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:
Jun. 29, 2010
Filed:
Dec. 08, 2006
Marcus Roland Fischer, Stevensville, MI (US);
Amy Lauren Siwek, Dewitt, MI (US);
Kevin Michael Chase, Saint Joseph, MI (US);
Tony Lee Koenigsknecht, Saint Joseph, MI (US);
Randell Lee Jeffery, Stevensville, MI (US);
Larry Thomas Bashark, Saint Joseph, MI (US);
Jordan Robert Fountain, Saint Joseph, MI (US);
Brandon Michael Dawson, Dearborn Heights, MI (US);
Ryan Dean Mccollum, Redondo Beach, CA (US);
Matthew Russel Schwartz, Minneapolis, MN (US);
Marcus Roland Fischer, Stevensville, MI (US);
Amy Lauren Siwek, Dewitt, MI (US);
Kevin Michael Chase, Saint Joseph, MI (US);
Tony Lee Koenigsknecht, Saint Joseph, MI (US);
Randell Lee Jeffery, Stevensville, MI (US);
Larry Thomas Bashark, Saint Joseph, MI (US);
Jordan Robert Fountain, Saint Joseph, MI (US);
Brandon Michael Dawson, Dearborn Heights, MI (US);
Ryan Dean McCollum, Redondo Beach, CA (US);
Matthew Russel Schwartz, Minneapolis, MN (US);
Whirlpool Corporation, Benton Harbor, MI (US);
Abstract
The present invention relates to an ice dispenser apparatus having an ice storage bin removably mounted to the refrigerator for receiving and storing ice pieces from an ice maker, a metering device for separating individual ice pieces, and a sensing device for detecting the presence of ice pieces. Actuation of a motor causes the metering device to separate individual ice pieces and the sensing device detects ice pieces before, after, or during dispensing.