Whirlpool Corporation

Maytag Corporation

Iowa State University Research Foundation, Inc.

Whirpool Corporation

Whirlpool Corporaton

Steven G Herndon

Bill J Koons

Tim L Coulter

Lester J Ott

Chad Jonathan Rotter

Dean A Martin

Kyle B Van Meter

Kevin Lee Noel

Ron S Paulsen

Robert L Wetekamp

James H Jenkins

Scott William Leimkuehler

Alvin V Miller

David Allen Stauffer

Thomas Edward Gose

Brent A Kramer

Alan M Welch

Mauro M Oliveira

Todd E Kniffen

Joseph R Adamski

Lou Montuoro

John H Tenhundfeld

Jason Colsch

Glenn E Goetz

David Thalacker

Brett Vladika

Michael J Eveland

Richard Allan Kirchner

John J Pink

Greg A Scorpil

John A Roberts

Mauro M Oliveria

Brian S Guptill

Bret Vladika

Steven L Devlin

Anna M Jones

A bottom mount household refrigerator is provided with an apparatus to permit the dispensing of ice. According to one embodiment, a sealed ice making compartment is provided within the fresh food compartment. The sealed ice making compartment may be located at the bottom, at the top, or along a side wall within the fresh food compartment. According to another embodiment, ice is made in the ice compartment, and lifted upward to a dispensing location through the door of the fresh food compartment.

Apparatus and method for dispensing ice from a bottom mount refrigerator

An insulated icemaking compartment is provided in the fresh food compartment of a bottom mount refrigerator. The icemaking compartment may be integrally formed with the liner of the fresh food compartment, or alternatively, may be modular for installation anywhere in the fresh food compartment. A removable bin assembly with a front cover normally seals the icemaking compartment to maintain the temperature in the compartment. A cold air duct formed in the rear wall of the refrigerator supplies cold air from the freezer compartment to the icemaking compartment. A return air duct directs a portion of the air from the icemaking compartment back to the freezer compartment. An air vent in the icemaking compartment directs another portion of air into the fresh food compartment. A control system provides for controlling refrigerator functions in a manner that promotes energy efficiency.

Ice compartment assembly for refrigerator

A bottom mount refrigerator is provided with a pantry compartment that is accessible from outside the refrigerator by pulling open an easy access pantry drawer without the need to first open the fresh food compartment or the freezer compartment. A divider between the pantry compartment and the fresh food compartment is formed by a secondary mullion and a transparent shelf. The secondary mullion is provided with a light source for illuminating the contents of the pantry drawer. A light source at the rear of the pantry compartment shines generally forwardly and upwardly to illuminate the fresh food compartment.

Refrigerator with easy access drawer

Refrigerator with temperature control

Growing community of inventors

Cedar Rapids, IA, United States of America

Steven G Herndon