Abstract:
A wall-mounted spool assembly connecting a water line to an icemaker. The icemaker connection is made by a flexible line which is dispensed by an automatically retracting spool. As the refrigerator is moved in and out, the spool dispenses and retracts sufficient line to maintain a stress-free connection to the icemaker. A shut-off valve is incorporated so that the user can shut off the water supply if the refrigerator must be disconnected. The device also included a fascia plate to give the whole a neat and finished appearance.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Not Applicable 
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not Applicable 
     MICROFICHE APPENDIX 
     Not Applicable 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to the field of plumbing. More specifically, the invention comprises an assembly for connecting a refrigerator icemaker to a fixed water line located in a wall, using a self-retracting spool for the connecting line. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Most residential refrigerators are equipped with icemakers. These icemakers must be fed by a small water line. FIG. 1 shows a typical prior art installation. A water line  18  is installed within either floor  10  or wall  12 . A sufficient length is left exposed to allow flare fitting  20  to be connected to icemaker connector  16  on the back of refrigerator  14  while refrigerator  14  is pulled away from wall  12 . Water line  18  is typically ¼ inch copper line. It is somewhat flexible, so that when refrigerator  14  is pulled in and out for maintenance and cleaning it will bend freely. However, those skilled in the art know that over time such copper lines tend to crimp and become fatigued. The mechanical stresses placed on the line will also tend to produce leaks at flare fitting  20 . The result is that leaks typically develop in the icemaker water supply. 
     In addition, the installation of prior art water line  18  is not standardized. The installing plumber must exercise judgment to determine how much excess line will be needed to permit adequate movement of refrigerator  14 . Experienced plumbers have little trouble with this issue, but many residential jobs are performed by persons lacking the necessary skills and judgment. 
     Finally, the prior art installation has an inherently crude appearance that displeases the homeowner. The known devices for connecting icemakers are therefore limited in that they: 
     1. Are subject to fatigue and resulting leakage; 
     2. Require an experienced plumber for proper installation; and 
     3. Have a crude appearance. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is a modular icemaker connecting device which eliminates the disadvantages inherent in the prior art. Referring to FIG. 2, the invention comprises a wall-mounted spool assembly. The icemaker connection is made by a flexible line which is dispensed by an automatically retracting spool. As the refrigerator is moved in and out, the spool dispenses and retracts sufficient line to maintain a stress-free connection to the icemaker. 
     A shut-off valve is incorporated so that the user can shut off the water supply if the refrigerator must be disconnected. The device also included a fascia plate to give the whole a neat and finished appearance. 
     Accordingly, several objects and advantages of the present invention are: 
     1. to eliminate water line stress and resulting leakage; 
     2. to provide a modular system which can be installed by relatively inexperienced plumbers; and 
     3. to provide a neat and finished appearance. 
     These objects and advantages will be fully explained in the details hereafter described, explained, and claimed, with reference being made to the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is an isometric view, showing the prior art. 
     FIG. 2 is an isometric view, showing the device installed in a wall. 
     FIG. 3 is an isometric view, showing the operation of the device. 
     FIG. 4 is an isometric view, showing the chassis. 
     FIG. 5 is an isometric view, showing the spool. 
     FIG. 6 is an isometric view, showing additional features of the spool. 
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 REFERENCE NUMERALS IN THE DRAWINGS 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 10 
                 floor 
                 12 
                 wall 
               
               
                 14 
                 refrigerator 
                 16 
                 icemaker connector 
               
               
                 18 
                 water line 
                 20 
                 flare fitting 
               
               
                 22 
                 stud 
                 24 
                 supplemental stud 
               
               
                 26 
                 spool assembly 
                 28 
                 chassis 
               
               
                 30 
                 spool 
                 32 
                 flex line 
               
               
                 34 
                 mounting tabs 
                 36 
                 valve 
               
               
                 38 
                 fascia 
                 40 
                 bulkhead 
               
               
                 42 
                 trunnion hole 
                 44 
                 bulkhead guide 
               
               
                 46 
                 spring stop 
                 48 
                 mounting hole 
               
               
                 50 
                 rotary connector 
                 52 
                 flex line connector 
               
               
                 54 
                 constant force spring 
                 56 
                 anchor slot 
               
               
                 58 
                 spring recess 
                 60 
                 spool connector 
               
               
                 62 
                 inlet hole 
                 64 
                 trunnion 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The proposed invention will typically be mounted in a wall in the area directly behind a refrigerator (or free-standing icemaker). FIG. 2 shows a portion of wall  12  with a cutaway through the sheetrock to aid visualization. Those skilled in the art will know that a residential wall is typically formed by a series of studs  22  covered by sheets of sheetrock (also known as “drywall”). Residential studs are typically erected on 16 inch centers. The distance between adjoining studs—approximately 14.5 inches—is often too wide to mount the proposed invention. Thus, the inventor recommends placing an intermediate supplemental stud  24 , as shown. Chassis  28  is mounted between stud  22  and supplemental stud  24 . Four mounting tabs  34  are provided to facilitate the attachment of chassis  28  to the studs. Those skilled in the art will realize that chassis  28  could easily be made 14.5 inches wide, thereby eliminating the need for supplemental stud  24 . However, as some construction uses smaller stud-to-stud spacing, this could present a problem. The inventor has therefore learned that it is best to make chassis  28  relatively compact—allowing the framer or plumber to add appropriate supplemental studs during the installation. 
     The group of components shown in FIG. 2 is denoted generally as spool assembly  26 . The reader will observe that chassis  28  is split by bulkhead  40  into two compartments. The right compartment contains spool  30 . The left compartment contain valve  36 . Valve  36  is connected to water line  18  using a conventional fitting. Valve  36  is then connected to spool  30  by spool connector  60 . Water flows into the invention through water line  18 . It then flows through valve  36  and through spool connector  60 . Spool  30  contains an integral water passage allowing the water to flow from spool connector  60  into spool  30 . Flex line  32  is wrapped around spool  30 . The first end of flexline  32  is fluidly connected to the integral water passage within spool  30 . The second end of flexline  32  is free to be pulled away from spool  30 . 
     A rotary connector between spool connector  60  and spool  30  allows spool  30  to rotate without leaking. Thus, if a user pulls on the free end of flexline  32 , flexline  32  will unwrap from spool  30  as spool  30  rotates. 
     Spool assembly  26  will normally be attached to the studs before the sheetrock is put in place. FIG. 3 shows a completed installation of spool assembly  26  with the drywall in place. The free end of flex line  32  terminates in flare fitting  20 , which is adapted to be attached to icemaker connector  16 . Once installed, if a user grasps flare fitting  20  it may easily be pulled away from wall  12  to the desired length for attachment to the icemaker. 
     A rectangular hole must obviously be made in the sheetrock to accommodate spool assembly  26 . This hole is often cut by hand, leaving a rough appearance. Fascia  38  is provided to dress the hole. Fascia  38  snaps onto the front of chassis  28 , thereby giving the completed installation a neat appearance. 
     FIG. 4 shows some details of chassis  28 . Bulkhead  40  is ideally made separately to facilitate the mounting of spool  30 . It slides into place along bulkhead guides  44 . Both bulkhead  40  and the right wall of chassis  28  are pierced by trunnion holes  42 . Referring briefly to FIGS. 5 and 6, the reader will observe that each end of spool  30  has a trunnion  64 . These fit within trunnion holes  42 , allowing spool  30  to freely rotate within chassis  28 . 
     Returning now to FIG. 4, inlet hole  62  is provided to mount valve  36 . Typically, a portion of valve  36  will extend below chassis  28 , and this portion is connected to water line  18 . The user can use valve  36  to shut off the flow of water if desired. 
     Four mounting tabs  34  are provided for mounting chassis  28  to the wall studs. Each mounting tab  34  is pierced by a mounting hole  48 . Nails or screws would typically be driven through mounting holes  48  to secure chassis  28  in place. 
     FIG. 5 shows spool  30  without flex line  32 . At its lefthand extreme is rotary connector  50 . Flex line connector  52  is located near the center axis of spool  30 . An internal water passage fluidly connects rotary connector  50  with flex line connector  52 . Rotary connector  50  is attached to spool connector  60 . The portion of rotary connector  50  attached to spool connector  60  remains fixed. However, a second portion of rotary connector  50  is free to rotate with spool  30 . Internal gaskets prevent the connector from leaking, despite the rotary motion. As such connectors are well known in the prior art, it will not be described in greater detail. 
     Flex line  32 —as mentioned previously—has two ends. The first end is attached to flex line connector  52 . Flex line  32  is then wrapped around spool  30 , leaving the second end of flex line  32  free. 
     FIG. 6 shows spool  30  with flex line  32  wrapped in place, and the second end of flex line  32  (terminating in flare fitting  20 ) free. If a user pulls on flare fitting  20 , flex line  32  will unwrap as spool  30  rotates. 
     Those skilled in the art will realize that once flex line  32  is completely unwrapped from spool  30  it will be cumbersome to rewrap. Constant force spring  54  is provided to remedy this problem. Constant force spring  54  rests within spring recess  58  in the right side of spool  30 . The inner termination of constant force spring  54  locks into anchor slot  56 . Returning briefly to FIG. 4, the reader will observe that when spool  30  is mounted within chassis  28 , the outer termination of constant force spring  54  will rest against spring stop  46 . Returning now to FIG.  6 —those skilled in the art will realize that constant force spring  54  will apply a relatively constant torque to spool  30  which tends to wrap flex line  32  back onto spool  30 . Thus, in use, a user can easily pull flare fitting  20  away from the wall and connect it to the icemaker when the icemaker (and possibly the accompanying refrigerator) is pulled away from the wall. When the icemaker or refrigerator is pushed back toward the wall, spool  30  will rotate and take up any slack in flex line  32 . Thus, the invention automatically extends and retracts flex line  32  as needed to accommodate the position of the icemaker relative to the wall. 
     Accordingly, the reader will appreciate that the proposed invention can greatly improve the connection of a water line to an icemaker. The invention has further advantages in that it: 
     1. Eliminates water line stress and resulting leakage; 
     2. Provides a modular system which can be installed by relatively inexperienced plumbers; and 
     3. Provides a neat and finished appearance. 
     Although the preceding description contains significant detail, it should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but rather as providing illustrations of the preferred embodiment of the invention. Thus, the scope of the invention should be fixed by the following claims, rather than by the examples given.