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. 03, 2009
Filed:
Mar. 09, 2006
William J. Bigge, St. Joseph, MI (US);
Steven C. Drees, Stevensville, MI (US);
William J. Bigge, St. Joseph, MI (US);
Steven C. Drees, Stevensville, MI (US);
Whirlpool Corporation, Benton Harbor, MI (US);
Abstract
A refrigerator has a cabinet including a refrigeration compartment and a supply of water in the cabinet, with a door attached to the cabinet to selectively open and close access to the refrigeration compartment. A water conduit is located in the door to supply water from the cabinet supply of water to a point of utilization in the door. A water heater is located in the door arranged to heat water from the cabinet supply of water. A brew chamber is located in the door and arranged to receive a supply of ground coffee beans and water heated by the water heater to make brewed coffee. A dispensing outlet communicates with the brew chamber to allow for the dispensing of the brewed coffee at the door of the refrigerator, and a control is provided to control the heating of the water and the dispensing of the brewed coffee.