White Consolidated Industries, Inc.

Mid-south Products Engineering, Inc.

Mid-south Industries, Inc.

Larry E Unger

Kenneth H Patrick

Mike Nick Glavaris, Jr

Thomas A Mooty

Sammie C Beach, Jr

Gary R Peter

The invention consists of a unitincluding a two-piece, snap together housing made of elementsandwhich forms the orifice seat and the transitions which direct moisture away from the seat area and prevents the accumulation of moisture in the seat area. Left-Hand (LH) housingcontains a blind journal and right-hand (RH) housing portioncontains a through journal for support and location of the gate. Also integral to the RH housing portionare bosses for attaching the snap action switches, which determine gate orientation and mounting a gear motor, and can generally be referenced as 'gate position sensors'. Such switches could also be replaced with other gate position sensors such as know in the art such as hall effect switches, magnetic switches, optical devices, etc. The gear motor provides the driving torque to the gatethrough a cam-coupling, which has four switch detents, oriented to an internal shaft indexing means. Insulation membersminimize condensation in the housing portionsby separating the cold air flowing through housing from the warmer air which surrounds the damper assembly. In operation, a temperature sensing device/system senses the compartment temperature and energizes the gear motor, rotating the gateinto the open or closed position. The position of the gateis determined by the combination of the states of the two switches. When used with mechanical controls the gate will rotate 90 degrees per cycle. When used with an electronic control system, the gatecan be rotated to any desired position and then stopped.

Cold control damper assembly

An icemaking assembly (&ldquo;icemaker&rdquo;) is provided which includes an improved construction including an ice mold separate but attached to a structural base. The structural base includes integral elements such as a water fill cup, stripper, and mounting configuration. The integral nature of the stripper, combined with its &ldquo;living hinge&rdquo; feature, allows for an improved method and apparatus for fixing the ice tray in place. The combination provides an icemaker having improved thermal properties, as well as improved manufacturing efficiencies. Other improvements include an improved control system, as well as other cost-saving features.

Method and apparatus for providing ice

An icemaking assembly ('icemaker') is provided which includes an improved construction including an ice mold separate but attached to a structural base. The structural base includes integral elements such as a water fill cup, stripper, and mounting configuration. The integral nature of the stripper, combined with its 'living hinge' feature, allows for an improved method and apparatus for fixing the ice tray in place. The combination provides an icemaker having improved thermal properties, as well as improved manufacturing efficiencies. Other improvements include an improved control system, as well as other cost-saving features.

A through-the-door ice and cold water dispenser for domestic refrigeration units provides a housing positioned within a recess formed in the door insulation. The dispenser provides an actuation cradle formed with a smoothly curved concave surface in combination with a switch operating system which requires low forces for operation so that the dispenser can be actuated by fragile containers, such as polystyrene foam cups. An insulated damper door is closed when the dispenser is not operating to prevent heat transfer into the freezer compartment where the ice is produced and stored. A heater positioned against the damper door operates to release the damper door should it become frozen in the closed position. All of the controls for the dispenser are located in the upper portion of the housing and are accessible with a minimum amount of disassembly when service or maintenance-is required. A spill tray is located in the bottom of the dispenser recess to contain and retain spilled water and melted ice water. The spill tray is easily removable for dumping.

Through the door water and ice dispenser

A through-the-door ice and cold water dispenser for domestic refrigeration units provides a housing positioned within a recess formed in the door insulation. The dispenser provides an actuation cradle formed with a smoothly curved concave surface in combination with a switch operating system which requires low forces for operation so that the dispenser can be actuated by fragile containers, such as styrofoam cups. An insulated damper door is closed when the dispenser is not operating to prevent heat transfer into the freezer compartment where the ice is produced and stored. A heater positioned against the damper door operates to release the damper door should it become frozen in the closed position. All of the controls for the dispenser are located in the upper portion of the housing and are accessible with a minimum amount of disassembly when service or maintenance is required. A spill tray is located in the bottom of the dispenser recess to contain and retain spilled water and melted ice water. The spill tray is easily removable for dumping.

Refrigerator through the door ice dispenser

An ice dispenser provides a storage bin in which ice cubes manufactured by an ice maker are stored until used. A powered agitator within the bin operates to move cubes to an exit end where they enter a lifting and metering drum. From the lifting and metering drum the ice cubes, in one embodiment, pass through an adjustable ice crusher which functions to crush the ice into particles the size of which can be changed by adjustment of the crusher. In one position, the crusher can be adjusted so that uncrushed cubes pass through the crusher. In a second embodiment, a deflector is provided to allow the ice cubes to bypass the crusher when uncrushed cubes are required. The deflector is moveable to a position to cause the cubes to pass through the crusher and for delivery of crushed ice. The lifting and metering drum operates at a lower speed than the agitator or crusher and is driven by gearing connecting the lifting and metering drum with the agitator. Similarly, the crusher is driven by gearing connecting the crusher with the agitator. Speed of the agitators is substantially greater than the speed of the lifting and metering drum.

Ice dispenser

A safety package (54) for preventing accidental skin pricking by a hypodermic syringe type needle (16) having a needle hub (14) joining the needle (16) to the syringe (18) and comprising a first tubular section (12) securable at its first end to the needle hub (14). A second tubular section (54) is secured at a first end to a hinge (56) and surrounds the needle (16) in a first position (FIG. 1) with a longitudinal slot (58) formed therein and positioned to pivot about the hinge (56) and away from the needle (16) to a second position (FIG. 2) with the needle (16) passing through the longitudinal slot (58, FIG. 3) to expose the needle (16) for use and, after use of the needle, to pivot the second tubular section (54) back to its first position. The second tubular section is axially connected to the first tubular section (12) and has its second end extending beyond the needle point and containing therein a non-attached, movable element (19) therein which is positioned to allow the second tubular section (54) to pivot away from the needle (16) before use of the needle, and which, after use of the needle and the pivoting back of the second tubular section (54) to its first position, is positionable by applying force thereto to grip the pointed end of the needle (16) to lock the needle point within the movable element (19) and the second tubular section (54) of the safety package in its first position.

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Southside, AL, United States of America

Larry E Unger