Patent ID: 8955350
Filing Date: 2015-02-17
Classification: F25C

Abstract:
1. An ice dispensing assembly for an appliance, comprising: a container for the receipt of ice, said container having a bottom defining an opening for the passage of ice from said container; a cylindrically-shaped sleeve connected with the opening at the bottom of said container and extending from the bottom of said container; a base connected with said sleeve; a cylinder positioned at least partially within said sleeve and rotatable with respect to said sleeve and said base, said cylinder having a wall and defining an inner diameter; at least one rotatable blade carried by said cylinder and extending along the inner diameter between opposing ends positioned at the wall of said cylinder, said at least one rotatable blade defining a guide hole that is centrally positioned along said at least one rotatable blade; a shaft extending into said cylinder and through the guide hole of said at least one rotatable blade, said shaft having a bottom end connected to said base; at least one locking blade carried upon said shaft, said at least one locking blade configured to rotate in a first direction about said shaft and configured to lock into a fixed position when rotated in an opposite, second direction about said shaft; a plunger received within said at least one locking blade and biased toward said shaft, said plunger having a locking surface; wherein said shaft defines a notch for receipt of the locking surface of said plunger when said locking blade is rotated in the second direction; a metering plate attached to said shaft and positioned proximate to the opening at the bottom of said container, said metering plate defining a first aperture for the passage of ice from said container, through the opening in the bottom of said container, and into said sleeve; a control plate positioned proximate to said base; and a shaving blade carried upon said control plate; wherein said base defines a second aperture for the passage of ice from said cylinder and wherein said control plate defines a third aperture; wherein said control plate is configured for movement between a first position where the second aperture and third aperture are aligned and a second position where the second aperture is blocked by said control plate and said shaving blade is positioned adjacent to said second aperture.