Refrigerator shelf and related assemblies

Abstract

A refrigerator cabinet including a first shelf defining a U-shape, wherein the U-shape is off-center so that a first side of the U-shape is wider than the an opposite, second side of the U-shape, a second U-shaped shelf having left, right and back portions located in a horizontal fashion above the first shelf, and a mounting structure for supporting the first and second U-shaped shelves.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A refrigerator shelf, comprising:
 a shelf body defining:
 a back storage portion adjacent a back side of the shelf body and having a depth less than a depth of the shelf body, as defined between the back edge and a front edge of the shelf body; 
 a left side storage portion extending from the back storage portion to define a first portion of the front edge of the shelf body; and 
 a right side storage portion extending from the back storage portion to define a second portion of the front edge of the shelf body; 
   wherein the right and left side storage portions are both configured for supporting a food article thereon and are separated from each other across a portion of a width of the shelf body to define an open area therebetween and forward of the back storage portion.   
     
     
         2 . The refrigerator shelf of  claim 1 , wherein each of the right and left side storage portions is configured for supporting a food article thereon by having a respective width of between 4 inches and 7 inches. 
     
     
         3 . The refrigerator shelf of  claim 1 , wherein the back storage portion is also configured for supporting a food article thereon by having a depth of between 4 and 9 inches. 
     
     
         4 . The refrigerator shelf of  claim 1 , further including an insert supported within a portion of the open area of the body adjacent the back storage portion thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The refrigerator shelf of  claim 4 , wherein the rear storage portion and the insert are configured to collectively support a food article thereon. 
     
     
         6 . The refrigerator shelf of  claim 5 , wherein the rear storage portion and the insert are configured to collectively support a food article thereon by spanning a depth of between 4 and 9 inches from the back edge of the shelf body. 
     
     
         7 . The refrigerator shelf of  claim 4 , wherein the insert is supported on a ledge defined on the body within a portion of the open area so as to be removable from the body by lifting. 
     
     
         8 . The refrigerator shelf of  claim 1 , further including a tuck shelf defining a surface and a front edge, the tuck shelf being mounted within a portion of the open area of the body so as to be moveable from an extended position with the front edge of the tuck shelf aligned with the front edge of the body to a tucked position with the front edge of the tuck shelf moved toward the back edge of the body and away from the front edge thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The refrigerator shelf of  claim 8 , wherein the tuck shelf is positioned at least partially beneath the back storage portion of the body when in the tucked position. 
     
     
         10 . The refrigerator shelf of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the back storage portion of the body defines an interior edge extending between the right and left side portions; and   the front edge of the tuck shelf is aligned with the interior edge of the back storage portion when the tuck shelf is in the tucked position.   
     
     
         11 . The refrigerator shelf of  claim 9 , further including an insert supported within a portion of the open area of the body adjacent the back storage portion thereof and defining an interior edge extending between the right and left side portions, wherein:
 the tuck shelf is positioned at least partially beneath the insert with the front edge of the tuck shelf aligned with the interior edge of the insert when the tuck shelf is in the tucked position.   
     
     
         12 . The refrigerator shelf of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the body defines a pair of tracks oppositely defined on the right and left side portion, respectively, adjacent the open area of the shelf body; and   the tuck shelf is moveably supported on pair of tracks.   
     
     
         13 . The refrigerator shelf of  claim 9 , further including:
 a first trim piece at least partially surrounding the body and extending over the first and second portions of the front edge; and   a second trim piece extending along the front edge of the tuck shelf so as to be generally flush with the first trim piece when the tuck shelf is in the extended position.   
     
     
         14 . The refrigerator shelf of  claim 13 , further including a handle affixed on the second trim piece. 
     
     
         15 . A refrigerator shelving arrangement, comprising:
 a first refrigerator shelf; and   a second refrigerator shelf positionable above the first refrigerator shelf and including:
 a shelf body defining:
 a back storage portion adjacent a back side of the shelf body and having a depth less than a depth of the shelf body, as defined between the back edge and a front edge of the shelf body; 
 a left side storage portion extending from the back storage portion to define a first portion of the front edge of the shelf body; and 
 a right side storage portion extending from the back storage portion to define a second portion of the front edge of the shelf body; 
 
   wherein the right and left side storage portions are both configured for supporting a food article thereon and are separated from each other across a portion of a width of the shelf body to define an open area therebetween and forward of the back storage portion, the open area configured for selectively accommodating the positioning of a food article supported on the first refrigerator shelf so as to extend into the open area.   
     
     
         16 . The refrigerator shelving arrangement of  claim 15 , wherein the right and left side storage portions are both configured for supporting a food article thereon so as to be adjacent a food article positioned on the first shelf and extending into the open area. 
     
     
         17 . The refrigerator shelving arrangement of  claim 15 , wherein each of the right and left side storage portions is configured for supporting a food article thereon by having a respective width of between 4 inches and 7 inches. 
     
     
         18 . The refrigerator shelving arrangement of  claim 15 , wherein the back storage portion is also configured for supporting a food article thereon so as to be adjacent a food article positioned on the first shelf and extending into the open area. 
     
     
         19 . The refrigerator shelving arrangement of  claim 15 , wherein the second shelf further includes a tuck shelf defining a surface and a front edge, the tuck shelf being mounted within a portion of the open area of the body so as to be moveable from an extended position with the front edge of the tuck shelf aligned with the front edge of the body to a tucked position with the front edge of the tuck shelf moved toward the back edge of the body and away from the front edge thereof, the tuck shelf being moveable into the extended position to support at least one food article within the open area of the body when no food article supported on the first shelf extends into the open area. 
     
     
         20 . A refrigerator, comprising:
 a cabinet enclosing a liner that defines an interior cavity within the cabinet and having an open side;   at least one door coupled with the cabinet and selectively enclosing the interior cavity;   a first shelf disposed within the interior cavity in a first position; and   a second shelf disposed within the interior cavity in a second position above the first shelf and including:
 a shelf body defining:
 a back storage portion adjacent a back side of the shelf body and having a depth less than a depth of the shelf body, as defined between the back edge and a front edge of the shelf body; 
 a left side storage portion extending from the back storage portion to define a first portion of the front edge of the shelf body; and 
 a right side storage portion extending from the back storage portion to define a second portion of the front edge of the shelf body; 
 
   wherein the right and left side storage portions are both configured for supporting a food article thereon and are separated from each other across a portion of a width of the shelf body to define an open area therebetween and forward of the back storage portion, the open area configured for selectively accommodating the positioning of a food article supported on the first refrigerator shelf so as to extend into the open area.