Countertop ice making device with an integrated, removable water tank

1 . A countertop ice making device, comprising:

a housing with an ice maker and a valve actuator internal to the housing; and

a removable water tank;

wherein the housing further comprises a plurality of outer sidewalls, an interior sidewall offset from one of the outer sidewalls and a water tank receiving platform that extends from the interior sidewall towards the one outer sidewall;

wherein the interior sidewall and the one outer sidewall define a water tank receiving space to receive the removable water tank;

wherein the interior sidewall includes at least one water tank first connector;

wherein the water tank receiving platform defines a water valve receptacle that provides access to the valve actuator;

wherein the removable water tank further comprises at least one water tank second connector and a water outlet valve;

wherein, when the water tank is connected to the housing, the at least one water tank first connector of the interior sidewall engages the at least one water tank second connector of the water tank; the water tank sits in the water tank receiving space on the water tank receiving platform and the water outlet valve protrudes through water valve receptacle and the valve actuator engages the water outlet valve; and

wherein, to remove the water tank from the housing, the water tank is elevated above the water tank receiving platform such that the at least one water tank second connector of the water tank disengages from the at least one water tank first connector of the interior sidewall and the water outlet valve is withdrawn from the water valve receptacle allowing the water tank to be removed laterally from the water tank receiving space of the housing.

2 . The countertop ice making device of claim 1 , wherein:

the at least one water tank first connector of the interior sidewall is a plurality of water tank first connectors formed integral with the interior sidewall; and

the at least one water tank second connector of the removable water tank is a plurality of water tank second connectors formed integral with the removable water tank.

3 . The countertop ice making device of claim 2 , wherein:

the plurality of water tank first connectors formed integral with the interior sidewall are hook-shaped with grooves;

the plurality of water tank second connectors formed integral with the removable water tank are hook-shaped with grooves; and

to connect the removable water tank to the housing, the hook-shaped grooves of the removable water tank second connectors are engaged with the hook-shaped grooves of the interior sidewall.

4 . The countertop ice making device of claim 3 , wherein the removable water tank defines a plurality of alignment grooves formed therein and the plurality of hook-shaped grooves formed integral with the removable water tank are formed at the ends of the alignment grooves.

5 . The countertop ice making device of claim 3 , wherein for each hook-shaped groove formed on the interior sidewall, there is a corresponding alignment groove formed in the removeable water tank, having a hook-shaped groove formed at the end of each alignment groove, and wherein, when each hook-shaped groove on the interior sidewall is inserted into a corresponding alignment groove of the removable water tank, the alignment groove guides each hook-shaped groove of the interior sidewall until each such groove engages with a corresponding hook-shaped groove formed at the end of the alignment groove to secure the removable water tank to the housing.

6 . The countertop ice making device of claim 5 , wherein the engagement between each hook-shaped groove formed on the interior sidewall and the corresponding hook-shaped groove formed at the end of the alignment groove is an interference engagement.

7 . The countertop ice making device of claim 1 , wherein the water outlet valve comprises a plug, a gasket seal and a spring.

8 . The countertop ice making device of claim 1 , wherein the removeable water tank includes a protective annular ring that is disposed around the water outlet valve.

9 . The countertop ice making device of claim 1 , further comprises an L-shaped drawer.

10 . The countertop ice making device of claim 1 , wherein the removeable water tank is translucent.

11 . The countertop ice making device of claim 1 , wherein the removeable water tank is transparent.

12 . The countertop ice making device of claim 1 , wherein the removeable water tank further comprises a spacing wall and a plurality of engagement ribs formed integral with and extending inward from the spacing wall; wherein when the water tank sits in the water tank receiving space on the water tank receiving platform, the plurality of engagement ribs engage the water tank receiving platform and the spacing wall provides support to the water tank.

13 . A countertop ice making device, comprising:

a housing with an ice maker and a valve actuator internal to the housing; and

a removable water tank;

wherein the housing further comprises a plurality of outer sidewalls, an interior sidewall offset from one of the outer sidewalls and a water tank receiving platform that extends from the interior sidewall towards the one outer sidewall;

wherein the interior sidewall and the one outer sidewall define a water tank receiving space to receive the removable water tank;

wherein the interior sidewall has a plurality hook-shaped first connectors formed thereon, wherein each hook-shaped first connector defines a groove;

wherein the water tank receiving platform defines a water valve receptacle that provides access to the valve actuator;

wherein the removable water tank has a plurality of alignment grooves formed therein and formed at the end of each alignment groove is a hook-shaped groove that forms a second connector;

wherein the removable water tank further comprises a removable cover, a water outlet valve, a spacing wall and a plurality of engagement ribs formed integral with and extending inward from the spacing wall;

wherein, when the water tank is connected to the housing, the plurality of hook-shaped first connectors of the interior sidewall slide are disposed in a corresponding alignment groove and engage a corresponding hook-shaped second connector of the water tank; the water tank sits in the water tank receiving space on the water tank receiving platform while the plurality of engagement ribs engage the water tank receiving platform and the spacing wall provides support to the water tank; and the water outlet valve protrudes through water valve receptacle and the valve actuator engages the water outlet valve; and

wherein, to remove the water tank from the housing, the water tank is elevated above the water tank receiving platform such that plurality of hook-shaped second connectors of the water tank disengage from each corresponding hook-shaped first connector of the interior sidewall and are slid out of a corresponding alignment groove; and the water outlet valve is withdrawn from the water valve receptacle allowing the water tank to be removed laterally from the water tank receiving space of the housing.

14 . The countertop ice making device of claim 13 , wherein the removeable water tank includes a protective annular ring that is disposed around the water outlet valve.

15 . The countertop ice making device of claim 13 , further comprises an L-shaped drawer.

16 . The countertop ice making device of claim 13 , wherein the removeable water tank is translucent.

17 . A method for refilling a countertop ice making device located on a countertop underneath a cabinet, comprising:

providing an ice making device which comprises:

a housing with an ice maker and a valve actuator internal to the housing; and

a removable water tank;

wherein the housing further comprises a plurality of outer sidewalls, an interior sidewall offset from one of the outer sidewalls and a water tank receiving platform that extends from the interior sidewall towards the one outer sidewall;

wherein the interior sidewall and the one outer sidewall define a water tank receiving space to receive the removable water tank;

wherein the interior sidewall has a plurality hook-shaped first connectors formed thereon, wherein each hook-shaped first connector defines a groove;

wherein the water tank receiving platform defines a water valve receptacle that provides access to the valve actuator;

wherein the removable water tank has a plurality of alignment grooves formed therein and formed at the end of each alignment groove is a hook-shaped groove that forms a second connector;

wherein the removable water tank further comprises a removable cover, a water outlet valve, a spacing wall and a plurality of engagement ribs formed integral with and extending inward from the spacing wall;

removing the water tank from the housing by elevating the water tank above the water tank receiving platform such that the plurality of hook-shaped second connectors of the water tank disengage from corresponding hook-shaped first connectors of the interior sidewall and are slid out of the corresponding alignment grooves; and the water outlet valve is withdrawn from the water valve receptacle allowing the water tank to be removed laterally from the water tank receiving space of the housing;

removing the removable cover from the water tank;

filling the water tank with water;

then, connecting the filled water tank to the housing by simultaneously:

sliding the plurality of hook-shaped first connectors of the interior sidewall into corresponding alignment grooves of the water tank until the hook-shaped first connectors engage corresponding hook-shaped second connectors of the water tank;

seating the water tank in the water tank receiving space on the water tank receiving platform, such that the spacing wall provides support to the water tank;

engaging the plurality of engagement ribs with the water tank receiving platform; and

inserting the water outlet valve into and through the water valve receptacle so that the valve actuator engages the water outlet valve.

18 . A method for refilling a countertop ice making device located on a countertop underneath a cabinet of claim 17 , wherein the provided removeable water tank includes a protective annular ring that is disposed around the water outlet valve.

19 . A method for refilling a countertop ice making device located on a countertop underneath a cabinet of claim 17 , wherein the provided ice making device further comprises an L-shaped drawer.

20 . A method for refilling a countertop ice making device located on a countertop underneath a cabinet of claim 17 , wherein the provided removeable water tank is translucent.