US 12,215,909 B2
Ice maker and refrigerator
Jinil Hong, Seoul (KR); and Yonghyun Kim, Seoul (KR)
Assigned to LG ELECTRONICS INC., Seoul (KR)
Filed by LG ELECTRONICS INC., Seoul (KR)
Filed on Jan. 11, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/095,820.
Application 18/095,820 is a continuation of application No. 16/511,873, filed on Jul. 15, 2019, granted, now 11,578,904.
Claims priority of application No. 10-2018-0142111 (KR), filed on Nov. 16, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2023/0168018 A1, Jun. 1, 2023
Int. Cl. F25C 1/10 (2006.01); F25C 1/243 (2018.01); F25C 1/25 (2018.01)
CPC F25C 1/10 (2013.01) [F25C 1/243 (2013.01); F25C 1/25 (2018.01); F25C 2305/0221 (2021.08); F25C 2400/06 (2013.01); F25C 2400/14 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An ice maker comprising:
a chamber wall made of a flexible material and defining a plurality of ice chambers disposed therein along a first direction; and
an ice-making heater provided on an outer surface of the chamber wall and configured to supply heat to the plurality of ice chambers during an ice-making process,
wherein the ice-making heater comprises:
a plurality of heating portions that are disposed along a circumferential surface of the chamber wall, and
a plurality of connecting portions that extend along the first direction and connect the plurality of heating portions with each other,
wherein the plurality of ice chambers comprise a first ice chamber, a second ice chamber, and a third ice chamber that are arranged along the first direction,
wherein the first ice chamber is disposed at a first outermost side in the first direction,
wherein the third ice chamber is disposed at a second outermost side in the first direction,
wherein the second ice chamber is disposed between the first ice chamber and the third ice chamber,
wherein the plurality of heating portions comprises:
a first heating portion disposed along a circumference of the first ice chamber and configured to heat a first area of the first ice chamber, and
a second heating portion disposed along a circumference of the second ice chamber and configured to heat a second area of the second ice chamber, and
wherein the first area of the first ice chamber is larger than the second area of the second ice chamber.
 
9. An ice maker comprising:
a first tray comprising a chamber wall, the chamber wall defining a plurality of first chambers;
a second tray defining a plurality of second chambers, the plurality of second chambers being configured to define a plurality of ice chambers by coming into contact with the plurality of first chambers based on the second tray coming into contact with the first tray; and
an ice-making heater configured to heat the first tray during an ice-making process,
wherein the ice-making heater comprises:
a plurality of rounded portions that are disposed roundly along a periphery of an outer surface of the chamber wall, and
a plurality of straight portions that connect the plurality of rounded portions with each other,
wherein the plurality of ice chambers comprise a first ice chamber, a second ice chamber, and a third ice chamber that are disposed in a row along a first direction,
wherein the first ice chamber is disposed at a first outermost side in the first direction,
wherein the third ice chamber is disposed at a second outermost side in the first direction,
wherein the second ice chamber disposed is between the first ice chamber and the third ice chamber,
wherein the plurality of rounded portions comprises:
a first rounded portion disposed roundly along a circumference of the first ice chamber, and
a second rounded portion disposed roundly along a circumference of the second ice chamber, and
wherein an area of the first rounded portion is larger than an area of the second rounded portion.
 
14. A refrigerator, comprising:
a cabinet defining a storage space; and
an ice maker provided in the storage space,
wherein the ice maker comprises:
a chamber wall made of a flexible material and defining a plurality of ice chambers disposed therein along a first direction, and
an ice-making heater provided on an outer surface of the chamber wall and configured to supply heat to the plurality of ice chambers during an ice-making process,
wherein the ice-making heater comprises:
a plurality of heating portions that are disposed along a circumferential surface of the chamber wall, and
a plurality of connecting portions that extend along the first direction and connect the plurality of heating portions with each other,
wherein the plurality of ice chambers comprise a first ice chamber, a second ice chamber, and a third ice chamber that are arranged along the first direction,
wherein the first ice chamber is disposed at a first outermost side in the first direction,
wherein the third ice chamber is disposed at a second outermost side in the first direction,
wherein the second ice chamber is disposed between the first ice chamber and the third ice chamber,
wherein the plurality of heating portions comprises:
a first heating portion disposed along a circumference of the first ice chamber and configured to heat a first area of the first ice chamber, and
a second heating portion disposed along a circumference of the second ice chamber and configured to heat a second area of the second ice chamber, and
wherein the first area of the first ice chamber is larger than the second area of the second ice chamber.
 
17. A refrigerator comprising:
a cabinet defining a storage space; and
an ice maker provided in the storage space,
wherein the ice maker comprises:
a first tray comprising a chamber wall, the chamber wall defining a plurality of first chambers,
a second tray defining a plurality of second chambers, the plurality of second chambers being configured to define a plurality of ice chambers by coming into contact with the plurality of first chambers based on the second tray coming into contact with the first tray, and
an ice-making heater configured to heat the first tray during an ice-making process, and
wherein the ice-making heater comprises:
a plurality of rounded portions that are disposed roundly along a periphery of an outer surface of the chamber wall, and
a plurality of straight portions that connect the plurality of rounded portions with each other,
wherein the plurality of ice chambers comprise a first ice chamber, a second ice chamber, and a third ice chamber that are disposed in a row along a first direction,
wherein the first ice chamber is disposed at a first outermost side in the first direction,
wherein the third ice chamber is disposed at a second outermost side in the first direction,
wherein the second ice chamber disposed is between the first ice chamber and the third ice chamber,
wherein the plurality of rounded portions comprises:
a first rounded portion disposed roundly along a circumference of the first ice chamber, and
a second rounded portion disposed roundly along a circumference of the second ice chamber, and
wherein an area of the first rounded portion is larger than an area of the second rounded portion.