Water prefilling assembly for use in a refrigerating appliance
AssigneeWhirlpool Corporation
InventorsKaito Choy, Ravi Joshi, Vikas C. Mruthyunjaya, Henrique Keiji Arai Yamaki
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fluid delivery system for an appliance includes a fluid line in selective communication with a fluid source. A shelf defines a fill zone positioned below an underside of the shelf. A shelf spigot is coupled with the fluid line and disposed proximate the underside of the shelf and over the fill zone. A fluid level sensor is positioned in communication with the fill zone. The fluid level sensor is also in communication with a controller that regulates a flow of fluid through the shelf spigot.
Claims20
A refrigerating appliance comprising:
- a structural cabinet having an inner liner and an outer wrapper that define an insulating cavity, wherein the inner liner defines a refrigerating compartment;
- a water dispensing system having at least one fluid outlet;
- a shelf that is positioned within an interior of the refrigerating compartment, wherein the shelf includes a top surface for storing items within the refrigerating compartment;
- a shelf spigot of the water dispensing system, the shelf spigot disposed on an underside of the shelf for delivering fluid to a fill zone below an underside of the shelf, the shelf having a retaining mechanism for securing a fluid container to an underside of the shelf and within the fill zone, wherein the retaining mechanism selectively supports the fluid container from above;
- and
- a fluid level sensor that monitors a fluid level of the fluid container that is selectively positioned within the fill zone located below the shelf spigot, the fluid level sensor being in communication with the water dispensing system.
A refrigerating appliance comprising:
- a structural cabinet having an inner liner that defines a refrigerating compartment;
- a water dispensing system coupled to the structural cabinet and having at least one fluid outlet;
- a shelf that is coupled with the inner liner and positioned within the refrigerating compartment, wherein the shelf includes a plurality of shelf spigots of the at least one fluid outlet, the plurality of shelf spigots being positioned below an underside of the shelf;
- a retaining mechanism disposed on the underside of the shelf;
- a plurality of removable fluid containers that are in communication with the plurality of shelf spigots, the plurality of shelf spigots being positioned below the underside of the shelf, wherein the plurality of removable fluid containers are selectively secured to the retaining mechanism to be supported from above and positioned below the plurality of shelf spigots;
- and
- fluid level sensors that are in communication with respective fluid containers of the plurality of removable fluid containers, wherein the fluid level sensors are in communication with the water dispensing system.
A fluid delivery system for an appliance, the fluid delivery system comprising:
- a fluid line in selective communication with a fluid source;
- a shelf having a top surface for storing items within a compartment and defining a fill zone positioned below an underside of the shelf and within the compartment, the shelf having a retaining mechanism positioned on the underside of the shelf for supporting a removable container from above;
- a shelf spigot coupled with the fluid line and disposed proximate the underside of the shelf and over the fill zone;
- and
- a fluid level sensor positioned in communication with the fill zone, wherein the fluid level sensor is also in communication with a controller that regulates a flow of fluid through the shelf spigot.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.