Maytag Corporation

Whirlpool Corporation

David J Olberding

Todd E Kniffen

Timothy Mark Nugent

Michael J Eveland

John Frank Zinni

Ravi Kumar Sawhney

Dennis E Winders

Eric S Svenby

James H Jenkins

Jonathan J Tiemeier

Tamara Kappler

Robert Pohl

Bill J Koons

Forrest F Wing

Ravi K Sawhney

Clint Collins

Raymond J Chekal

Ron Haltmeyer

Gene Schuchert

Bart Schuchert

Ravi Kumar Wahney

An ice-containing member having a plurality of interior chambers separated by substantially radially-extending chamber walls. A base is disposed below the ice-containing member and includes an ice-dispensing aperture. A lid is adjacent to the ice-containing member and operable between a first position. The lid is in abutting contact with the ice-containing member and a second position. The lid is spaced a predetermined distance from the housing.

Ice transfer device

A refrigerator water filter assembly is provided in the ceiling of a refrigerator and is adapted to hinge downwardly from the ceiling for changing the filter cartridge. The cartridge is normally partially recessed within the ceiling so as to minimize the use of space in the food compartment of the refrigerator. The filter assembly includes a base mounted in the refrigerator ceiling, a manifold pivotally mounted on the base, a filter cartridge attached to the manifold, and a cover pivotally mounted on the manifold so as to be movable between open and closed positions. When the cover is opened, the filter cartridge is angled downwardly from the ceiling for easy grasping by a person for replacement of the cartridge.

Method for accessing a hinge down refrigerator water filter

A mullion is attached to a cabinet shell of a refrigerator through the use of a retainer that includes a laterally extending portion positioned between primary and secondary flanges of the cabinet shell, and a longitudinally extending portion that is interengaged with additional flange structure defined by the mullion. Clips formed on the retainer engage wall portions formed by the mullion flange structure to secure the retainer to the mullion. A tab formed on the retainer engages a keyhole formed in the secondary flange of the cabinet shell, thereby aiding in securing the retainer to the cabinet and preventing the mullion from undesirably shifting in either a horizontal or vertical manner.

Notched mullion retainer arrangement for a refrigerator cabinet

Hinge down refrigerator water filter

A chiller compartment is provided that secures to the inside of a refrigerator door. The chiller compartment includes a pair of french doors that are connected by a linkage that causes the doors to simultaneously open or close. The french doors of the chiller compartment open and close automatically when the refrigerator door is open and shut. The chiller compartment also includes a tray of sufficient height to secure tall beverages or food items and prevent such items from toppling out of the chiller compartment while the refrigerator door is opened or closed.

French door chiller compartment for refrigerators

A kid's zone compartment assembly for a refrigerator includes a compartment frame, a top tray, a cover for the top tray, a lower tray, and two tall package retainers. The top tray cover is pivotally hinged to the top tray. The cover is molded and configured in the likeness of a character, particularly an animal caricature. The various compartment components are carried by the compartment frame which, in turn, is supported by a fresh food compartment door liner of the refrigerator. The overall assembly defines a special place for the storage of food items dedicated for access by a child.

Kid's zone compartment assembly for a refrigerator

A chiller compartment is provided that secures to the inside of a refrigerator door. The chiller compartment includes a pair of French doors that are connected by a linkage that causes the doors to simultaneously open or close. The doors retract within the chiller compartment when opened, thereby protecting the doors should the refrigerator door be closed while the chiller compartment doors are left open. The chiller compartment also includes a tray of sufficient height to secure tall beverages or food items and prevent such items from toppling out of the chiller compartment while the refrigerator door is opened or closed.

Compartment assembly for a refrigerator

Methods and devices for retaining a heating element, such as warm refrigerant tubing, within a refrigerator cabinet. Semispherical raised dimples are formed upon a retaining panel in a rolled triple flange. The dimples are intermittently positioned along the retaining panel and maintain the warm refrigerant tubing in intimate surface contact with the exterior surface panel of the refrigerator. The raised dimples preclude significant intimate surface contact between the retaining panel and the tubing and permit insulating foam to be disposed between the two so that heat transfer is minimized. A dimpled flange arrangement is also used to retain tubing within a mullion. A sheet metal insert is also described that is formed having two retaining panels with raised dimples thereupon that maintain the tubing in intimate surface contact with the exterior surface panel that forms the facing for the mullion. Both the triple flange and the sheet metal insert are preferably formed by rollforming of sheet metal, and the dimples are formed during this process by pins on a roller that contact and deform a portion of the sheet metal. The use of dimples is also advantageous in that it provides an easily recognizable feature that can be used to secure the tubing within the refrigeration cabinet, thereby reducing the chances of mistakes made during installation of the tubing.

Methods and devices for retaining a heating element within a refrigeration cabinet

Growing community of inventors

Cedar Rapids, IA, United States of America

David J Olberding