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:
Aug. 26, 2008
Filed:
Jul. 25, 2007
Diane E. Marret, Newburgh, IN (US);
Guy E. Garrison, Evansville, IN (US);
Jill C. Moeller, Evansville, IN (US);
Johnny R. Revlett, Robards, KY (US);
Mark G. Steffenhagen, Evansville, IN (US);
Daryl L. Reuter, Evansville, IN (US);
Jeff J. Smale, Evansville, IN (US);
Diane E. Marret, Newburgh, IN (US);
Guy E. Garrison, Evansville, IN (US);
Jill C. Moeller, Evansville, IN (US);
Johnny R. Revlett, Robards, KY (US);
Mark G. Steffenhagen, Evansville, IN (US);
Daryl L. Reuter, Evansville, IN (US);
Jeff J. Smale, Evansville, IN (US);
Whirlpool Corporation, Benton Harbor, MI (US);
Abstract
A refrigerator with at least one openable door has a hinge at a pivoting edge of the door allowing the door to open about the pivoting edge. A water dispenser, positioned on the door, has a paddle which is moved horizontally by a user to cause water to be dispensed. The paddle engages a toggle that is attached to the dispenser housing, causing the toggle to rotate into engagement with a microswitch. The microswitch is mounted on a user interface control board which communicates with a power supply electronic control board. The power supply control board operates a water dispenser solenoid valve to cause water to flow to the dispenser when the toggle engages the microswitch. An endcap is secured to an edge of the door adjacent to the pivoting edge. A first conduit extends from the water dispenser to an end within the endcap. A second conduit extends from within the cabinet to an end exterior of the cabinet and within the endcap. An end connector is provided to receive the ends of the first and second conduits. The hinge is movable from the pivoting edge of the door to an opposite edge of the door. The second conduit is arranged to exit from either adjacent one corner or adjacent an opposite corner of the cabinet to be adjacent to the pivoting edge. The two conduits are joinable within the endcap at the end connector to form a continuous conduit.