REFRIGERATOR APPLIANCE
A refrigerator appliance is provided. The refrigerator appliance includes an ice maker and a container. The ice maker directs ice into a storage volume of the container. The container is removably positioned within a fresh food chamber of the refrigerator appliance. A valve is mounted to the container and configured for regulating a flow of liquid out of the storage volume of the container.
1 . A refrigerator appliance, comprising:
a cabinet defining a fresh food chamber and a freezer chamber;
an ice maker disposed within the fresh food chamber or the freezer chamber of said cabinet;
a container defining a storage volume for receipt of ice produced by said ice maker, said container removably positioned within the fresh food chamber of said cabinet;
a valve mounted to said container, said valve configured for selective adjustment between an open configuration in which said valve permits a flow of liquid out the storage volume of said container and a closed configuration in which said valve hinders the flow of liquid out of the storage volume of said container, said valve configured for shifting between the open and closed configurations when said container is removed from and inserted into the fresh food chamber of said cabinet.
2 . The refrigerator appliance of claim 1 , wherein said valve is in the open configuration when said container is positioned within the fresh food chamber of said cabinet and said valve is in the closed configuration when said container is positioned outside of the fresh food chamber of said cabinet.
3 . The refrigerator appliance of claim 1 , wherein said cabinet defines a vertical direction, said container extending between a top portion and a bottom portion along the vertical direction, said valve mounted to said container at the bottom portion of said container.
4 . The refrigerator appliance of claim 3 , further comprising a screen positioned within the storage volume of said container and above said valve along the vertical direction.
5 . The refrigerator appliance of claim 1 , wherein said container defines an opening for directing the flow of liquid out of the storage volume of said container, said valve comprising:
a stem mounted to said container;
a seal mounted to said stem; and
a spring urging said seal against said container at the opening of said container.
6 . The refrigerator appliance of claim 1 , wherein said cabinet defines a vertical direction, said ice maker positioned within the fresh food chamber of said cabinet and above said container along the vertical direction.
7 . The refrigerator appliance of claim 1 , wherein ice within the storage volume of said container is maintained at a temperature greater than about thirty-two degrees Fahrenheit.
8 . The refrigerator appliance of claim 1 , further comprising a door rotatably mounted to said cabinet for permitting selective access to the fresh food chamber of said cabinet, said container and said ice maker mounted to said door.
9 . The refrigerator appliance of claim 1 , further comprising a reservoir, said cabinet defining a vertical direction, said reservoir disposed below said container along the vertical direction and receiving the flow of liquid from the storage volume of said container when said valve is in the open configuration.
10 . The refrigerator appliance of claim 9 , further comprising a drain line extending between an inlet and an outlet, the inlet of said drain line positioned adjacent said reservoir and configured for directing liquid out of said reservoir to the outlet of said drain line.
11 . The refrigerator appliance of claim 10 , further comprising an evaporator pan positioned within said cabinet, the outlet of said drain line positioned adjacent said evaporator pan and configured for directing liquid into said evaporator pan.
12 . A refrigerator appliance, comprising:
a cabinet defining a fresh food chamber and a freezer chamber;
a door rotatably mounted to said cabinet for permitting selective access to the fresh food chamber of said cabinet;
an ice maker disposed on said door within the fresh food chamber of said cabinet;
a container removably positioned on said door, said container defining a storage volume and an opening, the storage volume of said container configured for receipt of ice produced by said ice maker, the opening of said container configured for directing a flow of liquid out of the storage volume of said container; and
a valve mounted to said container at the opening of said container, said valve configured for regulating a flow of liquid out the storage volume of said container such that said valve permits the flow of liquid out of the storage volume of said container through the opening of said container when said container is positioned on said door and said valve hinders the flow of liquid out of the storage volume of said container through the opening of said container when said container is removed from said door.
13 . The refrigerator appliance of claim 12 , wherein said cabinet defines a vertical direction, said container extending between a top portion and a bottom portion along the vertical direction, said valve mounted to said container at the bottom portion of said container.
14 . The refrigerator appliance of claim 13 , further comprising a screen positioned within the storage volume of said container and above said valve along the vertical direction.
15 . The refrigerator appliance of claim 12 , wherein said valve comprises:
a stem mounted to said container;
a seal mounted to said stem; and
a spring urging said seal against said container at the opening of said container.
16 . The refrigerator appliance of claim 12 , wherein said cabinet defines a vertical direction, said ice maker positioned above said container along the vertical direction.
17 . The refrigerator appliance of claim 12 , wherein ice within the storage volume of said container is maintained at a temperature greater than about thirty-two degrees Fahrenheit.
18 . The refrigerator appliance of claim 12 , further comprising a reservoir mounted to said door, said cabinet defining a vertical direction, said reservoir disposed below said container along the vertical direction and receiving the flow of liquid from the storage volume of said container when said valve directs the flow of liquid out of the storage volume of said container.
19 . The refrigerator appliance of claim 18 , further comprising a drain line extending between an inlet and an outlet, the inlet of said drain line positioned adjacent said reservoir and configured for directing liquid out of said reservoir to the outlet of said drain line.
20 . The refrigerator appliance of claim 19 , further comprising an evaporator pan positioned within said cabinet, the outlet of said drain line positioned adjacent said evaporator pan and configured for directing liquid into said evaporator pan.