Retainer member

Abstract

A retainer member is provided for retaining a food receptacle relative to an inner liner of an appliance cabinet or door. The retainer includes a base that is movably coupleable to the inner liner and first and second arms that extend from the base. The first and second arms are curved about an axis and define a passageway extending through the first and second arms along the axis. A free end of the first arm is spaced from a free end of the second arm to define an opening to provide radial access to the passageway through the opening.

1 . A retainer member for retaining a food receptacle relative to an inner liner of an appliance cabinet or door, the retainer member comprising:
 a base that is movably coupleable to the inner liner; and   first and second arms that extend from the base,   wherein the first and second arms are curved about an axis and define a passageway extending through the first and second arms along the axis, further wherein a free end of the first arm is spaced from a free end of the second arm to define an opening to provide radial access to the passageway through the opening, and   wherein the first and second arms extend from the base in a direction that is transverse and non-orthogonal to the axis.   
     
     
         2 . The retainer member of  claim 1 , wherein a distance between the free end of the first arm and the free end of the second arm is less than a distance between a central portion of the first arm and a central portion of the second arm. 
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . The retainer member of  claim 1 , wherein the base comprises a mounting surface facing away from the axis and adapted to face the inner liner when the base is movably coupled to the inner liner, further wherein the base comprises a hook that extends from the mounting surface. 
     
     
         5 . The retainer member of  claim 4 , wherein the hook comprises a first member that extends from the mounting surface and a second member that extends from the first member, further wherein the first member extends normal to the mounting surface and the second member extends parallel to the mounting surface. 
     
     
         6 . The retainer member of  claim 1 , further comprising a layer of gripping material coupled to an inner side of the first and second arms that faces the axis. 
     
     
         7 . The retainer member of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second arms comprise a resilient material. 
     
     
         8 . An appliance comprising:
 a cabinet defining a storage compartment;   a door for selectively opening and closing the storage compartment;   a storage member coupled to an inner liner of the cabinet or door; and   a retainer member for retaining a food receptacle relative to the inner liner, the retainer member comprising:
 a base that is movably coupled to the inner liner above the storage member, and first and second arms that extend from the base, 
   wherein the first and second arms are curved about an axis and define a passageway extending through the first and second arms along the axis, further wherein a free end of the first arm is spaced from a free end of the second arm to define an opening that provides radial access to the passageway through the opening, and   wherein the first and second arms extend from the base in a direction that is transverse and non-orthogonal to the axis.   
     
     
         9 . The appliance of  claim 8 , wherein a distance between the free end of the first arm and the free end of the second arm is less than a distance between a central portion of the first arm and a central portion of the second arm. 
     
     
         10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . The appliance of  claim 8 , wherein the first and second arms are curved about a vertical axis and two horizontal axes, wherein the horizontal axes are perpendicular to each other. 
     
     
         12 . The appliance of  claim 8 , wherein the first and second arms extend downward from the base away from the inner liner. 
     
     
         13 . The appliance of  claim 8 , further comprising a rail coupled to the inner liner, wherein the retainer member is slidably coupled to the rail such that the base is slidable along a horizontal direction. 
     
     
         14 . The appliance of  claim 13 , wherein the rail comprises first and second longitudinal side walls that extend parallel to each other and define channel therebetween. 
     
     
         15 . The appliance of  claim 14 , wherein the base comprises a mounting surface facing the inner liner, further wherein the base comprises a hook that extends from the mounting surface. 
     
     
         16 . The appliance of  claim 15 , wherein the hook comprises a first member that extends from the mounting surface and a second member that extends from the first member, further wherein the first member extends normal to the mounting surface and the second member extends parallel to the mounting surface. 
     
     
         17 . The appliance of  claim 16 , wherein the first member of the hook extends over and is supported by the first side wall of the rail and the second member extends downward into the channel of the rail. 
     
     
         18 . The appliance of  claim 8 , wherein the base comprises a mounting surface facing the inner liner, further wherein the base comprises a hook that extends from the mounting surface. 
     
     
         19 . The appliance of  claim 18 , wherein the hook comprises a first member that extends from the mounting surface and a second member that extends from the first member, further wherein the first member extends normal to the mounting surface and the second member extends parallel to the mounting surface. 
     
     
         20 . The appliance of  claim 8 , wherein the retainer member further comprises a layer of gripping material coupled to an inner side of the first and second arms that faces the axis. 
     
     
         21 . The appliance of  claim 8 , further comprising an upper rail and a lower rail coupled to the inner liner,
 wherein the retainer member is slidably coupled to the upper rail such that the base is slidable along a horizontal direction, and   wherein the storage member is slidably coupled to the lower rail such that the storage member is slidable along the horizontal direction.   
     
     
         22 . The appliance of  claim 21 , wherein the retainer member and storage member are coupled independently such that the retainer member is slidable along the upper rail independently from the storage member and the storage member is slidable along the lower rail independently from the retainer member.