Refrigerator with automatic liquid dispenser

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10077183-B2
Application number	US-201715802730-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 3, 2017
Priority date	Dec 9, 2011
Publication date	Sep 18, 2018
Grant date	Sep 18, 2018

Abstract

A refrigerator includes a cabinet defining a fresh food compartment and a door pivotally mounted to the cabinet and including an interior surface in communication with the fresh food compartment when the door is closed. A shelf unit is disposed adjacent the interior surface of the door, and a container is supported by the shelf unit. A fill mechanism is positioned vertically above the container and the container is configured to receive liquid from the fill mechanism. A sensor is configured to sense a property of the container or liquid received in the container. A control is in communication with the sensor and regulates a dispensing of liquid into the container based upon the sensed property. The sensor utilizes a capacitive sensor located adjacent to the container.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A refrigerator, comprising:
a cabinet defining a fresh food compartment;
a door pivotally mounted to the cabinet and comprising an interior surface in communication with the fresh food compartment when the door is closed;
a shelf unit adjacent the interior surface of the door;
a container supported by the shelf unit;
a fill mechanism positioned vertically above the container, wherein the container is configured to receive liquid from the fill mechanism;
a sensor configured to sense a property of the container or liquid received in the container; and
a control in communication with the sensor and configured to regulate dispensing of liquid into the container based upon the sensed property,
wherein the sensor utilizes a capacitive sensor coupled to a dielectric plate located adjacent to the container, and the dielectric plate is resiliently biased into engagement with the container.

2. The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the fill mechanism is located on the door.

3. The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the shelf unit comprises a plurality of walls that form a bounded geometry which corresponds to a shape of the container such that when the container is placed in a stored position, the container nests within the shelf unit.

4. The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the fill mechanism is located as part of the shelf unit.

5. The refrigerator of claim 3 , wherein the fill mechanism comprises a spout and wherein said spout is disposed on one of the plurality of walls.

6. A refrigerator, comprising:
a cabinet defining a fresh food compartment;
a door pivotally mounted to the cabinet and comprising an interior surface in communication with the fresh food compartment when the door is closed;
a shelf unit adjacent the interior surface of door, the shelf unit comprising a support shelf;
a liquid dispenser;
a container supported on the support shelf, wherein the liquid dispenser is part of the shelf unit and wherein the container is configured to receive liquid from the liquid dispenser;
a sensor configured to sense a property of the container or liquid received in the container; and
a control in communication with the sensor and configured to regulate dispensing of liquid into the container based upon the sensed property,
wherein the sensor utilizes a capacitive sensor coupled to a dielectric plate located adjacent to the container and the dielectric plate is resiliently biased into engagement with the container.

7. The refrigerator of claim 6 , wherein the shelf unit includes a plurality of walls that define a bounded geometry such that the container nests within the shelf unit.

8. The refrigerator of claim 6 , wherein the liquid dispenser is vertically spaced from and disposed at least partially over the support shelf.

9. The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the liquid dispenser comprises a spout.

10. The refrigerator of claim 9 , wherein one of the plurality of walls includes the spout.

11. The refrigerator of claim 9 , wherein the support shelf is positioned vertically below the spout.

12. The refrigerator of claim 9 , wherein the container further comprises a cover to close off a top opening of the container, the cover comprising a fill cup fluidly connected to an interior of the container whereby the container is configured to receive liquid from the spout via the fill cup.

13. A refrigerator, comprising:
a cabinet defining a fresh food compartment;
a door pivotally mounted to the cabinet and comprising an interior surface in communication with the fresh food compartment when the door is closed;
a shelf unit adjacent the interior surface of door, the shelf unit comprising a support shelf and a plurality of walls that define a bounded geometry;
a container supported on the support shelf, the container having a shape corresponding to the bounded geometry such that, when the container is in a stored position, the container nests within the shelf unit;
a liquid dispenser comprising a spout that is positioned vertically above the support shelf;
a sensor configured to sense a property of the container or liquid received in the container; and
a control in communication with the sensor and configured to regulate dispensing of liquid into the container based upon the sensed property,
wherein the sensor utilizes a capacitive sensor coupled to a dielectric plate located adjacent to the container and the dielectric plate is resiliently biased into engagement with the container, and
wherein the container further comprises a cover to close off a top opening of the container, the cover comprising a fill cup fluidly connected to an interior of the container whereby the container is configured to receive liquid from the spout via the fill cup.

Assignees

• Electrolux Home Prod Inc

Inventors

• Mcmahan Travis
• Bertolini Nilton
• Thompson Thomas R
• Sanchez Jorge Carlos Montalvo
• Comsa Cornel

Classifications

• B67D7/221 Primary

  using electrical or electro-mechanical means (B67D7/224 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B67D1/0006

  based on the timed opening of a valve · CPC title

• B67D2210/00036

  for use with or in refrigerators · CPC title

• B67D2001/1268

  Capacitors · CPC title

• F25D2323/122

  the refrigerator is characterised by a water tank for the water/ice dispenser · CPC title