The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 21, 2000
Filed:
Jul. 06, 1998
Ted M Jablonski, Palatine, IL (US);
Michael S Meyer, Clear Lake, IA (US);
David A Miller, Mason City, IA (US);
Herman H Martin, Hilliard, OH (US);
Kenneth J Emody, Carol Stream, IL (US);
Gary S Levine, Ramsey, MN (US);
Peter Tinucci, Glendale Heights, IL (US);
IMI Cornelius Inc., Anoka, MN (US);
Abstract
The present invention comprises a below countertop dispenser that provides for reliable less destructive dispensing of ice, and that can fully remove the ice from the storage bin thereof. The invention herein utilizes a two part mechanism for lifting ice from the storage bin to a dispense chute positioned above the countertop. A disk type agitator/lift mechanism is first used to lift the ice to an ice channel communicating with the bottom of an auger housing. The bottom of the auger housing is positioned above the bottom most point of the ice storage bin. An auger is positioned vertically in the auger housing and provides for lifting ice from the bottom of the auger housing to the dispense chute.