US4228923A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ice maker dispenser structure
Assignee: King Seeley Thermos Co
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Filing: 1979-08-17
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Granted: 1980-10-21
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Expires: 1999-08-17
Abstract
Abstract An ice maker dispenser structure wherein a removable chute is provided as a portion of a discharge duct leading from a discharge opening in a collecting bin for storing a plurality of discrete ice bodies to be dispensed. An agitator is disposed within the collecting bin adjacent the discharge opening and is operated to agitate the ice bodies adjacent the opening when a closure member is removed from the opening to effect the dispensing operation. An interlock is provided for preventing movement of the closure member away from the discharge opening in the event the chute is removed from the ice maker such as for servicing of the chute, thereby preventing injury to the user's fingers which may inadvertently be passed inwardly through the discharge opening into contact with the operating agitator.
Inventors
- 👤 Walter C. Barnard
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 00:07
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07F; G07F11/00; G07F11/02; G07F11/44; F; F25; F25C; F25C5/00; F25C5/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
164 words
In an ice maker having a storage receptacle for holding a plurality of discrete ice bodies having a discharge opening, agitating means in the receptacle for agitating the ice bodies adjacent the discharge opening to promote free delivery of the ice bodies through the discharge opening during a dispensing operation, closure means for selectively closing the discharge opening, means for removing the closure means from said opening and concurrently energizing the agitating means to effect a delivery of ice bodies therethrough, and guide means for conducting delivered ice bodies from said opening to a dispense position, at least a portion of said guide means comprising removable means, said discharge opening being accessible to a user's fingers upon removal of said removable means, the improvement comprising: means responsive to removal of said removable means of the guide means to prevent removal of the closure means from said opening thereby to prevent injury to said user's fingers by said agitating means during an attempted dispensing operation.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
164 words
In an ice maker having a storage receptacle for holding a plurality of discrete ice bodies having a discharge opening, agitating means in the receptacle for agitating the ice bodies adjacent the discharge opening to promote free delivery of the ice bodies through the discharge opening during a dispensing operation, closure means for selectively closing the discharge opening, means for removing the closure means from said opening and concurrently energizing the agitating means to effect a delivery of ice bodies therethrough, and guide means for conducting delivered ice bodies from said opening to a dispense position, at least a portion of said guide means comprising removable means, said discharge opening being accessible to a user's fingers upon removal of said removable means, the improvement comprising: means responsive to removal of said removable means of the guide means to prevent removal of the closure means from said opening thereby to prevent injury to said user's fingers by said agitating means during an attempted dispensing operation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The ice maker structure of claim 1 including means for biasing said closure means to close said discharge opening and powered means for removing said closure means from said discharge opening.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The ice maker structure of claim 1 wherein said removable means of the guide means comprises a chute.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The ice maker structure of claim 1 wherein said means to prevent removal of the closure means from said opening comprises a mechanical interlock.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
49 words
The ice maker structure of claim 1 wherein said means to prevent removal of the closure means from said opening comprises a mechanical interlock positioned as an incident of removal of said removable means of the guide means to block movement of the closure means from said discharge opening.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The ice maker structure of claim 1 wherein said means to prevent removal of the closure means from said opening comprises a pivotally mounted mechanical interlock.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
40 words
The ice maker structure of claim 1 wherein said means to prevent removal of the closure means from said opening comprises a pivotally mounted mechanical interlock and means for biasing said interlock to block said movement of the closure means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
192 words
In an ice maker having a storage receptacle for holding a plurality of discrete ice bodies having a discharge opening, agitating means in the receptacle for agitating the ice bodies adjacent the discharge opening to promote free delivery of the ice bodies through the discharge opening during a dispensing operation, a closure member movably mounted adjacent said discharge opening for selectively closing the discharge opening, means for moving the closure means from said opening and concurrently energizing the agitating means to effect a delivery of ice bodies therethrough, and duct means for conducting delivered ice bodies from said opening to a dispense position, said duct means defining a removable chute, said discharge opening being accessible to a user's fingers upon removal of said removable chute, the improvement comprising: interlock means having a first portion adjacent said closure member, and a second portion responsive to removal of said removable means of the duct means to cause said first portion to block movement of said closure member to prevent removal of the closure member from said opening thereby to prevent injury to said user's fingers by said agitating means during an attempted dispensing operation.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
192 words
In an ice maker having a storage receptacle for holding a plurality of discrete ice bodies having a discharge opening, agitating means in the receptacle for agitating the ice bodies adjacent the discharge opening to promote free delivery of the ice bodies through the discharge opening during a dispensing operation, a closure member movably mounted adjacent said discharge opening for selectively closing the discharge opening, means for moving the closure means from said opening and concurrently energizing the agitating means to effect a delivery of ice bodies therethrough, and duct means for conducting delivered ice bodies from said opening to a dispense position, said duct means defining a removable chute, said discharge opening being accessible to a user's fingers upon removal of said removable chute, the improvement comprising: interlock means having a first portion adjacent said closure member, and a second portion responsive to removal of said removable means of the duct means to cause said first portion to block movement of said closure member to prevent removal of the closure member from said opening thereby to prevent injury to said user's fingers by said agitating means during an attempted dispensing operation.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
41 words
The ice maker structure of claim 8 wherein said interlock means second portion defines a means engaging said chute when the chute is installed in the ice maker structure to prevent said first portion from blocking movement of said closure member.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
The ice maker structure of claim 8 including means for biasing said interlock means to block movement of said closure member.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
The ice maker structure of claim 8 including weighted means for gravity biasing said interlock means to block movement of said closure member.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
The ice maker structure of claim 8 including means pivotally mounting said interlock means, and means for pivotally biasing said interlock means to block movement of said closure member.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
33 words
The ice maker structure of claim 8 including means pivotally mounting said interlock means to said duct means, and means for pivotally biasing said interlock means to block movement of said closure member.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
54 words
The ice maker structure of claim 8 including means pivotally mounting said interlock means to said duct means, means for pivotally biasing said interlock means to block movement of said closure member, and spring means connected between said closure member and said duct means for biasing said closure member to close said discharge opening.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1983-10-21 | 1984-04-21 | 1984-10-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-10-21 | 1988-04-21 | 1988-10-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-10-21 | 1992-04-21 | 1992-10-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |