Liquid dispenser assembly for use with an appliance

• US 20050178273A1
• Filed: 01/20/2005
• Published: 08/18/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Meuleners, William J., Fritze, Karl
• Application Number:
  US11/039,363
• Publication Number:
  US 20050178273A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 99/279
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0858 using compression systems
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2210/0001 for liquid
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2210/0006 Manifolds
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 3/0009 provided with cooling arrangements cooling perse F25
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/04 with special compartments, e.g. butter conditioners
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/126 Water cooler
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2323/121 the refrigerator is characterised by a water filter for the water/ice dispenser
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2331/81 Pitchers
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2400/04 Refrigerators with a horizontal mullion

Abstract

A liquid filtering and dispensing system can be formed as an integral unit and configured for placement within an appliance compartment. The system can have a manifold with a filter connection including inflow and outflow attachments for a filter cartridge, an inlet, at least one outlet forming a dispenser and a valve to control flow through the integral system. The system can include a cooling reservoir fluidly located prior to the dispenser. The system can include a removable carafe and a carafe mount configured such that the carafe can receive liquid from the dispenser. The carafe mount can be configured to supply liquid from the carafe to a remote dispensing assembly such as a refrigerator door dispenser. The carafe mount can be positioned within the refrigerator compartment or within the refrigerator door.

Claims

1. An integral assembly comprising:

a manifold with an inflow channel, an outflow channel and filter connector;

a filter cartridge having a manifold connector operatively connected to the filter connector of the manifold; and

a dispenser operatively connected to the outflow channel of the manifold, the dispenser comprising;

a dispenser tip operatively connected to the outflow channel; and

a switch controlling the flow of liquid from the dispenser tip, and

wherein the integral assembly is self-supporting.

2. The integral assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

a carafe removably operatively positioned so as to receive the flow of liquid from the dispenser tip.

6. The integral assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

a cooling reservoir operatively fluidly located upstream of the dispenser.

9. The integral assembly of claim 1, wherein the outflow channel further comprises:

a secondary outlet port.

11. The integral assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

a control unit, the control unit being operatively electrically connected to a manifold sensor in the manifold wherein the control unit monitors an operational status of the integral assembly.

13. The integral assembly of claim 1, wherein the switch comprises:

a manually initiated switch.

14. The integral assembly of claim 1, comprising:

a contoured structure comprising a polymer that forms at least a portion of the manifold, the contoured structure having a rigid framework providing the self-supporting feature.

15. The integral assembly of claim 1, comprising flexible tubing operatively connected to the manifold and the dispenser, and a rigid frame operatively attached to the manifold and dispenser to provide the self-supporting feature.

3. (canceled)

4. (canceled)

5. (canceled)

7. (canceled)

8. (canceled)

10. (canceled)

12. (canceled)

16. A water distributing appliance comprising:

a refrigeration compartment;

a door for closing the refrigeration compartment;

a water feed line;

a dispenser, operataively positioned within the refrigeration compartment and being operatively connected with the water feed line; and

a removable carafe operatively supported within the refrigeration compartment and operatively positioned to receive liquid from the dispenser.

17. The water distributing appliance of claim 16, further comprising:

a water filtration assembly operatively fluidly mounted between the water feed line and the dispenser, the water filtration assembly having a filter for filtering liquid flowing to the dispenser.

20. The water distributing appliance of claim 16, further comprising:

a cooling reservoir fluidly located between the water feed line and the dispenser.

24. The water distributing appliance of claim 16, wherein the carafe includes an outlet valve assembly and wherein the shelf comprises:

a remote dispensing assembly with an inlet configured to operatively engage the outlet valve assembly of the carafe.

25. The water distributing appliance of claim 16, wherein the dispenser is operatively attached to an interior wall of the refrigeration component and the removable carafe is operatively attached to an inner door portion of a refrigerator door.

18. (canceled)

19. (canceled)

21. (canceled)

22. (canceled)

23. (canceled)

26. A water distributing appliance comprising:

a refrigeration compartment having a shelf and a supply port leading to a first dispenser;

a door for operatively closing the refrigeration compartment;

a carafe having a check valve configured for positioning on the shelf with the carafe being operatively located to receive liquid from a second dispenser and to operatively engage the supply port to open the check valve to provide liquid to the supply port.

27. The water distributing appliance of claim 26, further comprising:

an integral filtration assembly, the integral filtration assembly operatively fluidly connecting an external feed water line to an integral filtration assembly dispenser, the integral filtration assembly dispenser being adapted to fill the carafe with liquid.

28. The water distributing appliance of claim 26, further comprising:

a cooling reservoir operatively fluidly located between the external feed water line and the integral filtration assembly dispenser.

32. The water distribution appliance of claim 26, wherein the shelf is located on an interior portion of the door.

29. (canceled)

30. (canceled)

31. (canceled)

33. A method for forming an appliance with a liquid dispenser comprising the acts of:

operatively attaching a self-supporting, integral filtration assembly within the appliance, the self-supporting, integral filtration assembly having a self-contained flow channel fluidly interconnecting an inlet, a filter element and an actuatable dispenser.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the self-supporting, integral filtration assembly comprises a removable carafe configured to receive liquid flow from the actuatable dispenser.

35. (canceled)

36. A method for forming a water distributing appliance comprising the acts of:

providing a water distributing appliance having a door;

installing into the door of the water distribution appliance, a dispenser operatively connected to a shelf having a supply port; and

configuring the dispenser to engage a port on a carafe and open a check valve on the carafe.

37. (canceled)

38. (canceled)