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US 11,780,722 B1Granted
Autofill pitcher overfill shutoff mechanism
AssigneeHaier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
InventorsLouis A. Wantland, Lokesha Kodigenhalli Chinnappa Reddy
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An autofill pitcher system is provided that includes a removable pitcher, a dispenser, and a controller. The removable pitcher includes a magnet supported for rotation between a first position and a second position. The controller is configured to open a valve in the dispenser to direct water to the pitcher when a sensor in the dispenser detects the magnet and close the valve when the sensor does not detect the magnet.
Claims18
A refrigerator appliance comprising:
- a cabinet defining a fresh food chamber;
- an autofill pitcher system comprising:
- a removable pitcher comprising:
- a pitcher wall connected to a pitcher bottom defining a volume, the pitcher wall defining an opening at a top edge of the removable pitcher;
- and
- a first magnet fixed to a first end of a pivot arm, the pivot arm pinned for rotation between a first position and a second position;
- a dispenser defining a cavity within the fresh food chamber to receive the removable pitcher, the dispenser comprising:
- a first sensor;
- a fill tube adapted to direct water from a water supply to the removable pitcher;
- a valve coupled to the fill tube;
- and
- a controller configured to open the valve when the first sensor detects the first magnet when the pivot arm is in the first position and close the valve when the first sensor does not detect the first magnet in the second position.
9 more elements
An autofill pitcher system comprising:
- a removable pitcher including:
- a pitcher wall connected to a pitcher bottom defining a volume, the pitcher wall defining an opening at a top edge of the removable pitcher;
- and
- a first magnet fixed to a first end of a pivot arm, the pivot arm pinned for rotation between a first position and a second position;
- a dispenser defining a cavity to receive the removable pitcher, the dispenser comprising:
- a first sensor;
- a fill tube adapted to direct water from a water supply to the removable pitcher;
- a valve coupled to the fill tube;
- and
- a controller configured to open the valve when the first sensor detects the first magnet when the pivot arm is in the first position and close the valve when the first sensor does not detect the first magnet in the second position.
7 more elements
An autofill pitcher system comprising:
- a removable pitcher including:
- a pitcher wall connected to a pitcher bottom defining a volume, the pitcher wall defining an opening at a top edge of the removable pitcher;
- and
- a first magnet fixed to a first end of a pivot arm, the pivot arm pinned for rotation between a first position and a second position;
- a second magnet;
- a dispenser defining a cavity to receive the removable pitcher, the dispenser comprising:
- a first sensor;
- a second sensor;
- a fill tube adapted to direct water from a water supply to the removable pitcher;
- a valve coupled to the fill tube;
- wherein a pitcher present signal is sent to a controller when the first sensor detects the first magnet;
- and
- the controller sends a signal to open the valve when the second sensor does not detect the second magnet.
10 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.