Refrigeration – Means producing shaped or modified congealed product – With product receiving and storing means
Reexamination Certificate
2003-01-27
2004-01-20
Tapolcai, William E. (Department: 3754)
Refrigeration
Means producing shaped or modified congealed product
With product receiving and storing means
C062S377000, C062S389000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06679082
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention pertains to the art of refrigerators and, more particularly, to refrigerators having ice and water dispensing arrangements.
2. Discussion of the Prior Art
It is now common practice in the art of refrigerators to provide an automatic ice maker within a freezer compartment of a refrigerator and further to provide a system for dispensing the ice into a recessed receiving area formed in a front panel of the refrigerator. In essence, such a system provides for the automatic filling of an ice cube tray which is emptied into a bin following a freezing period. From the bin, the ice can be delivered to the receiving area by the selective activation of a drive unit, such as a rotatable auger located within the bin. The recessed receiving area formed in a front panel of the refrigerator includes a well for collecting excess ice and water droplets. Since the receiving area is recessed within the refrigerator door, the height of the receiving area limits the size of a glass or other container that may be filled by the ice maker.
In the industry, there have been various attempts to overcome this limitation. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,227,383 discloses a through-the-door ice service area having a pivoting cover member. When the cover is pivoted to an open position, an outlet opening is exposed so that ice pieces may flow freely into a container, which must be held below the cover member by a user. In another known system, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,512,395, a liquid dispensing apparatus for a refrigerator provides for liquid to be dispensed when a user pushes a container or glass against a forwardly projecting housing member. The forwardly projecting housing member pivots at a bottom end of the forwardly projecting housing member, thereby allowing a user to fill a large glass or container. One disadvantage of these ice delivery systems is that they do not provide drip trays for collecting excess ice or water droplets. This can lead to water puddles collecting in front of the refrigerator or to other problems within the dispensing system.
Based on the above, there exists a need in the art for an improved ice dispensing system having an ice service area which allows large containers to be easily filled, while still including a drip tray for collecting excess water droplets.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a refrigerator including a dispensing assembly. The dispensing assembly includes a service zone recessed in an outer portion of a freezer door of the refrigerator, an ice passage formed in the freezer door, and a chute member arranged at the service zone. The ice passage is aligned with an outlet of an ice maker unit and leads to the service zone for delivering ice pieces from the ice maker unit to the service zone. Further, the chute member is selectively movable between a first position, wherein ice pieces delivered from the ice maker are directed into the service zone, and a second position, wherein ice piece delivered from the ice maker are diverted away from the freezer door and outside of the service zone. The dispensing assembly also includes a drip tray for collecting excess water droplets at a bottom edge of the chute member. The drip tray is substantially hidden within the freezer door. With this overall arrangement, large glasses, buckets and the like may be filled with water or ice without size limitations.
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Ali Mohammad M.
Diederiks & Whitelaw PLC
Maytag Corporation
Tapolcai William E.
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