Patent ID: 8443620

Claim:
An ice tray assembly, comprising: an outer casing configured to be mounted to a door of a freezing compartment of a refrigerator; an inner casing configured to be inserted into the outer casing; at least one ice tray rotatably installed in the inner casing, wherein the at least one ice tray comprises an inner space configured to receive water therein, wherein the inner space is partitioned into a plurality of spaces in which ice is made; a rotation assembly coupled to the at least one ice tray and configured to rotate the at least one ice tray; a bin configured to receive ice formed in the at least one ice tray when the ice is released from the at least one ice tray; a water container in fluid communication with the at least one ice tray; and a valve configured to control a supply of water to the at least one ice tray, wherein the valve is configured to open so as to supply water to the at least one ice tray when the door is closed, and to close so as to restrict a supply of water to the at least one ice tray when the door is open, wherein the valve comprises: a head configured to selectively cover an opening in a lower portion of the water container; a stem which extends from the head into an interior of the water container; a projection formed at an end of the stem opposite the head; an elastic member interposed between the projection and a corresponding inner surface of the lower portion of the water container; and a lever which extends from the interior of the water container through a cover which covers an upper portion of the water container such that an upper end portion of the lever that extends through the cover protrudes out beyond the cover when the door is open and a lower end portion of the lever is positioned facing the projection, and wherein the upper end portion of the lever is configured to be depressed in response to contact with a shelf positioned in the freezing compartment when the door is closed so as to force the upper end portion of the lever into the water container and press the lower end portion of the lever against the protrusion to move the head away from the opening in the lower portion of the water container to open the valve and supply water to the at least one ice tray.