F25C5/182

ICE BIN WITH MAGNETIZED SCOOP AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURE AND USE
20220364779 · 2022-11-17 ·

An ice bin and scoop and related methods are disclosed. The ice bin includes a liner in an outer shell. A support plate is fitted in a space between the liner and the outer shell. The support plate has either ferromagnetic or magnetic material. The scoop has either magnetic or ferromagnetic material. The support plate is positioned so that the scoop can be supported inside the ice bin on the perimeter wall of the ice bin by a force of magnetic attraction between the support plate and the scoop. The support plate is positioned so that the scoop may be held out of contact with ice deposited in the bin and out of the path of falling ice. Molded-in-place insulation may support the support plate in the space between the liner and outer shell.

ICE BIN WITH MAGNETIZED SCOOP AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURE AND USE
20220364779 · 2022-11-17 ·

An ice bin and scoop and related methods are disclosed. The ice bin includes a liner in an outer shell. A support plate is fitted in a space between the liner and the outer shell. The support plate has either ferromagnetic or magnetic material. The scoop has either magnetic or ferromagnetic material. The support plate is positioned so that the scoop can be supported inside the ice bin on the perimeter wall of the ice bin by a force of magnetic attraction between the support plate and the scoop. The support plate is positioned so that the scoop may be held out of contact with ice deposited in the bin and out of the path of falling ice. Molded-in-place insulation may support the support plate in the space between the liner and outer shell.

METHOD FOR ENHANCING ICE CAPACITY IN AN ICE MAKING APPLIANCE
20220357089 · 2022-11-10 ·

An ice making appliance includes an ice maker for producing ice, an ice bin defining a bottom trough that extends between a rear end and a dispensing chute, wherein the ice is supplied at the rear end and is collected in the ice bin, an auger rotatably mounted within the bottom trough of the ice bin, and a motor assembly mechanically coupled to the auger for selectively rotating the auger. A controller is configured to rotate the auger in an advancing direction to urge the ice toward the dispensing chute and periodically rotate the auger in a reverse direction to redistribute the ice proximate the rear end of the ice bin.

METHOD FOR ENHANCING ICE CAPACITY IN AN ICE MAKING APPLIANCE
20220357089 · 2022-11-10 ·

An ice making appliance includes an ice maker for producing ice, an ice bin defining a bottom trough that extends between a rear end and a dispensing chute, wherein the ice is supplied at the rear end and is collected in the ice bin, an auger rotatably mounted within the bottom trough of the ice bin, and a motor assembly mechanically coupled to the auger for selectively rotating the auger. A controller is configured to rotate the auger in an advancing direction to urge the ice toward the dispensing chute and periodically rotate the auger in a reverse direction to redistribute the ice proximate the rear end of the ice bin.

Refrigerator

A water pocket with an open top side is filled with water, mounted in a regular position on a supporting frame, and tilts to supply the water stored in the water pocket to an ice making tray, thereby easily supplying a required amount of water to the ice making tray. A refrigerator includes an ice making tray provided to linearly move with rotation when ice of the ice making tray is separated, or includes a holding preventing member which prevents the ice from being caught by a lower ice making tray, thereby improving a forward-and-backward width of an ice maker. It is possible to easily withdraw ice stored in an ice bucket by pushing an ice discharge button in a state in which the ice bucket is not separated.

Refrigerator

A water pocket with an open top side is filled with water, mounted in a regular position on a supporting frame, and tilts to supply the water stored in the water pocket to an ice making tray, thereby easily supplying a required amount of water to the ice making tray. A refrigerator includes an ice making tray provided to linearly move with rotation when ice of the ice making tray is separated, or includes a holding preventing member which prevents the ice from being caught by a lower ice making tray, thereby improving a forward-and-backward width of an ice maker. It is possible to easily withdraw ice stored in an ice bucket by pushing an ice discharge button in a state in which the ice bucket is not separated.

Refrigerator icemaking system with tandem storage bins and/or removable dispenser recess
11573041 · 2023-02-07 · ·

A refrigerator utilizes in some instances an icemaker having a tandem arrangement of storage bins. A first storage bin receives ice produced by an icemaker and includes a reversible ice mover that when operated in a first direction feeds an ice dispenser, and when operated in a second direction feeds a second storage bin disposed below the first storage bin. A refrigerator may also in another aspect include an externally-accessible ice dispenser having a dispenser recess portion that is removable from the refrigerator when the doors of the refrigerator are closed, e.g., for the purpose of accessing an ice storage bin.

Refrigerator icemaking system with tandem storage bins and/or removable dispenser recess
11573041 · 2023-02-07 · ·

A refrigerator utilizes in some instances an icemaker having a tandem arrangement of storage bins. A first storage bin receives ice produced by an icemaker and includes a reversible ice mover that when operated in a first direction feeds an ice dispenser, and when operated in a second direction feeds a second storage bin disposed below the first storage bin. A refrigerator may also in another aspect include an externally-accessible ice dispenser having a dispenser recess portion that is removable from the refrigerator when the doors of the refrigerator are closed, e.g., for the purpose of accessing an ice storage bin.

CONFIGURABLE CONTAINER

A configurable container includes a first divider and a container body. The divider has a divider body and a first projection extending from the divider body, wherein the first projection has a length having a first dimension and a width having a second dimension different than the first dimension. The container body includes a first wall that includes a first groove facing inward toward the internal cavity, wherein the first groove has a width configured to receive the width of the first projection of the first divider in a first orientation. At least one of the first wall and a second wall includes a second groove also facing inward toward the internal cavity, wherein the second groove has a width configured to receive the length of the first projection in a second orientation, wherein the width of the second groove is different than the width of the first groove.

CONFIGURABLE CONTAINER

A configurable container includes a first divider and a container body. The divider has a divider body and a first projection extending from the divider body, wherein the first projection has a length having a first dimension and a width having a second dimension different than the first dimension. The container body includes a first wall that includes a first groove facing inward toward the internal cavity, wherein the first groove has a width configured to receive the width of the first projection of the first divider in a first orientation. At least one of the first wall and a second wall includes a second groove also facing inward toward the internal cavity, wherein the second groove has a width configured to receive the length of the first projection in a second orientation, wherein the width of the second groove is different than the width of the first groove.