Patent Publication Number: US-2021190414-A1

Title: Refrigerator with quick fill dispenser incorporating removable fluid storage receptacle

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Residential refrigerators generally include both fresh food compartments and freezer compartments, with the former maintained at a temperature above freezing to store fresh foods and liquids, and the latter maintained at a temperature below freezing for longer-term storage of frozen foods. Many residential refrigerators also include as a convenience feature an integrated dispenser for dispensing a fluid (e.g., water) and/or ice. In addition, some refrigerators incorporate a water tank or other fluid storage receptacle that may be fixed or removable, and positioned within a cooled compartment of the refrigerator to cool the contained fluid prior to dispensing or otherwise serving (e.g., in the case where the receptacle is removable). However, in many cases such dispensers are only capable of dispensing fluids at lower flow rates, and as a result, filling larger containers from a dispenser can take an inordinate amount of time with many dispensers. 
     SUMMARY 
     The herein-described embodiments address these and other problems associated with the art by providing a refrigerator that utilizes a quick fill dispenser that incorporates a fluid storage receptacle that is easily removable for cleaning and/or dispensing independently of the refrigerator. 
     Therefore, consistent with one aspect of the invention, a refrigerator may include a cabinet including a case having one or more food storage compartments defined therein and one or more doors positioned to insulate the one or more food storage compartments from an exterior environment, and a fluid dispenser coupled to the cabinet and including a fluid dispenser outlet configured to dispense a fluid in response to user input. The fluid dispenser may further includes a fill valve configured to supply a fluid, a fluid dispensing valve configured to regulate fluid flow to the fluid dispenser outlet, a dock in upstream fluid communication with the fluid dispensing valve through a dispense port, and a fluid storage receptacle removably supported by the dock and including a receptacle body, an inlet and an outlet, the receptacle body configured to store fluid, the inlet in downstream fluid communication with the fill valve when the fluid storage receptacle is removably supported by the dock to receive the fluid supplied by the fill valve, and the outlet in upstream fluid communication with the fluid dispensing valve through the dock when the fluid storage receptacle is removably supported by the dock, where the outlet further includes a downwardly-facing outlet port that mates with the dispense port of the dock when the fluid storage receptacle is removably supported by the dock, and the outlet port is sized and configured to provide a fluid dispense rate to the fluid dispensing valve that is greater than a fluid supply rate provided to the inlet of the fluid storage receptacle by the fill valve. 
     Also, in some embodiments, the outlet port further includes a seal assembly configured to seal the outlet port when the fluid storage receptacle is removed from the dock. Further, in some embodiments, the seal assembly is normally biased to a closed position and is movable to an open position when the fluid storage receptacle is supported by the dock. In some embodiments, the seal assembly includes a spring-loaded plunger having a sealing surface that seals the outlet port when in the closed position. 
     Also, in some embodiments, the outlet port of the fluid storage receptacle mates with the dispense port of the dock along a mating axis, the spring-loaded plunger is movable along the mating axis, and the dispense port of the dock includes an actuator configured to engage and displace the spring-loaded plunger along the mating axis when the fluid storage receptacle is supported by the dock and thereby move the seal assembly to the open position. In some embodiments, the fluid dispenser further includes a fill nozzle in downstream fluid communication with the fill valve and positioned opposite the inlet of the fluid storage receptacle to supply fluid to the inlet of the fluid storage receptacle when the fluid storage receptacle is supported by the dock. Further, in some embodiments, the inlet is upward-facing and the nozzle is downwardly-facing. 
     In some embodiments, the fluid storage receptacle includes a removable top, and the inlet is disposed in the removable top of the fluid storage receptacle. Further, in some embodiments, the fill nozzle and the inlet of the fluid storage receptacle are separated by a gap when the fluid storage receptacle is supported by the dock. Also, in some embodiments, the fill nozzle includes a flexible tube configured to deflect when the fluid storage receptacle is inserted into the dock. 
     In addition, in some embodiments, the dock further includes a fill port in downstream fluid communication with the fill valve, and the inlet of the fluid storage receptacle includes a downwardly-facing inlet port that mates with the fill port of the dock when the fluid storage receptacle is removably supported by the dock. In some embodiments, the inlet port further includes a seal assembly configured to seal the inlet port when the fluid storage receptacle is removed from the dock. 
     In addition, in some embodiments, the fluid storage receptacle includes a bottom support surface configured to support the fluid storage receptacle on a flat surface when the fluid storage receptacle is removed from the dock, and the outlet port is recessed within the bottom support surface. Also, in some embodiments, the fluid storage receptacle includes a bottom skirt that extends about at least a portion of a periphery of the fluid storage receptacle and below the outlet port, and at least a portion of the bottom support surface is defined by the bottom skirt. 
     In addition, in some embodiments, the fluid storage receptacle includes a handle for use in carrying the fluid storage receptacle when the fluid storage receptacle is removed from the dock. In some embodiments, the fluid storage receptacle includes a pour spout for use in pouring fluid from the fluid storage receptacle when the fluid storage receptacle is removed from the dock. 
     Further, in some embodiments, the dock is mounted on a first door among the one or more doors, the fluid storage receptacle is accessible from an interior side of the first door, and the fluid dispenser outlet is an externally-accessible fluid dispenser outlet configured to dispense fluid when the one or more doors are in a closed position. In addition, in some embodiments, the dock is mounted within a receptacle compartment in the first door, the fluid storage receptacle is received within the receptacle compartment when supported by the dock, and the first door further includes a removable panel that covers the receptacle compartment. 
     Some embodiments may further include a controller coupled to the fill valve, the fluid dispensing valve and a fluid level sensor positioned to sense a level of fluid in the fluid storage receptacle, the controller configured to selectively activate the fill valve to fill the fluid storage receptacle in response to the level of the fluid sensed by the fluid level sensor falling below a predetermined level, and to selectively activate the fluid dispensing valve in response to user input to perform a quick fill operation at a flow rate that is greater than the fluid supply rate. 
     Consistent with another aspect of the invention, a fluid storage receptacle for use in a fluid dispenser disposed in a refrigerator of a type including a case having one or more food storage compartments defined therein and one or more doors positioned to insulate the one or more food storage compartments from an exterior environment, and the fluid dispenser of a type including a dock in upstream communication with a fluid dispensing valve, may include a receptacle body configured to store a fluid, an inlet configured to receive fluid from a fill valve of the fluid dispenser when the receptacle body is removably supported by the dock, and an outlet configured to supply fluid stored in the receptacle body to the fluid dispensing valve of the fluid dispenser when the receptacle body is removably supported by the dock. The outlet further includes a downwardly-facing outlet port that mates with a dispense port of the dock when the receptacle body is removably supported by the dock, and the outlet port is sized and configured to provide a fluid dispense rate to the fluid dispensing valve that is greater than a fluid supply rate provided to the inlet of the fluid storage receptacle by the fill valve. 
     Moreover, in some embodiments, the outlet port further includes a seal assembly configured to seal the outlet port when the receptacle body is removed from the dock, where the seal assembly is normally biased to a closed position and is movable to an open position when the receptacle body is supported by the dock. Further, in some embodiments, the seal assembly includes a spring-loaded plunger having a sealing surface that seals the outlet port when in the closed position, the outlet port mates with the dispense port of the dock along a mating axis, the spring-loaded plunger is movable along the mating axis, and the spring-loaded plunger is configured to be displaced along the mating axis into the open position by an actuator disposed in the dispense port of the dock when the receptacle body is supported by the dock. 
     In some embodiments, the inlet is upwardly-facing, the fluid storage receptacle includes a removable top, and the inlet is disposed in the removable top of the fluid storage receptacle. Moreover, in some embodiments, the inlet further includes a downwardly-facing inlet port that mates with a fill port in the dock when the receptacle body is removably supported by the dock. Further, in some embodiments, the inlet port further includes a seal assembly configured to seal the inlet port when the receptacle body is removed from the dock. 
     In addition, some embodiments may also include a bottom support surface configured to support the receptacle body on a flat surface when the receptacle body is removed from the dock, and the outlet port is recessed within the bottom support surface. Some embodiments may also include a bottom skirt that extends about at least a portion of a periphery of the receptacle body and below the outlet port, and at least a portion of the bottom support surface is defined by the bottom skirt. In addition, some embodiments may further include a handle for use in carrying the receptacle body when the receptacle body is removed from the dock. Some embodiments may also include a pour spout for use in pouring fluid from the receptacle body when the receptacle body is removed from the dock. 
     These and other advantages and features, which characterize the invention, are set forth in the claims annexed hereto and forming a further part hereof. However, for a better understanding of the invention, and of the advantages and objectives attained through its use, reference should be made to the Drawings, and to the accompanying descriptive matter, in which there is described example embodiments of the invention. This summary is merely provided to introduce a selection of concepts that are further described below in the detailed description, and is not intended to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in limiting the scope of the claimed subject matter. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a refrigerator consistent with some embodiments of the invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram of an example control system for the refrigerator of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a front elevational view of the refrigerator of  FIG. 1  with the fresh food compartment doors open. 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view of the icemaking console for the refrigerator of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is a block diagram of an example quick fill dispenser incorporating a removable fluid storage receptacle consistent with some embodiments of the invention. 
         FIG. 6  is an exploded perspective view of an example removable fluid storage receptacle and dock consistent with some embodiments of the invention. 
         FIG. 7  is an elevational view of an interior side of an example refrigerator door, and illustrating the fluid storage receptacle and dock of  FIG. 6  mounted therein. 
         FIG. 8  is a side cross-sectional view of a seal assembly and docking arrangement between the fluid storage receptacle and dock of  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 9  is a top plan view of the dock of  FIG. 6 , taken along lines  9 - 9 . 
         FIG. 10  is a top cross-sectional view of the sealing assembly of  FIG. 6 , taken along lines  10 - 10 . 
         FIGS. 11 and 12  are side cross-sectional views of the seal assembly and docking arrangement of  FIG. 6 , and illustrating docking of the removable fluid storage receptacle with the dock. 
         FIG. 13  is an elevational view of an interior side of an example refrigerator door, and illustrating another example implementation of a fluid storage receptacle and dock consistent with some embodiments of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Turning now to the drawings, wherein like numbers denote like parts throughout the several views,  FIG. 1  illustrates an example refrigerator  10  in which the various technologies and techniques described herein may be implemented. Refrigerator  10  is a residential-type refrigerator, and as such includes a cabinet  11  including a case  12  (representing the fixed portion or main body of the refrigerator) having one or more food storage compartments (e.g., a fresh food compartment  14  and a freezer compartment  16 ), as well as one or more fresh food compartment doors  18 ,  20  and one or more freezer compartment doors  22 ,  24  disposed adjacent respective openings of food storage compartments  14 ,  16  and configured to insulate the respective food storage compartments  14 ,  16  from an exterior environment when the doors are closed. 
     Fresh food compartment  14  is generally maintained at a temperature above freezing for storing fresh food such as produce, drinks, eggs, condiments, lunchmeat, cheese, etc. Various shelves, drawers, and/or sub-compartments may be provided within fresh food compartment  14  for organizing foods, and it will be appreciated that some refrigerator designs may incorporate multiple fresh food compartments and/or zones that are maintained at different temperatures and/or at different humidity levels to optimize environmental conditions for different types of foods. Freezer compartment  16  is generally maintained at a temperature below freezing for longer-term storage of frozen foods, and may also include various shelves, drawers, and/or sub-compartments for organizing foods therein. 
     Refrigerator  10  as illustrated in  FIG. 1  is a type of bottom mount refrigerator commonly referred to as a French door refrigerator, and includes a pair of side-by-side fresh food compartment doors  18 ,  20  that are hinged along the left and right sides of the refrigerator to provide a wide opening for accessing the fresh food compartment, as well as a pair of sliding freezer compartment doors  22 ,  24  that are similar to drawers and that pull out to provide access to items in the freezer compartment. Both the fresh food compartment and the freezer compartment may be considered to be full width as they extend substantially across the full width of the case  12 . It will be appreciated, however, that other compartment door designs may be used in other embodiments, including various combinations and numbers of hinged and/or sliding doors for each of the fresh food and freezer compartments (e.g., a pair of French freezer doors, a single sliding freezer door, or one hinged fresh food and/or freezer door). Moreover, while refrigerator  10  is a bottom mount refrigerator with freezer compartment  16  disposed below fresh food compartment  14 , the invention is not so limited, and as such, the principles and techniques may be used in connection with other types of refrigerators in other embodiments, e.g., top mount refrigerators, side-by-side refrigerators, etc. 
     Refrigerator  10  also includes a dispenser  26  for dispensing ice and/or a fluid such as water. In the illustrated embodiments, dispenser  26  is an ice and water dispenser capable of dispensing both ice (cubed and/or crushed) and chilled water, while in other embodiments, dispenser  26  may be a fluid only dispenser for dispensing various fluids such as chilled or cooled water, hot water, coffee, beverages, or other fluids, and may have variable rate and/or fast dispense capabilities, as well as an ability to dispense predetermined or measured quantities of fluids. In some instances, ice and water may be dispensed from the same location, while in other instances separate locations may be provided in the dispenser for dispensing ice and water. 
     Refrigerator  10  also includes a control panel  28 , which in the illustrated embodiment forms at least a portion of an exterior surface of an ice compartment of case  12 , and further is separate from a fresh food or freezer compartment door such as any of doors  18 ,  20 ,  22 , and  24 . Control panel  28  may include various input/output controls such as buttons, indicator lights, alphanumeric displays, dot matrix displays, touch-sensitive displays, etc. for interacting with a user. In other embodiments, control panel  28  may be separate from dispenser  26  (e.g., on a door), and in other embodiments, multiple control panels may be provided. Further, in some embodiments audio feedback may be provided to a user via one or more speakers, and in some embodiments, user input may be received via a spoken or gesture-based interface. Additional user controls may also be provided elsewhere on refrigerator  10 , e.g., within fresh food and/or freezer compartments  14 ,  16 . In addition, refrigerator  10  may be controllable remotely, e.g., via a smartphone, tablet, personal digital assistant or other networked computing device, e.g., using a web interface or a dedicated app. 
     A refrigerator consistent with the invention also generally includes one or more controllers configured to control a refrigeration system as well as manage interaction with a user.  FIG. 2 , for example, illustrates an example embodiment of a refrigerator  10  including a controller  40  that receives inputs from a number of components and drives a number of components in response thereto. Controller  40  may, for example, include one or more processors  42  and a memory  44  within which may be stored program code for execution by the one or more processors. The memory may be embedded in controller  40 , but may also be considered to include volatile and/or non-volatile memories, cache memories, flash memories, programmable read-only memories, read-only memories, etc., as well as memory storage physically located elsewhere from controller  40 , e.g., in a mass storage device or on a remote computer interfaced with controller  40 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , controller  40  may be interfaced with various components, including a cooling or refrigeration system  46 , an ice and water system  48 , one or more user controls  50  for receiving user input (e.g., various combinations of switches, knobs, buttons, sliders, touchscreens or touch-sensitive displays, microphones or audio input devices, image capture devices, etc.), and one or more user displays  52  (including various indicators, graphical displays, textual displays, speakers, etc.), as well as various additional components suitable for use in a refrigerator, e.g., interior and/or exterior lighting  54 , among others. At least a portion of user controls  50  and user displays  52  may be disposed, for example, on control panel  28  of  FIG. 1 . 
     Controller  40  may also be interfaced with various sensors  56  located to sense environmental conditions inside of and/or external to refrigerator  10 , e.g., one or more temperature sensors, humidity sensors, etc. Such sensors may be internal or external to refrigerator  10 , and may be coupled wirelessly to controller  40  in some embodiments. Sensors  56  may also include additional types of sensors such as door switches, switches that sense when a portion of an ice dispenser has been removed, and other status sensors, as will become more apparent below. 
     In some embodiments, controller  40  may also be coupled to one or more network interfaces  58 , e.g., for interfacing with external devices via wired and/or wireless networks such as Ethernet, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, cellular and other suitable networks, collectively represented in  FIG. 2  at  60 . Network  60  may incorporate in some embodiments a home automation network, and various communication protocols may be supported, including various types of home automation communication protocols. In other embodiments, other wireless protocols, e.g., Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, may be used. 
     In some embodiments, refrigerator  10  may be interfaced with one or more user devices  62  over network  60 , e.g., computers, tablets, smart phones, wearable devices, etc., and through which refrigerator  10  may be controlled and/or refrigerator  10  may provide user feedback. 
     In some embodiments, controller  40  may operate under the control of an operating system and may execute or otherwise rely upon various computer software applications, components, programs, objects, modules, data structures, etc. In addition, controller  40  may also incorporate hardware logic to implement some or all of the functionality disclosed herein. Further, in some embodiments, the sequences of operations performed by controller  40  to implement the embodiments disclosed herein may be implemented using program code including one or more instructions that are resident at various times in various memory and storage devices, and that, when read and executed by one or more hardware-based processors, perform the operations embodying desired functionality. Moreover, in some embodiments, such program code may be distributed as a program product in a variety of forms, and that the invention applies equally regardless of the particular type of computer readable media used to actually carry out the distribution, including, for example, non-transitory computer readable storage media. In addition, it will be appreciated that the various operations described herein may be combined, split, reordered, reversed, varied, omitted, parallelized and/or supplemented with other techniques known in the art, and therefore, the invention is not limited to the particular sequences of operations described herein. 
     Now turning to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , in some embodiments, a quick fill dispenser incorporating a removable fluid storage receptacle as described herein may be used in connection with an icemaking console disposed at least partially within a fresh food compartment and extending only a portion of the height of the fresh food compartment, e.g., as disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/835,953 and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/836,035, both filed on Dec. 8, 2017 by Eric Scalf, and both incorporated by reference herein. In particular, an icemaking console  70  may be disposed in fresh food compartment  14  and may extend upwardly from a bottom wall  72  of the fresh food compartment  14  only a portion of a height H of the fresh food compartment and spaced apart from each of a top wall  74 , right side wall  76 , and left side wall  78  of the fresh food compartment. Console  70  may include a front wall  82 , top wall  84 , right side wall  86  and left side wall  88 , and in some instances, at least portions of front wall  82  may be externally-accessible when doors  18 ,  20  are closed. In some instances, for example, front wall  82  may include a sealing surface  90  against which gaskets  92 ,  94  on doors  18 ,  20  may form a seal when doors  18 ,  20  are closed. 
     Console  70  may extend in some instances to a back wall  96  of fresh food compartment  14 , while in other instances, and as shown in  FIG. 4 , a separate housing  98  may project from back wall  96  (e.g., formed integrally with back wall  96 , or formed as a separate component that is fastened or otherwise attached to back wall  96 ). Housing  98  may be used, for example, to provide space for an evaporator and/or other cooling system component, for control electronics, for air ducts, or for other suitable purposes. 
     Moreover, the walls  82 ,  84 ,  86  and  88  of console  70  may be insulated (e.g., via foam or another suitable insulator) such that console  70  is an insulated console and such that an interior compartment of console  70  is maintained at a below-freezing temperature for the purposes of making and storing ice. In the illustrated embodiment, console  70  is in fluid communication with freezer compartment  16  through an opening  100  formed in bottom wall  72  of fresh food compartment  14 , such that while console  70  is physically disposed within the boundary of fresh food compartment  14 , the interior of console  70  is insulated from the fresh food compartment and in fluid communication with freezer compartment  16 , thus effectively operating as an extension of freezer compartment  16 . In other embodiments, console  70  may be separate from freezer compartment  16 , e.g., insulated from freezer compartment  16  and including a separate cooling system, e.g., a thermoelectric cooling system, or separated from freezer compartment  16  but fluidly coupled via ducts or vents to receive cool air circulated by the freezer compartment cooling system. In each instance, however, the interior of console  70  may be considered to be a compartment that is separate from the food storage compartments (fresh food compartment  14  and freezer compartment  16 ) of refrigerator  10 . 
     Further, it will be appreciated that console  70  is formed separate from the shell or liner used to form the fresh food and/or freezer compartments. In other embodiments, however, console  70  may be formed integrally with the shell or liner of a fresh food and/or freezer compartment. 
     Console  70  in some embodiments may also provide a convenient location for a control panel  102  suitable for controlling various functions of refrigerator  10 . For example, control panel  102  may include displays, buttons, sliders, switches, etc., and may be used to perform various control operations such as setting temperature setpoints, controlling ice and/or water functions, displaying alarms or alerts, etc. As shown in the illustrated embodiment, top wall  84  of console  70  may be bi-level to accommodate control panel  102 , although in other embodiments, no control panel may be used, and top wall  84  may be at a substantially consistent elevation along its depth. 
     Console  70  in some instances may be an icemaking console insofar as the console is used to make, dispense and/or store ice, e.g., as may be produced by an icemaker  103 . As will become more apparent below, however, console  70  may not be an icemaking console in some embodiments. In some embodiments, however, console  70  may be configured to receive one or more drawers or storage bins, e.g., upper and lower ice storage bins  104 ,  106 , with an ice dispenser  105  (e.g., a driven auger with selective crushing capability) disposed in upper ice storage bin  104 . Upper ice storage bin  104  includes a front face  108  that insulates console  70  from the external environment when the bin is pushed into the console and forms a front surface of the upper ice storage bin, while lower ice storage bin  106  includes a front face  110  that similarly insulates console  70  from the external environment when the bin is pushed into the console and forms a front surface of the lower ice storage bin. Front faces  108 ,  110  also house at least a portion of an externally-accessible ice and water dispenser, discussed in greater detail below. In some embodiments, a single front face may be used, whereby the upper and lower ice storage bins may be coupled to the same front face. 
     Beyond ice-related functions, however, console  70  also provides a number of structural features associated with the storage of food items within fresh food compartment  14 . For example, side walls  86 ,  88  of console  70  respectively face side walls  76 ,  78  of fresh food compartment  14 , and may provide structural support for one or more sliding storage elements (e.g., storage elements  112 ,  114 ,  116 ,  118 ,  120 ,  122 ) within fresh food compartment  14 . A storage element within the context of the disclosure may include any structural member capable of storing or otherwise supporting a food item, e.g., a shelf, a basket, a storage bin, a drawer, a rack, etc., and a sliding storage element may be considered to be a storage element capable of sliding within a horizontal plane, e.g., along a generally horizontal axis extending from the rear to the front of refrigerator  10 . 
     Storage elements  112  and  118 , for example, are sliding shelves, while storage elements  114 ,  116 ,  120  and  122  are sliding storage bins or drawers. It will also be appreciated that storage bins or drawers may be configured with customizable environmental conditions (e.g., different temperatures, humidity levels, etc.) suitable for storing food items such as meats, cheeses, vegetables, fruits, etc. Further, not all of storage elements  114 - 122  need be configured as sliding storage elements, and moreover, different numbers and types of storage elements may be used for any of the storage elements illustrated in  FIGS. 3-4 , so the invention is not limited to the particular combination of storage elements illustrated herein. Console  70  may also provide structural support for storage elements located above the console, e.g., full width shelf  128 , which is disposed underneath a pair of non-sliding shelves  130 ,  132  (which could also be sliding shelves in some embodiments as well). 
     With additional reference to  FIG. 1 , refrigerator  10  also includes an ice and water system including ice and water dispensers having respective ice dispenser and water dispenser outlets  140 ,  142  that, while outputting to the same general area, are separated from one another to the extent that ice dispenser outlet  140  is case-mounted and positioned within a dispenser opening to dispense ice from a case-mounted icemaker (icemaker  103 ), while water dispenser outlet  142  is door-mounted. Furthermore, despite the fact that water dispenser outlet  142  is door-mounted in refrigerator  10 , a water dispenser control used to actuate the dispenser may be case-mounted in some embodiments. For example, in some embodiments, a water dispenser may be actuated by a water dispenser button or paddle  143  ( FIG. 4 ), while in other embodiments, a water dispenser may be actuated by a control that is common to both the water dispenser and the ice dispenser, e.g., a button or paddle  141  ( FIG. 4 ). 
     It will be appreciated, however, that in other embodiments, various components associated with a fluid and/or ice dispenser may be mounted on or within a door, on or within a case, or elsewhere in a refrigerator. Accordingly, the invention is not limited to the specific refrigerator and dispenser design illustrated in  FIGS. 1-4 . 
     As noted above, in embodiments consistent with the invention, a quick fill fluid dispenser, e.g., for dispensing a fluid such as chilled or cooled water, hot water, coffee, or another beverage, may incorporate a removable fluid storage receptacle consistent with some embodiments of the invention. With reference to  FIG. 3 , in some embodiments, a fluid storage receptacle, e.g., as represented at  144 , may be disposed, for example, within a door of the refrigerator, e.g., door  18 . As will also become more apparent below, in some embodiments a fluid storage receptacle may be disposed within an open recess or compartment in a door, while in other embodiments, e.g., as illustrated in  FIG. 3 , a fluid storage receptacle may be disposed within a closed compartment and accessed by removing or opening a door or panel  146  in a door. In still other embodiments, a fluid storage receptacle may be disposed elsewhere in other user-accessible locations, e.g., on or within case  11 , or on or within another door of refrigerator  10 . 
     Now turning to  FIG. 5 , this figure shows more generically a quick fill fluid dispensing system  150  suitable for use in a refrigerator such as refrigerator  10  of  FIGS. 1-4 , and incorporating a removable fluid storage receptacle  152  as described herein. Further details regarding the operation and configuration of a quick fill dispenser may also be found in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/715,887, filed on Sep. 26, 2017 by Eric Scalf et al., which is incorporated by reference herein. 
     Fluid storage receptacle  152  includes a container body  154  that stores a fluid such as water, an inlet  156 , and an outlet  158 , with the inlet coupled to and in downstream fluid communication with a fluid supply  160  (e.g., a supply line configured to be coupled to a residential water source) through a filter  162  (which may be user-replaceable in some embodiments) and receptacle fill valve  164 , the latter of which controls a flow of fluid into the fluid storage receptacle. In addition, in some embodiments a flowmeter  166  or other suitable sensor may also be in upstream fluid communication with inlet  154  of receptacle  152  to generate a signal representative of a volume of fluid entering receptacle  152 . In some embodiments, valve  164  and flowmeter  166  may be separate components, while in other embodiments, and as illustrated by box  168 , these components may be integrated with one another in the same housing. 
     Fluid storage receptacle  152  is configured to be removably supported by a dock  170  that is in upstream communication with a fluid dispensing valve  172  that regulates fluid flow to a fluid dispenser outlet  174 , e.g., an internally-accessible or externally-accessible fluid dispenser outlet disposed on a door or case of a refrigerator. Outlet  158  of fluid storage receptacle  152  includes an outlet port  176  that includes a seal assembly  178  that seals the outlet port when fluid storage receptacle  152  is removed from dock  170 . Outlet port  176  in the illustrated embodiments is downwardly-facing, i.e., facing in a downward direction when fluid storage receptacle  152  is supported by dock  170  within a refrigerator. Moreover, outlet port  176  is sized and configured to provide a fluid dispense rate to fluid dispensing valve  172  that is greater than a fluid supply rate provided to inlet  156  of fluid storage receptacle  152  by fill valve  164 , thereby providing a “quick fill” capability for the dispenser, at least for an amount of fluid corresponding to at least a portion of the fluid retained in fluid storage receptacle  152 . Further, in the illustrated embodiment receptacle  152  is vented to enable quick fill capability to be achieved via gravity flow and without the use of a pump (although a pump could be used in some embodiments). 
     Outlet port  176  is configured to mate with an upwardly-facing dispense port  180  in dock  170  such that, when mated, fluid storage receptacle  152  is placed in fluid communication with dispensing valve  172 . As will also become more apparent below, in some embodiments mating of outlet port  176  and dispense port  180  may automatically open seal assembly  178  to permit fluid to flow through ports  176 ,  180  when fluid storage receptacle  152  is supported by dock  170 . 
     In addition, in some embodiments, a fluid level sensor  182 , e.g., a conductivity sensor mounted on a wall of receptacle  152 , an ultrasonic sensor positioned to sense a water surface within receptacle  152 , a magnetic float sensor, or another suitable sensor, may be downstream of flowmeter  166  and positioned to generate a signal representative of a level of fluid in the receptacle, which in some embodiments may also be usable to represent a volume of fluid exiting the outlet of the fluid storage receptacle during dispensing. In other embodiments, a flowmeter may be used downstream of outlet port  176  to sense the volume of fluid being dispensed. It will be appreciated that volume measurements may be desirable in some embodiments to provide feedback to a user as to the amount of fluid being dispensed and/or to provide a measured fill capability whereby the dispenser automatically shuts off when a user-selected amount of fluid has been dispensed. In other embodiments, however, no volume measurements may be used, although it may still be desirable to include a fluid level sensor, a float switch or other suitable component to cause fluid storage receptacle  152  to be maintained in a substantially filled state whenever docked in dock  170 . 
     Each of valves  164 ,  172  and sensors  166 ,  182  is additionally coupled to a controller  184  to enable the controller to selectively activate dispensing valve  172  in response to user input to dispense fluid from fluid storage receptacle  152  (e.g., to perform a quick fill or dispense operation at a flow rate that is greater than the fluid supply rate), to selectively activate fill valve  164  to fill receptacle  152  in response to the level of the fluid sensed by sensor  182  falling below a predetermined level, and in some embodiments to determine a volume of fluid dispensed through dispensing valve  172  using signals generated by sensors  166 ,  182 . It may also be desirable in some embodiments to also include a receptacle detector  186 , e.g., a switch or other presence detector, to detect when receptacle  152  is properly docked with dock  170 , e.g., to enable each of valves  164 ,  172  to be disabled whenever receptacle  152  has been removed from dock  170 . 
       FIG. 6  illustrates an example implementation of a removable fluid storage container  200  consistent with some embodiments of the invention. A container body  202 , e.g., formed of a clear, translucent or opaque plastic or another suitable material, may have an open top that is closed by a removable lid or top  204 . Container body  202  includes a bottom support surface  206 , e.g., defined on a bottom skirt  208  that extends around at least a portion of a periphery of body  202 , which may be used to support the receptacle on a flat surface such as a table or countertop when the receptacle is removed from the dock. An inlet  210  for fluid storage container  200  is defined on top  204 , and in the illustrated embodiment is open to the atmosphere to vent the receptacle. An outlet for fluid storage container  200  is defined by a downwardly-facing outlet port  212  including a seal assembly  214 . 
     In the illustrated embodiment, inlet  210  receives fluid from a fluid supply through a fill nozzle  216 , while outlet port  212  mates with a dispensing port  218  in a dock  220  to output fluid stored in receptacle  200  through a coupler  222  to a dispenser valve to dispense the fluid through a dispenser outlet (not shown in  FIG. 6 ). Dock  220  may also include a receptacle detector  224  (e.g., a pressure-sensitive switch) that senses when receptacle  200  is supported by dock  220 . 
     Fill nozzle  216  is in downstream fluid communication with a fill valve and positioned opposite inlet  210  to supply fluid to the inlet when fluid storage receptacle  200  is supported by dock  220 . In the illustrated embodiment, inlet  210  is generally upward-facing and fill nozzle  216  is generally downwardly-facing. Moreover, in some embodiments, fill nozzle  216  and inlet  210  are separated by a gap when the fluid storage receptacle is supported by the dock to facilitate removal of receptacle  200  from dock  220 , and further, as illustrated in  FIG. 6 , fill nozzle  216  may include a flexible tube configured to deflect when the fluid storage receptacle is inserted into the dock. 
     It will be appreciated that receptacle  200  may include additional components in some embodiments, e.g., a pour spout  226  for use in pouring fluid from the fluid storage receptacle when the fluid storage receptacle is removed from the dock, one or more handles  228  for use in carrying the fluid storage receptacle when the fluid storage receptacle is removed from the dock. Additional components, e.g., a user-actuated dispensing valve, a top-mounted handle, one or more latches to secure the top to the container body, may also be included on receptacle  200  in other embodiments. 
     As noted above, a removable fluid storage receptacle may be disposed at various locations in a refrigerator.  FIG. 7 , for example, illustrates an interior side of a door  230 , with receptacle  200  received within a receptacle compartment  232  defined in the door and supported by dock  220 , which is fixedly mounted in door  230 . As noted above, receptacle compartment  232  may be open in some embodiments, as illustrated in  FIG. 7 , while in other embodiments, a removable door or panel may cover the receptacle compartment, as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . 
     When receptacle  200  is received in dock  220 , fill nozzle  216  may be partially received within inlet  210 , and as such, it may be desirable for fill nozzle  216  to be flexible to enable the fill nozzle to bend or deflect when receptacle  200  is inserted into or removed from compartment  232 . In other embodiments, fill nozzle  216  may be mechanically or electro-mechanically movable between a loading/unloading position (where fill nozzle  216  is separated from inlet  210  to enable receptacle  200  to be lifted off of dock  220 ) and an operating position (where fill nozzle  216  is at least partially inserted into inlet  210 ). 
     Now turning to  FIGS. 8-11 , an example seal assembly  214  docking arrangement suitable for use in receptacle  200  is illustrated in greater detail. Seal assembly  214  is used to seal outlet port  212  when fluid storage receptacle  200  is removed from dock  220 , and as such may be normally biased to a closed position and automatically moved to an open position when the receptacle is mated with the dock. In some embodiments, for example, seal assembly  214  may include a spring-loaded plunger having a plunger body  240  that is mated with a central shaft  242  via a plug  244  and that includes an O-ring  246  to form a sealing surface that seals outlet port  212 . Shaft  242  includes ported flange  248  that permits fluid flow therethrough (see  FIG. 10 ) and is supported by a ported support  250  formed on or otherwise mounted to outlet port  212  and also permitting fluid flow therethrough. A coiled spring  252  is positioned between ported flange  248  and ported support  250  to bias plunger body  240  to a closed position where O-ring  246  forms a seal between plunger body  240  and outlet port  212 . 
     Dispense port  218  in dock  220  includes an annular seal  254  that forms a seal when outlet port  212  is mated with dispense port  218 . Dispense port  218  also includes an actuator, e.g., a fixed shaft  256  supported by a ported support  258 , which is used to engage and displace plunger body  240  to move the seal assembly  214  to an open position.  FIGS. 11 and 12 , for example, illustrate actuation of seal assembly  214  during docking of fluid storage receptacle  200  with dock  220 . In particular,  FIG. 11  illustrates outlet port  212  moving along a mating axis M from the position illustrated in  FIG. 8  to a position where shaft  242  of the spring-loaded plunger first engages actuator  256  of dispense port  218 . Further movement of outlet port  212  along mating axis M to the position illustrated in  FIG. 12  causes actuator  256  to displace shaft  242  along the mating axis M, compressing spring  252  and separating plunger body  240  from outlet port  212  to permit fluid flow through outlet port  212  and dispense port  218 . Further, it will be appreciated that annular seal  254  forms a seal between ports  212  and  218 . 
     It will be appreciated that other seal assemblies may be used in other embodiments. Further, in some embodiments a movable actuator (e.g., driven by a solenoid) may be used to selectively open a seal assembly, rather than having the seal assembly automatically opened in response to docking of the receptacle with the dock. 
     Other variations of a removable fluid receptacle may be used in other embodiments. For example, while receptacle  200  is illustrated with an inlet on a top surface of a top, in other embodiments an inlet may be positioned on the container body, e.g., on a top wall or a side wall, and may be oriented in a direction other than upwardly-facing. 
     In addition, as illustrated by fluid storage receptacle  280  of  FIG. 13 , a container body  282  may include both an outlet port  284  and an inlet port  286 , each including a seal assembly  288 ,  290  similarly configured to seal assembly  214  of receptacle  200 . Outlet port  284  may be similarly configured to outlet port  212  of receptacle  200 , and may mate with a corresponding dispense port  292  disposed in a dock  294  and similarly configured to dispense port  218  of dock  220 . In addition, inlet port  286  may, like outlet port  284 , be downwardly-facing and configured to mate with a fill port  296  that is similarly configured to dispense port  286 . Upon docking of receptacle  280  with dock  294 , each of outlet and inlet ports  284 ,  286  mate with dispense and fill ports  292 ,  296  to open seal assemblies  288 ,  290 . As such, receptacle  280  includes both a downwardly-facing inlet and a downwardly-facing outlet on a bottom surface thereof. 
       FIG. 13  also illustrates an alternate bottom support surface  298  for receptacle body  282 , where rather than using a skirt, surface  298  is substantially solid along a bottom side of body  282 , and outlet and inlet ports  284 ,  286  are recessed within surface  298 . Other support surfaces may be used in other embodiments. 
     As such, in the illustrated embodiments a quick fill fluid dispenser incorporates a fluid storage receptacle that is removable from the dispenser. In some embodiments, for example, such a receptacle may be useful when it is desirable to pour or otherwise dispense a large amount of cooled or chilled water. Such a receptacle may also be useful for cleaning purposes, e.g., to remove mold or mildew growth that may occur over time, and as such, a receptacle may be constructed to be dishwasher-safe in some embodiments. 
     It will be appreciated that various additional modifications may be made to the embodiments discussed herein, and that a number of the concepts disclosed herein may be used in combination with one another or may be used separately. Therefore, the invention lies in the claims hereinafter appended.