# US 7,610,772 B2 · Ice level sensing system for a bottom freezer refrigerator > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,610,772 B2 - Document ID: US7610772B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/369,083 - Filed: 2006-03-06 - Published: 2007-09-06 - Granted: 2009-11-03 - Earliest claimed: 2006-03-06 - Assignees: Whirlpool Corporation - Inventors: Patrick A. Braun; James Foster Dasher; Terry Eugene Goldman; Dennis Jan Staley; John Charles Meadway - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7610772B2 ## CPC - F25C 5/187: with ice level sensing means - F25D 25/025: {Drawers} - F25D 23/021: {Sliding doors} - F25D 2323/021: French doors - F25D 2400/04: Refrigerators with a horizontal mullion - F25D 2500/02: Geometry problems - F25C: PRODUCING, WORKING OR HANDLING ICE - F25D: REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (refrigerated showcases A47F3/04; thermally-insulated vessels for domestic use A47J41/00; refrigerated vehicles, see the appropriate subclasses of classes B60 - B64; containers with thermal insulation in general B65D81/38; heat-transfer, heat-exchange or heat-storage materials, e.g. refrigerants, or materials for the production of heat or cold by chemical reactions other than by combustion C09K5/00; thermally-insulated vessels for liquefied or solidified gases F17C; air-conditioning or air-humidification F24F; refrigeration machines, plants, or systems F25B; cooling of instruments or comparable apparatus without refrigeration G12B) ## Abstract A refrigeration appliance is provided with a freezer compartment accessible through an openable door, the freezer compartment extending between two side walls. An ice bin is slidably mounted in the freezer compartment occupying a width of the freezer compartment, less than a full width between the two side walls. A food storage compartment is slidably mounted in the freezer compartment with at least a portion horizontally adjacent to the ice bin, and slidable independently of the ice bin. A non-contact ice level sensing apparatus having an emitter component and a receiver component is provided, with one of the components mounted between the ice bin and the food storage compartment and the other of the components mounted on an opposite side of the ice bin from the food storage compartment. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A refrigeration appliance comprising: a freezer compartment accessible through an openable door, said freezer compartment extending between two side walls; an ice bin slidably mounted in said freezer compartment occupying a width of said freezer compartment, less than a full width between said two side walls; a food storage compartment slidably mounted in said freezer compartment with at least a portion horizontally adjacent to said ice bin, and slidable independently of said ice bin; a non-contact ice level sensing apparatus having an emitter component and a receiver component, with one of said components mounted between said ice bin and said food storage compartment and the other of said components mounted on an opposite side of said ice bin from said food storage compartment. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A refrigeration appliance according to claim 1, wherein one of said components is mounted to a side wall of said freezer compartment. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A refrigeration appliance according to claim 1, wherein a structural member is provided between said ice bin and said food storage compartment, said structural member carrying a sliding rail to support said ice bin and a sliding rail to support said food storage compartment. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A refrigeration appliance according to claim 1, wherein said ice bin has side walls with open areas therein to allow passage of a light beam from said emitter component to said receiver component. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A refrigeration appliance according to claim 1, wherein said component mounted opposite from said food storage compartment is mounted on a structural member mounted on one of said, side walls of said freezer compartment. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) A refrigeration appliance according to claim 5, wherein said structural member includes a sliding rail to support said ice bin. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A refrigeration appliance according to claim 1, wherein said component mounted opposite from said food storage compartment is mounted on a first structural member carried on a first of said side walls of said freezer compartment including a first sliding rail to support said ice bin, a second structural member is provided between said ice bin and said food storage compartment, said second structural member carrying a second sliding rail to support said ice bin and a third sliding rail to support said food storage compartment, and a fourth sliding rail is carried on a second of said side walls of said freezer compartment to support said food storage compartment. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A refrigeration appliance according to claim 1, including a fresh food compartment, with said freezer compartment being located below said fresh food compartment. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A refrigeration appliance according to claim 1, including an ice making mechanism located in said freezer compartment above said ice bin. ### Claim 10 A refrigeration appliance comprising: a fresh food compartment; a freezer compartment separate from said fresh food compartment and defined by walls; an ice making mechanism located in said freezer compartment; an ice bin slidably mounted in said freezer compartment below said ice making mechanism; a first structural member secured to a wall of the freezer compartment carrying a first sliding rail to support said ice bin; a second structural member secured to a wall of the freezer compartment carrying a second sliding rail to support said ice bin; and an ice level sensing apparatus having an emitter component mounted on said first structural member and a receiver component mounted on said second structural member. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) A refrigeration appliance according to claim 10, wherein one of said first and second structural members is mounted to a side wall of said freezer compartment. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) A refrigeration appliance according to claim 10, wherein one of said first and second structural members is mounted between side walls of said freezer compartment. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) A refrigeration appliance according to claim 10, wherein said ice bin has side walls with open areas therein to allow passage of a light beam from said emitter component to said receiver component. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) A refrigeration appliance according to claim 10, wherein said second structural member includes a third sliding rail to support a sliding storage compartment. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) A refrigeration appliance according to claim 14, including a fourth sliding rail carried on a side wall of said freezer compartment to support said sliding storage compartment. ### Claim 16 A refrigeration appliance including a freezer compartment having a plurality of walls and an access opening, said refrigeration appliance comprising: an ice making mechanism disposed within said freezer compartment; an ice bin mounted in said freezer compartment below said ice making mechanism; a first structural member secured to a wall in said freezer compartment; a first track attached to said first structural member; a second structural member secured to a wall in said freezer compartment; a second track attached to said second structural member; said ice bin mounted on said first and second tracks to slide into and out of said access opening; an emitter component attached to said first structural member to emit a beam of light across an upper portion of said bin; and a receiver component attached to said second structural member opposite said emitter component to receive said beam of light. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) A refrigeration appliance according to claim 16, wherein one of said first and second structural members is secured to one of said walls of said freezer compartment. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) A refrigeration appliance according to claim 16, wherein one of said first and second structural members is secured in said freezer compartment at a position intermediate said walls. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) A refrigeration appliance according to claim 16, including a third track attached to said second structural member, and a sliding storage compartment mounted on said third track to slide into and out of said access opening independently of said bin. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) A refrigeration appliance according to claim 19, including a fourth track attached to said second structural member to support said sliding storage compartment.