Fitting assemblies to provide fluid supply to ice and water dispensers in refrigerator doors
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsAlan Joseph MITCHELL, Christopher David Hunter
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fitting assembly is provided that includes a bracket comprising at least one fitting having a first opening and a second opening, in which the second opening includes at least one ledge on an inner sidewall of the fitting and the first opening is interconnected with a first tube, in which the bracket, the fittings and the first tube are a unitary structure. A seal assembly is present in the second opening of the at least one fitting of the bracket, and a second tube in engaged to the seal assembly. The seal assembly includes a frictional bore surface and at least one gasket, which are in contact with the second tube.
Claims20
A fitting assembly comprising:
- a bracket comprising at least one fitting including a first opening and a second opening that are present on opposing sides of the bracket and are interconnected, in which the second opening comprises at least one ledge on an inner sidewall and the first opening is interconnected with a first tube, wherein the bracket, the at least one fitting and the first tube are a unitary structure;
- a seal assembly present in the second opening of the at least one fitting, the seal assembly comprising at least one gasket seated on the at least one ledge of the second opening and at least one body, wherein the at least one body comprises a first face adjacent to said gasket, an outer frictional surface in contact with the inner sidewall of the second opening, and a bore present through the body and having a frictional bore surface;
- and
- a second tube in engagement with the seal assembly, wherein the frictional bore surface of the at least one body and the at least one gasket are in contact with the second tube.
A refrigerator comprising:
- a cabinet defining at least one storing compartment;
- a door comprising at least one of an ice dispenser and a water dispenser;
- and
- at least one fitting assembly present through a sidewall of at least one of the cabinet and the door for connectivity of a fluid supply to each of said at least one of the ice dispenser and the water dispenser, the fitting assembly including a bracket having at least one fitting with a first opening and a second opening that are present on opposing sides of the bracket and are interconnected, in which the first opening is interconnected as a unitary structure with a first tube that extends into an interior of the at least one of the cabinet and the door, and the second opening is engaged to a second tube present at the exterior of the at least one of the cabinet and the door by a seal assembly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.