With Product Receiving And Storing Means Patents (Class 62/344)
-
Patent number: 11408667Abstract: A water dispenser for a refrigerator including a water discharge nozzle fluidly connected to a water source, a valve configured to selectively block the fluid connection, and an actuator operated to allow water to be dispensed. The water discharge nozzle is pivotally mounted to a surface of the refrigerator to pivot between a retracted position and an extended position. In the extended position, the water discharge nozzle is extended outwards beyond the surface of the refrigerator. The water discharge nozzle is biased towards one of the extended and retracted positions. The valve is configured to block the fluid connection between the water discharge nozzle and the water source when the water discharge nozzle is in the retracted position. When the water discharge nozzle pivots to the extended position, the valve is operated to enable fluid connection between the water discharge nozzle and the water source.Type: GrantFiled: July 15, 2020Date of Patent: August 9, 2022Assignee: Electrolux Home Products, Inc.Inventors: Zhuochen Shi, Josh Hanson
-
Patent number: 11378319Abstract: An ice maker for mounting into a household cooling appliance, comprising: a storage container for ice comprising a rear wall and an opening, which is accessible from the top, a coupling extension, which is arranged on the rear wall and extends towards the rear, a driving unit comprising a drive housing and a closing aid arranged in the drive housing for locking of the storage container in a closed end position, wherein the drive housing comprises a front wall, at which an insertion opening of the closing aid is arranged so that upon inserting of the coupling extension into the insertion opening the coupling extension couples with the closing aid and by the closing aid viewed in the depth direction of the ice maker said coupling extension is pulled into the locking position towards the rear.Type: GrantFiled: January 3, 2020Date of Patent: July 5, 2022Assignee: BSH Hausgeraete GmbHInventors: Mathias Sigl, Robert Stahl, Josef Bauriedl
-
Patent number: 11243017Abstract: A plumbing system for an ice maker may include a supply line extending to a dispense point and a dispense valve coupled to the supply line. An ice maker is coupled to the recirculation line, and a pump is also coupled to the recirculation line. The pump is operable to recirculate liquid through the ice maker via the recirculation line. The plumbing system also include features for draining water from the recirculation line.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2019Date of Patent: February 8, 2022Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.Inventors: Gregory Sergeevich Chernov, Bradley Nicholas Gilkey
-
Patent number: 11226146Abstract: A refrigerator includes a freezer compartment and a machine compartment positioned proximate the freezer compartment. An icemaker assembly is positioned within the freezer compartment. A fill tube extends from the machine compartment into the icemaker assembly. A first solenoid valve is coupled to the fill tube. A second solenoid valve is coupled to the fill tube, wherein the first and second solenoid valves are positioned within the machine compartment. A controller is configured to independently open and close the first and second solenoid valves.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2019Date of Patent: January 18, 2022Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Vishal B. Chauhan, Giulia Marinello, Vikas C. Mruthyunjaya, Kevin Y. Zhang
-
Patent number: 11221169Abstract: An ice maker of a refrigerator includes a water supply to supply an ice-making water. The ice maker also includes an ice making container to be filled with the ice-making water. The ice maker further includes a cooler to provide a chill to the ice-making water. The ice maker additionally includes a water supplying-ice separator including at least one ice separating rod and a water supplying shaft. The water supplying shaft includes a water passage therein and a plurality of outlets wherein the ice-making water is discharged through the plurality of outlets to the ice making container. The at least one ice separating rod is provided on the water supplying shaft. The ice maker also includes a driver configured to rotate the water supplying-ice separator. The ice maker additionally includes a controller to control the driver so that the at least one ice separating rod separates the ice.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2019Date of Patent: January 11, 2022Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventor: Moongyo Jung
-
Patent number: 11199352Abstract: A countertop appliance, as provided herein, may include a dispenser casing, a water path, a water filter, a dispenser valve, an output storage tank, an internal storage valve, and an ice maker. The dispenser casing may define an interior cavity. The water path may be enclosed within the interior cavity. The water path may define a water inlet and an assembly water outlet. The output storage tank may be disposed along the water path to hold a preset volume of water upstream from the assembly water outlet. The internal storage valve may be disposed along the water path and configured to maintain the preset volume of water within the output storage tank. The ice maker may be downstream from the output storage tank to receive water therefrom.Type: GrantFiled: July 17, 2020Date of Patent: December 14, 2021Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.Inventor: Samuel Vincent DuPlessis
-
Patent number: 11150004Abstract: A dispenser assembly for a refrigerator door. The dispenser assembly including a superjacent housing having an open front and an ice chute extending from a rear of the superjacent housing. The ice chute has a proximal end integrally attached to the rear of the superjacent housing and an open distal end. A subjacent housing has an upper end attachable to a lower end of the superjacent housing. The subjacent housing has an open front defining a cavity for receiving a container. The lower end of the superjacent housing is configured to sealingly engage with the upper end of the subjacent housing.Type: GrantFiled: August 3, 2020Date of Patent: October 19, 2021Assignee: Electrolux Home Products, Inc.Inventors: Sandeep Kumar, Cory Dale Simpson
-
Patent number: 11137187Abstract: A refrigerator includes a cabinet including a refrigerating compartment and an evaporation chamber, a first door, a housing in the first door, an ice making room defining a cool air inflow hole and a cool air discharge hole, a chiller room defining a cool air discharge hole, a second door connected to the first door, a partition wall defining the ice making room, the chiller room, and a communication hole, a damper opening and closing the communication hole, a cool air supply duct connecting an outlet of the evaporation chamber and the cool air inflow hole to supply cool air of the evaporation chamber to the ice making room, and a cool air return duct having a first inlet connected to the cool air discharge hole of the ice making chamber and a second inlet connected to the cool air discharge hole of the chiller room.Type: GrantFiled: July 25, 2019Date of Patent: October 5, 2021Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.Inventors: Donghoon Lee, Donghoon Lee, Wookyong Lee, Seungyoon Cho, Heejun Lee, Seungseob Yeom
-
Patent number: 11060782Abstract: A refrigerator utilizes an ice dispenser closure that is actuated in response to separation of a separable portion of a passageway that communicates ice from an ice dispensing mechanism to a dispenser outlet to restrict external access to the ice dispensing mechanism.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2019Date of Patent: July 13, 2021Assignee: MIDEA GROUP CO., LTD.Inventor: Eric Scalf
-
Patent number: 11022359Abstract: An aspect of the present disclosure is generally directed to an ice making appliance that includes: an ice making compartment and an ice maker including an ice mold having a total water capacity. The ice mold includes a plurality of ice wells and is configured to release the ice cubes without the use of a heater and by twisting the ice mold. The ice wells are typically no more than about 12.2 mm in depth from a top surface of the ice mold and have a volume of about 20 mL or less. The ice maker is capable of producing at least about 3.5 lbs. of ice or more in a 24 hour span.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 2017Date of Patent: June 1, 2021Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Arivazhagan Chandrashekaran, Andrew M. Tenbarge
-
Patent number: 11009277Abstract: A refrigerator appliance, as provided herein, may include a cabinet, a door, a dispensing assembly, an icemaker, and an ice storage bin. The door may define a bin opening and a dispenser recess. The dispensing assembly may be positioned within the dispenser recess and define an ice delivery passage. The ice storage bin may define a storage cavity. The ice storage bin may be slidably mounted to the door to move through the bin opening between a mounted position and a removed position. The ice storage bin may include an insulated front wall positioned across the bin opening in the mounted position. The storage cavity may be in communication with the icemaker in the mounted position to receive ice therefrom. The storage cavity may further be in communication with the dispensing assembly in the mounted position to direct ice to the ice delivery passage.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2019Date of Patent: May 18, 2021Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.Inventor: Alan Joseph Mitchell
-
Patent number: 10969157Abstract: A refrigerator, comprising: a refrigerator body, an air duct assembly and a branched air supply apparatus; the air duct assembly has an accommodating cavity, air passages, and air supply ports opening forward; the air passages comprise a first air passage and a plurality of second air passages; the branched air supply apparatus is installed in the accommodating cavity and has a peripheral wall portion; the peripheral wall portion defines a plurality of air outlets, the plurality of air outlets comprising a first air outlet and a plurality of second air outlets; the first air passage is communicated with the first air outlet and a first storage space; each second air passage is communicated with one second air outlet and one or more air supply ports, and each of the second air outlets communicates with at least one second air passage.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2018Date of Patent: April 6, 2021Assignee: QINGDAO HAIER JOINT STOCK CO., LTD.Inventors: Xueli Cheng, Bin Fei, Yazhou Shang, Dengqiang Li
-
Patent number: 10921035Abstract: An aspect of the present disclosure is generally directed to an ice making appliance that includes: an ice making compartment and an ice maker including an ice mold having a total water capacity. The ice mold includes a plurality of ice wells and is configured to release the ice cubes without the use of a heater and by twisting the ice mold. The ice wells are typically no more than about 12.2 mm in depth from a top surface of the ice mold and have a volume of about 20 mL or less. The ice maker is capable of producing at least about 3.5 lbs. of ice or more in a 24 hour span.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 2017Date of Patent: February 16, 2021Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Arivazhagan Chandrashekaran, Andrew M. Tenbarge
-
Patent number: 10900704Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a refrigerator having a separate ice-making system, comprising: a refrigerating compartment and an ice-making chamber disposed inside the refrigerating compartment, wherein an ice maker is arranged inside the ice-making chamber, the ice-making chamber is supplied with cold air by an ice-making refrigeration system including an ice-making evaporator, an ice-making air supply duct, an ice-making fan and an ice-making air return duct, the ice-making air supply duct and the ice-making air return duct are arranged in parallel, the ice-making evaporator is disposed inside the refrigerating compartment and outside the ice-making chamber, and the ice-making evaporator is communicated with the ice maker through the ice-making air supply duct and the ice-making air return duct to form a refrigerating circulation loop.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2019Date of Patent: January 26, 2021Inventors: Ying Jia, Zengqiang Si, Dongxian Liu, Xuezai Zheng, Fei Lu, Yu Li, Deming Wei
-
Patent number: 10890365Abstract: A solid-production system for producing a solid on demand is provided herein. In some aspects, the solid-production system includes a conveying mechanism; a fluid-dispensing mechanism; a pressure plate arranged to urge the fluid mold into interaction with a cooling block to form a solid; a solid-dispensing mechanism arranged to dispense the solid loosened by a solid ejector to a user; and processing circuitry configured to implement a master state machine, and slave state machines for respective ones of the fluid-dispensing mechanism, conveying mechanism, pressure plate and solid-dispensing mechanism, wherein the master state machine is configured to send commands to the slave state machines based on states of the slave state machines, and the slave state machines are configured to execute the commands to control the respective ones of the conveying mechanism, fluid-dispensing mechanism, pressure plate, and solid-dispensing mechanism.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2019Date of Patent: January 12, 2021Assignee: Electrolux Home Products, Inc.Inventors: Priyanka Monil Neema, George Marshall Horne, Stephen Smith, Thomas Josefsson, Vasantha K. Chitta
-
Patent number: 10859301Abstract: A refrigerator appliance and ice bin assembly therefor are provided herein. The ice bin assembly or ice bin may be removably received within the chilled chamber. The ice bin may include a bin body, an ice sweep, and a gear assembly. The bin body may define a storage volume to receive ice therein. The ice sweep may be positioned within the ice bin. The gear assembly may be positioned within the ice bin below the ice sweep in mechanical communication with the ice sweep to motivate rotation of the ice sweep.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 2018Date of Patent: December 8, 2020Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.Inventors: Louis A. Wantland, Gaurav Sanjay Katre, Lauren Nicole Platts
-
Patent number: 10852046Abstract: A refrigerator combines an externally-accessible door-mounted fluid or water dispenser outlet with an externally-accessible case-mounted ice dispenser outlet and/or an externally-accessible case-mounted fluid dispenser control.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2018Date of Patent: December 1, 2020Assignee: MIDEA GROUP CO., LTD.Inventor: Eric Scalf
-
Patent number: 10837688Abstract: Systems and apparatuses for making ice and ejecting the ice from an ice formation cell. In one example, a system includes an ice formation cell, a refrigerant tube, and an ejector. The refrigerant tube is disposed within the ice formation cell. A portion of the water stream can freeze on the refrigerant tube to generate the ice piece. The ejector rotates about an axis. When rotating, the ejector pries an ice piece away from the refrigerant tube disposed the ice formation cell.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2017Date of Patent: November 17, 2020Assignee: Oxen, Inc.Inventor: Milaim Hoti
-
Patent number: 10816255Abstract: Disclosed herein is a refrigerator having an ice bucket with a simple structure. The refrigerator may include a main body and an ice bucket provided to supply ice, wherein the ice bucket includes an ice bank provided with an ice storage space therein and an opening, an auger rotatably disposed in the ice bank to rotate about a rotating shaft to transfer ice, and a guide lever rotatably installed in the ice bank to open or close the opening and configured to open the opening by being pushed by ice being transferred in a direction of the rotating shaft.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2017Date of Patent: October 27, 2020Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.Inventors: Young Il Song, Jae Koog An
-
Patent number: 10808980Abstract: An ice-maker/ice storage box assembly and a refrigerator having the ice-maker/ice storage box assembly are provided. The ice-maker/ice storage box assembly has an ice storage box. The ice storage box is provided with a rotary shaft and a separation mechanism. An outer end of the rotary shaft is provided with a rotary-shaft connector. The rotary-shaft connector is connected to a transmission connector of an ice dispensing motor. The separation mechanism is used to axially separate the transmission connector from the rotary-shaft connector. The ice-maker/ice storage box assembly enables the ice storage box to be conveniently removed without damaging a connection part between the ice dispensing motor and the ice storage box, and the ice storage box does not have to be removed in a fixed direction.Type: GrantFiled: November 26, 2018Date of Patent: October 20, 2020Assignees: Hefei Hualing Co., Ltd., Media Group Co., Ltd.Inventors: Zengqiang Si, Yang Shao, Zhengguang Lv, Hao Wang
-
Patent number: 10782058Abstract: A refrigerator includes an ice compartment region disposed in at least one of a fresh food compartment or a freezer compartment; an ice maker disposed in the ice compartment region and configured to make ice pieces; and an ice bucket assembly configured to store the ice pieces made by the ice maker. The ice bucket assembly includes a mechanism for producing nugget ice from the ice pieces made by the ice maker and stored in the ice bucket assembly, the nugget ice being smaller in size as compared to the ice pieces made by the ice maker and stored in the ice bucket assembly.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 2018Date of Patent: September 22, 2020Assignees: BSH Home Appliances Corporation, BSH Hausgeräte GmbHInventors: Nilton Bertolini, Cetin Abdullah Celik, Silas Patrick Mallon, Jorge Carlos Montalvo Sanchez
-
Patent number: 10775087Abstract: An ice-making tray according to the concept of the present invention is capable of making ice at high speed and improving the transparency of ice by providing a second tray having ice cells for storing ice-making water to be coupled, in an overlapping manner, to the upper surface of a first tray which is in contact with a refrigerant pipe. The first tray may be formed of an aluminum material, the second tray may be formed of a plastic material, and the first tray formed of an aluminum material can efficiently function as a heat exchanger of an ice-making space due to having high thermal-conductivity. In the second tray, a fixing part for fixing the ice-making tray inside the ice-making space, a shaft accommodating part for accommodating the rotation shaft of an ejector, a temperature sensor accommodating part for accommodating a temperature sensor, and an air insulating part for insulating the ice-making tray and an ice separating motor may be formed integrally.Type: GrantFiled: August 8, 2018Date of Patent: September 15, 2020Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.Inventors: Jin Jeong, Bong su Son, Do Yun Jang, Jae Min Lee
-
Patent number: 10775088Abstract: An ice making assembly includes an ice bucket with an agitator rotatably mounted within the ice bucket. The agitator may be rotated by a dispenser motor. The agitator may be coupled to the dispenser motor via a fork connected to the motor and a socket connected to the agitator. The fork is selectively engagable with the socket, and the fork transfers torque from the dispenser motor to the agitator via the socket when the fork engages the socket. The ice making assembly may be provided in a refrigerator appliance.Type: GrantFiled: February 16, 2018Date of Patent: September 15, 2020Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.Inventor: Alan Joseph Mitchell
-
Patent number: 10746454Abstract: A household refrigeration appliance has a housing in which there is formed at least one receiving space for food, and an icemaker. The icemaker has an external housing formed from a plurality of separate constituent parts. Wherein one of the constituent parts is a one-piece bottom tray that has a bottom wall and side walls that are integrally formed in one piece thereon.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2017Date of Patent: August 18, 2020Assignee: BSH Hausgeraete GmbHInventors: Prashantagouda Hosamani, Hans Gerd Keller, Robert Stahl
-
Patent number: 10697687Abstract: The present invention relates to a refrigerator unit and/or a freezer unit having at least one dispensing unit for liquid and/or solid substances such as ice or water, wherein at least one actuation element is provided that is configured such that on its actuation, the dispensing unit is moved from a lowered position into a moved out position.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 2017Date of Patent: June 30, 2020Assignee: LIEBHERR-HAUSGERATE LIENZ GMBHInventors: Dominik Lercher, Hannes Stocker, Markus Kofele
-
Patent number: 10690388Abstract: A refrigerator includes a cabinet defining an interior volume and a door for accessing the interior volume. An ice maker is disposed within the interior volume harvesting ice. The ice maker includes a frame and a motor. An ice tray includes a first end engaged with the motor, a second end engaged to the frame and a plurality ice wells defined by a plurality of weirs including first and second sets of weirs positioned proximate the first and second ends respectively, and interior weirs positioned therebetween. Each of the first and second sets of weirs and the internal weirs include a passage bifurcating each weir into first and second weir portions. Each of the passages defined by the first and second sets of weirs have a cross-sectional area that is greater than a cross-sectional area of any one of the passages defined by the internal weirs.Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 2018Date of Patent: June 23, 2020Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Robert B. Becker, Marcus R. Fischer, Christopher R. McElvain, Ryan D. Schuchart
-
Patent number: 10677504Abstract: Disclosed is an evaporator for an ice maker including: a refrigerant pipe having a circular cross-section, with refrigerant flowing therethrough; and a pair of ice making plates disposed on opposite sides of the refrigerant pipe. The refrigerant pipe is disposed between inner side surfaces of the ice making plates facing each other, and rounded parts are provided by being formed outwards at a place where the refrigerant pipe is located such that the rounded parts cover both sides of the refrigerant pipe by being in close contact therewith.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 2018Date of Patent: June 9, 2020Assignee: DAEYEONG E&B CO., LTD.Inventor: Doo Ha Kim
-
Patent number: 10551100Abstract: A refrigerator including a water intake container, in which carbonated water is produced by mixture of carbon dioxide and clean water, a first dispenser assembly, which the water intake container is attached to or detached from, and which supplies carbon dioxide and clean water to the water intake container when the water intake container is attached to the first dispenser, a dispenser lever and a second dispenser assembly which discharges clean water or ice according to manipulation of the dispenser lever, but stops the discharging of clean water or ice if the water intake container is attached to the first dispenser assembly. The refrigerator may include a dispenser lever and a processor to control an ice maker to stop operation if a command is entered through a user interface and to control the ice maker to start operation if the dispenser lever is manipulated while the ice maker stops operation.Type: GrantFiled: February 2, 2016Date of Patent: February 4, 2020Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.Inventors: Jung Won Park, Sung Ho Cho, Kyung Tae Ko, Seung Wan Kang, Woo Sung Kim, Chang Hern Lee, Gang Hyun Kim
-
Patent number: 10539359Abstract: Disclosed are a refrigerator and a folding guide device provided therein. The refrigerator includes a body including a storage compartment, a door that opens and closes the storage compartment, a support provided to be changeable in position to an unfolded position to be unfolded outward from the storage compartment and a folded position to be folded in the storage compartment, a folding guide device interlinked with an opening and closing operation of the door to apply a rotational force for changing the position of the support to the support. Here, the folding guide device includes a slider pressurized by the door and linearly moved, and a conversion outputter provided to connect the slider with the support and configured to convert a linear force input by the slider that linearly moves into a rotational force for changing the position of the support and output the rotational force.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2017Date of Patent: January 21, 2020Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.Inventors: O Min Kwon, Ki Young Lim
-
Patent number: 10502473Abstract: Disclosed herein is a refrigerator having a locker provided with a magnetic member to fix an ice bucket by use of magnetic attractive force and coupled to an upper wall of a body of the refrigerator. The ice bucket is removed by raising and then pulling it, while the locker is provided with an elastic guider to guide the removal of the ice bucket. The elastic guider is forced upward by the ice bucket during its removal and returns to its original position when the ice bucket is not forcing it upward.Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 2016Date of Patent: December 10, 2019Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.Inventors: Jin Jeong, Kyoung Ki Park, Bong Su Son, Do Yun Jang
-
Patent number: 10451337Abstract: A refrigerator comprises a body, a fresh food compartment provided in an upper portion of the body, a first freezer compartment provided in a lower portion of the body, a center compartment provided between the fresh food compartment and first freezer compartment and provided with an ice making compartment and a second freezer compartment, an upper door configured to open and close the fresh food compartment and the center compartment at a same time and a lower door configured to open and close the first freezer compartment, therefore the space utilization of the fresh food compartment may be enhanced.Type: GrantFiled: November 11, 2016Date of Patent: October 22, 2019Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hyun-Il Lee, Sang Woon Jeon, Se Lim Yoon, Byeong Soo Kim
-
Patent number: 10429115Abstract: A refrigerator has a storage compartment, a door for opening and closing the storage compartment, an ice-making machine and an ice storage compartment. The ice-making machine is used to produce an ice cube. The ice storage compartment is disposed below the ice-making machine, so as to accommodate an ice cube. The ice storage compartment has a discharge port. A movable blocking member and an ice-crushing cutter are located in the ice storage compartment. A distributor is located on the door and used to distribute the ice cube from the ice storage compartment to the outside. The ice storage compartment further includes an opening and closing mechanism for opening or closing the discharge port. Because the discharge port of the ice storage compartment can be closed, the ice-crushing cutter disposed above the discharge port will not be unconsciously touched, and a user is avoided from being hurt by the ice-crushing cutter.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 2016Date of Patent: October 1, 2019Assignee: BSH Hausgeraete GmbHInventors: Yongyan Shen, Xianzhong Wang, Ruoquan Xu, Yong Zhang
-
Patent number: 10429120Abstract: Disclosed is a refrigerator including a cabinet, a storage compartment provided in the cabinet to form a single space in which a storage item is stored, a single door for opening or closing the space formed by the storage compartment, a first cold air supply duct and a second cold air supply duct provided respectively on left and right sides of the single storage compartment, the first cold air supply duct and the second cold air supply duct supplying different amounts of cold air, and a storage unit for being pushed into or pulled from the storage compartment in a front-and-rear direction along with the door.Type: GrantFiled: November 8, 2016Date of Patent: October 1, 2019Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.Inventors: Tackwon Han, Junsoo Han
-
Patent number: 10422564Abstract: Apparatus and methods for constructing ice structures are provided. An apparatus for construction of a structure from ice may include multiple tubes. Each of the tubes may be disposed in an upright position. Each of the tubes may have a constant inner diameter and/or a closed bottom. The tubes may be disposed within a frame for transport of the tubes.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 2017Date of Patent: September 24, 2019Assignee: Ice Castles, LLCInventors: Brent Christensen, Brandon Christensen
-
Patent number: 10393421Abstract: In an ice maker according to the present disclosure, transporter configured to supply ice to a dispenser, at least a part of which is located above an ice bucket located in the middle of the main body, may transport the ice upward to help the user take the ice conveniently even with the ice bucket located in the middle of the main body. So a refrigerator including the ice maker, according to the present disclosure, includes a storeroom to store groceries with increased utilization of the storeroom.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2016Date of Patent: August 27, 2019Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Jae Jin Lee, Jin Jeong, Do Yun Jang
-
Patent number: 10378814Abstract: The refrigerator or freezer organization apparatus is an organization apparatus. The refrigerator or freezer organization apparatus is configured for use with a refrigerated device. The refrigerated device comprises one or more chambers. The refrigerator or freezer organization apparatus removably inserts into a chamber selected from the one or more chambers of the refrigerated device. The refrigerator or freezer organization apparatus is a structure that provides sliding storage spaces within the selected chamber. The refrigerator or freezer organization apparatus comprises a shell, a storage structure, and an anchor system. The anchor system and the storage structure attach to the shell. The shell inserts into the selected chamber of the refrigerated device. The anchor system secures the shell to the refrigerated device. The storage chamber presents sliding shelves and baskets that are used for storage within the selected chamber of the refrigerated device.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2018Date of Patent: August 13, 2019Inventor: Ruth Gaye
-
Patent number: 10365026Abstract: A water pocket with an open top side is filled with water, mounted in a regular position on a supporting frame, and tilts to supply the water stored in the water pocket to an ice making tray, thereby easily supplying a required amount of water to the ice making tray. A refrigerator includes an ice making tray provided to linearly move with rotation when ice of the ice making tray is separated, or includes a holding preventing member which prevents the ice from being caught by a lower ice making tray, thereby improving a forward-and-backward width of an ice maker. It is possible to easily withdraw ice stored in an ice bucket by pushing an ice discharge button in a state in which the ice bucket is not separated.Type: GrantFiled: October 12, 2016Date of Patent: July 30, 2019Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.Inventors: Jin Jeong, Bong Su Son, Do Yun Jang, Yoon Young Kim, Yong Jong Park, Moon Gyo Jung, Kook Jeong Seo
-
Patent number: 10330374Abstract: A refrigerator includes an outlet opening/closing system for a refrigerator dispenser including a driver, a cam configured to rotate with respect to a first axis by the driver, and an opening/closing module configured to pivot with respect to a second axis according to the rotation of the cam to open the outlet, wherein the first axis crosses the second axis at a predetermined angle.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2017Date of Patent: June 25, 2019Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.Inventors: Kyoung Ki Park, Hyun Hee Lee
-
Patent number: 10323874Abstract: An ice making assembly for a refrigerator appliance is provided. The ice making assembly includes an icebox defining an ice making chamber and a heat exchanger aperture. The icebox is mounted to a refrigerator door and surrounded by a door liner defining a circulation duct for receiving cooled airflow. A heat exchanger is positioned within the heat exchanging aperture and includes a first side positioned within the ice making chamber and a second side positioned outside the ice making chamber within the circulation duct. An icemaker is positioned within the ice making chamber and a fastener removably attaches the icemaker to the first side of the heat exchanger.Type: GrantFiled: February 3, 2017Date of Patent: June 18, 2019Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.Inventor: Alan Joseph Mitchell
-
Patent number: 10260790Abstract: A refrigerator appliance having an ice storage bin is generally provided herein. A door may define a bin opening and a dispenser recess to a cabinet of the refrigerator appliance. A dispensing assembly may be positioned within the dispenser recess and define an ice delivery passage. The ice storage bin may define a storage cavity in selective communication with an icemaker to receive ice therefrom. The ice storage bin may be in further communication with the dispensing assembly to direct ice to the ice delivery passage. The ice storage bin may be mounted to the door and selectively accessible through the bin opening.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 2017Date of Patent: April 16, 2019Assignee: Haier US Applicance Solutions, Inc.Inventors: Marc Eric Hottenroth, Lauren Nicole Platts
-
Patent number: 10254031Abstract: Disclosed is a refrigerator having a first storage chamber, a second storage chamber located below the first storage chamber, an ice maker configured to make ice pieces, an ice bucket configured to store the ice pieces made in the ice maker and a middle wall partitioning inside space of the refrigerator into the first storage chamber and the second storage chamber and including a base portion and a stepped portion located higher than the base portion to form ice-making space, wherein at least one portion of the ice maker and at least one portion of the ice bucket are accommodated in the ice-making space. With this structure, the space for actual use of the first storage chamber can be increased.Type: GrantFiled: May 12, 2016Date of Patent: April 9, 2019Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.Inventors: Jin Jeong, Jae Seung Lee, Yoon Young Kim, Yong Jong Park, Kook Jeong Seo, Do Yun Jang
-
Patent number: 10228179Abstract: A refrigerator is provided that includes a cabinet defining an interior volume and at least one door for providing access to the interior volume. An automatic ice maker assembly is disposed within the interior volume and configured to harvest a plurality of ice cubes. The automatic ice maker assembly has an automatic ice maker, a mounting plate and an ice maker receiving space. The mounting plate defines a plurality of engagement features extending into the ice maker receiving space. A rail system is disposed on opposite sides of the ice maker receiving space and an ice storage bin is removably positioned within the ice maker receiving space. The ice storage bin has an ice bin wall positioned on an ice bin base, and a latch slidably disposed along a bottom surface of the ice bin base. The latch has a plurality of retention features, configured to engage the engagement features.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2015Date of Patent: March 12, 2019Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Marcus Fischer, Christopher R. McElvain, Ryan D. Schuchart
-
Patent number: 10139145Abstract: Stand-alone ice making appliances are provided. An appliance includes a container defining a first storage volume for receipt of ice, a water tank defining a second storage volume for receipt of water, and a pump in fluid communication with the second storage volume. The appliance further includes an ice maker which is in fluid communication with the pump for receiving water from the pump. The appliance further includes a filter, the filter including a filter medium operable to remove contaminants from water flowing through the filter medium, the filter positioned upstream of the ice maker in a flow direction of water from the second storage volume to the ice maker.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2016Date of Patent: November 27, 2018Assignee: HAIER US APPLIANCE SOLUTIONS, INC.Inventors: Samuel Vincent DuPlessis, Timothy Scott Shaffer, Ronald Scott Tarr, Tomas Garces
-
Patent number: 10132544Abstract: An ice-making device for a refrigerator. The ice-making device includes an ice tray, an ice-storing unit, and a slide. The slide is configured to guide ice pieces discharged from the ice tray toward the ice-storing unit. The ice-storing unit includes an ice storage part configured to accommodate the ice pieces released from the ice-making unit and a drive device configured to drive a delivery member for discharging the ice pieces from the ice storage part. The ice tray extends to a location above the drive device.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 2017Date of Patent: November 20, 2018Assignee: DONGBU DAEWOO ELECTRONICS CORPORATIONInventor: Sung Jin Yang
-
Patent number: 10101072Abstract: The present invention relates to a refrigerator comprising an ice making unit wherein ice cubes are formed and that has an ice cube tray that is moved by being rotated, a body whereon the ice cube tray is located and that encloses the ice cube tray and more than one sealing member that extends between the side walls of the body and the ice cube tray.Type: GrantFiled: May 28, 2015Date of Patent: October 16, 2018Assignee: ARCELIK ANONIM SIRKETIInventors: Samet Akan, Nihat Gunduz
-
Patent number: 10047982Abstract: Disclosed is an ice storage apparatus that may include an ice reservoir having ice stored therein, the ice being made in an ice making unit, and a noise reduction unit for reducing noise transmitted externally when the ice is moved from the ice making unit to the ice reservoir.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 2014Date of Patent: August 14, 2018Assignee: Coway Co., Ltd.Inventors: Min-Sub Song, Jung-Chul Park, Yong-Yeon Noh, Do-Han Kim, Si-Jun Park, Gyeong-Min Lee
-
Patent number: 10036586Abstract: A refrigerator including an ice maker and cutters for crushing ice produced from the ice maker. The cutters include fixed cutters and rotational cutters. Through holes are formed on the cutters to facilitate cold air flow to pass through the cutters and into the ice crushing space. The rotational cutters can rotate in one direction to crush the ice, and can rotate in another direction to leave the ice uncrushed.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2017Date of Patent: July 31, 2018Assignee: Dongbu Daewoo Electronics CorporationInventor: Sung Jin Yang
-
Patent number: 9989291Abstract: An ice machine includes an ice discharge gear to which an output of a motor is transmitted. The ice discharge gear is configured to rotate about a rotation axis, a cam member is disposed at a first axial side of the ice discharge gear and provided with a ratchet structure between the cam member and the ice discharge gear, and an ice discharge shaft is connected to the cam member in a facing relationship with the cam member and configured to scrape out ice pieces with ice discharge claw portions during rotation of the ice discharge shaft. A flat or substantially flat sleeve is disposed at a second axial side of the ice discharge gear so as to face the ice discharge gear across a gap, and an elastic member is interposed between the sleeve and the ice discharge gear.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 2015Date of Patent: June 5, 2018Assignee: NIDEC SERVO CORPORATIONInventor: Eiji Kuroda
-
Patent number: 9976787Abstract: A device for comminuting ice is particularly suited for a household refrigeration appliance. The device has a rotary shaft, a first cutter unit with at least one fixed blade, and a second cutter unit with at least one moveable blade which is attached to the rotary shaft and can be rotated in a rotational direction. The fixed blade has a comminuting section and a pre-comminuting section which is arranged upstream of the comminuting section counter to the rotational direction.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2013Date of Patent: May 22, 2018Assignees: BSH Hausgeraete GmbH, emz-Hanauer GmbH & Co. KGaAInventors: Josef Bauriedl, Olaf Bayerke, Gerald Schmidt
-
Patent number: 9939187Abstract: A refrigerator comprises: a cabinet including a refrigerator compartment, and a freezer compartment provided; a refrigerator compartment door rotationally connected to the front side of the cabinet to open/close the refrigerator compartment; an ice bank which is provided to the ice compartment and stores ice; an icemaker which comprises an upper tray forming a hemispherical upper cell, a lower tray forming a hemispherical lower cell, and a rotating shaft for rotating the lower tray, and which is provided in the freezer compartment; and an ice transfer device for transferring the ice collected in the ice collector to the ice bank along the ice transfer duct, wherein the ice transfer device can include: a transfer cable; a pusher connected to an end of the transfer cable; and a transfer case for accommodating the transfer cable which is wound.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 2014Date of Patent: April 10, 2018Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.Inventors: Donghoon Lee, Wookyong Lee, Bongjin Kim