DOMESTIC REFRIGERATOR INCLUDING AN ICE DISPENSER

摘要

An ice dispenser for a domestic refrigerator includes a lever having a housing with a passageway defined therein and a flapper door configured to pivot between a closed position in which ice is prevented from advancing into the passageway and an open position in which ice is permitted to advance into the passageway. A linkage is coupled to the lever and the flapper door such that movement of the lever causes the flapper door to move from the closed position to the open position.

主权项

1. An ice dispenser comprising:
a mounting bracket; a lever pivotally coupled to the mounting bracket; a flapper door pivotally coupled to the mounting bracket, the flapper door being configured to pivot between a closed position and an open position; a rotary damper coupled to the flapper door; and a linkage coupled to the lever and the flapper door such that movement of the lever from a first lever position to a second lever position advances the flapper door from the closed position to the open position, wherein the linkage is configured to:
permit the lever to move from the second lever position to the first lever position independently of the flapper door at a first rotational speed; andpermit the flapper door to move from the open position to the closed position at a second rotational speed that is different than the first rotational speed.