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:
Oct. 30, 2007
Filed:
Nov. 30, 2005
Bernd Heger, Augsburg, DE;
Mac Mcmillan, Pinehurst, NC (US);
Peter Nalbach, Kirchheim unter Teck, DE;
Matthew Ricket, New Bern, NC (US);
Ernest Spangler, Charlette, NC (US);
Bernd Heger, Augsburg, DE;
Mac McMillan, Pinehurst, NC (US);
Peter Nalbach, Kirchheim unter Teck, DE;
Matthew Ricket, New Bern, NC (US);
Ernest Spangler, Charlette, NC (US);
BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH, Munich, DE;
Abstract
A dispenser assembly for a door of a refrigerator includes a tray of flap construction which is moveable between a first position and a second position. In the first position the tray is received within a cavity of the dispenser assembly to present a support surface for a container such as a water glass. The tray is pivotable into a second position outside of the dispenser assembly so that an area normally underneath the tray is open to provide a second support surface for supporting larger containers than is possible with the tray in its first position. The now exposed bottom of the flap provides a third support surface outside of the cavity. The dispenser assembly can be used for dispensing water, ice, combinations thereof and may include lighting and other features. In an alternative construction, when the tray is pivoted into the second position, it is also forced out and away from the cavity of the dispenser assembly through a tray drive mechanism to accommodate different thicknesses of walls for a variety of different refrigerator door panels.