Shelf for refrigeration units

Abstract

A shelf for a cabinet, for a refrigerator or the like, includes a glass plate for holding items which is supported along its side edges by track or rail type brackets suitable for fastening or mounting in said cabinet and aligned with a support structure formed or held by said cabinet. The brackets are joined by at least one crosspiece and with said crosspiece(s) form a cradle to hold said plate that is suitable for supporting the mechanical strength of the shelf.

1 . A shelf for a cabinet, comprising:
 a glass plate for holding items supported along its side edges by brackets of a track or rail type and configured for attachment or mounting in said cabinet and aligned with a support structure formed or held by said cabinet, wherein   the brackets are joined by at least one crosspiece and include with said at least one crosspiece a cradle for holding said plate, the cradle configured to support a mechanical strength of the shelf.   
   
   
       2 . The shelf as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the plate for holding items has a curved shape of a drip pan or basin type, with the at least one crosspiece having a corresponding curved shape. 
   
   
       3 . The shelf as claimed in either of  claim 1 , wherein the track or rail type brackets are joined by a central crosspiece. 
   
   
       4 . The shelf as claimed in either of  claim 1 , wherein the brackets are joined by crosspieces arranged under a front transverse edge or under a rear transverse edge of the plate when the shelf is in a usage position. 
   
   
       5 . The shelf as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the cradle includes a means for guiding the plate during installation of the plate in said cradle. 
   
   
       6 . The shelf as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the cradle includes a means for centering the plate on the cradle. 
   
   
       7 . The shelf as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein
 the plate is mounted to be removable from the cradle, and   the at least one crosspiece of the cradle includes a means for maintaining said plate in the cradle in a usage position, said means for maintaining comprising:
 anti-slide stops associated with holes formed in the at least one crosspiece, and 
 a means for fitting into said holes of a dowel type, a spherical, or a semi-spherical head type. 
   
   
   
       8 . The shelf as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the crosspieces includes a means for joining the at least one of the crosspieces to the plate, said means for joining including an adhesive. 
   
   
       9 . The shelf as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein components configured to laterally support the plate include brackets or rails configured to align with rack bars supported by the walls of the cabinet or include brackets configured to slide on rails fastened to a back of the cabinet. 
   
   
       10 . A cabinet comprising at least one shelf as claimed in  claim 1 . 
   
   
       11 . The shelf as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the shelf is made of polycarbonate or methyl polymethacrylate glass. 
   
   
       12 . The shelf as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the shelf is transparent, translucent, or opaque. 
   
   
       13 . The cabinet as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the cabinet is a reach-in freezer, refrigeration unit, or refrigerator. 
   
   
       14 . The shelf as claimed in either of  claim 1 , wherein the brackets are joined by crosspieces arranged under a front transverse edge and under a rear transverse edge of the plate when the shelf is in a usage position. 
   
   
       15 . The shelf as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the shelf comprises two crosspieces which intersect at a center of the cradle. 
   
   
       16 . The shelf as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein
 the plate is mounted to be removable from the cradle, and   the two crosspieces include a means for maintaining said plate in the cradle in a usage position, said means for maintaining comprising:
 anti-slide stops associated with holes formed in the at least one crosspiece, and 
 a means for fitting into said holes of a dowel type, a spherical, or a semi-spherical head type. 
   
   
   
       17 . The shelf as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein
 the plate is mounted to be removable from the cradle, and   the two crosspieces include a means for maintaining said plate in the cradle in a usage position, said means for maintaining comprising:
 anti-slide stops associated with holes formed in the at least one crosspiece, and 
 a means for fitting into said holes of a dowel type, a spherical, or a semi-spherical head type.