Water prefilling assembly for use in a refrigerating appliance
AssigneeWhirlpool Corporation
InventorsKaito Choy, Ravi Joshi, Vikas C. Mruthyunjaya, Henrique Keiji Arai Yamaki
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fluid delivery system for an appliance includes a fluid line in selective communication with a fluid source. A shelf defines a fill zone positioned below an underside of the shelf. A shelf spigot is coupled with the fluid line and disposed proximate the underside of the shelf and over the fill zone. A fluid level sensor is positioned in communication with the fill zone. The fluid level sensor is also in communication with a controller that regulates a flow of fluid through the shelf spigot.
Claims20
A fluid dispensing system for an appliance, the fluid dispensing system comprising:
- a shelf that is configured to be disposed within an appliance cabinet, wherein the shelf includes a top surface for storing items thereon;
- a shelf spigot that is coupled to an underside of the shelf, the shelf spigot configured to be attached to a fluid source of the appliance cabinet, the shelf spigot configured to deliver fluid from the fluid source and to a fill zone positioned below the underside of the shelf;
- a rail assembly disposed on the underside of the shelf for securing a fluid container to the underside of the shelf and within the fill zone, wherein the rail assembly selectively supports the fluid container from above;
- and
- a weight sensor that is coupled with at least one of the shelf and the rail assembly, wherein the weight sensor senses a weight of the fluid container and contents of the fluid container, the weight sensor being in operable communication with the shelf spigot.
A fluid dispensing assembly for an appliance, the fluid dispensing assembly comprising:
- a shelf that is configured to be coupled with a structural cabinet, wherein the shelf includes a plurality of shelf spigots, the plurality of shelf spigots being positioned below an underside of the shelf, and wherein the plurality of shelf spigots are configured to be attached to a fluid source;
- a rail assembly disposed on the underside of the shelf;
- a plurality of weight sensors that are attached to the rail assembly;
- and
- a plurality of removable fluid containers that are in communication with the plurality of shelf spigots, wherein
- the plurality of removable fluid containers are selectively secured to the rail assembly to be supported from above and positioned below the plurality of shelf spigots;
- the plurality of weight sensors senses a weight of the plurality of removable fluid containers, respectively, the plurality of weight sensors being in communication with the plurality of shelf spigots;
- the rail assembly selectively receives and supports the plurality of removable fluid containers within a fill zone that corresponds to dedicated shelf spigots of the plurality of shelf spigots;
- and
- the plurality of shelf spigots extend through the rail assembly.
A fluid dispensing assembly for an appliance, the fluid dispensing assembly comprising:
- a shelf configured to be attached to a structural cabinet and having a top surface for storing items and defining a fill zone positioned below an underside of the shelf, wherein the top surface and the fill zone are configured to be located within a single continuous storage compartment;
- a rail assembly having a weight sensor, wherein the rail assembly is positioned on the underside of the shelf for supporting a removable container from above and for sensing a weight of the removable container and contents of the removable container;
- and
- a shelf spigot coupled with a fluid source, the shelf spigot disposed proximate the underside of the shelf and over the fill zone, wherein the weight sensor cooperates with a controller and the shelf spigot to regulate a flow of fluid through the shelf spigot.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.