Patent Publication Number: US-2006005565-A1

Title: Ice making apparatus and baffle assembly

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS  
      This application claims priority in co-pending U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/585,633, filed on Jul. 6, 2004, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      This invention relates to an ice-cube making machine and, in particular, to the support structure for the ice cube-making machine.  
      2. Discussion of the Background Art  
      Ice cube-making machines generally comprise an evaporator, a water supply and a refrigerant/warm gas circuit that includes a condenser and a compressor. During the freeze mode, the water supply provides water to the evaporator and the circuit supplies refrigerant to the evaporator to cool the water and form ice cubes. During the harvest mode, the circuit diverts warm compressor discharge gas to the evaporator, thereby warming the evaporator and causing the ice cubes to loosen and be stored in an ice bin or hopper.  
      Referring to  FIG. 1 , an ice bin  10  is shown having a baffle  20  that is connected to a support member  30  by a series of fasteners or screws  25 . The support member  30  is connected to the ice bin  10  by fasteners or screws  35 . The baffle  20  provides selective access to the inner volume of the ice bin  10  for removal of the ice. However, to remove the baffle  20  in order to provide greater access to the inner volume of the ice bin  20 , such as, for example, for maintenance and cleaning, the screws  25  and/or the screws  35  must be removed. With older ice bins, especially due to rust from the ice and water, this can be difficult, as well as time consuming.  
      Thus, there is a need for an ice cube-making machine having a support structure that reduces or eliminates these drawbacks.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The ice cube-making machine of the present invention provides an ice bin having at least one wall defining an inner volume and a bin opening, as well as a baffle removably and movably connected to the at least one wall. The baffle is disposed in proximity to the bin opening. The baffle can be connected to and removed from the ice bin through manipulation of the baffle only.  
      A method of storing ice and providing selective access to that ice is also provided by removably and movably connecting a baffle to an ice bin in proximity to a bin opening. The baffle can be connected to and removed from the ice bin through manipulation of the baffle only.  
      The manipulation of the baffle for assembly can be in a first single direction. The manipulation of the baffle for removal can be in a second single direction. The first and second single directions may be substantially opposite to each other. The baffle may also be pivotally disposed about the ice bin. The ice bin can have first and second pins disposed along inner faces of the first and second walls of the ice bin. The baffle may be pivotally disposed about the first and second pins.  
      The baffle can have first and second ends, and the first and second ends may each have pivot channels that pivotally move about the first and second pins. The ice bin may also have a canopy connected to the at least one wall. The canopy can be disposed in proximity to the baffle and can assist in positioning the baffle at a desired angle with respect to the bin opening. The canopy can also provide resistance to movement of the baffle with respect to the bin opening.  
      The ice bin may also have a stopper disposed along an inner face of a first wall of the at least one wall. The stopper can restrict movement of the baffle beyond a desired angle of rotation. The movable connection between the baffle and the ice bin can be pivotal. The method can also provide selective resistance or detent to the baffle at a desired angle with respect to the bin opening. The method may further provide resistance to movement of the baffle with respect to the bin opening. The method can also cause restriction of movement of the baffle beyond a desired angle of rotation. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      Other and further objects, advantages and features of the present invention will be understood by reference to the following specification in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters denote like elements of structure and:  
       FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of a prior art ice bin and baffle assembly;  
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an ice bin and baffle assembly of the present invention;  
       FIG. 3  is a side cross-sectional view of the ice bin and baffle assembly of  FIG. 2 ;  
       FIG. 4  is an enlarged view of portion A the ice bin and baffle assembly of  FIG. 3 ;  
       FIG. 5  is a front perspective view of the baffle of  FIG. 2 ;  
       FIG. 6  is a rear perspective view of the baffle of  FIG. 2 ; and  
       FIG. 7  is a side view of the baffle of  FIG. 2 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
      Referring to  FIGS. 2 through 7 , an ice bin, usable with an ice-cube making machine (not shown), is shown and generally represented by reference numeral  100 . The ice bin  100  has walls  110  that define the inner volume where the ice is stored, and which also define an upper rim  130  that is connected to the other elements of the ice-cube making machine, such as the evaporator (schematically represented in phantom). The ice-making machine of the present invention can include known and unknown ice-making components, such as, for example, a condenser, a compressor, and an interconnection structure, which are remotely or proximately disposed with respect to the ice bin  100 .  
      In this embodiment, walls  110  define a substantially rectangular structure having an angled upper portion further defining a bin opening  120  to provide access to the inner volume of the ice bin  100 . However, the present disclosure contemplates ice bin  100  having other shapes, and positions of the bin opening  120 , as well as other numbers of walls  110 .  
      Ice bin  100  has a baffle assembly  200 . The baffle assembly  200  has a baffle  210 , a pivot  250  and a canopy or support member  300 . The baffle assembly  200  provides for easy removal of the baffle  210  from the ice bin  100 . In the preferred embodiment, baffle  210  is pivotally disposed about the ice bin  100  by pivot  250 .  
      Preferably, pivot  250  is a pair of pivots or knobs that are disposed on opposing walls  110  along the inside on the ice bin  100 . The baffle  210  has pivot channels  220  disposed along opposite ends of the baffle that are operably positioned about each of the pivots  250 , respectively. The pivot channels  220  are formed along a substantially straight path and use gravity to hold the pivotal connection in place. However, the present disclosure contemplates the use of other shapes for the pivot channels  220 . The pivotal connection between pivots  250  and pivot channels  220  allow for a desired degree of rotation of the baffle  210  with respect to the bin opening  230 , as well as assembly and removal without the use of fasteners or tools, such as a screwdriver or wrench. As such, the baffle is removable through manipulation of the baffle only.  
      As shown in  FIGS. 5 through 7 , pivot channels  220  allow the baffle  210  to be easily slid onto, and off of, the pivots  250 . The pivot channels  220  provide a deep enough opening or trough so that the baffle  210  does not become unintentionally dislodged during rotation or if jolted. However, the trough of pivot channels  220  preferably extends along only a portion of the ends of the baffle  210  to facilitate assembly of the baffle to the pivots  250 .  
      The pivot channels  220  are partially defined by a channel wall  230 . The channel wall  230  extends a substantial distance along the end of the baffle  210 , and preferably extends along the entire end of the rear of the baffle. Each of the channel walls  230  facilitates alignment and assembly of the pivots  250  into the pivot channels  220  by providing a guide for sliding the pivots onto, along and then into the channels. Since the channel walls  230  extend along a substantial portion of the rear of the ends of the baffle  210 , the baffle will begin to rotate into position under the force of gravity as the pivots  250  approach the pivot channels  220  during assembly, which further facilitates the assembly process.  
      The baffle  210  has a baffle wall  240  that preferably has a curved or convex outer shape. The curved shape of baffle wall  240  allows the newly formed ice to push the baffle  210  forward. The forward motion of the baffle  210  is desired to allow the ice build-up to drop after the ice in the lower portion of the ice bin  100  has been removed. The curved shape of the baffle wall  240  facilitates the forward motion of the baffle  210  by reducing the possibility of the ice blocking the forward pivotal motion, as well as facilitating the movement of the ice along the baffle wall.  
      The baffle wall  240  preferably has edges  245  and  247  or other detent or resistance members or means that extend along the baffle wall. The edges  245  and  247  are disposed adjacent to, and selectively abutting against, the lower portion of the canopy  300 . The abutment or contact between edges  245  and  247 , as well as that portion of the baffle wall  240  disposed therebetween, and the lower portion of the canopy  300 , provide the desired angle for the position of the baffle  210  and also provide resistance during the pivotal movement of the baffle.  
      The present disclosure contemplates the use of different lengths and shapes of edges  245  and  247 , baffle wall  240  disposed between the edges, and/or the lower portion of canopy  300  to provide the desired angular position of baffle  210  and/or the desired resistance to rotation of baffle  210 . While the embodiment shown uses edges  245  and  247 , baffle wall  240  disposed between the edges and the lower portion of the canopy  300  to provide resistance for the movement of baffle  10 , the present disclosure contemplates various shapes, sizes, positionings, structures and/or methods of providing such resistance.  
      Baffle assembly  200  also has a baffle stopper  260 . Baffle stopper  260  restricts forward movement of baffle  210  beyond a desired point so that the access to remove the ice from ice bin  100  is provided and maintained even with the further accumulation of ice. In this embodiment, baffle stopper  260  is a knob or other structure extending from one or both of opposing walls  110  along the inside of ice bin  100 . However, the present disclosure contemplates the use of other structures, methods or means for control of the amount of rotation of baffle  210 .  
      While the embodiment shown uses a pivot and channel connection to provide removability without the need of fasteners or tools, the present disclosure also contemplates the use of other structures, methods or means to provide such ease of removability of baffle  210  from ice bin  100 . Preferably, such alternative structures, methods or means allow for rotation of baffle  210  through the desired angular range, while reducing or eliminating unintentional removal of the baffle from ice bin  100 .  
      The present invention having been thus described with particular reference to the preferred forms thereof, it will be obvious that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined herein.