Multifunction dispenser actuation pad

A refrigerator includes refrigerator cabinet, a door attached to the refrigerator cabinet, an ice and water dispenser mounted at the door for dispensing ice and water through the door, the ice and water dispenser including a multifunction dispensing actuation pad having a plurality of actuation points and wherein ice or water is dispensed upon selectively applying a pressure to one of the plurality of actuation points on the dispensing actuation pad. A method of operating a refrigerator includes the steps of providing a refrigerator and selectively applying pressure to at least one of a plurality of actuation points on a dispensing actuation pad of the refrigerator to select an ice and water dispenser function.

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates generally to a refrigerator. More particularly, the present invention relates to a refrigerator with an ice and water dispenser which includes an actuation pad.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

As is well known, refrigerators may be provided with ice and water dispensers. Such dispensers are typically mounted on an outer surface of a refrigerator door. Each dispenser typically has a lever, actuator button, or actuator pad. In operation, a glass is pressed against the actuator button, pad, or lever, thus activating the dispensing of water or ice cubes, as desired. In some refrigerators, there are multiple levers present (one for ice, one for water).

Where an actuator pad is used, a user typically selects a dispensing function (such as water, or cubed ice, or crushed ice) and then presses the glass against the actuator pad to initiate dispensing. One of the problems with this approach is that where a user wishes to dispense both ice and water into a glass, the user must first select ice, press the glass against the actuation pad to fill with ice, then select water, and press the glass against the actuation pad to fill with water.

What is needed is an actuator pad which is more convenient for a user and does not require both the selection of the dispensing function and the pressing of the galls against the actuation pad in order to perform the dispensing function.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore it is a primary object, feature, or advantage of the present invention to improve upon the state of the art.

It is a further object, feature, or advantage of the present invention to provide a dispenser actuation pad which can achieve multifunction by providing a plurality of actuation points wherein actuation is different between top and bottom, side to side, or other configuration.

It is still a further object, feature, or advantage of the present invention to provide a multifunction dispenser actuation pad which can be selectively configured by a user via a user interface.

One or more of these and/or other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the specification and claims that follow. No single embodiment of the present invention need exhibit all of these objects, features, or advantages.

According to one aspect of the present invention, a refrigerator includes a refrigerator cabinet, a door attached to the refrigerator cabinet, an ice and water dispenser mounted at the door for dispensing ice and water through the door, the ice and water dispenser including a multifunction dispensing actuation pad having a plurality of actuation points and wherein ice or water is dispensed upon selectively applying a pressure to one of the plurality of actuation points on the dispensing actuation pad.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the plurality of actuation points includes a first point associated with a first actuator and a second point associated with a second actuator. Applying pressure to the first actuator actuates the first actuator thereby dispensing ice while applying pressure to the second actuator actuates the second actuator thereby dispensing water. In still a further aspect, applying pressure to the first point actuator actuates the first actuator thereby dispensing cubed ice while applying pressure to the second actuator actuates the second actuator thereby dispensing crushed ice.

In still a further aspect of the present invention, a refrigerator is provided which includes a refrigerator cabinet, a door attached to the refrigerator cabinet, an ice and water dispenser mounted at the door for dispensing ice and water through the door, the ice and water dispenser including a multifunction dispensing actuation pad comprising a plurality of actuators, and a user interface operatively connected at the door, the user interface providing for receiving user configurations associating one or more of the plurality of actuators with one or more of a plurality of ice and water dispensing functions.

In another aspect of the invention, a method is provided for operating a refrigerator, comprising: providing a refrigerator comprising a refrigerator cabinet, a door attached to the refrigerator cabinet, and an ice and water dispenser mounted at the door for dispensing ice and water through the door, the ice and water dispenser including a multifunction; dispensing actuation pad having a plurality of actuation points; and selectively applying pressure to at least one of the plurality of actuation points on the dispensing actuation pad to select an ice and water dispenser function.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring toFIG. 1, an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown which provides significant advantages and benefits. Refrigerator10is shown to include a refrigerator cabinet12defining a fresh food compartment14and a bottom freezer compartment16. The fresh food compartment14and the freezer compartment16are sealed by the fresh food compartment door18and the freezer compartment door20, respectively. The fresh food compartment14is generally maintained at above 0° C. temperatures and the freezer compartment16maintained at below 0° C. temperatures. Disposed on the fresh food compartment door18is an ice and water dispenser24, generally including an actuation pad26and display28. It can be appreciated that ice and water dispenser24can be found in refrigerators of side-by-side construction as well as other designs.

FIG. 2provides a side view of the ice and water dispenser24. The ice and water dispenser24provides a fill tube36and an ice tube38. Actuation pad26is operatively associated with a plurality of actuation points, first actuator32and second actuator34. Ice and water is dispensed upon selectively applying a pressure to one (or more) of the plurality of actuation points on the dispensing actuation pad. As best shown inFIG. 3, applying pressure to the first actuator32actuates the first actuator32thereby dispensing ice42into container40.FIG. 4further illustrates that applying pressure to the second actuator34actuates the second actuator34thereby dispensing liquid44into container40. In still a further embodiment, applying pressure to the first point actuator32actuates the first actuator32thereby dispensing cubed ice while applying pressure to the second actuator34actuates the second actuator34thereby dispensing crushed ice. Although in this example, two actuators are shown, the present invention contemplates that more than two actuators may be used.

Now with reference toFIG. 5, a block diagram in accordance with the present invention is shown. Intelligent control50is operatively connected to a plurality of actuators32,34,56and a display54. User inputs52are also operatively connected to the intelligent control. The user inputs52may be buttons or switches. Where the display54is a touch screen display, the user inputs52may be integrated into the display54. A user can configure the actuation pad by pressing the actuation pad to selectively actuate one or more actuators32,34,56and then associating a dispensing function with that selection. Thus, for example, where two actuators are spaced apart with horizontal alignment, a user can press a glass against the actuation pad to actuate the leftmost actuator and associate a “dispense water” function with that configuration. A user may then press the glass against the actuation pad to actuate the rightmost actuator and associate a “dispense cubed ice function” with that configuration. A user may then press the glass against the actuation pad to actuate both actuators and associate a “dispense cubed ice and water simultaneously” function with that configuration. It should be appreciated that based on the number and position of the actuations, various configurations may be used.

FIG. 6provides one illustration of a screen display associated with the display54. The display54is considered a part of the user interface of the refrigerator10.FIG. 6illustrates that a user may press the actuation pad to select a configuration and associate the configuration with one or more ice and water dispenser functions.

Alternatively, instead of pressing the glass against the actuation pad as a part of the configuration process, the user can assign different configurations of the actuation pad to different ice and water dispenser functions through use of a user interface of the refrigerator. The user interface includes the user inputs52and the display54.

Further provided is a method of operating a refrigerator including the steps of providing a refrigerator comprising a refrigerator cabinet, a door attached to the refrigerator cabinet, and an ice and water dispenser mounted at the door for dispensing ice and water through the door, the ice and water dispenser including a multifunction dispensing actuation pad having a plurality of actuation points and selectively applying pressure to at least one of the plurality of actuation points on the dispensing actuation pad to select an ice and water dispenser function. In operation, the ice and water dispensing function is selected from the set consisting of dispensing a fluid, dispensing ice, dispensing crushed ice, and dispensing cubed ice.

Having thus described a preferred embodiment and other embodiments of an apparatus and method for multifunction dispenser actuation pad, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that certain advantages of the present invention have been achieved. It should also be appreciated that various modifications, adaptations, and alternatives may be made, all within the spirit and scope of the present invention.