Apparatus and method for dispensing ice from a bottom mount refrigerator
A bottom mount household refrigerator is provided with an apparatus to permit the dispensing of ice. According to one embodiment, a sealed ice making compartment is provided within the fresh food compartment. The sealed ice making compartment may be located at the bottom, at the top, or along a side wall within the fresh food compartment. According to another embodiment, ice is made in the ice compartment, and lifted upward to a dispensing location through the door of the fresh food compartment.
1. A bottom mount refrigerator comprising:
a freezer section;
a fresh food section located above the freezer section, the fresh food section maintained at or below 40 degrees Fahrenheit and including a fresh food door;
an insulated ice compartment maintained at or below 32 degrees Fahrenheit associated with the fresh food section, the insulated ice compartment having top, bottom, and opposing side walls extending rearwardly in a substantially horizontal direction from an ice compartment door;
an ice storage container in the insulated ice compartment maintained at or below 32 degrees Fahrenheit;
an opening located above the ice storage container within the ice compartment door extending between the opposing side walls of the ice compartment;
a single evaporator;
an ice maker secured within the insulated ice compartment and not to the fresh food door, the ice maker in communication with the ice storage container in the insulated ice compartment;
an air duct in communication with the ice maker and the freezer section, the air duct remaining uninterrupted when the fresh food door is opened;
an ice dispenser in the fresh food door for dispensing ice from the ice storage container;
wherein ice is removable from the ice storage container through the opening in the ice compartment door;
wherein cold air from the cold air supply duct provides sufficient cooling for the icemaker to make ice; and
wherein a portion of the ice compartment door is recessed beneath a portion of the ice storage container.
2. The bottom mount refrigerator of claim 1 wherein the ice compartment door is rotatably mounted between the opposing side walls of the insulated ice compartment.
3. The bottom mount refrigerator of claim 1 wherein the ice storage container is slidably mounted on a rack.
4. The bottom mount refrigerator of claim 1 , further comprising a wheel configured to transfer ice from the ice storage container to the opening.
5. The bottom mount refrigerator of claim 1 , further comprising a conveyer belt to transfer ice from the ice storage container to the opening.