Patent Application
20110259033
The present invention relates generally to refrigeration appliances and in particular to ice and water dispensing units in an appliance.
Modern refrigeration appliances, such as household refrigerators for example, often include as one of their features a dispensing unit for water and/or ice. Frequently, the dispensing unit is located within a recess in the exterior surface of a door of the appliance. A lever can be provided for the water dispensing outlet that is pivotally attached to the dispensing unit. A spring or the like can bias the lever outwardly. When water is to be dispensed, a glass or other container is pressed against the lever thereby operating a switch or sensor so as to complete an electrical circuit between a source of electrical power and a solenoid-operated valve connected to a source of water. The completion of the electrical circuit opens the solenoid-operated valve permitting the water to flow form the source of water to the water dispensing outlet. When the desired amount of water has been dispensed, the glass is withdrawn from the lever, the torsion spring causes the switch or sensor to be disengaged and the electrical circuit deactivated so that the solenoid-operated valve closes. Similar structure can also be provided for an ice dispenser. Typically, separate levers are provided for ice dispensing and water dispensing.
The following presents a simplified summary of the invention in order to provide a basic understanding of some example aspects of the invention. This summary is not an extensive overview of the invention. Moreover, this summary is not intended to identify critical elements of the invention nor delineate the scope of the invention. The sole purpose of the summary is to present some concepts of the invention in simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, an appliance for dispensing product is provided including a storage compartment located within the appliance, a dispensing unit located on an exterior of the appliance where the dispensing unit includes a dispensing outlet, and an actuating mechanism located on the exterior of the storage compartment. The actuating mechanism is configured to be moved from a neutral position to at least a first position and a second position. The first position is configured to trigger a release of a first type of product from the dispensing outlet. The second position is configured to trigger a release of a second type of product from the dispensing outlet.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, an appliance for dispensing product is provided including a storage compartment, and an actuating mechanism located on the exterior of the storage compartment. The actuating mechanism is configured to be moved from a neutral position to at least a first position and a second position. The first position is configured to trigger a release of a first type of product. The second position is configured to trigger a release of a second type of product. The first position is reached by moving the actuating mechanism from the neutral position in a first direction. The second position is reached by moving the actuating mechanism from the neutral position further in the first direction.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, an appliance for dispensing product is provided including a storage compartment located within the appliance, a door configured to provide access to the storage compartment, a recess located on the exterior of the door, a dispensing unit located in the recess where the dispensing unit includes a dispensing outlet, an actuating mechanism located on the exterior of the storage compartment, a first line and a second line located within the appliance that are each configured to transport a product to the dispensing outlet, at least one valve configured to control which of the first line and the second line communicates with the dispensing outlet, and at least one switch configured to detect a position of the actuating mechanism. The actuating mechanism is configured to be moved from a neutral position to at least a first position and a second position by moving the actuating mechanism. The first position is configured to trigger a release of at least a first type of product from the dispensing outlet by the switch sending a signal indicative of the position of the actuating mechanism to the valve. The second position is configured to trigger a release of at least a second type of product from the dispensing outlet by the switch sending a signal indicative of the second position of the actuating mechanism to the valve.
The foregoing and other aspects of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which the present invention relates upon reading the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Example embodiments that incorporate one or more aspects of the present invention are described and illustrated in the drawings. These illustrated examples are not intended to be a limitation on the present invention. For example, one or more aspects of the present invention can be utilized in other embodiments and even other types of devices. Moreover, certain terminology is used herein for convenience only and is not to be taken as a limitation on the present invention. Still further, in the drawings, the same reference numerals are employed for designating the same elements.
The appliance 10 in
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As further shown in
As shown in
In still further examples, a plurality of actuating mechanisms can be provided, such as a first actuating mechanism configured to deliver different types of ice and a second actuating mechanism configured to deliver different types of water. In one example, a first actuating mechanism 30 can be provided to trigger a release of at least a first type of product and a second type of product and a second actuating mechanism (not shown) can be provided to provide at least a third type of product and a fourth type of product. For example, the first actuating mechanism 30 can deliver cold water in a first position 34 and hot water in a second position 36 and the second actuating mechanism can deliver cubed ice in a first position and crushed ice in a second position. In further examples, any number of actuating mechanisms with any number of positions can be used to trigger a release of different types of products from a dispensing outlet. Each actuating mechanism 30 can include at least a first position 34 and a second position 36 where the first position 34 actuates a first type of product and the second position 36 actuates a second type of product.
In any of the examples, the first position 34 can be reached by moving the actuating mechanism 30 from the neutral position 32. The first position 34 can also be reached by moving the actuating mechanism 30 in a first direction from the neutral position 32. The first direction, in the shown example refers to pulling the actuating mechanism 30 in a backwards direction away from the rear surface 26 of the dispensing unit 18.
In one example, at least one of the first position 34 and the second position 36 can be reached by moving the actuating mechanism 30 in any direction from the neutral position 32. In another example, the first position 34 is reached by moving the actuating mechanism 30 in the first direction away from the neutral position and the second position 36 is reached by moving the actuating mechanism 30 in the second direction away from the neutral position 32. The first direction can be directly opposite the second direction or can merely be a different direction compared to the first direction.
The at least two positions of the actuating mechanism 30 can further include a third position 38. The third position 38 for the actuating mechanism 30 can actuate the release of a third product, such as cubed ice from within the appliance 10. The third position 38 can be reached by moving the actuating mechanism 30 from the neutral position 32. The third position 38 can be reached by moving the actuating mechanism 30 in the first direction, in the second direction, or in a third direction. For example, the third position 38 can be reached by movement of the actuating mechanism 30 in a second direction from the second position 36, such as to a position in the second direction relatively further away from the neutral position 32 than the second position 36. Thus, in this example, the second position 36 and the third position 38 are located in one directional movement from the actuating mechanism 30, and the first position 34 is located in another directional movement from the actuating mechanism 30. Thus, the different positions can also be located at different angles relatives to each other or can be in a direction of movement that is perpendicular to each other. In still further examples, the third position 38 can only be reached by moving the actuating mechanism 30 from only one of the neutral position 32, the first position 34, or the second position 36.
In further examples, the first position 34, the second position 36, and the third position 38 can correspond to moving the actuating mechanism 30 in different planes and in a variety of directions. For example, the first position 34 can be reached by moving the actuating mechanism 30 from the neutral position 32 in a direction to the left, to the right, to the front, to the rear, or in any three-dimensional direction defined by the x-axis, the y-axis, and the z-axis shown in
The different types of products that can be released can be water, ice, crushed ice, cubed ice, a variety of liquid beverages, or other solid or liquid products. In one example, when there are two positions provided, such as positions 34 and 36, the first type of product can be a first type of ice (e.g., cubed ice) transported from a storage compartment within the appliance, and the second type of product can be a second type of ice (e.g., crushed ice) transported from the storage compartment within the appliance. By providing an actuating mechanism 30 movable between different selection positions, selection icons and other tactile switches can be reduced, or even eliminated, to determine the type of product for release. Reducing the need for selection icons and other tactile switches thereby reduces the amount of user-interface space needed in the appliance and increases the amount of space that can be used for other icons or functions. A user can simply place their cup or container within the dispensing unit 18 and move the actuating mechanism 30 to the appropriate position with the cup or container to dispense the desired product.
An ice-making system can be operationally associated with the dispensing unit 18 by a dispensing conduit (not shown) for dispensing ice from the ice-making system to the dispensing unit 18 when the door 14 is closed. The dispensing conduit can be mounted to the side of the door 14 that faces the interior of the fresh food compartment 16 when the door 14 is closed and includes an opening for receiving ice cubes from a storage bin. A control panel can be operationally associated with various control units and devices in the refrigerator. For example, the control panel can be used to provide input or control information for controlling the operation of various components in the refrigerator, such as the dispensing unit 18 and/or the ice-making system. The control panel can be analog or digital, and may operatively coupled to a microprocessor or the like (not shown). Thus, the user can adjustably control various operational features of the refrigerator at the control panel. The functioning of the microprocessor is also responsive to condition-sensing devices, such as digital devices, analog devices, or thermostats, located in the refrigerator.
The refrigeration system can include a first evaporator (not shown) adapted to be operatively associated with the freezer compartment of the refrigerator for furnishing to the freezer compartment a cooling effect sufficient to maintain the freezer compartment at a temperature below zero degrees Centigrade. The evaporator can be located inside the freezer compartment but need not be located there. The refrigeration system can also include a second evaporator (not shown) in operative association with the ice-making unit of the ice-making system for furnishing to the ice-making unit a cooling effect sufficient to freeze water and form ice in the ice-making unit.
The ice-making system can be adapted to operate within a freezer compartment or even with a section of a refrigeration appliance that is maintained at a temperature above zero degrees Centigrade, such as the fresh food compartment 16 of the refrigerator 10. The ice-making unit of the ice-making system can be adapted to be placed in operative association with a refrigeration system, for furnishing to the ice-making unit a cooling effect sufficient to freeze water and form ice in the ice-making unit. In one example, the ice-making system can include an ice-making tray in which ice is formed around ice-making elements (not shown). In addition to the ice-making unit, the ice-making system can include a reservoir for holding water. Refrigerant can either be brought into general contact with the ice-making elements, and the elements cooled thereby, or the refrigerant can be placed into more complete contact with the elements by passing the refrigerant internally of the elements. In other examples, the ice-making system can have an ice tray that is filled with water to form ice cubes. In any event, the refrigerant will be at a temperature sufficiently low to cause the water in the ice-making tray to freeze. Hot or warm compressed refrigerant can contact the ice-forming elements to cause the ice pieces to be freed from the plurality of ice-making elements. However, prior to this occurring, as controlled by the microprocessor, a dumping mechanism can rotate the ice-making tray and dump from the ice-making tray any water in the ice-making tray that has not been converted to ice.
Turning back to
The valve 42 can be a solenoid-operated valve or part of a mechanical system and operation can be controlled by a microprocessor. The valve 42 is configured to control an opening to determine which of the first line 44, the second line 46, and the third line 48 communicates with the dispensing outlet 22. The microprocessor can receive a signal based on the detected position of the actuating mechanism 30. A switch, such as a microswitch, can be provided on or near the actuating mechanism 30. The switch is configured to detect the position (i.e. 34, 36, 38) of the actuating mechanism 30 and sends a signal indicative of the position of the actuating mechanism 30 to activate the valve 42 for the release of one of the types of product corresponding to the specific position selected. The signal can be analog, digital, can merely provide electrical contacts, or the signal can be a part of a mechanical system that indicates the position of the actuating mechanism 30. In other examples, a plurality of dispensing outlets can be provided (not shown), where each dispensing outlet is in engagement with a different line for the delivery of a different type of product. The dispensing outlets can be located close enough together that a user can receive the various types of product by the user placing a cup or container in contact with the actuating mechanism 30. In further examples, a plurality of valves (not shown) can also be used to actuate the transport of the various types of products to the dispensing outlet based on the selected position of the actuating mechanism 30.
In another example shown in
In the example of
The appliance of
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The actuating mechanism 230, in this example, can then be moved in a generally upwards direction from the neutral position 252 to reach a first position 254. The actuating mechanism 230 can also be moved in the generally upwards direction from the neutral position 252 to reach a second position 256, such as by a user placing a cup or container in contact with the actuating mechanism 230. A third position 258 can also be provided to release a third type of product. In this example, the third position 258 can be located in a generally downwards direction from the neutral position 252.
In yet another example, the neutral position 362 can be modified such that the actuating mechanism 230 moves in a single direction. A third position 368 can be located in a generally upwards direction from the second position 366. Thus, the movement of the actuating mechanism 250 in the first direction from the first position 364 can be used to reach the third position 368. In further examples, the first position 364, the second position 366, and the third position 368 can be located in various arrangements relative to the neutral position 362. For example, each of the first, second, or third positions can be located above or below the neutral position 362. In another example, any two positions (i.e. 364, 366 or 364, 368 or 366, 368) can be located either above or below the neutral position 362.
The actuating mechanism 230 can be configured to be rotatable about a pivot point 250 for movement to different positions in a relatively vertical direction. In another example, the actuating mechanism 230 can be configured to be moved in only an upwards direction and a downwards direction. For example, the actuating mechanism 230 can be connected via one or more linkage members to a pivot point to allow the actuating mechanism 230 to move in only one direction, such as a vertical direction, as opposed to pivoting about a central point.
The invention has been described with reference to the example embodiments described above. Modifications and alterations will occur to others upon a reading and understanding of this specification. Example embodiments incorporating one or more aspects of the invention are intended to include all such modifications and alterations insofar as they come within the scope of the appended claims.
