Abstract: A precipitation reclamation system includes a downspout adapter configured to receive runoff precipitation from a precipitation channel for a structure. The downspout adapter is configured to attach to the structure at a vent that places an interior of the structure in communication with an area external to the structure. A reclamation chamber is disposed within an appliance housing. The reclamation chamber has a pump. A reclamation conduit extends from the downspout adapter to the reclamation chamber and is configured to direct the precipitation to the reclamation chamber to define reclaimed water. The pump is adapted to deliver the reclaimed water from the reclamation chamber to a portion of the structure for use.

Abstract: A precipitation reclamation system includes a downspout adapter configured to receive runoff precipitation from a precipitation channel for a structure. The downspout adapter is configured to attach to the structure at a vent that places an interior of the structure in communication with an area external to the structure. A reclamation chamber is disposed within an appliance housing. The reclamation chamber has a pump. A reclamation conduit extends from the downspout adapter to the reclamation chamber and is configured to direct the precipitation to the reclamation chamber to define reclaimed water. The pump is adapted to deliver the reclaimed water from the reclamation chamber to a portion of the structure for use.

Abstract: A precipitation reclamation system includes a downspout adapter configured to receive runoff precipitation from a precipitation channel for a structure. The downspout adapter is configured to attach to the structure at a vent that places an interior of the structure in communication with an area external to the structure. A reclamation chamber is disposed within an appliance housing. The reclamation chamber has a pump. A reclamation conduit extends from the downspout adapter to the reclamation chamber and is configured to direct the precipitation to the reclamation chamber to define reclaimed water. The pump is adapted to deliver the reclaimed water from the reclamation chamber to a portion of the structure for use.

Abstract: A precipitation reclamation system includes a downspout adapter configured to receive runoff precipitation from a precipitation channel for a structure. The downspout adapter is configured to attach to the structure at a vent that places an interior of the structure in communication with an area external to the structure. A reclamation chamber is disposed within an appliance housing. The reclamation chamber has a pump. A reclamation conduit extends from the downspout adapter to the reclamation chamber and is configured to direct the precipitation to the reclamation chamber to define reclaimed water. The pump is adapted to deliver the reclaimed water from the reclamation chamber to a portion of the structure for use.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for conditioning a liquid stream with a liquid dispensing system associated with a refrigerator, preparing an enhanced beverage using one or more of the individually conditioned liquid streams and a liquid enhancement device and minimizing the potential for back contamination of the liquid dispensing system are provided.

Abstract: An ice collection area is disposed inside the cabinet proximate an ice maker. An ice storage area is disposed inside the cabinet. A first relocatable ice bin is disposed inside the cabinet. The first relocatable ice bin is disposed in one of the ice collection area and the ice storage area. A second relocatable ice bin is disposed inside the cabinet. The second relocatable ice bin is disposed in the other of the ice collection area and the ice storage area.

Abstract: An ice making assembly and method utilizes a housing having an upper fluid chamber, a plurality of distinct, substantially vertical fluid channels, and at least one drain aperture in fluid communication with a fluid reservoir. Ice forming members extend from an ice forming evaporator into respective fluid channels. During an ice making event, fluid continuously supplied to the upper fluid chamber flows into each of the fluid channels and out through at least one drain aperture into a fluid reservoir below. The ice forming members are cooled such that fluid flowing across the fluid channels freezes on the ice forming members over time, forming clear ice pieces. The ice pieces are subsequently released from the ice forming members and transferred for storage and/or dispensing.

Abstract: A clear ice making system and method utilizes an ice forming tray pivotally connected to opposing side walls of an icemaker housing. Ice forming fingers of a dedicated evaporator extend into fluid within the ice forming tray, and are cooled by communication with the refrigerant circulating system of the refrigerator. A motor oscillates the ice forming tray about a longitudinal axis at a frequency of about 0.4-0.6 hertz as fluid channels freezes on the ice forming fingers over time, forming clear ice pieces. During an ice dispensing event, the motor pivots the ice making tray about the longitudinal axis such that fluid remaining within the ice making tray drains into a fluid reservoir below. The ice forming fingers are then heated to release the clear ice pieces for transfer from the fresh food compartment to the freezer compartment of the refrigerator.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for conditioning a liquid stream with a liquid dispensing system associated with a refrigerator, preparing an enhanced beverage using one or more of the individually conditioned liquid streams and a liquid enhancement device and minimizing the potential for back contamination of the liquid dispensing system are provided.

Abstract: An ice making assembly and method utilizes a housing having an upper fluid chamber, a plurality of distinct, substantially vertical fluid channels, and at least one drain aperture in fluid communication with a fluid reservoir. Ice forming members extend from an ice forming evaporator into respective fluid channels. During an ice making event, fluid continuously supplied to the upper fluid chamber flows into each of the fluid channels and out through at least one drain aperture into a fluid reservoir below. The ice forming members are cooled such that fluid flowing across the fluid channels freezes on the ice forming members over time, forming clear ice pieces. The ice pieces are subsequently released from the ice forming members and transferred for storage and/or dispensing.

Abstract: An ice making assembly and method utilizes a housing having an upper fluid chamber, a plurality of distinct, substantially vertical fluid channels, and at least one drain aperture in fluid communication with a fluid reservoir. Ice forming members extend from an ice forming evaporator into respective fluid channels. During an ice making event, fluid continuously supplied to the upper fluid chamber flows into each of the fluid channels and out through at least one drain aperture into a fluid reservoir below. The ice forming members are cooled such that fluid flowing across the fluid channels freezes on the ice forming members over time, forming clear ice pieces. The ice pieces are subsequently released from the ice forming members and transferred for storage and/or dispensing.

Abstract: An apparatus, method, and system for automatically turning off an electrically powered actuator in a refrigeration mechanism upon detection of an unwanted condition. In one aspect of the invention, the electrically powered actuator can be the motor of an ice maker/dispenser. The detection can be accomplished by sensing the presence of an object along or near an ice dispensing pathway from the ice maker/dispenser. The unwanted condition could be the presence of the object for more than a preset time period. This would allow to distinguish between an unwanted object such as silverware or clogged ice versus a wanted object such as flowing ice cubes, crushed ice, or shaved ice.

Abstract: An ice making, transferring and storing system includes an icemaker located in the fresh food compartment and an ice storage bin, located in one of the fresh food and freezer compartments, for receiving ice from the icemaker. A first ice transfer mechanism delivers ice from the icemaker to the ice storage bin. An ice dispenser is located in one of the fresh food and freezer doors. A second ice transfer mechanism selectively delivers ice from the ice storage bin to the ice dispenser.

Abstract: A clear ice making system and method utilizes an ice forming tray pivotally connected to opposing side walls of an icemaker housing. Ice forming fingers of a dedicated evaporator extend into fluid within the ice forming tray, and are cooled by communication with the refrigerant circulating system of the refrigerator. A motor oscillates the ice forming tray about a longitudinal axis at a frequency of about 0.4-0.6 hertz as fluid channels freezes on the ice forming fingers over time, forming clear ice pieces. During an ice dispensing event, the motor pivots the ice making tray about the longitudinal axis such that fluid remaining within the ice making tray drains into a fluid reservoir below. The ice forming fingers are then heated to release the clear ice pieces for transfer from the fresh food compartment to the freezer compartment of the refrigerator.

Abstract: A backsplash includes a faucet that provides point-of-use dispensing of water to a cooktop container. The backsplash includes controls that allow a user to select a desired amount of water to be dispensed, as well as the temperature of water to be dispensed. A filter assembly includes a replaceable filter that allows for filtered water dispensation. Optionally, the backsplash can be connected to one or more appliances in the kitchen in order to communicate information and/or power. The backsplash may also include a ventilation channel to direct vented air from a range to a ventilation shaft.

Abstract: A clear ice making system and method utilizes an ice forming tray pivotally connected to opposing side walls of an icemaker housing. Ice forming fingers of a dedicated evaporator extend into fluid within the ice forming tray, and are cooled by communication with the refrigerant circulating system of the refrigerator. A motor oscillates the ice forming tray about a longitudinal axis at a frequency of about 0.4-0.6 hertz as fluid channels freezes on the ice forming fingers over time, forming clear ice pieces. During an ice dispensing event, the motor pivots the ice making tray about the longitudinal axis such that fluid remaining within the ice making tray drains into a fluid reservoir below. The ice forming fingers are then heated to release the clear ice pieces for transfer from the fresh food compartment to the freezer compartment of the refrigerator.

Abstract: A clear ice making assembly and method utilizes a housing having an upper fluid chamber, a plurality of distinct, substantially vertical fluid channels, and at least one fluid outlet aperture in fluid communication with a bottom fluid chamber. During an ice making event, portions of an ice forming evaporator extending through the housing are exposed to water flowing into the fluid channels from the upper fluid chamber. The ice forming evaporator is formed with microchannels through which refrigerant flows such that water flowing across the fluid channels freezes on the exposed portions of the ice forming evaporator over time, forming clear ice pieces. In a harvesting operation, the ice pieces are released from the ice forming evaporator and transferred for storage and/or dispensing.

Abstract: A clear ice making system and method utilizes an ice tray including a plurality of ice forming cavities extending into a fluid supply cavity. Fluid supplied to the fluid supply cavity flows into each of the plurality of ice forming cavities and out through respective fluid outlets located in a bottom portion of the ice forming cavities to a fluid outlet chamber below. Cooled ice forming members extend into respective ice forming cavities. Fluid is continuously cycled through the ice forming cavities and around the ice forming members during an ice making event such that clear ice pieces gradually form on each of the ice forming members. During an ice harvest event, ice forming members are heated to release formed ice pieces, and the ice pieces are transferred from a fresh food compartment of a refrigerator to an ice storage bucket located in a freezer compartment of the refrigerator.

Abstract: An apparatus, method, and system for automatically turning off an electrically powered actuator in a refrigeration mechanism upon detection of an unwanted condition. In one aspect of the invention, the electrically powered actuator can be the motor of an ice maker/dispenser. The detection can be accomplished by sensing the presence of an object along or near an ice dispensing pathway from the ice maker/dispenser. The unwanted condition could be the presence of the object for more than a preset time period. This would allow to distinguish between an unwanted object such as silverware or clogged ice versus a wanted object such as flowing ice cubes, crushed ice, or shaved ice.

Abstract: An ice making assembly and method utilizes a housing having an upper fluid chamber, a plurality of distinct, substantially vertical fluid channels, and at least one drain aperture in fluid communication with a fluid reservoir. Ice forming members extend from an ice forming evaporator into respective fluid channels. During an ice making event, fluid continuously supplied to the upper fluid chamber flows into each of the fluid channels and out through at least one drain aperture into a fluid reservoir below. The ice forming members are cooled such that fluid flowing across the fluid channels freezes on the ice forming members over time, forming clear ice pieces. The ice pieces are subsequently released from the ice forming members and transferred for storage and/or dispensing.