Ice cutting tray
AssigneeWhirlpool Corporation
InventorsBinglai Chen, Alexander Edward Caine, Abigail Jean Livingston, Darby Marie Spiegel, Morgan Aileen Weber, Abigail Caroline Wulf
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An ice maker includes an ice making unit and an ice storage bin. A frame is positioned between the ice making unit and the storage bin. An ice making tray is coupled with the frame, including a base defining a first plurality of apertures and a second plurality of apertures. A plurality of ice forming features is positioned proximate the first plurality of apertures. The ice forming features are coupled to and extend away from the base. A heating element is in thermal communication with the ice forming features. A wastewater disposal assembly is coupled with the ice making tray.
Claims18
An ice making tray for an ice making assembly, comprising:
- a base defining a first plurality of apertures and a second plurality of apertures;
- walls coupled to the base and extending from the base, wherein the base and the walls define a tray space configured to receive an ice slab;
- a plurality of ice forming features coupled to the base proximate the first plurality of apertures, wherein the plurality of ice forming features extend within the tray space and away from the base;
- and
- a heating element in thermal communication with the plurality of ice forming features, wherein the plurality of ice forming features are configured to form ice pieces and waste ice from the ice slab when heated by the heating element.
An ice making tray assembly, comprising:
- a base defining a first plurality of apertures and a second plurality of apertures;
- a plurality of ice forming features coupled to the base proximate the first plurality of apertures, wherein the plurality of ice forming features extend away from the base;
- a heating element in thermal communication with the plurality of ice forming features, and wherein the heating element is in thermal communication with the base;
- and
- a wastewater disposal assembly coupled to the base and in fluid communication with the second plurality of apertures.
An ice making tray, comprising:
- a base defining a first aperture and a second aperture;
- an ice forming feature coupled to and extending away from the base, wherein the ice forming feature includes a wall extending upwardly in a perpendicular direction relative to the base and defining a channel, and wherein the ice forming feature is aligned with the first aperture;
- and
- a heating element in thermal communication the ice forming feature and configured to heat the ice forming feature to form ice pieces and waste ice from an ice slab.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.