Refrigerator can storage organization

Abstract

A beverage chute is configured to removably mount within a refrigerator appliance. The beverage chute includes a front wall, a back wall, a first side wall, a second side wall, and a floor. The floor of the beverage chute is angled downward in the vertical direction from the back wall to the front wall.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A refrigerator appliance defining a vertical direction, a lateral direction, and a transverse direction, the vertical, lateral, and transverse directions being mutually perpendicular, the refrigerator appliance comprising:
 a cabinet defining a food storage chamber, the food storage chamber extending between a top portion and a bottom portion along the vertical direction, a first side portion and a second side portion along the lateral direction, and a front portion and a back portion along the transverse direction;   a first support member and a second support member disposed proximate the back portion of the food storage chamber for providing a plurality of shelf mounting positions;   a shelf extending between and mounted on the first and second support members within the food storage chamber, the shelf extending between a front side and a back side; and   a beverage chute positioned under the shelf, the beverage chute mounted between the front side of the shelf and the first or second support members, the beverage chute comprising a front wall, a back wall, a first side wall, a second side wall, and a floor.   
     
     
         2 . The refrigerator as in  claim 1 , wherein the beverage chute comprises a first mounting lip extending from the front wall, the first mounting lip removably coupled to the front side of the shelf. 
     
     
         3 . The refrigerator as in  claim 2 , wherein the beverage chute comprises a second mounting lip extending from the back wall, the second mounting lip removably coupled to one or more of the first or second support members and the back side of the shelf. 
     
     
         4 . The refrigerator as in  claim 1 , wherein the floor of the beverage chute is angled downward in the vertical direction from the back wall to the front wall. 
     
     
         5 . The refrigerator as in  claim 4 , wherein the beverage chute comprises an inlet defined in the first side wall, the inlet configured for receipt of beverage canisters. 
     
     
         6 . The refrigerator as in  claim 5 , wherein the inlet defines an opening between two and three quarters inches and four inches. 
     
     
         7 . The refrigerator as in  claim 5 , wherein the beverage chute comprises an outlet defined in the first side wall, the outlet configured for dispensing beverage canisters. 
     
     
         8 . The refrigerator as in  claim 7 , wherein the outlet defines an opening between three inches and six inches. 
     
     
         9 . The refrigerator as in  claim 7 , wherein the inlet is positioned on the first side wall proximate the back wall in the transverse direction, and the outlet is positioned on the first side wall proximate the front wall in the transverse direction. 
     
     
         10 . The refrigerator as in  claim 4 , wherein the floor is angled between one and thirty-five degrees from a plane defined by the lateral and transverse directions. 
     
     
         11 . A beverage chute defining a vertical direction, a lateral direction, and a transverse direction, the vertical, lateral, and transverse directions being mutually perpendicular, the beverage chute configured to removably mount within a refrigerator appliance, the beverage chute comprising: a front wall, a back wall, a first side wall, a second side wall, and a floor, wherein the floor of the beverage chute is angled downward in the vertical direction from the back wall to the front wall. 
     
     
         12 . The beverage chute as in  claim 11 , wherein the beverage chute comprises a first mounting lip extending from the front wall, the first mounting lip removably coupled to a shelf within the refrigerator appliance. 
     
     
         13 . The beverage chute as in  claim 12 , wherein the beverage chute comprises a second mounting lip extending from the back wall, the second mounting lip removably coupled to the shelf within the refrigerator appliance. 
     
     
         14 . The beverage chute as in  claim 11 , wherein the beverage chute comprises an inlet defined in the first side wall, the inlet configured for receipt of beverage canisters. 
     
     
         15 . The beverage chute as in  claim 14 , wherein the inlet defines an opening between two and three quarters inches and four inches. 
     
     
         16 . The beverage chute as in  claim 14 , wherein the beverage chute comprises an outlet defined in the first side wall, the outlet configured for dispensing beverage canisters. 
     
     
         17 . The beverage chute as in  claim 16 , wherein the outlet defines an opening between three inches and six inches. 
     
     
         18 . The beverage chute as in  claim 16 , wherein the inlet is positioned on the first side wall proximate the back wall in the transverse direction, and the outlet is positioned on the first side wall proximate the front wall in the transverse direction. 
     
     
         19 . The beverage chute as in  claim 11 , wherein the floor is angled between one and thirty-five degrees from a plane defined by the lateral and transverse directions.