Shelving system for a refrigerator

Abstract

A refrigerator shelf system includes a refrigerator having a liner wall and a shelf. The liner wall defines a recess and has pairs of opposing protrusions extending into the recess. The shelf has locks extending therefrom. The locks are configured to engage the pairs of opposing protrusions when the shelf is transitioned to a horizontal position to secure the horizontal position of the shelf and facilitate the shelf supporting at least one item. The locks are configured to disengage the pairs of opposing protrusions when the shelf is transitioned to a vertical position to facilitate adjusting a height of the shelf.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A refrigerator shelf system comprising:
 a refrigerator having a liner wall (i) defining an internal cavity, (ii) defining a recess extending outward from the internal cavity, and (iii) having mounting protrusions extending into the recess; and   a shelf having mounting tabs extending therefrom, wherein the mounting tabs are configured to (i) engage the mounting protrusions when the shelf is transitioned to a horizontal position to secure the horizontal position of the shelf and facilitate the shelf supporting at least one item and (ii) disengage the mounting protrusions when the shelf is transitioned to a vertical position to facilitate adjusting a height of the shelf.   
     
     
         2 . The shelf system of  claim 1 , wherein (i) the mounting protrusions are arranged in pairs of mounting protrusions, (ii) the mounting tabs are arranged in pairs of mounting tabs, (iii) the pairs of mounting tabs are configured to engage the pairs of mounting protrusions when the shelf is in the horizontal position to support the shelf in the horizontal position, and (iv) the pairs of mounting tabs are configured to disengage the pairs of mounting protrusions when the shelf is in the vertical position to facilitate adjusting the height of the shelf. 
     
     
         3 . The shelf system of  claim 2 , wherein the pairs of mounting protrusions are aligned vertically and are arranged at different heights. 
     
     
         4 . The shelf system of  claim 3 , wherein the pairs of mounting tabs are configured to engage the each of the pairs of mounting to protrusions such that the shelf may be positioned at a plurality of heights. 
     
     
         5 . The shelf system of  claim 2 , wherein the mounting protrusions within each pair of mounting protrusions are (i) spaced-apart relative to each other and (ii) vertically offset relative to each other. 
     
     
         6 . The shelf system of  claim 5 , wherein the mounting tabs within each pair of mounting tabs are offset relative to each other. 
     
     
         7 . The shelf system of  claim 2  further comprising flaps partially overhanging the recess, and wherein a first of the mounting protrusions within each pair of mounting protrusions is secured to the flap while a second of the mounting protrusions within each pair of mounting protrusions is secured a rear wall within the recess. 
     
     
         8 . A refrigerator shelf system comprising:
 a refrigerator having a liner wall (i) defining a recess and (ii) having pairs of opposing protrusions extending into the recess; and   a shelf having locks extending therefrom, wherein the locks are configured to (i) engage the pairs of opposing protrusions when the shelf is transitioned to a horizontal position to secure the horizontal position of the shelf and facilitate the shelf supporting at least one item and (ii) disengage the pairs of opposing protrusions when the shelf is transitioned to a vertical position to facilitate adjusting a height of the shelf.   
     
     
         9 . The shelf system of  claim 8 , wherein (i) the pairs of opposing protrusions are aligned vertically and are arranged at different heights and (ii) the locks are configured to engage the each of the pairs of opposing protrusions such that the shelf may be positioned at a plurality of heights. 
     
     
         10 . The shelf system of  claim 9 , wherein the protrusions within each of the pairs of opposing protrusions are (i) spaced-apart relative to each other and (ii) vertically offset relative to each other. 
     
     
         11 . The shelf system of  claim 9 , wherein the locks include pairs of offset tabs configured to engage each of the pairs of opposing protrusions to secure the shelf in the horizontal position. 
     
     
         12 . A refrigerator shelf system comprising:
 a refrigerator having a liner wall defining a cavity; and   a shelf having (i) a stationary portion secured to the liner wall and (ii) a receiving portion rotatably secured to the stationary portion, wherein the receiving portion is configured to transition between a horizontal position to support at least one item and a vertical position that is adjacent to the stationary portion.   
     
     
         13 . The shelf system of  claim 12 , wherein the stationary portion includes a protrusion extending therefrom and the receiving portion includes a snap configured to (i) engage the protrusion to secure the receiving portion in the vertical position and (ii) disengage the protrusion to facilitate transitioning the receiving portion to the horizontal position. 
     
     
         14 . The shelf system of  claim 12 , wherein the receiving portion includes a stopper configured to engage a bottom surface of the stationary portion to secure the receiving portion in the horizontal position. 
     
     
         15 . The shelf system of  claim 12 , wherein the receiving portion includes a frame configured to receiving interchangeable plates. 
     
     
         16 . The shelf system of  claim 15 , wherein the interchangeable plates are each shaped to receive varying items. 
     
     
         17 . The shelf system of  claim 16 , wherein one of the interchangeable plates is shaped to receive a bottle. 
     
     
         18 . The shelf system of  claim 16 , wherein one of the interchangeable plates is shaped to receive a pair of cans. 
     
     
         19 . The shelf system of  claim 16 , wherein one of the interchangeable plates is shaped to receive a plurality of eggs. 
     
     
         20 . The shelf system of  claim 16 , wherein one of the interchangeable plates is textured to increase friction.