Dispenser of icemaker in refrigerator

• US 7,316,121 B2
• Filed: 04/28/2004
• Issued: 01/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Lee, Wook Yong, Lee, Myung Ryul, Oh, Seung Hwan, Kim, Seong Jae, Chung, Eui Yeop, Seo, Chang Ho, Chung, Sung Hoon
• Primary Examiner(s): Tapolcai; William E.
• Application Number:
  US10/833,009
• Publication Number:
  US 20050056043A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,350 Days
• Field of Search: 623/44, 62389-390, 141/174, 222/559, 222/561, 222/526, 222/504, 222/530, 222/538
• US Class Current: 62/344
• CPC Class Codes: F25C 1/04 by using stationary moulds
• CPC Class Codes: F25C 2305/024 Rotating rake
• CPC Class Codes: F25C 2400/10 Refrigerator units
• CPC Class Codes: F25C 5/185 with freezing trays
• CPC Class Codes: F25C 5/22 particularly adapted for household refrigerators
• CPC Class Codes: F25C 5/24 for storing bins ice bins F25C5/182
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/025 Secondary closures
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/028 Details
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/04 with special compartments, e.g. butter conditioners
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/12 Arrangements of compartments additional to cooling compartments; Combinations of refrigerators with other equipment, e.g. stove
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2400/06 Refrigerators with a vertical mullion

Abstract

Disclosed is a dispenser of an icemaker in a refrigerator for maximizing an inner space when a total size is the same, and for minimizing the total size when the inner space is the same. The dispenser of the icemaker in the refrigerator includes an ice chute being a passage through which the ice produced from the icemaker is discharged; and a container supporter provided at an outer case and disposed to be perpendicular to an outer surface of the outer case when the ice is discharged outside through the ice chute, the contain supporter allowing a container seated thereon to receive the ice discharged from the ice chute. The ice chute is closed and not exposed outside when the ice-discharging process is finished, and the container supporter is not exposed to the outer surface of the outer case.

Claims

1. A dispenser for an appliance comprising:

a water dispensing assembly comprising a chute through which water is discharged; and

a container support provided at an outer casing and configured to be perpendicular to an outer surface of the outer casing when water is discharged through the chute, the container support being configured to allow a container received thereon to receive water discharged through the chute,

wherein the container support is retractable into a wall of the outer casing.

2. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the container support comprises:

a rack provided at a bottom surface of the container support; and

a pinion provided beneath the rack and engaged with the rack.

3. The dispenser of claim 2 further comprising a motor configured to rotate the pinion to move the container support by engagement of the rack and pinion.

4. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the container support and at least a portion of the water dispensing assembly are configured for coordinated movement between advanced and retracted positions.

5. The dispenser of claim 1 further comprising a motor configured to move the container support.

6. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the water dispensing assembly is configured to dispense liquid.

7. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the water dispensing assembly is configured to dispense ice.

8. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the water dispensing assembly is configured to dispense liquid and ice simultaneously.

9. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the water dispensing assembly is configured to dispense water irrespective of a position of the container support.

10. A dispenser for an appliance comprising:

a water dispensing assembly configured to move, such that an outlet of the water dispensing assembly is positioned outside an outer surface of a door of an appliance in at least one position of water dispensing assembly movement; and

a container support configured to extend along a plane perpendicular to the door such that the container support is configured for movement between a withdrawn and an extended position, the container support being configured to, in the extended position, support a container being filled by the water dispensing assembly when the outlet of the water dispensing assembly is positioned outside an outer surface of the door.

11. The dispenser of claim 10 further comprising:

a first mechanical drive mechanism configured to move the water dispensing assembly; and

a second mechanical drive mechanism configured to extend the container support along a plane perpendicular to the door between the withdrawn and extended positions,

wherein the second mechanical drive mechanism is configured to extend the container support along a plane perpendicular to the door prior to the first mechanical drive mechanism moving the water dispensing assembly to a position at which the outlet of the water dispensing assembly is positioned outside an outer surface of the door.

12. The dispenser of claim 11 wherein the first mechanical drive mechanism and the second mechanical drive mechanism are activated by a single input device.

13. The dispenser of claim 10 wherein the movement of the water dispensing assembly is independent from the movement of the container support.

14. The dispenser of claim 10 further comprising a mechanical drive mechanism configured to extend the container support along a plane perpendicular to the door between the withdrawn and extended positions.

15. The dispenser of claim 14 wherein the mechanical drive mechanism includes a spring.

16. The dispenser of claim 14 wherein the mechanical drive mechanism includes an oil pressure assembly.

17. The dispenser of claim 14 wherein the mechanical drive mechanism includes a motor.

18. The dispenser of claim 17 wherein the container support includes a rack and the motor is configured to rotate a pinion mated with the rack.

19. The dispenser of claim 14 wherein the mechanical drive mechanism is configured to retract the container support along a plane perpendicular to the door between the withdrawn and extended positions.

20. The dispenser of claim 10 further comprising a mechanical drive mechanism configured to move the water dispensing assembly.

21. The dispenser of claim 20 wherein the mechanical drive mechanism includes a spring.

22. The dispenser of claim 20 wherein the mechanical drive mechanism includes an oil pressure assembly.

23. The dispenser of claim 20 wherein the mechanical drive mechanism includes a motor.

24. The dispenser of claim 23 wherein the water dispensing assembly includes a rack and the motor is configured to rotate a pinion mated with the rack.

25. The dispenser of claim 10 wherein the outlet of the water dispensing assembly is not exposed when the outlet of the water dispensing assembly is positioned inside an outer surface of the door.

26. The dispenser of claim 10 wherein the water dispensing assembly is configured to dispense liquid.

27. The dispenser of claim 10 wherein the water dispensing assembly is configured to dispense ice.

28. The dispenser of claim 10 wherein the water dispensing assembly includes a sliding member and an end portion of a water supply pipe attached to the sliding member.

29. The dispenser of claim 28 wherein the water supply pipe extends when the outlet of the water dispensing assembly is positioned outside an outer surface of the door.

30. The dispenser of claim 10 wherein the water dispensing assembly includes a sliding member and an ice chute.

31. The dispenser of claim 30 wherein the ice chute communicates with a second ice chute extending from an icemaker when the outlet of the water dispensing assembly is positioned outside an outer surface of the door, the second ice chute and the icemaker remaining inside the outer surface of the door.

32. The dispenser of claim 10 wherein the outlet of the water dispensing assembly includes an outlet of a water supply pipe.

33. The dispenser of claim 10 wherein the outlet of the water dispensing assembly includes an outlet of an ice chute.

34. The dispenser of claim 10 wherein the water dispensing assembly is configured to move about a plane perpendicular to the door of the appliance.

35. The dispenser of claim 10 wherein the water dispensing assembly is configured to dispense liquid and ice simultaneously.

36. A dispenser for an appliance comprising:

a movable member;

a water supply mechanism attached to the movable member; and

a mechanical drive mechanism configured to, upon activation of a user control, apply force other than supplied by a user to motivate movement of the movable member from a first position at which an outlet of the water supply mechanism is positioned behind a plane representing an outer surface of a door of an appliance to a second position at which the outlet of the water supply mechanism is positioned in front of the plane representing the outer surface of the door.

37. The dispenser of claim 36 wherein the mechanical drive mechanism includes a spring.

38. The dispenser of claim 36 wherein the mechanical drive mechanism includes an oil pressure assembly.

39. The dispenser of claim 36 wherein the mechanical drive mechanism includes a motor.

40. The dispenser of claim 39 wherein the movable member includes a rack and the motor is configured to rotate a pinion mated with the rack.

41. The dispenser of claim 36 further comprising a container support configured to extend along a plane perpendicular to the door.

42. The dispenser of claim 41 wherein the container support in an extended position is configured to support a container being filled when the movable member is in the second position.

43. The dispenser of claim 36 wherein the water supply mechanism is configured to dispense liquid.

44. The dispenser of claim 36 wherein the water the water supply mechanism is configured to dispense ice.

45. The dispenser of claim 36 wherein the water supply mechanism is configured to dispense liquid and ice simultaneously.

46. The dispenser of claim 36 wherein the outlet of the water supply mechanism includes an outlet of a water supply pipe.

47. The dispenser of claim 36 wherein the outlet of the water supply mechanism includes an outlet of an ice chute.

48. The dispenser of claim 36 wherein the mechanical drive mechanism is configured to apply force to the movable member to motivate movement of the movable member about a plane perpendicular to the door of the appliance.

49. A dispenser for an appliance comprising:

a water dispensing assembly;

first moving means for moving the water dispensing assembly between a position at which an outlet of the water dispensing assembly is positioned outside an outer surface of a door of an appliance and at least one another position;

a container support; and

second moving means for moving the container support along a plane perpendicular to the door between a withdrawn and an extended position,

the container support configured to support a container being filled by the water dispensing assembly when the first moving means moves the water dispensing assembly to the position at which the outlet of the water dispensing assembly is positioned outside the outer surface of the door of the appliance and the second moving means moves the container support to the extended position.

50. The dispenser of claim 49 wherein the second moving means moves the container support to the extended position prior to the first moving means moving the water dispensing assembly to the position at which the outlet of the water dispensing assembly is positioned outside the outer surface of the door of the appliance.

51. The dispenser of claim 49 further comprises a single user input for activating the first moving means and the second moving means.

52. The dispenser of claim 49 wherein the movement of the first moving means is independent from the movement of the second moving means.

53. The dispenser of claim 49 wherein the water dispensing assembly dispenses liquid.

54. The dispenser of claim 49 wherein the water dispensing assembly dispenses ice.

55. The dispenser of claim 49 wherein the water dispensing assembly dispenses liquid and ice simultaneously.

56. The dispenser of claim 49 wherein the first moving means moves the water dispensing assembly about a plane perpendicular to the door of the appliance.

57. A dispenser for an appliance comprising:

a movable member;

a water supply mechanism attached to the movable member; and

a user input for enabling activation of the user input, applying a force to motivate movement of the movable member from a first position at which an outlet of the water supply mechanism is positioned behind a plane representing an outer surface of a door of an appliance to a second position at which the outlet of the water supply mechanism is positioned in front of the plane representing the outer surface of the door, the force applied by the positioning means being other than the force input by the user to the user input.

58. The dispenser of claim 57 further comprising a container support.

59. The dispenser of claim 58 further comprising means for moving the container support along a plane perpendicular to the door.

60. The dispenser of claim 59 wherein the container support supports a container being filled when the movable member is moved by the positioning means to the second position.

61. The dispenser of claim 57 wherein the water supply mechanism dispenses liquid.

62. The dispenser of claim 57 wherein the water supply mechanism dispenses ice.

63. The dispenser of claim 57 wherein the water supply mechanism dispenses liquid and ice simultaneously.

64. The dispenser of claim 57 wherein the positioning means applies force to motivate movement of the movable member about a plane perpendicular to the door of the appliance.

65. A method of filling a container with water using a dispenser of an appliance, the method comprising:

extending a container support along a plane perpendicular to a door of an appliance from a withdrawn position to an extended position;

placing a container on the container support when the container support is in the extended position;

moving a water dispensing assembly to a position at which an outlet of the water dispensing assembly is outside of an outer surface of the door of the appliance; and

enabling the water dispensing assembly to dispense water into the container.

66. The method of filling a container of claim 65 wherein extending a container support along a plane perpendicular to a door of an appliance from a withdrawn position to an extended position includes manually moving the container support along the plane perpendicular to the door of the appliance from the withdrawn position to the extended position.

67. The method of filling a container of claim 65 wherein extending a container support along a plane perpendicular to a door of an appliance from a withdrawn position to an extended position includes activating an input device to cause a mechanical drive mechanism to move the container support along the plane perpendicular to the door of the appliance from the withdrawn position to the extended position.

68. The method of filling a container of claim 67 wherein by activating the input device to cause the mechanical drive mechanism to move the container support, a force is generated in excess of a force applied by a user.

69. The method of filling a container of claim 65 wherein moving a water dispensing assembly includes manually moving the water dispensing assembly.

70. The method of filling a container of claim 65 wherein moving a water dispensing assembly includes activating an input device to cause a mechanical drive mechanism to move the water dispensing assembly.

71. The method of filling a container of claim 70 wherein by activating the input device to cause the mechanical drive mechanism to move the water dispensing assembly, a force is generated in excess of a force applied by a user.

72. The method of filling a container of claim 65 wherein extending a container support along a plane perpendicular to a door of an appliance from a withdrawn position to an extended position and moving a water dispensing assembly include activating a single input device to cause a first mechanical drive mechanism to move the container support and a second mechanical drive mechanism to move the water dispensing assembly.

73. The method of filling a container of claim 72 wherein the first mechanical drive mechanism is configured to move the container support prior to the second mechanical drive mechanism moving the water dispensing assembly.

74. The method of filling a container of claim 65 wherein enabling the water dispensing assembly to dispense water into the container includes enabling the water dispensing assembly to dispense liquid into the container.

75. The method of filling a container of claim 65 wherein enabling the water dispensing assembly to dispense water into the container includes enabling the water dispensing assembly to dispense ice into the container.

76. The method of filling a container of claim 65 wherein enabling the water dispensing assembly to dispense water into the container includes enabling the water dispensing assembly to dispense liquid and ice into the container simultaneously.

77. The method of filling a container of claim 65 wherein extending a container support along a plane perpendicular to a door of an appliance from a withdrawn position to an extended position is performed before moving a water dispensing assembly to a position at which an outlet of the water dispensing assembly is outside of an outer surface of the door of the appliance.

78. The method of filling a container of claim 65 wherein extending a container support along a plane perpendicular to a door of an appliance from a withdrawn position to an extended position is performed after moving a water dispensing assembly to a position at which an outlet of the water dispensing assembly is outside of an outer surface of the door of the appliance.

79. The method of filling a container of claim 65 wherein placing a container on the container support when the container support is in the extended position is performed before moving a water dispensing assembly to a position at which an outlet of the water dispensing assembly is outside of an outer surface of the door of the appliance.

80. The method of filling a container of claim 65 wherein placing a container on the container support when the container support is in the extended position is performed after moving a water dispensing assembly to a position at which an outlet of the water dispensing assembly is outside of an outer surface of the door of the appliance.

81. The method of filling a container of claim 65 further comprising retracting the container support along the plane perpendicular to the door of the appliance from the extended position to the withdrawn position.

82. The method of filling a container of claim 65 further comprising moving the water dispensing assembly to a position at which an outlet of the water dispensing assembly is inside of the outer surface of the door of the appliance.

83. A method of manufacturing a dispenser for an appliance, the method comprising:

attaining a water dispensing assembly;

configuring the water dispenser assembly with an outlet that is positioned outside of an outer surface of a door of an appliance and that is movable between at least two water dispensing positions;

attaining a container support; and

configuring the container support to extend along a plane perpendicular to the door such that the container support is configured for movement between a withdrawn and an extended position, the container support being configured to, in the extended position, support a container being filled by the water dispensing assembly when the outlet of the water dispensing assembly is positioned outside an outer surface of the door.

84. A method of manufacturing a dispenser for an appliance, the method comprising:

attaining a movable member;

attaining a water supply mechanism;

attaching the water supply mechanism to the movable member;

attaining a mechanical drive mechanism;

attaining a user control; and

configuring the mechanical drive mechanism to, upon activation of the user control, apply a force other than supplied by a user to motivate movement of the movable member from a first position at which an outlet of the water supply mechanism is positioned behind a plane representing an outer surface of a door of an appliance to a second position at which the outlet of the water supply mechanism is positioned in front of the plane representing the outer surface of the door.

85. The method of manufacturing a dispenser for an appliance of claim 84 wherein the mechanical drive mechanism applies a force greater than a force imparted by a user activating the user control.