Patent Publication Number: US-7895843-B1

Title: Refrigerator with one piece fan motor mount

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to the field of refrigerators. More specifically, but not exclusively, the present invention provides a compact way to secure a fan motor and shaft vertically in an ice box enclosure of a refrigerator. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The greater need in the space available in refrigerators and ice boxes has brought along a need to make the components of the refrigerators and ice boxes smaller and capable of fitting into less space. This includes such items as brackets and other devices, which are used to hold and secure fans and motors in ice box enclosures and evaporators. In the past, people have used a bracket, two grommets, and a clip sandwiching the motor between the grommets, bracket, and clip. However, this creates problems. 
     The multiple components may be difficult to assemble, and it may be time consuming to assemble. The components are small and it is difficult to put the fan, bracket, grommet, and motor assemblies together, while also making sure that they do not take up much room in the ice boxes and evaporators. At the same time, people have been wanting more space in their refrigerators, thus increasing the difficulty. Securing a small assembly containing multiple parts into a small opening can be very difficult and time consuming. This is especially true when separate fasteners are used to secure the parts in place. 
     Therefore, what is needed is a method and apparatus for an ice box of a refrigerator which reduces the number of parts used in mounting a fan and motor assembly. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Therefore, the present invention provides for a one piece fan motor mount bracket in which the fan and motor may be attached to an ice box in a refrigerator without separate fasteners. 
     According to one aspect of the invention, a refrigerator is provided. The refrigerator includes a refrigerator cabinet, a freezer compartment disposed within the refrigerator cabinet, a fresh food compartment disposed within the refrigerator cabinet, a door providing access to the fresh food compartment, an ice making compartment in the refrigerator cabinet, an assembly associated with the ice making compartment including a fan and a motor, and a bracket. The bracket includes a first face containing a plurality of latches extending therefrom, a second face opposite the first face, and a hole extending from the first face to the second face. 
     According to another aspect of the invention, a method of manufacturing a refrigerator is provided. The method includes providing a refrigerator cabinet, a door providing access to the cabinet, an ice making compartment, and a bracket. A fan may be attached to the bracket, and a motor may be attached to the other side of the bracket, wherein latches snap the motor into place. The shaft of the motor may be connected to the fan, and the bracket may be installed into the refrigerator, such that the fan assists in cooling the ice making compartment. 
     According to another aspect of the invention, a refrigerator is provided. The refrigerator includes a refrigerator cabinet, a freezer compartment disposed within the refrigerator cabinet, a fresh food compartment disposed within the refrigerator cabinet, a door providing access to the fresh food compartment, an ice making compartment in the refrigerator cabinet, an assembly associated with the ice making compartment including a fan and a motor, and a bracket. The bracket includes a first face containing a plurality of latches extending therefrom, a second face opposite the first face, a hole extending from the first face to the second face, and a post extending from the first face to align and stabilize the motor. A grommet is included in the hole of the bracket to engage a shaft of the motor to create an airtight seal. 
     According to another aspect of the invention, an ice box is provided. The ice box includes an ice making compartment, an assembly associated with the ice making compartment including a fan and a motor, and a bracket. The bracket includes a first face containing a plurality of latches extending therefrom, a second face opposite the first face, and a hole extending from the first face to the second face. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing one embodiment of a refrigerator with an ice making compartment. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view showing one embodiment of the bracket of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of the bracket of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of one embodiment of the fan, bracket, grommet, and motor assembly of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of the assembly of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 6  is an exploded view of the assembly of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of an ice box showing the location of the assembly of  FIG. 5 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Although the present invention is described with respect to various embodiments, the present invention is not to be limited to the specific embodiments described herein. It is further to be understood that no single embodiment of the present invention need have all the structures or perform all the functions associated with any particular aspect or embodiment of the invention. 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing one embodiment of a refrigerator with an ice making compartment. The refrigerator  10  includes a refrigerator cabinet  12 . The cabinet  12  is an insulated cabinet. The refrigerator  10  further includes a door  18  which provides access to a fresh food compartment  16 , which is disposed within the refrigerator cabinet  12 . A freezer compartment  14  may also be found disposed within the refrigerator cabinet  12 . An ice making compartment  19  may be found in the refrigerator cabinet  12 , as well. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view showing one embodiment of a bracket  20  of the present invention, which may be found in the ice making compartment  19  of the refrigerator  10 . The bracket  20  contains a first face  22  which has a plurality of latches  24  extending therefrom.  FIG. 2  also shows that the bracket  20  contains a hole  26  which extends through the middle of the first face  22 . A post  30  extends from the first face  22  of bracket  20 . Additionally, on the first face  22  of the bracket  20  there are a plurality of securing means. The securing means  28  may be secondary latches or tool removable snap features or another means of securing the bracket at the ice making compartment  19 . 
       FIG. 3  shows a cross sectional view of one embodiment of the bracket  20 . As seen in  FIG. 3 , the latches  24  each contain a stem  32  extending from the first face  22  of the bracket  20  and further contain a lip  34  extending away from the stem  32 . Additionally, as seen in  FIG. 3 , opposite first face  22  is a second face  23 . Also, the hole  26  extends through the first face  22  and the second face  23 . 
       FIG. 4  shows a perspective view of one embodiment of an assembly  40  containing a fan  44 , a bracket  20 , a motor  42 , and a grommet  46 . As seen in  FIG. 4 , the motor  42  attaches to the bracket  20  at the first face  22  and the fan  44  attaches to the bracket on the second face  23 . Also seen in  FIG. 4 , the lips  34  of the latches  24  clamp down on the motor  42 , thus holding the motor  42  in place. 
       FIG. 5  shows a cross sectional view of the assembly of  FIG. 4 . As seen in  FIG. 5 , the grommet  46  may be inserted through the hole  26  of the bracket  20 . The shaft  48  of the motor  42  is inserted through the first face  22  of the bracket  20 , through the grommet  46 , through the second face  23  of the bracket  20 , and finally through the fan  44 . The grommet  46  and the shaft of the motor  48  engagingly connect so to create an airtight seal between the two, which reduces noise and vibration. Also, as seen in  FIG. 5 , the fan  44  attaches to the assembly  40  at the second face  23  of the bracket  20  without use of separate fasteners or external fasteners. 
       FIG. 6  is an exploded view of the assembly of  FIG. 4 . As  FIG. 6  shows, the components of the assembly  40 , consisting of the fan  44 , bracket  20 , grommet  46 , and motor  42 , are aligned through an axis. Additionally, no separate fasteners are used to engage the components of the assembly  40 . 
       FIG. 7  is a cross sectional view of one embodiment of an ice box  50 , which also shows the location of the assembly  40  of  FIG. 5 . As seen in  FIG. 7 , an ice box housing  52  encloses the assembly  40  within the ice box  50 . Additionally, as seen in  FIG. 7 , the bracket  20  is secured to the ice box  50  by means of tool removable snap features  28 . The bracket  20  may be secured to the ice box by other means, such as, but not limited to, secondary latches. 
     Also disclosed is a method of manufacturing a refrigerator. A grommet  46  is inserted into a hole  26  of the bracket  20 . Next, a motor  42  is pressed towards the first face  22  of the bracket  20  and lined up with the post  30  for correct positioning. The motor  42  is pressed towards the first face  22  to a position where the motor is flush with the first face  22  of the bracket  20 , causing the latches  24  to engage the motor in place. The fan  44  is then attached to the second face  23  of the bracket  20 , wherein the shaft  48  of the motor  42  is connected to the fan  44 . The assembly  40 , now containing the fan  44 , motor  42 , grommet  46 , and bracket  20 , is then installed in the ice box  50 . Securing means  28  located on the bracket  20  are then connected to the ice box  50  to secure the assembly  40  into place. Securing means  28  may consist of secondary latches or tool removable snap features or additional means. 
     A refrigerator with an ice making compartment including a bracket has been described. The bracket may provide various advantages including ease of use and convenience for a manufacturer of a refrigerator in manufacturing the ice making compartment. Because the bracket consists of one piece and the fan, motor and grommet connect to the bracket without additional securing means, the bracket is easier to put together and secure to the ice box. The low number of pieces allows the assembly to be put together and attached to an ice box in a timely manner. Additionally, noise and vibration are reduced by the use of one grommet used in connecting the shaft from the motor and the fan. 
     Although specific embodiments are described herein, the present invention contemplates numerous variations, options, and alternatives, including variations in the structure or configuration of the refrigerator, and variations in the type of material used. The present invention is not to be limited to the specific embodiments described herein or combinations of the specific embodiments described.