# US 12,111,087 B2 · Ice maker and refrigerator > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,111,087 B2 - Document ID: US12111087B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/095,816 - Filed: 2023-01-11 - Published: 2023-06-01 - Granted: 2024-10-08 - Earliest claimed: 2018-11-16 - Assignees: LG Electronics Inc. - Applicants: LG Electronics Inc. - Inventors: Jinil Hong; Yonghyun Kim - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12111087B2 ## CPC - F25C 1/10: by using rotating or otherwise moving moulds (F25C1/08 takes precedence) - F25C 5/22: {particularly adapted for household refrigerators} - F25C 1/04: by using stationary moulds - F25C 1/18: of a particular transparency or translucency, e.g. by injecting air - F25C 1/243: Moulds made of plastics e.g. silicone - F25C 1/25: Filling devices for moulds - F25C 5/08: by heating bodies in contact with the ice - F25C 2305/0221: rotating ice mould - F25C 2400/06: Multiple ice moulds or trays therefor - F25C 2400/14: Water supply - F25C 2500/02: Geometry problems - F25C 2600/04: Control means - F25C: PRODUCING, WORKING OR HANDLING ICE ## Abstract An ice maker of a refrigerator includes a tray assembly having an upper tray that defines upper portions of a plurality of ice making chambers. Each of the plurality of ice making chambers is configured to receive water and generate an ice piece. The tray assembly also includes a lower tray that is located vertically below the upper tray, that is configured to rotate relative to the upper tray, and that defines lower portions of the plurality of ice making chambers, wherein at least one of the upper tray or the lower tray comprises a flexible tray made of a flexible material. Additionally, a case is configured to accommodate the flexible tray to restrict a deformation of the flexible tray. A heater that is located between the case and the flexible tray is configured to supply heat to the plurality of ice making chambers through the flexible tray. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An icemaker comprising: a first tray assembly comprising a first tray defining at least one first chamber and a first cover comprising a chamber accommodation portion; a second tray assembly comprising a second tray defining at least one second chamber; and a first heater configured to heat the first tray during an ice-making process, wherein the first tray comprises a chamber wall defining the at least one first chamber and a first extension extended to an outside of the chamber wall, wherein the first cover is coupled to the first extension by coming into contact with one surface of the first extension, wherein the chamber accommodation portion is configured to at least partially accommodate the chamber wall, wherein the first cover defines (i) a first opening configured to expose a predetermined area of the chamber wall when the chamber wall is accommodated in the chamber accommodation portion, the first opening having a first diameter and (ii) a second opening configured to receive at least a portion of the chamber wall therethrough, the second opening having a second diameter greater than the first diameter, wherein the first tray assembly and the second tray assembly are configured to come into contact with each other at a closed position such that, at the closed position, the at least one first chamber and the at least one second chamber define at least one ice chamber for making ice, and wherein at least a portion of the first heater is disposed closer to the first opening than to the second opening. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The icemaker of claim 1, wherein the first heater comprises a rounded portion surrounding the first opening. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The icemaker of claim 2, wherein a diameter of the rounded portion is larger than a diameter of the first opening. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The icemaker of claim 1, wherein the chamber wall comprises: a first portion surrounded by the first cover; and a second portion not surrounded by the first cover, the second portion corresponding to the first opening, and during the ice-making process, the first portion comes into contact with the first cover and the second portion does not come into contact with the first cover. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The icemaker of claim 4, wherein an area of the first portion is larger than an area of the second portion. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The icemaker of claim 1, further comprising: a first ejector configured to eject ice from the at least one first chamber by passing through a first opening of the first cover, at an open position at which the first tray assembly and the second tray assembly are spaced apart from each other. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The icemaker of claim 6, wherein once the first ejector passes through the first opening, the chamber wall is pressed and deformed to be spaced apart from the first heater, and wherein when the pressure of the ejector is released, the chamber wall is restituted to come into contact with the first heater. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The icemaker of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first tray and the second tray is made of a flexible material or silicon. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The icemaker of claim 1, wherein the first tray assembly further comprises a first case coupled to the first extension. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The icemaker of claim 1, wherein the second tray assembly further comprises: a second cover configured to support a second extension extending outward from a periphery of the second chamber; and a second case coupled to the second extension. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The icemaker of claim 1, wherein the first tray assembly is relatively movable with respect to the second tray assembly between a closed position at which the first tray and the second tray come into contact with each other and an open position at which the first tray and the second tray are spaced apart from each other. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The icemaker of claim 1, wherein ice-making heater is positioned at a lower half of an ice-making volume defined within the at least one ice chamber for making ice. ### Claim 13 A refrigerator comprising: a cabinet that defines a storage space; one more doors configured to open and close the storage space; and an ice maker provided at the storage space, wherein the ice maker comprises: a first tray assembly comprising a first tray defining at least one first chamber and a first cover comprising a chamber accommodation portion, a second tray assembly comprising a second tray defining at least one second chamber, and a first heater configured to heat the first tray during an ice-making process, wherein the first tray comprises a chamber wall defining the at least one first chamber and a first extension extended to an outside of the chamber wall, wherein the first cover is coupled to the first extension by coming into contact with one surface of the first extension, wherein the chamber accommodation portion is configured to at least partially accommodate the chamber wall, wherein the first cover defines (i) a first opening configured to expose a predetermined area of the chamber wall when the chamber wall is accommodated in the chamber accommodation portion, the first opening having a first diameter and (ii) a second opening configured to receive at least a portion of the chamber wall therethrough, the second opening having a second diameter greater than the first diameter, wherein the first tray assembly and the second tray assembly are configured to come into contact with each other at a closed position such that, at the closed position, the at least one first chamber and the at least one second chamber define at least one ice chamber for making ice, and wherein at least a portion of the first heater is disposed closer to the first opening than to the second opening. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The refrigerator of claim 13, wherein the first heater comprises a rounded portion surrounding the first opening. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The refrigerator of claim 14, wherein a diameter of the rounded portion is larger than a diameter of the first opening. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The refrigerator of claim 13, wherein the chamber wall comprises: a first portion surrounded by the first cover; and a second portion not surrounded by the first cover, the second portion corresponding to the first opening, and during the ice-making process, the first portion comes into contact with the first cover and the second portion does not come into contact with the first cover. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The refrigerator of claim 16, wherein an area of the first portion is larger than an area of the second portion. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The refrigerator of claim 13, further comprising: a first ejector configured to eject ice from the at least one first chamber by passing through a first opening of the first cover, at an open position at which the first tray assembly and the second tray assembly are spaced apart from each other. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The refrigerator of claim 18, wherein once the first ejector passes through the first opening, the chamber wall is pressed and deformed to be spaced apart from the first heater, and wherein when a pressure of the first ejector is released, the chamber wall is restituted to come into contact with the first heater. ### Claim 20 (depends on 13) The refrigerator of claim 13, wherein at least one of the first tray and the second tray is made of a flexible material or silicon. ### Claim 21 (depends on 13) The refrigerator of claim 13, wherein the first tray assembly further comprises a first case coupled to the first extension. ### Claim 22 (depends on 13) The refrigerator of claim 13, wherein the second tray assembly further comprises: a second cover configured to support a second extension extending outward from a periphery of the second chamber; and a second case coupled to the second extension. ### Claim 23 (depends on 13) The refrigerator of claim 13, wherein the first tray assembly is relatively movable with respect to the second tray assembly between a closed position at which the first tray and the second tray come into contact with each other and an open position at which the first tray and the second tray are spaced apart from each other.