Extendable rack mounting system for an oven appliance

Abstract

An extendable oven rack mounting system for an oven appliance is provided. The racks can be readily withdrawn, or inserted into, a cavity of the oven appliance. One or more features are provided for securing the racks within the oven cavity during use.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An oven with a rack system, the oven having a cavity with opposing side walls, the oven comprising:
 a pair of frames, one each mounted in opposing fashion on the side walls of the cavity, each frame having a plurality of horizontal supports extending between a pair of vertical supports;   a plurality of oven rack assemblies positioned on the horizontal supports, each oven rack assembly comprising:
 a pair of extendable slide assemblies positioned at opposing ends of an oven rack, each slide assembly supported by one of the horizontal supports, the pair of slide assemblies having a pair of tabs positioned at a front of the slide assemblies and projecting downwardly at a position proximate to the horizontal supports so as to prevent the horizontal displacement of the slide assemblies while still allowing extension of the oven rack from the cavity; and 
   wherein each vertical support includes a plurality of stops projecting towards the side wall on an opposite side of the cavity, each stop positioned above a rear of a respective slide assembly so as to limit the upward movement of the slide assembly when a respective rack is extended from the oven cavity.   
     
     
         2 . An oven with a rack system as in  claim 1 , further comprising a pair of stops, one each extending from one of the opposing sidewalls of the cavity and extending over the rear of the top pair of slide assemblies. 
     
     
         3 . An oven with a rack system as in  claim 1 , wherein said frames comprise elongated wire members. 
     
     
         4 . An oven with a rack system as in  claim 2 , wherein said elongated members are coated. 
     
     
         5 . An oven with a rack system as in  claim 1 , wherein the oven racks define handles at the front of the racks. 
     
     
         6 . An oven with a rack system as in  claim 1 , wherein the horizontal supports project away from said vertical supports and outwardly into the oven cavity. 
     
     
         7 . An oven with a rack system as in  claim 1 , wherein each of pair of said slide assemblies further comprise a pair of slides attached to a pair of brackets, and wherein the pair of tabs of each said pair of slide assemblies extend downwardly from the front of the pair of brackets. 
     
     
         8 . An oven with a rack system as in  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of under-racks, wherein each said pair of brackets of said side slide assemblies are attached to opposing sides of a respective under-rack. 
     
     
         9 . An oven with a rack system as in  claim 8 , wherein said under-racks remain stationary when the racks of said oven rack assemblies are extended out of the cavity. 
     
     
         10 . An oven with a rack system as in  claim 1 , wherein said stops are orthogonal to said horizontal supports. 
     
     
         11 . An oven rack and support system for positioning in the cooking cavity of an oven appliance, comprising:
 a plurality of oven rack assemblies, each assembly comprising a rack that is extendable from the cooking cavity;   a pair of frames for positioning on opposing sidewalls of the oven appliance, wherein said oven rack assemblies extend between, and are supported by, said pair of frames, wherein each frame comprises
 a pair of vertical supports; 
 a plurality of horizontal supports extending between and projecting from said pair of vertical supports; and 
 a plurality of stops projecting from said vertical supports, said stops extending over a rear portion of said oven rack assemblies to as to limit a tilting movement of said oven rack assemblies when a respective rack is extended from the oven cavity. 
   
     
     
         12 . An oven rack and support system as in  claim 11 , wherein each of said oven rack assemblies further comprise:
 pair of slides attached to opposing sides of the oven rack; and   a pair of outer brackets attached to said pair of slides, each outer bracket having a tab that extends downwardly and is positioned proximate to a horizontal support so that contact between the tab and horizontal support limits the horizontal displacement of the rack assembly when a respective rack is extended from the oven cavity.   
     
     
         13 . An oven rack and support system as in  claim 12 , wherein the tab of each outer bracket is positioned at a front portion of the outer bracket. 
     
     
         14 . An oven rack and support system as in  claim 12 , further comprising a plurality of under-racks, wherein said pair of outer brackets of said oven rack assemblies are each attached to opposing sides of a respective under-rack. 
     
     
         15 . An oven with a rack system as in  claim 14 , wherein said under-racks remain stationary when the racks of said oven rack assemblies are extended out of the cooking cavity. 
     
     
         16 . An oven with a rack system as in  claim 11 , wherein said stops are orthogonal to said horizontal supports. 
     
     
         17 . An oven with a rack system as in  claim 11 , wherein said frames comprise elongated wire members. 
     
     
         18 . An oven with a rack system as in  claim 17 , wherein said elongated wire members are coated.