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. 18, 2011
Filed:
Jan. 09, 2008
Douglas David Leclear, Benton Harbor, MI (US);
Andrew Michael Tenbarge, St. Joseph, MI (US);
Guolian Wu, St. Joseph, MI (US);
Jon Donald Tromblee, Coloma, MI (US);
Douglas David LeClear, Benton Harbor, MI (US);
Andrew Michael Tenbarge, St. Joseph, MI (US);
Guolian Wu, St. Joseph, MI (US);
Jon Donald Tromblee, Coloma, MI (US);
Whirlpool Corporation, Benton Harbor, MI (US);
Abstract
An icemaker for a refrigerator having a cabinet with a refrigerated compartment and an unrefrigerated machine compartment includes a body portion formed with an inlet, an outlet and an opening. A flexible mold is positioned in the opening. A water supply is positioned to provide water to the flexible mold. A fluid supply circuit, including a pump mounted in the machine compartment, a first fluid conduit connected between the pump and the inlet, and a second fluid conduit connected to the outlet, provides warm fluid to the body portion. The icemaker forms ice during an ice production cycle and the fluid warmed in the machine compartment is used to partially melt and aid in releasing the ice which is then deposited in a ice storage bin during a harvest cycle.