US3883204A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ice bucket retrieving apparatus of a refrigerator
Assignee: General Electric Co
•
Filing: 1974-04-03
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Granted: 1975-05-13
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Expires: 1994-04-03
Abstract
Abstract An ice bucket retrieving apparatus having an actuating element and an ice bucket retrieving element for releasably latching onto the bucket and moving the bucket relative to an access opening of a freezer door of a refrigerator in response to opening and closing an associated ice-access door of the freezer door.
Inventors
- 👤 Luis E Prada
- 👤 Jack M Bryant
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 19:17
CPC Classifications
F; F25; F25D; F25D23/00; F25D23/02; A; A47; A47B; A47B96/00; A47B96/16; F25C; F25C5/00; F25D25/00; F25D25/02; F25D25/024; F25D25/025; F25D2323/00; F25D2323/02; F25D2323/023
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
138 words
An ice bucket retrieving apparatus associated with an iceaccess door of an ice-access opening of a main freezer door of a refrigerator, comprising: a housing having a slot and being pivotally connected to the main freezer door; an ice bucket retrieving element having an actuating arm and means for engagement with an ice bucket and being pivotally connected to the housing; an actuating element having a trigger arm and being slidably positioned within the housing slot and movable between a first position at which the trigger arm is at a first elevation and a second position at which the trigger arm is at a second lower elevation in contact with the actuating element and the ice bucket retrieving element is pivoted outwardly therefrom; and means for biasing the actuating element toward the second elevation of the trigger arm.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
138 words
An ice bucket retrieving apparatus associated with an iceaccess door of an ice-access opening of a main freezer door of a refrigerator, comprising: a housing having a slot and being pivotally connected to the main freezer door; an ice bucket retrieving element having an actuating arm and means for engagement with an ice bucket and being pivotally connected to the housing; an actuating element having a trigger arm and being slidably positioned within the housing slot and movable between a first position at which the trigger arm is at a first elevation and a second position at which the trigger arm is at a second lower elevation in contact with the actuating element and the ice bucket retrieving element is pivoted outwardly therefrom; and means for biasing the actuating element toward the second elevation of the trigger arm.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
An apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the housing has a concave portion for receiving the ice bucket retrieving element at the first position of the trigger arm.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the means for biasing is a compressing spring positioned at an upper end portion of the actuating element.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
An apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the means for engagement with the ice bucket is a hook of a configuration for releasably latching onto an ice bucket at the outwardly pivoted position of the retrieving element.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
51 words
An apparatus, as set forth in claim 4, including a stop element positioned on the retrieving element at a location between the hook and a second end portion of the hook for contacting and moving the ice bucket during movement of the ice-access door from the open toward the closed position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
42 words
An apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the access door and ice bucket retrieving element are of dimensions sufficient for moving at least portions of the ice bucket through the main freezer door in response to opening said ice-access door.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-05-12 | 1978-11-11 | 1979-05-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-05-12 | 1982-11-11 | 1983-05-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-05-12 | 1986-11-11 | 1987-05-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |