Crisper pan system for a domestic refrigerator

Abstract

A domestic refrigerator includes a pan system positioned in a cabinet having a temperature-controlled compartment defined therein. The pan system includes a first side pan positioned between a bracket and a first plate, a second side pan positioned between a bracket and a second plate, and a middle pan moveably coupled to the bracket. A first roller is secured to the first side pan and is engaged with the first rail to locate the first side pan relative to the middle pan. A second roller is secured to the second side pan and is engaged with the second rail to locate the second side pan relative to the middle pan.

1 . A domestic refrigerator comprising:
 a cabinet having a temperature-controlled compartment defined therein,   a first plate positioned in the temperature-controlled compartment, the first plate including a first rail,   a second plate positioned opposite the first plate, the second plate including a second rail,   a bracket positioned between the first plate and the second plate,   a first side pan positioned between the bracket and the first plate,   a second side pan positioned between the bracket and the second plate,   a middle pan moveably coupled to the bracket,   a first roller secured to the first side pan, the first roller having a groove engaged with the first rail to locate the first side pan relative to the middle pan, and   a second roller secured to the second side pan, the second roller having a groove engaged with the second rail to locate the second side pan relative to the middle pan,   wherein (i) a first distance is defined between the first side pan and the middle pan, (ii) a second distance is defined between the second side pan and the middle pan, and (iii) the first distance is substantially equal to the second distance.   
     
     
         2 . The domestic refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the bracket includes a first side wall positioned between the first side pan and the middle pan, and a second side wall positioned between the second side pan and the middle pan, the first side wall and the second side wall defining a compartment within the bracket,   the middle pan includes a body and a front panel secured to the body at a front end thereof, the body having a storage chamber defined therein, and   the middle pan is moveable between (i) a closed position in which the body is positioned in the compartment and user-access to the storage chamber is prevented, and (ii) an open position in which the body extends outwardly from the compartment and user-access to the storage chamber is permitted.   
     
     
         3 . The domestic refrigerator of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the bracket includes a first flange extending from the first side wall into the compartment and a second flange extending from the second side wall into the compartment, and   the first flange and the second flange confront the body of the middle pan to position the body between the first side wall and the second side wall.   
     
     
         4 . The domestic refrigerator of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a third roller attached to a lower end of the first side wall, and   a fourth roller attached to a lower end of the second side wall,   wherein the middle pan includes (i) a first outer flange extending from the body, the first outer flange having a substantially planar bottom surface that is engaged with the third roller, and (ii) a second outer flange extending from the body, the second outer flange having a substantially planar bottom surface that is engaged with the fourth roller.   
     
     
         5 . The domestic refrigerator of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the first side pan includes a body having a storage chamber defined therein and a front panel secured to the body at a front end thereof,   the second side pan includes a body having a storage chamber defined therein and a front panel secured to the body of the second side pan at a front end thereof,   the first distance is defined between the front panel of the first side pan and the front panel of the middle pan, and   the second distance is defined between the front panel of the second side pan and the front panel of the middle pan.   
     
     
         6 . The domestic refrigerator of  claim 5 , wherein:
 the storage chamber of the first side pan has a first volume,   the storage chamber of the second side pan has a second volume substantially equal to the first volume, and   the storage chamber of the middle pan has a third volume that is less than the first volume and the second volume.   
     
     
         7 . The domestic refrigerator of  claim 1 , further comprising a cover panel having a first end secured to the first plate and a second end secured to the second plate, wherein the bracket is secured to the cover panel between the first end and the second end. 
     
     
         8 . The domestic refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first plate includes a first flange having the first rail extending upwardly therefrom, and a second flange having a third rail extending downwardly toward the first rail, and   the third rail is positioned in the groove of the first roller of the first side pan.   
     
     
         9 . The domestic refrigerator of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a third roller secured to the first plate, the third roller having a groove defined therein,   wherein (i) the first side pan includes an outer flange having a fourth rail extending downwardly therefrom, and (ii) the fourth rail is positioned in the groove defined in the third roller.   
     
     
         10 . A domestic refrigerator comprising:
 a cabinet having a temperature-controlled compartment defined therein,   a cover panel positioned in the temperature-controlled compartment,   a first plate secured to a first end of the cover panel, the first plate having a first rail,   a second plate secured to a second end of the cover panel opposite the first end, the second plate having a second rail,   a bracket secured to the cover panel between the first end and the second end, the bracket having a plurality of sidewalls that define a compartment therein,   a first side pan having a first roller secured thereto, the first roller being engaged with the first rail of the first plate,   a second side pan having a second roller secured thereto, the second roller being engaged with the second rail of the second plate, and   a middle pan including a body moveably coupled to the bracket, the body being moveable between: (i) a first position in which the body is positioned in the compartment, and (ii) a second position in which the body extends outwardly from the compartment.   
     
     
         11 . The domestic refrigerator of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the bracket includes (i) a third roller attached to a front end of a first side wall, and (ii) a fourth roller attached to a front end of a second side wall, and   the middle pan includes (i) a first outer flange extending from the body, the first outer flange having a substantially planar bottom surface that is engaged with the third roller, and (ii) a second outer flange extending from the body, the second outer flange having a substantially planar bottom surface that is engaged with the fourth roller.   
     
     
         12 . The domestic refrigerator of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the middle pan includes (i) a fifth roller secured to a back end of the first outer flange, and (ii) a sixth roller secured to a back end of the second outer flange, and   the bracket includes (i) a first inner flange extending from the first side wall into the compartment, the first inner flange having a substantially planar bottom surface that is engaged with the fifth roller, and (ii) a second inner flange extending from the second side wall into the compartment, the second inner flange having a substantially planar bottom surface that is engaged with the sixth roller.   
     
     
         13 . The domestic refrigerator of  claim 12 , wherein the first inner flange and the second inner flange confront the body of the middle pan to position the body between the first side wall and the second side wall. 
     
     
         14 . The domestic refrigerator of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the first roller has a groove defined therein, and the second roller has a groove defined therein, and   the first rail of the first plate is positioned in the groove of the first roller to locate the first side pan relative to the middle pan and the second rail of the second plate is positioned in the groove of the first roller to locate the second side pan relative to the middle pan.   
     
     
         15 . The domestic refrigerator of  claim 14 , wherein a first distance is defined between the first side pan and the middle pan, and a second distance is defined between the second side pan and the middle pan, the second distance being substantially equal to the first distance. 
     
     
         16 . A storage system for a refrigerator, comprising:
 a cover panel,   a first plate secured to a first end of the cover panel, the first plate including a first rail,   a second plate secured to a second end of the cover panel, the second plate including a second rail,   a bracket positioned between the first plate and the second plate,   a first side pan positioned between the bracket and the first plate,   a second side pan positioned between the bracket and the second plate,   a middle pan moveably coupled to the bracket between the first side pan and the second side pan,   a first roller secured to the first side pan, the first roller having a groove engaged with the first rail to locate the first side pan relative to the middle pan, and   a second roller secured to the second side pan, the second roller having a groove engaged with the second rail to locate the second side pan relative to the middle pan,   wherein (i) a first distance is defined between the first side pan and the middle pan, (ii) a second distance is defined between the second side pan and the middle pan, and (iii) the first distance is substantially equal to the second distance.   
     
     
         17 . The storage system of  claim 16 , wherein:
 the first plate includes a first flange having the first rail extending upwardly therefrom, and a second flange having a third rail extending downwardly toward the first rail, and   the third rail is positioned in the groove of the first roller of the first side pan.