Abstract: A method of making clear ice spheres includes a providing a mold apparatus having a first mold portion and a second mold portion having mold cavity segments which define one or more mold cavities when the mold apparatus is assembled. A clear ice sheet is deposited in the mold apparatus in a channel defined by the spaced apart mold portions when the mold apparatus is in an open position. The mold apparatus is assembled about the sheet of clear ice such that the clear ice sheet is shaped to form one or more clear ice structures in the mold cavities.

Abstract: An ice maker has an ice mold that includes a metallic piece and an insulated piece. A cooling source is thermally coupled to the metallic piece. A cavity is within the ice mold and has a first reservoir in the metallic piece and a second reservoir in the insulated piece. The first and second reservoirs align to substantially enclose the cavity. An intake aperture in the insulated piece extends to the cavity for receiving water. A drive body rotatably coupled to the ice mold that operates in an ice-making cycle, wherein the drive body repeatedly rotates the mold from an injection position to a tilted position. The cavity receives an incremental amount of water in the injection position and moves to the tilted position to freeze at least a portion of the incremental amount of water over a side surface of the cavity to make an ice piece.

Abstract: An ice maker has a mold with a first piece and a second piece. A cavity within the mold includes a first reservoir in the first piece and a second reservoir in the second piece that align to substantially enclose the cavity. A fluid intake aperture in the first piece extends to the cavity for injecting water therein. A thermoelectric device has a cold side thermally coupled to the exterior surface of the second piece. The thermoelectric device transfers heat from the cold side to a hot side to provide a first temperature to the mold. A removable cooling source is thermally coupled to the hot side of the thermoelectric device. The cooling source is configured to reduce the temperature of the hot side to allow the cold side to provide a second temperature that is cooler than the first temperature to freeze the water in the cavity.

Abstract: A method of making clear ice spheres includes a providing a mold apparatus having a first mold portion and a second mold portion having mold cavity segments which define one or more mold cavities when the mold apparatus is assembled in an ice forming position. The mold apparatus includes a water jacketing system which is adapted to keep water in continuous circulation within the mold cavities to ensure clear ice is formed. Water is injected into the mold cavities and where a portion of the water is frozen to form a clear ice structure and a portion of the water enters the water jacketing system. Water may remain circulating in the water jacketing system, or may be expelled from the mold apparatus. The circulating water of the water jacketing system facilitates directional solidification of clear ice structure across a thermal gradient of the mold apparatus.

Abstract: An icemaker is mounted remotely from a freezer compartment. The icemaker includes an ice mold. A thermoelectric device is provided and includes a warm side and an opposite cold side. A flow pathway is connected in communication between the cold side of the thermoelectric device and the icemaker. In one aspect, a fan is operatively positioned to move air from the fresh food compartment across the warm side of the thermoelectric device and a pump moves fluid from the cold side of the thermoelectric device to the icemaker. Cold air, such as from a refrigerator compartment, may be used to dissipate heat from the warm side of the thermoelectric device for providing cold fluid to and for cooling the ice mold of the icemaker.

Abstract: A refrigerator that has a fresh food compartment, a freezer compartment, and a door that provides access to the fresh food compartment is disclosed. An icemaker is mounted remotely from the freezer compartment. The icemaker includes an ice mold. A thermoelectric device is provided and includes a warm side and an opposite cold side. A fluid pathway is connected in communication between the cold side of the thermoelectric device and the icemaker. A pump moves fluid from the cold side of the thermoelectric device to the icemaker. Cold fluid or air may be taken from the freezer compartment to dissipate heat from the warm side of the thermoelectric device for providing cold fluid to and for cooling the ice mold or cool/warm fluid to other cooling or warming applications in the refrigerator compartment or on the refrigerator compartment door.

Abstract: An icemaker is mounted remotely from a freezer compartment. The icemaker includes an ice mold. A thermoelectric device is provided and includes a warm side and an opposite cold side. A flow pathway is connected in communication between the cold side of the thermoelectric device and the icemaker. In one aspect, a fan is operatively positioned to move air from the fresh food compartment across the warm side of the thermoelectric device and a pump moves fluid from the cold side of the thermoelectric device to the icemaker. Cold air, such as from a refrigerator compartment, may be used to dissipate heat from the warm side of the thermoelectric device for providing cold fluid to and for cooling the ice mold of the icemaker.

Abstract: An apparatus that has a housing with an icemaker disposed within the housing is disclosed. The icemaker includes an ice mold. A thermoelectric device is provided having a warm side and an opposite cold side. The cold side is thermally coupled to the icemaker. A flow pathway is configured in communication with the warm side of the thermoelectric device. A heat carrier is communicated through the flow pathway. The heat carrier transfers heat from the warm side of the thermoelectric device to support operations of the apparatus. The apparatus may be configured as a refrigerator wherein the refrigerator is configured to transfer the heat carrier from the warm side of the thermoelectric device to a compartment of the refrigerator.

Abstract: An ice support and storage tray includes one or more cavities having upwardly facing spherical surface portions that support spherical pieces of ice. The tray is preferably made of a material having a low thermal conductivity to reduce melting of the spherical pieces of ice. The spherical support surfaces minimize melting points that could otherwise cause the spherical pieces of ice to melt and develop irregular surface shapes. The ice tray may be used in a freezer having an ice maker that transports spheres of ice to the ice support cavities. The ice storage tray may be configured to permit removal of spheres of ice without tipping the tray upside down and/or twisting/deforming the tray.

Abstract: A refrigerator may include a refrigerator cabinet and at least one compartment disposed within the refrigerator cabinet, an ice maker for making wet ice disposed within the refrigerator cabinet, a bucket for storing the ice, the bucket positioned to receive the wet ice from the ice maker, and a drain in the bucket for draining water from the bucket. A method of making ice in a refrigerator includes making ice using an ice maker of the refrigerator, conveying the ice from the ice maker to a bucket having a drain, maintaining the ice in the bucket at a temperature above freezing to allow the ice to melt to water, and draining the water from the bucket.

Abstract: A refrigerator includes a refrigerator cabinet, an ice maker disposed within the refrigerator cabinet, a pump fluidly connected to the ice maker and configured for pumping cooling media to the ice maker, and a motor operatively connected to the ice maker and configured to provide oscillating movement to the ice maker. The pump is operatively connected to the motor such that driving of the motor results in the pumping of the cooling media with the pump.

Abstract: A system, apparatus, and method for single or multiple dispensing of beverages from a bulk container in a refrigerator includes a support or receiver for an interchangeable bulk liquid container on the inside of a refrigerated compartment door. A fluid conduit is adapted to be installed into the bulk container inside the refrigerator and extend through the door to a dispensing station accessible by a user from the exterior of the door. A pumping mechanism can be actuated to move liquid from the bulk container through the door to the dispensing station. Upon user choice or exhaustion of liquid from the bulk container, the conduit can be removed from the container, a new container substituted, the conduit reinserted, and a new source of single or multiple dispension is available at the exterior dispensing station of the refrigerator.

Abstract: A top hinge is provided for a refrigerator cabinet door. A hinge body is formed of plastic having a top surface and a bottom surface. A hinge pin extends substantially perpendicularly from the bottom surface of the hinge body. One or more points of attachment are formed on the hinge body. An axis of twist passes through a center of the hinge pin and an effective center of attachment. At least a first rib and a second rib extend from the bottom surface of the hinge body. The ribs extend along a length of the bottom surface at an oblique angle relative to the axis of twist and diverge from each other by an angle of at least about 60 degrees.

Abstract: An ice shaving mechanism may include a blade arranged with an edge to engage an ice mass to shave a layer of ice from the ice mass. A support may be provided upon which the blade may be mounted. An opening may be arranged adjacent to the edge of the blade to permit the shaved layer of ice to pass through the opening. At least one guide surface may extend away from the opening opposite the blade to intercept the shaved layer of ice that has passed through the opening, and to direct the shaved layer in a desired direction.

Abstract: A tamper-indicating band arrester including a closure having a tamper-indicating band depending therefrom. The tamper-indicating band has a plurality of folding fingers of first and second lengths extending inwardly. The folding fingers of the second length centering the closure during removal and inhibiting tiring of the tamper-indicating band.

Abstract: An ice shaving mechanism may include a blade arranged with an edge to engage an ice mass to shave a layer of ice from the ice mass. A support may be provided upon which the blade may be mounted. An opening may be arranged adjacent to the edge of the blade to permit the shaved layer of ice to pass through the opening. At least one guide surface may extend away from the opening opposite the blade to intercept the shaved layer of ice that has passed through the opening, and to direct the shaved layer in a desired direction.

Abstract: A tamper indicating band arrester is described herein for use with a container neck or finish bead comprising an upper portion and a lower portion. The TI band has an annular step having a smaller diameter than the lower portion of the finish bead. The TI band further comprises a TI bead which positioned beneath the lower portion of the container neck or finish bead. The plurality of frangible webs or bridges are located above the annular step and adjacent the upper portion of the finish bead. The thickened cross section of the annular step provides interference between the TI band and container neck bead inhibiting the TI band from tiring over the container neck bead when opened.

Abstract: A tamper-indicating band arrester including a closure having a tamper-indicating band depending therefrom. The tamper-indicating band has a plurality of folding fingers of alternating first and second lengths extending inwardly. The fingers of a longer length have an offset surface disposed at a distal end, which engage a container neck finish bead preventing tiring of the tamper-indicating band.

Abstract: A container finish comprising a helical load carrying member which transmits downward force from the top wall of a closure to the threads of a container to prevent seal failure under stacking load conditions. The helical load carrying member is preferably located on a container neck, parallel to a primary thread. In the alternative the helical load carrying member may be located on a closure finish.