Refrigerator freezer door ice maker

An ice maker and ice bin are provided on the inside of a freezer door of a refrigerator. The ice maker is compact, and the bin is removably mounted to the door. Ice is made by the ice maker on the door, and discharged into the ice bin, which then feeds the ice to an ice dispenser when the dispenser is actuated by a person.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Refrigerators commonly have a freezer compartment with an automatic ice maker therein. A bin is typically associated with the ice maker to receive and hold the ice until a person activates the ice dispenser. Ice making and dispensing through the freezer door are important value-added features on refrigerators.

The ice maker and ice bin normally consume premium, eye-level space in the freezer. To conserve the premium freezer space, some refrigerators have moved the ice bin to the inside of the freezer door, though the ice maker remains mounted in the freezer compartment.

Therefore, a primary objective of the present invention is the provision of an ice maker and ice bin which are mounted on the inside of the freezer door of a refrigerator so as to increase useable space in the freezer compartment.

Another objective of the present invention is the provision of a method of making ice in the freezer door, as opposed to the freezer compartment, so as to maximize freezer space.

A further objective of the present invention is the provision of a freezer door ice making system which is efficient and durable in use, and economical to manufacture.

These and other objectives will become apparent from the following description of the invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The refrigerator includes a freezer compartment with a door moveable between open and closed positions relative to the freezer compartment. A compact ice maker is mounted on the inside of the freezer door, along with an ice bin for receiving ice from the ice maker. The bin is in communication with an ice dispenser mounted in the door so that ice can be supplied on demand without opening the door. The bin is removably mounted to the door and includes an auger to preclude ice bridging and supply ice to the dispenser.

In the method of the invention, water is supplied to the ice maker on the freezer door so as to make ice, and ice is discharged from the ice maker into the bin on the freezer door, for subsequent dispensing through the dispenser, upon actuation by a person.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A refrigerator is generally designated in the drawings by the reference numeral10. The refrigerator10includes a freezer compartment12, with a freezer door14moveable between open and closed positions relative to the freezer compartment12. InFIG. 1, the freezer door14is shown in an open position.

The present invention is directed towards an ice making and dispensing system16which is mounted on the inside of the freezer door14. The ice system16includes an ice maker18, an ice bin20and an ice dispenser22. As best seen inFIG. 3, one or more water lines24supply water to the ice maker.

Preferably, the ice maker18is relatively compact so as to minimize the area it occupies on the door14, and accordingly maximize the area available on the inside of the door14for the ice bin20. The ice bin20has an open upper end26which is positioned immediately beneath the outlet of the ice maker18. The base or lower end28of the ice maker18is adjacent to and in communication with the ice dispenser22. An auger30is provided in the ice maker18so as to break up any ice bridges which form in the bin20. The motor (not shown) for the auger30is provided in the base or lower end28of the bin20. The bin includes a handle32, and is detachably mounted to the inside of the freezer door14.

The ice dispenser22is conventional in construction, and supplies ice in the bin20to the outside of the door14upon demand by a person.

In the method of the present invention, water is supplied through the lines24to the ice maker18on the door14. After ice is made, the ice maker18discharges the ice into the ice bin20, which stores the ice until a person actuates the ice dispenser22so as to dispense ice into a glass, cup or other container on the outside of the freezer door14.

It is understood that the dispenser22may be eliminated to make a lower priced refrigerator.