Liquid dispensing assembly for a refrigerator

• US 5,297,400 A
• Filed: 02/17/1993
• Issued: 03/29/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Anvil Technologies LLC
• Original Assignee: Maytag Corporation (Whirlpool Corporation)
• Inventors: Benton, Ronald E., Senner, Kurt C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bennet, Henry A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): DOERRLER, WILLIAM CHARLES
• Application Number:
  US08/018,704
• Time in Patent Office: 405 Days
• Field of Search: 62/389, 62/98, 62/396, 222/108, 222/146.6
• US Class Current: 62/389
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0858 using compression systems
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2210/00036 for use with or in refrigerators
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/126 Water cooler

Abstract

A liquid dispensing assembly for a refrigerator includes a liquid supply line that extends into an ejection spout located above a fill chamber, closely adjacent the inner surface of a refrigerator door. The ejection spout defines a nozzle that is angled downwardly and rearwardly to direct the discharge path of the spout into a container placed in the fill chamber.

Claims

1. A liquid dispensing assembly for use on a refrigerator including a door comprising:

a fill chamber including a base well, a rear upstanding wall and opposed side walls, said fill chamber being recessed within and accessible through the door;

a liquid supply line;

means for controlling the flow of liquid in said supply line in response to the insertion of a container into the fill chamber;

an ejection spout defined at a terminal end of a liquid supply line, said ejection spout being located above said fill chamber and defining an axial liquid discharge path angled downwardly and rearwardly, whereby upon activation of said flow controlling means, liquid flowing through said supply line will be dispensed into the container through said spout and when said flow controlling means is deactivated upon removal of the container from the fill chamber, any remaining liquid flowing through said spout will fall into the container prior to its complete removal from the fill chamber; and

means for retaining said supply line in a predetermined position so as to maintain said axial liquid discharge path in a desired orientation, said retaining means including a contoured guide member along which said liquid supply line extends and a flange member, said liquid supply line being maintained between said contoured guide member and said flange member.

5. The liquid dispensing arrangement of claim 1, wherein said ejection spout defines a tube in which the terminal end of said supply line is position, said contoured guide member being formed integral with said ejection spout.

6. The liquid dispensing arrangement of claim 1, further including a bracket member extending between said side walls, said contoured member and said flange member being integrally formed with said bracket member.

7. The liquid dispensing arrangement of claim 6, wherein said bracket member includes a support member and an interconnecting piece, said support member being attached to said contoured guide member by said interconnecting piece.

8. The liquid dispensing arrangement of claim 7, further including a retainer plate secured to said interconnecting piece and extending over a portion of said liquid supply line.

9. The liquid dispensing arrangement of claim 1, wherein said controlling means comprises an actuation member engageable by the container and a valve controlling switch engageable by said actuation member.

10. The liquid dispensing arrangement of claim 9, wherein said actuation member is resiliently biased out of engagement with said switch.

11. The liquid dispensing arrangement of claim 10, wherein the rear upstanding wall of said fill chamber is formed with a concavity within which said switch is housed.

12. The liquid dispensing arrangement of claim 1, wherein the axial liquid discharge path of said ejection spout projects downwardly and rearwardly proximate the intersection of the base wall and the rear upstanding wall of said fill chamber.

2. A liquid dispensing assembly for use on a refrigerator door comprising:

a fill chamber defined within an accessible opening formed in the door and including front and rear portions;

a liquid supply line having a terminal end portion located above said fill chamber, adjacent the accessible opening formed in the door, that opens into the front portion of said fill chamber;

means for controlling the flow of liquid through said supply line in response to the insertion of a container into the rear portion of said fill chamber; and

means for retaining said liquid supply line in a predetermined orientation wherein said terminal end portion thereof defines an axial liquid discharge path angled downwardly and rearwardly, whereby upon actuation of said flow controlling means, liquid is dispensed into the container through said supply line and when said flow controlling means is deactivated upon withdrawal of the container from the rear portion of said fill chamber, remaining liquid flowing through said supply line will fall into the container as the container is being completely removed from the fill chamber.

3. The liquid dispensing assembly of claim 2, wherein said retaining means comprises a contoured guide member along which said liquid supply line extends and a flange member, said liquid supply line being maintained between said contoured guide member and said flange member.

4. The liquid dispensing assembly of claim 2, wherein said controlling means comprises an actuation member engageable by the container and a valve controlling switch engageable by said actuating member.

13. A method of filling a container within a liquid dispensing assembly fill chamber extending rearwardly from an accessible opening formed in a refrigerator door comprising:

inserting a container into the fill chamber to a position spaced rearwardly from the accessible opening;

activating a liquid flow controlling unit in response to the insertion of the container;

dispensing liquid downwardly and rearwardly through a terminal end portion of a liquid supply line located above said fill chamber adjacent the accessible opening formed in the refrigerator door in response to activation of said liquid flow controlling unit;

deactivating the liquid flow controlling unit by initiating removal of the container from the fill chamber; and

continuing to collect remaining liquid flowing through the liquid supply line as the container is completely removed from the fill chamber.