Water Dispenser for Refrigerator Freezers

Abstract

A water dispenser mounted on a door of a refrigerator freezer that is provided with a spigot that is movable between inner and outer dispensing positions. The dispenser includes a dispenser housing having a dispensing cavity and the spigot is movably mounted in the top of the dispensing cavity. When the spigot is in the inner dispensing position water can be dispensed into a container positioned in the dispensing cavity. In the outer dispensing position the spigot can dispense water into a container positioned outside the dispensing cavity. The dispenser housing can be provided with a movable tray in the bottom of the dispensing cavity. The movable tray can be withdrawn to support a container under the spigot in the inner dispensing position and extended to support a container under the spigot in the outer dispensing position.

1 . A refrigerator comprising:
 a tray configured to support a container and to move along a plane perpendicular to an outer surface of a refrigerator from a withdrawn position to an extended position, the tray configured to support a container in the extended position; and   a water dispensing mechanism that is configured to move a nozzle of the water dispensing mechanism to a position at which the nozzle of the water dispensing mechanism is outside of the outer surface of the refrigerator, and that is configured to enable dispensing of water into the container.   
     
     
         2 . The refrigerator of  claim 1  wherein the water dispensing mechanism is configured to move the nozzle of the water dispensing mechanism, the water dispensing mechanism being manually movable by a user. 
     
     
         3 . The refrigerator of  claim 1  wherein the water dispensing mechanism is configured to dispense water in a liquid state into the container. 
     
     
         4 . A dispenser for a refrigerator comprising:
 a water dispensing assembly configured to move, such that a nozzle of the water dispensing assembly is positioned outside an outer surface of a door of a refrigerator in at least one position of water dispensing assembly movement; and   a tray configured to support a container and configured to move along a plane perpendicular to the door such that the tray is configured for movement between a withdrawn and an extended position, the tray being configured to, in the extended position, support a container being filled by the water dispensing assembly when the nozzle of the water dispensing assembly is positioned outside an outer surface of the door.   
     
     
         5 . The dispenser of  claim 4  wherein the movement of the water dispensing assembly is independent from the movement of the tray. 
     
     
         6 . The dispenser of  claim 4  wherein the water dispensing assembly is configured to dispense liquid. 
     
     
         7 . The dispenser of  claim 4  wherein the water dispensing assembly includes a movable spigot and an end of a water supply line attached to the movable spigot. 
     
     
         8 . The dispenser of  claim 7  wherein the water supply line extends when the nozzle of the water dispensing assembly is positioned outside an outer surface of the door. 
     
     
         9 . The dispenser of  claim 4  wherein the water dispensing assembly includes an end of a water supply line. 
     
     
         10 . The dispenser of  claim 4  wherein the water dispensing assembly is configured to move about a plane perpendicular to the door of the refrigerator. 
     
     
         11 . An apparatus comprising:
 a container support that is configured to move along a plane perpendicular to an outer surface of an apparatus from a withdrawn position to an extended position, and that is configured to accept a container in the extended position; and   a water dispensing mechanism that is configured to move an end of the water dispensing mechanism to a position at which the end of the water dispensing mechanism is outside of the outer surface of the apparatus, and that is configured to enable dispensing of water into the container.