Water dispenser abstract
An internal water dispenser for a bottom mount refrigerator is
located on an interior side wall of a fresh food compartment. The
interior side wall is preferably opposite a hinge side of a door
for the fresh food compartment and the dispenser is positioned forward
of shelves arranged in the fresh food compartment such that the
dispenser is arranged to be readily accessible to the consumer upon
initially opening the fresh food door.
Water dispenser claims
1. A refrigerator comprising: a cabinet within which is defined
a fresh food compartment and a freezer compartment, said fresh food
compartment being located above the freezer compartment and including
a first side wall and an opposing, second side wall; a fresh food
compartment door pivotally mounted to the cabinet along the second
side wall of the fresh food compartment; a plurality of shelves
arranged in the fresh food compartment; and a water dispenser arranged
on the first side wall of the fresh food compartment.
2. The refrigerator according to claim 1 wherein the water dispenser
is located forward of the plurality of shelves.
3. The refrigerator according to claim 2 wherein the first side
wall includes a tapering portion, said water dispenser being located
rearward of the tapering portion.
4. The refrigerator according to claim 2 wherein the water dispenser
includes a water spout projecting from the first side wall toward
the second side wall.
5. The refrigerator according to claim 4 wherein the water dispenser
also includes an actuator for controlling a flow of water from the
water dispenser.
6. The refrigerator according to claim 5 wherein the actuator
is located above the water spout.
7. The refrigerator according to claim 6 wherein the water dispenser
further includes a base plate mounted against the first side wall
of the fresh food compartment.
8. The refrigerator according to claim 1 further comprising: a
water reservoir mounted in the fresh food compartment; and a delivery
conduit leading from the reservoir to the water dispenser, said
delivery conduit extending entirely within the cabinet.
9. In a refrigerator including freezer and fresh food doors mounted
to a cabinet for selectively, respectively accessing a lower freezer
compartment and an upper fresh food compartment defined within the
cabinet, a dispenser for delivering water from within the upper
fresh food compartment comprising: a water spout projecting from
an inner side wall of the fresh food compartment; and an actuator
for controlling a flow of water from the water dispenser.
10. The dispenser according to claim 9 wherein the actuator is
arranged above the water spout on the inner side wall.
11. The dispenser according to claim 9 wherein the inner side
wall includes a tapering portion, said water dispenser being located
rearward of the tapering portion.
12. The dispenser according to claim 9 wherein the water dispenser
further includes a base plate mounted against the inner side wall
of the upper fresh food compartment.
13. The dispenser according to claim 9 further comprising: a water
reservoir mounted in the upper fresh food compartment; and a delivery
conduit leading from the reservoir, said delivery conduit extending
entirely within the cabinet.
14. A method of dispensing water from a refrigerator including
freezer and fresh food doors mounted to a cabinet for selectively,
respectively accessing a lower freezer compartment and an upper
fresh food compartment defined within the cabinet comprising: opening
the fresh food door; operating an actuator; and collecting water
discharged from a dispenser projecting from an inner side wall of
the upper fresh food compartment.
15. The method of claim 14 wherein the water is collected forward
of a plurality of shelves mounted in the upper fresh food compartment.
16. The method of claim 15 further comprising: directing water
to a water reservoir mounted in the upper fresh food compartment;
and delivering water from the reservoir to the water dispenser through
a conduit extending entirely within the cabinet.
Water dispenser description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention pertains to the art of refrigerators
and, more particularly, to an internal water dispenser arrangement
provided in a fresh food compartment of a bottom mount style refrigerator.
[0003] 2. Discussion of the Prior Art
[0004] Various styles of refrigerators are available on the market
today. The most common styles include side-by-side, top mount and
bottom mount refrigerators. A side-by-side refrigerator is characterized
as having a freezer compartment which is located laterally adjacent
a fresh food compartment; a top mount refrigerator includes a freezer
compartment arranged vertically above a fresh food compartment;
and a bottom mount refrigerator has a fresh food compartment disposed
above a freezer compartment. In each of these styles of refrigerator,
it is known to provide an ice and/or water dispenser that is directly
accessible from outside of the refrigerator. Certainly, given the
difference in temperatures of the fresh food and freezer compartments,
it is intuitive to dispense ice from the freezer side and water
from the fresh food side. However, it is typical to provide only
a single dispenser arranged in the freezer door for a side-by-side
refrigerator or in the fresh food door for a top mount style refrigerator.
In general, bottom mount refrigerators are restricted to water dispensers
in the fresh food door.
[0005] Regardless of the type of refrigerator, providing an external
dispenser means that the water line must be routed into one of the
refrigerator doors, wherein the water in the line is subjected to
somewhat higher temperatures. This arrangement results in water
being dispensed at temperatures at least slightly greater than potentially
available. To this end, there is a need to locate a refrigerator
water dispenser in a non-obtrusive, yet readily accessible, position
within a fresh food compartment of a refrigerator in order to enable
the dispensing of water at a lower temperature. More specifically,
there is considered to be a particular need for a water dispenser
in a side wall of the fresh food compartment of a bottom mount refrigerator
wherein water can be dispensed at an optimal temperature and vertical
position from the bottom mount refrigerator.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The present invention is directed to an internal water dispenser
for a bottom mount refrigerator. More specifically, a dispenser
for cold, potable water is located on an interior side wall of a
fresh food compartment of a bottom mount refrigerator. The interior
side wall is preferably opposite a hinge side of a door for the
fresh food compartment such that the dispenser is arranged to be
readily accessible to the consumer upon initially opening the fresh
food door.
[0007] In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention,
a water line is connected to a supply system in a lower rear machine
compartment of the refrigerator. Water flows through a replaceable
filter cartridge which is also accessible from within the fresh
food compartment and then to a cold water reservoir located behind
storage drawers provided in the fresh food compartment. Water is
routed from the reservoir to the dispenser through a conduit located
along, and preferably directly behind, the side wall of the fresh
food compartment. Dispensing occurs when a consumer causes a button
of the dispenser to be depressed, thereby opening a solenoid valve.
Because the water is routed entirely within a cabinet of the refrigerator,
the water dispensed is quite cold.
[0008] Additional objects, features and advantages of the present
invention will become more readily apparent from the following detailed
description of a preferred embodiment when taken in conjunction
with the drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to corresponding
parts in the several views.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 is an upper right perspective view of a bottom mount
refrigerator including a water dispenser arrangement in accordance
with the present invention; and
[0010] FIG. 2 is another perspective view of the refrigerator of
FIG. 1 schematically depicting an overall water flow system employed
in connection with the water dispenser of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0011] With initial reference to FIG. 1 a refrigerator associated
with the present invention is generally indicated at 2. As shown,
refrigerator 2 includes a cabinet 5 within which is defined an upper
fresh food compartment 8 and a lower freezer compartment 9. Also
depicted are upper, central and lower hinges 12-14 which are used
in connection with is pivotally mounting fresh food and freezer
doors 16 and 18 of refrigerator 2 (also see FIG. 2). At this point,
it should be realized that refrigerator 2 constitutes a bottom mount
style refrigerator in which the present invention has particular
advantages.
[0012] In the embodiment shown, fresh food compartment 8 includes
a plurality of spaced shelves 20-23 as well as a plurality of storage
drawers 27-29. Storage drawer 29 actually constitutes a crisper
drawer which extends across substantially the entire width of fresh
food compartment 8. On the other hand, freezer compartment 9 is
shown to include upper and lower racks 32 and 33 for storing food
items to be frozen. In any case, the present invention is particularly
directed to the inclusion of an internal water dispenser 40 within
fresh food compartment 8 and, more particularly, to the inclusion
of water dispenser 40 on a side wall 50 opposite hinges 12-14 of
cabinet 5.
[0013] As clearly illustrated in FIG. 1 water dispenser 40 is
recessed relative to a front edge 55 of cabinet 5 but in front
of shelving 20 and 22 as well as drawer 27. Actually, in the most
preferred embodiment of the invention, dispenser 40 is arranged
vertically between shelf 22 and drawer 27. In this position on side
wall 50 dispenser 40 will not obstruct the closing of fresh food
compartment door 16 as it is located rearward of a forward most,
tapering side wall section 60 while even large containers can be
filled with water through dispenser 40 in front of drawer 27. In
any case, in the preferred embodiment shown, dispenser 40 includes
a base plate 65 an actuator button 70 and a laterally projecting
and downwardly opening water delivery spout 75.
[0014] FIG. 2 best shows the inclusion of dispenser 40 in connection
with an overall water flow system for refrigerator 2. In this preferred
embodiment, a water supply line, which is partially shown at 85
is used to deliver water to a first solenoid valve 90. Solenoid
valve 90 includes an outlet conduit 94 which leads to a filter unit
97. Filter unit 97 can take various forms known in the art, but
preferably includes a fixed base 99 and a replaceable filter cartridge
100 which is exposed within an upper rear portion of fresh food
compartment 8. Filter unit 97 has associated therewith a filtered
water supply line 104 which directs filtered water to a second solenoid
valve 108. As shown, first and second solenoid valves 90 and 108
are preferably located adjacent each other and, more specifically,
within a lower rear machine compartment of refrigerator 2 which,
in a manner known in the art, houses a compressor (not shown) and
other components of an overall refrigeration system employed to
cool fresh food and freezer compartments 8 and 9. Since this overall
cooling arrangement is not part of the present invention, it will
not be further discussed herein. As shown, second solenoid valve
108 includes a first output line 112 which leads to a serpentine
water reservoir 116. Although the particular location of reservoir
116 can vary, the most preferred embodiment positions reservoir
116 behind storage drawers 27 and 28 in a lower rear portion of
fresh food compartment 8. An outlet side of reservoir 116 has connected
thereto a delivery conduit 120 which directs the filtered water
to dispenser 40.
[0015] Second solenoid valve 108 also has associated therewith
a second output line 124 which is used to direct filtered water
to an ice maker 128 provided within freezer compartment 9. In general,
this manner of employing multiple solenoids, a filter unit and a
reservoir for storing water in connection with a refrigerator is
known in the art, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5135645 which
is incorporated herein by reference, such that this general arrangement
is simply presented for the sake of completeness. However, in accordance
with the invention, it is important to note that the filtered water
flow path to reservoir 116 and through delivery conduit 120 to dispenser
40 can remain entirely within fresh food compartment 8 or at least
within cabinet 5 such that the filtered water delivered through
dispenser 40 can be at a substantially reduced temperature as compared
to providing a dispenser within fresh food compartment door 16 wherein
a delivery conduit, corresponding to delivery conduit 120 would
have to be routed into an insulated area with-in fresh food compartment
door 16 and would inherently be subjected to warmer temperatures.
In addition, significant cost savings are achieved by not having
to route a delivery conduit through a door hinge. By providing dispenser
40 on a side opposite hinges 12-14 as employed in accordance with
one preferred form of the invention, only a partial opening of fresh
food compartment door 16 is required to enable water to be readily
dispensed within a wide range of different sized containers. It
should also be noted that, in accordance with the preferred embodiment
shown, there is no recess or well associated with dispenser 40 such
that even extremely elongated containers can be readily positioned
beneath delivery spout 75 for filling purposes. Furthermore, it
should be understood that providing internal water dispenser 40
in connection with bottom mount refrigerator 2 is considered to
be extremely advantageous given the overall height of fresh food
compartment 8 based on the location of freezer compartment 9 there
beneath. Therefore, water dispenser 40 can be provided at an optimum
height for easy access and use, as opposed to providing such a dispenser
in a top mount refrigerator wherein dispensing water therefrom would
typically require a user to bend over and/or have a somewhat obstructed
view of the dispenser.
[0016] Although described with reference to a preferred embodiment
of the invention, it should be readily understood that various changes
and/or modifications can be made to the invention without departing
from the spirit thereof. For instance, although water dispenser
40 is shown to include an actuator button 70 located above delivery
spout 75 it is possible to employ an actuator arranged below delivery
spout 75 wherein the actuator can be engaged by a container to be
filled. In addition, although water dispenser 40 is preferably on
side wall 50 opposite hinges 12-14 water dispenser 40 could be
arranged on the opposing fresh food liner side wall (not shown).
In general, the invention is only intended to be limited by the
scope of the following claims. |