Hidden drawer glides for pantry drawers of a refrigerating appliance

Abstract

A refrigerating appliance includes a cabinet structure having an inner liner defining an interior compartment. A drawer includes a panel member and a sliding structure that extends between the panel member and the cabinet structure. The sliding structure serves to operably dispose the panel member between extended and retracted positions of the drawer. A drawer liner is selectively positioned approximate the drawer and is engaged with the panel member. The drawer liner includes opposing sides that define first and second channels, respectively, wherein the first and second channels extend over portions of the sliding structure. A wire chase is defined within at least one of the first and second channels wherein electrical wiring extends from the cabinet structure and to the panel member through the wire chase.

1 . A refrigerating appliance comprising:
 a cabinet structure having an inner liner defining an interior compartment;   a drawer having a panel member and a sliding structure extending between the panel member and the cabinet structure for operably disposing the panel member between extended and retracted positions;   a drawer liner selectively positioned proximate the drawer and engaged with the panel member, the drawer liner having opposing sides that define first and second channels, respectively, wherein the first and second channels extend over portions of the sliding structure, the drawer liner defining a single unitary piece; and   a wire chase defined within at least one of the first and second channels, wherein electrical wiring extends from the cabinet structure and to the panel member through the wire chase, and wherein the electrical wiring and the sliding structure are contained within the first and second channels and are hidden from view when the pantry drawer is in the extended position.   
     
     
         2 . The refrigerating appliance of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a bottom cover selectively engaged to the drawer liner at the wire chase, wherein the wire chase is substantially enclosed by the panel member, the bottom cover and at least one of the first and second channels.   
     
     
         3 . The refrigerating appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the drawer liner defines at least a bottom panel, sides and back wall of a storage area of the drawer. 
     
     
         4 . The refrigerating appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the panel member includes a user interface, wherein the user interface is in communication with a utility system disposed within the cabinet structure via the electrical wiring disposed in the wire chase. 
     
     
         5 . The refrigerating appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the panel member includes a tab structure that receives a front wall of the drawer liner. 
     
     
         6 . The refrigerating appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the cabinet structure includes a plurality of drawer assemblies, and wherein each of the plurality of drawer assemblies has a corresponding drawer liner. 
     
     
         7 . The refrigerating appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the sliding structure includes a laterally sliding portion that attaches to the panel member, and wherein the first and second channels include support members that engage the laterally sliding portion of the sliding structure to support the drawer liner relative to the panel member. 
     
     
         8 . The refrigerating appliance of  claim 7 , wherein the support members and laterally sliding portions are attached together via fasteners. 
     
     
         9 . The refrigerating appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the drawer liner is made of a single continuous member. 
     
     
         10 . The refrigerating appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the drawer is a pantry drawer in communication with a pantry compartment defined within the cabinet structure. 
     
     
         11 . A drawer assembly for a refrigerating appliance, the drawer assembly comprising:
 a panel member;
 a drawer sliding structure having a sliding member that is engaged to the panel member and a cabinet member that is adapted to engage a portion of a cabinet structure; 
 a drawer liner having opposing sides that define first and second channels, respectively, wherein the first and second channels extend between the sliding member and the cabinet structure and over the sliding member, wherein the drawer liner is selectively coupled to the panel member and the sliding member of the drawer sliding structure, and wherein at least one of the first and second channels defines a wire chase that is contained within the drawer liner and extends from the panel member to a position proximate a back wall of the drawer liner. 
   
     
     
         12 . The drawer assembly of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a wire harness coupled to the panel member and extending through the wire chase, to an electrical connector disposed at an end of the wire chase, wherein the wire harness places electrical components of the panel member in communication with the electrical connector.   
     
     
         13 . The drawer assembly of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a bottom cover selectively disposed proximate the wire chase, wherein the bottom cover engages the drawer liner to substantially enclose the wire chase within at least one of the first and second channels, wherein the wire chase is entirely contained within the drawer liner.   
     
     
         14 . The drawer assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the drawer liner is formed from a single continuous member. 
     
     
         15 . The drawer assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the drawer liner is plastic. 
     
     
         16 . The drawer assembly of  claim 11 , wherein each of the first and second channels include an inboard member that defines a portion of a storage area of the drawer liner and an outboard member that defines a covering portion that extends over at least a part of the sliding member, wherein the inboard and outboard members engage one another at a top rail, wherein the inboard and outboard members and the top rail of at least one of the first and second channels defines the wire chase. 
     
     
         17 . The drawer assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the electrical components of the panel member include at least one of a light fixture, a user interface, a heating element and an air handling unit. 
     
     
         18 . A refrigerating appliance comprising:
 a cabinet structure having an inner liner defining a plurality of interior compartments, including a pantry compartment;   a pantry drawer having a panel member and first and second drawer glides positioned at opposing sides of the pantry compartment, respectively, wherein each of the drawer glides includes a sliding member coupled to the panel member and a cabinet member coupled to a portion of the cabinet structure; and   a drawer liner selectively coupled to the panel member and the sliding members of the first and second drawer glides, wherein the drawer liner includes hollow sides that define first and second channels, wherein the first and second channels extend around the respective sliding members of the first and second drawer glides, each of the first and second channels including outboard members that extend around the respective sliding members between the respective sliding members and the cabinet structure, the outboard members concealing the respective sliding members from view when the pantry drawer is in an extended position.   
     
     
         19 . The refrigerating appliance of  claim 18 , wherein each of the first and second channels includes an inboard member that partially defines a storage area of the pantry drawer, a top rail that extends between the inboard and outboard members and a removable bottom cover extending between the inboard and outboard members, wherein the respective sliding members are contained within the first and second channels, respectively, and are each surrounded by the inboard and outboard members, the top rail and the removable bottom cover of the first and second channels, respectively. 
     
     
         20 . The refrigerating appliance of  claim 18 , wherein at least one of the first and second channels defines a wire chase, wherein electrical wiring extends from the panel member to the cabinet structure via the wire chase, the electrical wiring being hidden from view and contained within the at least one of the first and second channels when the pantry drawer is in the extended position.