Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
CA 02492231 2005-01-12
WATER DELIVERY SYSTEM WITH ANTI-KINK DEVICE
FOR A REFRIGERATOR
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention pertains to the art of refrigerators and, more
particularly, to a refrigerator water delivery system incorporating at least
one anti-kink device for a water line of the system.
2. Discussion of the Invention
Providing water dispensers and automatic icemakers in household
refrigerators has become extremely commonplace. In addition, there is a
growing trend toward increasing the purity of all consumed water. For at
least these reasons, it has heretofore been proposed in the art to
incorporate a water purifying system in a refrigerator in order to filter the
water supplied to a water dispenser and/or icemaker. To this end, filter
assemblies have been installed during the overall manufacturing of
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refrigerators, while utilizing filters which can be fairly, readily accessed
for replacement directly by consumers.
The inclusion of water and/or ice dispensers requires the routing of
water lines in connection with the manufacturing process. Adding a
water filter simply adds additional routing requirements. In general,
plastic tubing is employed for the water lines. Mainly due to the
flexibility of the tubing, care must be taken to ensure proper alignment of
the water lines to valves and to prevent kinking of the water lines. If the
water line is not properly aligned with a valve fitting, a leak may occur.
Improper alignment results in side loading which, over time, can cause
the water line/valve connection to degrade and leak. Likewise, it is
important to ensure that the water line does become kinked during or after
installation. A kink in the water line will restrict water flow and also
possibly create a leak in the water line. The potential for a water line
kink is particularly prevalent adjacent connections of the water line to a
valve. Obviously, one kink in a supply line can significantly limit the
effective operation of many dispensing components.
Based on the above, there exists a need in the art for an enhanced
water delivery system for a refrigerator, particularly a delivery system
employing one or more anti-kink devices which prevent kinks from
developing in one or more water lines, particularly at crucial connection
locations of the system.
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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a water delivery system, including one
or more anti-kink devices, for effectively delivering water to a water
dispenser
or an icemaker in a refrigerator. The water delivery system includes a water
line
having an inlet adapted to be connected to fresh water supply and a water
outlet
leading to at least one of a water dispenser and an icemaker. At least one
anti-
kink device is provided in the routing path of the water line to prevent
kinking
of the line.
According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a
refrigerator comprising: a cabinet; at least one of a water dispenser and an
icemaker; and a system for delivering water to the at least one of the water
dispenser and the icemaker, said water delivering system including: a valve
adapted to receive a supply of water; a bracket supporting the valve in
relation to
the cabinet; a water line including a first end portion having a terminal end
connected to the valve and a second end portion leading to the at least one of
the
water dispenser and the icemaker; and an anti-kink device mounted to the
bracket, said anti-kink device including an arcuate section, wherein the first
end
portion of the water line is routed along the arcuate section.
According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a
method of delivering water to at least one of a water dispenser or an icemaker
in
a refrigerator through a valve mounted on a bracket comprising: connecting an
anti-kink device to the bracket; routing an end portion of a water line along
an
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arcuate portion of the anti-kink device; and interconnecting a terminal end of
the
water line to the valve.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, the water
line is initially routed to a main flow control valve having support structure
to
which is attached a first anti-kink device. An outlet from the main flow
control
valve leads to a dual water flow valve which, in turn, can provide a fluid
connection to either the water dispenser or the icemaker. At each valve, an
anti0kink device is provided which prevents the water line(s) from developing
a
kink near a respective connection location of the water line to the valve. In
addition to ensuring that the water line(s) remain kink-free near the valves,
the
anti-kink devices ensures a proper water line/valve alignment.
Additional objects, features and advantages of the water deliver system
and anti-kink arrangement of the invention will become more readily apparent
from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment, when taken
in conjunction with the drawing wherein like reference numerals refer to
corresponding parts in the several views.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a side-by-side refrigerator
incorporating a water delivery system with anti-kink devices constructed
in accordance with the present invention;
Figure 2 is an exploded view of the water delivery system with the
anti-kink devices of the invention;
Figure 3 is a perspective view of one anti-kink device of the
invention;
Figure 4 is a perspective view of another anti-kink device of the
invention;
Figure 5 is a perspective view of a single water valve unit
incorporating the anti-kink device of Figure 3;
Figure 6 is a perspective view of a dual water valve unit
incorporating the anti-kink device of Figure 4;
Figure 7 is an upper perspective view of the anti-kink device of
Figure 4 shown mounted to the dual water valve unit; and
Figure 8 is a perspective view of the anti-kink device of Figure 3
incorporating an alternative guide channel arrangement.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
EMBODIMENT
With initial reference to Figure 1, a side-by-side refrigerator is
generally indicated at 2. In a manner widely known in the art, a side-by-
side refrigerator 2 is formed from a cabinet shell 3 to which is pivotably
attached a freezer compartment side door 5 and a fresh food compartment
side door 7. Side door 7 is shown open to expose a fresh food
compartment 8 defined within cabinet shell 3. Fresh food compartment
side door 7 supports a plurality of vertically spaced shelves 11-14 and is
also preferably provided with a dairy compartment 16. In a preferred
embodiment, fresh food compartment 8 is formed from an integral liner
having opposed side walls 22 and 23, a rear wall 26 and top and
bottom walls 28 and 29. Secured to rear walls 26 by means of
mechanical fasteners (not shown) are a pair of laterally spaced and
15 vertically extending rails 32 and 33 that adjustably support various
vertically spaced shelves 35-37, as well as a shelf supporting bin
assembly generally indicated at 39.
Also shown mounted within fresh food compartment 8 at top wall
28 is a temperature control unit 43. Temperature control unit 43 is
20 preferably molded of plastic and includes upper and lower slidable
temperature control members 46 and 47 which can be used by a consumer
to adjust the temperatures within side-by-side refrigerator 2 to preferable
levels. As also shown in this figure, freezer compartment side door 5 is
preferably provided with a dispensing unit 50 which can be used to
selectively dispense either water or ice.
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In general, the above-described structure of side-by-side
refrigerator 2 is known in the art and does not form part of the present
invention. Instead, this description is provided for the sake of
completeness. The present invention is particularly directed to a water
delivery system, which employs one or more anti-kink devices generally
indicated at 52 and 54 and described in full hereinafter, for supplying
water either directly to dispensing unit 50 or to an automatic icemaker.
Also part of the water delivery system is a replaceable filter, generally
indicated at 55 in Figure 1. As shown, filter cartridge 55 preferably
projects downward from within the housing of temperature control unit
43 at a central rear portion of fresh food compartment 8. This location is
considered to advantageously provide a readily visible and easily
accessible filter cartridge 55 that can be replaced by a consumer as
needed. However, other locations for replaceable filter 55 could be
employed. Again, this structure is generally known in the art and only
provided here for the sake of completeness.
Reference will now be made to Figure 2 in detailing the overall
components and their interconnections for the water delivery system of
the present invention. In accordance with the preferred form of the
invention, a water supply (not shown) is attached to refrigerator 2 at
single valve 76. More specifically, single valve 76 includes an inlet (not
shown) for attachment of the supply line, as well as an outlet 80. Valve
76 is mounted on refrigerator 2 by means of bracket 83 and preferably
constitutes a solenoid-type valve 86 having electrical connectors 87
which can be utilized to fluidly interconnect outlet 80 in a manner which
will be described more fully below. Outlet 80 is connected to water
delivery tube 98. Tube 98 has a terminal end 100 that is connected to a
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water inlet 102 of a filter cartridge mounting head 105 through a
connector 106.
Filter cartridge mounting head 105 is used to support filter
cartridge 55 and therefore it is preferably mounted so as to be at least
partially enclosed by a portion of temperature control unit 43. In any
event, mounting head 105 includes a main body 108 which is preferably
injection molded of plastic and attached to a bracket 110 by means of
various screws 112. In addition to water inlet 102, mounting head 105
has associated therewith a water outlet 115 to which is attached a tube
117 by means of an elbow connector 119. Tube 117 is preferably formed
from plastic having a diameter of approximately 0.25 inches (6.35 mm).
The manner in which water flows through mounting head 105 from tube
98 to tube 117 is known in the art and therefore will not be further
discussed. An opposing end of tube 117 is connected to an inlet port 124
of a dual dispenser valve 125. Dispenser valve 125 includes a first outlet
126 which is connected through a conduit 127 that leads to a water tank
128. In a manner known in the art, water tank 128 is preferably mounted
within fresh food compartment 8, such as at lower rear portion thereof.
In any event, dispenser valve 125 is preferably a solenoid-type valve
having electrical connectors, such as those indicated at generally 129 and
130.
Since both valves 76 and 125 are preferably located outside of
fresh food compartment 8, conduit 127 has positioned therealong a spacer
133 that extends through liner 20 to permit sealing around conduit 127
during the injection molding of foamed insulation within cabinet 3 in a
manner widely known in the art. For additional sealing purposes, seals
136, 137 and 139 are also provided. Seal 139 is actually associated with
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a tube 142 that leads from water tank 128 to dispensing unit 50. More
specifically, tube 142 includes a first section 143 that is interconnected to
a second section 144 through a connector 145. Second section 144 of
tube 142 directly leads to water dispensing unit 50. Dispenser valve 125
also includes a second outlet 148 to which is attached a tube 149 that
leads to a nozzle 153. More specifically, tube 149 is attached to nozzle
153 by means of a clamp 155, with nozzle 153 being utilized to provide a
flow of water to an icemaker generally indicated at 158.
With this arrangement, water supplied to refrigerator 2 is first
delivered to valve 76. Regardless of whether water is needed at dispenser
unit 50 or icemaker 158, valve 76 preferably directs the water to
mounting head 105. Mounting head 105 normally has filter cartridge 55
attached thereto, such that water flowing into inlet 102 through tube 98
would be forced to flow through filter cartridge 55 and thereafter
delivered to water outlet 115. In any case, all of the water for either
dispensing unit 50 or icemaker 158 is directed through mounting head
105 and, so long as the consumer has attached a suitable filter cartridge
55, the purity of the water delivered to either dispensing unit 50 or
icemaker 158 will be enhanced. The filtered water is then delivered
through tube 117 to dispenser valve 125 which controls whether the water
would flow to water tank 128 and then dispenser unit 50 or to icemaker
158.
Based on the above, two valves 76 and 125 are utilized to control
the flow of water in the overall water circuit. These multiple valves are
utilized in order to separate the electrical nodes and allow the water to
flow to a desired destination. However, it should be recognized that there
are various other types of water circuit arrangements which could be
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devised to perform this function. In fact, a simple system for a
refrigerator just having either a dispenser unit or icemaker need only
employ valve 76. In addition, a refrigerator having both a dispenser and
icemaker, but no filter, need only employ valve 125.
At this point it should be noted that the general configuration of the
water delivery system as described above is known and set forth in U.S.
Patent No. 6,303,031.
Therefore, this discussion has been included for the sake of completeness.
The present invention is more particularly directed to the inclusion and
use of anti-kink devices 52 and 54 in connection with the routing of the
various water lines as will now be described in full detail.
Reference will now be made to Figures 3 and 5 in describing the
preferred construction and use of anti-kink device 52. In accordance with
the invention, anti-kink device 52 includes a first end portion 170 leading
to a second end portion 171 through a center section 172. Center section
172 is arcuate so as to establish a generally U-shape for anti-kink device
52. As best shown in Figure 5, an end portion 176 of water line 98 passes
about center section 172 of anti-kink device 52. Actually, end portion
176 is positioned within a trough 180 that extends from first end portion
170 to second end portion 171. Trough 180 is defined by arcuate wall
members 181 and 182. Trough 180 serves to position and guide end
portion 176 of water line 98 over anti-kink device 52, particularly by
conforming to the size and shape of water line 98. In addition to
preventing water line 98 from kinking, trough 180 ensures a proper
alignment between end portion 176 and outlet 80 of valve 76.
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Anti-kink device 52 is secured and/or attached to bracket 183
through a mounting member 184. In accordance with a preferred form of
the invention, mounting member 184 includes first and second finger
elements 187 and 188 that are cantilevered from center section 172. First
and second finger elements 187 and 188 are spaced from one another so
as to define a channel 190. As best shown in Figure 5, when anti-kink
device 52 is attached to bracket 83, first and second finger elements 187
and 188 span a portion (not separately labeled) of bracket 83. Actually,
bracket 83 is provided with first and second extension members 194 and
195 that are spaced from one another so as to define a slot 200. With this
arrangement, mounting member 184 is positioned in slot 200 such that
first and second finger members 187 and 188 sandwich a portion of
bracket 83, with both a portion of center section 172 and end portion 176
of water line 98 extending into slot 200.
Reference will now be made to Figures 4, 6 and 7 in describing
second anti-kink device 54 constructed in accordance with a preferred
embodiment of the present invention. As shown, anti-kink device 54
includes a first end portion 218 extending to a second end portion 219
through an arcuate center section 220. Center section 220 actually
defines a trough section 225 having first and second upstanding wall
members 228 and 229 that guide and align water lines 127 and 149
relative to dual valve 126.
In a manner similar to that described above, anti-kink device 54 is
secured to a bracket 237, which is used to mount dual valve 126, through
an integrally formed mounting member 240. Mounting member 240
includes first and second finger elements 242 and 243 which extend about
trough section 225 and are cantilevered from center section 220. First
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and second finger elements 242 and 243 are spaced from one another
establishing a channel 248. In accordance with the invention, anti-kink
device 54 is secured to bracket 237 in manner similar to that described
above with respect to anti-kink device 52. More specifically, as best
shown in Figure 6, bracket 237 includes first and second extension
members 256 and 257 that are spaced from one another so as to define a
slot 260. Mounting member 240 is positioned in slot 260 such that first
and second finger members 242 and 243 sandwich a portion of bracket
237. Additionally, anti-kink device 54 is provided with a snap element
264 that receives a tab 267 that projects from bracket 237 at slot 260 to
further aid in positioning and retaining anti-kink device 54. Snap element
264 projects from a rear surface 270 of center section 220 and provides a
resilient attachment point for anti-kink device 54.
In accordance with the most preferred form of the invention, anti-
kink device 54 is integrally molded of plastic and formed with a guide
wall 280 that extends laterally across second end 219. Actually, guide
wall 280 is spaced from second end 219 to establish a guide channel 281.
Guide wall 280 is further connected to second end 219 through a divider
wall 286 that divides guide channel 281 into first and second guide
passages 290 and 291. With this preferred arrangement, water lines 127
and 149 extend along trough section 225 between upstanding wall
members 228 and 229 and through first and second guide passages 290
and 291 respectively, before terminating at first and second outlets 126
and 148 of dual valve 125. This arrangement ensures that water lines 127
and 149 pass through slot 260 without becoming kinked prior to
terminating at dual valve 125. In addition to ensuring an unobstructed
flow of water, anti-kink device 54 ensures proper water line/valve
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alignment such that water lines 127 and 149 do not experience side
loading when attached to outlets 126 and 148 respectively.
At this point, it should be understood that each anti-kink device
constructed in accordance with the present invention will prevent kinks
from developing in one or more water lines of a water delivery system in
a refrigerator, particularly at connection locations to valves. Although
described with reference to preferred embodiments, it should be readily
apparent that various changes and/or modifications can be made to the
present invention without departing from the spirit thereof. For example,
anti-kink device 52 could be formed so that at least a portion of trough
180 is fully enclosed so as to form a guide conduit 300 as illustrated in
the embodiment of Figure 8. With this particular arrangement, guide
conduit 300 is shown to include a projection 302 that extends into a notch
303 formed on bracket 83. Projection 302 serves to fully constrain guide
conduit 300 relative to bracket 83 to provide a more resilient mounting
arrangement. Certainly, although described with reference to a side-by-
side refrigerator, the water dispensing system and with the anti-kink
device(s) of the invention could be used on various styles of
refrigerators. Depending on the features of the refrigerator, anti-kink
devices 52 and 54 could be employed individually or in combination. In
any event, the invention is only intended to be limited by the scope of the
following claims.
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