OSCILLATING AND GYRATING STIR STICK FOR AN ICE CONTAINER

Abstract

A refrigerator is provided that includes an ice making system, that generally includes an ice maker for making ice, and an ice container for holding the formed ice. The ice making system may be positioned anywhere within the refrigerator, and it may be a modular ice system. The shape of the ice container limits the amount of useable space taken up by the system. The ice container includes a stir stick positioned within the ice container. The stir stick is configured to rotate and oscillate in a direction generally perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the stir stick to provide movement of the stir stick into the full area of the ice container. The rotation and oscillation of the stir stick prevents ice from melting and clumping in the corners of the ice container, while also aiding in directing the ice towards a dispensing aperture of the ice container.

Claims

1. A refrigerator, comprising: a cabinet; at least one door for providing access to within the cabinet; an ice maker for making ice operably connected to the cabinet; an ice container positioned adjacent the ice maker, said ice container comprising at least one corner and a bottom wall; a stir stick having a stir stick lower end operably connected to a plate positioned within the ice container at a location positioned outwardly from a central axis of the plate, said stir stick comprises a rod-shaped member with a bent portion along its length to protrude outwardly from the axis of the rod-shaped member; a motor positioned under the bottom wall of the ice container, the motor comprising a motor drive shaft operably connected to the plate to rotate the plate about a first axis of rotation, the motor drive shaft having a period of a first rotation; a speed reducing gear train configured to provide multiple second rotations of the stir stick relative to the period of the first rotation, the speed reducing gear train operably connected to the motor drive shaft, the speed reducing gear train operably connected to the stir stick lower end to rotate the stir stick about a second axis of rotation having a period of a second rotation; wherein the stir stick has the first rotation dependent on the plate and the second rotation dependent on the speed reducing gear train; wherein the combination of the first rotation and the second rotation configured to gyrate the stir stick within the ice container along a hypocycloid path; and wherein gyrating the stir stick along the hypocycloid path moves the bent portion of the stir stick along into the at least one corner of the ice container.

2. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the first rotation comprises generally linear movement.

3. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein stir stick includes a generally vertical portion proximate to the bottom wall of the ice container.

4. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the stir stick is positioned at the center of the ice container.

5. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the ice container is rectangular-shaped.

6. The refrigerator of claim 1, further comprising a driven shaft of the speed reducing gear train configured to provide multiple second rotations of the stir stick relative to a period of the first rotation.

7. The refrigerator of claim 6, wherein the axis is vertical.

8. The refrigerator of claim 3, wherein the generally vertical portion of the stir stick extends through an aperture in the bottom wall of the ice container.

9. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the stir stick is configured to reach the full area of the ice container to stop freeze-up of ice cubes in the ice container.

10. An ice making system, comprising: an ice maker; a polygonal ice container adjacent the ice maker, the ice container comprising first, second, third, and fourth walls; a stir stick operably connected to a plate configured to simultaneously rotate the stir stick about a substantially vertical axis and impart gyration on the stir stick in a direction substantially perpendicular to the rotation, and wherein the stir stick is configured to rotate to extend a bent portion of the stir stick into one or more corners of the ice container as the plate gyrates the stir stick toward the one or more corners of the ice container and rotate the bent portion generally away from the first, second, third, or fourth walls as the plate gyrates the stir stick along a hypocycloid path generally toward the walls.

11. The ice making system of claim 10, further comprising a bottom member adjacent the ice container.

12. The ice making system of claim 10, wherein the gyration is substantially linear movement.

13. The ice making system of claim 12, further comprising a motor positioned within a bottom member and operably connected to the stir stick to provide rotation and oscillation to the stir stick.

14. The ice making system of claim 13, further comprising a speed reducing gear train configured to provide multiple rotations of the stir stick relative to a period of the gyration of the plate.

15. The ice making system of claim 14, the stir stick further comprising a plurality of bends where at least one of the plurality of bends of the stir stick is configured to extend into a corner of the ice container as the stir stick rotates and gyrates along the hypocycloid path.

16. The ice making system of claim 15, wherein the stir stick comprises a generally vertical portion extending into the bottom member.

17. A method of breaking ice clumps and preventing freeze-up of ice in an ice container, comprising: providing a polygonal ice container including a stir stick operably connected to a plate at a location positioned outwardly from a central axis of the plate and within the ice container; rotating the stir stick within the ice container about a substantially vertical axis, said stir stick comprising one or more bends; and gyrating the stir stick within the ice container while rotating the stir stick so as to extend the one or more bends of the stir stick into one or more corners of the ice container as the simultaneous rotating and gyrating of the stir stick moves the one or more bends along a hypocycloid path.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the ice container is rectangular-shaped.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising a motor positioned within a bottom member and operably connected to the stir stick to provide rotation and oscillation to the stir stick.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising a speed reducing gear train configured to provide multiple rotations of the stir stick relative to a period of the gyration of the plate.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of a bottom mount refrigerator.

[0020] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the refrigerator of FIG. 1 with the refrigerator doors open and showing an ice maker and ice container.

[0021] FIG. 3 is a partial exploded view of an ice container according to the present invention.

[0022] FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the ice container of FIG. 3.

[0023] FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the ice container of FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0024] FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of a bottom mount refrigerator 10. The bottom mount refrigerator 10 includes a cabinet 12 encapsulating the compartments of the refrigerator 10. As shown in FIG. 1, the upper compartment is a refrigerator or fresh food compartment 14. First and second doors 16, 17 provide access to the interior of the refrigerator compartment 16. A dispenser 22 is positioned on one of the doors 17 of the refrigerator compartment 16. The dispenser 22 may be a water dispenser, ice dispenser, other beverage dispenser, or some combination thereof. Furthermore, the dispenser 22 may be placed on any door 16, 17, 20 of the refrigerator 10, or the dispenser 22 may be placed within one of the compartments of the refrigerator 10. For example, the dispenser 22 may be placed at one of the interior walls of the refrigerator compartment 16, thus being part of the cabinet 12. The placement of the dispenser 22 is not to limit the present invention. Positioned generally below the refrigerator compartments 14 is a freezer compartment 18. A freezer door 20 provides access to the freezer compartment 18. The freezer door 20 of FIG. 1 is shown as a drawer-type door. However, the present invention contemplates that the freezer door 20 may be a drawer or hinge door for providing access to the interior of the freezer compartment 18.

[0025] It should also be appreciated, that while FIGS. 1 and 2 show a bottom mount style refrigerator 10, the present invention contemplates that any style of refrigerator be included as part of the invention. The figures merely depict one example of a type of refrigerator that can be used with the present invention.

[0026] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the bottom mount refrigerator 10 of FIG. 1 having the refrigerator door 17 opened and the refrigerator door 16 removed to show an interior of the refrigerator 10. In addition, the freezer door 20 is shown to be a drawer that can be slid open to provide access to the freezer compartment 18. FIG. 2 shows an ice making system 24, which is operably connected to a dispenser 22 of the refrigerator 10. As shown in FIG. 2, the ice making system 24 is positioned on the inside of the refrigerator door 17. However, as mentioned above regarding the dispenser 22, the ice making system 24 can be positioned generally anywhere with respect to the refrigerator 10. For example, the ice making system can be positioned in or at an upper portion of the refrigerator compartment 14, on a side wall of the refrigerator compartment 14, or even possibly in the freezer compartment 18. The location of the ice making system 24 is not to be limiting to the present invention.

[0027] The ice making system 24 shown in FIG. 2 includes an ice maker 26 and an ice container 28. The ice maker 26 can be any style or configuration of ice maker that produces ice cubes (not shown). The ice container 28 is operably connected to the ice maker 26 such that ice cubes made in the ice maker 26 are dispensed or directed into the ice container 28. The size of the ice container 28 should be sufficient enough to contain or hold an amount of ice sufficient for a user or owner. Furthermore, it should be contemplated that both the ice maker 26 and the ice container 28 may be removed from the refrigerator 10. Thus, the present invention contemplates that the ice making system 24 be a modular ice making system. Furthermore, it should be appreciated that only the ice container 28 may be removable from the refrigerator 10. Also shown in FIG. 2, the ice container 28 generally includes an upper portion 30 and a lower portion 32. The portions will be discussed in greater detail below. However, the upper and lower portions 30, 32 of the ice container 28 generally are constructed such that they comprise a single unit, and are not removed separately when the ice container is removed from the refrigerator 10.

[0028] FIG. 3 is a partial exploded view of an ice container 28 according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 3, the ice container 28 is generally a rectangular-shaped container. The rectangular shape of the ice container 28 of the present invention allows for a slimmer ice container 28 that will take up less useable space within the refrigerator 10. However, the present invention contemplates that the ice container 28 comprises generally any shape, including but not limited to oval shapes or any other geometrical shape that may allow for the ice container to hold a predetermined amount of ice, while taking up the least amount of space as possible within the refrigerator. In addition, the shape of the lower or bottom portion 32 of the ice container 28 may be the same or different than the shape of the upper portion 30 of the ice container 28. However, the upper and lower portions 30, 32 should be connectable in some manner

[0029] Positioned within the ice container and generally near the center of the ice container is a stir stick 34. The stir stick is a rod-shaped member that can be rotated to move or displace the ice within the ice container 28. The movement of the ice cubes in the ice container 28 aids in preventing the ice cubes from melting or clumping, while also providing or aiding movement of the cubes towards an aperture 42 in the container 28 that dispenses the ice cubes from the ice container into a cup or other container. The stir stick 34 includes one or more bent portions 36 along the length of the stir stick. The bent portion provides greater area of the stir stick 34 as it rotates in the ice container 28. Furthermore, the stir stick 34 includes a generally vertical portion at the bottom 38 of the stir stick for extending into the bottom portion 32 of the ice container 28 and connecting to a motor 56. The motor may be any type of motor that can attach to the stir stick to provide rotation of the stir stick within the ice container 28.

[0030] The upper portion 30 of the ice container 28, as shown in FIG. 3, includes a first wall 44, second wall 46, third wall 48, fourth wall 50, and a bottom floor or wall 52, with corners 54 formed at the intersections of the walls. The bottom wall 52 may actually be part of the bottom or lower member 32 of the ice container 28. The bottom wall 52 includes the aperture 42 for dispensing the ice, and therefore, may include a crusher or crushing mechanism 40 positioned therein. As noted above, the bottom 38 of the stir stick 34 may extend through the aperture 42 as well to connect to the motor or other rotating means. While the stir stick is shown to be positioned generally in the center of the bottom wall 52, it should be appreciated that the stir stick can be positioned anywhere in the bottom wall to provide for the greatest amount of reach of the bent portions 36 of the stir stick 34.

[0031] While the stir stick 34 is configured to rotate, rotation alone may not allow for the bent portions 36 of the stir stick 34 to reach into the corners 54 of the ice container 28. Therefore, the ice at this location may begin to melt and/or clump together. Thus, the present invention contemplates that the stir stick 34 may oscillate or gyrate in the direction generally shown by the arrow 64 as well as or at the same time as rotating as shown in the direction of the arrow 66 of FIG. 3. The gyration of the stir stick 34 is generally in a direction that is perpendicular to the rotational movement of the stir stick within the ice container 28. Thus, the combined rotating and oscillating of the stir stick will allow the bent portion 36 of the stir stick to reach into the full area within the container 28, including the corners 54.

[0032] The reach of the stir stick 34 into a corner 54 of the ice container 28 is shown in FIG. 4, which is a top view of the ice container 28 of the present invention. While the stir stick 34 includes an axis 62, the rotation of the stir stick is generally about said axis 62. However, the present invention contemplates the inclusion or the use of one or more cams 60, as shown in FIG. 4. The cams provide for the oscillation or gyration of the stir stick 34 while the stir stick is rotating about said axis 62 to add another dimensional movement of the stick. The movement may be said to be linear, as opposed to the rotational movement. One or more cams 60 may be positioned at the motor shaft 58 or the bottom 38 of the stir stick 34. The present invention also contemplates the use of multiple cams 60 with the multiple cams positioned all at the motor shaft, all at the stir stick, or some combination thereof at the motor shaft and stir stick to provide the appropriate gyration or oscillation (linear movement) of the stir stick 34 to reach into the corners 54 of the ice container 28.

[0033] As shown in FIG. 4, the ice container includes a cam 60 attached to the motor shaft 58 of the motor 56. The cam has a motor shaft aperture 63 at the center of the cam 60, and a stir stick aperture 61 positioned outwardly from the central aperture. The stir stick aperture 61 allows the stir stick to attach to the cam 60. The rotation of the motor shaft 58 by the motor 56 will also rotate the cam 60. The rotation of the cam will cause the stir stick to rotate as well. A set of gears may be positioned also connected to the motor shaft 56 with the gears connected to the motor shaft and operatively connected to the bottom of the stir stick. The rotation of the motor shaft could cause the gears to rotate, which will provide the rotational movement as shown by the arrow 66 of the stir stick 34. However, as the motor shaft 56 is also rotating the cam, the cam will cause the stir stick to gyrate or oscillate as the stir stick is rotating. This is the direction shown by the arrow 64 in FIG. 3. Thus, the stir stick 34 will be both rotating about its axis 62 while also gyrating in a direction perpendicular to the rotation and according to the shape of the cam 60 and location of the stir stick aperture 61 in the cam 60. Thus, the multiple sources of movement for the stir stick will cause rotation and gyrating of the stir stick to allow the bends of the stir stick to reach into the full areas of the ice container 28, thus preventing clumps of ice from melting together. The movement of the stir stick will also aid in directing ice from the full area of the ice container to the dispensing aperture in the bottom wall 52 of the ice container.

[0034] As described, the assembly may include multiple gears to aid in the rotation and gyration of the stir stick 34. A gear can be placed or attached to the motor shaft 58. A second gear can be attached at the bottom 38 of the stir stick 34, with the teeth of the gears in communication with one another. As the motor 56 rotates its shaft 58, the rotation of the first gear will provide rotation to the second gear, which will in turn rotate the stir stick 34. As the stir stick 34 and/or motor shaft 58 may also be connected to a cam 60, the motor shaft 58 rotation will also cause the stir stick 34 to move in a generally linear direction perpendicular to the rotation. This linear movement will move the stir stick 34 into the corners 54 and at the walls 44, 46, 48, 50 of the ice container 28. However, other means of providing linear movement (gyration/oscillation) to the stir stick 34 are contemplated. Furthermore, a speed reducing gear train may be used with the motor 56 to provide multiple rotations of the stir stick 34 while in the corner 54 of the container 28. Thus, the gear train would create a faster rotation of the stir stick 34 as compared to the rotation of the cam 60, which would provide more oscillation for the stir stick 34 in the corners.

[0035] FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the ice container 28 of FIGS. 3 and 4, with the upper portion 30 of the container 28 generally removed. FIG. 5 shows some of the components of the present invention. For example, FIG. 5 shows the stir stick aperture 61 of the cam 60, and also the motor shaft aperture 63 of the cam 60. As noted above, the motor shaft aperture 63 allows the cam 60 to be attached to the motor shaft 58 of the motor 56. The stir stick aperture 61 provides for a connection point for the bottom portion 38 of the stir stick 34. FIG. 5 does not show the gears, as discussed above, which can provide rotation from the motor shaft 58 to the stir stick 34 to provide the rotation of the stir stick 34 about the stir stick axis 62. As discussed above, the configuration of the cam 60, including stir stick and motor apertures 61, 63 may be different than that shown in FIG. 5, with the configurations dependent upon the shape of the ice container, shape of the stir stick 34, amount of movement required or desired for the stir stick, and the like. Thus, the present invention should not be limited by the exact configuration of the stir stick and cam shown in the Figures, and is intended to include generally any configuration of stir stick, cam, and motor that would provide for rotation and gyration or oscillation of the stir stick within the ice container.

[0036] To break ice clumps and to prevent freeze up of ice in the ice container 28, the location of the ice container 28 and ice making system 24 should be determined. Thus, the location of the ice making system 24 may determine the shape of the ice container 28. As noted above, the shape of the ice container shall be such that the least amount of useable space within the refrigerator 10 is used by the ice container. Once the shape of the ice container 28, and more particularly the upper portion 30 of the ice container 28, has been determined, the shape 34 of the stir stick should be determined. The shape of the stir stick 34 will be determined on the shape of the ice container, such that the bends 36 of the stir stick 34 shall reach as great amount of area within the ice container as possible. Next, the number and configuration of cam(s) 60 should be determined to work with the stir stick 34 to provide the rotation and gyration of the stir stick 34 to reach the full amount of area within the ice container 28. Thus, the configuration of cam apertures, shape of cam, and number of cams should be determined. Next, it should be determined whether to include a gear system within the motor 56, cam 60, and stir stick 34 to provide additional rotation for the stir stick 34. Once these factors have been determined, the ice container can be assembled. The ice container assembly 28 should be tested to ensure that the motor, gears, cams, and stir stick provide movement to the stir stick such that the stir stick is able to reach into the corners 54 of the ice container. Therefore, the stir stick should be rotated within the ice container while also being oscillated or gyrated to extend the stir stick, including the bends of the stir stick to reach the full area within the ice container.

[0037] The foregoing description has been presented for purposes of illustration and description, and is not intended to be an exhaustive list or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. It is contemplated that other alternative processes obvious to those skilled in the art are considered to be included in the invention. The description is merely examples of embodiments. For example, the shape of the stir stick 34 may be varied depending on the shape of the ice container. Furthermore, the location of the motor, stir stick, cams, apertures, and the like may also be varied according to the size and shape of the ice container. In addition, the number of cams and configurations of cams may be varied to provide the stir stick with the greatest amount of movement within the ice container. It should be appreciated that the configuration of the stir stick, cams, gears, and motor within the ice container as described above are but one possible configuration for providing oscillation, gyration, and rotation of the stir stick within the ice container. It is understood that many other modifications, substitutions, and/or additions may be made, which are within the intended spirit and scope of the invention. From the foregoing, it can be seen that the present invention accomplishes at least all of the stated objections.