Refrigerator or the like with externally mounted water valve

Claim 2

In an appliance having a cabinet with a rear wall defining an outwardly opening recess, water utilizing means utilizing water supplied thereto in the operation of the appliance, and electrical control means for controlling operation of the appliance, means for controlling delivery of water to said water utilizing means, comprising: valve means; mounting means for mounting said valve means in said recess; electrical operating means for effecting the operation of said valve means; cooperating plug-in means carried by said valve means and wall for connecting said electrical operating means electrically to said electrical control means for control of the operation of said valve means by said electrical control means; water conducting means for conducting water from said valve means through saId rear wall to said water utilizing means including duct means extending through said wall and slip fit means for connecting said valve means to said duct means, said electrical connecting plug-in means and said water conducting slip fit means being constructed to permit manual connection and disconnection of the valve means for facilitated servicing; and flow connecting means for connecting a source of water under pressure to said valve.

Claim 3

The appliance means of claim 1 including means for refrigerating the interior of said cabinet and said wall includes insulating means for preventing freezing of water at said valve by heat transfer from said refrigerated cabinet interior.

Claim 4

The appliance means of claim 1 wherein said water utilizing means comprises an automatic ice maker disposed within said cabinet.

Claim 5

The appliance means of claim 1 wherein said water utilizing means comprises an automatic ice maker disposed within said cabinet inwardly adjacent said valve means.

Claim 6

The appliance means of claim 1 wherein said duct means includes a flexible outer portion for facilitating the slip fitting of the valve connection thereto while concurrently making the plug-in connection of said electrical connecting means.

Claim 7

The appliance means of claim 1 wherein said valve is mounted substantially fully within said recess and wherein sound-deadening means are provided comprising cover means forming a closure for said recess enclosing said valve means within said recess.

Claim 8

The appliance means of claim 1 wherein said electrical operating means comprises a solenoid including an outer metal portion and said electrical connector means includes means for grounding said solenoid.

Claim 9

The appliance means of claim 1 wherein said valve means extends to substantially flush with the outer opening of said recess.

Claim 10

The appliance means of claim 1 comprising a refrigeration appliance wherein the water utilizing means comprises an automatic ice maker and the electrical control means coordinates the operation of the valve with the functioning of the ice maker.

Claim 11

In an appliance having a cabinet with a rear wall defining an outwardly opening recess, water utilizing means utilizing water supplied thereto in the operation of the appliance, and electrical control means for controlling operation of the appliance, means for controlling delivery of water to said water utilizing means, comprising: valve means; mounting means for mounting said valve means in said recess; electrical operating means for effecting the operation of said valve means; cooperating plug-in means carried by said valve means and wall for connecting said electrical operating means electrically to said electrical control means for control of the operation of said valve means by said electrical control means; water conducting means for conducting water from said valve means through said rear wall to said water utilizing means including duct means extending through said wall and water conducting slip fit means for connecting said valve means to said duct means, said electrical connecting plug-in means and said water conducting slip fit means being constructed to permit manual connection and disconnection of the valve means for facilitated servicing; flow connecting means for connecting a source of water under pressure to said valve; and removable cover means forming a closure for said recess.

Claim 12

In an appliance having a cabinet with a rear wall defining an outwardly opening recess, water utilizing means utilizing water supplied thereto in the operation of the appliance, and electrical control means for controlling operation of the appliance, means for controlling delivery of water to said water utilizing means, comprising: valve means; mounting means for mounting said valve means in said recess; electrical operating means for effecting the operation of said valve means; cooperating plug-in means carried by said valve means and wall for connecting said electrical operating means electrically to said electrical control means for control of the operation of said valve means by said electrical control means; water conducting means for conducting water from said valve means through said rear wall to said water utilizing means including duct means extending through said wall and water conducting slip fit means for connecting said valve means to said duct means, said electrical connecting plug-in means and said water conducting slip fit means being constructed to permit manual connection and disconnection of the valve means for facilitated servicing; flow connecting means for connecting a source of water under pressure to said valve; and removable cover means forming a closure for said recess.

Claim 13

In a refrigerator appliance having a refrigerated cabinet with a rear wall defining an outwardly opening recess, disposed within said cabinet and utilizing water supplied thereto in the operation of the appliance, and electrical control means for controlling operation of the appliance, means for controlling delivery of water to said ice maker, comprising: valve means; mounting means mounting said valve means in said recess; electrical operating means for effecting the operation of said valve means; cooperating electrical connecting plug-in means carried by said valve means and wall for quick-connecting aNd quick-disconnecting said electrical operating means relative to said electrical control means; water conducting means for conducting water from said valve means through said rear wall to said ice maker within said refrigerator cabinet including duct means extending through said wall, and water conducting slip fit means at an end of the duct means in said recess for connecting said valve connecting plug-in means and said water conducting slip fit means being constructed to permit manual quick-connection and quick-disconnection of the valve means for facilitated servicing; and flow connecting means for connecting a source of water under pressure to said valve.

Claim 14

In a refrigerator appliance having a refrigerated cabinet with a rear wall defining an outwardly opening recess, disposed within said cabinet and utilizing water supplied thereto in the operation of the appliance, and electrical control means for controlling operation of the appliance, means for controlling delivery of water to said ice maker, comprising: valve means; mounting means mounting said valve means in said recess; electrical operating means for effecting the operation of said valve means; cooperating electrical connecting plug-in means carried by said valve means and wall for quick-connecting aNd quick-disconnecting said electrical operating means relative to said electrical control means; water conducting means for conducting water from said valve means through said rear wall to said ice maker within said refrigerator cabinet including duct means extending through said wall, and water conducting slip fit means at an end of the duct means in said recess for connecting said valve connecting plug-in means and said water conducting slip fit means being constructed to permit manual quick-connection and quick-disconnection of the valve means for facilitated servicing; and flow connecting means for connecting a source of water under pressure to said valve.