# US 11,440,787 B2 · Refrigerator having dispenser > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,440,787 B2 - Document ID: US11440787B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/356,051 - Filed: 2021-06-23 - Published: 2021-10-14 - Granted: 2022-09-13 - Earliest claimed: 2019-02-01 - Assignees: LG Electronics Inc. - Applicants: LG Electronics Inc. - Inventors: O Min Kwon; Hyungkyu Park - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11440787B2 ## CPC - B67D 1/07: Cleaning beverage-dispensing apparatus {(B67D1/0834, B67D1/0837 take precedence)} - A61L 2/10: Ultraviolet [UV] radiation - B67D 1/0014: {the beverage being supplied from water mains} - B67D 1/0887: {Sanitary protection means for dispensing nozzles or taps, e.g. outlet closures} - C02F 1/325: {Irradiation devices or lamp constructions} - F25D 23/028: {Details} - F25D 23/126: {Water cooler} - F25D 27/00: Lighting arrangements (in general F21) - B67D 2001/075: {Sanitising or sterilising the apparatus} - B67D 2210/00015: UV radiation - C02F 2201/3222: Units using UV-light emitting diodes [LED] - C02F 2307/10: as part of a potable water dispenser, e.g. for use in homes or offices - F25D 2327/001: Lighting arrangements on the external side of the refrigerator, freezer or cooling box - 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) - A61L: METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES (preservation of bodies or disinfecting characterised by the agents employed A01N; preserving, e.g. sterilising, food or foodstuffs A23; preparations for medical, dental or toiletry purposes A61K) - C02F: TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE (separation in general B01D; special arrangements on waterborne vessels of installations for treating water, waste water or sewage, e.g. for producing fresh water, B63J; adding materials to water to prevent corrosion C23F; treating radioactively-contaminated liquids G21F9/04; regeneration of reactants for recirculation into processes, see the relevant places for the processes) - 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 refrigerator may be provided with a dispenser which includes a nozzle pipe; a light source that radiates ultraviolet light from one end of the nozzle pipe to an inner space of the nozzle pipe, a window that is provided between the one end of the nozzle pipe and the light source, and a liquid supplying hose barb connected to the nozzle pipe via an elbow. Liquid exiting the elbow swirls as ultraviolet light is irradiated onto the liquid. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A liquid dispenser, comprising: a nozzle pipe including a first section having a first passage and a second section having a second passage communicating with the first passage, wherein the second passage has a cylindrical shape with a diameter smaller than a diameter of the first passage; a window pocket provided above the first section of the nozzle pipe; a light source provided above the widow pocket and configured to emit ultraviolet light into the first passage; a window provided in the window pocket to be between the first passage and the light source; an elbow branched from the first section of the nozzle pipe at an inclination with respect to the nozzle pipe; a liquid-supplying hose barb extending from the elbow at the inclination; and a hose coupled to the liquid-supplying house barb, wherein a center axis of the first section of the nozzle pipe does not intersect with a center axis of the liquid-supplying hose barb such that liquid discharged from the elbow and entering the liquid-supplying hose barb flows along the first section of the nozzle pipe in a swirling flow. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The liquid dispenser of claim 1, wherein a central axis of the liquid-supplying hose barb is positioned to pass outside of an inner area of the nozzle pipe. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The liquid dispenser of claim 1, wherein the elbow is configured to connect with the nozzle pipe to contact an outer surface of the nozzle pipe. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The liquid dispenser of claim 1, further comprising a laminar flow protrusion provided in the second passage and protruding inward from an inner surface of the second section toward a center of the second passage, the laminar flow protrusion extending in an axial direction of the second passage. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The liquid dispenser of claim 1, wherein an inner surface of the liquid-supplying hose barb and an inner surface of the nozzle pipe are coated with aluminum. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The liquid dispenser of claim 1, further comprising a seal provided in the window pocket between the window and a wall of the window pocket. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The liquid dispenser of claim 1, further comprising a light-source bracket that is provided at a side of the nozzle pipe which is opposite to a side of the nozzle pipe from which the liquid-supplying hose barb extends. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The liquid dispenser of claim 1, wherein an inner space of the elbow communicates with the nozzle pipe such that a central axis of the elbow passes through an inner area of the nozzle pipe. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The liquid dispenser of claim 8, wherein the liquid-supplying hose barb is inclined with respect to a plane which is perpendicular to a central axis of the nozzle pipe. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The liquid dispenser of claim 9, wherein: the nozzle pipe includes a first end which receives liquid and a second end through which the liquid is discharged, and the first passage has an inner diameter which becomes narrower in a direction from the first end of the nozzle pipe toward the second end of the nozzle pipe. ### Claim 11 A liquid dispenser, comprising: a pipe extending in a first direction and having a first passage; a hose barb extending in a second direction which is inclined with respect to the first direction, the hose barb having a second passage; an elbow to connect the hose barb and the nozzle pipe, wherein the elbow and hose barb are configured such that a center axis of the second passage does not intersect with a center axis of the first passage; and a frame having a third passage provided above and communicating with the first passage, wherein the frame is configured to receive a lens in the third passage.