Abstract: A clear ice maker assembly for use in a home refrigerator appliance, the clear ice maker assembly including: an evaporator plate that is cooled via contact with a refrigerant tube; at least one thermally non-conductive ice mold part disposed below the evaporator plate and having one or more walls that together with a surface of the evaporator plate form an ice mold cavity; a spray bar having at least one opening for introducing water vertically into the ice mold cavity such that a clear ice piece forms on the surface of the evaporator plate inside the ice mold cavity of the at least one thermally non-conductive ice mold part; a water reservoir system configured to supply water to the spray bar; and an ejection system configured to eject the clear ice piece formed inside the ice mold cavity of the at least one thermally non-conductive ice mold part.

Abstract: A refrigerator includes a fresh food compartment; a freezer compartment; an ice compartment disposed in the fresh food compartment; an ice maker disposed in the ice compartment, the ice maker including an ice tray, an ice maker evaporator, and a cooling tube which is disposed between the ice maker tray and the ice maker evaporator, such that the cooling tube is in direct contact with the ice maker tray and the ice maker evaporator; and a refrigeration circuit including a compressor, a condenser, a refrigerant valve, the ice maker evaporator, and a freezer compartment evaporator. The refrigerant valve directs a refrigerant to one of a first path or a second path of the refrigeration circuit, the first path causing the ice maker evaporator to work in series with the freezer compartment evaporator, and the second path causing the refrigerant to bypass the ice maker evaporator to the freezer compartment evaporator.

Abstract: A refrigerator includes an ice compartment region disposed in at least one of a fresh food compartment or a freezer compartment; an ice maker disposed in the ice compartment region and configured to make ice pieces; and an ice bucket assembly configured to store the ice pieces made by the ice maker. The ice bucket assembly includes a mechanism for producing nugget ice from the ice pieces made by the ice maker and stored in the ice bucket assembly, the nugget ice being smaller in size as compared to the ice pieces made by the ice maker and stored in the ice bucket assembly.

Abstract: A refrigerator includes an ice compartment region disposed in at least one of a fresh food compartment or a freezer compartment; an ice maker disposed in the ice compartment region and configured to make ice pieces; and an ice bucket assembly configured to store the ice pieces made by the ice maker. The ice bucket assembly includes a mechanism for producing nugget ice from the ice pieces made by the ice maker and stored in the ice bucket assembly, the nugget ice being smaller in size as compared to the ice pieces made by the ice maker and stored in the ice bucket assembly.

Abstract: A refrigerator including a fresh food compartment; at least one shelf disposed in the fresh food compartment, the at least one shelf being supported by at least one shelf support bracket; and a water dispenser integrated with the at least one support bracket and accessible from the fresh food compartment.

Abstract: A refrigerator including a fresh food compartment; a freezer compartment; an ice compartment disposed in the fresh food compartment; an ice maker assembly disposed in the ice compartment, the ice maker assembly including an ice maker tray/evaporator having an upper tray portion with at least one cavity for forming ice, a lower portion with at least one fin, and an evaporator cooling tube which is disposed between the upper tray portion and the lower portion, such that the evaporator cooling tube is sandwiched between the upper tray portion and the lower portion; and an ice bucket for storing ice, the ice bucket being disposed in the ice compartment.

Abstract: An automatic spherical ice maker includes an upper stationary ice mold having at least one ice cavity with a hemispherical shape, and a lower rotatable ice mold having at least one ice cavity with a hemispherical shape and corresponding to the ice cavity of the upper stationary ice mold, so that together the at least one ice cavity of the upper stationary ice mold and the at least one cavity of the lower rotatable ice mold form at least one spherical mold which is configured to produce at least one substantially spherical ice ball at a time. The upper stationary ice mold has a first heating element and the lower rotatable ice mold has a second heating element, thereby to facilitate release of the at least one spherical ice ball from the at least one spherical mold.

Abstract: A refrigerator includes an ice compartment region disposed in at least one of a fresh food compartment or a freezer compartment; a clear ice maker assembly disposed in the ice compartment region and configured to make clear ice pieces; and an ice bucket configured to store the clear ice pieces made by the clear ice maker assembly. The clear ice maker assembly includes an ice maker tray portion having a plurality of cavities for forming clear ice pieces; a water distribution assembly configured to distribute a non-pressurized, even flow of water to each of the cavities of the ice maker tray portion; a water reservoir tank and a pump for supplying water to the water distribution assembly; and a water collection and return duct that is disposed below and extends along an edge of the ice maker tray portion to collect and return excess water to the water reservoir tank.

Abstract: A refrigerator including a fresh food compartment; a freezer compartment; an ice compartment disposed in the fresh food compartment; an ice maker disposed in the ice compartment, the ice maker including an ice maker tray, a separate fin evaporator, and a cooling tube which is assembled between the ice maker tray and the fin evaporator, such that the cooling tube is in direct contact with the ice maker tray and the fin evaporator; and an ice bucket for storing ice, the ice bucket being disposed in the ice compartment.

Abstract: A refrigerator including a fresh food compartment; a freezer compartment; an ice compartment disposed in at least one of the fresh food compartment or the freezer compartment; an ice maker disposed in the ice compartment; and an ice bucket for storing ice, the ice bucket being disposed in the ice compartment. The ice maker and the ice bucket are arranged side-by-side in a horizontal direction within the ice compartment.

Abstract: A refrigerator including a fresh food compartment; a freezer compartment; an ice compartment disposed in the fresh food compartment; an ice maker assembly disposed in the ice compartment, the ice maker assembly including an ice maker tray/evaporator having an evaporator cooling tube which is die cast over-molded inside an ice maker tray portion to form a one piece unit, such that the evaporator cooling tube is in direct contact with the ice maker tray portion; and an ice bucket for storing ice, the ice bucket being disposed in the ice compartment.

Abstract: A refrigerator includes an ice compartment region disposed in at least one of a fresh food compartment or a freezer compartment; a clear ice maker assembly disposed in the ice compartment region and configured to make clear ice pieces; and an ice bucket configured to store the clear ice pieces made by the clear ice maker assembly. The clear ice maker assembly includes an ice maker tray portion having a plurality of cavities for forming clear ice pieces; a water distribution assembly configured to distribute a non-pressurized, even flow of water to each of the cavities of the ice maker tray portion; a water reservoir tank and a pump for supplying water to the water distribution assembly; and a water collection and return duct that is disposed below and extends along an edge of the ice maker tray portion to collect and return excess water to the water reservoir tank.

Abstract: A refrigerator including a refrigerator compartment; a freezer compartment; an ice compartment disposed in the refrigerator compartment; an ice maker assembly disposed in the ice compartment, the ice maker assembly including an ice maker tray/evaporator having an evaporator cooling tube which is in direct contact with the ice maker tray portion; an ice bucket for storing ice disposed in the ice compartment; and an air handler/auger motor assembly disposed at a rear portion of the ice compartment behind the ice bucket. The air handler/auger motor assembly includes an air passage having a fan disposed therein. An inlet of the fan communicates with an airflow passage under the ice maker tray/evaporator, such that the fan creates a suction and draws cool air from the ice maker tray/evaporator and discharges the cool air through the air passage and to the ice bucket to prevent any ice in the ice bucket from melting.

Abstract: A refrigerator includes an ice compartment region disposed in at least one of a fresh food compartment or a freezer compartment; an ice maker disposed in the ice compartment region and configured to make ice pieces; and an ice bucket assembly configured to store the ice pieces made by the ice maker. The ice bucket assembly includes a mechanism for producing nugget ice from the ice pieces made by the ice maker and stored in the ice bucket assembly, the nugget ice being smaller in size as compared to the ice pieces made by the ice maker and stored in the ice bucket assembly.

Abstract: An automatic spherical ice maker includes an upper stationary ice mold having at least one ice cavity with a hemispherical shape, and a lower rotatable ice mold having at least one ice cavity with a hemispherical shape and corresponding to the ice cavity of the upper stationary ice mold, so that together the at least one ice cavity of the upper stationary ice mold and the at least one cavity of the lower rotatable ice mold form at least one spherical mold which is configured to produce at least one substantially spherical ice ball at a time. The upper stationary ice mold has a first heating element and the lower rotatable ice mold has a second heating element, thereby to facilitate release of the at least one spherical ice ball from the at least one spherical mold.

Abstract: A refrigerator including a fresh food compartment; a freezer compartment; an ice compartment disposed in the fresh food compartment; an ice maker assembly disposed in the ice compartment, the ice maker assembly including an ice maker tray/evaporator having an upper tray portion with at least one cavity for forming ice, a lower portion with at least one fin, and an evaporator cooling tube which is disposed between the upper tray portion and the lower portion, such that the evaporator cooling tube is disposed between the upper tray portion and the lower portion; and an ice bucket for storing ice, the ice bucket being disposed in the ice compartment.

Abstract: A refrigerator including a fresh food compartment; a freezer compartment; an ice compartment disposed in at least one of the fresh food compartment or the freezer compartment; an ice maker disposed in the ice compartment; and an ice bucket for storing ice, the ice bucket being disposed in the ice compartment. The ice maker and the ice bucket are arranged side-by-side in a horizontal direction within the ice compartment.

Abstract: An ice maker assembly is disposed in the ice compartment of a refrigerator, the ice maker assembly including an ice maker tray/evaporator having an evaporator cooling tube which is in direct contact with an ice maker tray portion, and a tray temperature sensor for sensing a temperature of the ice maker tray portion. A controller is configured to control ice making, ice harvesting, and ice maintenance based on the temperature sensed by the tray temperature sensor. The tray temperature sensor is the only temperature sensor used to control ice making, ice harvesting, and ice maintenance. Alternatively, an additional temperature sensor can be disposed inside an ice maker assembly gear box for sensing a temperature of a housing of the gear box. In that case, the tray temperature sensor and the additional temperature sensor are the only temperature sensors used to control ice making, ice harvesting, and ice maintenance.

Abstract: A refrigerator including a refrigerator compartment; a freezer compartment; an ice compartment disposed in the refrigerator compartment; an ice maker assembly disposed in the ice compartment, the ice maker assembly including an ice maker tray/evaporator having an evaporator cooling tube which is in direct contact with the ice maker tray portion; an ice bucket for storing ice disposed in the ice compartment; and an air handler/auger motor assembly disposed at a rear portion of the ice compartment behind the ice bucket. The air handler/auger motor assembly includes an air passage having a fan disposed therein. An inlet of the fan communicates with an airflow passage under the ice maker tray/evaporator, such that the fan creates a suction and draws cool air from the ice maker tray/evaporator and discharges the cool air through the air passage and to the ice bucket to prevent any ice in the ice bucket from melting.