Heated ice door

Abstract

An ice distributing apparatus including an ice discharge tube, an activation mechanism and a door apparatus in releasable contact with the ice discharge tube. The door apparatus includes a routing pocket, a plurality of interference protrusions proximate to the routing pocket and a heating element at least partially disposed in the routing pocket and retained by at least one of the plurality of interference protrusions.

1 . An ice distributing apparatus, comprising: 
 an ice discharge tube;    an activation mechanism; and    a door apparatus in releasable contact with said ice discharge tube, said door apparatus including: 
 a routing pocket;  
 a plurality of interference protrusions proximate to said routing pocket; and  
   a heating element at least partially disposed in said routing pocket and retained by at least one of said plurality of interference protrusions.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a cover portion that is one of overmolded and connected over top of said routing pocket.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein said cover portion includes a pattern of depressions therein.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising a compressible pad having a first side and a second side, said first side being connected to said cover portion.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , further comprising an impact shield connected to said second side of said compressible pad.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a temperature sensitive current control device electrically connected to said heating element.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , further comprising a resistive element in series with said temperature sensitive current control device and proximate to said temperature sensing device.  
   
   
       8 . An icemaker door, comprising: 
 a routing pocket;    a plurality of interference protrusions proximate to said routing pocket; and    a heating element at least partially disposed in said routing pocket and retained by at least one of said plurality of interference protrusions.    
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , further comprising a cover portion that is one of overmolded and connected over top of said routing pocket.  
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein said cover portion includes a pattern of depressions therein.  
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , further comprising a compressible pad having a first side and a second side, said first side being connected to said cover portion.  
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising an impact shield connected to said second side of said compressible pad.  
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , further comprising a temperature sensitive current controlling device electrically connected to said heating element.  
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , further comprising a resistive element in series with said temperature sensitive current controlling device and proximate to said temperature sensing device.  
   
   
       15 . A method of constructing an icemaker door, comprising the steps of: 
 routing a heating element in a predefined pocket in a formed substrate; and    pressing said heating element between interference protrusions that are proximate to said predefined pocket.    
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising the step of one of overmolding and connecting a cover portion over said formed substrate.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising the step of connecting a foam pad on a side of said cover portion.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising the step of connecting an impact shield to a side of said foam pad.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising the step of electrically connecting a temperature sensitive current controlling device to said heating element.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising the step of placing a resistor of predetermined value proximate to said temperature sensitive current controlling device, said resistor being electrically in series with said temperature sensitive current controlling device.