Automatic water filler

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2024344760-A1
Application number	US-202418636040-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 15, 2024
Priority date	Apr 14, 2023
Publication date	Oct 17, 2024
Grant date	—

Abstract

A refrigerator includes an automatic filing water storage system. The refrigerator includes a cabinet having a fresh-food compartment and a door pivotally mounted to the cabinet. The system includes a dispenser positioned in the fresh-food compartment and a docking base positioned in one of the fresh-food compartment and the door. A container is configured to be supported by the docking base. In a docked position and when the door is in a closed position, the dispenser is configured to selectively dispense liquid into the container based upon a sensed fill level condition. When the door is in an open position, the dispenser is configured to dispense liquid based upon engagement of an actuator by a user.

First claim

1 . A refrigerator having an automatic water filling and storage system, the refrigerator comprising:
a cabinet having a fresh-food compartment; a door pivotally mounted to the cabinet and movable between a closed position at least partially enclosing the fresh-food compartment and an open position for providing a user access to the fresh-food compartment; a water dispenser coupled to an interior surface the cabinet; a docking base coupled to an interior side of the door; and a container removably held in the docking base, wherein, when the door is in the open position, the water dispenser is configured to dispense water into a secondary container held by the user, and wherein, when the container is held in the docking base and the door is in the closed position, the water dispenser is configured to selectively dispense water into the container based upon a sensed level of water in the container.

2 . The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the water dispenser is located at a top wall of the fresh-food compartment.

3 . The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the water dispenser is located at a side wall of the fresh-food compartment.

4 . The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the container has an opening that is configured to align with a nozzle of the water dispenser when the door is in the closed position.

5 . The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the water dispenser comprises an actuator configured to be actuated by the user when the door is in the open position to dispense water from the water dispenser.

6 . The refrigerator of claim 5 , wherein the actuator is configured to be actuated by the container when the door is in the closed position to selectively dispense water from the water dispenser based upon the sensed level of water in the container.

7 . The refrigerator of claim 1 , further comprising a level sensor configured to sense a level of water in the container held in the docking base, wherein, when the door is in the closed position and the level of water sensed is below a low-level threshold, the water dispenser dispenses water into the container.

8 . The refrigerator of claim 7 , wherein, when the door is in the closed position and the level of water sensed is above a high-level threshold, the water dispenser does not dispense water into the container.

9 . The refrigerator of claim 1 , further comprising a presence sensor configured to sense the container in the docking base, wherein, when the container is removed from the docking base, the presence sensor senses the docking base is void of the container and the water dispenser does not dispense water when the door is closed.

10 . A refrigerator having an automatic water filling and storage system, the refrigerator comprising:
a cabinet having an interior compartment; a door pivotally mounted to the cabinet; a water dispenser coupled to the cabinet within the interior compartment; and a docking base coupled to the door for supporting a removable water container, wherein, when the door is in a closed position, the removable water container is configured to engage the water dispenser and the water dispenser is configured to selectively dispense water into the removable water container, and wherein, when the door is in an open position, the removable water container is configured to disengage the water dispenser and the water dispenser is configured to dispense water into a secondary container held by a user.

11 . The refrigerator of claim 10 , wherein the water dispenser is located at one of a top wall or a side wall of the cabinet.

12 . The refrigerator of claim 10 , wherein the removable water container has an opening that is configured to align with a nozzle of the water dispenser when the door is in the closed position and move out of alignment with the nozzle when the door is moved to the open position.

13 . The refrigerator of claim 10 , further comprising an actuator configured to be actuated by the user when the door is in the open position to cause the water dispenser to dispense water.

14 . The refrigerator of claim 13 , wherein the actuator is configured to be actuated by the removable water container when the door is in the closed position to selectively dispense water from the water dispenser into the removable water container.

15 . The refrigerator of claim 10 , further comprising a sensor configured to sense water in the removable water container when it is held in the docking base, wherein, when the door is closed, the water dispenser is configured to selectively dispense water into the removable water container based on the water sensed in the removable water container by the sensor.

16 . The refrigerator of claim 15 , wherein, when the door is in the closed position and the water sensed is above a high-level threshold, the water dispenser does not dispense water into the removable water container.

17 . The refrigerator of claim 10 , further comprising a presence sensor configured to sense the removable water container in the docking base, and wherein, when the removable water container is removed from the docking base, the presence sensor senses the docking base is void of the removable water container and the water dispenser is prevented from dispensing water when the door is in the closed position.

18 . A system for automatically filling and storing water in a refrigerator, the system comprising:
a fresh-food compartment and a door pivotally mounted to the fresh-food compartment; a dispenser located in the fresh-food compartment and configured to selectively dispense water into a container; and a dock located in the door and configured to hold the container, wherein, when the door is open, the container is positioned away from the dispenser and the dispenser is configured to dispense water upon actuation of an actuator, and wherein, when the door is closed, the container is positioned adjacent to the dispenser and the dispenser is configured to dispense water into the container based upon a sensed level of water in the container.

19 . The system of claim 18 , wherein the actuator is configured to be actuated by the container when the door is closed to selectively dispense water from the dispenser based upon the sensed level of water in the container.

20 . The system of claim 19 , further comprising a level sensor configured to sense the level of water in the container held in the docking, wherein, when the door is closed and the sensed level of water in the container is below a low-level threshold, the dispenser dispenses water into the container.

Assignees

• Hisense Usa Corp

Inventors

• Pit Heng Tong
• Lee Jeesuk
• Kuehl Steven J
• Pi Jinxiong
• Liu Xueqing

Classifications

• A47J31/54

  Water boiling vessels {in beverage making machines} · CPC title

• A47J31/0631

  with means for better or quicker spreading the infusion liquid over the filter (spreader plates for drip coffee makers A47J31/4478) · CPC title

• A47J31/525

  the electronic control being based on monitoring of specific process parameters · CPC title

• F25D2331/81

  Pitchers · CPC title

• F25D23/04

  with special compartments, e.g. butter conditioners · CPC title