ICE STORAGE BIN WITH IMPROVED DOOR AND IMPROVED DOOR INCORPORATING HOOKS

Abstract

An ice storage bin assembly including an ice storage bin having a cavity for the storage of ice and an opening which provides access to the cavity for retrieval of ice stored therein. The ice storage bin assembly further includes a door rotatably connected to the ice storage bin by one or more hinges which permit the door to swing down from a closed position to an open position. When the door is in the closed position, the door closes the opening and when the door is in the open position, the cavity of the ice storage bin is accessible. Optionally, one or more hooks may be disposed on the back side of the door, such that the one or more hooks are adapted to temporarily retain a bucket when the door is in the open position.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to ice making machines and, more particularly, to an improved door configuration for use on an ice storage bin.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Ice making machines, or ice makers, typically comprise a refrigeration and ice making system that employs a source of refrigerant flowing serially through a compressor, a condenser, a thermal expansion valve, and an evaporator assembly. Thermally coupled to the evaporator assembly is a freeze plate comprising a lattice-type cube mold. Additionally, typical ice makers employ gravity water flow and ice harvest systems that are well known and in extensive use. Ice makers having such a refrigeration and ice making system are often disposed on top of ice storage bins, where ice that has been harvested is stored until it is needed. Such ice makers have received wide acceptance and are particularly desirable for commercial installations such as restaurants, bars, motels and various beverage retailers having a high and continuous demand for fresh ice.

In these ice makers, water is supplied at the top of a freeze plate which directs the water in a tortuous path toward a water pump. A portion of the supplied water collects on the freeze plate, freezes into ice and is identified as sufficiently frozen by suitable means whereupon the freeze plate is defrosted such that the ice is slightly melted and discharged therefrom into an ice storage bin. Typically, these ice machines can be classified according to the type of ice they make. One such type is a grid style ice maker which makes generally square ice cubes that form within individual grids of the freeze plate which then form into a continuous sheet of ice cubes as the thickness of the ice increases beyond that of the freeze plate. After harvesting, the sheet of ice cubes will break into individual cubes as they fall into the ice storage bin. Another type of ice maker is an individual ice cube maker which makes generally square ice cubes that form within individual grids of the freeze plate which do not form into a continuous sheet of ice cubes. Therefore, upon harvest individual ice cubes fall from the freeze plate and into the ice storage bin. Various embodiments of the present invention can be adapted to either type of ice maker, and to others not identified, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 1A and 1B, typical prior art ice makers and ice storage bins are described. An upwardly swinging door 10 is typically located near the top of the ice storage bin 12 which can be opened by swinging the door upward to provide access to the ice stored within storage bin 12. The upwardly swinging door 10 is often hinged along a top edge 14 of the door 10. Often, the upwardly swinging door 10 is opened past a vertical orientation and can rest in the open position against the cabinet 16 containing the ice maker. This configuration has long been the standard configuration for providing access to an ice storage bin 12.

This prior art configuration is lacking because the door can be accidentally set in motion such that it will land on and strike a user who is retrieving the ice from the ice storage bin 12. The consequences of being struck with a door can range from annoying and mildly painful to causing an injury requiring medical attention.

In an attempt to avoid the situation of doors falling on users retrieving ice from an ice storage bin 12, manufacturers have increased the complexity and cost of the ice storage bin 12. For example, certain manufacturers use friction-type hinges to hold the door 10 in the open position. Although the addition of such friction-type hinges can reduce the occurrence of falling doors, this addition is not without its issues. First, friction-type hinges will loosen up over time and will no longer be able to hold the door 10 in the open position; thus the hinges will cease to serve their purpose. Second, friction-type hinges are considerably more expensive than standard hinges. Third, friction-type hinges are often constructed using materials such as iron or steel which are susceptible to rusting in the water-rich environment of an ice maker and ice storage bin. The rust that develops on such hinges will inevitably fall or drip from the hinge, landing in the ice storage bin 12 and contaminating the ice stored therein.

Therefore, there is a need in the art for a cost effective and simple solution for reducing or eliminating the possibility of a person being struck by a door for an ice storage bin while the person is retrieving ice from the ice storage bin. Likewise, there is a need in the art for an ice storage bin door that cannot fall on a user and which has hinges that cannot wear out over time. Finally, there is a need in the art for an ice storage bin door that cannot fall on a user and which has hinges that cannot corrode due to the wet environment.

Ice storage bins are almost always used to fill ice buckets. The buckets are then used to transport the manufactured ice to the point-of-use of the ice, such as an ice dispenser. Prior art ice storage bins lack any means for supporting a bucket near the openings of the ice storage bins. Because of this, a standard bucket must be set on the floor when it is being filled. This leads to a less than ideal ergonomic situation as the user must bend over multiple times as he or she lifts the ice out of the bin and then lowers it to the level of the bucket.

Therefore, there is a need in the art for a bucket holding device which holds the ice bucket closer to the opening of the ice storage bin to improve the ergonomics of filling said ice buckets.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Briefly, therefore, one embodiment of the present invention is directed to an ice storage bin assembly comprising an ice storage bin having a cavity for the storage of ice and an opening which provides access to the cavity. The ice storage bin assembly further includes a door rotatably connected to the ice storage bin by one or more hinges which permit the door to swing down from a closed position to an open position. When the door is in the closed position, the door closes the opening and a front side of the door faces outwardly. When the door is in the open position, the cavity of the ice storage bin is accessible and a back side of the door faces outwardly.

Another embodiment of the present invention is directed to an ice storage bin assembly comprising an ice storage bin having a cavity for the storage of ice and an opening which provides access to the cavity. The ice storage bin assembly further includes a door rotatably connected to the ice storage bin by one or more hinges which permit the door to swing down from a closed position to an open position. When the door is in the closed position, the door closes the opening and a front side of the door faces outwardly and when the door is in the open position, the cavity of the ice storage bin is accessible and a back side of the door faces outwardly. The door further has one or more hooks disposed on the back side of the door, such that the one or more hooks are adapted to temporarily retain a bucket when the door is in the open position.

Yet another embodiment of the present invention is directed to an ice storage bin assembly comprising an ice storage bin having a front wall, a top edge of the front wall, and a cavity for the storage of ice and an opening which provides access to the cavity. The ice storage bin assembly further includes a door rotatably connected to the ice storage bin by one or more hinges which permit the door to swing up from a closed position to an open position. Additionally, one or more tabs are disposed along the top edge of the front wall of the ice storage bin wherein the one or more tabs are adapted to temporarily retain a bucket when the door is in the open position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the invention will become more fully apparent from the following detailed description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings, wherein the drawings illustrate features in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention, and wherein:

FIG. 1A is a right perspective view of an ice maker and ice storage bin having a door with the door of the ice storage bin shown in the closed position according to the prior art;

FIG. 1B is a right perspective view of an ice maker and ice storage bin having a door with the door of the ice storage bin shown in the open position according to the prior art;

FIG. 2A is a right perspective view of an ice storage bin having a downwardly swinging door with the downwardly swinging door of the ice storage bin shown in the closed position according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2B is a right perspective view of an ice storage bin having a downwardly swinging door with the downwardly swinging door of the ice storage bin shown in the open position according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3A is a right perspective view of the front side of a downwardly swinging door according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3B is a right perspective view of the back side of a downwardly swinging door according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4A is a right perspective view of an ice maker on an ice storage bin having a downwardly swinging door with the downwardly swinging door of the ice storage bin shown in the closed position according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4B is a right perspective view of an ice maker on an ice storage bin having a downwardly swinging door with the downwardly swinging door of the ice storage bin shown in the open position according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a right perspective view of an ice storage bin without an ice maker having a downwardly swinging door with the downwardly swinging door of the ice storage bin shown in the closed position according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a right perspective view of an ice maker on an ice storage bin having a downwardly swinging door having one or more hooks with the downwardly swinging door of the ice storage bin shown in the open position according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a right perspective view of an ice storage bin having a downwardly swinging door having one or more hooks with the downwardly swinging door of the ice storage bin shown in the open position according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a right side view of an ice storage bin having a downwardly swinging door having one or more hooks with the downwardly swinging door of the ice storage bin shown in the open position according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9A is a right perspective view of one hook according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9B is a top view of one hook according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a right perspective detail view of the back side of a downwardly swinging door having one or more hooks according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a right perspective view of an ice storage bin having a downwardly swinging door having one or more hooks with the downwardly swinging door of the ice storage bin shown in the open position according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a right perspective view of an ice maker on an ice storage bin having a downwardly swinging door with the downwardly swinging door of the ice storage bin shown in the open position according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 13A is a right perspective view of a downwardly swinging door according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 13B is a right perspective detail view of a downwardly swinging door according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 14 is a right perspective view of an upwardly swinging door with a bucket hanging from one or more tabs disposed on the ice storage bin according to one embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 15 is a right perspective detail view of an upwardly swinging door with a bucket hanging from one or more tabs disposed on the ice storage bin according to one embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including,” “comprising,” or “having” and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items.

Referring to FIGS. 2A and 2B one embodiment of an ice storage bin assembly with an improved door is described. The ice storage bin assembly 30 includes an ice storage bin 31 having a cavity 36 in which ice produced by the ice maker falls into and is stored until retrieved. The ice storage bin 31 further includes an opening 38 which provides access to the cavity 36 and the ice stored therein. The cavity 36 and the opening 38 are formed by a left wall 33a, a right wall 33b, a front wall 34, a back wall 35 and a bottom wall (not shown). The walls of ice storage bin 31 may be thermally insulated with various insulating materials including, but not limited to, fiberglass insulation or open- or closed-cell foam comprised, for example, of polystyrene or polyurethane, etc. in order to retard the melting of the ice stored in ice storage bin 31. Ice storage bin assembly 30 further includes a downwardly swinging door 40. Door 40 may be rotatably connected to ice storage bin 31 by one or more hinges 47 which permit door 40 to swing down from a closed position (FIG. 2A) to an open position (FIG. 2B). In one particular embodiment, door 40 has a front side 41, a back side 42, a bottom edge 43, a left edge 44a, a right edge 44b, and a top edge 45. Therefore, when door 40 is in the closed position (FIG. 2A), door 40 closes opening 38 and front side 41 of door 40 faces outwardly. When door 40 is in the open position (FIG. 2B) door 40 is located below opening 38, cavity 36 of ice storage bin 31 is accessible, and back side 42 of door 40 faces outwardly.

In one embodiment, for example, a hinges 47 may be disposed along left edge 44a and right edge 44b of door 40, respectively, and rotatably connect door 40 to ice storage bin 31 along left wall 33a and right wall 33b of ice storage bin 31, respectively. As can be seen in greater detail in FIGS. 3A and 3B, hinge pin receiving holes 46 may be disposed parallel to bottom edge 43 near left edge 44a and right edge 44b of door 40. Hinge pin receiving holes 46 may be adapted to receive a hinge pin (not shown) of hinges 47 which permit door 40 to swing downward. In certain other embodiments, for example one or more hinges 47 are disposed along bottom edge 43 of door 40 and rotatably connect door 40 to ice storage bin 31 at top edge 39 of front wall 34 of ice storage bin 31. It is to be understood that any hinge type, construction and/or location may be used that permits door 40 to swing down from a closed position to an open position without departing from the scope of the present invention. By arranging the hinge in this manner, the issues of the prior art doors that swing upward to open are eliminated because when door 40 is in the open position, gravity maintains door 40 in the open position such that it cannot accidentally swing downward and strike a person accessing and/or removing ice from ice storage bin 31.

Door 40 may, in certain embodiments, be constructed of multiple pieces or may, in other embodiments, be constructed of a single piece. Preferably, in one embodiment, door 40 may be formed as a single piece using a variety of processes including, but not limited to, a blow-molding process, an injection molding process, a rotomolding process, a three-dimensional printing process, etc. Accordingly, in one particular embodiment, door 40 may be formed as a single piece using a variety of materials including, but not limited to, high impact polystyrene (HIPS), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), etc. Some embodiments of door 40 are hollow. While in other embodiments, similar to the walls of ice storage bin 31, door 40 may also be thermally insulated with various insulating materials including, but not limited to, fiberglass insulation or open- or closed-cell foam comprised, for example, of polystyrene or polyurethane, etc. in order to retard the melting of the ice stored in ice storage bin 31 and to provide additional structural rigidity.

Optionally, as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B an ice maker having a refrigeration and ice making system may be disposed inside of a cabinet 16 which may be mounted on top of ice storage bin assembly 30. In certain embodiments, however as illustrated in FIG. 5, ice storage bin assembly 30 may be separate from cabinet 16 and may have a top wall 32 closing ice storage bin 31. Accordingly, it will be understood that embodiments of the present invention do not require cabinet 16 containing an ice maker to be disposed on top of ice storage bin assembly 30 and the absence of cabinet 16 containing an ice maker does not depart from the scope of the present invention.

Referring now to FIG. 6, an embodiment of an ice storage bin assembly with an improved door having hooks for temporarily retaining a bucket is described. In one particular embodiment, one or more hooks 60 are disposed on back side 42 of door 40. The one or more hooks 60 are disposed such that when door 40 is in the open position hook 60 is adapted to temporarily retain a bucket 70. Bucket 70 may be, but is not limited to, a typical 5-gallon bucket, a specially designed ice bucket, etc. Accordingly, a user wishing to retrieve ice from ice storage bin 31 can hook handle 71 of a bucket 70 and can then easily fill bucket 70 with ice because top 76 of bucket is closer to top edge 39 of front wall 34 of ice storage bin 31 than if bucket 70 was placed on the floor or ground. By including one or more hooks 60 on back side 42 of door 40, the user does not have to place bucket 70 on the floor or ground while filling the bucket with ice. This may assist in keeping bucket 70 clean. Furthermore, hooking bucket 70 to door 40 raises bucket 70 above the floor and therefore may reduce stress and strain on the user because the user no longer has to reach down low to pick up and carry bucket 70 once it is full of ice. Additionally, hooking bucket 70 to door 40 assists in keeping door 40 in the open position. Additionally, in one embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, hook 60 may be adapted to temporarily retain bucket 70 directly instead of by handle 71. A typical bucket 70 may have a reinforcing band 74 near the top 76 of bucket 70 where handle 71 is attached to bucket 70. A typical bucket 70 may also have a lip 78 at the top 76 of bucket 70. In certain embodiments, hook 60 may be adapted to accept band 74 of bucket 70 in order to temporarily retain bucket 70, while in other embodiments hook 60 may be adapted to accept lip 78 of bucket 70 in order to temporarily retain bucket 70. In certain embodiments, hook 60 may be adapted to accept handle 71, band 74, and/or lip 78 of bucket 70 in order to temporarily retain bucket 70.

As shown in detail in FIGS. 9A, 9B and 10, an embodiment of hooks for temporarily retaining a bucket is described. Hook 60 may comprise a base portion 62, hook portions 64 and support portions 66. Hook portions 64 have proximal portions 63 which are connected to base portion 62 and distal portions 65. Hook portions 64 have an arcuate shape such that hook portions 64 are adapted to accept handle 71 of bucket 70. A gap 68 adapted to receive ring of material 73 on grip 72 of handle 71 of bucket 70 may partially or completely separate hook portions 64. Support portions 66 provide structural support for hook portions 64 and may assist in preventing the weight of a full bucket 70 from bending or breaking hook portions 64 of hook 60. Additionally, as illustrated in FIG. 9B, distal portions 65 may be shaped with a radius R which corresponds to the radius of a typical bucket 70 so that hook 60 may hold bucket 70 by band 74, while in other embodiments hooks 60 may hold bucket 70 by lip 78. It will be understood that the hooks may be any type of hook design which is capable of accepting the handle of a bucket and/or a bucket directly in order to temporarily retain a bucket, without departing from the scope of the present invention. Accordingly, in one embodiment, the hooks may be designed to accept the lip, sidewall, and/or base of a specially designed bucket. Therefore certain embodiments of hooks and buckets may be specially designed to permit the bucket to be releasably attached to the hooks without the use of a handle being placed in the hooks. The hooks may be comprised of a variety of materials including, but not limited to, metal, metal alloy, plastic, wood, composite, etc.

The one or more hooks 60 may be attached to back side 42 of door 40 in a variety of ways, including, but not limited to, screws, rivets, adhesives, welds, brazing, etc. Additionally, in certain embodiments, hooks 60 may be releasably attached to back side 42 of door 40 in a variety of ways, including, but not limited to, screws, magnets, locking pins and slots, etc. Accordingly, hooks 60 may be disposed in a variety of locations on back side 42 of door to accommodate different size buckets. Preferably in another embodiment, one or more hooks 60 may be integrally formed on back side 42 of door 40. In one particular embodiment, each hook 60 may first be formed as a single piece using a variety of processes including, but not limited to, an injection molding process, a three-dimensional printing process, etc. Then after the hooks 60 are formed, the desired number of hooks 60 may be placed in a mold wherein at least back side 42 of door 40, and preferably the entirety of door 40, is to be formed. Accordingly, the desired number of hooks 60 and the back side 42 of door and/or the entire door 40 are formed into single piece. This forming can be accomplished using a variety of processes including, but not limited to, a blow-molding process, a rotomolding process, etc. Accordingly, in one particular embodiment, at least back side 42 of door 40, and preferably the entirety of door 40, and hooks 60 may be constructed using a variety of materials including, but not limited to, high impact polystyrene (HIPS), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), etc.

As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, another embodiment of an ice storage bin assembly with an improved door having hooks for temporarily retaining a bucket is described. In one particular embodiment, one or more hooks 80 may be integrally formed on back side 42 of door 40 such that at least back side 42 of door 40, and preferably the entirety of door 40, and one or more hooks 80 are formed at the same time as a single piece. This forming can be accomplished using a variety of processes including, but not limited to, a blow-molding process, an injection molding process, a rotomolding process, a three-dimensional printing process, etc. Accordingly, in one particular embodiment at least back side 42 of door 40, and preferably the entirety of door 40, and hooks 80 are formed as a single piece using a variety of materials including, but not limited to, high impact polystyrene (HIPS), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), etc.

Similar to the above described embodiments, the one or more hooks 80 may be disposed such that when door 40 is in the open position hook 80 is capable of temporarily retaining a bucket 70. Bucket 70 may be, but is not limited to, a typical 5-gallon bucket, a specially designed ice bucket, etc. Accordingly, a user wishing to retrieve ice from ice storage bin 31 can hook handle 71 of a bucket 70 and can then easily fill bucket 70 with ice. Additionally, in one embodiment, hook 80 may be adapted to temporarily retain bucket 70 directly instead of by handle 71. A typical bucket 70 may have a reinforcing band 74 near the top 76 of the bucket where handle 71 is attached to bucket 70. A typical bucket 70 may also have a lip 78 at the top 76 of bucket 70. In certain embodiments, hook 80 may be adapted to accept band 74 of bucket 70 in order to temporarily retain bucket 70, while in other embodiments hook 80 may be adapted to accept lip 78 of bucket 70 in order to temporarily retain bucket 70. In certain embodiments, hook 80 may be adapted to accept handle 71, band 74, and/or lip 78 of bucket 70 in order to temporarily retain bucket 70.

As shown in detail in FIGS. 13A and 13B, one embodiment of a door having hooks for temporarily retaining a bucket is described. Hook 80 may comprise hook portions 84 and a support portion 88. Hook portions 84 have an arcuate shape such that hook portions 84 are adapted to accept handle 71 of bucket 70. A gap 88 adapted to receive ring of material 73 on handle 71 of bucket 70 may partially or completely separate hook portions 84. Support portion 86 provides structural support for hook portions 84 and may assist in preventing the weight of a full bucket 70 from bending or breaking hook portions 84 of hook 80.

In yet another embodiment, hooks 60, 80 may be visually distinguishable from back side 42 of door 40 which may assist in discriminating hooks 60, 80 from back side 42 of door 40. This would be particularly helpful in dimly lit locations such as bars and restaurants. Hooks 60, 80 may be visually distinguishable from back side 42 of door 40 in a variety of ways, including, but not limited to, color, texture, etc. In one embodiment, for example, back side 42 of door 40 may be dark in color and hooks 60, 80 may be lighter in color. In other embodiments, hooks 60, 80 may be colored, including, but not limited to, white, grey, yellow, fluorescent yellow, red, fluorescent red, green, fluorescent green, orange, fluorescent orange, etc. In other embodiments, for example, hooks 60, 80 may be reflective such that light is reflected therefrom. In another embodiment, for example, hooks 60, 80 may emit light via a variety of means, including, but not limited to, radioluminescence, phosphorescence, photoluminescence, chemiliuminescence, etc.

Additionally, in certain embodiments, one or more hooks 60, 80 may be on back side 42 of door 40. In one embodiment, for example, 1 hook 60, 80 may be on back side 42 of door 40. In another embodiment, for example, 2 hooks 60, 80 may be on back side 42 of door 40. In yet another embodiment, for example, 3 hooks 60, 80 may be on back side 42 of door 40. In yet another embodiment, for example, 4 hooks 60, 80 may be on back side 42 of door 40. In yet another embodiment, for example, 5 hooks 60, 80 may be on back side 42 of door 40. In yet another embodiment, for example, 6 hooks 60, 80 may be on back side 42 of door 40. In yet another embodiment, for example, 7 hooks 60, 80 may be on back side 42 of door 40. In yet another embodiment, for example, 8 hooks 60, 80 may be on back side 42 of door 40. In yet another embodiment, for example, 9 hooks 60, 80 may be on back side 42 of door 40. In yet another embodiment, for example, 10 hooks 60, 80 may be on back side 42 of door 40. By including more than one hook 60, 80, a user may be able to fill multiple buckets 70 with ice at a time and can therefore reduce the number of trips required from ice storage bin 31 to the destination of the ice.

It will be understood that prior art ice storage bins having upwardly swinging doors, can be retrofitted with a downwardly swinging door 40 using various parts described herein, without departing from the scope of the present invention. Additionally, prior art ice storage bins that have been retrofitted with a downwardly swinging door 40 may also be retrofitted with one or more hooks 60, 80 as described herein, without departing from the scope of the present invention. Furthermore, prior art ice storage bins may be retrofitted with a downwardly swinging door 40 that may have one or more integrally formed hooks 60, 80 as described herein, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Referring again to FIGS. 2A, 5, 11, 12, and 13A, certain embodiments of door 40 may further include one or more handles 48. In some embodiments, a handle 48 may be disposed on left side 44a and/or on right side 44b of door 40. In other embodiments, a handle 48 may be disposed on top edge 45 of door 40. Handle 48 may preferably be an indentation formed into door 40. However, it is to be understood that any handle type, construction and/or location may be used that assists in opening and closing door 40 without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Turning now to FIGS. 14 and 15, another embodiment of an improved ice storage bin assembly 90 having an upwardly swinging door 10. In one particular embodiment, tab 100 may be disposed along top edge 99 of front wall 94 of ice storage bin 91. Preferably, one or more tabs 100 may be disposed near left wall 93a and/or right wall 93b of ice storage bin 91. Tab 100 may comprise a tab of material, wherein tab 100 is adapted to temporarily retain a bucket 70. Bucket 70 may be, but is not limited to, a typical 5-gallon bucket, a specially designed ice bucket, etc. Accordingly, a user wishing to retrieve ice from ice storage bin 31 can hook handle 71 of a bucket 70 and can then easily fill bucket 70 with ice because top 76 of bucket 70 is closer to top edge 99 of front wall 94 of ice storage bin 91. Tab 100 may be disposed on top edge 99 of front wall 94 of ice storage bin 91 such that tab 100 does not interfere with the opening and closing of upwardly swinging door 10. It is to be understood that tab 100 may be any type of tab design which is capable of temporarily retaining the handle of a bucket without departing from the scope of the present invention. Tab 100 may be comprised of a variety of materials including, but not limited to, metal, metal alloy, plastic, wood, composite, etc. One or more tabs 100 may be attached to top edge 99 of front wall 94 in a variety of ways, including, but not limited to, screws, rivets, adhesives, welds, brazing, etc. Preferably in another embodiment, one or more tabs 100 may be integrally formed on top edge 99 of front wall 94. In yet other embodiments, one or more tabs 100 may be removably inserted into slots or tracks (not shown) in top edge 99 of front wall 94. Accordingly, one or more tabs 100 may be removed and placed in a variety of locations along top edge 99 of front wall 94 to assist a user in retrieving ice from ice storage bin 91.

Thus, there has been shown and described novel methods and apparatuses of an ice storage bin with an improved door and an improved door incorporating hooks, which overcome many of the problems of the prior art set forth above. It will be apparent, however, to those familiar in the art, that many changes, variations, modifications, and other uses and applications for the subject devices and methods are possible. All such changes, variations, modifications, and other uses and applications that do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention are deemed to be covered by the invention which is limited only by the claims which follow.

Claims

1. An ice storage bin assembly comprising:

an ice storage bin having a cavity for the storage of ice and an opening for access to the cavity; and

a door rotatably connected to the ice storage bin by one or more hinges which permit the door to swing down from a closed position to an open position;

wherein when the door is in the closed position, the door closes the opening and when the door is in the open position, the door is located below the opening and the cavity of the ice storage bin is accessible.

2. The ice storage bin assembly of claim 1, wherein the door further comprises one or more hooks disposed on the back side of the door, the one or more hooks adapted to temporarily retain a bucket when the door is in the open position.

3. The ice storage bin assembly of claim 2, wherein the one or more hooks are adapted to accept one or more of a handle, a reinforcing band, and a lip of a bucket in order to temporarily retain the bucket when the door is in the open position.

4. The ice storage bin assembly of claim 2, wherein the one or more hooks are integrally formed in the back side of the door.

5. The ice storage bin assembly of claim 2, wherein the one or more hooks are visually distinguishable from the back side of the door.

6. The ice storage bin assembly of claim 5, wherein the one or more hooks have a color that is different than a color of the back side of the door.

7. The ice storage bin assembly of claim 5, wherein the one or more hooks are reflective.

8. The ice storage bin assembly of claim 5, wherein the one or more hooks further comprise a means for emitting light.

9. The ice storage bin assembly of claim 1, wherein the door further comprises one or more handles for assisting in opening and closing the door.

10. An ice storage bin assembly comprising:

an ice storage bin having a cavity for the storage of ice and an opening for access to the cavity; and

a door rotatably connected to the ice storage bin by one or more hinges which permit the door to swing down from a closed position to an open position;

wherein when the door is in the closed position, the door closes the opening and when the door is in the open position, the door is located below the opening and the cavity of the ice storage bin is accessible; and wherein the door further comprises one or more hooks disposed on the back side of the door, the one or more hooks adapted to temporarily retain a bucket when the door is in the open position.

11. The ice storage bin assembly of claim 10, wherein the one or more hooks are adapted to accept one or more of a handle, a reinforcing band, and a lip of a bucket in order to temporarily retain the bucket when the door is in the open position.

12. The ice storage bin assembly of claim 10, wherein the one or more hooks are integrally formed in the back side of the door.

13. The ice storage bin assembly of claim 10, wherein the one or more hooks are visually distinguishable from the back side of the door.

14. The ice storage bin assembly of claim 10, wherein the one or more hooks have a color that is different than a color of the back side of the door.

15. The ice storage bin assembly of claim 10, wherein the one or more hooks are reflective.

16. The ice storage bin assembly of claim 10, wherein the one or more hooks further comprise a means for emitting light.

17. The ice storage bin assembly of claim 10, wherein the door further comprises one or more handles for assisting in opening and closing the door.

18. An ice storage bin assembly comprising:

an ice storage bin having a front wall, a top edge of the front wall, and a cavity for the storage of ice and an opening for access to the cavity;

a door rotatably connected to the ice storage bin by one or more hinges which permit the door to swing up from a closed position to an open position; and

one or more tabs disposed along the top edge of the front wall of the ice storage bin wherein the one or more tabs are adapted to temporarily retain a bucket when the door is in the open position.