초록 ▼

An ice-cube making device for use in a refrigerated cabinet is provided. The ice-cube making device is attachable to a freezer liner and thus makes efficient use of the space in the freezer cavity. The ice-cube making device includes a mechanism for extracting ice by applying a twisting torque to on

An ice-cube making device for use in a refrigerated cabinet is provided. The ice-cube making device is attachable to a freezer liner and thus makes efficient use of the space in the freezer cavity. The ice-cube making device includes a mechanism for extracting ice by applying a twisting torque to one or more ice-cube trays therein. The ice-cube making device may also include mechanisms for refilling the ice trays with water and for providing a user-friendly installation. Aspects of the present invention may be performed either manually or may be automated.

대표청구항 ▼

We claim the following: 1. An ice-cube making device in a refrigerated cabinet comprising a freezer having a freezer door with a liner to which said ice-cube making device is attached, said ice-cube making device comprising: a) a case including a pivoting mechanism for bringing said case into an op

We claim the following: 1. An ice-cube making device in a refrigerated cabinet comprising a freezer having a freezer door with a liner to which said ice-cube making device is attached, said ice-cube making device comprising: a) a case including a pivoting mechanism for bringing said case into an open condition; b) a rack attached to the liner for supporting the case; c) at least one ice cube tray supported by the case; d) an ice-extraction mechanism for extracting ice cubes from the ice cube tray by applying a twisting torque to the ice cube tray; and e) an ice cube drawer to receive the ice cubes. 2. The ice-cube making device of claim 1, wherein said case includes a mounting mechanism permitting removable installation of the case from the rack and, upon removal of the case from the rack, said mounting mechanism permitting said case to be hand-carried along with the ice-cube tray. 3. The ice-cube making device of claim 1, wherein said ice-extraction mechanism comprises a knob for applying the twisting torque, a tubular-receiving projection constructed in an inner face of said knob, at least one slot constructed in a first side wall of the case, a first limit pin positioned near a first corner of said ice tray, said limit pin being received in said tubular-receiving projection for travel along the slot in said first wall in response to the applied torque at least till said limit pin reaches an end of said slot, upon reaching the slot end said torque causing twisting of the ice-cube tray about said first corner. 4. The ice-cube making device of claim 3 wherein said ice-extraction mechanism further comprises at least one slot constructed in a second side wall of the case opposite the slot in said first wall, a second limit pin positioned near a second corner of said ice tray, wherein said first and second corners comprise diagonally opposite corners of the ice-cube tray, said limit pin being received for travel along the slot in said second wall in response to the applied torque at least till said limit pin reaches an end of said slot, upon reaching the slot end, said torque causing twisting of the ice-cube tray about said second corner, said combined twisting causing one or more ice-cubes to be dislodged from the tray and pass into the ice cube drawer. 5. The ice-cube making device of claim 1 further comprising a venting arrangement to allow cold air to flow through the case, wherein said venting arrangement comprises at least one vent in said case for receiving a flow of cold air, said flow of cold air passing over the at least one ice cube tray in the case, and following a generally downwards path until said flow of cold air reaches the ice cube drawer, said drawer including at least one outlet vent that enables the flow of cold air to exit the ice cube drawer. 6. The ice-cube making device of claim 1, further comprising a mechanism for pivotally supporting said ice-cube tray to the case. 7. The ice-cube making device of claim 6, wherein said mechanism for pivotally supporting said ice-cube tray comprises at least one knob cavity for receiving the knob for applying the twisting torque, said knob including a tubular-receiving projection positioned along a central axis of the tray, said ice-cube tray including a first centrally positioned pin passing through an opening in a first side wall of the case to be received by said tubular-receiving projection, at least one cutout constructed in a second side wall of the case opposite said first side wall, said cutout including a pin-receiving end positioned opposite to the opening on the first side wall of the case, said ice-cube tray including a second centrally positioned pin opposite said first centrally positioned pin to be received through said cutout for insertion into the pin-receiving end of said cutout, said first and second centrally positioned pins enabling pivotal movement of the tray along said central axis in response to the applied torque, said pivotal movement being limited by first and second limit pins in the tray. 8. The ice-cube making device of claim 1, wherein said case, rack, and ice-cube tray may each comprise a thermoplastic material. 9. The ice-cube making device according to claim 1, wherein the pivoting mechanism for bringing said case into an open condition is configured to forwardly pivot the case to an angle in the range from about 0 degrees to about 180 degrees. 10. The ice-cube making device according to claim 9, wherein the pivoting mechanism for bringing said case into an open condition includes a notched cam configured so that the case may be stepwise pivoted to a desired angular position. 11. The ice-cube making device according to claim 1, wherein the pivoting mechanism for bringing said case into an open condition includes a cam configured to forwardly pivot the case in a single motion to a desired angular position. 12. The ice-cube making device of claim 11 wherein the case may be forwardly pivoted in a single motion to an angle of about 90 degrees, and thereafter pivoted at predetermined angles till reaching a desired angular position. 13. An ice-cube making device in a refrigerated cabinet comprising a freezer having a freezer door with a liner to which said ice-cube making device is attached, said ice-cube making device comprising: a) a case including a pivoting mechanism for bringing said case into an open condition; b) a rack attached to the liner for supporting the case; c) at least one ice cube tray supported by the case; d) an ice-extraction mechanism for extracting ice cubes from the ice cube tray by applying a torque to the ice cube tray; e) an electric motor connected to a gear mechanism for applying the torque to the ice cube tray in response to an ice-extraction command signal received by the motor; and f) an ice cube drawer for receiving the ice cubes from the ice tray. 14. The ice-cube making device of claim 13, further comprising a controller configured to generate said ice-extraction command signal. 15. The ice-cube making device of claim 13 further comprising a water valve controlled by the controller in response to a water-filling command signal supplied by said controller, and at least one hose connected to the water valve to selectively supply water to the ice-cube tray when the water valve is actuated in response to the water-filling command signal. 16. The ice-cube making device of claim 15 further comprising a water level sensor connected to the controller to provide a signal indicative of a water level in the ice cube tray, and a sensor connected to the controller to provide a signal indicative of ice-cube content in the ice-cube drawer, the controller configured to process the signal from the water level sensor and the signal from the ice-cube drawer sensor to generate the ice-extraction command signal and the water-filling command signal at appropriate time intervals so as to automatedly meet respective needs that may arise regarding water-filling and ice-extraction in the ice-cube making device.