Low force actuation dispenser paddle for a dispenser assembly of an appliance

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9738504-B2
Application number	US-201514972820-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 17, 2015
Priority date	Dec 17, 2015
Publication date	Aug 22, 2017
Grant date	Aug 22, 2017

Abstract

A dispensing mechanism for an appliance includes an operable paddle having a lower portion and an upper portion pivotally attached to a dispenser wall between outward and inward positions. An actuator has a switch positioned proximate a pivot defined by a first end of an actuator lever. A second end of the actuator lever is positioned proximate the lower portion of the operable paddle, wherein operation of the operable paddle to the inward position engages the lower portion of the operable paddle with the bottom portion of the actuator lever and operates the actuator lever from an idle state to a use state. Movement of the bottom portion of the actuator lever operates the switch from a deactivated state to an activated state, wherein the activated state of the switch activates the at least one of the ice dispenser and the water dispenser.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A dispensing mechanism for an appliance, the dispensing mechanism comprising:
an operable paddle having a lower portion and an upper portion, the upper portion pivotally attached to a dispenser wall and operable between outward and inward positions, wherein the operable paddle is in communication with at least one of an ice dispenser and a water dispenser; and
an actuator having an actuator lever and a switch positioned proximate a pivot defined by a first end of the actuator lever, wherein a distal portion of the actuator lever proximate a second end of the actuator lever is positioned proximate the lower portion of the operable paddle, wherein operation of the operable paddle to the inward position engages the lower portion of the operable paddle with the distal portion of the actuator lever and operates the actuator lever from an idle state to a use state, and wherein movement of the distal portion of the actuator lever operates the switch from a deactivated state to an activated state, wherein the activated state of the switch activates the at least one of the ice dispenser and the water dispenser.

2. The dispensing mechanism of claim 1 , wherein a bottom edge of the operable paddle moves from the outward position toward the inward position a distance of approximately 4 millimeters to place the actuator lever in the use state and the switch in the activated state.

3. The dispensing mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the operable paddle is engaged with the actuator lever in the outward and inward positions.

4. The dispensing mechanism of claim 3 , wherein the operable paddle is slidably engaged with the actuator lever and the actuator lever is slidably engaged with the switch.

5. The dispensing mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the actuator includes a first biasing mechanism that biases the actuator lever toward the idle state.

6. The dispensing mechanism of claim 5 , wherein the first biasing mechanism is attached to the switch to bias the switch toward the deactivated state.

7. The dispensing mechanism of claim 6 , wherein the operable paddle includes a second biasing mechanism at the upper portion of the operable paddle, wherein the second biasing mechanism biases the operable paddle toward the outward position.

8. The dispensing mechanism of claim 5 , wherein a lateral force of approximately 0.4 pounds applied to a bottom edge of the operable paddle toward the inward position operates the operable paddle to define the inward position.

9. A dispenser activation unit for an appliance, the dispenser activation unit comprising:
a first lever having a first end that defines a first fulcrum and a second end that defines an actuating portion, wherein a switch is positioned between the actuating portion and the first fulcrum, the switch being in communication with at least one of an ice dispenser and a water dispenser, wherein the switch is operable between a deactivated state and an activated state that deactivates and activates, respectively, the at least one of the ice dispenser and the water dispenser; and
a second lever having an upper end that defines a second fulcrum and a lower end that defines an engagement portion, wherein the engagement portion is disposed proximate the actuating portion of the first lever, wherein operation of the second lever from an outward position to an inward position operably engages the first lever to operate from an idle state to a use state, and wherein operation of the first lever from the idle state to the use state operates the switch from the deactivated state to the activated state.

10. The dispenser activation unit of claim 9 , wherein a first biasing mechanism is positioned proximate the first lever and biases the first lever toward the idle state.

11. The dispenser activation unit of claim 10 , wherein the first biasing mechanism is attached to the switch and biases the switch to the deactivated state.

12. The dispenser activation unit of claim 11 , wherein the first biasing mechanism biases the switch to the deactivated state, biases the first lever to the idle state and biases the second lever to the outward position.

13. The dispenser activation unit of claim 12 , wherein the engagement portion of the second lever is slidably engaged with the actuating portion of the first lever.

14. The dispenser activation unit of claim 10 , wherein the second lever includes a second biasing mechanism positioned at the second fulcrum that biases the second lever toward the outward position, wherein the second lever is pivotally coupled to a dispenser wall at the second fulcrum.

15. The dispenser activation unit of claim 9 , wherein a bottom edge of the second lever moves from the outward position toward the inward position a distance of approximately 4 millimeters to place the first lever in the use state and the switch in the activated state.

16. The dispenser activation unit of claim 9 , wherein a lateral force of approximately 0.4 pounds applied to a bottom edge of the second lever toward the inward position operates the second lever to define the inward position.

17. A force-reduction unit for activating a dispenser function of an appliance, the force-reduction unit comprising:
a first lever having a first end that defines a first fulcrum and a second end that defines an actuating portion, wherein a switch is positioned between the actuating portion and the first fulcrum, the switch configured to be in communication with the dispenser function, wherein the switch is operable between a deactivated state and an activated state that deactivates and activates, respectively, the dispenser function; and
a second lever having an upper end that defines a second fulcrum and a lower end that defines an engagement portion, wherein the engagement portion is disposed proximate the actuating portion of the first lever, wherein operation of the second lever from an outward position to an inward position operably engages the first lever to operate from an idle state to a use state, and wherein operation of the first lever from the idle state to the use state operates the switch from the deactivated state to the activated state.

18. The force-reduction unit of claim 17 , wherein a first biasing mechanism is positioned proximate the first lever and biases the first lever toward the idle state.

19. The force-reduction unit of claim 17 , wherein a bottom edge of the second lever moves from the outward position toward the inward position a distance of approximately 4 millimeters to place the first lever in the use state and the switch in the activated state.

20. The force-reduction unit of claim 17 , wherein a lateral force of approximately 0.4 pounds applied to a bottom edge of the second lever toward the inward position operates the second lever to define the inward position.

Assignees

• Whirlpool Co

Inventors

• Aranda Jose R
• Quinlan Daniel H
• Tunzi Todd

Classifications

• F25D23/126

  Water cooler · CPC title

• F25C5/22

  particularly adapted for household refrigerators · CPC title

• B67D3/02

  Liquid-dispensing valves having operating members arranged to be pressed upwards, e.g. by the rims of receptacles held below the delivery orifice · CPC title

• B67D1/124

  the flow being started or stopped by means actuated by the vessel to be filled, e.g. by switches, weighing · CPC title

• B67D1/0857

  Cooling arrangements (cooling systems per se F25B) · CPC title