US 12,486,157 B2
Autofill pitcher system with ice and water fill
Louis A. Wantland, Louisville, KY (US); Lokesha Kodigenahalli Chinnappa Reddy, Louisville, KY (US); Jeffrey Michael Colyer, Louisville, KY (US); and Jordan Andrew Waymeyer, 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 Apr. 10, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/631,978.
Prior Publication US 2025/0320105 A1, Oct. 16, 2025
Int. Cl. B67D 1/08 (2006.01); B67D 1/00 (2006.01); F25D 23/02 (2006.01); F25D 23/04 (2006.01); F25D 23/12 (2006.01)
CPC B67D 1/0857 (2013.01) [B67D 1/0006 (2013.01); F25D 23/028 (2013.01); F25D 23/04 (2013.01); F25D 23/126 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A refrigerator appliance comprising:
a cabinet defining a fresh food chamber;
an autofill pitcher system, the autofill pitcher system comprising:
a pitcher comprising at least one pitcher wall and an internal volume defined within the at least one pitcher wall; and
a dispenser defining a cavity, the cavity configured to receive the pitcher, the dispenser comprising a fill tube and a chute, 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 chute positioned and configured to direct one or more ice pieces from an ice supply into the internal volume of the pitcher when the pitcher is received within the cavity;
a door with a dispenser recess formed in an external side of the door, wherein the cavity of the dispenser is positioned on an internal side of the door opposite the dispenser recess; and
a controller, the controller configured for:
selectively directing ice from the ice supply to one of the pitcher or the dispenser recess;
filling the pitcher with water via the fill tube;
filling the pitcher with ice pieces via the chute; and
stopping fill when a level of water and ice within the internal volume of the pitcher reaches a preset level.