US 12,449,174 B2
Ice maker for refrigerator
Yonghyun Kim, Seoul (KR); Jinil Hong, Seoul (KR); and Hyunji Park, Seoul (KR)
Assigned to LG Electronics Inc., Seoul (KR)
Filed by LG Electronics Inc., Seoul (KR)
Filed on Dec. 26, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/396,453.
Application 18/396,453 is a continuation of application No. 17/868,568, filed on Jul. 19, 2022, granted, now 11,874,042.
Application 17/868,568 is a continuation of application No. 16/685,851, filed on Nov. 15, 2019, granted, now 11,428,451, issued on Aug. 30, 2022.
Claims priority of application No. 10-2018-0142079 (KR), filed on Nov. 16, 2018; application No. 10-2019-0081733 (KR), filed on Jul. 6, 2019; application No. 10-2019-0081735 (KR), filed on Jul. 6, 2019; and application No. 10-2019-0110800 (KR), filed on Sep. 6, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2024/0125531 A1, Apr. 18, 2024
Int. Cl. F25C 1/10 (2006.01); F25C 1/243 (2018.01); F25C 5/04 (2006.01)
CPC F25C 1/10 (2013.01) [F25C 1/243 (2013.01); F25C 5/04 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An ice maker comprising:
a first assembly comprising a first tray that defines a plurality of first chambers;
a second assembly comprising a second tray that defines a plurality of second chambers, the second assembly being configured to move between (i) a closed position in which the second tray is in contact with the first tray to make ice and (ii) an open position in which the second tray is spaced apart from the first tray to separate ice, wherein the plurality of first chambers and the plurality of second chambers are configured to define a plurality of ice chambers based on the second assembly moving to the closed position;
a driver configured to pivot the second assembly;
a first arm pivotally coupled to the second assembly; and
a first elastic member having (i) a first end connected to a first elastic member connector of the first arm and (ii) a second end connected to a first locking portion of the second assembly,
wherein the first arm comprises:
a shaft connector coupled to the second assembly, and
a power connector coupled to a rotation shaft of the driver,
wherein a center of the shaft connector, a center of the power connector, a pivoting shaft of the second assembly, and the rotation shaft of the driver are substantially aligned with one another, and
wherein a first distance between the first locking portion of the second assembly and a the rotation shaft of the driver is greater than a second distance between the first elastic member connector of the first arm and the rotation shaft of the driver.
 
7. An ice maker comprising:
a first assembly comprising a first tray that defines a plurality of first chambers;
a second assembly comprising a second tray that defines a plurality of second chambers, the second assembly being configured to move between (i) a closed position in which the second tray is in contact with the first tray to make ice and (ii) an open position in which the second tray is spaced apart from the first tray to separate ice, wherein the plurality of first chambers and the plurality of second chambers are configured to define a plurality of ice chambers based on the second assembly moving to the closed position;
a driver configured to pivot the second assembly;
a first arm pivotally coupled to the second assembly; and
a first elastic member having (i) a first end connected to a first elastic member connector of the first arm and (ii) a second end connected to a first locking portion of the second assembly,
wherein the plurality of ice chambers are arranged in a first direction,
wherein a pivoting shaft of the second assembly extends along the first direction,
wherein the first tray and the second tray are configured to be arranged in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction based on the second assembly being located at the closed position, and
wherein the first locking portion is configured to be spaced apart from the first elastic member connector in a third direction orthogonal to the first direction and the second direction based on the second assembly being located at the closed position.
 
15. A refrigerator comprising:
a case defines a storage space; and
an ice maker provided in the storage space,
wherein the ice maker comprises:
a first assembly comprising a first tray that defines a plurality of first chambers,
a second assembly comprising a second tray that defines a plurality of second chambers, the second assembly being configured to move between (i) a closed position in which the second tray is in contact with the first tray to make ice and (ii) an open position in which the second tray is spaced apart from the first tray to separate ice, wherein the plurality of first chambers and the plurality of second chambers are configured to define a plurality of ice chambers based on the second assembly moving to the closed position,
a driver configured to pivot the second assembly,
a first arm pivotally coupled to the second assembly, and
a first elastic member having (i) a first end connected to a first elastic member connector of the first arm and (ii) a second end connected to a first locking portion of the second assembly,
wherein the plurality of ice chambers are arranged in a first direction,
wherein a pivoting shaft of the second assembly extends along the first direction,
wherein the first tray and the second tray are configured to be arranged in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction based on the second assembly being located at the closed position, and
wherein the first locking portion is configured to be spaced apart from the first elastic member connector in a third direction orthogonal to the first direction and the second direction based on the second assembly being located at the closed position.