In-door water dispenser with door reversibility

US7281391B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION · US

Inventors

• Diane E. Marret · Newburgh, US
• Guy E. Garrison · Evansville, US
• Jill C. Moeller · Newburgh, US
• Johnny R. Revlett · Henderson, US
• Mark Steffenhagen · Evansville, US
• Daryl Lee Reuter · Evansville, US
• Jeff J. Smale · Evansville, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 29, 2004
• Grant date: Oct 16, 2007
• Expiry date: Dec 8, 2025

Classification

• Technology area (CPC F): Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
• CPC primary: F25D23/028
• WIPO field: Other consumer goods
• WIPO sector: Other fields

Abstract

An appliance cabinet with at least one openable door has a hinge at a pivoting edge of the door to allow the door to open about the pivoting edge. An endcap is secured to an edge of the door adjacent to the pivoting edge. A first conduit extends from an in-door apparatus to an end within the endcap. A second conduit extends from within the cabinet to an end exterior of the cabinet and within the endcap. An end connector is provided to receive the ends of the first and second conduits. The hinge is movable from the pivoting edge of the door to an opposite edge of the door. The second conduit is arranged to exit from either adjacent one corner or adjacent an opposite corner of the cabinet to be adjacent to the pivoting edge. In this arrangement, the two conduits are joinable within the endcap at the end connector to form a continuous conduit.