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. 04, 2011
Filed:
Jul. 09, 2009
Applicants:
James H. Jenkins, Jr., South Amana, IA (US);
Thomas C. Anell, Knoxville, IL (US);
Inventors:
James H. Jenkins, Jr., South Amana, IA (US);
Thomas C. Anell, Knoxville, IL (US);
Assignee:
Whirlpool Corporation, Benton Harbor, MI (US);
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
F25D 17/02 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
Abstract
An improved refrigerator is provided with a freeze tolerant valve for the water tank assembly in the refrigerator. The valve includes a body with an internal plastic spool which minimizes the volume of water within the valve, and which provides a space in the valve to accommodate freezing water in the valve. The valve will not crack or fail in the event of a temperature control problem in the refrigerator which results in frozen water within the valve.