WO2011080227A2

WO2011080227A2 - A refrigerator

Info

Publication number: WO2011080227A2
Application number: PCT/EP2010/070702
Authority: WO
Inventors: Bahtiyar Oguz Cetinturk; Ismail Sener; Hasan Yuksel; Gokay Gorkem Gunday
Original assignee: Arcelik AS
Current assignee: Arcelik AS
Priority date: 2009-12-31
Filing date: 2010-12-23
Publication date: 2011-07-07
Anticipated expiration: 2012-06-30
Also published as: WO2011080227A3

Abstract

The present invention relates to a refrigerator (1) comprising at least one ice tray (3) comprising more than one cell (2) for forming ice cubes and a cartridge (4) providing the cells (2) to be filled with water in order to form ice.

Description

A REFRIGERATOR

[0001] The present invention relates to an ice tray that is used in refrigerators.

[0002] In refrigerators that do not have automatic ice producing systems,

containers having ice cells are used for making the ice pieces, the cells are disposed in place in the freezing compartment after filling with water from a source. The user, desiring to make the maximum amount of ice in one filling of the ice tray, fills the cells with water completely or near to complete and needs to show special attention for carrying water without spilling and placing in the refrigerator. No matter how carefully carrying and placing the tray is made, spilling of some amount of water cannot be avoided. In refrigerators having automatic ice producing systems, high cost and space occupying additional apparatus elements like a water tank, the pump that delivers water to the freezing compartment, ducts and valves are used in the refrigerator.

[0003] In the state of the art British Patent Application No GB21 18700, in order to obtain ice automatically in a refrigerator, an ice making system is described that is composed of a water tank in the refrigerator

compartment, a discharge aperture for delivering water to the ice making containers in the freezing compartment, a metering chamber, pump, discharge line and water dispenser.

[0004] In another state of the art document, the United States Patent No.

US4815691 , a method and apparatus is described providing to fill water, add water to a large number of ice trays placed one over the other in a portable container, and draining the excess water.

[0005] In United States Patent No US5904054, an apparatus is described that fills water contained in a water tank to the ice trays by means of a valve unit operated by a driving means composed of motor and gears in order to fill the ice trays with exactly the desired amount of water.

[0006] In the International Patent Application No. WO02052207, the description is given for a water addition apparatus used for filling the ice cube tray with water and a unit comprising the ice cube tray case whereon the said ice cube tray is placed. [0007] The aim of the present invention is to facilitate filling water into the ice tray.

[0008] The cartridge used for filling the ice tray comprises at least one discharge orifice for filling the water in the cartridge into the cells. The discharge orifice is at least partially closed with a cover. The water in the cartridge is transferred from the discharge orifice towards the cells by tilting the cartridge and/or the cover by means of a tilting mechanism. Thus, the water in the cartridge is easily transferred into the ice tray and the problems like the water spilling into the refrigerator, splashing around are prevented.

[0009] In an embodiment of the present invention, the cartridge is shaped as

glass, that is almost like a cylinder with open ceiling. In this embodiment, more than one hole arranged on the base of the cartridge forms the discharge orifice. The water filled in the cartridge is prevented from flowing out from the discharge orifice by means of a cover. The cover is connected to the cartridge from one side so as to be rotatable around this side.

[0010] In this embodiment, the tilting mechanism is in leg form, disposed on the ice tray and whereon the cartridge can be placed and comprises a protrusion. When the cartridge is placed on the tilting mechanism, the protrusion provides the cover to be tilted a little by pushing. Consequently, the contact between the cover and the discharge orifice is eliminated thereby allowing discharge of the water in the cartridge from the discharge orifice. In other words, as soon as the water filled cartridge is placed on the tilting mechanism, the tilting process is performed automatically and transfer of water into the ice tray cells starts. Water fills in the cells slowly without overflowing, spilling since it flows into the cells through the discharge orifice in the form of holes arranged on the cartridge base.

[001 1] In another embodiment of the present invention, the cartridge is again

shaped as a glass. In this embodiment, the cover is shaped as a plate that partially closes the open surface of the cartridge. In this embodiment, the discharge orifice is the opening remaining between the cartridge and the cover. The tilting mechanism is disposed on the ice tray and installed to the ice tray to be rotatable from the side walls thereof.

[0012] In this embodiment, the tilting mechanism comprises a receptacle preferably whereon the cartridge is placed and two supports that extend upwards from the side walls of the ice tray. The receptacle is hanged to the support by means of two shafts rotatably fixed thereto. A trigger is disposed at the end of one of the shafts that allow the tilting mechanism to be controlled by the user. Accordingly, the cartridge can be rotated after being put into place by the user and the water contained therein is provided to be filled into the cells. In this embodiment, the cartridge bears against the stopper when tilted in the required amount and thus the motion thereof is stopped.

[0013] Moreover, passages are arranged that provide passage between the cells.

When a cell is filled, the water passes from the passage and starts to fill the other cell. Thus, all the cells are filled slowly. The water flowing into a cell does not overflow but spreads to all the cells.

[0014] The model embodiments relating to the refrigerator realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention are illustrated in the attached figures, where:

[0015] Figure 1 - is the schematic view of the refrigerator.

[0016] Figure 2 - is the perspective view of the ice tray and the tilting mechanism in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0017] Figure 3 - is the perspective view of the cartridge in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0018] Figure 4 - is the perspective view of the cover in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0019] Figure 5 - is the perspective view of the ice tray, the tilting mechanism, the cartridge and the cover in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0020] Figure 6 - is the exploded view of the ice tray, the tilting mechanism, the cartridge and the cover in another embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] Figure 7 - is the perspective view of the ice tray, the tilting mechanism, the cartridge and the cover in another embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] Figure 8 - is the perspective view of the ice tray, the tilting mechanism, the cartridge and the cover while the cartridge is tilted, bearing against the stopper in another embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows: 1. Refrigerator

2. Cell

3. Ice tray

4. Cartridge

5. Discharge orifice

6. Cover

7. Tilting mechanism

8. Passage

9. Protrusion

10. Receptacle

1 1. Support

12. Shaft

13. Trigger

14. Stopper

[0024] The refrigerator (1 ) comprises at least one ice tray (3) having more than one cell (2) for forming ice cubes and a cartridge (4) providing the cells (2) to be filled with water in order to form ice.

[0025] The cartridge (4) comprises at least one discharge orifice (5) allowing the water contained therein to be discharged into the cells (2) and a cover (6) that at least partially closes the discharge orifice (5). The refrigerator (1) furthermore comprises a tilting mechanism (7) that allows the water in the cartridge (4) to flow from the discharge orifice (5) towards the cells (2) by providing the cartridge (4) and/or the cover (6) to tilt.

[0026] In an embodiment of the present invention, the cartridge (4) is shaped as a glass and the discharge orifice (5) is shaped as more than one hole arranged on the base of the cartridge (4). In this embodiment, the cover (6) is rotatably fixed from one side to the base of the cartridge (4) and covers the discharge orifice (5) in the free position. In this embodiment, the tilting mechanism (7) comprises a protrusion (9) disposed on the ice tray (3), shaped as a leg whereon the cartridge (4) can be placed, seating in one of the holes forming the discharge orifice (5) and providing the cover (6) to rise upwards by rotating around the point the cover (6) is fixed, when the cartridge (4) is placed on the tilting mechanism (7). Thus, when water is filled into the cartridge (4), the discharge orifice (5) is closed by the cover (6) and water can be carried to the ice tray (3) without spilling around. However, when the cartridge (4) is placed on the tilting

mechanism (7) on the ice tray (3), the cover (6) is moved as the protrusion (9) is seated into one of the holes forming the discharge orifice (5). The discharge orifice (5) opens with the movement of the cover (6) and the water inside the cartridge (4) flows into the ice tray (3) by passing through the discharge orifice (5).

[0027] In another embodiment of the present invention, the cartridge (4) is

shaped as a glass and the cover (6) is shaped as a plate that is installed to the cartridge (4), partially covering the open surface thereof. In this embodiment, the discharge orifice (5) is the opening remaining between the cartridge (4) and the cover (6). In this embodiment, the tilting mechanism (7) is shaped as a base plate disposed on the ice tray (3) and rotatably connected to the side walls of the ice tray (3). After the cartridge (4) and the cover (6) placed on the cartridge (4) are disposed on the tilting mechanism (7), the tilting mechanism (7), and the cartridge (4) placed thereon rotate by the user triggering the tilting mechanism (7) and thus the water contained in the cartridge (4) is provided to flow into the cells (2) from the discharge orifice (5).

[0028] In a version of this embodiment, the cartridge (4) rotates at least 180

degrees so that the water is discharged due to its weight, when placed on the tilting mechanism (7). Thus, when the user places the cartridge (4) on the tilting mechanism (7), the cartridge (4) is provided to discharge into the ice tray (3) automatically.

[0029] In the preferred version of this embodiment, the tilting mechanism (7) comprises,

- a receptacle (10) whereon the cartridge (4) is disposed,

- two supports (1 1 ) that extend upwards from the side walls of the ice tray (3),

- two shafts (12) rotatably fixed to the supports (1 1), holding the

receptacle (10) from two sides in suspended position over the ice tray (3), between the supports (1 1 ) and - a trigger (13) disposed at the end of one of the shafts (12), that provides the shafts (12) to rotate and the cartridge (4) to tilt when triggered by the user.

[0030] Thus, the cartridge (4) is provided to tilt by being rotated and to discharge the water contained therein into the cells (2) after being put in place by the user.

[0031] In this embodiment, the ice tray (3) furthermore comprises a stopper (14) against which the cartridge (4) bears, providing the cartridge (4) to stop after tilting sufficiently for the water to flow. Consequently, water is provided to flow slowly from the discharge orifice (5) and overflowing and splashing around by discharging at once are prevented.

[0032] In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the ice tray (3)

comprises passages (8) between the cells (2) that allow water to pass to the other cell (2) when one of the cells (2) is filled. Thus, the entire ice tray

(3) is provided to be filled even if the water discharged from the cartridge

(4) reaches only one of the cells (2).

[0033] The cartridge (4) has the volume equal to or less than the total volume of the cells (2). Accordingly, the water in the cartridge (4) provides all of the cells (2) to be filled, however the water overflowing from the cells (2) is not possible due to the excessive amount.

[0034] It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited by the

embodiments disclosed above and a person skilled in the art can easily introduce different embodiments. These should be considered within the scope of the protection postulated by the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A refrigerator (1 ) comprising at least one ice tray (3) comprising more than one cell (2) for making ice cubes, a cartridge (4) providing the cells (2) to be filled with water for making ice, characterized in that the cartridge (4) having at least one discharge orifice (5) allowing the water contained therein to be discharged into the cells (2) and a cover (6) that at least partially closes the discharge orifice (5) and a tilting mechanism (7) that allows the water in the cartridge (4) to flow from the discharge orifice (5) towards the cells (2) by providing the cartridge (4) and/or the cover (6) to tilt.

2. A refrigerator (1 ) as in Claim 1 , characterized in that the cartridge (4) being shaped as a glass and the discharge orifice (5) being shaped as more than one hole arranged on the base of the cartridge (4).

3. A refrigerator (1 ) as in Claim 2, characterized in tht the cover (6) is rotatably fixed from one side to the base of the cartridge (4) and covering the discharge orifice (5) in the free position.

4. A refrigerator (1 ) as in Claim 2, characterized in that the tilting mechanism (7) comprising a protrusion (9) which is disposed on the ice tray (3) and shaped as a leg whereon the cartridge (4) can be placed and which seats in one of the holes forming the discharge orifice (5) and provides the cover (6) to rise up by rotating around the point the cover (6) is fixed, when the cartridge (4) is placed on the tilting mechanism (7).

5. A refrigerator (1 ) as in Claim 1 , characterized in that the cartridge (4) being shaped as a glass, the cover (6) being shaped as a plate, partially covering the open surface of the cartridge (4) by being installed thereto and the discharge orifice (5) being an opening remaining between the cartridge (4) and the cover (6).

6. A refrigerator (1 ) as in Claim 5, characterized in that the tilting mechanism (7) being shaped as a base plate, disposed on the ice tray (3) and rotatably connected to the side walls of the ice tray (3).

7. A refrigerator (1 ) as in Claim 6, characterized in that the cartridge (4) rotates at least 180 degrees so that the water is discharged due to its weight when placed on the tilting mechanism (7).

8. A refrigerator (1 ) as in Claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the tilting mechanism (7) comprising

- a receptacle (10) whereon the cartridge (4) is disposed,

- two shafts (12) rotatably fixed to the supports (1 1), holding the receptacle (10) from two sides in suspended position over the ice tray (3) between the supports (1 1 ) and

- a trigger (13) disposed at the end of one of the shafts (12), that provides the shafts (12) to rotate and the cartridge (4) to tilt when triggered by the user.

9. A refrigerator (1 ) as in any one of the Claims 6 to 8, characterized in that the ice tray (3) comprising a stopper (14) against which the cartridge (4) bears and which provides the cartridge (4) to stop after tilting sufficiently for the water to flow.

10. A refrigerator (1 ) as in any one of the above Claims, characterized in that the ice tray (3) comprising passages (8) between the cells (2) that allow water to pass to the other cell (2) when one of the cells (2) is filled.

1 1. A refrigerator (1 ) as in any one of the above Claims, characterized in that the cartridge (4) having the volume equal to or less than the total volume of the cells (2).