Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US5707518?dq=5,758,352
Timestamp: 2014-07-10 09:19:27
Document Index: 752146808

Matched Legal Cases: ['art.\n2', 'art.\n3', 'art.\n6', 'art.\n7', 'art.\n8', 'art.\n11']

Patent US5707518 - Refrigerator water filter - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign in<nobr>Advanced Patent Search</nobr>PatentsA water filter assembly mounted to an inner surface of a refrigerator and accessible from within a refrigeration compartment of the refrigerator. The filter assembly includes a first housing part, a second housing part, and a replaceable filter cartridge. The first and second housing parts cooperate...http://www.google.com/patents/US5707518?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US5707518 - Refrigerator water filterAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS5707518 APublication typeGrantApplication numberUS 08/587,635Publication dateJan 13, 1998Filing dateJan 17, 1996Priority dateJan 17, 1996Fee statusPaidAlso published asDE69720193D1, DE69720193T2, DE69736497D1, DE69736497T2, DE69737983D1, DE69737983T2, DE69738438D1, DE69738438T2, EP0881928A1, EP0881928B1, EP1288599A2, EP1288599A3, EP1288599B1, EP1605218A1, EP1605218B1, EP1645824A2, EP1645824A3, EP1645824B1, US5715699, US5907958, WO1997026066A1Publication number08587635, 587635, US 5707518 A, US 5707518A, US-A-5707518, US5707518 A, US5707518AInventorsDonald A. Coates, Robert C. Russell, Kenneth E. Morris, Walton E. Sparks, Rickie L. GundersonOriginal AssigneeWhite Consolidated Industries, Inc.Export CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (39), Referenced by (38), Classifications (24), Legal Events (5) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetRefrigerator water filterUS 5707518 AAbstract A water filter assembly mounted to an inner surface of a refrigerator and accessible from within a refrigeration compartment of the refrigerator. The filter assembly includes a first housing part, a second housing part, and a replaceable filter cartridge. The first and second housing parts cooperate to define a fluid-tight chamber for receipt of the filter cartridge. The first housing part includes an inlet port through which unfiltered water may be introduced into the chamber and an outlet port through which filtered water may exit the chamber. The second housing part surrounds a portion of the first housing part and provides a volume sufficient to hold the filter cartridge and any water within the chamber when the second housing part is released from the first housing part to replace the filter cartridge, and thereby prevents or minimizes spillage of water from the filter assembly during filter cartridge replacement. A shield member is disposed within the refrigeration compartment and cooperates with a cabinet wall to define a filter compartment which surrounds the filter assembly. A heater disposed within the filter compartment adjacent the filter assembly and is operable to heat the filter assembly to prevent freezing of water contained therein.
What is claimed is: 1. A water filter assembly for a refrigerator, said assembly being positioned within a refrigeration compartment of the refrigerator and comprising a filter housing and a replaceable filter cartridge, said filter housing including a first housing part and a second housing part, said first and second housing parts being releasably secured to one another in a fluid tight manner and cooperating to define a chamber for receipt of said filter cartridge, wherein said first housing part integrally includes a mounting bracket to facilitate securing of the filter assembly to an internal surface of the refrigerator and includes an inlet through which unfiltered water may enter the chamber and an outlet through which filtered water may exit the chamber, said second housing part being bowl-shaped and including a wall which is radially spaced from said first housing part and radially surrounds a portion of said first housing part.
2. A water filter assembly according to claim 1, wherein said second housing part is bowl shaped and has an available volume sufficient to contain all of the water within said chamber to thereby minimize spillage when said second housing part is removed from said first housing part.
3. A water filter assembly for a refrigerator, said assembly comprising a filter housing and a replaceable filter cartridge, said filter housing including a first housing part and a second housing part which cooperate to define a chamber for receipt of said filter cartridge, wherein said first housing part includes an inlet through which unfiltered water may enter the chamber and an outlet through which filtered water may exit the chamber, wherein said second housing part has a bowl-shaped bottom portion from which a generally cylindrical wall upwardly extends, said cylindrical wall including a first portion and a second portion, said first portion being located at a bottom of said cylindrical wall and including a threaded inner surface which threadably engages a threaded outer surface of said first housing part to secure said first and second housing parts together, said threaded inner surface being generally adjacent a junction of said cylindrical wall and said bowl-shaped bottom portion, said second portion of said cylindrical wall having a relatively smooth inner surface and extending upwardly from said first portion.
4. A water filter assembly according to claim 3, wherein said first and second housing parts are releasably secured to one another in a fluid tight manner.
5. A water filter assembly according to claim 4, wherein said second housing part radially surrounds a portion of said first housing part.
6. A water filter assembly according to claim 5, wherein said second housing part is bowl-shaped, and includes a wall which surrounds said first housing part.
7. A water filter assembly according to claim 6, wherein said bowl shaped second housing part has an available volume sufficient to contain all of the water within said chamber to thereby minimize spillage when said second housing part is removed from said first housing part.
8. A water filter assembly according to claim 3, wherein said first housing part is adapted to be secured to an internal surface of the refrigerator.
9. A water filter assembly according to claim 8, wherein said first housing part integrally includes a mounting bracket to facilitate securing the filter assembly to an internal surface of the refrigerator.
10. A water filter assembly according to claim 3, wherein said second housing part cylindrical wall radially surrounds a portion of said first housing part.
11. A water filter assembly according to claim 3, wherein said first and second housing parts are releasably secured to one another in a fluid tight manner.
12. A water filter assembly according to claim 3, wherein said first housing part integrally includes a mounting bracket to facilitate securing of the filter assembly to an internal surface of the refrigerator.
13. A water filter assembly according to claim 3, wherein said bowl shaped second housing part has an available volume sufficient to contain all of the water within said chamber to thereby minimize spillage when said second housing part is removed from said first housing part.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides an improved water filtration system for a household refrigerator. The system includes a water filter assembly which is accessible from within a refrigeration compartment of the refrigerator, and which includes an easily accessed and replaced filter cartridge.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS These and further features of the present invention will be described hereafter with reference to the following description and drawings, wherein:
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT With reference to the drawing figures and, in particular, FIG. 1, a refrigerator 20 incorporating a filter assembly 22 according to the present invention is illustrated. The illustrated refrigerator includes a cabinet 24 having a plurality of insulated walls. A freezer door 26 and a refrigerator door 28 are pivotally mounted to the cabinet 24 and cooperate with the cabinet to define a freezer compartment (not shown) and a refrigeration compartment 30. The illustrated refrigerator 20 is commonly known in the art as a "side-by-side" refrigerator.
With reference to FIG. 11, when the ice/water dispenser 34 is actuated to dispense water, the water dispenser switch 34a is closed which, in turn, provides power to the first control valve's first solenoid 126a and to the second control valve's first solenoid 132a to open the control valves'first outputs 126, 132, respectively. Opening the first outputs 126, 132 permits the flow of unfiltered water into the filter assembly 22 and the flow of filtered water into the cold water storage tank 118 and out of the ice/water dispenser 34.
Similarly, when the automatic ice maker 32 needs water to make more ice, the ice maker switch 32a is closed which, in turn, provides power to the first control valve's second solenoid 127a and to the second control valve's second solenoid 134a to open the control valves'second outputs 127, 134 respectively. Opening the second outputs 126b, 132b permits the flow of unfiltered water into the filter assembly 22 and the flow of filtered water to the ice maker 32.
Closing the water dispenser switch 34b closes the first and second contacts 34b', 34b', and provides power to the alternative first control valve solenoid 126a' and to the second control valve's first solenoid 132a to thereby open the alternative first control valve output and the first output 132 of the second control valve 116 and permit the flow of unfiltered water into the filter assembly 22 and the flow of filtered water into the cold water storage tank 118 and out of the ice/water dispenser 34.
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