Multi-level drawer organization system for a refrigerating appliance

Abstract

A multi-level drawer system includes a refrigerating appliance having a back wall and a plurality of sidewalls that define a freezer compartment having an interior volume. The freezer compartment includes a freezer drawer that is slidably operable within the freezer compartment between extended and retracted positions. The interior volume is accessible when the freezer drawer is distal from the retracted position. A first storage drawer is slidably operable within the freezer drawer between a plurality of first-drawer positions when the freezer drawer is distal from the retracted position. A second storage drawer is positioned above the first storage drawer and slidably operable between a plurality of second-drawer positions when the freezer drawer is distal from the retracted position. A third-tier storage member is disposed on the second storage drawer and is slidably operable between a plurality of third-tier positions relative to the second storage drawer.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . A multi-level drawer system for a refrigerating appliance, the multi-level drawer system comprising:
 a refrigerating appliance having a back wall and a plurality of sidewalls that define a freezer compartment having an interior volume, wherein the freezer compartment includes a freezer drawer, the freezer drawer being slidably operable within the freezer compartment between an open extended position and a closed retracted position, the interior volume being accessible when the freezer drawer is distal from the retracted position;   a first storage drawer slidably operable by hand and without the use of tools within the freezer drawer and operable between a plurality of first-drawer positions at least when the freezer drawer is distal from the retracted position;   a second storage drawer positioned above the first storage drawer and slidably operable within the freezer drawer between a plurality of second-drawer positions when the freezer drawer is extended away from the retracted position; and   a third-tier storage member slidably disposed on at least a portion of the second storage drawer and slidably operable by hand and without the use of tools between a plurality of third-tier positions relative to the second storage drawer.   
     
     
         2 . The multi-level drawer system of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second storage drawers are independently operable. 
     
     
         3 . The multi-level drawer system of  claim 1 , wherein the second storage drawer includes a front angled portion that extends upward and rearward from a front edge of the second storage drawer. 
     
     
         4 . The multi-level drawer system of  claim 3 , wherein the front angled portion slopes upward from a front edge of the second drawer to a central portion of the second drawer located between the front edge and a rear wall of the second drawer, wherein the third-tier storage member slidably engages the second drawer rearward of the front angled portion, and wherein the front angled portion defines a closed-drawer access through which an inner portion of the second storage drawer can be accessed at least when the second storage drawer is completely within the freezer compartment. 
     
     
         5 . The multi-level drawer system of  claim 1 , wherein the first storage drawer includes at least one first-drawer divider that is configured to define a plurality of first-drawer compartments within the first storage drawer, and wherein the at least one first-drawer divider is at least partially translucent. 
     
     
         6 . The multi-level drawer system of  claim 5 , wherein the second storage drawer includes at least one second-drawer divider that is configured to define a plurality of second-drawer compartments within the second storage drawer, and wherein the at least one second-drawer divider is at least partially translucent. 
     
     
         7 . The multi-level drawer system of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one first storage drawer divider includes at least one front-back lower divider and at least one left-right lower divider, and wherein the at least one second storage drawer divider includes at least one front-back upper divider and at least one right-left upper divider. 
     
     
         8 . The multi-level drawer system of  claim 1 , wherein the third-tier storage member is at least partially translucent, and wherein the third-tier storage member is operable when the second storage drawer is in any of the plurality of second drawer positions. 
     
     
         9 . A tiered organizational system for a refrigerating appliance, the tiered organizational system comprising:
 a freezer compartment of a refrigerating appliance, the freezer compartment having a rear wall, a plurality of sidewalls and an interior volume, wherein the plurality of sidewalls define a freezer opening for accessing the interior volume, and wherein the freezer compartment includes an operable door panel moveable between open and closed positions, the interior volume being accessible when the operable door panel is in an open position;   a first storage drawer slidably operable in relation to the freezer compartment between a plurality of first storage drawer positions when the operable door panel is in the open position; and   a second storage drawer having a plurality of sides and an inner portion, and positioned superior to the first storage drawer and operable in relation to the freezer compartment between a plurality of second storage drawer positions when the operable door panel is in the open position, the plurality of sides defining an upper rim including a level rear portion and an angled front portion, wherein the angled front portion extends downward at an angle from the level rear portion to a lowered front edge of the upper rim.   
     
     
         10 . The tiered organizational system of  claim 9 , wherein the angled front portion defines a closed-drawer access through which the inner portion of the second storage drawer is accessible at least when the second storage drawer is fully disposed within the freezer compartment. 
     
     
         11 . The tiered organizational system of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a third-tier storage member disposed on at least a portion of the second storage drawer proximate the level rear portion and slidably operable between a plurality of third-tier positions relative to the second storage drawer.   
     
     
         12 . The tiered organizational system of  claim 9 , wherein the first and second storage drawers are independently operable between an open and a closed position. 
     
     
         13 . The tiered organizational system of  claim 9 , wherein the first and second storage drawers each include at least one divider that is at least partially translucent, and wherein each of the first and second storage drawers includes a side having at least one air flow channel. 
     
     
         14 . The tiered organizational system of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one divider includes at least one storage bin defining a plurality of bin-dividing walls, and wherein the at least one storage bin is at least partially translucent. 
     
     
         15 . The tiered organizational system of  claim 11 , wherein the third-tier storage member is at least partially translucent and is operable when the second storage drawer is in any of the plurality of second storage drawer positions. 
     
     
         16 . A tiered organizational system for installation in a freezer compartment of a refrigerating appliance, the tiered organizational system comprising:
 a lower storage drawer configured to be slidably operable in relation to a freezer compartment between a plurality of second-drawer positions;   an upper storage drawer having a plurality of sides and an inner portion, and positioned superior to the lower storage drawer, the upper storage drawer configured to be operable in relation to the freezer compartment between a plurality of first-drawer positions, wherein the plurality of sides defines an upper rim including a level rear portion and an angled front portion, wherein the angled front portion extends downward at an angle from the level rear portion to a lowered front edge of the upper rim; and   a third-tier storage member disposed on at least a portion of the upper storage drawer proximate the level rear portion and slidably operable between a plurality of third-tier positions relative to the upper storage drawer.   
     
     
         17 . The tiered organizational system of  claim 16 , wherein the lower and upper storage drawers are independently operable between respective open and closed positions. 
     
     
         18 . The tiered organizational system of  claim 16 , wherein the lower and upper storage drawers each include at least one air flow channel and at least one divider that is at least partially translucent. 
     
     
         19 . The tiered organizational system of  claim 18 , wherein the at least one divider includes at least one dividing bin defining a plurality of bin walls, and wherein the at least one dividing bin is at least partially translucent. 
     
     
         20 . The tiered organizational system of  claim 16 , wherein the third-tier storage member is at least partially translucent and is operable when the upper storage drawer is in any of the plurality of upper drawer positions.