IP Library Granted Patent US 10,563,909
Granted Patent B2
US 10,563,909 · App. 15/715,887 · Granted Feb 18, 2020

Refrigerator with a quick fill dispenser

Inventors: Eric Scalf (Louisville, KY); Robert Digman (Goshen, KY); Paul Staun (Louisville, KY)
Assignee: MIDEA GROUP CO., LTD.
F25D23/126B67D1/1202B67D3/0003B67D3/0009F25D23/04F25D2323/122F25D2331/806
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,563,909
App. No.
15/715,887
Granted
Feb 18, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

A refrigerator appliance having a quick fill dispenser to rapidly fill a container. The refrigerator may include a water storage receptacle. The water storage receptacle may be in fluid communication with a water filter. The water storage receptacle may dispense water at a flow rate greater than the flow rate entering the water storage receptacle. A valve may be downstream of the water storage receptacle.

Claims (44)

1. A refrigerator appliance comprising:

a housing defining at least a food compartment;

at least one door attached to the housing;

a water storage receptacle having an inlet and an outlet;

a first dispenser, wherein the first dispenser includes a valve in downstream fluid communication with the water storage receptacle to dispense water at a first flow rate from the outlet;

a water filter having a second flow rate in upstream fluid communication with the inlet of the water storage, wherein the first flow rate from the outlet is greater than the second flow rate exiting the water filter; and

a second dispenser having a third flow rate, wherein the first flow rate from the outlet is greater than the third flow rate.

2. The refrigerator appliance of claim 1 wherein the water storage receptacle is in at least one of the door and the housing.

3. The refrigerator appliance of claim 2 wherein the water storage receptacle is in the housing.

4. The refrigerator appliance of claim 1 wherein the first flow rate is about 1 gallon per minute to about 2 gallons per minute.

5. The refrigerator appliance of claim 1 wherein the water storage receptacle further comprises a vent.

6. The refrigerator appliance of claim 1 wherein the valve dispenses water by gravity at the first flow rate from the outlet.

7. The refrigerator appliance of claim 1 further comprising a pump in fluid communication with the water storage receptacle and the outlet.

8. The refrigerator appliance of claim 1 wherein the water storage receptacle is at least one of a bladder, a tank, and a conduit.

9. The refrigerator appliance of claim 1 wherein the outlet includes a laminar flow device, wherein the laminar flow device is an aerator.

10. A refrigerator appliance comprising:

a housing defining at least a food compartment;

at least one door attached to the housing;

a water storage receptacle having an inlet and an outlet, wherein the outlet includes a valve in downstream fluid communication with the water storage receptacle, and wherein the valve includes a first position and a second position, wherein when in the first position the valve is closed and wherein when in the second position the valve is open and water flows out of the valve at a first flow rate, and wherein water flows at a second flow rate entering the inlet of the water storage receptacle;

wherein the first flow rate is greater than the second flow rate; and

wherein the valve includes a third position, wherein in the third position the valve dispenses water at a third flow rate less than the first flow rate.

11. The refrigerator appliance of claim 10 wherein the water storage receptacle is at least one of a tank, a bladder, and a conduit.

12. The refrigerator appliance of claim 10 further comprising a water filter in upstream fluid communication with the inlet of the water storage receptacle.

13. The refrigerator appliance of claim 10 wherein the water storage receptacle is vented.

14. The refrigerator appliance of claim 10 wherein the water storage receptacle is in at least one of the at least one door and the housing.

15. The refrigerator appliance of claim 10 wherein the valve includes a lockout feature to reduce unauthorized dispensing from the valve.

16. A method of quickly filling a container from a refrigerator appliance comprising the steps of:

providing a refrigerator appliance, wherein the refrigerator appliance includes a first dispenser, wherein the first dispenser includes a water storage receptacle, wherein the water storage receptacle includes an inlet and an outlet, wherein the outlet includes a downstream valve and a coupling;

dispensing water from the water storage receptacle through the valve at a first flow rate greater than a second flow rate entering the inlet of the water storage receptacle;

releasably securing one or more attachments to the coupling of the outlet; and

indicating volume of the water within the water storage receptacle to a user.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising the step of filtering the water upstream of the water storage receptacle.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein the first flow rate is about 1 gallon per minute to about 2 gallons per minute.

19. The method of claim 16 further comprising a second dispenser having a third flow rate, wherein the first flow rate is larger than the third flow rate.

20. The method of claim 16 further comprising the step of at least one of heating and cooling water within the water storage receptacle.

21. The method of claim 16 wherein the water storage receptacle is in a housing of the refrigerator appliance.

22. The method of claim 16 wherein the one or more attachments extends the distance the water is dispensed from the refrigerator appliance.

23. The method of claim 16 wherein the coupling is a quick connector.

24. The method of claim 16 further comprising the step of at least one of pumping and gravity dispensing the water from the water storage receptacle.

25. A method of quickly filling a container from a refrigerator appliance comprising the steps of:

providing a refrigerator appliance, wherein the refrigerator appliance includes a first dispenser, wherein the first dispenser includes a water storage receptacle, wherein the water storage receptacle includes an inlet and an outlet, wherein the outlet includes a downstream valve and a coupling;

dispensing water from the water storage receptacle through the valve at a first flow rate greater than a second flow rate entering the inlet of the water storage receptacle;

a second dispenser having a third flow rate, wherein the first flow rate is larger than the third flow rate; and

releasably securing one or more attachments to the coupling of the outlet.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 9, 2017
From: SCALF, ERIC; DIGMAN, ROBERT; STAUN, PAUL
To: MIDEA GROUP CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 043814/0181 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20190093942A1 · Mar 28, 2019
Cited By (4)
US 12,253,301 US 12,435,920 US 12,656,051 US 12,662,363