Patent Publication Number: US-8984899-B2

Title: Refrigerator appliance with ice dispenser

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The subject matter disclosed herein relates generally to a refrigerator appliance with an ice dispenser. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Various ice dispenser designs have been proposed for refrigeration appliances such as commercial or home refrigerators and/or freezers. Some of these devices store ice prior to dispensing the ice to a user. 
     Generally, current ice dispensers store ice in a bucket or container prior to dispensing the ice. In such current designs, storage of ice in the bucket or container is needed due to the limited production capabilities of the ice dispenser&#39;s ice maker. For example, the ice maker generally produces small batches of ice and takes a significant amount of time to produce any particular batch of ice. 
     Despite such limited ice production capabilities, the storage of ice in the bucket or container allows the ice dispenser to collect and dispense a large amount of ice at any particular time or over a period of time. Thus, the storage of ice can allow the ice dispenser to meet user demands for more ice than the dispenser&#39;s ice maker can produce at any particular time. The storage of ice can also allow the dispenser to meet user demands for more ice over a given period of time than can be produced by the ice dispenser&#39;s ice maker during the same time period. 
     Certain conventional ice dispensers store ice in a bucket or container that is mounted inside a compartment of the refrigerator e.g., in a freezer compartment of the refrigerator. However, the bucket or container mounted inside the compartment may decrease the amount of storage space available in the compartment. In addition, the bucket or container mounted inside the compartment may be difficult to access by a user. For example, a user attempting to e.g., manually collect ice from the container or to determine the amount of ice in the container may be prevented from doing so by items stored in the compartment. The location of the container in the freezer compartment may make access difficult. 
     In addition, certain conventional ice dispensers store ice in a bucket or container having a hole or other opening that allows ice to flow out of the bucket or container to a user. Thus, in certain conventional ice dispensers, gravity may urge ice stored in the bucket or container to flow through a hole on a bottom wall of the bucket or container. However, ice stored for a long period of time may freeze together and impede the flow of ice through a hole, and, in addition, certain ice cube shapes are not conducive to flow through a hole. 
     Accordingly, new ice dispenser designs are needed that can increase the amount of storage space available in refrigerators, allow users to more readily access stored ice, and assist the flow of ice through the dispenser. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Aspects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the following description, or may be obvious from the description, or may be learned through practice of the invention. 
     In a first embodiment, the present subject matter discloses a refrigerator that includes a door configured to permit selective access to a compartment of the refrigerator, an ice maker, and an ice storage assembly disposed on the door. The ice dispenser assembly has an ice bucket configured to receive ice from the ice maker. The ice dispenser assembly also includes an ice chute adjacent the ice bucket and having an upper portion configured to receive ice from the ice bucket. The ice dispenser assembly also includes a platform movable along a vertical axis from a lowered position at a bottom portion of the ice bucket to a raised position at a top portion of the ice bucket and a lift mechanism operatively coupled to the platform such that the lift mechanism selectively adjusts the elevator platform from the lowered position to the raised position. 
     In a second embodiment, the present subject matter discloses a method for dispensing ice. The method includes creating ice in an ice maker of a refrigerator receiving the ice from in an ice bucket on a door of the refrigerator, raising a platform of the ice bucket along a vertical axis from a lowered position at a bottom portion of the ice bucket to a raised position at a top portion of the ice bucket, and transferring the ice from the top portion of the ice bucket to an ice chute of the ice bucket. 
     These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following description and appended claims. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention, including the best mode thereof, directed to one of ordinary skill in the art, is set forth in the specification, which makes reference to the appended figures, in which: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a front view of an exemplary embodiment of a refrigerator that includes an exemplary ice dispensing assembly in accordance with certain aspects of the present disclosure. The refrigerator of  FIG. 1  is generally referred to as a bottom mount style refrigerator. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a perspective view of the exemplary refrigerator shown in  FIG. 1 , having a refrigerator door in an open position. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a top view of the exemplary embodiment of an ice dispenser assembly taken along line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a cross-sectional view of the exemplary ice dispenser assembly of  FIG. 3  as taken along line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a front view of an additional exemplary embodiment of a refrigerator that includes an exemplary ice dispensing assembly in accordance with certain aspects of the present disclosure. The refrigerator of  FIG. 5  is generally referred to as a side-by-side style refrigerator. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The present disclosure relates to an ice bucket for a refrigerator and methods of using the same. The ice bucket is mounted on a door of the refrigerator and includes a platform that is movable along a vertical axis from a lowered position at a bottom portion of the ice bucket to a raised position at a top portion of the ice bucket. Reference now will be made in detail to embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the invention, not limitation of the invention. In fact, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. For instance, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used with another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers such modifications and variations as come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a front view of a refrigerator  100  including an ice dispensing assembly  110  for dispensing water and/or ice. The ice dispensing assembly  110  includes a dispenser  114  positioned on an exterior portion of refrigerator  100 . The refrigerator  100  includes a housing  120  defining an upper fresh food compartment  122  and a lower freezer compartment  124  arranged at the bottom of refrigerator  100 . As such, the refrigerator  100  is generally referred to as a bottom mount refrigerator. It is recognized, however, that the benefits of the present disclosure apply to other types and styles of refrigerators such as, for example, a top mount refrigerator or a side-by-side style refrigerator, e.g., the refrigerator shown in  FIG. 5 . Consequently, the description set forth herein is for illustrative purposes only and is not intended to be limiting in any aspect. 
     As may be seen in  FIG. 1 , refrigerator doors  128  are rotatably hinged to an edge of the housing  120  for selectively accessing the fresh food compartment  122 . In addition, a freezer door  130  is arranged below the refrigerator doors  128  for selectively accessing the freezer compartment  124 . The freezer door  130  is coupled to a freezer drawer (not shown) slidably coupled within freezer compartment  124 . In  FIG. 1 , the refrigerator doors  128  and freezer door  130  are shown in a closed configuration. 
     The dispenser  114  includes a discharging outlet  132  for accessing ice and water. A single paddle  134  is mounted below the discharging outlet  132  for operating the dispenser  114 . In addition, a control panel  136  is provided for controlling the mode of operation. For example, the control panel  136  may include a water dispensing button (not labeled) and an ice-dispensing button (not labeled) for selecting a desired mode of operation. 
     The discharging outlet  132  and paddle  134  are an external part of dispenser  114 , and are mounted in a concave portion  138  defined in an outside surface of the refrigerator door  128 . The concave portion  138  is positioned at a predetermined elevation convenient for a user to access ice or water thus enabling the user to access ice without the need to bend-over and without the need to access the freezer compartment  124 . In the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 1 , the concave portion  138  is positioned at a level that approximates the chest level of a user. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the refrigerator  100  of  FIG. 1  having the refrigerator doors  128  in an open configuration. As such, various components of ice dispensing assembly  110  are illustrated. The ice dispensing assembly  110  includes an insulated housing  142  disposed on a particular one of the refrigerator doors  128 . However, it should be understood that in alternative embodiments, the insulated housing  142  may be disposed at any suitable location within the refrigerator  100 . Thus, for example, the insulated housing  142  may be mounted within the fresh food compartment  122  along an upper surface  144  of the compartment  122  or along a sidewall  146  of the compartment  122 . The insulated housing  142  may have insulated walls defining an insulated cavity (not shown). Due to the insulation which encloses the cavity, the temperature within the cavity may be maintained at levels different from the temperature in the surrounding fresh food compartment  122 . Thus, in the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 2 , the insulated cavity is constructed and arranged to operate at a temperature that facilitates producing and storing ice. Accordingly, the insulated housing includes an ice maker (not shown) disposed within the insulated housing  142  and configured to selectively produce ice. 
     Using the teaching disclosed herein, one of skill in the art will understand that in alternative embodiments of the invention, the ice maker portion of the ice dispensing assembly  110  need not be disposed within the insulated housing  142 . Thus, for example, ice maker portion of the dispensing assembly  110  may be disposed within the freezer compartment  124  of a refrigerator appliance having a side-by-side configuration of the fresh food compartment  122  and the freezer compartment  124 . In such example, because the temperature of the freezer compartment  124  allows for the production of ice, the ice maker portion of the ice dispensing assembly  110  need not be disposed within the insulated cavity  142  to produce ice. 
     As may be seen in  FIG. 2 , the ice dispensing assembly  110  also includes an ice storage assembly  150  coupled to a particular one of the refrigerator doors  128 . The ice storage assembly  150  is configured to receive and store ice produced by the ice maker in the insulated housing  142 . Thus, as shown in  FIG. 2 , the ice storage assembly  150  includes an ice bucket  160  that is positioned proximate to and vertically below a portion of the insulated housing  142  in order to receive ice produced by the ice maker. However as discussed above, in alternative embodiments, the insulted housing  142  may be disposed in the fresh food compartment  122  rather than on the refrigerator door  128 . In such embodiments, in order to receive ice from the ice maker within the insulated housing  142  in the fresh food compartment  122 , the ice bucket  160  on the refrigerator door  128  is positioned proximate to and vertically below a portion of the insulated housing  142  when the refrigerator door  128  is in a closed configuration. 
     The ice dispensing assembly  110  also includes a water tank (not shown) for storing a predetermined amount of water therein. The water tank is also in communication with the discharging outlet  132  (shown in  FIG. 1 ) such that water can be dispensed through the refrigerator doors  128 . 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a top view of the exemplary ice dispenser assembly  150  of  FIG. 2  in accordance with certain aspects of the present disclosure. As may be seen in  FIG. 3 , the ice storage assembly  150  includes a lift mechanism  166  and a sweep arm  168  adjacent the lift mechanism  166 . The lift mechanism  166  and sweep arm  168  may assist in moving ice from the ice bucket  160  to an ice chute  162  in the manner described below. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a cross-sectional view of the exemplary ice dispenser assembly  150  of  FIG. 3 . As may be seen in  FIG. 4 , an ice maker  143  in the insulated housing  142  is disposed above the ice bucket  160  of the ice dispensing assembly  110  such that ice from the ice maker  143  is received by the ice bucket  160 . A platform  164  is disposed within the ice bucket  160  to support the ice deposited by the ice maker  143  into the ice bucket  160 . The platform  164  supports ice received by the ice bucket  160  on a top surface  165  of the platform  164 . It should also be appreciated that in particular embodiments, such as the embodiment shown in  FIG. 4 , the platform  164  has a profile that substantially matches a profile defined by the ice bucket  160  (e.g., the profile defined by the ice bucket  160  in  FIG. 3 ). With such substantially matching profiles, ice entering the ice bucket  160  is prevented from entering a cavity  169  defined by the platform  164  and the ice bucket  160 . The platform  164  is movable along a vertical axis  190  from a lowered position at a bottom portion  161  of the ice bucket  160  to a raised position at a top portion  163  of the ice bucket  160 . Thus, the platform  164  may move ice within the ice bucket  160  along the vertical axis  190  from the lowered position to the raised position. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the platform  164  is operatively coupled to a lift mechanism  166  that adjusts the platform  164  from the lowered position to the raised position and vice versa. For this exemplary embodiment, the lift mechanism  166  is a shown as a threaded screw. In such embodiment, the platform  164  threadingly communicates with the lift mechanism  166  such that as the lift mechanism  166  is rotated by a lift motor  167 , the platform  164  is raised or lowered as desired based on the direction of rotation provided by lift motor  167 . In alternative embodiments, the lift mechanism  166  may be a piston or any other suitable mechanism capable of moving the platform  164  from the lowered position to the raised position and vice versa. 
     Also shown in  FIG. 4  is the sweep arm  168  that assists in transferring ice from the top portion  163  of the ice bucket  160  to the ice chute  162 . In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the sweep arm  168  is a beam projecting perpendicular to the lifting mechanism  166  and adjacent a distal end of the lifting mechanism  166 . In such embodiment, the sweep arm rotates  168  as the lifting mechanism  166  rotates in order to lift or lower the platform  164 . Thus, as the sweep arm  168  rotates and the platform  164  rises, the sweep arm  168  may engage ice being lifted by the platform  164  and shift or transfer the ice to the ice chute  162  of the ice bucket  160 . In alternative embodiments, the sweep arm  168  may rotate independently of the lifting means  166  or in any other suitable manner to transfer ice in the ice bucket  160  to the ice chute  162 . 
     As may be seen in  FIG. 4 , the ice bucket  160  also includes the ice discharge conduit or ice chute  162 . The ice chute  162  is configured to direct the flow of ice from the ice bucket  160  to the dispenser  114  (shown in  FIG. 1 ). Thus, the ice chute  162  may extend from the top portion  163  of the ice bucket  160  to the discharging outlet  132  (shown in  FIG. 1 ). The ice chute  162  of the ice bucket  160  is in communication with the discharging outlet  132 . Thus, when in use, ice from the ice bucket  160  enters the ice chute  162  and is channeled through the chute  162  to the discharging outlet  132  upon activation of the paddle  134  (shown in  FIG. 1 ). The ice storage assembly  150  also includes a chute door  158  moveable between an open position and a closed position for passing ice therethrough. The chute door  158  is positioned at a bottom portion of the chute  162 , near the discharging outlet  132 , and is opened upon activation of the paddle  134 . Ice entering the chute  162  upon activation of the paddle  134  is dispensed through the chute door  158  and the discharging outlet  132 . 
     Ice passing through the ice chute  162  may be crushed or allowed to pass though in whole cubes. Thus, an ice crusher  170  is disposed within the ice chute  162  to crush ice or allow whole ice cubes to pass through. To crush ice, a crusher motor  172  rotates the ice crusher  170  in a particular direction, and to pass whole ice, the crusher motor  172  rotates the ice crusher  170  in an opposite direction relative to the particular direction. 
     In various exemplary embodiments, the refrigerator  100  may include a controller (not shown) that is configured to perform certain functions in response to receiving particular inputs or signals. Accordingly, operation of the refrigerator  100  is regulated by the controller which is operatively coupled to various inputs such as, for example, the control panel  136  and the paddle  134 . Thus, in response to user manipulation of the control panel  136  or paddle  134 , the controller operates the various components of the refrigerator  100  and executes selected features and functions. The controller may include a memory and microprocessor, CPU or the like, such as a general or special purpose microprocessor operable to execute programming instructions or micro-control code associated with a particular function of the refrigerator  100 . The memory may represent random access memory such as DRAM, or read only memory such as ROM or FLASH. In one embodiment, the processor executes programming instructions stored in memory. The memory may be a separate component from the processor or may be included onboard within the processor. 
     The controller may be configured to activate the lift motor  167  of the lift assembly  164  and thus raise and lower the platform  164 , activate the sweep arm  168  and thus assist in transferring ice from the ice bucket  160  to the ice chute  162 , activate the crusher motor  172  in order to crush ice passing though the ice crusher  170  or allow the ice to pass in whole cubes, or activate the ice maker  143  in order to dispense ice into the ice bucket  160 . 
     In exemplary embodiments, the controller is configured to active the lift motor  167  in order to raise the platform  164  from the lowered position to the raised position at least in part in response to a user inputting a request for ice such as, for example, depressing the paddle  134  of the dispenser  114 . In such embodiments, as the platform  164  is being raised, the controller may also be configured to activate the sweep arm  168  of the ice storage assembly  150  to assist in transferring ice from the ice bucket  160  to the ice chute  162  as the platform  164  is raised and ice is delivered to a top portion  163  of the ice bucket  160  by the platform  164 . Ice entering the ice chute  162  from the ice bucket  160  is directed to the discharging outlet  132  where a user may receive the ice. 
     In exemplary embodiments, the controller is also configured to activate the lift motor  167  in order to lower the platform  164  from the raised position to the lowered position at least in part in response to the user terminating the request for ice such as, for example, releasing the paddle  134  of the dispenser  114  from a depressed configuration. In addition, at a time the controller lowers the platform  164 , the controller may also be configured to stop the sweep arm  168  of the ice storage assembly  150  in order to assist in terminating the transfer of ice from the ice bucket  160  to the ice chute  162 . When the platform  164  lowers and the sweep arm  168  stops, ice from the ice bucket  160  is no longer urged into the ice chute  162 , and thus ice no longer flows to the user. 
     In additional exemplary embodiments, when the platform  164  is in the lowered configuration at the bottom portion  161  of the ice bucket  160 , the controller may activate the ice maker  143  in order to replenish ice transferred to the ice chute  162  from the ice bucket  160 . For example, the controller may activate the ice maker  143  at about a time when the platform  164  is being lowered in order to replenish the ice bucket  160  with new ice. 
       FIGS. 5 and 6 , illustrate front views of an additional embodiment of a refrigerator  200 . The refrigerator  200  includes a housing  220  defining a fresh food compartment  222  and a freezer compartment  224 . The fresh food compartment  222  and the freezer compartment each extend from a top of the housing  220  to a bottom of the housing  224  and are positioned adjacent one another such that from the housing  220  defines the fresh food compartment  222  on one side of the housing  220  and the freezer compartment  224  on an opposite side of the housing  220 . As such, the refrigerator  200  is generally referred to as a side-by-side style refrigerator. However, to reiterate, it is recognized that the benefits of the present disclosure apply to other types and styles of refrigerators such as well. 
     The refrigerator  200  shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6  includes components such as, for example, an ice dispensing assembly  210 , a dispenser  214 , a refrigerator door  228 , a freezer door  230 , a discharging outlet  232 , a control panel  236 , a concave portion  238 , a housing  242 , an ice maker (not shown) disposed within the housing  242 , an ice storage assembly  250 , an ice bucket  260 , and an ice chute  262 , that function in a similar manner to the correspondingly named components of the refrigerator  100  of  FIGS. 1 and 2 . Also, one of skill in the art will understand that in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 6 , the ice storage assembly  250  may include any of the components, features, and/or, functions of the ice storage assembly  150  of  FIGS. 3 and 4 . Thus,  FIGS. 5 and 6  are intended to illustrate an additional refrigerator embodiment in which the ice storage assembly  150  of  FIGS. 3 and 4  can be mounted. 
     This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they include structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages of the claims.