IP Library Granted Patent US 12,449,178
Granted Patent B2
US 12,449,178 · App. 18/137,772 · Granted Oct 21, 2025

Refrigerator

Inventors: Huimin Yao (Guangdong, CN); Jinchao Xu (Guangdong, CN); Peng Li (Guangdong, CN)
Assignee: HISENSE RONSHEN (GUANGDONG) REFRIGERATOR CO., LTD.
F25C5/06F25C1/04F25C1/22
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,449,178
App. No.
18/137,772
Granted
Oct 21, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A refrigerator includes an ice maker. The ice maker includes a mold shell, a driving mechanism, a first push rod, a second push rod, and a connecting rod assembly. One of the first sub-mold shell and the second sub-mold shell is fixed, and another one is movable. The driving mechanism is configured to drive the first sub-mold shell or the second sub-mold shell to switch between a separated state and a closed state. One of the first push rod and the second push rod is fixed, and another one is movable. The connecting rod assembly includes a connecting rod. An end of the connecting rod is connected to the movable one of the first sub-mold shell and the second sub-mold shell, and another end of the connecting rod is connected to the movable one of the first push rod and the second push rod.

Claims (54)

1. A refrigerator, comprising:

a refrigerator body defining an ice making compartment therein; and

an ice maker disposed in the ice making compartment, and the ice maker including:

a mold shell having a mold cavity and a water inlet communicated to the mold cavity, and the mold shell including a first sub-mold shell and a second sub-mold shell; one of the first sub-mold shell and the second sub-mold shell being fixed, and another of the first sub-mold shell and the second sub-mold shell being movable; the first sub-mold shell and the second sub-mold shell being configured to be switchable between a separated state and a closed state;

a driving mechanism configured to drive the first sub-mold shell or the second sub-mold shell to switch between the separated state and the closed state;

a first push rod located on a side of the first sub-mold shell away from the second sub-mold shell;

a second push rod located on a side of the second sub-mold shell away from the first sub-mold shell; one of the first push rod and the second push rod being fixed, and another of the first push rod and the second push rod being movable; and

a connecting rod assembly including a connecting rod; an end of the connecting rod being connected to the movable one of the first sub-mold shell and the second sub-mold shell, and another end of the connecting rod being connected to the movable one of the first push rod and the second push rod;

wherein the first sub-mold shell includes:

a first shell portion including a first through hole that is matched with the first push rod; and

a first mold portion disposed in the first shell portion, and the first push rod being configured to pass through the first through hole to push against the first mold portion;

the second sub-mold shell includes:

a second shell portion including a second through hole that is matched with the second push rod; and

a second mold portion disposed in the second shell portion, and the second push rod being configured to pass through the second through hole to push against the second mold portion;

wherein an end of the connecting rod is connected to the first sub-mold shell, and another end of the connecting rod is connected to the second push rod, so that the first sub-mold shell is linked with the second push rod; and

wherein the end of the connecting rod is provided with a fixing hole, the connecting rod further includes a strip-shaped hole, and the connecting rod assembly further includes:

a first buckle portion located on at least one side of the first sub-mold shell in a movement direction and configured to be matched with the fixing hole, so that the first shell portion is connected to the connecting rod; and

a second buckle portion located on the second sub-mold shell; the second buckle portion and the first buckle portion being located on a same side of the mold shell; the second buckle portion being passed through and installed in the strip-shaped hole, and the connecting rod being movable with respect to the second buckle portion.

2. The refrigerator according to claim 1 , wherein the mold shell includes:

a shell body including an inner cavity; and

a mold body disposed in the inner cavity, and the mold body including the water inlet, the shell body including an avoidance opening that encloses an outer circumference of the water inlet.

3. The refrigerator according to claim 2 , wherein

the shell body includes the first shell portion and the second shell portion that are opposite to each other; a side of the first shell portion facing toward the second shell portion is provided with a first inner cavity, and a side of the second shell portion facing toward the first shell portion is provided with a second inner cavity; in the closed state, the first shell portion and the second shell portion enclose the inner cavity;

the mold body includes the first mold portion and the second mold portion that are disposed opposite to each other; the first mold portion is connected to the first shell portion, and the second mold portion is connected to the second shell portion; in the closed state, the first mold portion and the second mold portion enclose the mold cavity.

4. The refrigerator according to claim 3 , wherein

the first mold portion is disposed in the first inner cavity, and the second mold portion is disposed in the second inner cavity;

a side of the first mold portion facing toward the second mold portion is provided with a first concave cavity, and a side of the second mold portion facing toward the first mold portion is provided with a second concave cavity; in the closed state, the first concave cavity and the second concave cavity enclose the mold cavity.

5. The refrigerator according to claim 3 , wherein an edge of a first concave cavity of the first mold portion is provided with a first engaging portion, and an edge of a second concave cavity of the second mold portion is provided with a second engaging portion; the second engaging portion is configured to be matched with the first engaging portion.

6. The refrigerator according to claim 5 , wherein one of the first engaging portion and the second engaging portion includes a convex rib, and another one of the first engaging portion and the second engaging portion includes a groove.

7. The refrigerator according to claim 3 , wherein at least one of the first mold portion or the second mold portion is a silicone member.

8. The refrigerator according to claim 3 , wherein

a side of the first shell portion proximate to the second shell portion is provided with a first groove, and a side of the second shell portion proximate to the first shell portion is provided with a second groove; in the closed state, the first groove and the second groove are closed to form the avoidance opening.

9. The refrigerator according to claim 3 , wherein the mold body includes a plurality of mold cavities, and at least one of the plurality of mold cavities includes the water inlet; a water tank is disposed above the shell body, and the water tank includes a water dispensing port corresponding to the water inlet.

10. The refrigerator according to claim 9 , wherein a plurality of water holes in communication with each other are disposed between the plurality of mold cavities.

11. The refrigerator according to claim 3 , wherein the water inlet satisfies at least one of the following:

the water inlet being formed as an annular shape;

the water inlet and the first mold portion being formed as a one-piece member; or,

the water inlet and the second mold portion being formed as a one-piece member.

12. The refrigerator according to claim 1 , wherein

a side surface of the first push rod proximate to the first mold portion is configured to be matched with a contour surface of a first concave cavity of the first mold portion;

a side surface of the second push rod proximate to the second mold portion is configured to be matched with a contour surface of a second concave cavity of the second mold portion.

13. The refrigerator according to claim 1 , wherein

the driving mechanism includes:

a rotating shaft;

a motor connected to the rotating shaft to drive the rotating shaft to rotate;

a gear set, the gear set being connected to the rotating shaft;

a rack drivingly connected to the gear set, and the rack being connected to the first sub-mold shell or the second sub-mold shell; and

a slide rod disposed in the first sub-mold shell or the second sub-mold shell, so as to move the first sub-mold shell or the second sub-mold shell along the slide rod.

14. The refrigerator according to claim 13 , wherein the driving mechanism further satisfies at least one of:

the driving mechanism including two racks disposed on two sides of a top of the first sub-mold shell or a top of the second sub-mold shell in a movement direction; or,

the driving mechanism including four slide rods disposed at four corners of the first sub-mold shell or four corners of the second sub-mold shell.

15. The refrigerator according to claim 1 , wherein the ice maker further includes:

a base configured to be connected to the ice making compartment;

the base including an opening, the opening being located at a position of an upper side plate of the base corresponding to the water inlet, and an external water tube being connected to the water inlet by passing through the opening to inject water into the plurality of mold cavities.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 16, 2023
From: YAO, HUIMIN; XU, JINCHAO; LI, PENG
To: HISENSE RONSHEN (GUANGDONG) REFRIGERATOR CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 063970/0374 →
Priority Claims (1)
CN 202110598609.3 · May 28, 2021 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation PCTCN2021130756 · Nov 15, 2021
Related Publication 20230258382A1 · Aug 17, 2023
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