EP2131123A2 - Seau à inclinaison externe - Google Patents

Seau à inclinaison externe Download PDF

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Publication number
EP2131123A2
EP2131123A2 EP09250699A EP09250699A EP2131123A2 EP 2131123 A2 EP2131123 A2 EP 2131123A2 EP 09250699 A EP09250699 A EP 09250699A EP 09250699 A EP09250699 A EP 09250699A EP 2131123 A2 EP2131123 A2 EP 2131123A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
ice
bucket
door
refrigerator
hatch
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP09250699A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP2131123A3 (fr
Inventor
Paul B. Allard
Douglas D. Leclear
Andrew M. Tenbarge
John J. Vonderhaar
Michelle E. Wilcox
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Whirlpool Corp
Original Assignee
Whirlpool Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Whirlpool Corp filed Critical Whirlpool Corp
Priority to EP09250699A priority Critical patent/EP2131123A3/fr
Publication of EP2131123A2 publication Critical patent/EP2131123A2/fr
Publication of EP2131123A3 publication Critical patent/EP2131123A3/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25C—PRODUCING, WORKING OR HANDLING ICE
    • F25C5/00—Working or handling ice
    • F25C5/18—Storing ice
    • F25C5/182—Ice bins therefor
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25C—PRODUCING, WORKING OR HANDLING ICE
    • F25C5/00—Working or handling ice
    • F25C5/20—Distributing ice
    • F25C5/22—Distributing ice particularly adapted for household refrigerators
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F25D23/00—General constructional features
    • F25D23/02—Doors; Covers
    • F25D23/04—Doors; Covers with special compartments, e.g. butter conditioners
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F25D2323/00—General constructional features not provided for in other groups of this subclass
    • F25D2323/02—Details of doors or covers not otherwise covered
    • F25D2323/023—Door in door constructions

Definitions

  • the present invention generally relates to a door assembly for a refrigerator and, more specifically, to an outwardly tilting ice bucket for a refrigerator.
  • a door assembly for an appliance includes a door having an interior side and an exterior side.
  • the door is operable between an open position and a closed position.
  • An ice maker is adjacent to the interior side of the door when the door is in the closed position.
  • a frame defines an aperture extending from the interior side to the exterior side.
  • An ice bucket is disposed in the aperture and is operable between a lowered position, wherein a reservoir portion of the bucket is accessible when the door is closed, and a raised position, wherein the reservoir portion of the bucket is inaccessible when the door is closed.
  • An ice dispenser is disposed below the ice bucket.
  • a refrigerator in another aspect of the present invention, includes a refrigerating section and a freezing section.
  • a door is hingedly connected to the refrigerator and is operable between an open position and a closed position.
  • An ice maker is disposed inside the refrigerating section.
  • An ice bucket is operably coupled with the door, wherein the ice bucket receives ice from the ice maker and is accessible when the door is in the closed position.
  • a module for a refrigerator includes an ice maker.
  • a tilt-out ice bucket is rotatably connected with an external side of the refrigerator below the ice maker.
  • the tilt-out ice bucket includes a bottom wall with an ice hatch disposed therein.
  • An ice dispenser includes an actuator operably connected with and disposed below the ice hatch and adapted to receive ice from the tilt-out ice bucket upon engagement of the actuator.
  • FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a refrigerator incorporating one embodiment of the present invention
  • FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the refrigerator of FIG. 1 with the refrigerator door open;
  • FIG. 3 is a side cross-sectional elevational view of the refrigerator of FIG. 1 taken at III;
  • FIG. 4 is a side cross-sectional elevational view of the refrigerator of FIG. 3 dispensing ice
  • FIG. 5 is a side cross-sectional elevational view of the refrigerator of FIG. 3 with the bucket partially open;
  • FIG. 6 is a side cross-sectional elevational view of the refrigerator of FIG. 3 with the bucket fully open;
  • FIG. 7 is a top perspective view of another embodiment of an ice bucket assembly of the present invention.
  • FIG. 8 is a top perspective view of the ice bucket assembly of FIG. 7 with the ice bucket rotated horizontally outward;
  • FIG. 9 is a top perspective view of the ice bucket assembly of FIG. 7 with the ice bucket rotated horizontally outward and vertically downward.
  • the reference numeral 20 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 generally designates a door assembly for an appliance 22 having a door 24 with an interior side 26 and an exterior side 28.
  • the door 24 is operable between an open position 30 and a closed position 32.
  • An ice maker 34 is adjacent to the interior side 26 of the door 24 when the door 24 is in the closed position 32.
  • a frame 36 defines an aperture 38 extending from the interior side 26 to the exterior side 28.
  • An ice bucket 40 is disposed in the aperture 38 and is operable between a lowered position 42 ( FIG. 5 ), wherein a reservoir portion 44 ( FIG.
  • the door 24 of the present invention may be incorporated in a variety of refrigerator 22 designs.
  • the refrigerator 22 may include multiple refrigerator compartments or freezer compartments arranged horizontally or vertically.
  • the refrigerator shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 includes a lower freezer section 50 and an upper refrigerator section 52 with outwardly opening refrigerator doors 24 disposed above a freezer door 55 on the freezer section 50.
  • a vent 56 is positioned on a bottom portion 58 of the refrigerator 22 adjacent refrigerator supports 60, and handles 62 are disposed on each of the refrigerator and freezer doors 24, 55 to assist a user in opening and closing the refrigerator and freezer doors 24, 55.
  • the refrigerator 22 may include a variety of organizing elements, such as shelves 64 and bins 66.
  • the organizing elements 64, 66 may be located on the refrigerator door 24 as well as in a cabinet portion 68 of the refrigerator 22.
  • the ice dispenser 48 of the illustrated embodiment is adjacent to and below the ice bucket 40.
  • the ice dispenser 48 includes an actuator 70 that is operably linked to an ice hatch 72 in the reservoir portion 44 of the bucket 40.
  • the actuator 70 may be connected by an electrical line that sends a control signal to a motorized device operably connected to the ice hatch 72.
  • the actuator 70 may be operably connected with a mechanical linkage. More specifically, the actuator 70 may be linked by a mechanical linkage that causes the ice hatch 72 to open when the actuator 70 is engaged. It is contemplated that the actuator 70 and ice hatch 72 may be connected in a multitude of ways as understood by one having ordinary skill in the art.
  • the ice bucket 40 includes a hinge 80 that allows downward rotational movement of the ice bucket 40 in the direction of arrow 82 about the hinge 80, such that the ice bucket 40 may be placed in an open lowered position to allow a large volume of ice 74 to be dispensed to a user.
  • the ice bucket 40 includes a volume sensor 84 that sends a signal to the ice maker 34 when the ice 74 has reached a predetermined maximum volume.
  • the volume sensor 84 may be a mechanical arm or an infrared eye, as shown in FIGS. 3-6 , that measures the height of the ice 74 in the ice bucket 40.
  • the ice bucket 40 includes a position sensor 86 that sends a signal to a controller that controls the ice maker 34 indicating that the ice bucket 40 is in the lowered position 42.
  • the controller sends a signal to the ice maker 34 instructing the ice maker 34 not to release ice 74.
  • the controller receives a signal from the position sensor 86 that the ice bucket 40 is once again available to receive ice 74.
  • the illustrated embodiment includes an ice bucket 40 that is rotatable horizontally on a swing arm 90 in the direction of arrow 92.
  • the ice bucket 40 is then rotatable vertically downward in the direction of arrow 94 about a horizontal hinge 96 on the swing arm 90.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Refrigerator Housings (AREA)
  • Devices That Are Associated With Refrigeration Equipment (AREA)
EP09250699A 2008-03-12 2009-03-12 Seau à inclinaison externe Withdrawn EP2131123A3 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP09250699A EP2131123A3 (fr) 2008-03-12 2009-03-12 Seau à inclinaison externe

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US3577508P 2008-03-12 2008-03-12
EP09250699A EP2131123A3 (fr) 2008-03-12 2009-03-12 Seau à inclinaison externe

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP2131123A2 true EP2131123A2 (fr) 2009-12-09
EP2131123A3 EP2131123A3 (fr) 2010-05-26

Family

ID=42184086

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP09250699A Withdrawn EP2131123A3 (fr) 2008-03-12 2009-03-12 Seau à inclinaison externe

Country Status (1)

Country Link
EP (1) EP2131123A3 (fr)

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2013000979A3 (fr) * 2011-06-27 2013-07-25 Arcelik Anonim Sirketi Dispositif de refroidissement comprenant un plateau à glaçons disposé sur la porte
WO2017016768A1 (fr) * 2015-07-24 2017-02-02 BSH Hausgeräte GmbH Réfrigérateur équipé d'un distributeur de glace/d'eau
EP2837902B1 (fr) * 2013-08-12 2017-11-01 LG Electronics Inc. Réfrigérateur
US20180202705A1 (en) * 2015-07-24 2018-07-19 Bsh Hausgeraete Gmbh Refrigeration Appliance Comprising A Delivery Door
EP3283832A4 (fr) * 2015-07-08 2018-07-25 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Réfrigérateur
US10892822B2 (en) 2017-02-01 2021-01-12 British Telecommunications Public Limited Company Optical fiber event location
US11274990B2 (en) 2017-07-20 2022-03-15 British Telecommunications Public Limited Company Optical fiber

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3602007A (en) 1969-10-16 1971-08-31 Gen Electric Refrigerator including through-the-door ice service
EP1482263A2 (fr) 2003-05-28 2004-12-01 Lg Electronics Inc. Réfrigérateur avec un générateur de glace

Family Cites Families (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3635043A (en) * 1970-03-16 1972-01-18 Gen Electric Household refrigerator including automatic icemaker and door mounted ice storage receptacle
US6050097A (en) * 1998-12-28 2000-04-18 Whirlpool Corporation Ice making and storage system for a refrigerator
US6442954B1 (en) * 2001-07-02 2002-09-03 General Electric Company Dual hopper icemaking refrigerator
KR20050077844A (ko) * 2004-01-28 2005-08-04 엘지전자 주식회사 사이드 바이 사이드 타입 냉장고
US7185507B2 (en) * 2004-10-26 2007-03-06 Whirlpool Corporation Ice making and dispensing system
US7469553B2 (en) * 2005-11-21 2008-12-30 Whirlpool Corporation Tilt-out ice bin for a refrigerator
AU2007285111B2 (en) * 2006-08-17 2010-03-11 Lg Electronics Inc. Ice-making assembly and refrigerator using the same

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3602007A (en) 1969-10-16 1971-08-31 Gen Electric Refrigerator including through-the-door ice service
EP1482263A2 (fr) 2003-05-28 2004-12-01 Lg Electronics Inc. Réfrigérateur avec un générateur de glace

Cited By (17)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2013000979A3 (fr) * 2011-06-27 2013-07-25 Arcelik Anonim Sirketi Dispositif de refroidissement comprenant un plateau à glaçons disposé sur la porte
US10119747B2 (en) 2013-08-12 2018-11-06 Lg Electronics Inc. Refrigerator including a door having a storage chamber
EP2837902B1 (fr) * 2013-08-12 2017-11-01 LG Electronics Inc. Réfrigérateur
US11022368B2 (en) 2015-07-08 2021-06-01 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Refrigerator
US11460243B2 (en) 2015-07-08 2022-10-04 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Refrigerator
EP3283832A4 (fr) * 2015-07-08 2018-07-25 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Réfrigérateur
US12235039B2 (en) 2015-07-08 2025-02-25 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Refrigerator
US10174994B2 (en) 2015-07-08 2019-01-08 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Refrigerator
US10451342B2 (en) 2015-07-08 2019-10-22 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Refrigerator
US11885559B2 (en) 2015-07-08 2024-01-30 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Refrigerator
US10677513B2 (en) 2015-07-24 2020-06-09 Bsh Hausgeraete Gmbh Refrigeration appliance with an ice/water dispenser
WO2017016768A1 (fr) * 2015-07-24 2017-02-02 BSH Hausgeräte GmbH Réfrigérateur équipé d'un distributeur de glace/d'eau
US20180202705A1 (en) * 2015-07-24 2018-07-19 Bsh Hausgeraete Gmbh Refrigeration Appliance Comprising A Delivery Door
US10605517B2 (en) * 2015-07-24 2020-03-31 Bsh Hausgeraete Gmbh Refrigeration appliance comprising a delivery door
CN107850374A (zh) * 2015-07-24 2018-03-27 Bsh家用电器有限公司 包括冰/水分配器的制冷器具
US10892822B2 (en) 2017-02-01 2021-01-12 British Telecommunications Public Limited Company Optical fiber event location
US11274990B2 (en) 2017-07-20 2022-03-15 British Telecommunications Public Limited Company Optical fiber

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP2131123A3 (fr) 2010-05-26

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