Abstract:
A refrigerator having an ice and beverage dispenser on both the front and the back of the refrigerator improves efficiency and utilization of the refrigerator. Home floor plans include passageways through interior walls whereby a user can access a second dispenser of the kitchen refrigerator from an adjacent room, thus increasing access to the refrigerator.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates generally to appliances and, more particularly, to refrigerators including refrigerator-freezer combinations that provide storage accessibility and dispensing capability from more than one side of the refrigerator. 
   A refrigerator is a large cabinet unit used to keep food and drinks cool and fresh. The majority of homes have a pre-defined refrigerator area into which a refrigerator-freezer unit is inserted and, typically, access to the refrigerator is limited to the area directly in front of the refrigerator. This makes it difficult for more than one person to access the refrigerator at the same time. Thus, growing families and large residential group homes often have traffic jams at the refrigerator where several people at the same time are attempting to obtain a cold drink or open the doors to retrieve something inside. 
   In recent years, refrigerators have been designed with through-the-door ice and beverage dispensers. These units are not only convenient for the user, but they also conserve energy by allowing access to ice and water without opening a refrigerator door, thereby maintaining a constant temperature and not causing warm, moist air to enter or cold air to escape the refrigerator. Typically, consumer ice dispensers are located in a freezer compartment door and have a damper door that restricts warm moist air from entering the freezer compartment. The user requests crushed or cubed ice by exerting pressure against a switch mechanism, usually with a drinking glass, which causes the damper door to remain open. When the glass is sufficiently full, the user removes the pressure from the mechanism and the damper door closes. The user can also procure refrigerated or chilled water using a similar procedure after manually setting an electric switch to the beverage mode. However, while such units are convenient and conserve energy, they do not significantly increase accessibility to the refrigerator. 
   What is needed is a refrigerator design that increases accessibility to the refrigerator while maintaining the energy efficiency achieved with the through-the-door ice and beverage dispensers. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   By the present invention, a refrigerator is provided which meets the above described needs and overcomes the deficiencies of the prior art. A refrigerator of the present invention has a freezer compartment within the interior of the refrigerator that has a source of ice, a first ice dispenser assembly disposed in a first side of the refrigerator and in communication with the source of ice, and a second ice dispenser assembly disposed in a second side of the refrigerator also in communication with the source of ice. 
   In other embodiments of this invention, the first ice dispenser assembly is disposed in a front door on the front of the refrigerator, and the second external ice dispenser assembly is disposed in the back side of the refrigerator. A rotatable auger is mounted within the ice storage bin and adapted to advance the ice contained therein. Depression of a first switch causes the auger to rotate in a direction advancing ice toward a passage connecting the bin with the first ice dispenser. Depression of a second switch causes the auger to rotate in the opposite direction advancing ice toward a second passage connecting the bin with the second ice dispenser. 
   An appliance system of the present invention comprises a wall, in a building or home, preferably an interior wall, wherein the wall provides a division between a first area and a second area. A passageway through the wall provides access to the first area from the second area, and a refrigerator is positioned in the first area adjacent to the passageway. A first ice dispenser assembly is disposed in a first side of the refrigerator and is accessible by a user standing in the first area. The position of the refrigerator is such that a second ice dispenser assembly disposed in a second side of the refrigerator is accessible to a user standing in the second area via the passageway through the interior wall. 
   The methods for providing ice in a building or home basically comprise the following steps. A passageway is provided through a wall dividing a first area from a second area. A refrigerator as described above is located in the first area adjacent the passageway and having the first ice dispenser accessible to a user in the first area. The refrigerator is further aligned such that the second external ice dispenser is accessible to a user in the second area through the passageway through the wall. The user, reaching through the passageway, then manually activates a switch on the second side of the refrigerator causing the second ice dispenser to dispense ice into a container held by the user. 
   Other features and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the description of preferred embodiments which follows when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a refrigerator of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a plan view of ice dispensing system of the present invention. 
       FIG. 3  is an example floor plan of the present invention. 
       FIG. 4  is a second example floor plan of the present invention. 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the appliance system of the present invention. 
       FIG. 6  is a top view of an ice dispensing system of and embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 7  is a top view of an embodiment of the refrigerator of  FIG. 2  positioned as in the floor plan of  FIG. 4 . 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   A refrigerator of the present invention is illustrated generally in  FIG. 1 . The refrigerator basically includes two or more ice dispensing assemblies disposed in different sides of the refrigerator, and thus has significantly increased user-accessibility while maintaining energy efficiency. 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a refrigerator  10  of this invention includes an ice source  11  within a freezer compartment  12  of the refrigerator  10 , and two or more external ice dispensing assemblies such as first external dispenser assembly  14  located in a first dispenser recess  16  in a first side  18  of the refrigerator  10 , and second external dispensing assembly  20  located in a second dispenser recess  22  in a second side  24  of the refrigerator. Each ice dispenser assembly is provided ice by an internal assembly  25 . Preferably, the first side  18  and second side  24  refer to the front and the back of the refrigerator, respectively. More preferably, the first dispenser recess  16  is located on the front of the freezer door  23 . While the second dispenser recess  22  is preferably located at the back of the refrigerator opposite the freezer door  23 , it can also be located on a side adjacent to the front. 
   The present invention is not limited to refrigerators having only two external ice dispenser assemblies. For example, a refrigerator of this invention may comprise a side-by-side refrigerator/freezer having an ice dispenser assembly in the front freezer door, a back freezer door also having an ice dispenser assembly, and another dispenser assembly in the side wall adjacent the freezer compartment  12 . 
   Freezer compartment  12  of  FIG. 2  is typically a vertical section of the refrigerator  10  as in the side-by-side unit shown in  FIG. 1 ; however the present invention is not limited to this type design and encompasses any design refrigerator having a section available for freezing and/or maintaining frozen ice. The ice source  11  includes any container or storage bin holding crushed or uncrushed ice cubes. Preferably, the two or more external ice dispenser assemblies are provided ice by internal assembly  25  which includes a storage bin  28  and an ice maker  26 . More preferably ice maker  26  is an automatic type. It is common practice to provide refrigerators with an ice maker linked to a water supply line (not shown) which is used to fill an internal ice cube tray (also not shown) which is then emptied into the storage bin  28  following a freezing cycle. A first ice crusher unit  30  is preferably installed on the storage bin  28  near the first side  18  of the refrigerator and is capable of delivering either crushed or uncrushed ice cubes. Design and operation of such ice makers and ice crushers are well known to those skilled in the art. 
   Typically the user inserts a container such as a cup or glass into a dispenser recess and uses the container to exert pressure against a switch to activate the ice dispenser. Using the refrigerator of this invention, a user can obtain ice from the first side  18  by pressing a cup against first switch  38  disposed toward the back of first dispenser recess  16 , or can access the refrigerator from the second side  24  and obtain ice by pressing a glass against second switch  48  disposed toward the back of second dispenser recess  22 . 
   The bottom of storage bin  28  comprises a trough  62  which directs the ice to one or one or more rotatable augers (such as auger  60  in  FIG. 2  or first auger  60  and second auger  60 ′ in  FIG. 6 ) which are used to move the ice to the activated dispenser. Preferably, a single rotatable auger  60  is used which rotates in a first direction to move the ice toward the front of the refrigerator, and rotates in the opposite direction to move the ice to the back of the refrigerator. Preferably, an auger shaft  64  is rotated by a drive motor  66  which is activated by either first switch  38  or second switch  48 . When activated by first switch  38 , the motor causes auger  60  to rotate in a forward rotation advancing ice toward the ice storage bin first exit  42  leading to first passage  36 . A damper door  56  opens to allow the ice in first passage  36  to advance through first opening  34  and to exit the dispenser through first bottom opening  68 . In addition, when drive motor  66  is activated by second switch  48 , the motor causes auger  60  to rotate in a reverse rotation advancing ice toward the ice storage bin second exit  52  leading to second passage  46 . A second damper door  58  opens to allow the ice in second passage  46  to advance through second opening  44  and to exit the dispenser through second bottom opening  70 . A controller  54  is electrically connected to the first and second switches,  38  and  48 . The controller  54  includes a delaying means to delay operation of the rotatable auger in the forward direction when it is actively operating in the reverse direction, and to delay operation in the reverse direction when it is actively operating in the forward direction. Such controllers are readily available commercially and their design, installation, and operation are well known to those skilled in the art. 
   In another embodiment of this invention, refrigerator  10  includes a beverage dispenser  32  located in first dispenser recess  16  in the first side  18  of the refrigerator  10 , and a second beverage dispenser  33  located in the second dispenser recess  22  in the second side  24  of the refrigerator  10 . A user can access the first beverage dispenser  32  at the first dispenser recess  16  and another user can simultaneously access the second beverage dispenser  33  at the second dispenser recess  22 . Preferably the beverage dispensers dispense cooled or chilled water. More preferably, refrigerator  10  is equipped with both first and second ice dispensing assemblies,  14  and  20  respectively, and with both first and second beverage dispensers,  32  and  33  respectively. 
   First and second control assemblies,  40  and  50  respectively, are preferably located proximate the respective first and second ice and beverage dispenser assemblies, and are manually operated to initiate dispensing of ice or a beverage. Typically a dispenser selection panel allows the user to select a dispensing mode from optional modes such as ice cubes, crushed ice, and a chilled beverage or water. Design of such control assemblies and selection panels is well known to those skilled in the art. In the present invention, a first selection panel  41  is located near the first external dispensing assembly  14  and allows the user to select between operation of the first external dispensing assembly  14  or beverage dispenser  32 . A second selection panel  51  with the same or similar selection modes and operation is located near the second external dispensing assembly  20 . 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , appliance systems  71  of this invention of this invention comprise a wall  74  in a building providing a division between a first area  76  and a second area  78 . Passageway  72  through wall  74  provides access to first area  76  from second area  78 . Refrigerator  10  is positioned in first area  76  adjacent passageway  72  such that first ice dispenser assembly  14  is accessible to a user standing in first area  76  and second ice dispenser assembly  20  is accessible to a user standing in the second area  78  by reaching the user&#39;s hand into the passageway  72  through the wall  74 . 
   Preferably wall  74  is an interior wall. Wall  74  is constructed by methods known to those skilled in the art and the construction and composition of the wall is not critical to the invention; however, the wall is preferably either fabricated with a passage, or is fabricated in a conventional manner or such that construction of a passage presents no significant difficulty. Wall  74  can be located in any type of building, but is preferably in a home or domicile. 
   A suitable passageway  72  may comprise any conduit through wall  74 . Preferably the conduit approximates the size of the second dispensing assembly and is positioned in height to align with the second dispensing assembly. The shape of the conduit is not critical, but the size and shape must accommodate an adult-size hand and arm as well as a drinking glass. Preferably the conduit is esthetically pleasing and has an internal height or diameter in a vertical plane of at least 7 inches. Alternatively, a suitable passageway may be provided by having a low interior wall  74  such as “waist-high” wall separating a walkway or wet bar from the kitchen. A “waist-high” wall preferably has a height (from the floor) in the range of about 2½ feet to 4 feet, and more preferably has a height in the range of about 3 to 3½ feet. Since most commercial refrigerators traditionally attach cooling coils over much of the back side of the refrigerator, the appliance system of this invention utilizing a “waist high” wall preferably limits the location of cooling coils to below “waist-height” in the back of the refrigerator, and may add cooling coils to another area such as the underside of the refrigerator. More preferably, the refrigerator comprises a cover plate covering the condenser coils on the back of the refrigerator and a fan providing air circulation to the covered space. 
   First area  76  can be any area within the building, but is preferably a kitchen area. Nonlimiting examples of suitable second areas  78  include, but are not limited to, halls or hallways, bedrooms, living rooms, family rooms, breakfast rooms, patios and sunrooms. 
   The methods for providing ice in a building or home basically comprise the following steps. A passageway  72  is provided through a wall dividing a first area from a second area. Refrigerator  10  as described above is located in the first area adjacent the passage and having the first ice dispenser accessible to a user in the first area. The refrigerator is further aligned such that the second external ice dispenser is accessible to a user in the second area via the passage through the wall. The user, reaching through the passageway, then manually activates a switch on the second side of the refrigerator causing the second ice dispenser to dispense ice into a container held by the user. 
   In order to further illustrate the systems, devices and methods of the present invention, the following hypothetical examples are given. 
   EXAMPLE 1 
   The following hypothetical example illustrates the versatility of the invention and specifically the advantages of dispensing ice and cold beverages from multiple sides of a refrigerator. Referring now to  FIG. 3 , a homeowner purchased refrigerator  10  having a front through-the-door ice and beverage dispenser  14 ′ as well as an ice and beverage dispenser  20 ′ in the back. The refrigerator  10  was located in a typical position in a home having a typical floor plan. However, the homeowner created an additional access to the back dispenser  20  by cutting a section from the wall  74  behind the refrigerator creating a small rectangular passageway  72  from the kitchen  76 ′ to the hall  78 ′. The cross-sectional center of the passageway was 3 feet 6 inches from the floor and 2 feet 8 inches from a corner  80 , which allowed final positioning of the refrigerator such that the back dispenser  20 ′ aligned nearly perfectly with passageway  72 . In other words, when the refrigerator was in the desired position, the cross sectional center of the back dispenser  20 ′ was also 3 feet 6 inches from the floor and 2 feet 8 inches from corner  80 . The cross section of the passageway was just large enough to allow an approximately one inch border to be exposed around the outer edge of the back dispenser. The passageway  72  was then framed, replastered and painted to match the wall outer surface. 
   The back dispenser was frequented by family members using the master bedroom, the living room and the breakfast room. This appliance system and arrangement allowed easier access to the dispenser without requiring members and guests to enter the kitchen. 
   EXAMPLE 2 
   The following hypothetical example illustrates another embodiment of the refrigerator and appliance system of the present invention. Referring now to  FIG. 4 , a homeowner purchased refrigerator  10  having a front through-the-door ice and beverage dispenser  14 ′, an ice and beverage dispenser  20 ′ in the back, and a third ice and beverage dispenser  82  on the side. As shown, this home had a wet bar located in a living room  86  away from the kitchen area  76 ′. The rear mounted ice and cold water dispenser was accessible from the master bedroom  78 ′ via a passageway  72  through the bedroom wall into the kitchen aligned with the dispenser  20 ′ similar to that described in the previous example. The wet bar counter top was about 3 ft high and the side mounted ice and water dispenser was accessed from the wet bar by reaching through an open wall/partition space  72 ′ similar to a kitchen pass-through window. 
   The passageway  72  between kitchen  76 ′ and bedroom  78 ′ was further modified as shown in  FIG. 5 . The passageway  72  was hidden from view by installing a small door  84  attached to the wall  74 . The door  84  not only offered an attractive alternative to the open passageway, but when closed it also prevented heat from the kitchen and back of the refrigerator from entering the bedroom. The door  84  can be added using various techniques known to those skilled in the art. Nonlimiting examples include attaching a wooden frame (not shown) to the wall surrounding the passageway by anchoring the frame to studs within the wall; the door  84  can then be hinged to the frame. Alternatively, a sleeve (not shown) may be inserted through the passageway and a door attached directly to the sleeve. 
   The rear and front ice dispensers  20 ′ and  14 , respectively, utilize a single auger  60  rotatable in a forward rotating direction or a reverse rotating direction to advance the ice toward either the front or back dispenser. The side ice dispenser  82  utilizes one of numerous techniques available and known to those skilled in the art of solids handling to advance the ice cubes to the dispenser area. Nonlimiting examples of suitable techniques include use of a second auger, and use of a gate with a single auger. For example, a second auger  60 ′ is positioned in the storage bin as shown in  FIG. 7 , in this case perpendicular to and above the first auger  60  rather than parallel with auger  60  as shown in  FIG. 6 . The auger blades are removed or shortened from the overlapping sections of the auger shafts so the augers can be positioned closer together. The second auger  60 ′ advances ice for the side dispenser  82  serving the wet bar patrons. Alternatively, a single auger advances ice toward a user-activated gate (not shown) which diverts the ice cubes to the passage for the side dispenser. 
   EXAMPLE 3 
   Another embodiment of the refrigerator and appliance system of the present invention is illustrated by the following hypothetical example. A countertop size refrigerator-freezer referred to as a cube refrigerator, available commercially and manufactured by Avanti Products, Sanyo, Haier, GE and others, was modified to be rear accessible by removing the back and adapting the refrigerator to accept a back door that was the same or similar to the front door. In addition to allowing easier access, this design solves the problem of frozen treats or refrigerated drinks or foods being located toward the back in a difficult to reach location, causing frozen foods to often receive freezer burn and fresh foods to spoil due to lack of attention. The front door and the back door were further modified to include through-the-door front and back ice and beverage dispensers. 
   The resulting cube refrigerator was then placed on a breakfast bar such that the front faced the kitchen and the back faced toward people sitting at the bar. The refrigerator design and placement allows all the refrigerated storage and dispensing aspects of the appliance to be freely utilized. Now, people working in the kitchen, as well as people sitting on the opposite side of the bar, can readily access the contents of the cube refrigerator and can get ice and/or a beverage from the dispenser. 
   Thus, the present invention is well adapted to attain the objects and advantages mentioned as well as those that are inherent therein. While numerous changes may be made by those skilled in the art, such changes are encompassed within the spirit of this invention as defined by the appended claims.