# US 9,752,820 B2 · Refrigerator with a detachable water tank

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- Number: US 9,752,820 B2
- Document ID: US9752820B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/591,697
- Filed: 2015-01-07
- Published: 2016-05-12
- Granted: 2017-09-05
- Earliest claimed: 2014-11-06
- Assignees: Dongbu Daewoo Electronics Corporation
- Applicants: Dongbu Daewoo Electronics Corporation
- Inventors: Sung Jin Yang
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9752820B2

## CPC

- F25D 23/126: {Water cooler}
- B65B 31/044: {the nozzles being combined with a filling device (B65B31/043 takes precedence)}
- B67D 1/0009: {the beverage being stored in an intermediate container connected to a supply}
- B67D 1/07: Cleaning beverage-dispensing apparatus {(B67D1/0834, B67D1/0837 take precedence)}
- B67D 1/0878: {Safety, warning or controlling devices (B67D1/12 takes precedence)}
- B67D 1/0888: {Means comprising electronic circuitry (e.g. control panels, switching or controlling means)}
- B67D 2001/075: {Sanitising or sterilising the apparatus}
- F25D 2323/121: the refrigerator is characterised by a water filter for the water/ice dispenser
- F25D 2323/122: the refrigerator is characterised by a water tank for the water/ice dispenser
- 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)
- B65B: MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING (bundling and pressing devices for cigars A24C1/44; devices for tensioning and securing binders adapted to be supported by the article or articles to be bound B25B25/00; applying closure members to bottles, jars or similar containers B67B1/00-B67B6/00; concurrent cleaning, filling and closing of bottles B67C7/00; emptying bottles, jars, cans, casks, barrels or similar containers B67C9/00)
- B67D: DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (cleaning pipes or tubes or systems of pipes or tubes B08B9/02; emptying or filling of bottles, jars, cans, casks, barrels, or similar containers, not otherwise provided for B67C; water supply E03; pipe systems F17D; domestic hot-water supply systems F24D; measuring volume, volume flow, mass flow or liquid level, metering by volume G01F; coin-freed or like apparatus G07F)

## Abstract

A refrigerator equipped with a water tank that is easily accessible to a user and a method of using the same. A water dispenser is installed on the front side of a refrigerator. A water tank coupled to the water dispenser is detachably installed on a lower inner inside of a refrigerator door such that a user can conveniently observe the state of the water tank and access the water tank for maintenance and refill thereof.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A refrigerator comprising:
a refrigerating chamber configured to store external items placed therein;
a refrigerator door for the refrigerating chamber;
a dispenser unit coupled to the refrigerator door and configured to dispense drinking water and ice;
an ice maker coupled to the dispenser unit and supplying ice to the dispenser unit;
a water tank configured to store and supply water to the dispenser unit;
a water outflow line coupled to the dispenser unit and configured to supply water to the dispenser unit;
a filter unit configured to purify water;
a fourth water supply line coupled to a water supply source and configured to supply water from the water supply source to the filter unit;
a third water supply line to supply water from the filter unit to a second valve;
a second supply line to supply water from the second valve to the ice maker;
a first supply line to supply water from the second valve to the water tank;
wherein the first supply line comprises a first valve configured to shut off the water supply;
a water tank coupling member coupled to a flexible water supply nozzle, wherein the water tank coupling member comprises screw threads on one end, wherein another end of the water tank coupling member is coupled to the water outflow line and the first water supply line;
a water tank door coupled to the refrigerator door and configured to cover the water tank;
a water tank fixing member coupled to the inner side of the refrigerator door and configured to fix the water tank onto the refrigerator door;
wherein the water tank is installed at a lower end of an accommodating drawer that is mounted on an inner side of the refrigerator door,
wherein the water tank door comprises a transparent material such that the water tank is visible through the water tank door,
wherein the water tank is detachably coupled to the inner side of the refrigerator door and comprises an outer circumferential surface with screw threads, wherein an inner circumferential surface of the water tank fixing member is conformal to the outer circumferential surface of the water tank, and wherein the water tank is coupled to the water tank coupling member by the screw threads on the water tank and the screw threads on the water tank coupling member, and wherein the water tank comprises a transparent material.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The refrigerator of claim 1, further comprising:
a water drain bolt coupled to a water drain groove formed on one end of the water tank.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The refrigerator of claim 1, further comprising:
a sterilizing unit comprising an ultraviolet ray lamp and coupled to the inner side of the refrigerator door, wherein the sterilizing unit is configured to irradiate the water tank with ultraviolet rays.