Patent Publication Number: US-11644231-B2

Title: Water routing from cabinet to door of a refrigerator with articulated hinge

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The present disclosure generally relates to the transport of liquid, such as water, from the cabinet of a refrigerator or other appliance to a door of that refrigerator or other appliance when the door opens relative to the cabinet in a non-circular manner, such that the use of common tubing to transport the liquid is impractical. 
     In a refrigerator or other appliance having a door mounted dispensing apparatus for liquid (such as water) and/or ice, there is a need to transfer the liquid from the cabinet to the door. In some instances, liquid is transferred to the door from the cabinet in a number of ways, such as tubing through the hinge, through the edge of the door, or adjacent to the hinge. However, the use of articulated hinges which permit the door to open in a non-circular path that pushes the door away from the cabinet makes these traditional tubing options ineffective or less desirable. Therefore, a need has been identified in the art to provide a means for routing liquid from a cabinet to a door mounted dispenser when the door opens in a non-circular path. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     One aspect of this disclosure is a refrigerator that comprises: a cabinet; a door operably connected to the cabinet, the door having a closed position relative to the cabinet and an opened position relative to the cabinet, and the door transitions from the closed position to the opened position in a non-circular path; a liquid outlet disposed at the cabinet; and a liquid receiver disposed at the door, the liquid receiver configured to receive liquid exiting the liquid outlet when the door is in the closed position but not in the opened position. The cabinet can include a fresh food compartment. The door can allow access into the fresh food compartment when the door is in the opened position. The liquid outlet can be disposed within the fresh food compartment. The door can include a liquid dispenser in communication with the liquid receiver. The liquid dispenser can be configured to dispense liquid from the door while the door is in the closed position. The liquid receiver can be disposed vertically below the liquid outlet of the cabinet when the door is in the closed position. The door can further include a gasket adjacent to the liquid receiver. The cabinet can further include a gasket adjacent to the liquid outlet. When the door is in the closed position, the gasket of the door can cooperate with the gasket of the cabinet to form a sealed channel extending through both the gasket of the cabinet and the gasket of the door. As the door transitions from the closed position to the opened position, the gasket of the door can slide against the gasket of the cabinet. The cabinet can further include a tank that stores liquid received from a source external to the refrigerator. The liquid outlet can be in communication with the tank via tubing. A false wall can cover at least a portion of the tubing adjacent the liquid outlet. The cabinet can further include a freezer compartment, an ice maker in the freezer compartment, and a valve that selectively diverts liquid received from the source external to the refrigerator to either the tank or the ice maker in the freezer compartment. The cabinet can further include at least one one-way valve between the tank and the liquid outlet, the one-way valve permitting flow only toward the liquid outlet from the tank. The door can include a pump in communication with the liquid receiver. The liquid receiver can include a reservoir that collects liquid expelled from the liquid outlet of the cabinet. The pump can cause the transport of the liquid collected in the reservoir. The door can include a filter in communication with the liquid receiver that filters the liquid that the liquid receiver receives from the liquid outlet of the cabinet. The door can further include a liquid dispenser that dispenses liquid filtered by the filter. The door can further include an ice maker that makes ice from liquid filtered by the filter. The door can further include a valve disposed in liquid communication between the filter and both the ice maker and the liquid dispenser that selectively diverts liquid to either the ice maker or the liquid dispenser. The refrigerator can further include one or more articulated hinges that operably connect the door to the cabinet and that move the door away from the cabinet when the door transitions from the closed position to the opened position. 
     Another aspect of this disclosure is a refrigerator comprising: a cabinet including a liquid outlet configured to eject liquid and a gasket cooperating with the liquid outlet; and a door connected to the cabinet via one or more articulated hinges that move the door away from the cabinet when the door transitions from a closed position to an opened position relative to the cabinet, the door including: a liquid receiver configured to receive liquid ejected from the liquid outlet when the door is in the closed position but not in the opened position; a gasket cooperating with the liquid receiver; and a liquid dispenser in communication with the liquid receiver and configured to dispense liquid received from the liquid receiver; wherein, when the door is in the closed position, the gasket of the door cooperates with the gasket of the cabinet to form a sealed channel extending through both the gasket of the door and the gasket of the cabinet. The liquid receiver can be disposed vertically below the liquid outlet, when the door is in the closed position. The gasket cooperating with the liquid receiver can be disposed vertically below the gasket cooperating with the liquid outlet, when the door is in the closed position. As the door transitions from the closed position to the opened position, the gasket of the door can slide against the gasket of the cabinet and the sealed channel loses form. The door can further include a pump in communication with the liquid receiver, and the pump can be configured to pump liquid received by the liquid receiver to and through the liquid dispenser. 
     Another aspect of this disclosure is a refrigerator that comprises: a cabinet including a liquid outlet configured to eject liquid and a gasket cooperating with the liquid outlet; and a door connected to the cabinet via one or more articulated hinges that move the door away from the cabinet when the door transitions from a closed position to an opened position relative to the cabinet. The door includes: a liquid receiver configured to receive liquid ejected from the liquid outlet when the door is in the closed position but not in the opened position; gasket cooperating with the liquid receiver; a filter in fluid communication with the liquid receiver configured to filter the liquid received by the liquid receiver; a liquid dispenser in fluid communication with the filter and configured to dispense liquid filtered by the filter; an ice maker in fluid communication with the filter and configured to make ice from liquid filtered by the filter; and a valve disposed in fluid communication between the filter and both the ice maker and the liquid dispenser configured to selectively divert liquid to either the ice maker or the liquid dispenser. When the door is in the closed position, the gasket of the door cooperates with the gasket of the cabinet to form a sealed channel extending through both the gasket of the door and the gasket of the cabinet. 
     Another aspect of this disclosure is a refrigerator comprising: a cabinet; a door operably connected to the cabinet, the door having a closed position relative to the cabinet and an opened position relative to the cabinet; and a liquid line to transport liquid from the cabinet to the door, the liquid line including a door portion disposed at the door and a cabinet portion disposed at the cabinet; wherein, the liquid line is stretchable from a relaxed state to a stretched state, the liquid line is in the relaxed state when the door is in the closed position, the liquid line is in the stretched state when the door is in the opened position, and the liquid line is longer in stretched state than in the relaxed state. The liquid line can be at least twice as long in the stretched state than the liquid line is in the relaxed state. The liquid line can transform from the relaxed state into the stretched state as the door moves from the closed position to the opened position. The liquid line can transform from the stretched state into the relaxed state as the door moves from the opened position to the closed position. The cabinet can include a fresh food compartment. The door can allow access into the fresh food compartment when the door is in the opened position. The cabinet portion of the liquid line can be disposed within the fresh food compartment. The door can include a liquid dispenser in communication with the liquid line. The liquid dispenser can be configured to dispense liquid from the door while the door is in the closed position. The cabinet portion of the liquid line can be at the same level as the door portion. When the door is in the closed position, the liquid line can be disposed in a linear path between the cabinet portion and the door portion. The cabinet can further including a tank that stores liquid received from a source external to the refrigerator. The liquid line can be in communication with the tank. A false wall can cover at least a portion of the cabinet portion of the liquid line. The cabinet can further include a freezer compartment, an ice maker in the freezer compartment, and a valve that selectively diverts liquid received from the source external to the refrigerator to either the tank or the ice maker in the freezer compartment. The cabinet can further include a one-way valve between the tank and the liquid line between the door and the cabinet. The one-way valve can permit liquid flow only toward the liquid line from the tank. The door can include a filter in communication with the liquid line that filters the liquid that the liquid line transports to the door. The door can further include a liquid dispenser that dispenses liquid filtered by the filter. The door further can further include an ice maker that makes ice from liquid filtered by the filter. A valve can be disposed in communication between the filter and both the ice maker and the liquid dispenser that selectively diverts liquid to either the ice maker or the liquid dispenser. One or more articulated hinges can operably connect the door to the cabinet and move the door away from the cabinet when the door transitions from the closed position to the opened position. 
     Another aspect of this disclosure is a refrigeration comprising: a cabinet; a door operably connected to the cabinet, the door having a closed position relative to the cabinet and an opened position relative to the cabinet; a liquid line to transport liquid from the cabinet to the door; and a retractor operably coupled to the liquid line that releases a released portion of the liquid line when the door moves from the closed position to the opened position and retracts the released portion of the liquid line when the door moves from the opened position to the closed position, the liquid line having an exposed portion between the door and the retractor when the door is in the closed position. The released portion of the liquid line that is released from the retractor when the door moves from the closed position to the opened position can be at least twice as long as the exposed portion of the liquid line when the door is in the closed position. The cabinet can include a fresh food compartment. The door can allow access into the fresh food compartment when the door is in the opened position. The retractor can be disposed within the fresh food compartment. The door can include a liquid dispenser in communication with the liquid line. The liquid dispenser can be configured to dispense liquid from the door while the door is in the closed position. Movement of the door from the closed position to the opened position can impart a pulling force extracting the released portion of the liquid line from the retractor. The retractor includes a recoil spring that imparts a retracting force upon the liquid line, such that when the door moves toward the closed position, the released portion of the liquid line retracts. The retractor can include a housing into which the released portion of the liquid line retracts when the door moves from the opened position to the closed position. The retractor can further include a recoil spring housed within the housing that imparts a retracting force upon the liquid line, such that when the door moves toward the closed position, the released portion of the liquid line retracts. When the door is in the closed position, the liquid line can be disposed in a linear path between the door and the retractor. The cabinet can further include a tank that stores liquid received from a source external to the refrigerator. The liquid line can be in communication with the tank. A false wall can cover the retractor. The cabinet can further include a freezer compartment, an ice maker in the freezer compartment, and a valve that selectively diverts liquid received from the source external to the refrigerator to either the tank or the ice maker in the freezer compartment. The cabinet can further include a one-way valve between the tank and the liquid line between the door and the cabinet, the one-way valve permitting liquid flow only toward the liquid line from the tank. The door can include a filter in communication with the liquid line that filters the liquid that the liquid line transports to the door. The door can further include a liquid dispenser that dispenses liquid filtered by the filter. The door can further include an ice maker that makes ice from liquid filtered by the filter. The door can further include an ice maker that makes ice from liquid filtered by the filter. The door can further include a valve disposed in communication between the filter and both the ice maker and the liquid dispenser that selectively diverts liquid to either the ice maker or the liquid dispenser. One or more articulated hinges can operably connect the door to the cabinet and that move the door away from the cabinet when the door transitions from the closed position to the opened position. 
     These and other features, advantages, and objects of the present disclosure will be further understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art by reference to the following specification, claims, and appended drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Further advantages and features according to the present disclosure will become clear from the following detailed description provided as a non-limiting example, with reference to the attached drawings in which: 
         FIG.  1    is a perspective view of an embodiment of a refrigerator with a dispenser assembly including a water dispenser disposed at a door, which is operably connected to a cabinet; 
         FIG.  2    is a front view (from the perspective of a user) of the refrigerator of  FIG.  1   , illustrating the door with the dispenser assembly in an opened position and connected to the cabinet via an articulated hinge; 
         FIG.  3    is a top view of the refrigerator of  FIG.  1   , illustrating the door flush with cabinetry when the door is in a closed position relative to the cabinet; 
         FIG.  4    is a top view of the refrigerator of  FIG.  1   , illustrating the door in the opened position and the articulated hinge pushing the door away from the cabinet to allow the door to be in the opened position despite the presence of the adjacent cabinetry; 
         FIG.  5    is a close up front view of area V from  FIG.  1   , illustrating the dispensing apparatus at the door, which includes a liquid dispenser (such as to dispense water) and an ice dispenser; 
         FIG.  6    is a schematic diagram of flow from a source external to the refrigerator of  FIG.  1   , through the cabinet to a liquid outlet at the cabinet, from the liquid outlet to a liquid receiver at the door, and through the door to the dispensing apparatus; 
         FIG.  7    is a close up perspective view of area VII of  FIG.  2   , illustrating the door in the opened position, with the liquid outlet of the cabinet and a cooperating gasket not engaged with a liquid receiver and a cooperating gasket at the door; 
         FIG.  8    is a side view of the refrigerator of  FIG.  1    taken along cross-section VIII-VIII of  FIG.  3    with the door in the closed position, illustrating the liquid outlet at the cabinet and cooperating gasket lined up with and cooperating with the liquid receiver and cooperating gasket at the door, the gaskets forming a sealed channel for the flow of liquid from the liquid outlet to the liquid receiver; 
         FIG.  9    is a perspective close up view of another embodiment of a refrigerator of this disclosure, illustrating the door in the opened position relative to the cabinet and a liquid line in a stretched state extending from the cabinet to the door, in order to transport liquid from the cabinet to the door for use with the dispensing apparatus; 
         FIG.  10    is a close up cross-sectional top view of the refrigerator of  FIG.  9    taken along line X-X of  FIG.  9   , illustrating the liquid line in a relaxed state when the door is in the closed position, and the liquid line being shorter in length in the relaxed state than in the stretched state; 
         FIG.  11    is a cross-sectional top view of the refrigerator of  FIG.  9    taken along line XI-XI of  FIG.  9   , illustrating the liquid line in the longer stretched state when the door is in the opened position and the articulated hinge has pushed the door away from the cabinet so as to not interfere with the adjacent cabinetry; 
         FIG.  12    is a schematic diagram of liquid flow from the source external to the refrigerator of  FIG.  9   , through the cabinet to the liquid line at the cabinet, through the liquid line and to the door, and through the door to the dispensing apparatus; 
         FIG.  13    is a perspective close up view of another embodiment of a refrigerator of this disclosure, illustrating the door in the opened position relative to the cabinet and a liquid line extending from the cabinet to the door with a released portion released from a retractor at the cabinet, in order to transport liquid from the cabinet to the door for use with the dispensing apparatus; 
         FIG.  14    is a perspective close up view of the refrigerator of  FIG.  13   , illustrating the door in the opened position and the released portion of the liquid line released from the retractor at the cabinet, a guide at the cabinet guiding the liquid line, and a liquid inlet into the retractor in communication with the liquid line; 
         FIG.  15    is an overhead view of the refrigerator of  FIG.  13    with the top of the cabinet in phantom, illustrating a guide at the door guiding the liquid line when the door is in the opened position and a recoil spring in the retractor applying a retracting force to the liquid line such that when the door moves to the closed position, the released portion of the liquid line retracts back into the retractor; 
         FIG.  16    is an overhead view of the refrigerator of  FIG.  13    with the top of the cabinet in phantom, illustrating the door in the closed position and the retractor having retracted the released portion of the liquid line back into the retractor due to the retraction force of the recoil spring, such that only an exposed portion of the liquid line remains outside of a housing of the retractor; and 
         FIG.  17    is a schematic diagram of flow from the source external to the refrigerator of  FIG.  13   , through the cabinet to the retractor at the cabinet and into the liquid line at the cabinet, through the liquid line and to the door, and through the door to the dispensing apparatus. 
     
    
    
     The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles described herein. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The present illustrated embodiments reside primarily in combinations of apparatus components related to a refrigerator. Accordingly, the apparatus components and method steps have been represented, where appropriate, by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present disclosure so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein. Further, like numerals in the description and drawings represent like elements. 
     For purposes of description herein, the terms,” and derivatives thereof shall relate to the disclosure as oriented in  FIG.  1   . However, it is to be understood that the disclosure may assume various alternative orientations, except where expressly specified to the contrary. It is also to be understood that the specific devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the following specification are simply exemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts defined in the appended claims. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims expressly state otherwise. 
     The terms “including,” “comprises,” “comprising,” or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. An element proceeded by “comprises a . . . ” does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of additional identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises the element. 
     With reference to  FIG.  1   , a refrigerator  10  of the present disclosure is illustrated. In general, the refrigerator  10  maintains a sufficiently cool internal environment to store food and beverages in order to slow-down deterioration of the food and beverages, as compared to ambient temperature. The refrigerator  10  includes a cabinet  12 . The cabinet  12  houses one or more compartments, such a freezer compartment  14  and a fresh food compartment  16 . The freezer compartment  14  generally provides a temperature controlled environment to store foods at a below freezing temperature. The freezer compartment  14  can include an ice maker  18 . The fresh food compartment  16  generally provides a temperature controlled environment to store foods and beverages as a temperature above freezing temperature but below ambient temperature in order to prolong the freshness of the stored foods and beverages. The refrigerator  10  includes one or more doors  20   a ,  20   b  operably connected to the cabinet  12  to provide selective access to the fresh food compartment  16 . For example, doors  20   a  have a closed position  22  ( FIG.  1   ) relative to the cabinet  12  wherein access into the fresh food compartment  16  from a position external  24  to the refrigerator  10  is denied. In addition, doors  20   a ,  20   b  have an opened position  26  ( FIG.  2   ) relative to the cabinet  12  wherein access into the fresh food compartment  16  from the position external  24  to the refrigerator  10  is allowed. Similarly, a freezer drawer  28  provides selective access to the freezer compartment  14  from the position external  24 . The refrigerator  10  illustrated has a bottom mount freezer compartment  14  with French doors  20   a ,  20   b  to the fresh food compartment  16  above the freezer compartment  14 . However, it should be understood that other configurations of freezer drawers  28 , doors  20 , and compartments  14 ,  16  can be utilized instead without deviating from the concepts set forth in this disclosure. For example, the refrigerator  10  may have only the fresh food compartment  16  with no freezer compartment  14  and only one door  20  providing selective access to the fresh food compartment  16 . As another example, the refrigerator  10  may have a freezer compartment  14  disposed side-by-side with the fresh food compartment  16 , each having a dedicated door  20  to provide selective access. 
     Referring now to  FIGS.  3  and  4   , in an embodiment of the refrigerator  10 , the doors  20   a ,  20   b  are operably connected to the cabinet  12  via articulated hinges  30 . The articulated hinge  30  allows the door  20   a  in the closed position  22  to be flush with an object, such as cabinetry  32 , that is directly adjacent the refrigerator  10 . Without the articulated hinge  30 , moving the door  20   a  from the closed position  22  to the opened position  26  in a typically circular path would result in the cabinetry  32  interfering with the opening of the door  20   a . However, the articulated hinge  30  allows the door  20   a  to transition from the closed position  22  to the opened position  26  in a non-circular path, i.e., the articulated hinge  30  moves the door  20   a  away from the cabinet  12  of the refrigerator  10  as the door  20   a  transitions from the closed position  22  to the opened position  26 . The articulated hinge  30  thus permits the door  20   a  to move to a fully opened position  26  without contacting the cabinetry  32  that is adjacent the refrigerator  10 . 
     Referring now additionally to  FIG.  5   , the door  20   a  includes a dispenser assembly  34 , which can include one or more of a liquid dispenser  36  and an ice dispenser  38 . The dispenser assembly  34  allows a user (not illustrated) to dispense liquid, such as water, from the door  20   a  at the liquid dispenser  36  and ice from the ice dispenser  38  while the door  20   a  is the closed position  22  and without the need to access either the fresh food compartment  16  or the freezer compartment  14 . The liquid can be dispensed at the liquid dispenser  36  upon command from the user. The door  20   a  of the illustrated embodiment further includes an ice maker  40  that makes the ice that the ice dispenser  38  dispenses. 
     Referring now additionally to  FIG.  6   , the liquid that the liquid dispenser  36  dispenses and the ice that the ice dispenser  38  dispenses originates from a source  42  external to the refrigerator  10 . The cabinet  12  can include a tank  44  that stores a volume of the liquid (such as water) received from the source  42  (such as a water line within a residence or other building) external to the refrigerator  10 . The refrigerator  10  can include a valve  46  in fluid communication between the tank  44  and the source  42  to selectively divert liquid to the ice maker  18  in the freezer compartment  14 . In other words, the valve  46  selectively diverts liquid received from the source  42  external to the refrigerator  10  to either the tank  44  or the ice maker  18  in the freezer compartment  14 . Liquid from the tank  44  can transport through tubing  48  within the cabinet  12 . A one-way valve  50  prevents liquid transporting through the tubing  48  from transporting back to the tank  44 . For the liquid dispenser  36  to dispense liquid that originates from the source  42 , or for the ice dispenser  38  to dispense ice made from the liquid that originates from the source  42 , the liquid transporting through the tubing  48  in the cabinet  12  must additionally be transported between the tubing  48  in the cabinet  12  and the door  20   a  and thereafter within the door  20   a  to the liquid dispenser  36  or to the ice maker  40  that generates the ice that the ice dispenser  38  dispenses. In part because the door  20   a  is operably connected to the cabinet  12  via the articulated hinge  30 , which moves the door away from the cabinet  12 , typical tubing cannot advantageously be routed from the cabinet  12  to the door  20   a.    
     Referring now additionally to  FIGS.  7  and  8   , to solve that problem and to bridge the liquid transfer gap between the tubing  48  within the cabinet  12  (or the cabinet  12  generally) and the door  20   a , the cabinet  12  further includes a liquid outlet  52  and the door  20   a  further includes a liquid receiver  54 . The liquid outlet  52  is in liquid communication with the tank  44  via the tubing  48 . As mentioned above, the one-way valve  50  disposed in liquid communication between the tank  44  and the liquid outlet  52  permits liquid flow only toward the liquid outlet  52  from the tank  44 . The liquid outlet  52  can be disposed within the fresh food compartment  16  and partially hidden by a false wall  56  (such as a plastic or metal component). The false wall  56  also conceals via covering a portion of the tubing  48  in communication with and adjacent to the liquid outlet  52 . As illustrated in  FIG.  7   , when the door  20   a  is in the opened position  26 , the liquid receiver  54  is not configured to receive liquid exiting (e.g., ejected from) the liquid outlet  52 —the liquid receiver  54  is not lined up with the liquid outlet  52  in the direction of liquid flow and the liquid ejected from the liquid outlet  52  would splash against the door  20   a  or cascade to the floor. However, as illustrated in  FIG.  8   , when the door  20   a  is in the closed position  22 , the liquid receiver  54  is lined up with the liquid outlet  52  in the direction of liquid flow and is thus configured to receive liquid exiting (i.e., ejected from) the liquid outlet  52 . In the illustrated embodiment, the liquid receiver  54  is disposed vertically below the liquid outlet  52  of the cabinet  12  while the door  20   a  is in the closed position  22 . However, the liquid receiver  54  could be positioned elsewhere relative to the liquid outlet  52  as long as the direction of liquid flow from the liquid outlet  52  would enter the liquid receiver  54 . The cabinet  12  further includes a gasket  58  cooperating with, such as encircling and being adjacent to, the liquid outlet  52 . The door  20   a  further includes a gasket  60  cooperating with, such as encircling and being adjacent to, the liquid receiver  54 . When the door  20   a  is in the closed position  22 , the gasket  60  of the door  20   a  cooperates with, such as abutting against, the gasket  58  of the cabinet  12  to form a sealed channel  62  extending through both the gasket  58  of the cabinet  12  and the gasket  60  of the door  20   a . Because of the sealed channel  62 , liquid exiting the liquid outlet  52  is received only by the liquid receiver  54 . In the illustrated embodiment, the gasket  60  of the door  20   a  cooperating with the liquid receiver  54  is disposed vertically below the gasket  58  of the cabinet  12  cooperating with the liquid outlet  52 , when the door  20   a  is in the closed position  22 . When the door  20   a  is in the closed position  22 , the gasket  58  of the cabinet  12  can deform the gasket  60  of the door  20   a  and vice-versa. However, as the door  20   a  transitions from the closed position  22  to the opened position  26 , the gasket  60  of the door  20   a  slides against the gasket  58  of the cabinet  12 , the sealed channel  62  loses form, and eventually the gaskets  58 ,  60  separate and no longer cooperate. 
     The liquid that the liquid receiver  54  receives can then be utilized by the ice maker  40  at the door  20   a  and the liquid dispenser  36 , which is in communication with the liquid receiver  54  and configured to dispense liquid received from the liquid receiver  54 . The door  20   a  can include a reservoir  64  in communication with the liquid receiver  54  that collects liquid expelled from the liquid outlet  52  of the cabinet  12 . The reservoir  64  allows for an amount of liquid that will eventually be dispensed by the dispenser assembly  34  in either liquid or ice form to be stored within the door  20   a , and compensates for variations in liquid flow from the liquid outlet  52 . The door  20   a  can further include a pump  66  in communication with the reservoir  64  and the liquid receiver  54 , to transport liquid received by the liquid receiver  54  and collected in the reservoir  64  to and through the liquid dispenser  36  or to the ice maker  40  in the door  20   a . The door  20   a  can include a valve in communication with the reservoir  64  to prevent the creation of suction drawing material into the reservoir through the liquid receiver  54  when the door  20   a  is in the opened position  26 . The door  20   a  can further include a filter  68  in communication with the liquid receiver  54  that filters the liquid that the liquid receiver  54  receives from the liquid outlet  52  of the cabinet  12 . The filter  68  can be downstream from the pump  66 . The pump  66  can provide sufficient pressure to transport the liquid through the filter  68 . The door  20   a  can further include a valve  70  in communication with the liquid receiver  54 , such as downstream of the filter  68  that selectively diverts liquid received by the liquid receiver  54  to either the ice maker  40  in the door  20   a  or the liquid dispenser  36 . The liquid dispenser  36  can thus dispense liquid filtered by the filter  68  after being received by the liquid receiver  54  from the liquid outlet  52 , and the ice maker  40  can thus make ice from liquid filtered by the filter  68  after being received by the liquid receiver  54  from the liquid outlet  52 . The pump  66  can further control the flow rate of liquid through the liquid dispenser  36 , such as to achieve the flow rate through the liquid dispenser  36  that the user commands via the dispenser assembly  34 . 
     The gasket  58  and the gasket  60  can each include a mesh component covering at least the inner diameter of the gasket in order to prevent dust and other material from entering into the reservoir  64  or behind the false wall  56  when the door  20   a  is in the opened position  26 . To further maintain the sanitation of the reservoir  64 , the door  20   a  can include a UV light module in light communication with (e.g., adjacent to) the reservoir  64 . Additionally, or as an alternative, the reservoir  64  can be releasably attached to the door  20   a , to allow the user to remove the reservoir  64  for sanitization. 
     Referring now to  FIGS.  9 - 12   , an alternative embodiment of a refrigerator  10 A again includes the cabinet  12  and the door  20   a  operably connected to the cabinet  12 . Again, one or more articulated hinges  30  can form the operable connection between the door  20   a  and the cabinet  12 , and the articulated hinges  30  move the door  20   a  away from the cabinet  12  as the door  20   a  transitions from the closed position  22  ( FIG.  10   ) to the opened position  26  ( FIG.  9   ) relative to the cabinet  12 . In this alternative embodiment, instead of the liquid outlet  52  and the liquid receiver  54  of the refrigerator  10  to transport liquid from the cabinet  12  to the door  20   a , the refrigerator  10 A utilizes a liquid line  72  to transport liquid from the cabinet  12  to the door  20   a . The liquid line  72  is stretchable from a relaxed state  74  ( FIG.  10   ) when the door  20   a  is in the closed position  22  to a stretched state  76  when the door  20   a  is in the opened position  26 . In other words, the liquid line  72  is longer in the stretched state  76  than in the relaxed state  74 , allowing liquid to be transported from the cabinet  12  to the door  20   a  despite the articulated hinge  30  moving the door  20   a  away from the cabinet  12  while the door  20   a  is moving to the opened position  26 . The liquid line  72  can stretch to be twice as long in the stretched state  76  than in the relaxed state  74 . The liquid line  72  transforms from the relaxed state  74  into the stretched state  76  as the door  20   a  moves from the closed position  22  to the opened position  26 . The liquid line  72  transforms from the stretched state  76  into the relaxed state  74  as the door  20   a  moves from the opened position  26  to the closed position  22 . 
     The liquid line  72  includes a door portion  78  disposed at the door  20   a  and a cabinet portion  80  disposed at the cabinet  12 . The cabinet portion  80  of the liquid line  72  can be disposed within the fresh food compartment  16 . In the illustrated embodiment, the cabinet portion  80  of the liquid line  72  is at the same level as the door portion  78  (i.e., at the same height from the ground, assuming level ground). As illustrated in  FIG.  10   , when the door  20   a  is in the closed position  22 , the liquid line  72  is disposed in a linear path between the cabinet portion  80  and the door portion  78 . The false wall  56  can cover at least a portion of the cabinet portion  80  of the liquid line  72 , so as to hide some of the liquid line  72  from view. The cabinet  12  can include a guide  82  and the door  20   a  can include a guide  84  to guide the liquid line  72 . The guides  82 ,  84  help to prevent the liquid line  72  from crimping in the stretched state  76  and guide the liquid line  72  back to the original position in the relaxed state  74 . 
     The refrigerator  10 A can otherwise include the described above features of the refrigerator  10 . The door  20   a  can include the liquid dispenser  36 , which is in communication with the liquid line  72  and configured to dispense liquid from the door  20   a  while the door  20   a  is in the closed position  22 . The liquid can be dispensed from the liquid dispenser  36  upon command from the user. The cabinet  12  can further include the tank  44  that stores liquid received from the source  42  external to the refrigerator  10 A. The liquid line  72  can then be in communication with the liquid tank  44 . The cabinet  12  can further include the freezer compartment and the ice maker  18  in the freezer compartment  14 . The valve  46  selectively diverts liquid received from the source  42  external to the refrigerator  10 A, and transported from the cabinet  12  to the door  20   a  by the liquid line  72 , to either the tank  44  or the ice maker  18  in the freezer compartment  14 . The cabinet  12  can further include the one-way valve  50  between the tank  44  and the liquid line  72  between the door  20   a  and the cabinet  12 , to permit liquid flow only toward the liquid line  72  from the tank  44 . The door  20   a  can include the filter  68  in communication with the liquid line  72  that filters the liquid that the liquid line  72  transports to the door  20   a . The door  20   a  further includes the dispensing apparatus  34  with the liquid dispenser  36 . The liquid dispenser  36  dispenses liquid transported by the liquid line  72 , including liquid filtered by the filter  68  if present. The door  20   a  can further include the ice maker  40  that makes ice from liquid transported by the liquid line  72 , including liquid filtered by the filter  68  if present. The door  20   a  can further include the valve  70  between the liquid line  72  (or the filter  68  if present) and both the ice maker  40  and the liquid dispenser  36 , and the valve  70  selectively diverts liquid to either the ice maker  40  or the liquid dispenser  36 . In addition, the valve  70  prevents liquid from gushing out of the liquid dispenser  36  when the door  20   a  opens, for example, because of the liquid line  72  decreasing in internal volume, as the liquid line  72  would upon changing from the relaxed state  74  to the stretched state  76  without the valve  70 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS.  13 - 17   , yet another alternative embodiment of a refrigerator  10 B again includes the cabinet  12  and the door  20   a  operably connected to the cabinet  12 . Again, one or more articulated hinges  30  can form the operable connection between the door  20   a  and the cabinet  12 , and the articulated hinges  30  move the door away from the cabinet  12  as the door transitions from the closed position  22  ( FIG.  16   ) to the opened position  26  ( FIG.  15   ) relative to the cabinet  12 . In this alternative embodiment, instead of incorporating the liquid outlet  52  and the liquid receiver  54  of the refrigerator  10  to transport liquid from the cabinet  12  to the door  20   a , the refrigerator  10 B utilizes a liquid line  86  to transport liquid from the cabinet  12  to the door  20   a . The refrigerator  10 B further includes a retractor  88 . The retractor  88  is fixed within the cabinet  12  and operably coupled to the liquid line  86 . The retractor  88  releases a released portion  90  (see  FIG.  15   ) of the liquid line  86  when the door  20   a  moves from the closed position  22  to the opened position  26 . The retractor  88  retracts the released portion  90  of the liquid line  86  when the door  20   a  moves from the opened position  26  to the closed position  22 . The liquid line  86  has an exposed portion  92  between the door  20   a  and the retractor  88 , which the retractor  88  does not retract into the retractor  88 , when the door  20   a  is in the closed position  22 . 
     The retractor  88  includes a recoil spring  94  (see  FIG.  15   ) that imparts a retracting force upon the liquid line  86 . Movement of the door  20   a  from the closed position  22  to the opened position  26  imparts a pulling force on the liquid line  86 , sufficient to overcome the retracting force from the recoil spring  94 , that extracts the released portion  90  of the liquid line  86  from the retractor  88 . Because the recoil spring  94  imparts the retracting force upon the liquid line  86 , when the door  20   a  moves toward the closed position  22  from the opened position  26 , the released portion  90  of the liquid line  86  retracts. The retractor  88  further includes a housing  96 . The housing  96  houses and supports the recoil spring  94 . The housing  96  houses the released portion  90  of the liquid line  86  when the liquid line  86  is retracted as the door  20   a  moves from the opened position  26  to the closed position  22 . The housing  96  further includes an inlet  98  in communication with the tubing  48 . Liquid flows through the tubing  48  and into the inlet  98  of the housing  96 . The liquid line  86  is in fluid communication with the inlet  98  of the housing  96 . Thus, liquid flows from the inlet  98  of the housing  96  into and through the liquid line  86 . 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the released portion  90  of the liquid line  86  that is released from the retractor  88  when the door  20   a  moves from the closed position  22  to the opened position  26  is at least twice as long as the exposed portion  92  of the liquid line  86  when the door  20   a  is in the closed position  22 . In the illustrated embodiment, the retractor  88  is disposed within the fresh food compartment  16  of the cabinet  12 , with the false wall  56  covering and concealing the retractor  88  from view. However, the retractor  88  could be alternatively disposed at the door  20   a . When the door  20   a  is in the closed position  22 , the liquid line  86  is disposed in a linear path between the door  20   a  and the retractor  88 . The cabinet  12  and the door  20   a  each include the guides  82 ,  84 , respectively, that engage the liquid line  86  to prevent crimping as the door  20   a  moves to the opened position  26  and to guide the liquid line  86  as the retractor  88  retracts the liquid line  86  when the door  20   a  moves to the closed position  22 . 
     The refrigerator  10 B can otherwise include the described above features of the refrigerator  10 . The door  20   a  can include the liquid dispenser  36 , which is in communication with the liquid line  86  and configured to dispense liquid from the door  20   a  while the door  20   a  is in the closed position  22 . The liquid can be dispensed from the liquid dispenser  36  upon command from the user. The cabinet  12  can further include the tank  44  that stores liquid received from the source  42  external to the refrigerator  10 B. The liquid line  86  can then be in communication with the tank  44 . The cabinet  12  can further include the freezer compartment  14  and the ice maker  18  in the freezer compartment  14 . The valve  46  selectively diverts liquid received from the source  42  external to the refrigerator  10 B, and transported from the cabinet  12  to the door  20   a  by the liquid line  86 , to either the tank  44  or the ice maker  18  in the freezer compartment  14 . The cabinet  12  can further include the one-way valve  50  between the tank  44  and the liquid line  86  between the door  20   a  and the cabinet  12 , to permit liquid flow only toward the liquid line  86  from the tank  44 . The door  20   a  can include the filter  68  in communication with the liquid line  86  that filters the liquid that the liquid line  86  transports to the door  20   a . The door  20   a  further includes the dispensing apparatus  34  with the liquid dispenser  36 . The liquid dispenser  36  dispenses liquid transported by the liquid line  86 , including liquid filtered by the filter  68  if present. The door  20   a  can further include the ice maker  40  that makes ice from liquid transported by the liquid line  86 , including liquid filtered by the filter  68  if present. The door  20   a  can further include the valve  70  between the liquid line  86  (or the filter  68  if present) and both the ice maker  40  and the liquid dispenser  36 , and the valve  70  selectively diverts liquid to either the ice maker  40  or the liquid dispenser  36 . 
     The utilization of the cooperating liquid outlet  52  and liquid receiver  54  in refrigerator  10 , the stretchable liquid line  72  in refrigerator  10 A, and the retractable liquid line  86  in refrigerator  10 B all solve the problem of not being able to transport liquid (such as water) through normal tubing in a refrigerator from a cabinet  12  to a door  20   a  when the door is moved from the closed position  22  to the opened position  26  in a non-circular manner such as when an articulated hinge  30  is used to push the door  20   a  away from the cabinet  12 . The solutions presented may be particularly useful for counter depth refrigeration products that utilize a hinge, such as the articulated hinge  30 , that allows the door  20   a  to transition to the opened position  26  in a non-circular manner. 
     It will be understood by one having ordinary skill in the art that construction of the described disclosure and other components is not limited to any specific material. Other exemplary embodiments of the disclosure disclosed herein may be formed from a wide variety of materials, unless described otherwise herein. 
     For purposes of this disclosure, the term “coupled” (in all of its forms, couple, coupling, coupled, etc.) generally means the joining of two components (electrical or mechanical) directly or indirectly to one another. Such joining may be stationary in nature or movable in nature. Such joining may be achieved with the two components (electrical or mechanical) and any additional intermediate members being integrally formed as a single unitary body with one another or with the two components. Such joining may be permanent in nature or may be removable or releasable in nature unless otherwise stated. 
     It is also important to note that the construction and arrangement of the elements of the disclosure as shown in the exemplary embodiments is illustrative only. Although only a few embodiments of the present innovations have been described in detail in this disclosure, those skilled in the art who review this disclosure will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible (e.g., variations in sizes, dimensions, structures, shapes and proportions of the various elements, values of parameters, mounting arrangements, use of materials, colors, orientations, etc.) without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the subject matter recited. For example, elements shown as integrally formed may be constructed of multiple parts or elements shown as multiple parts may be integrally formed, the operation of the interfaces may be reversed or otherwise varied, the length or width of the structures and/or members or connector or other elements of the system may be varied, the nature or number of adjustment positions provided between the elements may be varied. It should be noted that the elements and/or assemblies of the system may be constructed from any of a wide variety of materials that provide sufficient strength or durability, in any of a wide variety of colors, textures, and combinations. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present innovations. Other substitutions, modifications, changes, and omissions may be made in the design, operating conditions, and arrangement of the desired and other exemplary embodiments without departing from the spirit of the present innovations. 
     It will be understood that any described processes or steps within described processes may be combined with other disclosed processes or steps to form structures within the scope of the present disclosure. The exemplary structures and processes disclosed herein are for illustrative purposes and are not to be construed as limiting. 
     It is also to be understood that variations and modifications can be made on the aforementioned structures and methods without departing from the concepts of the present disclosure, and further it is to be understood that such concepts are intended to be covered by the following claims unless these claims by their language expressly state otherwise.