U.S. patent application number 13/110347 was filed with the patent office on 2012-11-22 for ice maker assembly.
This patent application is currently assigned to GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY. Invention is credited to Andrew Reinhard Krause, Charles Benjamin Miller, Alan Joseph Mitchell.
Application Number | 20120291473 13/110347 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 47173902 |
Filed Date | 2012-11-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120291473 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Krause; Andrew Reinhard ; et
al. |
November 22, 2012 |
ICE MAKER ASSEMBLY
Abstract
In certain embodiments of the present disclosure, an ice maker
assembly for a refrigerator freezer compartment having a wall with
a capturing element is described. The ice maker assembly has a body
that includes an ice mold for receiving water and freezing water to
ice. The ice mold has a first side surface, a second side surface,
and a bottom surface interposed between the first side surface and
the second side surface. The ice maker assembly further includes a
mounting feature, the mounting feature being present on the body
and being configured to be seated on the corresponding refrigerator
freezer compartment capturing element. The ice maker assembly also
includes a fastening feature and a fastener being located either
generally planar with the ice mold or below the ice mold, the
fastening feature and fastener being configured to attach the body
to the wall.
Inventors: |
Krause; Andrew Reinhard;
(LaGrange, KY) ; Mitchell; Alan Joseph;
(Louisville, KY) ; Miller; Charles Benjamin;
(Louisville, KY) |
Assignee: |
GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
Schenectady
NY
|
Family ID: |
47173902 |
Appl. No.: |
13/110347 |
Filed: |
May 18, 2011 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
62/340 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F25D 23/12 20130101;
F25D 23/067 20130101; F25C 5/22 20180101 |
Class at
Publication: |
62/340 |
International
Class: |
F25C 1/24 20060101
F25C001/24 |
Claims
1. An ice maker assembly for a refrigerator freezer compartment
having a wall with a capturing element, the ice maker assembly
comprising: a body including an ice mold for receiving water and
freezing water to ice, the ice mold having a first side surface, a
second side surface, and a bottom surface interposed between the
first side surface and the second side surface; a mounting feature,
the mounting feature being present on the body and being configured
to be seated on the corresponding refrigerator freezer compartment
capturing element; and a fastening feature and a fastener being
located either generally planar with the ice mold or below the ice
mold, the fastening feature and fastener being configured to attach
the body to the wall.
2. An ice maker assembly as in claim 1, wherein the mounting
feature is located either generally planar with the ice mold or
above the ice mold.
3. An ice maker assembly as in claim 1, wherein the capturing
element comprises a hook and the mounting feature is configured to
be seated on such hook.
4. An ice maker assembly as in claim 1, wherein the mounting
feature defines an opening that substantially surrounds the
capturing element.
5. An ice maker assembly as in claim 1, further comprising a second
mounting feature present on the body and a second capturing element
on the refrigerator freezer compartment wall, wherein the second
mounting feature is configured to be seated on the corresponding
refrigerator freezer compartment wall second capturing element.
6. An ice maker assembly as in claim 1, wherein the capturing
element comprises a rail and the mounting feature comprises a
groove defined by the body, the groove being configured to be
seated on such rail.
7. An ice maker assembly as in claim 1, wherein the fastening
feature defines an opening and the fastener comprises a screw.
8. An ice maker assembly as in claim 1, wherein the fastening
feature defines an opening and the fastener comprises a rivet.
9. An ice maker assembly as in claim 1, wherein the fastening
feature defines an opening.
10. An ice maker assembly as in claim 9, wherein the fastener
comprises a screw, pin, nail, or rivet.
11. A refrigerator comprising: a freezer compartment having a wall
with a capturing element; and an ice maker assembly comprising: a
body including an ice mold for receiving water and freezing water
to ice, the ice mold having a first side surface, a second side
surface, and a bottom surface interposed between the first side
surface and the second side surface; a mounting feature, the
mounting feature being present on the body and being seated on the
corresponding refrigerator freezer compartment capturing element;
and a fastening feature and a fastener being located either
generally planar with the ice mold or below the ice mold, the
fastening feature and fastener attaching the body to the wall.
12. A refrigerator as in claim 11, wherein the mounting feature is
located either generally planar with the ice mold or above the ice
mold.
13. A refrigerator as in claim 11, wherein the capturing element
comprises a hook and the mounting feature is seated on such
hook.
14. A refrigerator as in claim 11, wherein the mounting feature
defines an opening that substantially surrounds the capturing
element.
15. A refrigerator as in claim 11, further comprising a second
mounting feature present on the body and a second capturing element
on the refrigerator freezer compartment wall, wherein the second
mounting feature is seated on the corresponding refrigerator
freezer compartment wall second capturing element.
16. A refrigerator as in claim 11, wherein the capturing element
comprises a rail and the mounting feature comprises a groove
defined by the body, the groove being seated on such rail.
17. A refrigerator as in claim 11, wherein the fastening feature
defines an opening and the fastener comprises a screw.
18. A refrigerator as in claim 11, wherein the fastening feature
defines an opening and the fastener comprises a rivet.
19. A refrigerator as in claim 11, wherein the fastening feature
defines an opening.
20. A refrigerator as in claim 11, wherein the refrigerator freezer
compartment wall defines guide ribs on either side of the fastening
feature.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present disclosure relates to an ice maker assembly.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] A conventional automatic ice maker assembly in a residential
refrigerator has three major subsystems: an ice maker, a bucket
with an auger and ice crusher, and a dispenser insert in the
freezer door that allows the ice to be delivered from the bucket to
a cup without opening the door.
[0003] The ice maker includes a body or ice tray including an ice
mold for receiving water and freezing the water to ice. When the
ice cubes are ready for removal, a motor drives a rake in an
angular motion to push the cubes out of the ice tray. Mounting
fasteners are provided on the ice tray for mounting the ice maker
within a freezer compartment of the refrigerator. Mounting
fasteners are typically located above the ice maker body.
[0004] Unfortunately, the use and location of mounting fasteners
can be problematic. For instance, such mounting fasteners can fall
into the ice maker body during manufacturing and/or use of the ice
maker and result in malfunction of the ice maker by causing jams of
the ice maker rake.
[0005] Accordingly, an ice maker assembly that includes a mounting
system that overcomes the deficiencies of present mounting
fasteners would be desirable. A refrigerator incorporating such an
ice maker assembly would be particularly beneficial.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0006] Aspects and advantages of the disclosure will be set forth
in part in the following description, or may be obvious from the
description, or may be learned through practice of the
disclosure.
[0007] In certain embodiments of the present disclosure, an ice
maker assembly for a refrigerator freezer compartment having a wall
with a capturing element is described. The ice maker assembly has a
body that includes an ice mold for receiving water and freezing
water to ice. The ice mold has a first side surface, a second side
surface, and a bottom surface interposed between the first side
surface and the second side surface. The ice maker assembly further
includes a mounting feature, the mounting feature being present on
the body and being configured to be seated on the corresponding
refrigerator freezer compartment capturing element. The ice maker
assembly also includes a fastening feature and a fastener being
located either generally planar with the ice mold or below the ice
mold, the fastening feature and fastener being configured to attach
the body to the wall.
[0008] In still other embodiments of the present disclosure, a
refrigerator is described. The refrigerator includes a freezer
compartment having a wall with a capturing element and an ice maker
assembly. The ice maker assembly has a body including an ice mold
for receiving water and freezing water to ice. The ice mold has a
first side surface, a second side surface, and a bottom surface
interposed between the first side surface and the second side
surface. The ice maker assembly further includes a mounting
feature, the mounting feature being present on the body and being
seated on the corresponding refrigerator freezer compartment
capturing element. The ice maker assembly also has a fastening
feature and a fastener being located either generally planar with
the ice mold or below the ice mold, the fastening feature and
fastener attaching the body to the wall.
[0009] These and other features, aspects and advantages of the
present disclosure will become better understood with reference to
the following description and appended claims. The accompanying
drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this
specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and,
together with the description, serve to explain the principles of
the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] A full and enabling disclosure, including the best mode
thereof, directed to one of ordinary skill in the art, is set forth
in the specification, which makes reference to the appended
figures, in which:
[0011] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of an automatic icemaker
and refrigerator wall in accordance with certain aspects of the
present disclosure.
[0012] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of ice maker shown in FIG.
1 in accordance with certain aspects of the present disclosure.
[0013] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the icemaker of
FIG. 1 in accordance with certain aspects of the present
disclosure.
[0014] FIG. 4 is a rear perspective view of an automatic icemaker
in accordance with certain aspects of the present disclosure.
[0015] FIG. 5A is a front view of an ice maker attached to a
refrigerator wall in accordance with certain aspects of the present
disclosure.
[0016] FIG. 5B is a partial front view of the ice maker attached to
a refrigerator wall shown in FIG. 5A in accordance with certain
aspects of the present disclosure.
[0017] FIG. 6 is a front view of an automatic icemaker and
refrigerator wall in accordance with certain aspects of the present
disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0018] The present disclosure relates to an ice maker assembly for
a refrigerator. The ice maker assembly includes a mounting element
that is configured to be seated on the corresponding refrigerator
freezer compartment wall cleat. In this manner, the ice maker
assembly of the present disclosure greatly reduces the chance that
a fastener will fall into the ice maker assembly during
manufacturing and/or use. 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.
[0019] As illustrated in FIGS. 1-3, ice maker 100 in accordance
with the present disclosure is illustrated. Specifically, FIG. 1
illustrates a perspective view of ice maker 100 adjacent to
refrigerator compartment wall 204 prior to being installed in
refrigerator compartment. FIG. 2 illustrates a cross-sectional view
of ice maker 100 installed in refrigerator compartment 200, such as
a freezer compartment, on wall 204. The ice maker 10 comprises a
body or ice tray 102 including an ice mold or ice forming
compartment 104 for receiving water and freezing the water to ice.
As shown, the ice tray 102 includes seven substantially identical
ice forming compartments; although, it should be appreciated that
more or less than seven ice forming compartments can be provided.
It should also be appreciated that while one exemplary type of ice
maker is illustrated (a so-called crescent cube variety of ice
maker), any suitable ice maker including a twist tray type, can be
utilized in connection with the present disclosure. In the
illustrated embodiment, each ice forming compartment 104 includes a
first side surface 110, a second side surface 112, and an arcuate
bottom surface 114 interposed between the first side surface and
the second side surface. Partition walls 120 are disposed between
each of the compartments, the partitions walls at least partially
defining the first side surface and second side surface. The
partition walls 120 extend transversely across the ice tray 102 to
define the ice forming compartments 104 in which ice pieces (not
shown) are formed. Each partition 120 wall includes a recessed
upper edge portion 132 through which water flows successively
through each ice forming compartment 104 to fill the ice tray 102
with water. A water filling operation of the ice tray may be based
on a set time.
[0020] As shown in FIG. 3, a sheathed electrical resistance heating
element or heater 150 is mounted to a lower portion 152 of the ice
tray 102. The heater can be press-fit, stacked, and/or clamped into
the lower portion of the ice tray. The heater is configured to heat
the ice mold when a harvest cycle is executed to slightly melt the
ice 130 and release the ice from the ice forming compartments
104.
[0021] An ice ejector or rake 170 is rotatably connected to the ice
tray 102. The ice ejector includes an axle or shaft 172 and a
plurality of ejector members 174 located in a common plane tangent
to the axle, one ejector member 174 for each ice forming
compartment 104. The axle is concentric about the longitudinal axis
of rotation of the ice ejector. To rotatably mount the ice ejector
to the ice tray, a first end section 176 of the ice ejector is
positioned adjacent an opening 180 located a first end portion 182
of the ice tray. A second end section 184 of the ice ejector is
positioned in an arcuate recess 186 located on a second end portion
188 of the ice tray. In the illustrated embodiment, the ejector
members 174 are triangular shaped projections 190 and are
configured to extend from the axle 172 into the ice forming
compartments 104 when the ice ejector is rotated. It is within the
scope of the present disclosure for the ejector members to be
fingers, shafts or other structures extending radially beyond the
outer walls of the axle. The ice ejector 170 is rotatably relative
to the ice tray from a closed first position to a second ice
harvesting position and back to the closed position. Rotation of
the ice ejector causes the ejector members 174 to advance into the
ice forming compartment 104 whereby ice 130 located in each ice
forming compartment is urged in an ejection path of movement out of
the ice forming compartment.
[0022] Referring again to FIG. 1, mounting elements 206, 208 are
joined to ice maker body 102 and assist to attach ice maker body
102 to wall 204. Mounting elements 206, 208 are provided on the ice
maker body for mounting the ice maker 100 within a freezer
compartment (not shown) of the refrigerator. In this regard,
mounting elements 206, 208 can be seated on cleats 210, 212 of wall
204. Ice maker 100 can be attached to wall without the necessity
for any separate anchoring. The weight of ice maker 100 can, in
part, be supported by cleats 210, 212 through mounting elements
206, 208 to hold ice maker 100 in place on wall 204. Though two
mounting elements and two cleats are illustrated, any suitable
number of mounting elements and cleats can be utilized, such as one
or more mounting elements and/or one or more corresponding cleats.
As illustrated, cleats 210, 212 are hooks but any suitable cleat
element can be utilized to seat mounting elements thereon. In
addition, cleats 210, 212 can be of any suitable size so as to
interface properly with mounting elements 206, 208.
[0023] Turning to FIG. 4, mounting elements 206, 208 are positioned
planar with or above bottom surface 114 of ice forming compartment
104. Again, since no separate anchoring to attach ice maker 100 to
wall 204 is present or necessary above ice forming compartment 104,
there is less chance of foreign material falling into ice forming
compartment and causing malfunction of the same. Mounting elements
206, 208 can be of any suitable shape or size to interface with
cleats 210, 212. For instance, as illustrated in FIG. 4, mounting
elements 206, 208 can each define openings 214, 216 that
substantially surround a respective cleat when such mounting
element is seated on the cleat.
[0024] Alternatively, it should be appreciated that other suitable
mounting elements can be utilized that are within the scope and
spirit of the present disclosure. For example, referring to FIG. 6,
ice maker body can define one or more slots 300, 302 that can
interface with one or more rails 304, 306 positioned on wall 204.
In this manner, body can slide horizontally into a freezer
compartment along rails. The body can also include one or more
vertical ribs 308 that interface with one or more slots 310 on wall
204 to ensure proper alignment. One or more rails and slots are
positioned planar with or above bottom surface 114 of ice forming
compartment 104.
[0025] It is within the scope of the disclosure for other anchoring
features to be present on the ice maker 100 and for those anchoring
features to facilitate attachment of the ice maker into the
refrigerator. However, such anchoring features can be present
planar with or below ice forming compartment to reduce the
likelihood of foreign material falling into ice forming
compartment. For instance, referring to FIGS. 4 and 5A, an ice
maker 100 is illustrated attached to wall 204 in refrigerator
compartment 200. Although not visible, mounting elements 206, 208
are seated on cleats 210, 212 of wall 204. In addition, a tab 218
is present on the bottom portion of ice maker body 102. Tab 218
defines an opening 226 that can allow a fastener to pass
therethrough and be attached into wall 204. For example, tab 218
can have a screw 220 pass therethrough. In this manner, although
ice maker 100 can be mounted to wall 204 by mounting elements 206,
208 seated on cleats 210, 212, tab 218 can ensure that ice maker
100 is permanently fixed in place. Any suitable fastener is
contemplated by the present disclosure including a screw, pin,
nail, rivet, or the like. In addition, tab 218 can be of any
suitable shape or size and one or more tabs can be present.
Similarly, FIG. 7 illustrates two tabs 312, 314 that define
openings 316, 318 respectively. Tabs 312, 314 218 can ensure that
ice maker 100 is permanently fixed in place in the same manner as
previously described with respect to tab 218 in FIG. 5A.
[0026] Turning to FIG. 5B, a close-up view of tab 218 on wall 204
is illustrated. Wall 204 can include one or more guide elements
such as ribs 222 on the surface of wall 204. Wall can also define
an opening 228 that can accommodate a fastener, such as a threaded
opening. Such ribs 222 can ensure that tab 218 is properly aligned
with wall 204 opening 226 of tab and opening 228 of wall allowing a
fastener to pass therethrough. In addition, ribs 222 can ensure
that mounting elements 206, 208 of ice maker 100 are seated
properly on cleats 210, 212.
[0027] This written description uses examples to disclose the
invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person
skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and
using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated
methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the
claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled
in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope
of the claims if they include structural elements that do not
differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include
equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from
the literal languages of the claims.
* * * * *