Ice maker for french door bottom mount refrigerator

Abstract

A dedicated, hermetically sealed ice maker is provided. The ice maker includes a compartment including an ice tray and an ice bin disposed at least partially in the compartment. A dedicated ice maker circuit is disposed at least partially within the compartment and includes a microcompressor, condenser, expansion device, and evaporated. The dedicated circuit is used to cool air inside the ice maker compartment for forming ice in the ice tray in the compartment and for preventing melting of formed ice cubes in the ice bin. The ice maker may be used within or outside of a refrigerator. When used within the refrigerator, the ice maker will have its own dedicated hermetically sealed unit, including the plurality of thermally insulated walls. The ice maker may also be connected to a dispenser of a refrigerator for dispensing the formed ice.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A modular ice maker, comprising:
 an ice maker compartment, said ice maker compartment comprising walls;   an ice tray and ice bin disposed within the interior of the ice maker compartment;   the ice bin comprising an auger and a chute configured to aid in dispensing formed ice from the ice bin; and a dedicated circuit disposed in the ice maker compartment, said dedicated circuit comprising a microcompressor, condenser, expansion device, and an evaporator;   wherein the circuit is configured to cool the ice maker compartment such that it can form and maintain formed ice therein;   said ice maker being removable from a refrigerator.   
     
     
         2 . The modular ice maker of  claim 1  that uses a water line in the refrigerator as a water source. 
     
     
         3 . The modular ice maker of  claim 1  further including a water storing compartment. 
     
     
         4 . The modular ice maker of  claim 3  whereby the water storing compartment automatically adds water to the ice tray once ice has been formed in the ice tray and dispensed to the ice bin. 
     
     
         5 . The modular ice maker of  claim 3  whereby the water storing compartment is included in one of the walls of the ice maker compartment. 
     
     
         6 . The modular ice maker of  claim 3  further including a water pour spout to allow water to be poured into the ice tray. 
     
     
         7 . The modular ice maker of  claim 1  further including a connection that is connectable to a water source to selectively add water to the ice maker as needed. 
     
     
         8 . The modular ice maker of  claim 7  whereby the connection is a hose. 
     
     
         9 . The modular ice maker of  claim 7  whereby the connection is connectable to a sink or a spout. 
     
     
         10 . The modular ice maker of  claim 1  further comprising an electrical connection that may be connected to a power source in a refrigerator or to a standard housing plugin. 
     
     
         11 . The modular ice maker of  claim 1  that is removably attached to the interior of a refrigerator. 
     
     
         12 . The modular ice maker of  claim 11  that is removably attached to the interior of a refrigerator door. 
     
     
         13 . The modular ice maker of  claim 11  that is removably attached to the interior of the refrigerator with a fastener selected from one or more of the group consisting of hooks, snaps, and adhesives. 
     
     
         14 . The modular ice maker of  claim 1  whereby the dedicated circuit further includes a plurality of fans. 
     
     
         15 . The modular ice maker of  claim 1  that is hermetically sealed. 
     
     
         16 . A refrigerator, comprising: a refrigerator cabinet; a door for providing access to a compartment within the refrigerator cabinet; an ice maker compartment mounted on the door, the ice maker compartment comprising a water tray and an ice bin, the ice bin having an auger; and a dedicated circuit disposed within the ice maker compartment for cooling the ice maker, the dedicated circuit comprising a microcompressor, condenser, expansion device, evaporator, and fans for directing cooled air over the ice tray; and wherein the circuit is configured to cool the ice maker compartment such that it can form and maintain formed ice therein. 
     
     
         17 . The refrigerator of  claim 16  whereby the ice maker compartment is hermetically sealed. 
     
     
         18 . The refrigerator of  claim 16  further including a plurality of ducts to allow the air to pass through the ice maker. 
     
     
         19 . The refrigerator of  claim 18  whereby the ducts are selected from one or more selected from the group consisting of ice tray ducts, ice bin duct, and return duct. 
     
     
         20 . The refrigerator of  claim 16  whereby the temperature of the ice bin is maintained at or below freezing.