US 12,466,719 B2
Autofill pitcher with fill sensor
Louis A. Wantland, Louisville, KY (US); Jeffrey Michael Colyer, Louisville, KY (US); Jordan Andrew Waymeyer, Louisville, KY (US); and Lokesha Kodigenahalli Chinnappa Reddy, 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 Feb. 21, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/582,762.
Prior Publication US 2025/0263288 A1, Aug. 21, 2025
Int. Cl. B67D 1/12 (2006.01); B67D 1/00 (2006.01); B67D 1/08 (2006.01); F25D 23/12 (2006.01)
CPC B67D 1/124 (2013.01) [B67D 1/0003 (2013.01); B67D 1/0894 (2013.01); F25D 23/126 (2013.01); B67D 2210/00036 (2013.01); F25D 2331/81 (2013.01); F25D 2700/06 (2013.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A refrigerator appliance comprising:
a cabinet defining a fresh food chamber;
an autofill pitcher system comprising:
a pitcher comprising at least one pitcher wall and an internal volume defined within the at least one pitcher wall;
a dispenser defining a cavity, the cavity configured to receive the pitcher, the dispenser comprising a fill tube and a sensor, the fill tube positioned and configured to direct a flow of water from a water supply into the internal volume of the pitcher when the pitcher is received within the cavity, the sensor positioned above the cavity and operable to detect a fill level within the internal volume of the pitcher; and
a lid, the lid removably coupled to the pitcher above the internal volume of the pitcher, wherein the sensor is operable to detect the fill level within the internal volume of the pitcher when the lid is coupled to the pitcher and the pitcher is received in the cavity below the sensor, the lid comprising a retractable portion, the retractable portion movable along a direction generally perpendicular to a vertical direction between a retracted position and an extended position.