Designs for filtration systems within appliances
First Claim
1. An appliance comprising:
- an appliance body having a first wall, a second wall and insulation between the first wall and second wall; and
a water filtration system including a water flow component or a portion thereof embedded within the insulation.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Water filtration systems and methods for assembling appliances involve embedded water flow components such that space is preserved within the appliance. In particular, the components can be incorporated into an insulated structure of an appliance by placing the components into a mold or frame prior to or during the formation of the component. For example, the filtration unit components can be incorporated into a wall or door of an appliance by placing the components into a mold or frame prior to or during the formation of the component. A foam-in-place operation, or the like, embeds the water system component, or portions thereof, within the insulated structure such that there is intimate contact between an insulating foam and the components and the component cannot be removed without destroying the structural integrity of the foam.
130 Citations
29 Claims
-
1. An appliance comprising:
-
an appliance body having a first wall, a second wall and insulation between the first wall and second wall; and
a water filtration system including a water flow component or a portion thereof embedded within the insulation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 13)
-
-
3. (canceled)
-
11-12. -12. (canceled)
-
14. (canceled)
-
15. A water filtration system for use with an insulated appliance comprising:
a filtration manifold and a cartridge filter, the cartridge filter operably connected to the filtration manifold such that a filtration circuit is defined between a manifold inlet and a manifold outlet wherein at least one water flow component or a portion thereof is embedded within an insulating structure. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
-
19. (canceled)
-
20. A method for installing a water filtration unit comprising the acts of:
-
providing an appliance suitable for incorporation of an insulated structural component; and
embedding at least one water flow component or portion thereof within the insulated structural component. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 28)
-
-
24-25. -25. (canceled)
-
27. (canceled)
-
29-31. -31. (canceled)
Specification