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US 12,050,049 B2Granted
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 shelving assembly for an appliance, the shelving assembly comprising:
- a shelf that is configured to be disposed within an appliance cabinet, wherein the shelf includes a top surface for storing items thereon;
- a fluid dispensing system coupled to the shelf and configured to be attached to a fluid delivery system of the appliance cabinet, the fluid dispensing system having a fluid outlet;
- a shelf spigot of the fluid dispensing system, the shelf spigot disposed on an underside of the shelf, the shelf spigot configured to deliver fluid from the fluid delivery system, through the fluid dispensing system, and to a fill zone positioned below an underside of the shelf;
- a rail assembly disposed on the underside of the shelf for securing a fluid container to the underside of the shelf and within the fill zone, wherein the rail assembly selectively supports the fluid container from above;
- and
- a load cell coupled with one of the shelf and the rail assembly, wherein the load cell senses a weight of the fluid container and contents of the fluid container, and wherein the load cell is in communication with the fluid dispensing system wherein the shelf spigot extends through a portion of the rail assembly.
3 more elements
A shelf assembly for a refrigerating appliance, the shelf assembly comprising:
- a shelf that is configured to be coupled with an inner liner of a structural cabinet, wherein the shelf includes a plurality of shelf spigots, the plurality of shelf spigots being positioned below an underside of the shelf, and wherein the plurality of shelf spigots are configured to be attached to a fluid dispensing system of the structural cabinet;
- a rail assembly disposed on the underside of the shelf;
- a plurality of weight-sensing load cells that are attached to the rail assembly;
- and
- 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 rail assembly to be supported from above and positioned below the plurality of shelf spigots, wherein the plurality of weight-sensing load cells senses a weight of the plurality of removable fluid containers, respectively, and wherein the plurality of weight-sensing load cells is in communication with the plurality of shelf spigots, wherein each shelf spigot of the plurality of shelf spigots is in communication with a dedicated fluid line and a dedicated weight-sensing load cell of the plurality of weight-sensing load cells, wherein
- the rail assembly selectively receives and supports the plurality of removable fluid containers within a fill zone that corresponds to dedicated shelf spigots of the plurality of shelf spigots;
- the plurality of weight-sensing load cells extend between the rail assembly and a stationary portion of the shelf, wherein the plurality of weight-sensing load cells and the rail assembly deflect with respect to the shelf.
4 more elements
A shelf assembly for an appliance, the shelf assembly comprising:
- a shelf configured to be attached to a structural cabinet and having a top surface for storing items and defining a fill zone positioned below an underside of the shelf, wherein the top surface and the fill zone are configured to be located within a single continuous storage compartment;
- a retaining load cell positioned on the underside of the shelf for supporting a removable container from above and for sensing a weight of the removable container and contents of the removable container;
- and
- a shelf spigot coupled with a fluid line that is configured to be coupled with a fluid source, the shelf spigot disposed proximate the underside of the shelf and over the fill zone, wherein the retaining load cell regulates a flow of fluid through the shelf spigot.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.