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US 2008/0173027 A1Published application
Refrigerator related technology
AssigneeLG Electronics Inc.
InventorsDong Jeong KIM, Seong Jae KIM, Kyung Han JEONG
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A refrigerator includes a dispenser including a moving chute configured to move from a stored position in which an outlet of the moving chute is positioned in a space defined in a refrigerator door to an operable position in which the outlet of the moving chute is positioned outside of the refrigerator door.
Claims23
A refrigerator comprising:
- a door having a front frame and a rear frame, the front frame and the rear frame defining an interior of the door;
- and
- a dispenser comprising a dispensing assembly configured for movement between a stored position and an operable position, the dispensing assembly comprising:
- a first moving chute configured to move in response to movement of the dispensing assembly from the stored position to the operable position, an outlet of the first moving chute being positioned in the interior of the door defined by the front frame and the rear frame when the dispensing assembly is positioned in the stored position and the outlet of the first moving chute being positioned outside of the door when the dispensing assembly is positioned in the operable position;
- and
- a second moving chute configured to move in response to movement of the dispensing assembly from the stored position to the operable position, the second moving chute and the first moving chute each defining at least a portion of a passage through the door when the dispensing assembly is positioned in the operable position, wherein:
- when the dispensing assembly is positioned in the stored position, at least a portion of the first moving chute is positioned inside the second moving chute, and
- when the dispensing assembly moves from the stored position to the operable position, the portion of the first moving chute extends from the second moving chute.
5 more elements
A method for controlling a refrigerator, comprising:
- receiving, at a control panel, a command to enable dispensing of ice or water;
- in response to receiving the command:
- moving a first moving chute from a first position in which an outlet of the first moving chute is positioned behind a plane representing an outer surface of a refrigerator door and at least a portion of the first moving chute is positioned inside a second moving chute to a second position in which the outlet of the first moving chute is positioned in front of the plane representing the outer surface of the refrigerator door and the portion of the first moving chute extends from the second moving chute, and
- moving the second moving chute to a position in which the first moving chute and the second moving chute define a passage through the refrigerator door;
- dispensing ice or water through the refrigerator door using the passage defined by the first moving chute and the second moving chute;
- and
- enabling movement of the first moving chute from the second position to the first position after dispensing the ice or water.
4 more elements
A refrigerator comprising:
- a door having a front frame and a rear frame, the front frame and the rear frame defining an interior of the door;
- and
- a dispenser comprising a dispensing assembly configured for movement between a stored position and an operable position, the dispensing assembly comprising:
- a first moving chute configured to move in response to movement of the dispensing assembly from the stored position to the operable position, an outlet of the first moving chute being positioned in the interior of the door defined by the front frame and the rear frame when the dispensing assembly is positioned in the stored position and the outlet of the first moving chute being positioned outside of the door when the dispensing assembly is positioned in the operable position;
- and
- a second moving chute configured to move in response to movement of the dispensing assembly from the stored position to the operable position, the second moving chute and the first moving chute each defining at least a portion of a passage through the door when the dispensing assembly is positioned in the operable position, wherein:
- the first moving chute and the second moving chute form a foldable structure such that the first moving chute and the second moving chute are in a folded position when the dispensing assembly is positioned in the stored position and the first moving chute and the second moving chute are in an unfolded position when the dispensing assembly is positioned in the operable position.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.