US 11,752,224 B2
Refrigerator appliance and sanitizer assembly
Mirza Yaseen Baig, Hyderabad (IN); and Roobanprasath P., Hyderabad (IN)
Assigned to Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc., Wilmington, DE (US)
Filed by Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc., Wilmington, DE (US)
Filed on Feb. 10, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/172,542.
Prior Publication US 2022/0249713 A1, Aug. 11, 2022
Int. Cl. A61L 2/07 (2006.01); F25D 23/02 (2006.01); A61L 2/24 (2006.01); A61L 2/00 (2006.01)
CPC A61L 2/07 (2013.01) [A61L 2/0023 (2013.01); A61L 2/24 (2013.01); F25D 23/028 (2013.01); A61L 2202/11 (2013.01); A61L 2202/122 (2013.01); A61L 2202/14 (2013.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A sanitizer assembly in downstream fluid communication with a refrigerator appliance, the sanitizer assembly comprising:
a heating plate mounted on a door of the refrigerator appliance;
a storage container disposed on the heating plate and extending between a bottom end and a top end, the storage container defining a sanitization chamber above the heating plate and a container opening at the top end to permit access to the sanitization chamber, wherein the storage container defines an exhaust outlet proximal to the top end to permit steam to exit the sanitization chamber, wherein the exhaust outlet is distinct from the container opening;
an exhaust hose extending through the door in selective downstream fluid communication with the exhaust outlet; and
a thermal damper mounted within the door along the exhaust hose, the thermal damper comprising a conductive material configured for condensing the steam into water droplets within the exhaust hose.