Fluent material handling – with receiver or receiver coacting mea – Filling means with receiver or receiver coacting means – Receiver actuated discharge means
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-30
2003-03-18
Douglas, Steven O. (Department: 3751)
Fluent material handling, with receiver or receiver coacting mea
Filling means with receiver or receiver coacting means
Receiver actuated discharge means
C141S082000, C222S146600, C049S029000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06533003
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to refrigerator dispenser doors, and, more particularly, to doors for dispenser ducts for icemakers.
Consumer ice dispensers that dispense through a freezer compartment door typically have a duct door that prevents or restricts warm moist air from entering the refrigerated compartment. The door is held in its sealing position by a bias spring. When either crushed or cubed ice is requested by the user, the duct door is fully opened by several different mechanisms initiated by pressure from a receptacle, usually a drinking glass. When the glass is sufficiently full the user removes the pressure from the mechanisms. A “time delay” mechanism holds the duct door open for a few seconds to allow any ice pieces which are “on their way” to be discharged rather than accumulating in undesirable places in the dispenser system. After this brief delay the bias springs close and seal the duct doors. A main problem with these arrangements has been poor control of crushed ice spray.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It would be desirable to open and close the door with improved control of crushed ice spray. In one embodiment the door is biased toward a first closed position by a first magnetic force. A second magnetic force is then applied to urge the door to a second partially open position. The door is yieldably maintained in the second position until contacted by a dispensed item, such as crushed ice. The door is then moved to a third position more open than the second position in response to the dispensed item contacting the door. The second magnetic force is then released and the door is closed in response to the first magnetic force.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3942334 (1976-03-01), Pink
patent: 4069545 (1978-01-01), Holet et al.
patent: 4089436 (1978-05-01), Marks
patent: 4090641 (1978-05-01), Lindenschmidt
patent: 4209999 (1980-07-01), Falk et al.
patent: 4220266 (1980-09-01), Braden et al.
patent: 4227383 (1980-10-01), Horvay
patent: 4555049 (1985-11-01), Mawby et al.
patent: 4679715 (1987-07-01), Hovinga
patent: 4901396 (1990-02-01), Tatematsu et al.
patent: 5526854 (1996-06-01), Unger
Bewley Wilbur C.
Dehli Diane M.
Jacobus Dwight William
Merryman Bob D.
Armstrong Teasdale LLP
Douglas Steven O.
General Electric Company
LandOfFree
Ice dispenser duct door mechanism does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Ice dispenser duct door mechanism, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Ice dispenser duct door mechanism will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3005589