Refrigerator with a slide-out pan assembly

Abstract

A refrigeration appliance, such as a refrigerator, includes a food compartment liner having a bottom surface. A pull-out pan is operably disposed within the liner proximate the bottom surface. A slide mechanism is configured between the pull-out pan and the bottom surface of the compartment liner, wherein the pull-out pan is fully supported on and slidable relative to the bottom surface of the compartment liner.

1 . A refrigeration appliance, comprising:
 a food compartment liner having a bottom surface;   a pull-out pan operably disposed within said liner; and   a slide mechanism configured between said pull-out pan and said bottom surface of said compartment liner,   wherein said pull-out pan is fully supported on and slidable relative to said bottom surface of said compartment liner.   
     
     
         2 . The refrigeration appliance as in  claim 1 , wherein said slide mechanism comprises at least one track configured on either of an underside of said pan or said bottom surface of said compartment liner, and a rail configured on the other of said bottom surface of said compartment liner or said pan underside, said rail and said track having complimentary cross-sectional profiles such that said rail engages within and slides along said track. 
     
     
         3 . The refrigeration appliance as in  claim 2 , comprising a plurality of said tracks and engaging rails configured between said pan underside and said bottom surface of said compartment liner. 
     
     
         4 . The refrigeration appliance as in  claim 3 , wherein said rails are mounted to said pan underside and said tracks are mounted to said bottom surface of said compartment liner. 
     
     
         5 . The refrigeration appliance as in  claim 3 , wherein said tracks are formed from a friction-reducing material. 
     
     
         6 . The refrigeration appliance as in  claim 3 , wherein said tracks and said rails have interlocking complimentary cross-sectional profiles such that said pan is not vertically displaceable relative to said bottom surface of said compartment liner without disengaging said rails from said tracks. 
     
     
         7 . The refrigeration appliance as in  claim 1 , further comprising elongated, raised beds formed in said bottom surface of said compartment liner, said track or said rail mounted on said raised beds. 
     
     
         8 . The refrigeration appliance as in  claim 1 , further comprising a stop mechanism configured between said pan and said bottom surface of said compartment liner to prevent inadvertent complete withdrawal of pan from said compartment liner. 
     
     
         9 . The refrigeration appliance as in  claim 8 , wherein said stop mechanism comprises a protrusion extending from an underside of said pan that engages against a ridge formed in said bottom surface of said compartment liner at a fully extended position of said pan. 
     
     
         10 . The refrigeration appliance as in  claim 1 , wherein said food compartment liner defines a fresh food compartment configured above a freezer compartment, said pan configured as a bottom-most component of said fresh food compartment.