Autofill pitcher system with sensor detection
AssigneeHaier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
InventorsJordan Andrew Waymeyer, Jose Rafael Padron
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An autofill pitcher system includes a pitcher. The pitcher includes one or more pitcher walls and an internal volume defined within the pitcher wall(s). Additionally, the autofill pitcher system includes a dispenser defining a cavity. The cavity is configured to receive the pitcher. Furthermore, the dispenser includes a fill tube positioned and configured to direct water into the pitcher while the pitcher is received within the cavity. Moreover, the autofill pitcher system includes first and second magnets positioned within the pitcher. Additionally, the autofill pitcher system includes a sensor configured to detect a presence of the first and second magnets while the pitcher is received within the cavity of the dispenser.
Claims20
A refrigerator appliance defining a lateral direction, a transverse direction, and a vertical direction, the refrigerator appliance comprising:
- a cabinet defining a fresh food chamber;
- and
- an autofill pitcher system comprising:
- a pitcher comprising at least one pitcher wall and an internal volume defined within the at least one pitcher wall;
- a dispenser defining a cavity, the cavity configured to receive the pitcher, the dispenser comprising a fill tube positioned and configured to direct a flow of water from a water supply into the internal volume of the pitcher while the pitcher is received within the cavity;
- a first magnet positioned within the pitcher;
- a second magnet positioned within the pitcher;
- and
- a sensor configured to detect a presence of the first magnet and the second magnet while the pitcher is received within the cavity of the dispenser.
A method of operating a refrigerator appliance defining a lateral direction, a transverse direction, and a vertical direction, the refrigerator appliance comprising a cabinet defining a fresh food chamber and an autofill pitcher system, the autofill pitcher system including a pitcher including at least one pitcher wall and an internal volume defined within the at least one pitcher wall, the autofill pitcher system also including a dispenser defining a cavity, the method comprising:
- positioning a first magnet within the pitcher;
- positioning a second magnet within the pitcher;
- receiving the pitcher within the cavity of the dispenser;
- detecting, with a sensor, a presence of the first magnet;
- directing a flow of water through a fill tube of the dispenser from a water supply and into the internal volume of the pitcher while the pitcher is received within the cavity;
- and
- detecting, with the sensor, a presence of the second magnet.
An autofill pitcher system, comprising:
- a pitcher defining a lateral direction, a transverse direction, and a vertical direction, the pitcher comprising at least one pitcher wall and an internal volume defined within the at least one pitcher wall;
- a dispenser defining a cavity, the cavity configured to receive the pitcher, the dispenser comprising a fill tube positioned and configured to direct a flow of water from a water supply into the internal volume of the pitcher while the pitcher is received within the cavity;
- a first magnet positioned within the pitcher;
- a second magnet positioned within the pitcher;
- and
- a sensor configured to detect a presence of the first magnet and the second magnet while the pitcher is received within the cavity of the dispenser.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.