Refrigerator appliance

A refrigerator appliance, comprising:

• a cabinet defining a fresh food chamber and a freezer chamber;
• the cabinet having a first sidewall and a second sidewall;
• a shelf positioned within the fresh food chamber along the first sidewall, the shelf having a body forming a shelf interior that is defined by, and fully enclosed within, the body and the first sidewall;
• a door rotatably hinged to the cabinet for accessing the fresh food chamber, the door comprising an inner surface and an outer surface and rotatable between an open position and a closed position, the door further defining an ice box;
• an ice maker disposed within the ice box;
• a container defining a storage volume for receipt of ice produced by the ice maker, the container removably positioned within the ice box;
• an evaporator pan;
• and
• a drain assembly for draining melt water from the container, the drain assembly comprising:
• a check valve mounted to the door for flowing melt water therethrough;
• a first duct providing fluid communication between the container and the check valve;
• a receiver cup mounted within the fresh food chamber for flowing melt water therethrough from the check valve;
• a second duct providing fluid communication between the receiver cup and the evaporator pan, wherein at least a portion of the second duct extends through the shelf interior between the body of the shelf and the first sidewall;
• and
• wherein the check valve allows the flow of melt water therethrough when the door is in the closed position and prevents the flow of melt water therethrough when the door is in the open position,
• wherein the check valve comprises a housing and a valve stem,
• wherein the cup is attached to the first sidewall, and
• wherein, in the closed position, the housing is received within the receiver cup.