Refrigerator appliance and variable shelf assembly

Abstract

A variable shelf assembly for a refrigerator appliance, as provided herein, may include a stationary hydraulic actuator, a shelving bracket, a movable hydraulic actuator, and an actuator handle. The stationary hydraulic actuator may be extendable between a shortened position and an elongated position. The shelving bracket may be slidably mounted in mechanical communication with the stationary hydraulic actuator to move along a vertical direction between a first extreme position and a second extreme position. The first extreme position may correspond to the shortened position and the second extreme position may correspond to the elongated position. The movable hydraulic actuator may be mounted to the shelving bracket to move therewith along the vertical direction. The movable hydraulic actuator may include an input cylinder in fluid communication with the stationary hydraulic actuator. The actuator handle may be movably attached to the shelving bracket.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A refrigerator appliance defining a vertical direction, the refrigerator appliance comprising:
 a cabinet;   a liner positioned within the cabinet, the liner defining a refrigerated chamber; and   a variable shelf assembly mounted within the refrigerated chamber, the variable shelf assembly comprising
 a stationary hydraulic actuator set comprising a first stationary actuator and a second stationary actuator in fluid parallel to the first stationary actuator, the first and second stationary actuators being extendable between a shortened position and an elongated position, 
 a shelving bracket slidably mounted in mechanical communication with the stationary hydraulic actuator set to move along the vertical direction between a first extreme position and a second extreme position, the first extreme position corresponding to the shortened position and the second extreme position corresponding to the elongated position, 
 a movable hydraulic actuator mounted to the shelving bracket to move therewith along the vertical direction, the movable hydraulic actuator comprising an input cylinder in fluid communication with the stationary hydraulic actuator set and an input piston slidable within the input cylinder between a retracted position and an extended position, and 
 an actuator handle movably attached to the shelving bracket, the actuator handle being in mechanical communication with the movable hydraulic actuator to direct the input piston between the extended position and the retracted position. 
   
     
     
         2 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the movable hydraulic actuator is a first movable actuator in fluid communication with the first stationary actuator, and wherein the variable shelf assembly further comprises a second movable actuator in mechanical parallel to the first movable actuator, the second movable actuator comprising an input cylinder in fluid communication with the second stationary actuator and an input piston slidable within the input cylinder of the second movable actuator between a retracted position and an extended position. 
     
     
         3 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 1 , further comprising a retainer bar fixed to the liner, the retainer bar defining a predetermined height index, and wherein the stationary hydraulic actuator set is selectively mounted to the retainer bar at the predetermined height index. 
     
     
         4 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second stationary actuators are mounted in mechanical parallel. 
     
     
         5 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 4 , wherein the first and second stationary actuators are extendable along the vertical direction. 
     
     
         6 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 1 , further comprising a check valve configured to permit a uni-directional fluid flow from the movable hydraulic actuator to the stationary hydraulic actuator set. 
     
     
         7 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 6 , further comprising a release valve in fluid parallel to the check valve, the release valve being configured to selectively permit fluid communication between the stationary hydraulic actuator set and the movable hydraulic actuator. 
     
     
         8 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the variable shelf assembly further comprises a ratchet in one-way mechanical communication between the actuator handle and the input piston to translate movement of the actuator handle in a first direction to the input piston. 
     
     
         9 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 8 , further comprising a release valve in fluid communication with the stationary hydraulic actuator set, the release valve having an open state permitting an outflow of hydraulic fluid from the stationary hydraulic actuator set, the release valve being in mechanical communication with the actuator handle, wherein the open state of the release valve corresponds to extension of the actuator handle in a second direction separate from the first direction. 
     
     
         10 . A variable shelf assembly comprising:
 a stationary hydraulic actuator set comprising a first stationary actuator and a second stationary actuator in fluid parallel to the first stationary actuator, the first and second stationary actuators being extendable between a shortened position and an elongated position;   a shelving bracket slidably mounted in mechanical communication with the stationary hydraulic actuator set to move along a vertical direction between a first extreme position and a second extreme position, the first extreme position corresponding to the shortened position and the second extreme position corresponding to the elongated position;   a movable hydraulic actuator mounted to the shelving bracket to move therewith along the vertical direction, the movable hydraulic actuator comprising an input cylinder in fluid communication with the stationary hydraulic actuator set and an input piston slidable within the input cylinder between a retracted position and an extended position; and   an actuator handle movably attached to the shelving bracket, the actuator handle being in mechanical communication with the movable hydraulic actuator to direct the input piston between the extended position and the retracted position.   
     
     
         11 . The variable shelf assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the movable hydraulic actuator is a first movable actuator in fluid communication with the first stationary actuator, and wherein the variable shelf assembly further comprises a second movable actuator in mechanical parallel to the first movable actuator, the second movable actuator comprising an input cylinder in fluid communication with the second stationary actuator and an input piston slidable within the input cylinder of the second movable actuator between a retracted position and an extended position. 
     
     
         12 . The variable shelf assembly of  claim 10 , further comprising a retainer bar, the retainer bar defining a predetermined height index, and wherein the stationary hydraulic actuator set is selectively mounted to the retainer bar at the predetermined height index. 
     
     
         13 . The variable shelf assembly of  claim 10 , further comprising a planar storage surface fixed to the shelving bracket. 
     
     
         14 . The variable shelf assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the first and second stationary actuators are mounted in mechanical parallel. 
     
     
         15 . The variable shelf assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the first and second stationary actuators are extendable along the vertical direction. 
     
     
         16 . The variable shelf assembly of  claim 10 , further comprising a check valve configured to permit a uni-directional fluid flow from the movable hydraulic actuator to the stationary hydraulic actuator set. 
     
     
         17 . The variable shelf assembly of  claim 16 , further comprising a release valve in fluid parallel to the check valve, the release valve being configured to selectively permit fluid communication between the stationary hydraulic actuator set and the movable hydraulic actuator. 
     
     
         18 . The variable shelf assembly of  claim 10 , further comprising a ratchet in one-way mechanical communication between the actuator handle and the input piston to translate movement of the actuator handle in a first direction to the input piston. 
     
     
         19 . The variable shelf assembly of  claim 18 , further comprising a release valve in fluid communication with the stationary hydraulic actuator set, the release valve having an open state permitting an outflow of hydraulic fluid from the stationary hydraulic actuator set, the release valve being in mechanical communication with the actuator handle, wherein the open state of the release valve corresponds to extension of the actuator handle in a second direction separate from the first direction. 
     
     
         20 . A variable shelf assembly comprising:
 a retainer bar defining a predetermined height index along a vertical direction;   a stationary hydraulic actuator selectively mounted to the retainer bar at the predetermined height index, the stationary hydraulic actuator being extendable between a shortened position and an elongated position;   a shelving bracket slidably mounted in mechanical communication with the stationary hydraulic actuator to move along the vertical direction between a first extreme position and a second extreme position, the first extreme position corresponding to the shortened position and the second extreme position corresponding to the elongated position;   a movable hydraulic actuator mounted to the shelving bracket to move therewith along the vertical direction, the movable hydraulic actuator comprising an input cylinder in fluid communication with the stationary hydraulic actuator and an input piston slidable within the input cylinder between a retracted position and an extended position; and   an actuator handle movably attached to the shelving bracket, the actuator handle being in mechanical communication with the movable hydraulic actuator to direct the input piston between the extended position and the retracted position.