Liquid purification or separation – With repair or assembling means
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-07
2001-10-16
Simmons, David A. (Department: 1724)
Liquid purification or separation
With repair or assembling means
C210S234000, C210S238000, C210S444000, C210SDIG009, C222S189060, C062S339000, C251S129150
Reexamination Certificate
active
06303031
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention pertains to the art of water filtering systems and, more particularly, to a water filtering system incorporating a replaceable filter cartridge and a switching assembly particularly adapted for use in a refrigerator.
2. Discussion of the Invention
Providing water dispensers and automatic ice makers in household refrigerators has become extremely commonplace. In addition, there is a growing trend towards increasing the purity of all consumed water. For at least these reasons, it has heretofore been proposed in the art to incorporate a water purifying system in a refrigerator in order to filter the water supplied to a water dispenser and/or ice maker. Early proposed purifying systems of this type centered around providing a filtering unit between the water supply and the conduit entering the refrigerator. These systems were typically installed by service personnel as aftermarket add-on units. More recently, it has been proposed to incorporate filter assemblies during the overall manufacturing of refrigerators, while utilizing filters which can be fairly, readily accessed for replacement directly by consumers.
In developing an improved water filtering system, many factors need to be considered, including associated manufacturing costs, ease of use, manner of operation and reliability. Although various refrigerator water filtering assemblies are known in the art, many improvements are left to be made to simplify known filtering assemblies while increasing reliability, particularly with respect to the manner and ease in which the filter cartridges can be replaced. Based on the above, there exists a need in the art for an enhanced water filtering system, particularly a water filtering system for a refrigerator including an improved filter cartridge mounting arrangement. In addition, there is considered a need for an arrangement to signal the presence of removable components of a water filtering system, such as a replaceable filter cartridge.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a water filtering system for a refrigerator, as well as a filter cartridge useable therewith. The system is arranged to present the filter cartridge in a clearly visible and accessible location for ease of replacement by the consumer. In the preferred embodiment, the refrigerator is provided with a temperature control housing mounted in an upper rear portion of the fresh food compartment. The control housing covers a portion of a filter mounting head to which the filter cartridge is selectively secured to complete a water circuit for the system.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, the filter cartridge includes a housing enclosing a filtering medium and a stem which projects axially from the housing for insertion into a port of the mounting head. At least one mounting lug projects radially outwardly beyond the stem, with the lug being adapted to interengage with a support element of the mounting head upon insertion of the stem into the port and at least partial rotation of the cartridge. Preferably, the lug and support element include cooperating camming surfaces which cause the stem to be drawn into the port upon initial rotation of the cartridge in a first direction. In addition, further camming surfaces are provided between the cartridge and the mounting head which causes the stem to at least partially withdraw from the port upon rotation of the cartridge in an opposite direction. In the most preferred form, the additional camming surfaces do not become interengaged until the lug is disengaged from the support element.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the filtering system further includes a plug which can be used in place of the filter cartridge to complete the fluid circuit through the mounting head. Preferably, the plug also incorporates multiple camming surfaces adapted to cooperate with the mounting head structure to enhance the seating and withdrawal of the plug respectively.
In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, a switch assembly is provided to sense the attachment of the filter cartridge or the plug to the mounting head. If either attachment is sensed, water is permitted to flow to a water fountain and/or automatic ice maker. If no attachment is sensed at the mounting head, the flow of water is prevented.
Additional objects, features and advantages of the water filtering system of the invention will become more readily apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment, when taken in conjunction with the drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to corresponding parts in the several views.
REFERENCES:
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patent: 5135645 (1992-08-01), Sklenak et al.
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patent: 5336406 (1994-08-01), Stanford et al.
patent: 5707518 (1998-01-01), Coates et al.
patent: 5907958 (1999-06-01), Coates et al.
patent: 6003734 (1999-12-01), Oh
patent: 6120685 (2000-09-01), Carlson et al.
Diederiks, Jr. Everett G.
Maytag Corporation
Prince Fred
Simmons David A.
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