Lighted refrigerator shelf with overmold

Abstract

A shelf for supporting items including but not limited to in refrigerated appliances includes in an integrated fashion a supporting surface and around the perimeter of the supporting surface of similar dimensions. A lighting subassembly is mountable to or integrated in the framing. Electrical power can be through touchless or contact electrical communication. In one form the supporting surface is a single substantially clear plate. In another form the supporting surface is a thin glass top layer and a bottom layer overmolded with the framing to the thin glass top layer.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A refrigerator comprising:
 a cabinet with a fresh food compartment and a freezer compartment, and a liner defining an interior portion of the fresh food compartment;   a vertical rail having mounting apertures within the liner and supported by the cabinet;   a shelf removably attached to the vertical rail, the shelf comprising:
 an at least partially light transmissive supporting plate having a thickness and a perimeter edge; 
 a frame having a top half and a bottom half, the frame covering the perimeter edge of the supporting plate; 
 a lighting subassembly contained within and located between the top half and the bottom half and in front of the supporting plate, the lighting subassembly comprising one or more light sources having an optical axis substantially aligned with and configured to shine backwardly through the supporting plate; 
 a connection to electrical power between the lighting subassembly and the vertical rail; and 
 shelf mounting brackets associated with the framing. 
   
     
     
         2 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the supporting plate is glass. 
     
     
         3 . The refrigerator of  claim 2  wherein the frame has a thickness not more than twice the thickness of the glass. 
     
     
         4 . The refrigerator of  claim 3 , wherein the connection to electrical power is contained within the frame. 
     
     
         5 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the frame is a single thermoplastic piece overmolded over the supporting plate. 
     
     
         6 . The refrigerator of  claim 5 , wherein the frame is at least partially light transmissive. 
     
     
         7 . The refrigerator of  claim 6 , wherein the lighting subassembly is overmolded within the frame. 
     
     
         8 . The refrigerator of  claim 5 , wherein the supporting plate includes a glass plate disposed over an overmolded undersupport. 
     
     
         9 . The refrigerator of  claim 8 , wherein the undersupport comprises an at least partially light transmissive thermoplastic. 
     
     
         10 . A refrigerator comprising:
 a cabinet;   a fresh food compartment with a liner and a vertical rail with mounting apertures;   a shelf removably attached to the vertical rail, the shelf comprising:
 a glass supporting plate having a bottom surface, a thickness, and a perimeter edge; 
 a frame covering the perimeter edge and having an undersupport below the bottom surface, the frame comprising an at least partially light transmissive thermoplastic; 
 a lighting subassembly at least partially contained within the frame and in front of the supporting plate, the lighting subassembly comprising one or more light sources having an optical axis substantially aligned with and configured to shine backwardly through the undersupport; 
 a connection to electrical power between the lighting subassembly and the vertical rail; and 
 shelf mounting brackets mounted to the frame. 
   
     
     
         11 . The refrigerator of  claim 10 , wherein the shelf mounting brackets are electrically connected to the vertical rail. 
     
     
         12 . The refrigerator of  claim 11 , wherein the connection to electrical power is electrically connected to the brackets. 
     
     
         13 . The refrigerator of  claim 10 , wherein the lighting subassembly is completely contained within the frame. 
     
     
         14 . The refrigerator of  claim 10 , wherein the glass supporting plate is on the order of 1 mm thick. 
     
     
         15 . The refrigerator of  claim 10 , wherein the lighting subassembly further comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs). 
     
     
         16 . The refrigerator of  claim 15 , wherein at least one of the plurality of LEDs is directed to shine through the undersupport. 
     
     
         17 . The refrigerator of  claim 16 , wherein at least one of the plurality of LEDs is directed to shine through a portion of the frame surrounding the perimeter edge. 
     
     
         18 . A refrigerator shelf comprising:
 a glass supporting plate having a bottom surface, a thickness, and a perimeter edge;   a frame covering the perimeter edge and having an undersupport below the bottom surface, the frame comprising an at least partially light transmissive thermoplastic;   a lighting subassembly at least partially contained within the frame and in front of the supporting plate, the lighting subassembly having a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) having an optical axis substantially aligned with and configured to shine backwardly through the undersupport; and   shelf mounting brackets mounted to the frame;   wherein the shelf mounting brackets are configured to removably attach to a vertical rail within a refrigerator.   
     
     
         19 . The refrigerator of  claim 18 , wherein at least one of the plurality of LEDs is directed to shine through the undersupport. 
     
     
         20 . The refrigerator of  claim 19 , wherein at least one of the plurality of LEDs is directed to shine through a portion of the frame surrounding the perimeter edge.