Refrigerator and removable refrigerator shelf assembly thereof

Abstract

A refrigerator including a removable refrigerator shelf assembly. The removable refrigerator shelf assembly includes a base portion, and a first side wall positioned opposite a second side wall, where the first side wall and the second side wall are connected to the base portion. The first side wall includes a handle attachment portion, a raised portion positioned below the handle attachment portion, and a recessed portion positioned below the raised portion, where a thickness of the recessed portion is less than the thickness of the raised portion. A refrigerator shelf support is positioned at least partially adjacent to the recessed portion and underneath the raised portion when the removable refrigerator shelf assembly is mounted thereon. The removable refrigerator shelf assembly further includes a handle assembly rotatably coupled to the handle attachment portion, where the handle assembly extends from the first side wall to the second side wall.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A refrigerator, comprising:
 a removable refrigerator shelf assembly, comprising:
 a base portion; 
 a first side wall positioned opposite a second side wall, wherein the first side wall and the second side wall are connected to the base portion, and wherein the first side wall comprises:
 a handle attachment portion extending from an uppermost edge of the first side wall toward the base portion; 
 a raised portion positioned below the handle attachment portion, wherein a thickness of the raised portion is greater than a thickness of the handle attachment portion; and 
 a recessed portion positioned below the raised portion, wherein a thickness of the recessed portion is less than the thickness of the raised portion; and 
 wherein a refrigerator shelf support is positioned at least partially adjacent to the recessed portion and underneath the raised portion when the removable refrigerator shelf assembly is mounted on the refrigerator shelf support; and 
 
 a handle assembly rotatably coupled to the handle attachment portion, wherein the handle assembly extends from the first side wall to the second side wall. 
   
     
     
         2 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the handle assembly and the raised portion form a planar region parallel to the first side wall. 
     
     
         3 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the raised portion comprises a ridge extending a length along a bottom of the handle attachment portion. 
     
     
         4 . The refrigerator of  claim 3 , wherein the handle assembly is positioned to rest on the ridge of the raised portion when the removable refrigerator shelf assembly is in a first position for storage of the removable refrigerator shelf assembly. 
     
     
         5 . The refrigerator of  claim 4 , wherein the handle assembly is positioned perpendicular to the base portion when the removable refrigerator shelf assembly is in a second position for holding the removable refrigerator shelf assembly. 
     
     
         6 . The refrigerator of  claim 1  further comprising the refrigerator shelf support, wherein the refrigerator shelf support comprises:
 a base configured to support the removable refrigerator shelf assembly when mounted thereon; 
 a raised edge around a perimeter of the base configured to at least partially retain the removable refrigerator shelf assembly; and 
 a mounting portion comprising a cutout for connecting the refrigerator shelf support to an interior surface of the refrigerator. 
 
     
     
         7 . The refrigerator of  claim 6 , wherein the refrigerator shelf support is positioned on a refrigerator door assembly. 
     
     
         8 . The refrigerator of  claim 6 , wherein the mounting portion of the refrigerator shelf support is positioned at least partially adjacent to the recessed portion and underneath the raised portion of the removable refrigerator shelf assembly when the removable refrigerator shelf assembly is positioned on the base of the refrigerator shelf support. 
     
     
         9 . The refrigerator of  claim 5 , wherein the handle attachment portion comprises a first notch configured to lock the handle assembly in the second position. 
     
     
         10 . The refrigerator of  claim 5 , wherein the handle attachment portion comprises a second notch configured to lock the handle assembly in a third position, wherein the handle assembly is positioned between the first position and the second position when in the third position. 
     
     
         11 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the removable refrigerator shelf assembly further comprises a third side wall and a fourth side wall, wherein the third side wall and the fourth side wall are connected to the base portion, wherein the third side wall is positioned opposite to the fourth side wall, and wherein the third side wall and the fourth side wall extend from the first side wall to the second side wall. 
     
     
         12 . A removable refrigerator shelf assembly, comprising:
 a base portion;   a first side wall positioned opposite a second side wall, wherein the first side wall and the second side wall are connected to the base portion, and wherein the first side wall comprises:
 a handle attachment portion extending from an uppermost edge of the first side wall toward the base portion; 
 a raised portion positioned below the handle attachment portion, wherein a thickness of the raised portion is greater than a thickness of the handle attachment portion; and 
 a recessed portion positioned below the raised portion, wherein a thickness of the recessed portion is less than the thickness of the raised portion; and 
 wherein a shelf support is positioned at least partially adjacent to the recessed portion and underneath the raised portion when the removable refrigerator shelf assembly is mounted on the shelf support; and 
   a handle assembly rotatably coupled to the handle attachment portion, wherein the handle assembly extends from the first side wall to the second side wall.   
     
     
         13 . The removable refrigerator shelf assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the handle assembly and the raised portion form a planar region parallel to the first side wall. 
     
     
         14 . The removable refrigerator shelf assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the raised portion comprises a ridge extending a length along a bottom of the handle attachment portion. 
     
     
         15 . The removable refrigerator shelf assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the handle assembly is positioned to rest on the ridge of the raised portion when the removable refrigerator shelf assembly is in a first position for storage of the removable refrigerator shelf assembly. 
     
     
         16 . The removable refrigerator shelf assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the handle assembly is positioned perpendicular to the base portion when the removable refrigerator shelf assembly is in a second position for holding the removable refrigerator shelf assembly. 
     
     
         17 . The removable refrigerator shelf assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the handle attachment portion comprises a first notch configured to lock the handle assembly in the second position. 
     
     
         18 . The removable refrigerator shelf assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the handle attachment portion comprises a second notch configured to lock the handle assembly in a third position, wherein the handle assembly is positioned between the first position and the second position when in the third position. 
     
     
         19 . The removable refrigerator shelf assembly of  claim 12 , further comprising a third side wall and a fourth side wall, wherein the third side wall and the fourth side wall are connected to the base portion, wherein the third side wall is positioned opposite the fourth side wall, and wherein the third side wall and the fourth side wall extend from the first side wall to the second side wall. 
     
     
         20 . The removable refrigerator shelf assembly of  claim 12 , wherein a second handle assembly is rotatably coupled to the handle attachment portion.