Refrigerator drawer having a removable and replaceable bottom tray

Abstract

A refrigerator drawer includes an upper portion and a lower portion forming a bottom tray. The bottom tray is releasably engaged with the upper portion and is adapted to slide relative to the upper portion. The bottom tray includes a grip for enabling a user to slide the bottom tray relative to the upper portion. The bottom tray can be disengaged from the upper portion by sliding the bottom tray beyond a front edge of the upper portion. The bottom tray has a height that is relatively small compared to the height of the upper portion, thereby allowing the bottom tray to be easily and conveniently cleaned without requiring removal of the upper portion or of the entire refrigerator drawer.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A refrigerator drawer defining an inner storage space, comprising:
 an upper portion; and   a lower portion forming a bottom tray, the lower portion being slidably engaged with the upper portion in such a way that the lower portion is enabled to slide independently of the upper portion;   wherein the lower portion has a height that is smaller than a height of the upper portion; and   wherein the lower portion tray is adapted to disengage from the upper portion.   
     
     
         2 . The refrigerator drawer of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more vertical dividers to separate the inner storage space. 
     
     
         3 . The refrigerator drawer of  claim 1 , wherein the upper portion comprises a handle. 
     
     
         4 . The refrigerator drawer of  claim 3 , wherein the upper portion comprises side walls and wherein the side walls couple with the bottom tray. 
     
     
         5 . The refrigerator drawer of  claim 4 , wherein in response to a pulling or pushing force on the handle, both the upper portion and the bottom tray move simultaneously in the same direction as the pulling or pushing force. 
     
     
         6 . The refrigerator drawer of  claim 1 , wherein the lower portion comprises a handle. 
     
     
         7 . The refrigerator drawer of  claim 1 , wherein the refrigerator drawer comprises wheels adapted to enable a sliding motion by the bottom tray relative to the upper portion. 
     
     
         8 . The refrigerator drawer of  claim 1 , wherein the lower portion has a height that is about 33% of the total height of the drawer. 
     
     
         9 . The refrigerator drawer of  claim 1 , wherein the height of the refrigerator drawer can be adapted to fit within a sink. 
     
     
         10 . A refrigerator comprising one or more refrigerator drawers, each of the one or more refrigerator drawers comprising:
 an upper portion; and   a lower portion forming a bottom tray, the lower portion being slidably engaged with the upper portion in such a way that the lower portion is enabled to slide independently of the upper portion;   wherein the lower portion has a height that is smaller than a height of the upper portion; and   wherein the lower portion is adapted to disengage from the upper portion.   
     
     
         11 . The refrigerator of  claim 10 , wherein the refrigerator drawer defines an inner storage space. 
     
     
         12 . The refrigerator of  claim 11 , wherein the refrigerator drawer further comprises one or more vertical dividers to separate the inner storage space. 
     
     
         13 . The refrigerator of  claim 10 , wherein the upper portion comprises a handle. 
     
     
         14 . The refrigerator of  claim 13 , wherein the upper portion comprises side walls, and wherein the side walls couple with the bottom tray. 
     
     
         15 . The refrigerator of  claim 14 , wherein in response to a pulling or pushing force on the handle, both the upper portion and the bottom tray move simultaneously in the same direction as the pulling or pushing force. 
     
     
         16 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the lower portion comprises a handle. 
     
     
         17 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the refrigerator drawer comprises wheels adapted to enable a sliding motion by the bottom tray relative to the upper portion. 
     
     
         18 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the lower portion has a height that is about 33% of the total height of the drawer. 
     
     
         19 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the height of the refrigerator drawer can be adapted to fit within a conventional sink. 
     
     
         20 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the lower portion can be disengaged from the upper portion without removal of the upper portion from the refrigerator.