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A variable ice storage assembly for a refrigerator includes a storage cavity adapted to receive ice from an ice maker. The storage assembly is positioned between a light emitter and a receiver of an ice level sensor. The storage assembly can be utilized in a non-reflecting configuration wherein the

A variable ice storage assembly for a refrigerator includes a storage cavity adapted to receive ice from an ice maker. The storage assembly is positioned between a light emitter and a receiver of an ice level sensor. The storage assembly can be utilized in a non-reflecting configuration wherein the ice level sensor functions in a standard manner, or a reflecting configuration wherein the sensing level is effectively lowered within the storage assembly. In the reflecting configuration, first and second mirrored inserts, supported by respective insert portions on the storage assembly, cooperate with first and second reflecting plates on the storage assembly to redirect light from the emitter in a circuitous path. A user may position the mirrored inserts at various angles, depending on the level of ice desired within the storage assembly. The storage assembly may be utilized alone, or as in insert within an ice bucket.

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1. A refrigerator comprising: a cabinet;a freezer compartment arranged within the cabinet;a door mounted to the cabinet for selectively providing access to the freezer compartment;an ice maker disposed within the freezer compartment for forming ice pieces;an ice level sensor comprising a light emitt

1. A refrigerator comprising: a cabinet;a freezer compartment arranged within the cabinet;a door mounted to the cabinet for selectively providing access to the freezer compartment;an ice maker disposed within the freezer compartment for forming ice pieces;an ice level sensor comprising a light emitter and a receiver; anda removable variable ice storage assembly adapted to be positioned between the light emitter and the receiver, the removable variable ice storage assembly including: a first side wall including a first reflecting plate;a second side wall including a second reflecting plate;first and second insert portions;a storage cavity defined in part by said first and second side walls adapted to receive ice dispensed from the ice maker; andfirst and second mirrored inserts adapted to be removably supported by the respective first and second insert portions, wherein the first and second mirrored inserts are adapted to redirect a light beam emitted by the light emitter when the first and second mirrored inserts are supported by the respective first and second insert portions and the removable variable ice storage assembly is positioned between the light emitter and the receiver. 2. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the first insert portion comprises a first set of multiple angled slot pairs. 3. The refrigerator of claim 2, wherein the second insert portion comprises a second set of multiple angled slot pairs. 4. The refrigerator of claim 2, wherein each of the multiple angled slot pairs of the first insert portion has a different angle with respect to the emitter. 5. The refrigerator of claim 3, wherein each of the multiple angled slot pairs of the second insert portion has a different angle with respect to the emitter. 6. The refrigerator of claim 2, wherein the first set of multiple angled slot pairs are formed in third and fourth side walls of the insert. 7. The refrigerator of claim 3, wherein the second set of multiple angled slot pairs are formed in third and fourth side walls of the insert. 8. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the ice level sensor is an infrared sensor. 9. The refrigerator of claim 1, further comprising: an ice storage bin supported in the freezer compartment, wherein the variable ice storage assembly is adapted to be inserted into the ice storage bin. 10. The refrigerator of claim 9, further comprising: an inductive sensing assembly for sensing a presence of the ice storage bin. 11. The refrigerator of claim 10, wherein the inductive sensing assembly comprises a metal coil located on the refrigerator and a ferrous metal plate located on the ice storage bin. 12. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the variable ice storage assembly further comprises first and second apertures provided in the first and second side walls respectively, and wherein said first and second apertures align with the light emitter and receiver. 13. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the variable ice storage assembly further comprises a bottom wall. 14. A variable ice storage assembly adapted to receive ice dispensed from an ice maker comprising: a first side wall including a first reflecting plate;a second side wall including a second reflecting plate;first and second insert portions; andfirst and second mirrored inserts adapted to be removably supported by respective first and second insert portions; wherein the first and second mirrored inserts are adapted to redirect a light beam emitted by a light emitter when the first and second mirrored inserts are supported by the respective first and second insert portions and the removable variable ice storage assembly is positioned between the light emitter and a receiver. 15. The variable ice storage assembly of claim 14, wherein the first insert portion comprises a first set of multiple angled slot pairs. 16. The variable ice storage assembly of claim 15, wherein the second insert portion comprises a second set of multiple angled slot pairs. 17. The variable ice storage assembly of claim 15, wherein each of the multiple angled slot pairs of the first insert portion has a different angle with respect to the first reflecting plate. 18. The variable ice storage assembly of claim 16, wherein each of the multiple angled slot pairs of the second insert portion has a different angle with respect to the second reflecting plate. 19. The variable ice storage assembly of claim 15, wherein the first set of multiple angled slot pairs are formed in third and fourth side walls of the insert. 20. The variable ice storage assembly of claim 16, wherein the second set of multiple angled slot pairs are located in third and fourth side walls of the insert. 21. The variable ice storage assembly of claim 14, wherein the variable ice storage assembly is adapted to be inserted into a refrigerator ice storage bin. 22. The variable ice storage assembly of claim 14, further comprising a first aperture in the first side wall and a second aperture in the second side wall. 23. The variable ice storage assembly of claim 14, further comprising a ferrous metal plate adapted to cooperate with a metal coil of an inductive ice level sensor. 24. The variable ice storage assembly of claim 14, further comprising a bottom wall interconnecting the first and second side walls. 25. A method for altering a level of ice sensed by an ice level sensor in a refrigerator comprising: inserting a removable variable ice storage assembly into a freezer compartment of a refrigerator between a light emitter and a receiver of the ice level sensor, the removable variable ice storage assembly including a first side wall having a first reflecting plate, a second side wall having a second reflecting plate, a storage cavity, defined in part by the first and second side walls, adapted to receive ice dispensed from the ice maker, and first and second insert portions, wherein first and second insert portions include respective first and second sets of multiple angled slot pairs;inserting a first mirrored insert into a select first angled slot pair of the first set of multiple angled slot pairs of the first insert portion, wherein the first angled slot pair is selected based on the level of ice desired in the ice bucket;inserting a second mirrored insert into a select second angled slot pair of the second set of multiple angled slot pair of the second insert portion, wherein the second angled slot pair is selected based on the level of ice desired in the ice bucket; anddirecting light from the light emitter to the receiver, with the light hitting each of the first and second reflective plates and the first and second mirrored inserts.