Patent US5083442A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5083442A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Refrigerator with purified water supply
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1991-01-11
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Granted: 1992-01-28
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Expires: 2011-01-11
Abstract
Abstract A refrigerator is combined with a reverse osmosis water purification system so that purified water is available at an ice-maker and water tap forming part of the refrigerator. The water is also chlorinated upstream of the reverse osmosis filter and dechlorinated downstream thereof, before the water is supplied to a tank. Level and purity sensors are provided in the tank for cutting off the supply of water when the tank is full and for indicating the purified condition of the water.
Inventors
- 👤 Mary Vlock
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 15:04
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01D; B01D61/00; B01D61/02; B01D61/08; B01D61/12; C; C02; C02F; C02F1/00; C02F1/44; C02F1/441; C02F1/72; C02F1/76; C02F9/00; C02F9/20; F; F25; F25D; F25D23/00; F25D23/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
281 words
A refrigerator with purified water supply, comprising: wall means for defining a refrigerated enclosure; refrigeration means connected to the wall means for refrigerating the enclosure; at least one door connected to the wall means for closing and opening the enclosure; an elongated reverse osmosis tube containing a semipermeable membrane, said tube being mounted to and extending along an exterior of said well means, said tube having an inlet for receiving a supply of water, a waste water outlet for discharging water which has passed across one surface of the semipermeable membrane, and a purified water outlet for discharging water which has passed through and been at least partly purified by the semipermeable membrane; gross filtration means mounted to an exterior of said wall means and having an inlet for receiving a supply of water under pressure, and an outlet connected to the inlet of said reverse osmosis tube, for supplying water which has been subject to gross filtration to the inlet of the tube; a water supply tank connected to the purified water outlet of the reverse osmosis tube and extending along an exterior of said wall means for receiving purified water from the tube, said tank being at least partly in heat transfer contact with the enclosure so that water in the tank is refrigerated; a water supply tap connected to said tank for discharging purified water to be used from said tank; and an ion exchange filter connected between said purified water outlet of said reverse osmosis tube, and said water supply tank, for removing ions from the water supplied from said tube to said tank, said ion exchange filter being mounted on an exterior of said wall means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
281 words
A refrigerator with purified water supply, comprising: wall means for defining a refrigerated enclosure; refrigeration means connected to the wall means for refrigerating the enclosure; at least one door connected to the wall means for closing and opening the enclosure; an elongated reverse osmosis tube containing a semipermeable membrane, said tube being mounted to and extending along an exterior of said well means, said tube having an inlet for receiving a supply of water, a waste water outlet for discharging water which has passed across one surface of the semipermeable membrane, and a purified water outlet for discharging water which has passed through and been at least partly purified by the semipermeable membrane; gross filtration means mounted to an exterior of said wall means and having an inlet for receiving a supply of water under pressure, and an outlet connected to the inlet of said reverse osmosis tube, for supplying water which has been subject to gross filtration to the inlet of the tube; a water supply tank connected to the purified water outlet of the reverse osmosis tube and extending along an exterior of said wall means for receiving purified water from the tube, said tank being at least partly in heat transfer contact with the enclosure so that water in the tank is refrigerated; a water supply tap connected to said tank for discharging purified water to be used from said tank; and an ion exchange filter connected between said purified water outlet of said reverse osmosis tube, and said water supply tank, for removing ions from the water supplied from said tube to said tank, said ion exchange filter being mounted on an exterior of said wall means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
122 words
A system according to claim 1, including a level sensor connected to said tank for sensing a full level for said tank, said gross filtration means, reverse osmosis tube and tank being connected along a water circuit for the supply of water therealong, and a valve connected to and activated by said level sensor for closing when said level sensor senses a full level of the tank, said valve being connected to the water circuit for opening and closing the passage of water, said gross filtration system including a chlorination chamber for chlorinating the water which is supplied to said reverse osmosis tube, the system including a dechlorination filter connected between the purified water outlet of the tube and the storage tank.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
44 words
A system according to claim 1, including a conductivity sensor connected to said tank for testing the conductivity of the water, and an indicator connected to the conductivity sensor for indicating the nonconductivity of the water, corresponding to a purified state of the water.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
61 words
A system according to claim 1, wherein said wall means include a front wall at least partly covered by said at least one door and a pair of side walls, each on one side of said front wall, said elongated reverse osmosis tube and said gross filtration means being mounted on an exterior of at least one of said side walls.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
A system according to claim 4, including a lid connected to said wall means for covering said reverse osmosis tube and said gross filtration means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
A system according to claim 5, wherein said water supply tank is mounted to an exterior of at least one of said side walls under said lid, said lid being insulated.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
A system according to claim 6, wherein said gross filtration means is mounted adjacent said front wall for access to said gross filtration means for changing said gross filtration means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
49 words
A system according to claim 7, wherein said wall means are insulated, insulation in said side wall to which said tank is mounted being reduced in at least part of the area of said tank for establishing at least partial heat transfer contact between said tank and the enclosure.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
A system according to claim 8, wherein said reverse osmosis tube extends vertically on said side wall, said gross filtration means extending adjacent said reverse osmosis tube.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
A system according to claim 9, wherein said tank extends on said side wall on an opposite side of said reverse osmosis tube from said gross filtration means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
56 words
A system according to claim 1, wherein said wall means are insulated, said wall means including a front wall covered by said at least one door, and a side wall, said elongated reverse osmosis tube extending vertically on said side wall, said gross filtration means and said water supply tank also extending on said side wall.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
40 words
A system according to claim 11, including an insulated lid movably connected to said wall means for extending over said side wall in a position covering said water supply tank, said gross filtration means and said elongated reverse osmosis tube.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
39 words
A system according to claim 12, wherein insulation of said side wall over at least a portion of said water supply tank is reduced for allowing said at least partial heat transfer contact between the enclosure and said tank.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
84 words
A system according to claim 1, wherein said wall means include a front wall at least partly covered by said at least one door and a pair of side walls, each on one side of said front wall, said elongated reverse osmosis tube, said ion exchange filter, and said gross filtration means being mounted on an exterior of at least one of said side walls, and ice making means in said enclosure and connected to said supply tap for making ice from purified water.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
A system according to claim 14, including a lid connected to said wall means for covering said reverse osmosis tube and said gross filtration means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
31 words
A system according to claim 15, wherein said water supply tank is mounted to an exterior of at least one of said side walls under said lid, said lid being insulated.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
30 words
A system according to claim 16, wherein said gross filtration mans is mounted adjacent said front wall for access to said gross filtration means for exchanging said gross filtration means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
49 words
A system according to claim 17, wherein said wall means are insulated, insulation in said side wall to which said tank is mounted being reduced in at least part of the area of said tank for establishing at least partial heat transfer contact between said tank and the enclosure.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
27 words
A system according to claim 18, wherein said reverse osmosis tube extends vertically on said side wall, said gross filtration means extending adjacent said reverse osmosis tube.
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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) | 1995-01-27 | 1995-07-29 | 1996-01-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-01-27 | 1999-07-29 | 2000-01-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-01-27 | 2003-07-29 | 2004-01-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |