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US 2014/0150459 A1Published application
Convertible ice storage
AssigneeWhirlpool Corporation
InventorsPatrick J. Boarman, Gregory G. Hortin
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 and a drain positioned to capture water from the ice as it is melted. Ice may melt due to air from the refrigeration compartment or elsewhere, the ambient temperature within the ice storage bucket, or a heater thermally coupled to the ice storage bucket to melt ice stored in the ice storage bucket.
Claims23
A refrigerator comprising:
- a refrigerator cabinet;
- a fresh food compartment disposed within the refrigerator cabinet;
- a freezer compartment disposed within the refrigerator cabinet below the fresh food compartment;
- a door providing access to the fresh food compartment;
- an ice maker at the door;
- an ice storage bucket at the door;
- a dispenser for dispensing ice on the door;
- a user interface associated with the dispenser wherein the user interface is configured to select between making wet ice with the ice maker and cold ice with the ice maker.
5 more elements
A method for making ice by 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) receiving a user selection for wet ice or cold ice;
- (c) if the user selection is for the cold ice, making the cold ice at the ice maker and storing the cold ice in the ice storage bucket;
- (d) if the user selection is for the wet ice, making the wet ice at the ice maker and storing the wet ice in the ice storage bucket.
1 more element
An apparatus for making ice, comprising:
- a housing;
- an ice maker disposed within the cabinet, the ice maker adapted to make wet ice or cold ice;
- a user selectable setting to select between making the wet ice and making the cold ice;
- an ice storage bucket, the ice storage bucket having an insulated upper chamber for maintaining the cold ice at a temperature below freezer;
- and
- a drain associated with the ice storage bucket to drain the melt water.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.