US 12,435,921 B2
Refrigerator and shelving system for a refrigerator
Gowardhan Parikshit, Pune (IN); Ryan Post, Coloma, MI (US); Chad Rotter, Saugatuck, MI (US); and Lalit Madhukar Suryawanshi, Pune (IN)
Assigned to Whirlpool Corporation, Benton Harbor, MI (US)
Filed by WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION, Benton Harbor, MI (US)
Filed on Nov. 7, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/503,875.
Prior Publication US 2025/0146741 A1, May 8, 2025
Int. Cl. F25D 25/02 (2006.01)
CPC F25D 25/02 (2013.01) [F25D 2325/021 (2013.01); F25D 2325/022 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A refrigerator shelving system comprising:
an upper shelf;
a hanger secured to the upper shelf;
a lower shelf (i) suspended below the upper shelf via the hanger and (ii) configured to transition via the hanger between (a) a deployed position where the lower shelf is spaced-apart from the upper shelf and (b) a stowed position where the lower shelf is nested to the upper shelf;
a nest (i) secured to a bottom of the upper shelf and (ii) configured to secure the lower shelf in the stowed position, wherein the nest includes (a) a magnet configured to engage the hanger to secure the lower shelf in the stowed position and (b) a biasing element disposed between the magnet and the upper shelf, wherein the biasing element is (I) configured to absorb energy in response to engagement between the hanger and the magnet and (II) adjust an alignment of the magnet in response to variations in a position of the hanger;
a housing disposed along the bottom of the upper shelf, wherein (i) the magnet and the biasing element are disposed within the housing, (ii) the housing defines a downward facing opening, (iii) the magnet protrudes through the downward facing opening, and (iv) the housing is configured to limit upward an ward movement of the magnet; and
a mounting plate, wherein (i) the biasing element and the magnet are each connected to the mounting plate, (ii) the biasing element protrudes upward from the mounting plate, (iii) the magnet protrudes downward from the mounting plate, and (iv) the mounting plate is configured to engage the housing proximate the downward facing opening to limit downward movement of the magnet.