Appliance with features for facilitating access to a container

Abstract

An appliance is provided. The appliance includes a cabinet that defines a chamber. A container is received within the chamber. A biasing member is configured for urging the container upwardly along a vertical direction. By urging the container upwardly, the biasing member can lift the container and facilitate access to the container.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An appliance, the appliance defining vertical, lateral, and transverse directions, the vertical, lateral, and transverse directions being mutually perpendicular, the appliance comprising:
 a cabinet defining a chamber;   at least one transverse guide supported by said cabinet; and   a drawer assembly supported by said at least one transverse guide and configured for movement along the transverse direction in and out of the chamber of said cabinet on said at least one transverse guide, said drawer assembly comprising:
 at least one vertical guide; 
 at least one track member carried by said at least one vertical guide and configured for movement along the vertical direction on said at least one vertical guide, said at least one track member defining a channel positioned within a vertical plane; 
 a container supported by said at least one track member; and 
 a biasing member configured for urging said container and said at least one track member upwardly along the vertical direction, said biasing member having a guided end, the guided end of said biasing member slidably received within the channel of said at least one track member. 
   
     
     
         2 . The appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the channel of said at least one track member extends between a top segment and a bottom portion, the channel having an arcuate shape in the vertical place between the top segment and the bottom segment. 
     
     
         3 . The appliance of  claim 1 , wherein said drawer assembly further comprises:
 a door mounted to said at least one transverse guide and configured for providing selective access to the chamber of said cabinet, said door extending between a top portion and a bottom portion along the vertical direction; and   a latch mechanism mounted to said door, said latch mechanism having a bottom latch positioned at the bottom portion of said door, said bottom latch selectively securing said at least one track member and said container in a retracted position.   
     
     
         4 . The appliance of  claim 4 , wherein the channel of said at least one track member extends between a top segment and a bottom segment, wherein said latch mechanism further comprises an upper latch mounted at the top portion of said door and selectively securing the guided end of said biasing member when the guided end of said biasing member is positioned in the top segment of the channel. 
     
     
         5 . The appliance of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a closing lockout having a bar rotatably mounted to said drawer assembly, the bar extending between a first end and a second end, the first end of the bar rotatable between a first position when said container is in a retracted position and a second positioned when said container is in an extended position, the first and second positions spaced apart along the vertical direction;   a door mounted to said at least one transverse guide and configured for providing selective access to the chamber of said cabinet, said door extending between a top portion and a bottom portion along the vertical direction; and   a latch mechanism mounted to said door, said latch mechanism having a bottom latch positioned at the bottom portion of said door, said bottom latch selectively securing said at least one track member and said container in a retracted position, said latch mechanism also having an actuator and a transfer member, the actuator configured for moving the transfer member in order to operate said bottom latch; and   a lifting lockout having a block, the block positioned beneath the transfer member of said latch mechanism along the vertical direction when said drawer assembly is in a closed position in order to prevent operation of said bottom latch with the transfer member.   
     
     
         6 . The appliance of  claim 1 , wherein said drawer assembly further comprises framing connecting said at least on transverse guide and said at least one vertical guide, wherein said biasing member extends between the guided end and a fixed end, the fixed end of said biasing member being rotatably mounted to the framing of said drawer assembly. 
     
     
         7 . The appliance of  claim 6 , further comprising a cross-bar that that extends from said at least one track member and a damper that extends between said framing and said cross-bar. 
     
     
         8 . The appliance of  claim 1 , further comprising a resetting member mounted within the chamber of said cabinet, said resetting member having a sloped surface for engaging the guided end of said biasing member. 
     
     
         9 . The appliance of  claim 1 , wherein said biasing member comprises at least one of a gas strut, a spring, a linear actuator, and a solenoid. 
     
     
         10 . An appliance, the appliance defining vertical, lateral, and transverse directions, the vertical, lateral, and transverse directions being mutually perpendicular, the appliance comprising:
 a cabinet defining a chamber;   at least one transverse guide supported by said cabinet; and   a drawer assembly supported by said at least one transverse guide and configured for movement along the transverse direction in and out of the chamber of said cabinet on said at least one transverse guide, said drawer assembly comprising:
 at least one vertical guide; 
 a container carried by said at least one vertical guide and configured for movement along the vertical direction on said at least one vertical guide, said container defining a channel positioned within a vertical plane; and 
 a biasing member configured for urging said container upwardly along the vertical direction, said biasing member having a guided end that is slidably received into the channel of said container. 
   
     
     
         11 . The appliance of  claim 9 , wherein the channel of said container extends between a top segment and a bottom portion, the channel having an arcuate shape in the vertical place between the top segment and the bottom segment. 
     
     
         12 . The appliance of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a door mounted to said at least one transverse guide and configured for providing selective access to the chamber of said cabinet, said door extending between a top portion and a bottom portion along the vertical direction; and   a latch mechanism mounted to said door, said latch mechanism having a bottom latch positioned at the bottom portion of said door, said bottom latch selectively securing said at least one track member and said container in a retracted position.   
     
     
         13 . The appliance of  claim 12 , wherein the channel of said container extends between a top segment and a bottom segment, wherein said latch mechanism further comprises an upper latch mounted at the top portion of said door and selectively securing the guided end of said biasing member when the guided end of said biasing member is positioned in the top segment of the channel. 
     
     
         14 . The appliance of  claim 9 , wherein said drawer assembly further comprises framing connecting said at least on transverse guide and said at least one vertical guide, wherein said biasing member extends between the guided end and a fixed end, the fixed end of said biasing member being rotatably mounted to the framing of said drawer assembly. 
     
     
         15 . The appliance of  claim 14 , further comprising a damper extending between said framing and said container. 
     
     
         16 . The appliance of  claim 9 , comprising a resetting member mounted within the chamber of said cabinet, said resetting member having a sloped surface for engaging the guided end of said biasing member. 
     
     
         17 . The appliance of  claim 9 , wherein said biasing member comprises at least one of a gas strut, a spring, a linear actuator, and a solenoid. 
     
     
         18 . A refrigerator appliance, the refrigerator appliance defining vertical, lateral, and transverse directions, the vertical, lateral, and transverse directions being mutually perpendicular, the refrigerator appliance comprising:
 a cabinet defining a chilled chamber for receipt of food items for storage;   at least one transverse guide supported by said cabinet; and   a drawer assembly supported by said at least one transverse guide and configured for movement along the transverse direction in and out of the chilled chamber of said cabinet on said at least one transverse guide, said drawer assembly comprising:
 at least one vertical guide; 
 at least one track member carried by said at least one vertical guide and configured for movement along the vertical direction on said at least one vertical guide; 
 a container supported by said at least one track member; and 
 a biasing member configured for urging said container and said at least one track member upwardly along the vertical direction, said biasing member having a guided end, the guided end of said biasing member configured for sliding between a lifting configuration and a lowering configuration;
 wherein, said biasing member exerts sufficient force to lift said container upwardly along the vertical direction when said biasing member is in the lifting configuration; and 
 wherein, said biasing member exerts insufficient force to lift said container upwardly along the vertical direction when said biasing member is in the lowering configuration. 
 
   
     
     
         19 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 a door mounted to said at least one transverse guide and configured for providing selective access to the chamber of said cabinet, said door extending between a top portion and a bottom portion along the vertical direction; and   a latch mechanism mounted to said door, said latch mechanism having a bottom latch positioned at the bottom portion of said door, said bottom latch selectively securing said at least one track member and said container in a retracted position.   
     
     
         20 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 17 , wherein said biasing member comprises at least one of a gas strut, a spring, a linear actuator, and a solenoid.