The present disclosure relates to refrigeration units and more particularly, relates to a refrigeration unit having a composite-coated metallic shelf.
BACKGROUND
Refrigerators are widely used around the world for preservation of commodities, for example, food items, medicines, and any other product that needs to be preserved in a cold environment. A refrigerator is usually made of a main cabinet for storing the commodities and a door generally hinged to the main cabinet providing access to the interiors of the refrigerator, for example, to the stored commodities. Further, the refrigerators usually include multiple shelves provided in the main cabinet for positioning of the commodities within the main cabinet. These shelves are usually formed of plastic.
Particularly, in commercial refrigerators, such shelves are provided with a mechanism to dispose a shelf at an inclination within the main cabinet. The inclination is provided to ensure that a product placed at the back of the shelf slides to the front, when the product at the front is picked up from the shelf. Such mechanisms for inclinations are complex and cost intensive. Further, over a period of time, these mechanisms may be subjected to wear and tear and consequently require frequent maintenance incurring further cost. Moreover, considering the use of plastic in the shelves, these shelves are not environmental friendly, which is one of the primary global concerns nowadays.

In addition, the construction of these shelves is such that they easily get dirty over long duration of usage. Accordingly, it would require frequent cleaning posing further inconvenience to a user.
SUMMARY
This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts, in a simplified format, that are further described in the detailed description of the invention. This summary is neither intended to identify key or essential inventive concepts of the invention and nor is it intended for determining the scope of the invention.
In an embodiment of the present disclosure, a refrigeration unit is disclosed. The refrigeration unit includes a cabinet adapted to accommodate commodities to be stored in the refrigeration unit, and at least one shelf removably disposed in at least one slot formed on an inner wall of the cabinet. The at least one shelf includes a composite coating applied on a surface through a metallurgical treatment. The composite coating includes a Nickel-Phosphorous (Ni-P) layer and Graphene particles to impart at least anti-corrosion and sliding properties to the at least one shelf such that products positioned on the at least one shelf slide on the composite-coated surface under gravitational load.
In another embodiment of the present disclosure, a composite-coated shelf is disclosed. The composite-coated shelf is adapted to be disposed in a refrigeration unit. The shelf includes a composite coating applied on a surface through a metallurgical treatment. The composite coating includes a Nickel-Phosphorous (Ni-P) layer and Graphene particles to impart at least anti-corrosion and sliding properties to the shelf such that products positioned on the shelf slide on the composite-coated surface under gravitational load.

To further clarify advantages and features of the present invention, a more particular description of the invention will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof, which is illustrated in the appended drawings. It is appreciated that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope. The invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood when the following detailed description is read with reference to the accompanying drawings in which like characters represent like parts throughout the drawings, wherein:
Figure 1 illustrates a schematic side view of a refrigeration unit, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figure 2 illustrates a schematic perspective view of a composite-coated shelf of the refrigeration unit, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; and
Figure 3 illustrates a schematic top view of the composite-coated shelf, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
Further, skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the drawings are illustrated for simplicity and may not have been necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the flow charts illustrate the method in terms of the most prominent steps involved to help to improve understanding of aspects of the present invention. Furthermore, in terms of the construction of the device, one or more components of the device may have been represented in the drawings by conventional symbols, and the drawings may show only those specific details that

are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present invention so as not to obscure the drawings with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having benefit of the description herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES
For the purpose of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiment illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated system, and such further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates. Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skilled in the art to which this invention belongs. The system, methods, and examples provided herein are illustrative only and not intended to be limiting.
For example, the term "some" as used herein may be understood as "none" or "one" or "more than one" or "all." Therefore, the terms "none," "one," "more than one," "more than one, but not all" or "all" would fall under the definition of "some." It should be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that the terminology and structure employed herein is for describing, teaching and illuminating some embodiments and their specific features and elements and therefore, should not be construed to limit, restrict or reduce the spirit and scope of the present disclosure in any way.
For example, any terms used herein such as, "includes," "comprises," "has," "consists," and similar grammatical variants do not specify an exact

limitation or restriction, and certainly do not exclude the possible addition of one or more features or elements, unless otherwise stated. Further, such terms must not be taken to exclude the possible removal of one or more of the listed features and elements, unless otherwise stated, for example, by using the limiting language including, but not limited to, "must comprise" or "needs to include."
Whether or not a certain feature or element was limited to being used only once, it may still be referred to as "one or more features" or "one or more elements" or "at least one feature" or "at least one element." Furthermore, the use of the terms "one or more" or "at least one" feature or element do not preclude there being none of that feature or element, unless otherwise specified by limiting language including, but not limited to, "there needs to be one or more..." or "one or more element is required."
Unless otherwise defined, all terms and especially any technical and/or scientific terms, used herein may be taken to have the same meaning as commonly understood by a person ordinarily skilled in the art.
Reference is made herein to some "embodiments." It should be understood that an embodiment is an example of a possible implementation of any features and/or elements of the present disclosure. Some embodiments have been described for the purpose of explaining one or more of the potential ways in which the specific features and/or elements of the proposed disclosure fulfil the requirements of uniqueness, utility, and non-obviousness.
Use of the phrases and/or terms including, but not limited to, "a first embodiment," "a further embodiment," "an alternate embodiment," "one embodiment," "an embodiment," "multiple embodiments," "some embodiments," "other embodiments," "further embodiment", "furthermore embodiment",

"additional embodiment" or other variants thereof do not necessarily refer to the same embodiments. Unless otherwise specified, one or more particular features and/or elements described in connection with one or more embodiments may be found in one embodiment, or may be found in more than one embodiment, or may be found in all embodiments, or may be found in no embodiments. Although one or more features and/or elements may be described herein in the context of only a single embodiment, or in the context of more than one embodiment, or in the context of all embodiments, the features and/or elements may instead be provided separately or in any appropriate combination or not at all. Conversely, any features and/or elements described in the context of separate embodiments may alternatively be realized as existing together in the context of a single embodiment.
Any particular and all details set forth herein are used in the context of some embodiments and therefore should not necessarily be taken as limiting factors to the proposed disclosure.
For the sake of clarity, the first digit of a reference numeral of each component of the present disclosure is indicative of the Figure number, in which the corresponding component is shown. For example, reference numerals starting with digit "1" are shown at least in Figure 1. Similarly, reference numerals starting with digit "2" are shown at least in Figure 2.
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Figure 1 illustrates a schematic side view of a refrigeration unit 100, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The refrigeration unit 100 may include, but is not limited to, a cabinet 102 and at least one shelf 104 disposed within the cabinet 102. The cabinet 102 may be adapted to accommodate

commodities to be stored in the refrigeration unit 100. Within the cabinet 102, the commodities may be placed on the at least one shelf 104. Further, the at least one shelf 104 may be disposed within the cabinet 102 in a removable configuration.
In particular, the at least one shelf 104 may be removably disposed in at least one slot formed on an inner wall 106 of the cabinet 102. In an embodiment, the at least one slot may be understood as a groove formed on two opposite sides of the inner wall 106. The at least one slot may be adapted to receive the at least one shelf 104 within the cabinet 102 through the edges of the at least one shelf 104. The at least slot may be provided such that the at least one shelf 104 may conveniently be installed and uninstalled from the cabinet 102.
Figure 2 illustrates a schematic perspective view of the at least one shelf 104, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In an embodiment, the at least one shelf 104 may be formed of at least one metal. Referring to Figure 1 and Figure 2, the at least one shelf 104 may include a composite coating applied on a surface 202 through a metallurgical treatment. Figure 3 illustrates a schematic top view of the at least one shelf 104, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Referring to Figure 1, Figure 2, and Figure 3, in an embodiment, the composite coating may be applied to the at least one shelf 104 through an electroplating technique. In an embodiment, the composite coating provides low-friction properties to the surface 202 of the at least one shelf 104.
The composite coating may include, but is not limited to, a Nickel-Phosphorous (Ni-P) layer and Graphene particles. Such composition of the composite coating may impart at least anti-corrosion, self-lubricating and sliding properties to the at least one shelf 104. Owing to the sliding properties, products positioned on the at least one shelf 104 may slide on the composite-coated surface 202 under gravitational load. Further, in an embodiment, a thickness of the composite coating on the surface 202 of the at least one shelf 104 may vary within a range of 30-45 urn.

In an embodiment, a thin Nickel layer may be deposited as a part of the composite coating on the surface 202 in order to increase corrosion resistance of the at least one shelf 104. Further, the Nickel-Phosphorous (Ni-P) layer of the composite coating may be adapted to provide a self-lubrication effect as well as durability and other mechanical properties to the at least one shelf 104. Moreover, the presence of Graphene particles in the composite coating further improves the sliding properties of the at least one shelf 104. In an embodiment, in order to impart lubrication effect to the at least one shelf 104, the thickness of the composite coating may vary within a range of 35-40 urn.
As would be gathered, the present disclosure offers a composite-coated shelf 104 and the refrigeration unit 100 having the composite-coated shelf 104 for accommodating the products within the cabinet 102 of the refrigeration unit 100. The proposed disclosure relates to the shelf 104 having the composite coating applied on the surface through metallurgical treatments. The composite coating exhibits excellent sliding properties and low coefficient of friction that allow products easily slide on the surface 202 of the shelf under their gravitational load.
Further, the reduction of coefficient of friction will allow placement of the shelf 104 at lower inclination, for example, in order to accommodate more products on the shelf 104. Also, owing to the excellent sliding properties, the shelf 104 can now be positioned at an inclination angle less than the existing shelves. Therefore, inconvenience and cost associated with the existing complex inclination mechanisms being used for such applications are significantly reduced.
Moreover, the material used for manufacturing of the shelf 104 would be less than the material used for manufacturing of existing shelves. Furthermore, considering that the shelf 104 is formed of a metal, the environmental concerns associated with conventional plastic shelves are eliminated. In addition, the shelf 104 has higher versatility as well, at least in terms of its application. Therefore,

the composite-coated shelf 104 and consequently the refrigeration unit 100 of the present disclosure are easy to assemble, cost-effective, of high quality, flexible in implementation, environmental friendly, durable, exhibit excellent sliding properties and self-lubricating properties, and offers low-friction surface.
While specific language has been used to describe the present disclosure, any limitations arising on account thereto, are not intended. As would be apparent to a person in the art, various working modifications may be made to the method in order to implement the inventive concept as taught herein. The drawings and the foregoing description give examples of embodiments. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that one or more of the described elements may well be combined into a single functional element. Alternatively, certain elements may be split into multiple functional elements. Elements from one embodiment may be added to another embodiment.

WE CLAIM

1.A refrigeration unit (100) comprising:
a cabinet (102) adapted to accommodate commodities to be stored in the refrigeration unit (100); and
at least one shelf (104) removably disposed in at least one slot formed on an inner wall (106) of the cabinet (102), the at least one shelf (104) comprising a composite coating applied on a surface (202) through a metallurgical treatment,
wherein the composite coating comprising a Nickel-Phosphorous (Ni-P) layer and Graphene particles to impart at least anti-corrosion and sliding properties to the at least one shelf (104) such that products positioned on the at least one shelf (104) slide on the composite-coated surface (202) under gravitational load.
2. The refrigeration unit (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one shelf (104) is formed of at least one metal.
3. The refrigeration unit (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the composite coating is applied to the at least one shelf (104) through an electroplating technique.
4. The refrigeration unit (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein a thickness of the composite coating on the surface (202) varies within a range of 30-45 urn.
5. A composite-coated shelf (104) adapted to be disposed in a refrigeration unit (100), the shelf (104) comprising a composite coating applied on a surface (202) through a metallurgical treatment, the composite coating comprising a Nickel-Phosphorous (Ni-P) layer and Graphene particles to impart at least anti-corrosion and sliding properties to the shelf (104) such

that products positioned on the shelf (104) slide on the composite-coated surface (202) under gravitational load.
6. The composite-coated shelf (104) as claimed in claim 5, wherein the shelf (104) is formed of at least one metal.
7. The composite-coated shelf (104) as claimed in claim 5, wherein the composite coating is applied to the at least one shelf (104) through an electroplating technique.
8. The composite-coated shelf (104) as claimed in claim 5, wherein a thickness of the composite coating on the surface (202) varies within a range of 30-45 urn.