Ice compartment assembly for refrigerator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10203142-B2
Application number	US-201313836563-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 15, 2013
Priority date	May 18, 2005
Publication date	Feb 12, 2019
Grant date	Feb 12, 2019

Abstract

An insulated icemaking compartment is provided in the fresh food compartment of a bottom mount refrigerator. The icemaking compartment may be integrally formed with the liner of the fresh food compartment, or alternatively, may be modular for installation anywhere in the fresh food compartment. A removable bin assembly with a front cover normally seals the icemaking compartment to maintain the temperature in the compartment. A cold air duct formed in the rear wall of the refrigerator supplies cold air from the freezer compartment to the icemaking compartment. A return air duct directs a portion of the air from the icemaking compartment back to the freezer compartment. An air vent in the icemaking compartment directs another portion of air into the fresh food compartment. A control system provides for controlling refrigerator functions in a manner that promotes energy efficiency.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A bottom mount refrigerator, comprising:
a refrigerator cabinet having a rear wall;
a freezer compartment in the refrigerator cabinet and having a freezer door;
a fresh food compartment in the refrigerator cabinet, the fresh food compartment located over the freezer compartment and having a fresh food door with an ice dispenser;
an ice making compartment remote from the freezer compartment and remote from the fresh food door;
a fan for moving air from the freezer compartment into the ice making compartment;
a return air duct in the rear wall of the refrigerator cabinet and extending between the ice making compartment and the freezer compartment, wherein the return air duct remains in uninterrupted communication with the ice compartment when the fresh food door is open; and
an icemaker and ice storage area in the ice making compartment, the icemaker having a single electrical connection within the ice making compartment for a wire harness of the icemaker;
a water fill tube for supplying water to the icemaker exposed to ambient air to prevent freezing of water within the water fill tube and the water fill tube extending downwardly through a vertically disposed hold in a top wall of the refrigerator;
an ice mold positioned so that ice from the ice mold can be discharged into the ice storage area and then dispensed by the ice dispenser in the fresh food door; and
a liner portion substantially defining the fresh food compartment and the ice making compartment.

2. The bottom mount refrigerator of claim 1 wherein the liner portion is substantially box-shaped with one open side and has an interior surface and an exterior surface, the interior surface generally defines the fresh food compartment, a notch in the liner portion forming a receiver on the exterior surface for the ice making compartment.

3. The bottom mount refrigerator of claim 2 wherein the ice making compartment comprises a cavity for receiving ice making components.

4. The bottom mount refrigerator of claim 3 wherein the ice making components comprise an ice bin.

5. The bottom mount refrigerator of claim 4 wherein the ice bin includes an ice moving auger.

6. The bottom mount refrigerator of claim 5 wherein the ice making components comprise an ice moving auger motor.

7. The bottom mount refrigerator of claim 6 further comprising a cover for the cavity on the ice bin.

8. The bottom mount refrigerator of claim 7 wherein the cover is intergrally formed with the ice bin.

9. The bottom mount refrigerator of claim 3 wherein the cavity comprises a sleeve surrounded by foamed insulation.

10. The bottom mount refrigerator of claim 9 wherein the sleeve has a rear end and a front end and receives a removable combination ice bin and ice compartment cover.

11. The bottom mount refrigerator of claim 10 wherein the ice compartment cover includes an aperture comprising an ice outlet in communication with the ice bin.

12. The bottom mount refrigerator of claim 11 wherein the ice outlet in the ice compartment cover is adapted for alignment with an ice chute which is in communication with an ice dispensing station on an external location on the refrigerator.

13. The bottom mount refrigerator of claim 10 wherein the ice compartment cover includes a finger-operated latch control.

14. The bottom mount refrigerator of claim 10 wherein the ice compartment cover is thermally insulated.

15. The bottom mount refrigerator of claim 10 wherein the ice compartment cover substantially seals the ice compartment when at the ice compartment.

16. The bottom mount refrigerator of claim 10 wherein the sleeve is made of a rigid molded material which supports the ice maker.

17. The bottom mount refrigerator of claim 9 wherein the sleeve includes a mounting location for the ice maker.

18. The bottom mount refrigerator of claim 9 wherein the sleeve includes a mounting location for an auger motor.

19. The bottom mount refrigerator of claim 9 wherein the sleeve includes at least one integrally formed air duct.

20. The bottom mount refrigerator of claim 9 wherein the sleeve includes integrally formed slide rails.

Assignees

• Whirlpool Co

Inventors

• Coulter Tim L
• Gose Thomas E
• Herndon Steven G
• Jenkins James H
• Koons Bill J
• Kramer Brent A
• Leimkuehler Scott W
• Martin Dean A
• Miller Alvin V
• Noel Kevin Lee
• Oliveira Mauro M
• Ott Lester J
• Paulsen Ron S
• Rotter Chad J
• Stauffer David Allen
• Van Meter Kyle B
• Welch Alan M
• Wetekamp Robert L

Classifications

• Y10T29/49359

  Cooling apparatus making, e.g., air conditioner, refrigerator · CPC title

• F25D29/00

  Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices · CPC title

• F25D23/064

  formed by moulding, e.g. moulding in situ · CPC title

• F25D11/02 Primary

  with cooling compartments at different temperatures · CPC title

• F25C1/00

  Producing ice (F25C3/00 takes precedence) · CPC title