CONTROL FOR A REFRIGERATOR DOOR DISPENSER LIGHT

DISPOSITIF DE COMMANDE POUR LAMPE DE DISTRIBUTEUR DE PORTE DE REFRIGERATEUR

English Abstract

A door mounted dispenser for a refrigerator includes rear and
opposing side walls that collectively define a cavity, a release mechanism
for dispensing ice and/or water and a light for illuminating the cavity.
The cavity light can be operated in one of three distinct modes, i.e., in a
first mode wherein the cavity light is continuously illuminated, in a
second mode wherein the cavity light is illuminated only through
activation of the release mechanism, and in a third mode wherein the
cavity light is illuminated based upon a sensed level of ambient light
present at or near the refrigerator. In the third mode, the cavity light is
illuminated at a first level based upon ambient light and a second, higher
level when the release mechanism is operated. The level of ambient light
necessary to activate the cavity light can be set by a consumer through
control panel inputs.

Claims

I/WE CLAIM:

1. A rcllrigcrnuu contpr.isin4:
a cahinct;
a do(}r pivotttily mountrd tn tlir. c:aihinet for exposing ;-n inierior
compartment of the rctcigcrator;
a control pianel having a plurality of control t:1c=mr.nt:s for inputting
ctPer-S.t.in" paratneters for the refrigerator;
a dispcn,r.r tiirmed in the door, said dispenser including a housing
ha=.tving bottom, rear and opposing. sidc walls that collcctively definc a
cavity, a mcchanism fiir dispensing at 1CCist t>nc (if itc rinri wates, and a
liizht fur cclec;tively illuntinrzting the c.tvity;
a settsor f'tw sensing a lovcl of amhient light; niid
mcarts for cnntroilinc?; the light itt thre;e distinct modes wlt4rcin. in a
first tttode the ligltt iS conlirn.lrn.tsly illuminatcd, in a second tttodc:
thc
light is illuminated only tltroubh activution of tlic rr.lcasc mcc.lianism ~uZ
d,
in a third ntodc the li~'lu is ilEuntin:tt.ed basvd upon whether thc level 017

,.tnttaic:nt li; ht ix irss th:tn a predeterlnincci level, wherein:
n) said rrr.<.1Ctern,incd lcvcl is adjustablc;
h) when in thc tliird mt~dc:_ the c.ontrolling tncans activates the light
at a tirst levcl based tipon the ILVel o1'flnlhii:nt. Jit;rht oanr;l at a
Scc.pijd level
ttPrnt activation o.l'the dispcnsin4 ntcchartism; and
c) the light is ifluniinatc[I at urttdually decreasittg Ivvels Following
i3Cttvalt3(N7 oi'tlh: dL2ipCn:iift;,y nttr.hanism.

11



2. A. rc;lrigcrsitor contf,ri,ing7
a ctthinct;
a cioor pivotally mounted to the cahinet fctir cxpp4ina ar3 intc-rinr
ccatnpa.rtment of ttte rel'rigy(:rat.or;
:t c:ontrol pancl liaviug ;i plurality of control clcmciats f'M inputting
isperating pnrarnctcrs fbr thc: rrE'ril;rrator;
a dispenser larmed in the door, iai.d disrcmc=r including a housing
ltaving hottom, re;ar ttnd opposing side walls thut co(lcctivc:ly delline-, a
cavity, a 3nc chanism lbr disn~nsing at least one uf ice tuid wf]ter, tind a
iight tiar sr.lr.c:tivcly illuminatinS the cavity;
a sensor I~br ,cri.sinrn lcvcl of anibirsnt li$ht:; and
rnetyn:i for controlling the light: in thrcc distinc,t modes wherein, in a
tirst mode thv lighl is contiiwoualy iiFuniitintc;d, in tt sCc:ond mode thr.
light is illuminau:d only through :ictivaticKt al'the relense tneclttulistn
und,
in a tl,ircl mndc thc light is illuminated haccd ttpon whether the level of
ambient light is Ic:ss than a predetermined lcvil, wherein said
predetcrminc,'d Ivvi] is adjutit.sthlc.

3. 'i'he rifrige:racot= ta;cirrding to cioitn 2, wherein tlt4 predetermincd
level ig adjust:lhlc i:hmuglt thr cnntrol panel.

4. 7'he refrigi;t=attor according to clrsinl 2. wherein when in the third
tnode, the contro3ling nieans activates the lig-ht at ri lirst Icvel hatir.c{
upotl
the lr.vc..l of antbicttt light and at a second level upon ttctivfltion of the

dispensing mcchariivm.



5. 17fic refrigorutur according tn c:l%tirn 4. whercin tha disncnsc:r litrlhcr

inciudes aL icast one control uic.tnc;nt ior sclecting, h4:twe:c:n the lirst,
scx.ond and third nindcs.

(i. 'i'he rePrigcrator a3ccording to claim 4, whcrci.tt the dispcn"r S'urthcr
inclttdcs a pturmiity of indicator iigtttK. %aid indicator lights being
associatcd with each of the hr5fõ wecond and t,h'trci morit:s,

7. Thsr rcfrigg-rator according to claim 2, whercin the liglit is
illuminnlt='d at brttdtuzlly decreasing lcvr:lr ibllctwinc; de-activat.ion
ok'the
d ispcnsing mochstn ism.

8_ A ret'rlgerat'or comprisin ;;
a cabinet;
n (loor pitiobillv mnuni.e.d t.o the cahinct. li)r exposing im intcrior
compiirttilenl o1'thc rcfrioerator;
a control p.uiei having a plurality ol'controi clement.i for int+uttins;
ni,er.titing paramcters for the reCriKer:ttor;
ra c.>,ispcresr.r lilrmcd in the door, said dispenser including a housing
having bottcsm, rcar und opposing sidr walls that collectively define a
cavity, a tncchanism for dispensing at Jcvyt onc of ice and watcr, and a
light fbr si.lectiveiy illunutiating tht: cavit=y;
a %ripsor for sensing a level of ambient Iight: and
mean:t for ctintmlling the light in three distinct niotlos whG3rein, in a
lirtil mc7cie the light iy ctmtinraC-uxly ilivrninatui, in a second tttode the

iight. is illuminated only through activatiott ofi.hr, rc:lcacc mechanism and,

in a thirci mode the light is itlumunat.ed based upon wliethcr the lcvcl nf
trmbicnt light. is ic.-,q thz,n a prcdetermiricd level whcrein, whcn in thu
third

33



niodo, ttte eontrolling rr-Cjn;; ;,,c.tivates the ligh.t att 21 ti-st level
hascd upon
the level of nmbicnt light and at a scconcl lc-vr..l upon :activation vP thc
disrcnsing mech.iniw-tt.

9. '1'he: Kefri~c.rator arc.c.ording to ciaim 8, wherein the predetcrmincd
level is adju:+table throus:,l- lhc ct -introl pancl.

10. 'I'he rePrigot-itor aec;urding to claim $, Whercan thr disrrnsrr fiuth-:r
includes at Icast one contrr-I eienteitt for scl4cting between the first,
sccond and third mmlcti.

11. fl-e refrigcrator accordine- tU Clttim 10. wherr.in ilic clisFense:r
ti-rl:hCr intiludos a plurality til' indicator lights, sttid indicator lil;hts
hcing
as5sociatecf with cacl'l f the f irsi, second und third modes.

12. 'lllc r4fiigerator according to clairn fl, whrrein the light is
illuminate.d ru Sr,tdua.lly deCreEltiing, levels tollowin;, dc-activatiun
clPthc
disp4nsing mcuhanism,

13. A 1at.Cthod oFtr+c=.rat.in;,n icc atidlor water dispensCr cavity lis;ht
provided in a ru.fi-igercrtor comrriKin;;=
selccting an ambient light level ;-t wliich the ilispr-nSer cavity light
.viil hc illutninatcd; and
sc;]cctivr.ly pcrating; the cavit.y light in one ol: a tir5t mode
wherein thc cavity light. is crtintiniiously iÃlul'ninaied, a sccond mocic
wherein the cavity light is illuminatctl only i+1cr ac-tivstinn ol a dispenser
mech.-nism, ,zttd aÃhirCi mode wherein the cavity light is illuniinatcd
h:i,cd nn the= selec,tcd amhicnt Iigllt level,

14



14. The method of claim 13, further comprising: activating the light at
a first level based upon the level of ambient light and at a second Ievel
upon activation of the dispensing mechanism when in the third mode.


15. The method of claim 13. further comprising: manually selecting
between the first, second and third modes at the dispenser mechanism.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising: illuminating at least
one indicator light associated with a respective one of the first, second
and third modes.


17. The method of claim 13, further comprising: gradually decreasing
a level of the light following de-activation of the dispensing mechanism.

Description

CA 02532406 2006-01-09

CONTROL FOR A RE"PRiC,ERA')C'OR DOOR 1)ISPFNS)N:.R LIC,1=1T
13ACKGROIINO OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the 1.i:1.vc'.ntion
'I'he Prcxcnt iLlvtntinn (k;rtcil.ns tU Ihc: art of rt;itT'igerptpr5:lttdr
inc~re
partioulrar.ly, to a cnntrc)l l'm npcrating a 1igght assooiated with a
reliigeratc7r door dispen,-.r.

2. Discussion of the Prior Art
Npr mnuntrci dispensers att widely known in the ;trt al'
refrigerutors. '1'ypically, thc: clispcnscr is mnunted in the fieezer door
and,
in wl]c:n activated, tlil:ipCnSC9 ice and/or water clc.pcncling upon a
consumer's
particular need. Dispensers arc providcci in variuus ftrrm, and wittt a
wric ly f Fcatures depe.nding on the partiCulitr refrigertttor rnaael. 'T'hat
is, di9punsen; can rwigc fmm nwdcls that sin>Ilslv disgense icc: eulwe

2


CA 02532406 2006-01-09

rlnd(or wtatc:r, to mnrc complr.x inodels that dispense ic4 itt various
1'oYms,
as weli as provide tilturCCi watcr.

Mntit dispensers incorpurate a light that is illumina.ted whenever
the dispenyc:r is activatad. ir, sonic cases, ihc dislxnser lig.ht can bc
s crnploycti as tt nicht Iie,ht., That is. thc< light is illuminatcd at a lint
Ievct
based upon ambient light condition.9 and, at a. second, hialicr, level when
tho ciispenser is activated. I'he higher level incn-,ase% vis3bilit.y in ni-
dcr to
enable a consumer to readily release ice ttr water into, for e=xamplc, a
glass. t-towrvcr, nnc lln]blCin i ncqUrltCri(I with th4 flip
Jlt light is
W ostablishing an anibicltt light Ecvcl at whic:h thc light will he
illuminated
at the first Ic;vcl. Jt has ben found that, dcpcndinf; on thc installation,
the
light is typically illuminated tw early in tltc tEtty. In suntc partic:ularly
lctw-light level installations, the light may be operated eontinuously,
t.hcrc:hy l,rc,virfing a f31s4 impretision that a problcin may exist with thc
is refxigerator. In eithi;rc.xsc. tho. ovcrall sc.rvice Iifc oftlie light
is.reduced
t;ignilicantly.

'1'hrrrlorc, despite thc existunce uf'light controls t<yr dispensers in
the prior art,. thm tit:ill rxi,t5 -L ncccf t'ar a crrntrnl [6r a refrigerator
ciispenser light. More specilic-r,lly, I:h.c.rt exists a nee.d Jur a control
th,it
ao e.nahles a eonsvinor to selectively set an anthicnt iight Icve1 iit which
the
tiispenser light is :ictivated cvl=ten opcratin.0 in a nijght. light modc.

3


CA 02532406 2006-01-09
SUMMARY OF TWF, INVENTION

'lltc prescnt inventic+tt is ditu;tcd to a light contml fnr;t dispenser
mnuntcJ on a rcft'igcrsuur door, "l'hc*, rcfrig4x.3lor includcs un outcr Shell
wi.thin which is clctined a fresli food contp3rttnent and a freezer
y ce-misnrtrncnt. ':fhc rcfr. il;er:etor further includcs a door which is
pivotally
mountul relative to the out4r s1tc1J for selectivcly closing at lcast one of
the t~esh 'S'(iod and freerer coenparl:mcnts. 7'he door is providcd with a
dispenser that cnables a constlmer to retrieve ice and/or watcr withe,a'ut
accc,ssint;, thr rotnPtlrtment, while thc dispenser incorporates a light.

iu ln ttccordtu'tcc: with a prcferrrd r.mhoclirnenl of the inventiott, the
dispCtlsOr inUleldes rear and opnoSttlg 3l(jC wallti that e:tlllt:c'1ively
detine
ca.vity, which is adaptcd to be illuminatcd by tlte lighL and a rclcasc
mechanism tc,r dispcnsing iee and/or wattsr. 'l"hc light cun i;lc operated in
otte of thrco dist.inct modes. In a first modc, the light is continuously
is illuniinutect. In a second nznJc, the Ei,5*1,t is ill.un,inatted only
through
activation ol'tiie n;iease niechnnism, In a third mode;, ti,c light is
illuminated based upon a. sensc:d level of Ellril)i4'nt light prC5cllt pi. or
ni::.1r
thes rscl1rigc r+;tor. Mot-c spccil"ically, in the third mode, the light is
illuminated nt a firsi: level httved ul+<yn :,mhicrat light, and a seconcf,
higltcr
:n level when tiie; t'elease mecltanism is opereted. In the tnost prcfcrred
lilrm
ofthc invc.ntion, the level of arttbient light required to activ:-te thc
light= in
the third tnode can hc set by a cottstmter through enntrol panel inputs.

Additional objects. fi;a.ttarr.snnd advantages of the present
invention will b4come more readily c+Ppare.nt frofn thr rollowing det.ailed
..i description al'a pretbrred entbodimCnt',vhen takwn in conjunction with

+3


CA 02532406 2006-01-09

the drawings whr;rcin like rcfcrc:nce nr.rnu:r:tls reler to corresponditig
ptrrts
in tise several viows.

BRIEF DESCRIP'TipN OF TRF, DRAWINGS
Figure I is a paartial, right per:spectiv4 vicw ol'a re.l:rigerator
s includinp, a control for celectivolv activatin~ a light. ttssocintcd wiih sa
dix.)r
mountr.d ciisrenser ccxtstructed fn accordttnce witli thc present invention;
And

Figure 2 is an eniargcd pot tncctive view c7fa Ian,tian of the door
mauntod dish4nscr of Figure 1.

DLTAEI.,FD DESCRIPTION OF THE pREFRRRED
EMBODIMENTS
With initial r=cfcrence to F'iAtirc I, a rc:fiigcrfltor 2 incsltrd+:y an outer
shvll or cabinet 4 within which is rK)sitioncd a liner 6 that define.s a freah
(bod contparttnent l:. Another lincr (not .qhnwn) is al-w rx)-sitioncd in
is cabin4L 4 to dCfine a lI'Cp7Cr ComFartnlCnt 9. In a manner known in the
sart, :fresh i'crcrd coinpartnieni 8 cktn he acccs5ed by tlto selective
opcnin~ t,f
a f'resh fbod drinr 10. In a similar manner, a fre.c.~Ler door 12 can hc
opcrred to nceC58 frcc=r.rr comPartmr.nt 9. In the embodiment shown,
froczer dnor 12 includes a dispcnscr 14 that Cnahlex st cr,nsunner to
?o retricvc icc and/or firc:sh wata without accessing fi-esh fixx)
cnmr:trtmcnt
b or fi'rczcr contirairtnicrii 9. For thC sake f)f C4n1p1ettnc53, fCL.94 food



CA 02532406 2006-01-09

door 10 is shown; to includc a dairy compartment 15 and various
vorti4ally ad,justalilo shelving unil.s, onc of which is indimited at 16.
ln a manner also i;nowrt ity t.he art, fresh fotxi compttrtincnt H i,
prc-vidcd with ai plurality of vertically height a(I}usttible Ahcivos 20-22
s supported by a pair (y.f shol!'suPporL t'ails, one o!'which is indicated aL
25.
At .s lowermost portion cif fresh food comptm.mc.nt R is ilhastrated various
tt:mpr:raturc or Climatc conirotled bins 28 tand 29, us wc.Jl as a
t:onventional storage compartment 30. At an upps r region o(' fresh f4od
compartmt:nt $ is mountcd a tcrrtperaturC coritrol housing or user ititerftlcC
io 40. In tho embodiment -chnwn, intcrfacc 40 int:ludes a display zonc 42
and a plurality ol'contrOl Clcros;nts 45-49. Cnnh=o1 clenients 4,i.-48 ,trc
constituted by temparaturu control clvments for adjusting a tempcr.iturt:
of fresh food contpartnicnt 8 and freozcr compartment 9, while cUntrol
c:lcmcnt 44) im constituted by un auxiliary control clomcnt 1"or rn-settingõ
ts f'or example;, a door alirm_ '1'he particular details of user Intt:rl'acc
40 are
tict fpr,~th in great4t' ct4tail in commonly assigncA9 U.S. patcnt application
entitlcd "Itcfris;er=ator Control IncludlnS a llidden reratures M.cnu" Cle.d
tin cvcn datlr hercwith. In any evcrtt, for the sake of completoness,
interfKce 40 includes fl curttrcaller or CPU 57 operatively conncctet! tc>
ao rifrigCratiun cc>n7roncnts ('not sl=town), :,s well tL% a liqlati 63
whicll, in a
manner knowti in thv art, ls cpntrollcd by a switch 65 operatc.d by
opcninp attd closing door 10.

T'fic presCttt itivc:ntuin is dircctt:d tn the particular operation of'
diSpE)nscr 14. As bcet sht)wn in Flgurc 2. disl,mx,r 14 includcs a housing
?i 8() Ilaving hottoni, rc:ir tand uplxixing 3ide walls 83-86 that enllc-
c.tivc:ly
c}rlinc a cavity 90. As shown, boLtom wall 83 is provided with tt
~


CA 02532406 2006-01-09

removable grate 91 that ci'ttmrs water ur niclted ice and provides a stt-blc
surfaco for a container or glasx. In addi.tAnn, dispencer 14 is shown to
i utude a rclcase m4chanism 93 whiclt, when ttctivated. dc:livc,rs water
and/or ic.r dcl,cnding upon a consuMt;r's 13nrtioul.sr need in a inttntic:r
th;rt
; will be deseribcd -rtnn. ftilly bclow. Dispenser 14 iS also providt,~ci with
a
cavity light 96 which is Octivatcd to illuminate cavity 90.

As further shown in 11 igurc 2, dispcn5cr 14 includes a control panel
110 hrtving a plurulity ol'eontrol eletncnts. in aeeordttnce with one
Cmbadinicnt. the cnntrol clements are conctitutCCf by f3rst and secttnd yels
to of dispensar control buttons 11.1 anti 114. As shown, the lirst sct of
control buttone 113 includes a lock button 120, it watr.r button 121. a
cn,shed ice button 122 and a cubed ice button 1:3. [:itch of hutttins 120-
123 is pretcrahly provided with a corresponding
indicdtor light 127-130
which. whr-n illuminatcd, indicates which one of buttons 120-123 has
ts becn scitctad. In accort.lanc:c witli the most preferred form o! tte
invcntiun, tltt3 second set of corltrul butini9s 114 is employed to sct an
nprr.,tinnal mode for cavity light 96. Mom spoCilicttily, sccc-nri wc.t oE'
eontrtil hutt:ons 114 includes an At)'1'O button 137, an ON button 138 t-ttd
an OFF Mutton 139 whic.h establishcs threc distinct opcr.ating modcs for
21i cavity light 96. In a mantlor similar r,u that described abovc:, cotitrot
buttum 137-139 have associated therewith corrr.;rx,,ndinV- indicator lights
142-144 which, when illuminated, dasignate the current or ttctive modc
for cavity light 96, For the sake of complctcnuss, control pemcl 110 is
also shnwn to inolude a water Iiltcr indicatnr 147 that signals whcn :t
zs wate:r'(71tcr (not shown), associated wii:h rlispcuser 14, requires
changing.
I=inalty, control panel I 10 is provided with asenyor 150 tivhir=.h, in a

7


CA 02532406 2006-01-09

nl:tnner thnt will be dism-ised bclow. ie tipr.rativc:ly stmnciatul with
cavity
light 96,

As sct.fi,rth aixwe, cavity lig#tt 96 i4 operable in threse diytinct.
>tnacies which may hc sclc=ctrx# through cnntrol butu}n4 137-139. More
s specifically, cavity lil;lit 96 cnn be. capc:rated in an AUTO modc through
ac:tivatinn of hutton 137. an ON mode through activation t-ifk,uttxin 138
ancl ,.m OFF modc thrtaugh activation of button 139. In the C)h! modr..
cavity light 96 i% continuously illuminated as long as powar is supnlied to
rul'riger:lt.oc 2. regardless of whe:ther relonsG mechanism 93 is activtttcd.
to Conversely, in the QP,k' rnode, cavity liffht 96 rcmains inactive until
releasc mcchanit;m 93 iy activatecl to dispense water anrl/er icc_ More
spcci =ficilly, manirtalation ot; rctetasti mechanism 93 activtttc:s cavity
liglit
96 to iliuminnt:e cavity 90. In the most prcfet'red fortn ofthe invcntiun,
once a consumer has c,i,mnlcted the water ,+nctlur ice dispcnsing
ts operation, i.e., following deMttctivation of the. dispensing opcration,
tltc
intOnsit:y of cavity lighl. 96 will gradually decrease or decay as if on a
Liimmrr, unt.il cavity light 96 is inactivc.

In the AUTO mode, cctivity light 96 i.s activatc-d when ambient iight,
at ot,tbout retcigCC'ator 2, reaches u prcdctCrminecl icvr.l_ Morc
-!tt speciiically, as ambicttt litt,ht about t'vliigerutor 2 begins to
diminixh,
cavity light' 96 is activatecl tn sCrve as, for cxample, a ttight light. In
acCOrdanL'C with tmr aspect of thc itlve:nl.ion, cavity light 96 is aat.ivated
at
a 1ir:;t iliurninp-tiotl level once the nn,bicnt light has reached the
predetermined level. I luwcver, when release mcChSnism 93 is activated,
is ihr intensity of cavity light. 96 incrcast~5 to full powcr to pravidc
iliun>tintttion to cavity 90. In a manner sirnilUr to that described above
s


CA 02532406 2006-01-09

with respuct to the OFF tn.orlt: nfoftt:rrttit.in, nnec the sronsutt7vr has
Fnishod dispensing wttLur and/nr ice, the intcns.it.y nl'r,,ivity li~ht 96
vvi.ll
,gr.lclu311y decrczsc or dc;cay, as i1'on a ditnnicr, until reaching the first
int.cntiity Icvc.l.

ln acvurdunce with tlti~ tnost prefrrrrd fc-t-m of du: invontion, thc
predetennincd Icvtl oPumbient light can bc sclcC,tcsd by a consumer. 'T'hat
is, ifa +aonSumer wishes to havo cavity light 96 notivatCd at eithc:r 3
lighter irr siarkrr ttmbient light levc;l, the cpnsutncr sitnply selects the
desired light IevCl throuRh i3lirrl:tce 40. In further acecyrdanoo with the
to tnost prel'vrred form ofthC itlv-zntinn. a user can sclect from a low light
levcl through a high light lede:i by choosing a value hrtwccn I and, tctr
example, 7. For oxatttplc, il'n con9unter wishc:3 cavity light9!5 to hc
illuminatcd at a higher degrCC of ambient liplit. at. I is entered into a
light
level selcetion porticm of intrrl'ace 40 or, ullernatfvcly, if <t conSumcr
is wi;~hes ambient Ilgl1t to be at a lower lovcl, a 7 can he. ent.crccl Inttl
interfaoo 40. W itli this urrangt,mctit, ilie light contr0l c,f tlzc: prese.nt
invcntion allows a consumer to adapt t:tn opt;rtttic.iri 01'u disp4nstr cavity
light 96 tu accc-immodate various irtstaliations. '!'httt is, dcpcnding on
whet.her the rctt'igoC:rritor is located in lip,ht4r or darker arraas of a
kitchen,
_r,t uptirsttion ol'tttc cavity light 96 cun bc; tuilor4.d to the surmuncling
light
levels.

111thrnleh clr.scribed with rcfcrence to a pruf4rred Cmbndimcnt of
the invention, it should hC rr.adily undr:rstnnd that various chtmges and/or
moditicatiun5 csin bo mitde to thc invention withnitt dcparting froni the
is spirit thcrtrctl'. Pnr instance, the purtioulnr form and rzrrangcmunt nf
control pancl I 10 and, for that matter, dispensCr 14, can vary without
9


CA 02532406 2006-01-09
departing froia i tttc scope of the pre%unt inven.tion. in generai. the
invcrttion is only intcttdi:cl to be timitcd liy the scr,pc. cii'tht
liollowitig
clt~i nis.

in

Representative Drawing