Refrigerator appliance

a technology of refrigerators and refrigerators, applied in domestic cooling devices, lighting and heating devices, domestic applications, etc., can solve the problems of unsatisfactory storage conditions, unfavorable storage of such ice, and cloudy and/or hard i

Inactive Publication Date: 2014-07-17
HAIER US APPLIANCE SOLUTIONS INC
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008]In a first exemplary embodiment, a refrigerator appliance is provided. The refrigerator appliance includes a cabinet that defines a fresh food chamber and a freezer chamber. An ice maker is disposed within the fresh food chamber or the freezer chamber of the cabinet. A container defines a storage volume for receipt of ice produced by the ice maker. The container is removably positioned within the fresh food chamber of the cabinet. A valve is mounted to the container. The valve is configured for selective adjustment between an open configuration in which the valve permits a flow of liquid out the storage volume of the container and a closed configuration in which the valve hinders the flow of liquid out of the storage volume of the container. The valve shifts between the open and closed configurations when the container is removed from and inserted into the fresh food chamber of the cabinet.

Problems solved by technology

Ice stored in such conditions can become cloudy and / or hard relative to ice stored at warmer temperatures.
Consumers can find such cloudy and / or hard ice undesirable.
In refrigerator appliances, such liquid runoff can fill or collect within an ice bucket storing ice therein and negatively affect storage of such ice.

Method used

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Examples

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Embodiment Construction

[0016]Reference now will be made in detail to embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the invention, not limitation of the invention. In fact, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. For instance, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used with another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers such modifications and variations as come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

[0017]FIG. 1 provides a front, elevation view of a refrigerator appliance 100 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present subject matter with refrigerator doors 128 of the refrigerator appliance 100 shown in a closed position. FIG. 2 provides a fron...

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PUM

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Abstract

A refrigerator appliance is provided. The refrigerator appliance includes an ice maker and a container. The ice maker directs ice into a storage volume of the container. The container is removably positioned within a fresh food chamber of the refrigerator appliance. A valve is mounted to the container and configured for regulating a flow of liquid out of the storage volume of the container.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present subject matter relates generally to refrigerator appliances and ice-making assemblies for the same.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]Refrigerator appliances generally include a cabinet that defines a chilled chamber for receipt of food items for storage. In particular, the cabinet can define a fresh food chamber and a freezer chamber. The fresh food chamber can be maintained at a temperature greater than the freezing point of water. Conversely, the freezer chamber can be maintained at a temperature equal to or less than the freezing point of water.[0003]Certain refrigerator appliances also include an ice maker for producing ice. The ice maker can be positioned within the appliances' freezer chamber and direct ice into an ice bucket where it can be stored within the freezer chamber. Such refrigerator appliances can also include a dispensing system for assisting a user with accessing ice produced by the refrigerator appliances' ice maker.[0004]St...

Claims

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Application Information

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Patent Type & Authority Applications(United States)
IPC IPC(8): F25C5/18
CPCF25C5/182F25C2500/06F25D23/04
Inventor MITCHELL, ALAN JOSEPH
Owner HAIER US APPLIANCE SOLUTIONS INC
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