Patent ID: 6964351
Filing Date: 2005-11-15
Classification: F25C

Abstract:
1. An ice dispensing chute assembly for dispensing ice into a receptacle, comprising: an ice chute having a lower ice discharge end and an upper ice inlet end for being secured to an ice retaining bin at an ice outlet opening from the bin; an actuating arm pivotally connected to said ice chute and having a cam contacting portion and a receptacle contacting portion for being contacted and moved by a receptacle into which ice is to be dispensed to pivot said actuating arm for rotation relative to said ice chute; an ice gate retained at said ice chute upper inlet end for linear movement between open and closed positions to respectively establish and interrupt communication between said ice chute inlet end and the ice outlet opening from the ice retaining bin; and linkage mechanism means for being contacted and moved by said actuating arm cam contacting portion and coupled to said ice gate for linearly moving said ice gate between said open and closed positions, said linkage mechanism means translating rotational movement of said actuating arm into linear movement of said ice gate between said open and closed positions.