The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 24, 2001
Filed:
Jul. 13, 2000
Francis Eugene Bent, Oneida, IL (US);
John C. Ellingwood, Galesburg, IL (US);
Maytag Corporation, Newton, IA (US);
Abstract
A retainer assembly for preventing food containers placed on a shelf of a refrigerator door from falling off the shelf when the refrigerator door is abruptly opened or closed includes a retaining element which is connected to a crosspiece extending above a base of the shelf and pivotally movable relative to the crosspiece between first and second extreme positions, as well as a substantially infinite number of intermediate positions. The retaining element is either directly attached to the crosspiece or pivotally connected to a supporting sheath that is snap-fit onto the crosspiece. In either case, the retaining element rides along one or more camming surfaces which causes the retaining element to be physically deformed as it is pivoted between the first and second extreme positions.