Ernest B Spangler

US Patent:

20070119516, May 31, 2007

Filed:

Nov 30, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/290034

Inventors:

Bernd Heger - Augsburg, DE
Mac McMillan - Pinehurst NC, US
Peter Nalbach - Kirchheim unter Teck, DE
Matthew Ricket - New Bern NC, US
Ernest Spangler - Charlotte NC, US

Assignee:

BSH Home Appliances Corporation - Huntington Beach CA

International Classification:

B65B 1/04

US Classification:

141086000

Abstract:

A dispenser assembly for a door of a refrigerator includes a tray of flap construction which is moveable between a first position and a second position. In the first position the tray is received within a cavity of the dispenser assembly to present a support surface for a container such as a water glass. The tray is pivotable into a second position outside of the dispenser assembly so that an area normally underneath the tray is open to provide a second support surface for supporting larger containers than is possible with the tray in its first position. The now exposed bottom of the flap provides a third support surface outside of the cavity. The dispenser assembly can be used for dispensing water, ice, combinations thereof and may include lighting and other features. In an alternative construction, when the tray is pivoted into the second position, it is also forced out and away from the cavity of the dispenser assembly through a tray drive mechanism to accommodate different thicknesses of walls for a variety of different refrigerator door panels.