# US 10,246,317 B2 · Push pedal water dispenser assembly > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,246,317 B2 - Document ID: US10246317B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/376,912 - Filed: 2016-12-13 - Published: 2018-06-14 - Granted: 2019-04-02 - Earliest claimed: 2016-12-13 - Assignees: Whirlpool Corporation - Applicants: Whirlpool Corporation - Inventors: Narendra A. Kapure - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10246317B2 ## CPC - B67D 3/0003: {provided with automatic fluid control means} - B67D 3/02: Liquid-dispensing valves having operating members arranged to be pressed upwards, e.g. by the rims of receptacles held below the delivery orifice - B67D 7/06: Details or accessories - F25D 23/126: {Water cooler} - B67D 3/00: Apparatus or devices for controlling flow of liquids under gravity from storage containers for dispensing purposes (separating and dispensing metered quantities of liquids G01F) - F25D 23/12: Arrangements of compartments additional to cooling compartments; Combinations of refrigerators with other equipment, e.g. stove - F25D 2323/122: the refrigerator is characterised by a water tank for the water/ice dispenser - B67D: DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (cleaning pipes or tubes or systems of pipes or tubes B08B9/02; emptying or filling of bottles, jars, cans, casks, barrels, or similar containers, not otherwise provided for B67C; water supply E03; pipe systems F17D; domestic hot-water supply systems F24D; measuring volume, volume flow, mass flow or liquid level, metering by volume G01F; coin-freed or like apparatus G07F) - F25D: REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (refrigerated showcases A47F3/04; thermally-insulated vessels for domestic use A47J41/00; refrigerated vehicles, see the appropriate subclasses of classes B60 - B64; containers with thermal insulation in general B65D81/38; heat-transfer, heat-exchange or heat-storage materials, e.g. refrigerants, or materials for the production of heat or cold by chemical reactions other than by combustion C09K5/00; thermally-insulated vessels for liquefied or solidified gases F17C; air-conditioning or air-humidification F24F; refrigeration machines, plants, or systems F25B; cooling of instruments or comparable apparatus without refrigeration G12B) ## Abstract A water dispenser assembly for a refrigerator includes a housing having a front fascia with an actuator receiving area. An actuator is received in the actuator receiving area and includes inner and outer surfaces. The actuator is operable between at-rest and pressed positions. A hinge pin includes upper and lower ends with a body portion disposed therebetween. The upper and lower ends are pivotally coupled to upper and lower portions of the actuator receiving area to rotate the body portion of the hinge pin between extended and retracted positions. The body portion is further coupled to the inner surface of the actuator for movement therewith. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A water dispenser assembly for a refrigerator, comprising: a housing having a front fascia coupled thereto, the front fascia including an actuator receiving area; an actuator received in the actuator receiving area having inner and outer surfaces, the actuator operable between at-rest and pressed positions; and a hinge pin having upper and lower ends and a body portion disposed therebetween, the upper and lower ends pivotally coupled to upper and lower portions of the actuator receiving area to rotate the body portion between extended and retracted positions along a vertical rotational axis, wherein the body portion is coupled to the inner surface of the actuator. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The water dispenser assembly of claim 1, including: one or more biasing mechanisms disposed between the front fascia and the actuator, to bias the actuator towards the at-rest position. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The water dispenser assembly of claim 1, including: an electronic switch disposed between the housing and the front fascia. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The water dispenser assembly of claim 3, wherein the actuator includes an arm rearwardly extending from the inner surface of the actuator, the arm contacting the electronic switch to activate the electronic switch when the actuator is in the pressed position. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The water dispenser assembly of claim 1, wherein the body portion of the hinge pin is disposed along the inner surface of the actuator between uppermost and lowermost portions thereof. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The water dispenser assembly of claim 1, including: upper and lower slots disposed on the upper and lower portions of the actuator receiving area. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The water dispenser assembly of claim 6, including: upper and lower retainer members disposed on the actuator and coupled to the upper and lower slots of the upper and lower portions of the actuator receiving area to retain the actuator in the actuator receiving area. ### Claim 8 A water dispenser assembly for a refrigerator, comprising: a housing having an actuator receiving area with upper and lower mounting apertures; an actuator received in the actuator receiving area, the actuator moveable in a linear manner between at-rest and pressed positions; and a hinge pin having a body portion with off-set upper and lower ends, the off-set upper and lower ends pivotally coupled to the upper and lower mounting apertures of the actuator receiving, area to rotate the body portion between extended and retracted positions, wherein the hinge pin is a unitary member, and further wherein the body portion of the hinge pin is coupled to an inner surface of the actuator. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The water dispenser assembly of claim 8, wherein the actuator receiving area is an inset area relative to an outer surface of the housing having a rear wall. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The water dispenser assembly of claim 9, including: one or more mounting bosses outwardly extending from the rear wall. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The water dispenser assembly of claim 10, including: one or more mounting bosses outwardly extending from the inner surface of the actuator and aligned with the one or more mounting bosses disposed along the rear wall when the actuator is received in the actuator receiving area. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The water dispenser assembly of claim 11, including: one or more spring members received in the one or more mounting bosses of the actuator and the one or more mounting bosses of the rear wall to bias the actuator to the at-rest position. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The water dispenser assembly of claim 8, wherein the body portion of the hinge pin includes laterally disposed projections having end portions in contact with the inner surface of the actuator. ### Claim 14 A water dispenser assembly for a refrigerator, comprising: a housing having an actuator receiving area with upper and lower portions; an actuator received in the actuator receiving area, the actuator operable between at-rest and actuated positions; and a hinge pin having upper and lower ends, the upper and lower ends pivotally coupled to the upper and lower portions of the actuator receiving area to rotate the hinge pin between extended and retracted positions along a vertical rotational axis, wherein the hinge pin is coupled to an inner surface of the actuator for movement therewith. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The water dispenser assembly of claim 14, including: upper and lower slots disposed on the upper and lower portions of the actuator receiving area. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The water dispenser assembly of claim 15, including: upper and lower retainer members rearwardly extending from upper and lower portions of the actuator and slideably received in the upper and lower slots of the upper and lower portions of the actuator receiving area. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The water dispenser assembly of claim 14, including: one or more clip members disposed on the inner surface of the actuator, wherein the hinge pin is coupled to the clip members. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The water dispenser assembly of claim 14, including: one or more biasing mechanisms disposed between the housing and the actuator, to bias the actuator towards the at-rest position. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The water dispenser assembly of claim 14, including: a second hinge pin having upper and lower ends, the upper and lower ends of the second hinge pin pivotally coupled to the upper and lower portions of the actuator receiving area to rotate the second hinge pin along a mirrored swing path relative to a swing path of the first hinge pin, wherein the second hinge pin is coupled to the inner surface of the actuator for movement therewith. ### Claim 20 (depends on 14) The water dispenser assembly of claim 14, wherein the actuator is an elongate pedal member.