Patent Application
20200139279
The present disclosure generally relates to a water filter assembly for use with a refrigerator, and more specifically to a water filter assembly that can be easily removed for service of the components of a water filter assembly.
Various types of water filters have been developed for use with a variety of appliances. For example, water filters are commonly in used in refrigerators. Problems exist with such water filter assemblies as they are typically located inside the freezer/refrigerator compartment which leads to volume reduction within the compartment. Additionally, the filter housing and water valve are typically located at different locations which leads to an increase in service time/cost when portions of the water filter, line, valve, and/or cartridge need to be serviced. Thus, an easily serviced water filter assembly is desirable.
One aspect of the present invention is a refrigerator filter assembly that is attached to a refrigerator. The refrigerator includes at least one retention tab opening that receives a retention tab. The retention tab has a plurality of radial protrusions, including at least one protrusion that engages a surface of a refrigerator in the area of the retention tab opening. The retention tab also includes a retention tab receiver engaging portion between two radial protrusions. A filter assembly housing, to which a filter unit can be removably coupled, includes a base portion with at least one retention tab receiver that is coupled to the refrigerator. The retention tab receiver has a tapered surface resulting in a narrow portion, the narrow portion configured to closely receive a surface of the retention tab receiver engaging portion of the retention tab.
Another aspect of the present invention includes a filter assembly. The filter assembly includes a base portion with at least one retention tab receiver configured for receiving a retention tab. The retention tab has a plurality of radial protrusions attached to an exterior surface of an appliance. The filter assembly also includes a generally cylindrical portion for receiving a filter unit. The filter assembly also includes a valve coupled to the filter assembly housing, and a Wi-Fi module coupled to the filter assembly housing. The retention tab receiver is spaced away from the bottom surface of the base portion to engage a portion of the retention tab that is between two of the radial protrusions of the retention tab.
Yet another aspect of the present invention is a method of installing a refrigerator filter assembly. At least one retention tab is installed into a retention tab opening in an exterior surface of the refrigerator cabinet. The retention tab includes a plurality of radial protrusions with at least one of the radial protrusions engaging a surface of the retention tab opening in the refrigerator cabinet. Two of the radial protrusions are spaced apart to form a retaining tab receiver engaging portion. The filter assembly is slid onto the exterior surface of the refrigerator cabinet to engage the retention tab receiving portions of the retention tab. A water filter is then installed into the water filter receiving portion of the base portion of the water filter assembly.
These and other features, advantages, and objects of the present disclosure will be further understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art upon studying the following specification, claims, and appended drawings.
In the drawings:
As referenced in the figures, the same reference numerals may be used herein to refer to the same parameters and components or their similar modifications and alternatives. For purposes of description herein, the terms “upper,” “lower,” “right,” “left,” “rear,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and derivatives thereof shall relate to the present disclosure as oriented in the Figures. However, it is to be understood that the present disclosure may assume various alternative orientations, except where expressly specified to the contrary. It is also to be understood that the specific devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the following specification are simply exemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts defined in the appended claims. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims expressly state otherwise. The drawings referenced herein are schematic and associated views thereof are not necessarily drawn to scale.
In this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
For purposes of this disclosure, the term “coupled” (in all of its forms, couple, coupling, coupled, etc.) generally means the joining of two components (electrical or mechanical) directly or indirectly to one another, including, but not limited to, through the use of fasteners, other mechanical fasteners, adhesives, etc. Such joining may be stationary in nature or movable in nature. Such joining may be achieved with the two components (electrical or mechanical) and any additional intermediate members being integrally formed as a single unitary body with one another or with the two components. Such joining may be permanent in nature or may be removable or releasable in nature unless otherwise stated.
Referring to the embodiment illustrated in
Referring to
The water filter assembly 10 may couple to retention tabs 22 by engaging retention tabs 22 with a corresponding retention tab receivers 24 that are on the base 30 of the water filter housing 16. The retention tab receivers 24 on the water filter assembly 10 may be positioned on three sides of the water filter assembly 10, as illustrated in
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
The filter assembly housing 16 includes a base 30 with the aforementioned retention tab receivers 24. A housing mount 17 for the water filter cartridge 14 is attached to the base 30. Fasteners 78 can be used to help secure the housing mount 17 to the base 30 once the water filter housing assembly 15 is positioned within the housing mount 17. The base 30 can include openings 52 for holding water lines 60 securely on the base 30.
The water filter housing assembly 15 includes ports 62, 64 which engage water lines 60. The filter assembly housing 16 can include a plate 48, with a generally circular portion 44 which surrounds an installed filter cartridge 14, and a hinge 74 that couples to a hinge opening 46 on cover 50, as illustrated in
The valve 18 can be any type and/or number of valves capable of being controlled of the directional flow of water. In the illustrated example, the valve 18 is a single solenoid valve.
While not shown in the illustrated embodiments, fasteners may be used to secure the water filter assembly to the refrigerator 12 once the retention tabs 22 are retained in the retention tab receivers 24 in the base 30. The retention tab receivers 24 are tapered to have a width that is close to the width of the retention tab receiver engaging portion 25 of the retention tabs 22. This permits the base 30 to be held securely on the refrigerator 12. The flexibility of the retention tabs 22 permits the base 30 to be held securely on the refrigerator 12 even if the retention tab receiver 24 is slightly more narrow than the retention tab receiver engaging portion 25 of the retention tabs 22. The retention tab receivers 24 can include a generally circular shape that generally matches the shape of the retention tab receiver 24 such that the retention tab 22 is temporarily deformed and then permitted to partially or entirely expand once the retention tab receiver engaging portion 25 expands into the slightly larger area past the taper.
While the illustrated embodiments show three retention tabs 22 and three associated retention tab receivers 24, any number of retention tabs 22 and retention tab receivers 24 can be used to partially and/or entirely secure the water filter assembly 10 to the refrigerator 12. The retention tabs 22 and retention tab receivers 24 can be positioned in any arrangement on the refrigerator 12 and base 30 so long as they can partially and/or entirely couple the base 30 to the refrigerator 12.
It will be understood by one having ordinary skill in the art that the water filter assembly 10, as described herein, can be used with a variety of appliances, such as refrigerators, dishwashers, ovens, clothes washers, dryers, etc. Further, it will be understood that the water filter assembly 10 can be used for a variety of applications, such as a second stage water filter for the appliance. These are examples only and not meant to be limiting. While the description is considered that of the illustrated embodiments only. The above description is considered that of the illustrated embodiments only and modifications of the invention will occur to those of skill in the art and to those who make or use the invention. Therefore, it should be understood that the embodiment shown in the drawings and described above are merely for illustrative purposes and not intended to limit the scope of the invention, which is defined by the following claims as interpreted under the principles of patent law, including the doctrine of equivalents.
Those skilled in the art will recognize, or will be able to ascertain using no more than routine experimentation, many equivalents to the specific embodiments of the invention described herein. Such equivalents are intended to be encompassed by the following claims.
While the concepts of the present disclosure are susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific exemplary embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intent to limit the concepts of the present disclosure to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
It will be understood by one having ordinary skill in the art that construction of the present disclosure and other components is not limited to any specific material. Other exemplary embodiments of the disclosure disclosed herein may be formed from a wide variety of materials, unless described otherwise herein.
It is also important to note that the construction and arrangement of the elements of the present disclosure as shown in the exemplary embodiments is illustrative only. Although only a few embodiments of the present innovations have been described in detail in this disclosure, those skilled in the art who review this disclosure will readily appreciate that, unless otherwise described, many modifications are possible (e.g., variations in sizes, dimensions, structures, shapes, and proportions of the various elements, values of parameters, mounting arrangements, use of materials, colors, orientations, etc.) without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the subject matter recited. For example, elements shown as integrally formed may be constructed of multiple parts or elements shown as multiple parts may be integrally formed, the operation of the interfaces may be reversed or otherwise varied, the length or width of the structures and/or members or connector or other elements of the system may be varied, the nature or number of adjustment positions provided between the elements may be varied. It should be noted that the elements and/or assemblies of the system may be constructed from any of a wide variety of materials that provide sufficient strength or durability, in any of a wide variety of colors, textures, and combinations. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present innovations. Other substitutions, modifications, changes, and omissions may be made in the design, operating positions, and arrangement of the desired and other exemplary embodiments without departing from the spirit of the present innovations.
It will be understood that any described processes or steps within described processes may be combined with other disclosed processes or steps to form structures within the scope of the present disclosure. The exemplary structures and processes disclosed herein are for illustrative purposes and are not to be construed as limiting.
It is also to be understood that variations and modifications can be made on the aforementioned structures and methods without departing from the concepts of the present invention, and further it is to be understood that such concepts are intended to be covered by the following claims unless these claims by their language expressly state otherwise.
