US 12,391,537 B2
Autofill pitcher assembly with hidden venting
Louis A. Wantland, Louisville, KY (US); and Bradley Nicholas Gilkey, Louisville, KY (US)
Assigned to Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc., Wilmington, DE (US)
Filed by Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc., Wilmington, DE (US)
Filed on Mar. 10, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/181,998.
Prior Publication US 2024/0300802 A1, Sep. 12, 2024
Int. Cl. B67D 3/00 (2006.01); F25D 23/12 (2006.01)
CPC B67D 3/0061 (2013.01) [B67D 3/0038 (2013.01); B67D 3/0087 (2013.01); F25D 23/126 (2013.01); F25D 2331/81 (2013.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An autofill pitcher assembly defining a height direction, a width direction, and a depth direction, the height, width, and depth directions being mutually perpendicular, the autofill pitcher assembly comprising:
a pitcher comprising a pitcher wall connected to a pitcher bottom defining a pitcher volume, the pitcher wall defining an opening at a top edge of the pitcher; and a lid removably received in the opening of the pitcher, the lid comprising:
a top wall having a bottom surface;
a skirt extending from the bottom surface;
a gasket disposed on the skirt spaced apart from the bottom surface; and
a vent defined in the skirt at a location between the bottom surface of the top wall and the gasket,
wherein:
the top edge of the pitcher and the bottom surface of the top wall are abutting when the lid is removably received in the opening at the top edge of the pitcher; and
the pitcher wall comprises an inner surface, further wherein the inner surface, the skirt, the gasket, and the bottom surface cooperate with the vent to form an air flow channel.