US 11,808,507 B2
Method and apparatus for increasing rate of ice production in an automatic ice maker
Robert B. Becker, Stevensville, MI (US); Marcus R. Fischer, Stevensville, MI (US); Christopher R. McElvain, Amana, IA (US); and Ryan D. Schuchart, Cedar Rapids, IA (US)
Assigned to Whirlpool Corporation, Benton Harbor, MI (US)
Filed by WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION, Benton Harbor, MI (US)
Filed on Aug. 5, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/881,958.
Application 17/881,958 is a division of application No. 16/872,690, filed on May 12, 2020, granted, now 11,441,829.
Application 16/872,690 is a division of application No. 15/880,866, filed on Jan. 26, 2018, granted, now 10,690,388, issued on Jun. 23, 2020.
Application 15/880,866 is a division of application No. 14/921,236, filed on Oct. 23, 2015, granted, now 9,915,458, issued on Mar. 13, 2018.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/067,725, filed on Oct. 23, 2014.
Prior Publication US 2022/0373242 A1, Nov. 24, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. F25C 1/04 (2018.01); F25C 1/243 (2018.01); F25C 5/06 (2006.01); F25C 5/185 (2018.01); F25C 5/182 (2018.01)
CPC F25C 1/04 (2013.01) [F25C 1/243 (2013.01); F25C 5/06 (2013.01); F25C 5/182 (2013.01); F25C 5/185 (2013.01); F25C 2305/022 (2013.01); F25C 2305/0221 (2021.08); F25C 2400/10 (2013.01); F25C 2500/02 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An ice making appliance comprising:
a cabinet defining an interior volume; and
an automatic ice maker disposed within the interior volume and configured to harvest a plurality of ice cubes, the automatic ice maker comprising:
a frame;
a motor; and
an ice tray comprising:
a first end operably and rotationally engaged with the motor;
a second end engaged to the frame; and
a plurality of ice wells defined by a plurality of weirs including a first set of weirs positioned proximate the first end and a second set of weirs positioned proximate the second end and interior weirs positioned therebetween, each weir of the plurality of weirs including an upwardly extending projection that extends above the plurality of ice wells, and wherein each weir of the first and second sets of weirs and the interior weirs comprise passages at least partially bifurcating each weir into a first weir portion and a second weir portion.