Back to results
US 2014/0150458 A1Published application
Fresh ice
AssigneeWhirlpool Corporation
InventorPATRICK J. BOARMAN
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A refrigerator includes a refrigerator cabinet, an ice maker disposed within the refrigerator cabinet, an ice storage bucket, a heater thermally coupled to the ice storage bucket to melt ice stored in the ice storage bucket, and a drain positioned to capture water from the ice melted by the heater.
Claims20
A refrigerator comprising:
- a refrigerator cabinet;
- an ice maker disposed within the refrigerator cabinet;
- an ice storage bucket;
- a heater thermally coupled to the ice storage bucket to melt ice stored in the ice storage bucket;
- a drain positioned to capture water from the ice melted by the heater.
2 more elements
A method for providing fresh ice in a refrigerator, the method comprising:
- (a) providing a refrigerator comprising a refrigerator cabinet, an ice maker disposed within the refrigerator cabinet, an ice storage bucket, and a heater;
- (b) making ice using the ice maker;
- (c) conveying the ice from the ice maker to the ice storage bucket for storage;
- (d) heating the ice in the ice storage bucket using the heater to melt the ice and provide melt water;
- and
- (e) draining the melt water from the ice storage bucket.
3 more elements
A refrigerator comprising:
- a refrigerator cabinet;
- a freezer compartment disposed within the refrigerator cabinet;
- a fresh food compartment disposed within the refrigerator cabinet;
- an ice maker disposed within the fresh food compartment;
- an ice storage bucket positioned below the ice maker, the ice storage bucket having an insulated upper chamber and a funnel below the insulated upper chamber;
- a heater thermally coupled to the ice storage bucket to melt ice stored in the ice storage bucket;
- an ice chute extending from the funnel to a dispenser;
- and
- a water trap positioned along the ice chute to capture water from ice melted by the heater.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.