Ice agitator
AssigneeSub-Zero, Inc.
InventorsMurray Schukar, Robin Nelson, Jeff Siedschlag
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An ice agitation system includes an adaptor and an ice agitator. The adaptor includes a disk portion and an auger mounting channel. The auger mounting channel is configured to mount to a shaft of an auger such that the adaptor rotates with the shaft of the auger. The auger mounting channel extends in a direction parallel to and offset from a center axis of a disk formed by the disk portion. The ice agitator includes a hook and an arm that extends from the hook away from the center axis of the disk. The hook is mounted to the disk.
Claims20
An ice agitation system comprising:
- an adaptor comprising a disk portion and an auger mounting channel, wherein the auger mounting channel is configured to mount to a shaft of an auger such that the adaptor rotates with the shaft of the auger, and further wherein the auger mounting channel extends in a direction parallel to and offset from a center axis of a disk formed by the disk portion;
- and
- an ice agitator comprising a hook and an arm that extends from the hook away from the center axis of the disk, wherein the hook is mounted to the disk.
An ice dispenser comprising:
- an ice receptacle comprising a plurality of walls and an ice dispensing aperture formed through a wall of the plurality of walls;
- an auger comprising a spherical flight and a shaft extending from the spherical flight in a direction of an axis of rotation of the spherical flight, wherein the auger is mounted between two walls of the plurality of walls and is configured to push ice toward the ice dispensing aperture based on the rotation of the spherical flight;
- an actuator mounted to rotate the auger about the axis of rotation;
- an adaptor comprising a disk portion and an auger mounting channel, wherein the shaft of the auger is mounted within the auger mounting channel such that the adaptor rotates with the shaft of the auger, wherein a center axis of a disk formed by the disk portion extends in a direction parallel to and offset from a center of the shaft of the auger;
- and
- an ice agitator comprising a hook and an arm that extends from the hook away from the shaft of the auger, wherein the hook is mounted to the disk.
A device comprising:
- a body defining a freezer space;
- a door;
- a hinge pivotally mounting the door to the body;
- an ice receptacle comprising a plurality of walls and an ice dispensing aperture formed through a wall of the plurality of walls;
- an ice maker mounted within the body and configured to discharge ice into the ice receptacle,
- an auger comprising a spherical flight and a shaft extending from the spherical flight in a direction of an axis of rotation of the spherical flight, wherein the auger is mounted between two walls of the plurality of walls and configured to push ice toward the ice dispensing aperture based on the rotation of the spherical flight;
- an actuator mounted to rotate the auger about the axis of rotation;
- an adaptor comprising a disk portion and an auger mounting channel, wherein the shaft of the auger is mounted within the auger mounting channel such that the adaptor rotates with the shaft of the auger, wherein a center axis of a disk formed by the disk portion extends in a direction parallel to and offset from a center of the shaft of the auger;
- and
- an ice agitator comprising a hook and an arm that extends from the hook away from the shaft of the auger, wherein the hook is mounted to the disk.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.