Patent ID: 7278552
Filing Date: 2007-10-09
Classification: B67D,F25D,G06Q

Abstract:
1. A water supplier connectable to a refrigerator operable with a water source, the refrigerator having a housing configured to support: (a) a beverage compartment, the beverage compartment configured to support a beverage collector, the beverage collector having an upper portion; (b) a gas supplier; and (c) at least one drink supply canister configured to hold drink supply, the drink supply canister having a drink supply outlet wall defining an opening, wherein: (i) a drink flow axis extends between the opening and the upper portion of the beverage collector; and (ii) a flow of the drink supply is flowable through the opening, along the drink flow axis and into the beverage collector, the water supplier comprising: a non-carbonated water line fluidly connected to the water source, the non-carbonated water line operable to supply non-carbonated water; a carbonated water line fluidly connected to the water source, the carbonated water line fluidly connectable to the gas supplier, the carbonated water line operable to supply carbonated water; at least one carbonated water valve fluidly connected to the carbonated water line; at least one non-carbonated water valve fluidly connected to the non-carbonated water line; at least one actuator operable to actuate the carbonated water valve and the non-carbonated water valve; at least one water dispenser fluidly connected to the non-carbonated water line and the carbonated water line, the water dispenser having a plurality of fluid directors defining a plurality of openings, each one of the fluid directors extending along a different water flow axis, the water flow axes intersecting at an identical point on the drink flow axis, the point being positioned within the upper portion of the beverage collector when the beverage compartment supports the beverage collector in a position which is a designated distance from the fluid directors; and at least one connection member connected to the water dispenser, the connection member positioning the fluid directors below the drink supply outlet wall when the water supplier is connected to the refrigerator.