U.S. patent application number 16/218180 was filed with the patent office on 2020-01-23 for ice maker device and refrigerator including the same.
The applicant listed for this patent is Daewoo Electronics Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Jae Sang KIM.
Application Number | 20200025431 16/218180 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 69161713 |
Filed Date | 2020-01-23 |
![](/patent/app/20200025431/US20200025431A1-20200123-D00000.png)
![](/patent/app/20200025431/US20200025431A1-20200123-D00001.png)
![](/patent/app/20200025431/US20200025431A1-20200123-D00002.png)
![](/patent/app/20200025431/US20200025431A1-20200123-D00003.png)
![](/patent/app/20200025431/US20200025431A1-20200123-D00004.png)
![](/patent/app/20200025431/US20200025431A1-20200123-D00005.png)
![](/patent/app/20200025431/US20200025431A1-20200123-D00006.png)
![](/patent/app/20200025431/US20200025431A1-20200123-D00007.png)
United States Patent
Application |
20200025431 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
KIM; Jae Sang |
January 23, 2020 |
ICE MAKER DEVICE AND REFRIGERATOR INCLUDING THE SAME
Abstract
An ice maker device comprises: an ice production part configured
to receive water and produce ice; and an ice discharge part
detachably coupled to a lower portion of the ice production part,
the ice discharge part configured to accommodate the ice produced
in the ice production part, the ice discharge part configured to
selectively discharge the ice to the outside. The ice discharge
part includes: a holder part detachably coupled to the ice
production part; a receiving part including a side wall portion
connected to an inner surface of the holder part, an inclined
portion obliquely extending downward from a lower end of the side
wall portion, and a bottom surface having an outlet port; and a
lever part configured to open and close the outlet port.
Inventors: |
KIM; Jae Sang; (Gwangju,
KR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Daewoo Electronics Co., Ltd. |
Gwangju |
|
KR |
|
|
Family ID: |
69161713 |
Appl. No.: |
16/218180 |
Filed: |
December 12, 2018 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F25C 1/246 20130101;
F25C 1/10 20130101; F25C 5/04 20130101; F25C 5/185 20130101; F25C
2305/022 20130101; F25D 23/028 20130101; F25C 5/22 20180101; F25C
2400/10 20130101 |
International
Class: |
F25C 5/20 20060101
F25C005/20; F25C 1/10 20060101 F25C001/10; F25C 1/246 20060101
F25C001/246; F25C 5/185 20060101 F25C005/185; F25D 23/02 20060101
F25D023/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 18, 2018 |
KR |
10-2018-0083603 |
Claims
1. An ice maker device, comprising: an ice production part
configured to receive water and produce ice, wherein the ice
production part includes a lower portion; and an ice discharge part
detachably coupled to the lower portion of the ice production part,
the ice discharge part configured to accommodate ice produced in
the ice production part, wherein the ice discharge part is
configured to selectively discharge ice, wherein the ice discharge
part includes: a holder part detachably coupled to the ice
production part and comprising an inner surface; a receiving part
including: a side wall portion coupled to the inner surface of the
holder part; an inclined portion obliquely extending downward from
a lower end of the side wall portion; and a bottom surface having
an outlet port; and a lever part configured to selectively open and
close the outlet port.
2. The ice maker device of claim 1, wherein the inclined portion is
continuously disposed from a rim of the outlet port to a lower end
of the side wall portion.
3. The ice maker device of claim 2, wherein the inclined portion
includes: a vertical surface extending from the lower end of the
side wall portion and in parallel with the side wall portion and
coupled to the rim of the outlet port; and an inclined surface
obliquely extending downward from the lower end of the side wall
portion and coupled to the rim of the outlet port and not connected
to the vertical surface.
4. The ice maker device of claim 1, wherein the lever part
comprises: a guide rail disposed on a bottom surface of the
receiving part; a lever configured to slide along the guide rail to
open and close the outlet port; and an elastic member configured to
couple the guide rail and the lever and configured to apply an
elastic force to the lever.
5. A refrigerator, comprising: a body having a storage space; a
door rotatably coupled on one side thereof to the body and
configured to open and close the storage space; and an ice maker
device coupled to an inner surface of the door and wherein the
icemaker device includes: an ice production part configured to
receive water and produce ice, wherein the ice production part
comprises a lower portion; and an ice discharge part detachably
coupled to the lower portion of the ice production part, the ice
discharge part configured to accommodate ice produced in the ice
production part, wherein the ice discharge part is configured to
selectively discharge ice, wherein the ice discharge part contains:
a holder part detachably coupled to the ice production part and
comprising an inner surface; a receiving part comprising: a side
wall portion coupled to the inner surface of the holder part; an
inclined portion obliquely extending downward from a lower end of
the side wall portion; and a bottom surface having an outlet port;
and a lever part configured to selectively open and close the
outlet port.
6. The refrigerator of claim 5, wherein the outlet port of the ice
maker device is biased toward the outer edge of the door.
7. The refrigerator of claim 5 wherein the inclined portion is
continuously disposed from a rim of the outlet port to a lower end
of the side wall portion.
8. The refrigerator of claim 5, wherein the inclined portion
comprises: a vertical surface extending from the lower end of the
side wall portion and in parallel with the side wall portion and
coupled to the rim of the outlet port; and an inclined surface
obliquely extending downward from the lower end of the side wall
portion and coupled to the rim of the outlet port and not connected
to the vertical surface.
9. The refrigerator of claim 5, wherein the lever part comprises: a
guide rail disposed on a bottom surface of the receiving part; a
lever configured to slide along the guide rail to open and close
the outlet port; and an elastic member configured to couple the
guide rail and the lever and configured to apply an elastic force
to the lever.
10. A refrigerator, comprising: a body having a storage space; a
door rotatably coupled to the body; and an ice maker coupled to an
inner surface of the door and comprising: an ice production part
configured to receive water and produce ice, wherein the ice
production part includes a lower portion; and an ice discharge part
detachably coupled to the lower portion of the ice production part,
the ice discharge part configured to accommodate ice produced in
the ice production part, wherein the ice discharge part is
configured to selectively dispense ice, wherein the ice discharge
part contains: a holder detachably coupled to the ice production
part and comprising an inner surface; a receiver comprising: a side
wall coupled to the inner surface of the holder; an inclined
portion extending downward from a lower end of the side wall; and a
bottom surface having an outlet; and a lever configured to
selectively open and close the outlet.
11. The refrigerator of claim 10, wherein the outlet of the ice
maker is biased toward the outer edge of the door.
12. The refrigerator of claim 10, wherein the inclined portion is
continuously disposed from a rim of the outlet to a lower end of
the side wall.
13. The refrigerator of claim 10, wherein the inclined portion
includes: a vertical surface extending from the lower end of the
side wall and in parallel with the side wall and coupled to the rim
of the outlet; and an inclined surface extending downward from the
lower end of the side wall and coupled to the rim of the outlet and
not connected to the vertical surface.
14. The refrigerator of claim 10, wherein the lever comprises: a
guide rail disposed on a bottom surface of the receiver; a lever
element configured to slide along the guide rail to open and close
the outlet; and an elastic member configured to couple the guide
rail and the lever element and configured to apply an elastic force
to the lever element.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is based on and claims priority from Korean
Patent Application No. 10-2018-0083603, filed on Jul. 18, 2018, the
disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by
reference for all purposes.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present disclosure relates to an ice maker device and a
refrigerator including the same.
BACKGROUND
[0003] A refrigerator is an appliance for storing food at low
temperatures and is configured to store food in a frozen state or a
refrigerated state depending on the type and condition of food to
be stored.
[0004] In such a refrigerator, cold air is generated by the heat
exchange action of a refrigerant and a refrigeration cycle. In
other words, the refrigerant supplies cold air to the refrigerator
compartments by repeatedly circulating a so-called refrigeration
cycle consisting of compression, condensation, expansion and
evaporation phases.
[0005] In general, the refrigerator may be manufactured in
different styles, such as, a top mount type in which a freezing
compartment is provided on the upper side of a refrigeration
compartment, a bottom freeze type in which a freezing compartment
is provided on the lower side of the refrigeration compartment, and
a side-by-side type in which a freezing compartment and a
refrigeration compartment are formed on the left and right side,
and the like.
[0006] Moreover, an ice maker device according to the related art
may be provided in the freezing compartment and typically includes
an ice tray configured to store water to produce ice and an ice
bucket disposed below the ice tray to receive the ice produced in
the ice tray. However, in such a configuration, it has been found
to be inconvenient that the user first needs to remove the ice
bucket from the ice maker device in order to take out the ice.
[0007] Therefore, there is a demand for products having an ice
maker device which makes it possible to easily dispense ice.
SUMMARY
[0008] Embodiments of the present disclosure provide an ice maker
device which makes it possible to easily take out ice, and a
refrigerator including the same.
[0009] In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention,
there is described an ice maker device comprising: an ice
production part configured to receive water and produce ice; and an
ice discharge part detachably coupled to a lower portion of the ice
production part, the ice discharge part configured to accommodate
the ice produced in the ice production part, the ice discharge part
configured to selectively discharge the ice to the outside, wherein
the ice discharge part includes: a holder part detachably coupled
to the ice production part; a receiving part including a side wall
portion connected to an inner surface of the holder part, an
inclined portion obliquely extending downward from a lower end of
the side wall portion, and a bottom surface having an outlet port;
and a lever part configured to open and close the outlet port.
[0010] The inclined portion may be continuously provided from a rim
of the outlet port to a lower end of the side wall portion.
[0011] The inclined portion may include a vertical surface
extending from the lower end of the side wall portion in parallel
with the side wall portion and connected to the rim of the outlet
port, and an inclined surface obliquely extending downward from the
lower end of the side wall portion and connected to the rim of the
outlet port not connected to the vertical surface.
[0012] The lever part may include a guide rail provided on a bottom
surface of the receiving part, a lever configured to slidingly move
along the guide rail to open and close the outlet port, and an
elastic member configured to connect the guide rail and the lever
to apply an elastic force to the lever.
[0013] In accordance with another aspect, there is described a
refrigerator comprising: a refrigerator body having a storage
space; a refrigerator door rotatably coupled on one side thereof to
the refrigerator body to open and close the storage space; and the
above-described ice maker device coupled to an inner surface of the
refrigerator door.
[0014] The outlet port of the ice maker device may be biased toward
the outer edge of the refrigerator door.
[0015] The ice maker and the refrigerator according to the
embodiment of the present disclosure make it possible to easily
take out ice.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a refrigerator
provided with an ice maker device according to an embodiment of the
present disclosure.
[0017] FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of an ice maker
device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0018] FIG. 3 is a bottom perspective view of the ice maker device
according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0019] FIG. 4 is a schematic exploded perspective view of the ice
maker device according to an embodiment of the present
disclosure.
[0020] FIG. 5 is a schematic sectional view taken along line A-A'
in FIG. 2.
[0021] FIG. 6 is a schematic sectional view taken along line B-B'
in FIG. 2.
[0022] FIG. 7 is a schematic plan view of an ice discharge part
according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0023] Hereinafter, configurations and operations of embodiments
will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying
drawings. The following description is one of various patentable
aspects of the disclosure and may form a part of the detailed
description of the disclosure.
[0024] However, in describing the disclosure, detailed descriptions
of known configurations or functions that make the disclosure
obscure may be omitted.
[0025] The disclosure may be variously modified and may include
various embodiments. Specific embodiments will be exemplarily
illustrated in the drawings and described in the detailed
description of the embodiments. However, it should be understood
that they are not intended to limit the disclosure to specific
embodiments but rather to cover all modifications, similarities,
and alternatives which are included in the spirit and scope of the
disclosure.
[0026] The terms used herein, including ordinal numbers such as
"first" and "second" may be used to describe, and not to limit,
various components. The terms simply distinguish the components
from one another.
[0027] When it is said that a component is "connected" or "linked"
to another component, it should be understood that the former
component may be directly connected or linked to the latter
component or a third component may be interposed between the two
components.
[0028] Specific terms used in the present application are used
simply to describe specific embodiments without limiting the
disclosure. An expression used in the singular encompasses the
expression of the plural, unless it has a clearly different meaning
in the context.
[0029] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a refrigerator 1
provided with an ice maker device 300 according to an embodiment of
the present disclosure.
[0030] Referring to FIG. 1, the refrigerator 1 according to an
embodiment of the present disclosure may include a refrigerator
body 100 having a storage space S, a refrigerator door 200 for
opening and closing the storage space S of the refrigerator body
100, and an ice maker device 300 coupled to the refrigerator door
200.
[0031] In this regard, the refrigerator 1 is generally used for
storing food items at low temperatures and may be manufactured in
accordance with various styles or types, including a top mount type
in which a freezing compartment is provided on the upper side of a
refrigeration compartment, a bottom freeze type in which a freezing
compartment is provided on the lower side of the refrigeration
compartment, and a side-by-side type in which a freezing
compartment and a refrigeration compartment are formed on the left
and right side, and the like. Although only a side-by-side type
refrigerator is shown in FIG. 1, the scope of the embodiments of
the present disclosure is also applicable to various refrigerator
types commonly used and well known in the art.
[0032] The refrigerator body 100 may form an outer shell of the
refrigerator 1 and may include a storage space S for storing food.
The storage space S may be opened and closed by the refrigerator
door 200 which can be rotatably installed in the refrigerator body
100, in accordance with one embodiment.
[0033] The refrigerator door 200 may be rotatably hinged on one
side thereof to the refrigerator body 100 and thereby configured to
open and close the storage space S. The ice maker device 300 may be
disposed on the inner surface of the refrigerator door 200.
Hereinafter, the detailed configuration of the ice maker device 300
according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be
described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 7.
[0034] FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the ice maker
device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 3
is a bottom perspective view of the ice maker device according to
an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 4 is a schematic
exploded perspective view of the ice maker device according to an
embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0035] Referring to FIGS. 2 to 4, the ice maker device 300
according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is coupled to
the refrigerator door 200 to produce ice. The ice maker device 300
may include an ice production part 310 and an ice discharge part
320.
[0036] The ice production part 310 may produce ice in accordance
with a process that includes receiving water from a water supply
pipe (not shown) of the refrigerator 1. The ice production part 310
may include, for example, an upper cover 311, a side cover 312
coupled to a lower portion of the upper cover 311, and rotatably
accommodated in the upper cover 311, an ice tray 313 rotatably
received in the upper cover 311 and configured to store and freeze
water, and a handle 314 connected to the ice tray 313 and
configured to rotate the ice tray 313.
[0037] The ice tray 313 may be disposed below the upper cover 311.
One end of the ice tray 313 may be rotatably inserted into the side
pillar 311a extending from the lower surface of the upper cover
311. One end of the ice tray 313 passing through the side pillar
311a may be connected to the handle 314. Therefore, when the handle
314 rotates, the ice tray 313 may rotate together with the handle
314. Accordingly, if ice is produced by freezing the water
contained in the ice tray 313, the user may rotate the ice tray 313
by rotating the handle 314, which makes it possible to discharge
the ice produced in the ice tray 313. While FIGS. 2 to 4 illustrate
a configuration in which ice is manually discharged to the outside
of the ice production part 310 by rotating the handle 314, it is
also possible to provide an automatic ice production part 310. That
is, it may be possible to adopt a configuration in which the ice
tray 313 is rotated using a separate or automated drive source such
as a motor or the like.
[0038] FIG. 5 is a schematic sectional view taken along line A-A'
in FIG. 2. FIG. 6 is a schematic sectional view taken along line
B-B' in FIG. 2. FIG. 7 is a schematic plan view of an ice discharge
part according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0039] Referring to FIGS. 5 to 7, the ice discharge part 320 is
provided for receiving the ice produced in the ice production part
310 and then discharging or dispensing the ice to the outside. The
ice discharge part 320 may be detachably attached to the lower
portion of the ice production part 310. For example, the ice
discharge part 320 may include a holder part 321 detachably coupled
to the ice production part 310, a receiving part 322 detachably
connected to the inner surface of the holder part 321 and provided
with an outlet port 322c through which ice is discharged, and a
lever part 323 slidably coupled to the receiving part 322 and
configured to open and close the outlet port 322c.
[0040] The holder part 321 may be coupled to the ice production
part 310. A guide rail 321a may be formed on the inner side surface
of the holder part 321 to guide the sliding movement of the
receiving part 322. A guide protrusion 322d may protrude from the
outer surface of the receiving part 322 so as to be movable along
the guide rail 321a. Therefore, the receiving part 322 may be
slidingly coupled to the inside of the holder part 321.
[0041] Ice may be received inside the receiving part 322. In other
words, when ice is produced in the ice tray 313, the user may
discharge the ice from the ice tray 313 by rotating the handle 314.
The ice discharged from the ice tray 313 may be received inside the
receiving part 322.
[0042] For example, the receiving part 322 may include a side wall
portion 322a connected to the holder part 3221 and provided with a
guide protrusion 322d on the outer surface thereof, an inclined
portion 322b obliquely extending downward from the lower end of the
side wall portion 322a, and a bottom surface L having an outlet
port 322b.
[0043] The inclined portion 322b may be downwardly inclined and
continuously formed so as to connect the rim of the outlet port
322c formed on the bottom surface L of the receiving part 322 and
the lower end of the side wall portion 322a. For example, the
inclined portion 322b may include a vertical surface 3221 extending
from the lower end of the side wall portion 322a in parallel with
the side wall portion 322a and connected to the rim of the outlet
port 322c, and an inclined surface 3222 obliquely extending
downward from the lower end of the side wall portion 322a at
predetermined inclination angles .alpha. and .beta. and connected
to the rim of the outlet port 322c not connected to the vertical
surface 3221. In this regard, the inclination angles .alpha. and
.beta. of the inclined surface 3222 may be appropriately selected
depending on the position of the outlet port 322c. For example, the
inclination angles .alpha. and .beta. of the inclined surface 3222
may be selected so that the inclined surface 3222 can connect the
rim of the outlet port 322c and the lower end of the side wall
portion 322a.
[0044] A lever part 323 may be disposed on the bottom surface of
the receiving part 322. The lever part 323 may be provided for
opening and closing the outlet port 322c formed on the bottom
surface L of the receiving part 322. The lever part 323 may include
a guide rail 323a disposed on the bottom surface of the receiving
part 322, a lever 322b configured to slidingly move along the guide
rail 323a to open and close the outlet port, and an elastic member
323c configured to connect the guide rail 323a and the lever 323b
to apply an elastic force to the lever 323b.
[0045] The guide rail 323a may protrude from the underside of the
bottom surface L and may be provided on both sides of the outlet
port 322c. The lever 323b may be slidably provided on the guide
rail 323a. As the lever 323b slides, the outlet port 322c may be
opened or closed. The lever 323b may be formed in an inverted "L"
like shape as a whole. The user may open the outlet port 322c by
bringing an ice storage container such as a cup or the like into
contact with the lever 323b and pressing lever 323b with the
container. The elastic member 322c may be disposed between the
lever 323b and the guide rail 322a. The elastic member 322c may
apply an elastic force to the lever 323b to urge the lever 323b
forward. Therefore, the lever 323b may generally be disposed at a
position where the lever 323b seals the outlet port 322c.
Furthermore, after the user presses the lever 323b and removes the
ice, the lever 323b may be returned by the elastic member 323b to
the position where the lever 323b seals the outlet port 322c.
[0046] The outlet port 322c disposed on the bottom surface L of the
receiving part 322 may be biased toward the other edge of the
refrigerator door 200. In other words, when the refrigerator door
200 is opened, the outlet port 322c may be biased toward the outer
edge of the refrigerator door. This makes it possible to improve
the user's accessibility to the outlet port 322c.
[0047] As described above, the ice maker device 300 according to an
embodiment of the present disclosure includes the receiving part
322 having the inclined surface 3222 and the lever part 323. Thus,
the ice can be readily removed without removing the ice bucket 320
from the ice production part 310. In other words, the ice
discharged from the ice production part 310 is moved to the outlet
port 322c along the inclined surface 3222, and the user can easily
take out the ice by pressing the lever part 323.
[0048] From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that various
embodiments of the present disclosure have been described herein
for purposes of illustration, and that various modifications may be
made without departing from the scope and spirit of the present
disclosure. The exemplary embodiments disclosed in the
specification of the present disclosure do not limit the present
disclosure. The scope of the present disclosure will be interpreted
by the claims below, and it will be construed that all techniques
within the scope equivalent thereto belong to the scope of the
present disclosure.
* * * * *