and second appliances are integrally formed in a stackable arrangement, the first appliance having a shared ceiling with the bottom floor of the second appliance, and the shared ceiling/floor being insulated, wherein the insulation comprises at least one of a fibrous material, high resistance foam, vacuum insulating panel, plastic foam, and Reflectix® (aluminum plus polyethylene);    (e) at least one of the first appliance and second appliance comprises a spacer configured to space the at least first and second appliance away from a floor, and the spacer comprises at least one of a wheel, leg, caster, height adjuster, and stand; and    (f) the shelf assembly comprises at least one of a shelf, a shelf adjustment mechanism, a shelf wheel, a shelf attachment, a shelf frame, a shelf side, a collapsible shelf side, and lighting.    
     
     
         58 . A modular appliance system, comprising: 
 (a) a first appliance, a second appliance, and a third appliance;    (b) the first, second, and third appliances each-having a door assembly, a main body, and an inner compartment, further comprising at least one shelf assembly attached to the door assembly, wherein the inner compartment is adapted to receive the at least one shelf assembly.    
     
     
         59 . The modular appliance system of  claim 58 , wherein the first appliance comprises at least one a refrigerator, freezer, and oven; the second appliance comprises at least one of a refrigerator, freezer, and oven; and the third appliance comprises at least one of a refrigerator, freezer, and oven.  
     
     
         60 . The modular appliance system of  claim 59 , wherein the first, second, and third appliances are different.  
     
     
         61 . The modular appliance system of  claim 59 , wherein the first and second appliances are positioned side-by-side; and the first and third appliances are stackable.  
     
     
         62 . The modular appliance system of  claim 61 , wherein the first, second, and third appliances are integrally formed.  
     
     
         63 . The modular appliance system of  claim 61 , wherein the first, second, and third appliances are disconnectably connected.  
     
     
         64 . The modular appliance system of  claim 61 , wherein at least one of the first, second, and third appliances comprises a vacuum apparatus adapted to be activated with the closing of the door assembly.  
     
     
         65 . The modular appliance system of  claim 61 , wherein each appliance is insulated.  
     
     
         66 . The modular appliance system of  claim 65 , wherein the insulation comprises at least one of a fibrous material, high resistance foam, vacuum insulating panel, plastic foam, and Reflectix® (aluminum plus polyethylene).  
     
     
         67 . The modular appliance system of  claim 65 , wherein the size of the side by side configuration of the first and second appliances is sized to fit into a standard sized area.  
     
     
         68 . The modular appliance system of  claim 65 , wherein the size of the stackable configuration of the first and third appliances is sized to fit into a standard sized area.  
     
     
         69 . The modular appliance system of  claim 65 , wherein the shelf assembly comprises at least one of a shelf, a shelf adjustment mechanism, a shelf wheel, a shelf attachment, a shelf frame, a shelf side, a collapsible shelf side, and lighting.  
     
     
         70 . The modular appliance system of  claim 65 , wherein at least one of the first, second, and third appliances comprises a spacer configured to space the at least one appliance away from a floor, and the spacer comprises at least one of a wheel, leg, caster, height adjuster, and stand.  
     
     
         71 . The modular appliance system of  claim 70 , wherein the shelf assembly comprises at least one of a shelf, a shelf adjustment mechanism, a shelf wheel, a shelf attachment, a shelf frame, a shelf side, a collapsible shelf side, and lighting.  
     
     
         70 . The modular appliance system of  claim 59 , wherein: 
 (a) at least one of the first, second, and third appliances comprises a spacer configured to space the at least one appliance away from a floor, and the spacer comprises at least one of a wheel, leg, caster, height adjuster, and stand;    (b) the shelf assembly comprises at least one of a shelf, a shelf adjustment mechanism, a shelf wheel, a shelf attachment, a shelf frame, a shelf side, a collapsible shelf side, and lighting; and    (c) at least one of the first, second, and third appliances comprises a vacuum apparatus adapted to be activated with the closing of the door assembly.    
     
     
         71 . The modular appliance system of  claim 61 , wherein: 
 (a) at least one of the first, second, and third appliances comprises a spacer configured to space the at least one appliance away from a floor, and the spacer comprises at least one of a wheel, leg, caster, height adjuster, and stand;    (b) the shelf assembly comprises at least one of a shelf, a shelf adjustment mechanism, a shelf wheel, a shelf attachment, a shelf frame, a shelf side, a collapsible shelf side, and lighting; and    (c) at least one of the first, second, and third appliances comprises a vacuum apparatus adapted to be activated with the closing of the door assembly.    
     
     
         72 . The modular appliance system of  claim 71 , wherein the first appliance is a refrigerator, the second appliance is a freezer, and the third appliance is an oven.  
     
     
         73 . The modular appliance system of  claim 71 , wherein the first appliance is a refrigerator, the second appliance is an oven, and the third appliance is a freezer.  
     
     
         74 . The modular appliance system of  claim 58 , wherein at least one of the first, second, and third appliances comprises a stove.  
     
     
         75 . The appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the appliance comprises a stove.  
     
     
         76 . The appliance of  claim 13 , wherein the appliance comprises a stove.  
     
     
         77 . The modular appliance system of  claim 27 , wherein at least one of the first and second appliances comprises a stove.  
     
     
         78 . A modular appliance system, comprising: 
 (a) a first appliance, a second appliance, a third appliance, and a stove;    (b) the first, second, and third appliances each having a door assembly, a main body, and an inner compartment, further comprising at least one shelf assembly attached to the door assembly, wherein the inner compartment is adapted to receive the at least one shelf assembly.    
     
     
         79 . The modular appliance system of  claim 78 , wherein the first appliance comprises at least one a refrigerator, freezer, and oven; the second appliance comprises at least one of a refrigerator, freezer, and oven; and the third appliance comprises at least one of a refrigerator, freezer, and oven; and the first, second, and third appliances are different.  
     
     
         80 . The modular appliance system of  claim 79 , wherein: 
 (a) at least one of the first, second, and third appliances comprises a spacer configured to space the at least one appliance away from a floor, and the spacer comprises at least one of a wheel, leg, caster, height adjuster, and stand; and    (b) the shelf assembly comprises at least one of a shelf, a shelf adjustment mechanism, a shelf wheel, a shelf attachment, a shelf frame, a shelf side, a collapsible shelf side, and lighting.    
     
     
         81 . The modular appliance system of  claim 80 , wherein at least one of the first, second, and third appliances comprises a vacuum apparatus adapted to be activated with the closing of the door assembly.