Refrigerator appliance

Abstract

A filter assembly for a refrigerator includes a filter, a port, and a cam. The filter has a protrusion extending therefrom. The port is configured to engage the filter. The port is configured to move to transition the filter to an activated position. The port is configured to move to transition the filter to a deactivated position. The cam is configured to interfere with the protrusion in response to a partial connection between the filter and the port to prevent the filter from transitioning to the activated position. The cam is configured to provide clearance for the protrusion in response to a full connection between the filter and the port to facilitate the filter transitioning to the activated position.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A refrigerator comprising:
 a cabinet defining an internal cavity configured to receive foodstuffs;   water lines configured to deliver water from a source to a dispenser or an ice maker;   a water filter configured to purify the water, the water filter having a handle extending therefrom;   a receptacle (i) disposed within the internal cavity and (ii) configured to receive the water filter;   a port (i) movably secured to the receptacle, (ii) configured to engage the water filter to establish fluid communication between the water filter and the water lines, and (iii) configured to transition the water filter between an activated position for operation and a deactivated position for replacement;   a cover (i) movably secured to the receptacle, (ii) configured to transition to a closed position to cover the water filter within the receptacle, and (iii) configured to transition to an open position to provide access to the water filter within the receptacle; and   a plate (i) disposed within the receptacle, (ii) defining a cam profile, wherein the cam profile is configured to (a) interfere with the handle in response to a partial connection between the water filter and the port such that the water filter cannot transition to the activated position and such that the cover cannot transition to the closed position and (b) provide clearance for the handle in response to a full connection between the water filter and the port such that the water filter can transition to the activated position and such that the cover can transition to the closed position.   
     
     
         2 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the cam profile includes a ramped surface defined along an edge of the plate. 
     
     
         3 . The refrigerator of  claim 2 , wherein the cam profile includes a second ramped surface defined along the edge of the plate that intersects the ramped surface. 
     
     
         4 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , further comprising a bracket that movably secures the port to the receptacle. 
     
     
         5 . The refrigerator of  claim 4 , wherein (i) the cover is configured to pivot about a substantially horizontal axis and (ii) the bracket is configured to pivot about a secondary axis that is radially offset from the substantially horizontal axis. 
     
     
         6 . The refrigerator of  claim 5 , wherein the secondary axis is radially offset from the substantially horizontal axis by an angle that is substantially 45°. 
     
     
         7 . The refrigerator of  claim 4 , wherein (i) a portion of the water lines is routed to the port, (ii) the bracket includes a divider plate that separates the portion of the water lines, and (iii) the bracket includes a cage that surrounds the portion of the water lines. 
     
     
         8 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein (i) a partial connection between the water filter and the port corresponds to a partial axial rotation of the water filter relative to the port and (ii) a full connection between the water filter and the port corresponds to a full axial rotation of the water filter relative to the port. 
     
     
         9 . A filter assembly for a refrigerator comprising:
 a filter housing having a protrusion extending therefrom;   a receptacle configured to receive the filter housing;   a port configured to (i) engage an opposing end of the filter housing relative to the protrusion, (ii) move to transition the filter housing to an activated position, and (iii) move to transition the filter housing to a deactivated position;   a cover configured to (i) transition to a closed position to cover the filter housing within the receptacle, and (ii) transition to an open position to provide access to the filter housing within the receptacle; and   a cam plate (i) disposed within the receptacle, (ii) configured to interfere with the protrusion in response to a partial connection between the filter housing and the port such that the filter housing cannot transition to the activated position and such that the cover cannot transition to the closed position, and (iii) configured to provide clearance for the protrusion in response to a full connection between the filter housing and the port such that the filter housing can transition to the activated position and such that the cover can transition to the closed position.   
     
     
         10 . The filter assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the cam plate includes a ramped surface defined along an edge of the cam plate. 
     
     
         11 . The filter assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the cam plate includes a second ramped surface defined along the edge of the cam plate that intersects the ramped surface. 
     
     
         12 . The filter assembly of  claim 9 , further comprising a bracket that movably secures the port to the receptacle. 
     
     
         13 . The filter assembly of  claim 12 , wherein (i) the cover is configured to pivot about a substantially horizontal axis and (ii) the bracket is configured to pivot about a secondary axis that is radially offset from the substantially horizontal axis. 
     
     
         14 . The filter assembly of  claim 9 , wherein (i) a partial connection between the filter housing and the port corresponds to a partial axial rotation of the filter housing relative to the port and (ii) a full connection between the filter housing and the port corresponds to a full axial rotation of the filter housing relative to the port. 
     
     
         15 . A filter assembly for a refrigerator comprising:
 a filter having a protrusion extending therefrom;   a port configured to (i) engage the filter, (ii) move to transition the filter to an activated position, and (iii) move to transition the filter to a deactivated position; and   a cam (i) configured to interfere with the protrusion in response to a partial connection between the filter and the port to prevent the filter from transitioning to the activated position and (ii) configured to provide clearance for the protrusion in response to a full connection between the filter and the port to facilitate the filter transitioning to the activated position.   
     
     
         16 . The filter assembly of  claim 15  further comprising a cover configured to (i) transition to a closed position to cover the filter and (ii) transition to an open position to provide access to the filter. 
     
     
         17 . The filter assembly of  claim 16 , wherein (i) interference between the cam and the protrusion prevents the cover from transitioning to the closed position and (ii) non-interference between the cam and the protrusion enables the cover to transition to the closed position. 
     
     
         18 . The filter assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the cam includes a ramped surface defined along an edge of the cam. 
     
     
         19 . The filter assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the cam includes a second ramped surface defined along the edge of the cam that intersects the ramped surface. 
     
     
         20 . The filter assembly of  claim 15 , wherein (i) a partial connection between the filter and the port corresponds to a partial axial rotation of the filter relative to the port and (ii) a full connection between the filter and the port corresponds to a full axial rotation of the filter relative to the port.