IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0977997
(2004-10-29)
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등록번호 |
US-7281391
(2007-10-16)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
- Marret,Diane E.
- Garrison,Guy E.
- Moeller,Jill C.
- Revlett,Johnny R.
- Steffenhagen,Mark G.
- Reuter,Daryl L.
- Smale,Jeff J.
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출원인 / 주소 |
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
14 인용 특허 :
11 |
초록
▼
An appliance cabinet with at least one openable door has a hinge at a pivoting edge of the door to allow the door to open about the pivoting edge. An endcap is secured to an edge of the door adjacent to the pivoting edge. A first conduit extends from an in-door apparatus to an end within the endcap.
An appliance cabinet with at least one openable door has a hinge at a pivoting edge of the door to allow the door to open about the pivoting edge. An endcap is secured to an edge of the door adjacent to the pivoting edge. A first conduit extends from an in-door apparatus to an end within the endcap. A second conduit extends from within the cabinet to an end exterior of the cabinet and within the endcap. An end connector is provided to receive the ends of the first and second conduits. The hinge is movable from the pivoting edge of the door to an opposite edge of the door. The second conduit is arranged to exit from either adjacent one corner or adjacent an opposite corner of the cabinet to be adjacent to the pivoting edge. In this arrangement, the two conduits are joinable within the endcap at the end connector to form a continuous conduit.
대표청구항
▼
The invention claimed is: 1. A refrigerator comprising: a cabinet having at least one pivotally openable door to provide access to an interior compartment, a hinge connection at a pivoting edge of said door to allow said door to pivotally open about said pivoting edge of said door, a removable endc
The invention claimed is: 1. A refrigerator comprising: a cabinet having at least one pivotally openable door to provide access to an interior compartment, a hinge connection at a pivoting edge of said door to allow said door to pivotally open about said pivoting edge of said door, a removable endcap secured to an edge of said door adjacent to said pivoting edge of said door, an in-door water dispenser positioned in said door and accessible from an exterior of said cabinet, a first water conduit extending from said in-door water dispenser to an end within said endcap adjacent to said pivoting edge of said door, a second water conduit extending from within said cabinet to an end exterior of said cabinet adjacent to said pivoting edge of said door and within said endcap, at least one end connector located within said endcap arranged to receive said ends of said first and second water conduits, said hinge connection being selectively movable from said pivoting edge of said door to an opposite edge of said door to permit said door to be alternatively opened from one edge or an opposite edge, said second water conduit being selectively arranged to exit from either adjacent one corner or adjacent an opposite corner of said cabinet to be adjacent to said pivoting edge of said door, wherein said first water conduit and said second water conduit are joinable within said endcap at said end connector to form a continuous leak-tight water conduit from within said cabinet to said in-door water dispenser. 2. A refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein said in-door water dispenser comprises a dispenser housing mounted in said door. 3. A refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein said dispenser housing is foamed-in-place within said door. 4. A refrigerator according to claim 2 further including a hollow conduit extending from said dispenser housing to said edge of said door where said endcap is located. 5. A refrigerator according to claim 4, wherein said hollow conduit is sized to receive said water conduit therethrough. 6. A refrigerator according to claim 5, wherein said hollow conduit is sized to also receive electrical wires therethrough. 7. A refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein said endcap is formed of a plastic material. 8. A refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein said endcap has a water conduit channel formed therein. 9. A refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein said endcap includes clips for holding said water conduit in place. 10. A refrigerator according to claim 9, wherein said clips are spaced apart to allow for said water conduit end connector to be received therebetween. 11. A refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein said hinge connection is movable between a bottom right and left corner of said door, said endcap is positioned along a bottom edge of said door, and said second conduit is selectively arranged to exit from either adjacent a bottom right corner or adjacent a bottom left corner of said cabinet. 12. A refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein said second water conduit has a first portion with a length sufficient to permit said second water conduit to exit from one corner of said cabinet and extend into said endcap and includes a second portion selectively connectable to said first portion, said second portion having a length sufficient to permit said second water conduit to exit from an opposite corner of said cabinet and extend into said endcap. 13. A refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein said in-door water dispenser comprises a dispenser housing, a paddle horizontally movable within said dispenser housing, arranged to be engaged by a user to effect a dispensing of water from said dispenser. 14. A refrigerator according to claim 13, further including a toggle arranged to be engaged and rotated by horizontal movement of said paddle. 15. A refrigerator according to claim 14, further including a microswitch arranged to be operated upon pivotal movement of said toggle. 16. A refrigerator according to claim 15, further including a bezel carrying a user interface electronic control board in communication with said microswitch. 17. A refrigerator according to claim 16, further including a power supply electronic control board in communication with said user interface electronic control board. 18. A refrigerator according to claim 17, further including a water dispenser solenoid valve operated by said power supply electronic control board. 19. An appliance comprising: a cabinet having at least one pivotally openable door, a hinge connection at a pivoting edge of said door, an endcap secured to an edge of said door adjacent to said pivoting edge of said door, an in-door apparatus positioned in said door, a first conduit extending from said in-door apparatus to an end within said endcap, a second conduit extending from within said cabinet to an end exterior of said cabinet within said endcap, at least one end connector located within said endcap arranged to receive said ends of said first and second conduits, said hinge connection being selectively movable from said pivoting edge of said door to an opposite edge of said door to permit said door to be alternatively opened from one edge or an opposite edge, said second conduit being selectively arranged to exit from either adjacent one corner or adjacent an opposite corner of said cabinet, wherein said first conduit and said second conduit are joinable within said endcap at said end connector to form a continuous conduit from within said cabinet to said in-door apparatus.
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