Refrigerator shelf

Abstract

A shelf for a refrigerator is provided, the shelf comprising: a first surface for receiving items when the shelf is in use; the first surface being spaced apart from a second surface to form a duct between the first and second surfaces; wherein the duct allows fluid communication between an air inlet and an air outlet, the duct being flared to form the air inlet such that the cross sectional area of the air inlet is larger than that of the duct.

1 . A shelf for a refrigerator, the shelf comprising:
 a first surface for receiving items when the shelf is in use; and   a second surface spaced apart from the first surface to form a duct configured to channel air from an air inlet to an air outlet,   the duct being flared such that the duct has a maximum a cross sectional area at the air inlet.   
     
     
         2 . The shelf of  claim 1 , wherein at least a part of the air outlet is formed in the second surface of the shelf. 
     
     
         3 . The shelf of  claim 2 , wherein at least a part of the air outlet is formed in an edge of the shelf that is opposite the air inlet. 
     
     
         4 . The shelf of  claim 1 , further comprising a diverter that is positioned at and extends into the air outlet. 
     
     
         5 . The shelf of  claim 1 , wherein the first surface is planar and the second surface is flared to form the air inlet. 
     
     
         6 . The shelf of  claim 1 , wherein the first surface is flared to form the air inlet and the second surface is planar. 
     
     
         7 . The shelf of  claim 1 , further comprising a blanking plate disposed above the first surface and extending in a direction that is away from the second surface. 
     
     
         8 . The shelf of  claim 1 , further comprising a blanking plate disposed below the second surface and extending in a direction that is away from the first surface. 
     
     
         9 . The shelf of  claim 7 , wherein the blanking plate extends away from a surface of the first shelf in the same plane as the air inlet. 
     
     
         10 . A refrigerator comprising:
 a back wall of a refrigerated interior space, the back wall defining a perforation configured to expel cold air into the refrigerated interior space; and   a shelf attached to the back wall, the shelf including
 a first surface for receiving items when the shelf is in use, and 
 a second surface spaced apart from the first surface to form a duct configured to channel air from the perforation, through an air inlet, and to an air outlet, 
 the duct being flared such that the duct has a maximum a cross sectional area at the air inlet. 
   
     
     
         11 . The refrigerator of  claim 10 , wherein the perforation is a first perforation defined by the back wall, the refrigerator further comprising:
 a blanking plate disposed above the first surface of the shelf and extending in a direction that is away from the second surface of the shelf, the blanking plate covering a second perforation.   
     
     
         12 . The refrigerator of  claim 11 , wherein the blanking plate is a first blanking plate, the refrigerator further comprising:
 a second blanking plate disposed below the second surface of the shelf and extending in a direction that is away from the first surface of the shelf, the second blanking plate covering a third perforation.   
     
     
         13 . The refrigerator of  claim 10 , wherein the perforation is a first perforation defined by the back wall, the refrigerator further comprising:
 a blanking plate disposed below the second surface of the shelf and extending in a direction that is away from the first surface of the shelf, the blanking plate covering a second perforation.   
     
     
         14 . The refrigerator of  claim 10 , wherein air in the refrigerated interior space is separated from air in a space exterior to the open display refrigerator by an air curtain established by a fan that blows air through an air curtain outlet towards a corresponding air curtain inlet which recovers air from the air curtain for recirculation to the air curtain outlet.