Connection assembly for a base and a cabinet assembly of an ice maker
View Patent ↗A connection assembly is disclosed for an ice maker that includes a base having a rail and a cabinet assembly having a glide. The glide slides onto the rail to removably connect the base and the cabinet assembly while aligning the cabinet assembly vertically and horizontally relative to the base. Preferably, the rail and glide have complementary geometries wherein the base and rail fit together such that the complementary geometries limit the relative vertical and horizontal movement of the rail and the glide to each other. In alternative configurations, the base may have a glide and the cabinet may have a rail. The connection assembly may also include a stop limiting the relative linear movement between the rail and the glide, further assuring proper alignment of the cabinet and the base. The connection assembly may also include a locking mechanism limiting relative linear movement of the base and the cabinet.
1. A connection assembly for an ice maker having a base and a cabinet, said assembly comprising:
at least one guide rail disposed along a length of a top portion of said base; and
at least one glide disposed along a length of a bottom portion of said cabinet, said glide having an open geometry configured to receive said guide rail therein, wherein said guide rail is configured to restrict said glide from moving in the vertical and horizontal directions when said glide is securely disposed about said guide rail, wherein said glide comprises (1) at least a pair of oppositely disposed side walls which preclude said glide from moving in the horizontal direction when disposed about said guide rail, wherein said at least a pair of oppositely disposed side walls comprise an inner side wall and an outer side wall each having a length, and wherein the length of said inner side wall is shorter than the length of said outer side wall, (2) at least a top surface and (3) at least a bottom surface having an open space therebetween which precludes said glide from moving in a vertical direction when disposed about said guide rail, wherein said bottom surface of said glide has an opening to allow said glide to reciprocally move about said guide rail in a direction along said guide rail, wherein said at least a top surface and said at least a bottom surface each has a length, wherein the length of said at least a bottom surface is shorter that the length of said at least top surface, and wherein the shorter lengths of said inner side wall and said bottom surface are configured to cooperate with a stop to provide for lateral alignment of said base and said cabinet.
2. A connection assembly for an ice maker according to claim 1 , wherein the shape of said at least one guide rail is complementary to said at least one glide.
3. The connection assembly according to claim 2 , further comprising a stop that limits the reciprocal movement between the guide rail and glide.
4. The connection assembly according to claim 2 , further comprising a locking mechanism that substantially prevents the cabinet and base from the reciprocal movement.
5. The connection assembly according to claim 1 , further comprising a stop that limits the reciprocal movement between said guide rail and said glide.
6. The connection assembly according to claim 1 , further comprising a locking mechanism that substantially prevents the cabinet and base from the reciprocal movement.
7. The connection assembly according to claim 1 , wherein said glide and said guide rail are made of a material selected from the group consisting of plastic, metal, metal with polymer coating and any combinations thereof.
8. A connection assembly for an ice maker having a base and cabinet assembly, said assembly comprising:
at least one guide rail disposed along a length of a top portion of said base, said guide rail comprised of a shape selected from the group consisting of L-shape, “ball and post” shape, square shape, rectangle shape, triangle shape, “X” shape, “T” shape and any combinations thereof; and
at least one glide disposed along a length of a bottom portion of said cabinet, said glide having an open geometry configured to receive said guide rail therein, wherein said guide rail is configured to restrict said glide from moving in the vertical and horizontal directions when said glide is securely disposed about said guide rail, wherein said glide comprises (1) at least a pair of oppositely disposed side walls which preclude said glide from moving in the horizontal direction when disposed about said guide rail, wherein said at least a pair of oppositely disposed side walls comprise an inner side wall and an outer side wall each having a length, and wherein the length of said inner side wall is shorter than the length of said outer side wall, (2) at least a top surface and (3) at least a bottom surface having an open space therebetween which precludes said glide from moving in a vertical direction when disposed about said guide rail, wherein said bottom surface of said glide has an opening to allow said glide to reciprocally move about said guide rail in a direction along said guide rail, said opening comprised of a shape selected from the group consisting of L-shape, “ball and post” shape, square shape, rectangle shape, triangle shape, “X” shape, “T” shape and any combinations thereof, wherein said at least a top surface and said at least a bottom surface each has a length, wherein the length of said at least a bottom surface is shorter that the length of said at least top surface, and wherein the shorter lengths of said inner side wall and said bottom surface are configured to cooperate with a stop to provide for lateral alignment of said base and said cabinet.
9. The connection assembly according to claim 8 , wherein said glide and said guide rail are made of a material selected from the group consisting of plastic, metal, metal with polymer coating and any combinations thereof.