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:
Nov. 25, 2003
Filed:
Jul. 15, 2002
Doug A. Heims, Cedar Rapids, IA (US);
Tim Bergmann, Cedar Rapids, IA (US);
David A. Stauffer, Belle Plaine, IA (US);
Michael J. Eveland, Cedar Rapids, IA (US);
Todd E. Kniffen, Williamsburg, IA (US);
Ravi Kumar Sawhney, Calabasas, CA (US);
John Frank Zinni, Capistrano Beach, CA (US);
Timothy Mark Nugent, Venice, CA (US);
Maytag Corporation, Newton, IA (US);
Abstract
An ice and water dispenser for refrigerator doors is provided that includes an ice dispensing actuator pad that causes dispenser to deliver ice when activated. The dispenser also includes a water dispensing lever that causes the dispenser to deliver water when pushed. The ice and water dispenser includes a control panel that allows the user to control the dispensing operation, such as whether to dispense crushed or cube ice. Because of the arrangement of the ice and water dispensing actuators, the user can insert a glass into the dispensing cavity and dispense both ice and water simultaneously. Further, because of the arrangement of the ice and water dispensing actuators, the user can fill oversize cups, water bottles, or pitchers without having to awkwardly reach around the cup to manually activate the water dispensing lever or push the ice dispensing actuator.