Article Holder Mounted On Door Or Pivoted Partition Patents (Class 62/377)
  • Patent number: 11619439
    Abstract: A refrigerator including a main body having a storeroom, an inner door rotatably coupled to the main body and having a door opening, an outer door rotatably arranged in front of the inner door to open or close the door opening, a dispenser including a water-intake space and an operation lever and configured to supply water to the water-intake space by manipulation of the operation lever, and an automatic water supplier including a water container installation space formed to have a water container mounted and a water level sensor configured to detect a water level of the water container, and configured to supply water into the water container to fill the water container with a certain amount of water. The water-intake space and the water container installation space may be arranged in the door opening of the inner door to be accessed while the inner door is closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Juno Kwon, Jin Jeong, Gahyeong Kim, Hocheol Cho
  • Patent number: 11320187
    Abstract: Provided is a refrigerator including a cabinet forming one of a refrigerator compartment and a freezer compartment, a main door opening and closing the refrigerator compartment or the freezer compartment and including a storage space opened forward, a sub door installed on the main door and opening and closing the storage space of the main door, and a dispenser disposed on the sub door and dispensing water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Seonil Yu, Kyeongchul Cho, Insun Yeo, Hongsik Kwon
  • Patent number: 10962279
    Abstract: A refrigerator appliance having one or more adjustable bins. The refrigerator door may include the one or more adjustable bins. The adjustable bin may move along one or more rails. The adjustable bin may include one or more actuators engaging the one or more rails. The adjustable bin may include one or more bushings slidably engaging the one or more rails. The adjustable bin may include a storage bin removable from a carriage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: MIDEA GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Eric Scalf, Vinayak Naik
  • Patent number: 10670318
    Abstract: An ice bank detachably mounted on a base member located at a refrigerator door, the ice bank including a front wall, a rear wall, both side walls, a bottom wall, a top opening, an ice storage space is defined by the front wall, the rear wall, both side walls and the bottom wall, a blade cover coupled to the rear wall, an ice crushing space is defined by the rear wall and the blade cover, a rotation shaft extending through the blade cover and the rear wall, a second connection unit coupled to the first portion of the rotation shaft and detachably mounted to a first connection unit of a driving unit which is mounted to the base member, a transfer unit coupled to the second portion of the rotation shaft and disposed within the ice storage space, an ice crushing unit coupled to a third portion of the rotation shaft and disposed within the ice crushing space, an ice transfer hole provided at the rear wall such that ices are transferred from the ice storage space to the ice crushing space through the ice transfer h
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Gue-Sec Hwang
  • Patent number: 10634408
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes a body, a refrigerating compartment provided inside the body, a freezing compartment positioned at a lower portion of the refrigerating compartment and provided inside the body, an ice-making compartment provided inside the body and provided with an insulated space that is separated from the refrigerating compartment and the freezing compartment, and an ice-making compartment door to insulate the ice-making compartment from an outside and rotatably installed at the body as to open/close the ice-making compartment. Cooling efficiency is improved by completely separating the ice-making compartment from the freezing compartment and the refrigerating compartment, and user convenience is improved by separately installing the ice-making compartment door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jin Jeong, Do Yun Jang, Bong Su Son
  • Patent number: 10571616
    Abstract: A panel lighting module includes a light guide plate which is intended for the outcoupling of light on at least one of its plate large faces, a light source arrangement having at least one light source arranged adjacent to a first plate narrow face of the light guide plate for coupling light into the first plate narrow face, and a biasing arrangement that resiliently biases the light source in the direction towards the first plate narrow face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: emz-Hanauer GmbH & Co. KGaA
    Inventors: Johann Schenkl, Michael Sorgenfrei, Tobias Baumer, Georg Wilhelm
  • Patent number: 10228177
    Abstract: An ice making system for a refrigerator, comprises: a base member; an icemaker mounted to a front surface of the base member for making ice pieces; a driving unit mounted to a rear surface of the base member such that a motor shaft thereof is in a horizontal state; an ice bank horizontally inserted into the base member in a detachable manner, for storing the ice pieces made by the icemaker; a detachable mounting unit for detachably mounting the ice bank to the base member; and an ice crusher assembly provided at the ice bank so as to be connected to or separated from the driving unit, for crushing the ice pieces. Since the ice bank has only to be horizontally pushed into the base member for coupling, or horizontally pulled out of the base member for separation, processes for coupling or separating the ice bank to/from the base member are facilitated. This prevents the ice pieces stored in the ice bank from being discharged out of the ice bank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventor: Gue-Sec Hwang
  • Patent number: 10107544
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes a refrigerator cabinet, a fresh food compartment disposed within the refrigerator cabinet, a freezer compartment disposed within the refrigerator cabinet below the fresh food compartment, and first and second French doors operatively connected to the refrigerator cabinet to provide access to the fresh food compartment. There is also a mullion between the fresh food compartment and the freezer compartment, an air inlet and an air outlet proximate a bottom of the first French door, and an air outlet and an air inlet on a front face of the mullion. When the first French door is in a closed position, the air inlet proximate the bottom of the first French door aligns with the air outlet on the front face of the mullion and the air outlet proximate the bottom of the first French door aligns with the air inlet on the front face of the mullion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick J. Boarman, Mark E. Thomas
  • Patent number: 10047997
    Abstract: An ice making system for a refrigerator, comprises: a base member; an icemaker mounted to a front surface of the base member for making ice pieces; a driving unit mounted to a rear surface of the base member such that a motor shaft thereof is in a horizontal state; an ice bank horizontally inserted into the base member in a detachable manner, for storing the ice pieces made by the icemaker; a detachable mounting unit for detachably mounting the ice bank to the base member; and an ice crusher assembly provided at the ice bank so as to be connected to or separated from the driving unit, for crushing the ice pieces. Since the ice bank has only to be horizontally pushed into the base member for coupling, or horizontally pulled out of the base member for separation, processes for coupling or separating the ice bank to/from the base member are facilitated. This prevents the ice pieces stored in the ice bank from being discharged out of the ice bank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Gue-Sec Hwang
  • Patent number: 10024592
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes a storage compartment, an inner door including an opening having a size corresponding to the size of the storage compartment, a plurality of door guards disposed in the opening, and an outer door that opens or closes the opening, wherein the inner door includes inner sidewalls that are disposed at both sides of the opening and are flat from an inlet of the opening to an outlet of the opening without any curve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Byoung Mok Kim, Yong Man Seo, Young Jae Song, Jae Hyun Lee
  • Patent number: 9810475
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes a storage compartment, an inner door including an opening having a size corresponding to the size of the storage compartment, a plurality of door guards disposed in the opening, and an outer door that opens or closes the opening, wherein the inner door includes inner sidewalls that are disposed at both sides of the opening and are flat from an inlet of the opening to an outlet of the opening without any curve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Byoung Mok Kim, Yong Man Seo, Young Jae Song, Jae Hyun Lee
  • Patent number: 9802200
    Abstract: Tools and methods are provided for removing a plurality of tubes from a rack of tubes. Tube rack tools include a base and/or top piece for receiving the rack of tubes. The base has a support surface for engaging the closed bottom of the plurality of tubes. The support surface can be curved such that the rack of tubes can be rocked about the curves support surface to dislodge the plurality of tubes from the rack. The top piece can be configured to engage the rack such that pressure on the top piece in the direction of the support surface applies a pressure on the rack without applying the pressure to the tubes. The tubes are dislodged from the rack by application of the pressure. Elements of the tube rack tool are also configured for securing the tubes within the rack or caps to the tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: BioFire Defense, LLC
    Inventors: Logan M. Taylor, Richard David Abbott
  • Patent number: 9510696
    Abstract: Provided is a refrigerator, which includes a refrigerating compartment, a freezing compartment, and a door assembly. The freezing compartment is adjacent to the refrigerating compartment. The door assembly selectively opens the refrigerating compartment and the freezing compartment. The door assembly includes a glass member defining a frontal exterior thereof and allowing an inside of the refrigerating compartment or the freezing compartment to be seen therethrough when the door assembly is closed, a deposition treated layer formed on a rear surface of the glass member to allow light to partially pass through the glass member, and a transparent plate spaced a predetermined distance from the glass member. Gas for insulation is injected in a space formed between the glass member and the transparent plate, and the space is sealed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Eun Joo Lee, Hang Bok Lee
  • Patent number: 9500403
    Abstract: A refrigerator is provided. The refrigerator may include a case having a storage space formed therein and being opened at one side, a door rotatably coupled to the case to open and close the opened side of the case, and a basket frame rotatably coupled to an inner surface of the door. A first basket may be coupled to the basket frame, opposing the door, and a second basket may be coupled to the inner surface of the door, interposed between the door and the basket frame. The first basket may rotate in accordance with pivotal movement of the basket frame to expose and provide access to an interior of the second basket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Woonkyu Seo, Seonkyu Kim, Seungjin Yoon, Jungyeon Hwang, Daesung Lee
  • Patent number: 9482463
    Abstract: A refrigerator may prevent an internal door from being opened together by an inertial force when an external door is opened, and may also prevent the external door from being opened together by an inertial force when the internal door is opened. The refrigerator includes a main body, a storage chamber provided in the main body so that a front surface thereof is opened, an internal door rotatably provided at a front surface of the main body so as to open and close the storage chamber and having an opening part in which a plurality of door guards are provided, an external door rotatably provided at a front surface of the internal door so as to open and close the opening part, and an internal door opening prevention device allowing or preventing opening of the internal door according to whether the external door is opened or closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sung Pil Choi, Dong In Shin, Hyo Seok Noh, Young Kyu Moon, Mu Yeol Sun
  • Patent number: 9463723
    Abstract: A collapsible vehicle armrest includes an armrest substrate extending between a door frame and a door trim and defining an opening therebetween. The opening has a longitudinal axis substantially parallel with the door frame. A plurality of support bands extends co-planar across the opening and parallel with the longitudinal axis. A plurality of stubs extends across each gap defined between adjacent support bands. Each stub is free of alignment with each other of the plurality of stubs in a direction perpendicular to the plurality of support bands. A cover member extends over the armrest substrate and the plurality of support bands, wherein the cover member is vertically supported proximate the opening by the plurality of parallel support bands and the plurality of stubs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Muhsin M. Hamdoon, Marwan Ahmad Elbkaily, Bakhtyar Baig, Linh Doan, Bhaskara Rao Pamarthi
  • Patent number: 9429355
    Abstract: A refrigerator is provided. The refrigerator may include a moving basket installed in a storage case provided in a door or main body of the refrigerator. The moving basket may be vertically movable within the storage case. A height of the moving basket may be adjustable by an operation mechanism, to efficiently utilize an inner space of the storage assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Woonkyu Seo, Seonkyu Kim, Seungjin Yoon, Jungyeon Hwang, Daesung Lee
  • Patent number: 9322592
    Abstract: A refrigerator is discussed. The refrigerator includes a cabinet that includes a storage compartment. The refrigerator further includes a first door hinged on a first edge of the cabinet and configured to open and close a first portion of the storage compartment. The refrigerator further includes a first basket assembly supported by a first hinge mounted at a first inner wall of the storage compartment. The refrigerator further includes a first locking device configured to selectively couple the first basket assembly to the first door. The refrigerator further includes a first release device configured to release the first locking device and accessible from a first inner surface of the door and a first outer surface of the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Minsub Kim, Kyukwan Choi, Kyusuh Park
  • Patent number: 9250011
    Abstract: A cooling unit constructed in accordance with one example of the present disclosure includes an outer shell that defines an interior volume. A cooling system cools the interior volume. A temperature sensor senses a temperature within the interior volume. A heating element is disposed within the interior volume. A controller communicates with the temperature sensor and the heating element and activates the heating element based on the temperature satisfying a threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: THETFORD CORPORATION
    Inventors: Pieter Dirk Berkhout, Joost Moelands
  • Patent number: 9091476
    Abstract: A refrigerator including a storage compartment, an inner door having an opening in a size corresponding to the storage compartment, a plurality of door guards provided at the opening, and an outer door to open/close the opening, the refrigerator further including a plurality of reinforcing members to prevent the inner door having the opening from being distorted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Byoung Mok Kim, hyo Sik Kang, Hyun Sang Yoo, Young Jae Song, Seung Yong Yang
  • Patent number: 9021828
    Abstract: A refrigeration appliance includes a refrigerated cabinet with a cooled storage compartment, a door movable between a closed position closing the cooled storage compartment and an opened position allowing access to an interior of the cooled storage compartment, the door having an outer panel and a thermoformed liner attached to an inside of the outer panel, and an ice box frame attached to the thermoformed liner, the ice box frame being formed of injection molded plastic more rigid than the thermoformed liner and defining an ice compartment therein. At least one of an ice maker, an ice storage bin, and a motor for driving an ice storage bin auger is located in the ice compartment and attached to the door via the ice box frame. A related refrigeration appliance is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Craig Robert Vitan, Umakant Suresh Katu, Steven D. Paul, Eric Lloyd Scalf, Andrew Reinhard Krause, Edward Philip Strauss, Danister Abeygunawardana
  • Publication number: 20150114026
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes: a refrigerator main body having a cooling chamber; a cooling chamber door for opening and closing the cooling chamber; a shelf assembly provided within the cooling chamber such that a height thereof is adjustable; and a basket provided in any one of the refrigerator main body and the cooling chamber door such that a height thereof is adjustable. A space of the refrigerator main body or the cooling chamber door can be utilized to facilitate receiving and keeping food items.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2015
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Inventors: Hongsik KWON, Sanghun Kim, Seonkyu Kim, Hyokku Kwon, Sungkyong Han, Hangbok Lee
  • Patent number: 8966926
    Abstract: A bottom mount refrigerator is provided with a pantry compartment that is accessible from outside the refrigerator by pulling open an easy access pantry drawer without the need to first open the fresh food compartment or the freezer compartment. A divider between the pantry compartment and the fresh food compartment is formed by a secondary mullion and a transparent shelf. The secondary mullion is provided with a light source for illuminating the contents of the pantry drawer. A light source at the rear of the pantry compartment shines generally forwardly and upwardly to illuminate the fresh food compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Michael J. Eveland, Steven G. Herndon, Todd E. Kniffen, Bill J. Koons
  • Patent number: 8925340
    Abstract: An ice bank of a refrigerator is provided. The ice bank includes an ice accommodation chamber storing ice pieces made by an ice maker, and an ice pressing unit circulating the ice pieces by pressing the ice pieces for preventing sticking of the ice pieces in the ice accommodation chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Sung Hoon Chung, Eui Yeop Chung, Nam Gi Lee, Wook Yong Lee
  • Patent number: 8925343
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes a refrigerator housing and at least one compartment displaced within the refrigeration housing. There is a door for providing access to one or more of the at least one compartments. There is an ice storage bucket placed beneath an ice making unit for collecting and storing ice. The ice storage bucket includes an open top end and an opposite bottom surface. A first and a second cylindrical protrusion are positioned proximate the bottom surface of the ice storage bucket. There is a mounting plate beneath the ice storage bucket, the mounting plate operatively connected to the door. The first and the second cylindrical protrusions assist in fixation and rotation of the ice storage bucket relative to the mounting plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventor: Laura Esther Flores
  • Publication number: 20140366569
    Abstract: Provided is a storage system and a refrigeration appliance including the storage system for storing food items in a temperature-controlled environment. The storage system includes a bin and a tab attached to the bin. The tab is configured to couple the bin to a track and guide the bin along a continuum of positions on the track. The storage system further includes an actuator attached to the bin that is selectively movable between a first position and a second position. The storage system still further includes a pin slidingly engaged with the bin. The bin is movable into a plurality of positions relative to the track. The pin in an engaged position is configured to prevent movement of the bin at any desired point within the continuum of positions on the track.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2013
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Inventors: Tyler Babinski, Cory Dale Simpson, Nilton Carlos Bertolini
  • Publication number: 20140360220
    Abstract: Provided is a storage system and a refrigeration appliance including the storage system for storing food items in a temperature-controlled environment. The storage system includes a rail attached to a liner panel. The rail includes at least one mounting structure configured to pass through an aperture in the liner panel. A bin has an arm extending from a rear surface of the bin. The bin is placed in a storage position. The arm is placed between the rail and the liner panel when the bin is placed in the storage position. Another example of the storage system and refrigeration appliance includes a foot extending from a rear surface of the bin. Yet another example includes interaction between a bin tab and a plurality of bumps on the rail to prevent side to side motion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2013
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Inventors: Timothy Bryan Rackley, Adam Ellis, Andrew D. Brown, Justin Elgin
  • Patent number: 8801124
    Abstract: A refrigerator including a storage container that may be selectively coupled to a refrigerator body or to a door by a storage container support device is provided. The refrigerator may include a refrigerator body having a storage compartment formed therein, a rotatable door to open or close the storage compartment, a gasket provided between the door and the refrigerator body, a storage container that may be selectively coupled to the door or to the refrigerator body, a storage container support device provided at the door, the refrigerator body or the storage container to allow the storage container to be selectively coupled to and supported by the refrigerator body or the door, and a control device provided in the door to selectively control operation of the storage container support device from an exterior of the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Moongyo Jung, Jindong Kim, Gyeongjin Jang, Myoungju Kang, Jihyun Im
  • Patent number: 8783055
    Abstract: A refrigerator in which a water tank and a filter, which have conventionally been located in a storage compartment, are installed to a rear surface of a door and are arranged in parallel to a dispenser, which expands a storage space of the storage compartment and shortens a water supply path between the water tank and the dispenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yun Ho Yang, Sang Woon Jeon
  • Patent number: 8769981
    Abstract: A refrigerator is provided. The refrigerator includes a storage compartment and a refrigerator door opening and closing the storage compartment. The refrigerator door includes an ice compartment, an ice maker in the ice compartment, the ice maker generating ice cubes, an ice bin storing the ice cubes generated in the ice maker, and a cool air duct guiding cool air to the ice maker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Jin Il Hong, Sung Sik Kang
  • Patent number: 8763421
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a refrigerator unit and/or freezer unit having at least one door as well as having at least one output unit which is arranged in the door and by means of which goods, in particular ice and/or water can be output, with the output unit or a component for the reception of the output unit having a first section which is connectable to or in communication with a first design of a door and having a second section which is connectable to or in communication with a second design of a door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Liebherr-Hausgeräte Ochsenhausen GmbH
    Inventors: Volker Friedmann, Georg Dorner, Holger Jendrusch
  • Patent number: 8720221
    Abstract: A refrigerator that has a refrigerating compartment and a freezer compartment. A refrigerating compartment door covers at least a portion of the refrigerating compartment. An ice compartment located in the refrigerating compartment is located on the refrigerating compartment door. An ice maker is located in the ice compartment and a dispenser is located on the refrigerating compartment door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffery J. Anselmino, Nihat Cur, Marcus R. Fischer, Tushar Kulkarni, Douglas D. LeClear, Frank W. Maglinger, Jim J. Pastryk, Andrew M. Tenbarge
  • Patent number: 8707728
    Abstract: Refrigerator with an icemaker including a cabinet having a mullion wall for compartmentalization of a freezing chamber and a refrigerating chamber, a case provided to a door on the refrigerating chamber, having a cavity therein, a first duct for supplying cold air from a neighborhood of an evaporator in the freezing chamber to the cavity, the icemaker in the cavity for producing ice, an ice container in the cavity for storing the ice, and a dispenser in the door in communication with the cavity, thereby having ice supplied to a user at an outside of the refrigerator through a dispenser provided to the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Myung Ryul Lee, Seong Jae Kim, Chang Ho Seo, Sung Hoon Chung
  • Patent number: 8707725
    Abstract: An ice making device with a manually removable water tank is provided. When mounted, this tank has a system for opening a valve that allows dispensing water into an ice making tray of the ice making device. The ice making tray is rotatable so that the ice cubes formed in the tray can be removed. The ice making tray may be rotated by a pair of gears, one of them holds the ice making tray in position and transmits a rotation force to the tray; this gear has a preload spring which generates an appropriate return force. The other gear is part of the lever, giving torsion to the tray and may be operated by a user. When rotating the tray, the ice cubes may fall directly into an ice bucket which can be removed from the system to externally serve ice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Mabe, S.A. de C.V.
    Inventor: Alan Federico Camacho Velázquez
  • Patent number: 8677773
    Abstract: Disclosed is a refrigerator that includes a main body having a cooling chamber. The refrigerator also includes a door coupled to the main body and configured to open and close the cooling chamber. The refrigerator further includes a home bar positioned at a front surface of the door and configured to provide access to contents of the refrigerator without opening the door. In addition, the refrigerator includes a heater positioned at the home bar and configured to adjust an amount of heat based on an ambient temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Youn-Seok Lee, Kyeong-Yun Kim, Su-Nam Chae, Min-Kyu Oh, Jang-Seok Lee
  • Patent number: 8671711
    Abstract: An icemaker assembly and a refrigerator having the icemaker assembly are provided. The icemaker assembly includes a cover directing cool air toward an ice tray and a bracket for enhancing flow of the cool air directed toward the ice cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Jong Gon Kim
  • Patent number: 8671708
    Abstract: An ice storage device and a refrigerator and purifier including the ice storage device are disclosed. The ice storage device includes an ice storage box, a plurality of ice outlets provided in the ice storage box and an ice transfer member provided in the ice storage box, to transfer ice to the plurality of the ice outlets selectively. An object of the present invention is to provide an ice storage device capable of discharging ice along various directions, and a refrigerator and purifier including the ice storage device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Kyung Han Jeong
  • Patent number: 8667808
    Abstract: There is provided a refrigerator. The refrigerator includes an icemaker for making and discharging ice, an ice bank for storing the ice discharged from the icemaker, an ice discharge duct for discharging the ice stored in the ice bank to the dispenser, and an approaching prevention unit that is disposed in the ice discharge duct to prevent a user from approaching the ice bank through the dispenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Dong-Kyu Kim, Jin-Hyun Kim
  • Patent number: 8667809
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes a main body having a storage chamber, a door provided to the main body, including an outer door and a door liner. The door liner includes support steps, a liner plate, and a seating step that define an installation space. An ice maker is located at least partially in the installation space. A cold air duct is provided in one side of the storage chamber to supply the ice maker with cold air. An ice maker cover is provided having a cold air inlet on a top portion thereof and a viewing window on a lower portion thereof. The viewing window allows the ice maker to be seen from outside of the ice maker cover. An ice bank is removably located below the ice maker to transfer ice received from the ice maker to a dispenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Myung-Soo Kim, Yoo-Min Park, Oh-Chul Kwon, Jong-Gon Kim, Bon-Young Koo, Young-Hoon Gwak, Hyeon-Po Cho
  • Patent number: 8650900
    Abstract: Disclosed are an ice bin installed in a refrigerator or the like and a refrigerating machine having the same. One auger having spiral transfer wings rotates to transfer ice cubes that are introduced between the transfer wings, which allows a constant amount of ice or an amount of ice selected by a user to be dispensed. In addition, a shutter is disposed at a lower side of the auger to define a dispensing space, which may reduce a length of a casing in a depth direction and, thereby, result in a reduced size of the ice bin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Kyung-Han Jeong, Wook-Yong Lee
  • Patent number: 8640483
    Abstract: An appliance dispenser includes a housing defining a recess. The housing includes a receptacle support member and a fixed funnel. An ice dispensing passage extends through the fixed funnel and operably connected with an ice bin. A variable funnel includes a proximal end and a distal end. The proximal end is adjacent the fixed funnel. The distal end is movable between a retracted position and an extended position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Kevin M. Chase, Tony L. Koenigsknecht, Jerold M. Visin
  • Patent number: 8635877
    Abstract: An ice detecting apparatus for a refrigerator having an ice maker includes an ice detecting sensor which determines whether or not an ice storage container which receives and stores ice made by the ice maker is full or nearly full of ice based on pulses transmitted from and received by transmitting and receiving units. The ice detecting sensor includes a transmitting unit to transmit one or more pulses and a receiving unit to detect the pulses transmitted from the transmitting unit. A controller is operably coupled to the transmitting and receiving units to determine whether the storage container is full or nearly full based on pulses detected by the receiving unit among one or more pulses transmitted by the transmitting unit. The controller also determines whether or not external light has been introduced into the ice maker based on the pulses detected by the receiving unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Yong-Su Kim, Dong-Hoon Lee, Kyung-Han Jeong, Kwang-Ha Suh
  • Patent number: 8627678
    Abstract: Provided is a refrigerator that includes a cabinet and a refrigerator door. The cabinet defining a storage compartment. The refrigerator door opens and closes the storage compartment. The refrigerator door includes a door liner defining an ice compartment, an ice compartment door opening and closing the ice compartment, and a handle provided to the ice compartment door. The ice compartment door includes a dike protruding from the ice compartment door. The handle and the dike are disposed on an identical line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Sang Phil Choi
  • Patent number: 8607584
    Abstract: A refrigerator having a sub door which reduces energy loss and a method of manufacturing method the sub door. The refrigerator includes a main body provided with storage chambers formed therein, doors opening and closing the storage chambers, and provided with an opening, a sub door to open and close the opening, and a cooling unit provided on the rear surface of the sub door. When the sub door is opened, cool air of the cooling unit is transmitted to a stored article put on the rear surface of the sub door, and when the sub door is closed, relatively uniform temperature distribution in the storage chamber is achieved and thus storage performance of the refrigerator is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Joo Hee Song, Jeong Wook Lee, Ha Jin Jeong
  • Patent number: 8584486
    Abstract: An appliance system includes at least an appliance and a module. The appliance door(s) have an exterior surface and an interior surface having a door liner. The appliance door is closed to create an insulated area and the interior surface of the appliance door includes a module-engaging connector. The module is typically removably engaged within the appliance door and includes an insulated compartment within the module and a compartment door as well as a lock for the compartment door. The module also includes a utility connector that engages the appliance door and operably engages the module-engaging connector of the appliance door so that the module receives at least electrical power from the appliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Paul B. Allard, Kelly I. Johnson, Douglas D. Leclear, Karen J. Querfurth, Andrew M. Tenbarge, Michele E. Wilcox
  • Patent number: 8567210
    Abstract: Provided is a refrigerator configured to improve the structure of an ice-making chamber provided to a refrigerator door, thereby efficiently supplying cool air into the ice-making chamber. The refrigerator includes a main body including a storage chamber, a refrigerator door rotatably coupled to the main body, an ice-making device provided to the refrigerator door and configured to make ice, an ice-making unit provided to the ice-making device and including a cool air introduction part, a freezing core vertically arranged in the ice-making unit and cooled by cool air, and an ice tray configured to receive at least one portion of the freezing core therein, wherein the cool air introduction part is provided on an upper side of the freezing core. Cool air is efficiently introduced into the ice-making chamber, thereby increasing the amount of ice made.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Hong-Hee Park, Tae-Hee Lee, Joon-Hwan Oh, Young-Jin Kim, Ho-Youn Lee
  • Patent number: 8528357
    Abstract: An ice-making machine has a box-shaped lower housing with an ice storage bin, a box-shaped upper housing mounted on a rear portion of the lower housing, an ice-making mechanism within the front portion of a machine compartment in the upper housing, and a freezing unit installed behind the ice-making mechanism for supplying refrigerant to the ice-making mechanism. An open-and-close ice-access lid is pivotally mounted between the lower end of the upper housing and the the lower housing. An air intake passage introduces outside cooling air from the front face of the lower housing into the machine compartment along inner surfaces of one side wall and a rear wall of the lower housing. An air discharge passage is provided for passing the air after cooling to flow outward along inner surfaces of the rear wall and the other side wall of the lower housing to an exterior discharge from the front face of the lower housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Hoshizaki Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Nobuo Kondo, Kiyoshi Yamaoka, Hideyuki Tashiro, Takeshi Ueda, Takashi Hibino, Akira Harata
  • Patent number: 8459057
    Abstract: Disclosed is a refrigerator, in which the structure of an ice supply device is improved. The refrigerator includes a main body, in which at least one storage chamber is formed; a door opening and closing the at least one storage chamber; an ice making unit provided on a rear surface of the door to make ice; an ice storage container provided under the ice making unit to store the ice made by the ice making unit; and at least one receiving rack provided on at least one side of right and left sides of the ice making unit or the ice storage container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ji Hoon Kim, Jin Ho Kim
  • Patent number: 8453475
    Abstract: A system and method for making ice is provided. The system may include a tray for containing a water to be used for making ice, and a refrigerant pipe positioned so that at least a portion thereof is submerged in the water contained in the tray. A refrigerant of relatively low temperature flows through the refrigerant pipe to cause ice to be formed on surfaces thereof. A heater may be provided on the refrigerant pipe and operated during an ice-releasing process. This system and method may eliminate the need for an additional duct to supply cold air to the ice maker, thus simplifying a manufacturing process and reducing manufacturing costs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Jong Min Shin, Ju Hyun Kim
  • Patent number: 8448462
    Abstract: A system and method for making ice is provided. The system for making ice may include a tray for containing water to be used for making ice, and an ice-making pipe positioned so that at least a portion thereof is submerged in the water contained in the tray. A refrigerant of relatively low temperature flows through the ice-making pipe during an ice-making process, while a refrigerant of relatively high temperature flows through the ice-making pipe during an ice-releasing process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Jong Min Shin, Ju Hyun Kim