Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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SPECIFICATION
TITLE
"CABINET CONSTRUCTION FOR AN ICE MAKER
OR OTHER REFRIGERATION APPLIANCE"
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[1001] The present invention relates to cabinet construction for ice makers or
other
refrigeration appliances and more particularly to refrigeration appliances of
the type generally
designed for under counter installation. Such appliances typically are either
miniature
refrigerators, with or without a freezer compartment, or an ice maker having
an ice storage
compartment enclosing an ice forming and dispensing apparatus and an
underlying ice
storage bin.
[1002] The present invention is directed to providing a modular design for
such an
appliance that facilitates brand differentiation and re-use of components for
creating ice
makers, refrigerators and wine coolers.
[1003] The present invention also is directed to the problem of permitting
easy
manual access to the ice storage bin while maximizing the effective capacity
of the ice storage
bin and reducing the likelihood of spillage of ice.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[1004] The present invention provides a modular design for an ice maker or
other
refrigeration appliance wherein the frame is constructed from a base member or
deck,
preferably a U-shaped stamping, a tub, preferably formed of plastic, and a
pair of side panels
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slip fit over the base and tub subassembly. A top panel is removably mounted
to the top of
the side panels to form the top of the frame and optionally at least partially
form the top of the
refrigeration compartment defined by the tub. A door is hingedly mounted to
the frame such
as to rotate about a horizontal or a vertical axis to selectively close said
refrigeration
compartment or provide access thereto.
[1005] In the preferred embodiment, the present invention further provides an
ice
chute or flipper hingedly mounted to the front of the tub to provide access to
the ice storage
bin defined by the tub while increasing the effective size of the ice storage
bin. The ice chute
is adapted to guide back into the ice storage bin any ice that is
inadvertently dropped thereon
when ice is being removed.
[1006] The chute is provided with a lower surface which cooperates with the
door
such as to be lowered into an open position extending outwardly of the
refrigeration
compartment when the door is opened and to be raised into an upper position
entirely within
the refrigeration compartment when the door is closed.
[1007] The present invention therefore provides a design for such an ice maker
that
readily facilitates brand differentiation among differently branded models of
the same ice
maker by providing a design sufficiently robust to permit alternative
appearing access doors,
and alternative control configurations, including having doors on one model
that may be
opened about a vertical axis for one model and doors on another that may be
opened about a
horizontal axis for an alternate model.
[1008] Furthermore, the present invention provides a modular design for a
refrigeration appliance compartment that is easily accessible for assembly,
cleaning and
repair.
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[1009] Furthermore, the present invention provides a modular design for an ice
maker
refrigeration compartment that is easily adaptable for constructing a compact
under counter
refrigerator or wine cooler.
These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be
apparent to
those skilled in the art upon reading the following detailed description of
the preferred
embodiments in conjunction with the attached drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[1010] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the novel ice
maker of
the present invention wherein a full outer door rotates about a vertical axis,
shown with the
outer door and the inner door or chute open.
[1011] Figures 2, 3, 4 and 5 are perspective views of the novel ice maker of
figure 1
illustrating the cooperation of the outer door and the flipper or inner doors
of the ice maker as
the outer door is progressively closed or opened.
[1012] Figure 6 is a front elevation view of the inner surface of the outer
door of the
novel ice maker of figures 1 through 5 showing the caroming element.
[1013] Figures 7, 8 and 9 are bottom, side and front elevation views of the
chute of
the ice maker of figures 1 through 5.
[1014] Figures 10 and 11 are perspective views of the novel ice maker of the
present
invention provided with a first alternative outer door or a drop down door
that rotates about a
horizontal axis, shown respectively with the inner and outer doors open and
closed.
[1015] Figure 12 is a perspective view of the main housing of the novel ice
maker of
the figure 1 with the top panel and a few selected interior components
removed.
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[1016] Figure 13 is an exploded view of the novel modular components of main
housing of figure 12
[1017] Figure 14 is an exploded view of the novel modular components of figure
13
but modified for the assembly of a compact refrigerator or wine cooler from
common parts
with the ice maker of the present invention having an escutcheon outer door.
[1018] Figure 15 is a perspective view of an alternative ice maker according
to the
present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[1019] The present invention provides a novel and robust modular design for an
ice
maker as illustrated in the drawings and described herein. While features of
the design can be
adapted for use in larger refrigeration appliances of various types, and the
claims appended
hereto are not intended to be limited hereby, the preferred embodiment for
carrying out the
present invention comprises a compact under counter ice maker 10 having a
width of between
15 inches and 24 inches, as illustrated in figures 1 through 5 or a compact
ice maker 10' as
illustrated in Figures 6 and 7.
[1020] As shown in Figures 1 through 5, generally and in Fig 1 in particular,
an ice
maker 10 has an outer housing or main housing 12 having a top wall 14, a back
wall (not
shown) and two side walls 16 (only one shown) defining there between a
refrigerated
compartment 18 having an access opening 20. As is well known in the art, the
refrigeration
compartment 18 contains controls 22, a cooling system (not shown), an ice
forming and
dispensing apparatus 24, and an ice storage bin 26 disposed below the ice
dispensing apparatus.
[1021] In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, a first door or
outer door
30 is hingedly attached to the main housing 12 to selectively close the access
opening 20.
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The access opening 20 must be sufficiently large not only to permit access to
the ice in the ice
storage bin 26 but to permit cleaning and servicing of the ice storage bin and
the ice forming
and dispensing apparatus 24. As is well known, The outer door 30 is provided
with a thermal
seal 32 that cooperates with the main housing 12.
[1022] The ice storage bin 26 is provided with a second or inner door or chute
40 to
facilitate access to the ice while reducing the likelihood of spilling ice on
the floor and to
increase the effective storage capacity of the ice storage bin 26.
[1023] As best shown in figures 7, 8 and 9, the chute 40 has a concave and
upwardly
opening upper surface 42 to define a guide path for directing dropped ice back
into the ice
storage bin 26. In the preferred embodiment, this concavity is formed by
having raised side
edges 44 and 46.
[1024] The chute 40 is hingedly fastened to the ice storage bin 26 so as to
rotate about
a horizontal axis 47 between an upwardly oriented, generally vertical position
and a lower,
generally horizontal position (shown in figurel).
[1025] The chute 40 is also provided with a contoured convex lower surface 48.
A
caroming element 50, shown in figure 6, is mounted to the inner surface 52 of
the outer door
to cooperate with the lower surface 48 of the chute 40 such that, as the outer
door 30 is
progressively rotated, as shown in Figures 1 through 5, about its hinges from
its open position
shown in Figure 1 to its closed position, shown in Figure 5, the chute 40 is
progressively
rotated from its lower position to its upper position. The axis of rotation of
the chute 40 is
preferably disposed sufficiently recessed from the location of the caroming
element 50 such
that the chute 40 is rests against the caroming element in its upper position
and is pulled
downwardly by gravity to follow the caroming element when the outer door 30 is
opened.
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[1026] In the lower position, the a portion of the lower surface 48 of the
chute 40 rests
against an abutment 54 (Figures 1 through 3) of the ice storage bin 26 such
that the chute is
angled slightly upwardly and outwardly of the refrigerated compartment 18 such
as to better
catch dropped ice and redirect it into the ice storage bin and to better
retain ice within the ice
storage bin when it is filled to capacity.
[1027] It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the use of the
chute 40
increases the useful capacity of the ice storage bin 26 while facilitating
access to its contents
by effectively increasing the height of the barrier front wall 60 of the ice
storage bin.
[1028] It will further be appreciated that, in the preferred embodiment, the
functional
concave upper surface 42 provided for guiding the ice nicely complements the
functional
convex lower surface 48 adapted for following the caroming element 50 so as to
provide a
lightweight attractive and unobtrusive moldable or stampable component.
[1029] Figures 10 and 11 show an ice maker 10' of the present invention
configured
with an alternate outer door 30' that rotates about a horizontal axis. The
alternate outer door
30' is approximately two-thirds the height of door 30 and is mounted such as
to hinge about
an axis just below and outward of the rotational axis 47 of the chute 40 such
that the inner
surface 52' of the door will engage and raise the chute 40 when the outer door
30' is raised
and closed. A panel 64 aesthetically matching the door 30' is secured to the
main housing 12
below the door 30' to close and seal the lower portion of the access opening
18.
(1030] It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the concave
lower surface
\~$ of the chute 40 is adapted to cooperate with either door 30 or door 30',
facilitating branded
model differentiation without modifications between the ice maker 10 and the
ice maker 10'
other than replacing door 30 with door 30' and panel 64. While additional
model
differentiation may be achieved by modifications to the controls 22, the ice
forming apparatus
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24, and the cooling system (not shown), the manufacturer can restrict such
modifications to
those which provide substantive feature distinctions without needless added
expense for
manufacturing and inventorying alternative main housings 12 and chutes 40.
[1031] As shown in Figures 12 and 13, in the preferred embodiment of the
present
invention, the main housing 12 is comprised of modular construction of panels
80 through 88
which may be, for example, pre-painted steel or stainless steel which are
assembled with a
plastic ice storage tub 90.
[1032] The side panels 84 and 88 incorporate a roll form cross-section into
the four
edges of the cabinet formed by the main housing 12. All other cabinet
components, except
the top, then fit into this common roll form section. The cross section is
designed to fit the
thickest component that must fit inside of it, the plastic liner, and then
other components with
thinner material have a formed edge, such as a hem seam, that provide them
with the same
effective edge thickness as the liner. All components are designed for slip
fits so that they
made be manually placed into position, with final sizing and positioning
occurring in the
foam fixture, well known in the art, used for adding insulation. A rigid foam
insulation,
preferably 35mm thick, is provided between the tub 90 and the panels to
maximize ice
storage capacity and eliminate condensate dripping into the machine
compartment.
[1033] The main housing 12 is provided with a removable top 14 (see figure 1)
to
facilitate assembly, cleaning and service from the top of the unit.
(1034] As shown in Figure 14, the modular design for the main housing 12 of
the ice
maker 10 may be adapted to the manufacture of a compact refrigerator 110, by
substituting a
refrigerator liner 190 for the plastic ice storage tub 90 and by the use of
identical or modified
panels 180 through 188.
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[1035] It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the modular
design for the
ice maker 10 facilitates rapid assembly of the main housing 12 and the ice
maker 10 or 10'. It
will further be appreciated that significant cost savings and increased
product offerings can be
facilitated by the interchangeability of main housing components between the
ice maker 10
and a compact refrigerator or a wine cooler 110. It will also be appreciated
by those skilled in
the art that the door 30 of ice maker 10 may be used, preferably with minor
modifications to
its inner surface 52 as the door for an refrigerator or wine cooler 110.
[1036] Additional branded model differentiation for ice makers may be
achieved, as
shown in Figure 15, by providing an ice maker with a control 22' that extends
outwardly from
the ice storage compartment to define a front surface flush with the front
surface of a door 30"
of reduced height. Except for height, door 30" is similar to door 30 of ice
maker 10 as shown,
or similar to door 30' of ice maker 10', not shown. Such modification of the
control 22' is
facilitated by the modular open top construction of the ice maker frame 12.
[1037] Similarly, a wine cooler or refrigerator 110 may be provided with a
control
similar in footprint to control 22 or control 22' to provide brand
differentiation between
refrigerator and wine cooler models, but a family resemblance between
similarly branded ice
makers, refrigerators and wine coolers.
[1038] The above description includes the best mode contemplated at the time
of
filing the present invention and recites many known details, advantages and
objects of the
present invention, which are in no way intended to limit the scope of the
claims appended
hereto.
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