Push pedal water dispenser assembly
AssigneeWhirlpool Corporation
InventorNarendra A. Kapure
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
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.
Claims20
A water dispenser assembly for a refrigerator, comprising:
- a housing having an actuator receiving area with upper and lower portions;
- an actuator paddle received in the actuator receiving area having inner and outer surfaces, the actuator paddle operable between at-rest and inwardly-pressed positions;
- and
- a hinge pin having upper and lower ends and a body portion, wherein the upper and lower ends are pivotally coupled to the upper and lower portions of the actuator receiving area, and further wherein the body portion of the hinge pin is pivotally coupled to the inner surface of the actuator paddle.
A water dispenser assembly for a refrigerator, comprising:
- a housing having an actuator receiving area with upper and lower mounting apertures;
- an actuator slideably received in the actuator receiving area between at-rest and pressed positions in a horizontal manner, wherein the actuator includes one or more clip members rearwardly extending from an inner surface of the actuator;
- and
- a hinge pin having upper and lower ends with a body portion disposed therebetween, wherein the upper and lower ends of the hinge pin are pivotally coupled to the upper and lower mounting apertures of the actuator receiving area along a vertical axis, wherein the body portion is pivotally coupled to the one or more clip members of the inner surface of the actuator.
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;
- a first hinge pin having upper and lower ends, wherein the upper and lower ends of the first hinge pin are pivotally coupled to the upper and lower portions of the actuator receiving area to rotate the first hinge pin between extended and retracted positions along a first swing path, wherein the first hinge pin is pivotally coupled to an inner surface of the actuator for movement therewith;
- and
- a second hinge pin having upper and lower ends, wherein the upper and lower ends of the second hinge pin are pivotally coupled to the upper and lower portions of the actuator receiving area to rotate the second hinge pin between extended and retracted positions along a second swing path that is a reciprocal swing path to the first swing path, wherein the second hinge pin is pivotally coupled to an inner surface of the actuator for movement therewith.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.