Whirlpool Corporation

Maytag Corporation

Whirpool Corporation

Tim L Coulter

Kyle B Van Meter

Robert L Wetekamp

Alvin V Miller

Bill J Koons

Steven G Herndon

Mauro M Oliveira

Dean A Martin

Lester J Ott

Kevin Lee Noel

Ron S Paulsen

Chad Jonathan Rotter

James H Jenkins

Scott William Leimkuehler

David Allen Stauffer

Thomas Edward Gose

Brent A Kramer

Alan M Welch

Nelson J Ferragut, Ii

Ryan D Schuchart

Thomas Carl Anell

Carl J Franken

Alan G Tarrant

Brent A Koppenhaver

Greg Berardi

Todd E Kniffen

Joseph R Adamski

Lou Montuoro

John H Tenhundfeld

Jason Colsch

David Thalacker

Glenn E Goetz

Brett Vladika

Bruce A Kopf

Richard Allan Kirchner

Michael Allen Bowen

Troy Michael Anderson

Eric K Silbaugh

Mauro M Oliveria

Bret Vladika

A refrigerator includes a refrigerator cabinet, a fresh food compartment disposed within the cabinet, a freezer compartment disposed within the cabinet, an ice compartment disposed within the cabinet, and an electronic control system associated with the refrigerator and adapted to monitor and control the fresh food compartment, the freezer compartment and the ice compartment. The control system provides for energy efficient control and operation through various means, including by monitoring state of an ice maker associated with the ice compartment and controlling temperature within compartments of the refrigerator based on the ice maker state. A damper controls air flow between the fresh food and freezer compartments. The control system can direct heat to the damper if the damper becomes frozen.

Insulated ice compartment for bottom mount refrigerator with controlled damper

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

Refrigerator with temperature control

Growing community of inventors

Cedar Rapids, IA, United States of America

Tim L Coulter