Apparatus, system, and method for storage in a refrigerated appliance

Abstract

An apparatus, system, and method for storage in a refrigerated appliance. One aspect includes glides or slides underneath and within the bottom perimeter dimensions of any bin or bin carrier relative to its supporting structure in the refrigerated appliance. This allows adjacent bins to more efficiently utilize lateral storage space in the refrigerator. It also promotes hiding of the glide or slides from view.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system of supporting and guiding a component that can be moved along an axis between a home position and a pulled out position comprising:
 a. a pull out component having a bottom with opposite sides, a front, and a rear defining a bottom perimeter, the opposite sides on opposite sides of the axis, the front and rear along the axis;   b. a base under the pull out component having a front and a rear along the axis;   c. a first guide member attached to or integrated with the bottom of the pull out component, the first guide member at or within the perimeter of the bottom of the pull out component and extended in the direction of the axis; and   d. a second guide member attached to or integrated with the base, the second guide member cooperating with the first guide member to guide the pull out component relative to the base along the axis between the home and pulled out positions.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the pull out component comprises a storage component. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the storage component comprises a drawer, bin, shelf, or rack, or a carrier of the drawer, bin, shelf, or rack. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3  wherein the base is mounted in a cabinet. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4  wherein the cabinet comprises a refrigerated cabinet. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the first guide member comprises one or more rails elongated along the direction of the axis. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the second guide member comprises a complementary rail for each of the one or more rails of the first guide member. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising one or more rollers on one of the bottom of the pull out component and the base and cooperating with structure on the other of the pull out component and the base to assist in guiding and controlling movement of the pull out structure along the axis. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising biasing member on one of the bottom of the pull out component and the base, and cooperating with structure on the other of the pull out component and the base to allow some deviation from movement along the axis but biasing the pull out component towards the axis during movement. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the base is configured to support a plurality of said pull out components side-by-side and closely adjacent to one another on the base. 
     
     
         11 . A method of supporting and guiding a component that can be moved along an axis between a home position and a pulled out position, the component having a bottom with opposite sides, a front, and a rear defining a bottom perimeter, comprising:
 a. placing a base under the bottom of the component; and   b. supporting the component on the base with cooperating guiding structure on the component which allows guided movement relative the base along the axis and which is at or within the perimeter of the bottom of the component.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the component comprises a drawer, bin, shelf, or rack in a cabinet. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the further comprising a plurality of said components on the base. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising allowing a range of lateral movement of the component relative the axis during movement but urging the component towards the axis. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the guiding structure comprises rails, wheels, rollers, surfaces, bosses, or channels, or combinations of the same. 
     
     
         16 . A refrigerated appliance comprising:
 a. a cabinet;   b. a base having a top, a bottom, a front, a back, and opposite sides mounted at least substantially horizontally inside the cabinet;   c. one or more slide out components each having a bottom with a front, a rear, and opposite sides defining a perimeter of the bottom, and each supported on the base; and   d. a slide assembly between each slide out component and the base, the slide assembly allowing slideable movement of a slide component relative the base, the slide assembly comprising cooperating parts on the bottom of the slide out component and on the top of the base, the cooperating part on the slide component contained at or within the perimeter of the bottom of the slide out component.   
     
     
         17 . The refrigerated appliance of  claim 16  wherein the slide out component comprises a drawer, bin, shelf, or rack, or a carrier of the drawer, bin, shelf, or rack. 
     
     
         18 . The refrigerated appliance of  claim 16  wherein the cooperating parts comprise rails, wheels, rollers, surfaces, bosses, or channels, or combinations of the same. 
     
     
         19 . The refrigerated appliance of  claim 16  further comprising a lateral tolerance biasing component between the slide out component and the base. 
     
     
         20 . The refrigerated appliance of  claim 16  further comprising a low coefficient of friction surface between the cooperating parts of the slide assembly.