The present subject matter relates generally to ice and or beverage dispensers, and more particularly to adjustable drip trays for use with beverage dispensers.
Refrigerator appliances generally include a cabinet that defines a chilled chamber for receipt of food articles for storage. In addition, refrigerator appliances include one or more doors rotatably hinged to the cabinet to permit selective access to food items stored in chilled chamber(s). The refrigerator appliances can also include various storage components mounted within the chilled chamber and designed to facilitate storage of food items therein. Such storage components can include racks, bins, shelves, or drawers that receive food items and assist with organizing and arranging of such food items within the chilled chamber.
In addition, conventional refrigerator appliances include dispensing assemblies for dispensing liquid water and/or ice, e.g., through a dispenser mounted on a front of the appliance or within the cabinet. These dispensing assemblies typically operate by dispensing water and/or ice into a container that is positioned at a fixed vertical position. However, containers come in a variety of heights and sizes, such that filling certain containers using a single position support platform results in splashing or in a less than optimal fill process. Certain refrigerator appliances or beverage dispensers include adjustable platforms, but such platforms are typically complex, including drive motors, belt or chain drives, or other complicated mechanisms. Notably, these mechanisms increase the cost of the beverage dispenser while increasing the likelihood of component failures and maintenance visits.
Accordingly, a refrigerator appliance with an improved dispensing assembly would be useful. More particularly, a dispensing assembly for a refrigerator appliance or other beverage dispenser that includes a low cost, adjustable drip tray or support platform that is simple to operate would be particularly beneficial.
Aspects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the following description, or may be apparent from the description, or may be learned through practice of the invention.
In one exemplary embodiment, a dispensing assembly for an appliance is provided. The dispensing assembly defines a vertical direction, a lateral direction, and a transverse direction and includes a dispenser for dispensing ice or a beverage, a mounting panel positioned below the dispenser, the mounting panel defining a sliding pocket and a locking indentation within the sliding pocket, and a tray assembly movably mounted to the mounting panel. The tray assembly includes a drip tray defining a support surface and a locking flange for receipt within the sliding pocket and a plunger mechanism movably mounted to the drip tray and being configured for moving between an engaged position where a locking pin of the plunger mechanism engages the locking indentation to lock the drip tray in position along the vertical direction and a disengaged position where the locking pin is retracted such that the drip tray is movable along the vertical direction.
In another exemplary embodiment, a tray assembly for a dispensing assembly is provided. The dispensing assembly includes a dispenser and a mounting panel positioned below the dispenser and defining a locking indentation within a sliding pocket. The tray assembly includes a drip tray defining a support surface and a locking flange for receipt within the sliding pocket and a plunger mechanism movably mounted to the drip tray and being configured for moving between an engaged position where a locking pin of the plunger mechanism engages the locking indentation to lock the drip tray in position along a vertical direction and a disengaged position where the locking pin is retracted such that the drip tray is movable along the vertical direction.
These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention 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.
A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention, 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.
Repeat use of reference characters in the present specification and drawings is intended to represent the same or analogous features or elements of the present invention.
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.
Housing 102 defines chilled chambers for receipt of food items for storage. In particular, housing 102 defines fresh food chamber 122 positioned at or adjacent top 104 of housing 102 and a freezer chamber 124 arranged at or adjacent bottom 106 of housing 102. As such, refrigerator appliance 100 is generally referred to as a bottom mount refrigerator. It is recognized, however, that the benefits of the present disclosure apply to other types and styles of refrigerator appliances such as, e.g., a top mount refrigerator appliance, a side-by-side style refrigerator appliance, or a single door refrigerator appliance. Moreover, aspects of the present subject matter may be applied to other appliances as well, such as other appliances including beverage dispensers. Consequently, the description set forth herein is for illustrative purposes only and is not intended to be limiting in any aspect to any particular appliance or configuration.
Refrigerator doors 128 are rotatably hinged to an edge of housing 102 for selectively accessing fresh food chamber 122. In addition, a freezer door 130 is arranged below refrigerator doors 128 for selectively accessing freezer chamber 124. Freezer door 130 is coupled to a freezer drawer (not shown) slidably mounted within freezer chamber 124. Refrigerator doors 128 and freezer door 130 are shown in the closed configuration in
Referring again to
Dispensing assembly 140 and its various components may be positioned at least in part within a dispenser recess 142 defined on one of refrigerator doors 128. In this regard, dispenser recess 142 is defined on a front side 112 of refrigerator appliance 100 such that a user may operate dispensing assembly 140 without opening refrigerator door 128. In addition, dispenser recess 142 is positioned at a predetermined elevation convenient for a user to access ice and enabling the user to access ice without the need to bend-over. In the exemplary embodiment, dispenser recess 142 is positioned at a level that approximates the chest level of a user.
Dispensing assembly 140 includes a dispenser 144 including a discharging outlet 146 for discharging ice, water, or any other suitable beverage from dispensing assembly 140. An actuating mechanism 148, shown as a paddle, is mounted below discharging outlet 146 for operating dispenser 144. In alternative exemplary embodiments, any suitable actuating mechanism may be used to operate dispenser 144. For example, dispenser 144 can include a sensor (such as an ultrasonic sensor) or a button rather than the paddle. Discharging outlet 146 and actuating mechanism 148 are an external part of dispenser 144 and are mounted in dispenser recess 142. By contrast, refrigerator door 128 may define an icebox compartment 150 (
A control panel 152 is provided for controlling the mode of operation. For example, control panel 152 includes one or more selector inputs 154, such as knobs, buttons, touchscreen interfaces, etc., such as a water dispensing button and an ice-dispensing button, for selecting a desired mode of operation such as crushed or non-crushed ice. In addition, inputs 154 may be used to specify a fill volume or method of operating dispensing assembly 140. In this regard, inputs 154 may be in communication with a processing device or controller 156. Signals generated in controller 156 operate refrigerator appliance 100 and dispensing assembly 140 in response to selector inputs 154. Additionally, a display 158, such as an indicator light or a screen, may be provided on control panel 152. Display 158 may be in communication with controller 156 and may display information in response to signals from controller 156.
As used herein, “processing device” or “controller” may refer to one or more microprocessors or semiconductor devices and is not restricted necessarily to a single element. The processing device can be programmed to operate refrigerator appliance 100, dispensing assembly 140 and other components of refrigerator appliance 100. The processing device may include, or be associated with, one or more memory elements (e.g., non-transitory storage media). In some such embodiments, the memory elements include electrically erasable, programmable read only memory (EEPROM). Generally, the memory elements can store information accessible processing device, including instructions that can be executed by processing device. Optionally, the instructions can be software or any set of instructions and/or data that when executed by the processing device, cause the processing device to perform operations.
Referring now generally to
Refrigerator appliance 100 may include a mounting panel 202 that is positioned on front side 112 of refrigerator door 128. More specifically, according to the illustrated embodiment, mounting panel 202 is positioned in the backside of dispenser recess 142. Although mounting panel 202 is described herein as being part of refrigerator appliance 100 or dispensing assembly 140, it should be appreciated that mounting panel 202 could alternatively be a part of tray assembly 200 and can be mounted on any suitable structure to facilitate tray movement as described herein. As shown, dispensing assembly 140 or mounting panel 202 defines a vertical direction V, a lateral direction L, and a transverse direction T. According to the illustrated embodiment these directions correspond with the same directions as described above with respect to refrigerator appliance 100 when mounting panel 202 is installed. Therefore, these directional notations will be used interchangeably when referring to refrigerator appliance 100, dispensing assembly 140, and tray assembly 200.
As best shown in
Referring still to
According to the embodiment illustrated in
Locking indentations 212 are features defined within sliding pocket 210 that are generally configured for being selectively engaged by tray assembly 200 to prevent motion along the vertical direction V. In this regard, according to the embodiment illustrated in
Referring still to the figures, tray assembly 200 may include various features for selectively positioning tray assembly 200 within sliding pocket 210. For example, according to the illustrated embodiment, tray assembly 200 includes a drip tray 230 that defines a support surface 232 that is configured for receiving a cup or container. In this regard, when tray assembly 200 is properly mounted onto mounting panel 202, support surface 232 extends substantially within a horizontal plane, e.g., defined by the lateral direction L and transverse direction T. According to the illustrated embodiment, the drip tray 230 generally serves as the housing for containing the working components of tray assembly 200.
As best shown in
Tray assembly 200 further includes features for locking drip tray 230 in vertical position within sliding pocket 210. Specifically, as best shown in
According to the illustrated embodiment, locking pin 242 is defined on a distal end of a plunger body 244. Plunger body 244 is slidably mounted within drip tray 230 using a slide bearing member 246. Specifically, slide bearing member 246 defines an aperture 248 and a low friction interface through which plunger body 244 passes. In this manner, slide bearing member 246 permits plunger body 244 to slide along the transverse direction T within drip tray 230. A biasing member 250, such as a spring element or mechanical spring, may be mounted around plunger body 244 for urging plunger body 244 toward the extended position, e.g., the engaged position where locking pin 242 seeks to engage locking indentations 212. Plunger body 244 may further define a stopping flange 252 to prevent plunger body from being pushed out of drip tray 230.
Referring now to
In order to improve visibility of locking indentations 212 while also improving the aesthetic appearance of tray assembly 200, dispensing assembly 140 may further include a lighting assembly 270 positioned in any suitable manner for illuminating tray assembly 200. For example, according to the illustrated embodiment and as best shown in
Referring now to
Notably, tray assembly 300 is similar in many respects to translate 200, with the primary difference being the manner in which tray assembly 300 engages the corresponding mounting panel. Specifically, mounting panel 302 defines a plurality of lateral indentations 304 within a sliding pocket 306. Similar to tray assembly 200, tray assembly 300 includes a plunger mechanism 310 for selectively engaging lateral indentations 304. Specifically, plunger mechanism 310 includes locking pins 312 slidably mounted within slide bearings 314 for slidably mounting locking pins 312 within drip tray 316. Mechanical springs 318 are positioned between slide bearing 314 and locking pins 312 to urge locking pins 312 toward the retracted position (
However, plunger mechanism 310 also includes a cam element 320 that is slidably mounted within drip tray 316 such that it may move along the vertical direction V. A cam spring 322 urges cam element 320 upward toward a raised position. Cam element 320 defines a sloped surface 324 that engages locking pins 312 to push them outward against the force of mechanical springs 318 when cam element 320 is in the raised position. In addition, plunger mechanism 310 may include a lever arm 330 that is pivotally mounted around a pivot point 332 and that engages cam element 320 on its distal end. In the relaxed position, cam spring 322 urges cam element 320 upward along the vertical direction V such that the sloped surface 324 urges locking pins 312 outward and into an engaged position with mounting panel 302. However, when a user presses upward on an actuating flap 334 of lever arm 330, lever arm 330 pivots about pivot point 332, and compresses cam spring 322 to lower cam element 320. Mechanical springs 318 then urge locking pins 312 into the retracted position such that drain assembly 300 may move along the vertical direction V. Although two embodiments of tray assemblies have been described herein, it should be appreciated that other configurations are possible and within the scope of the present subject matter.
The 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.
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Number | Date | Country |
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WO2016015119 | Apr 2016 | WO |