Dispenser assembly for stand-alone ice making appliance

Abstract

An ice making appliance includes a casing, a user interface on the casing, a container within the casing, and a dispenser assembly configured to dispense a specified amount of ice. The dispenser assembly is coupled to and extends within a front surface of the container. The dispenser assembly includes a front portion configured to operate the dispenser assembly, and the dispenser assembly is moveable between an open position and a closed position. The dispenser assembly includes a compartment configured to hold the specified amount of ice, and the compartment is positioned within the container in the closed position and is accessible from outside the container in the open position.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A stand-alone ice making appliance, comprising:
 a casing;   a user interface on the casing;   a container within the casing;   a reservoir disposed within the casing;   an ice maker disposed within the casing;   a dispenser assembly configured to dispense a specified amount of ice, the dispenser assembly coupled to and extending within a front surface of the container, the dispenser assembly comprising a front portion configured to operate the dispenser assembly, the dispenser assembly moveable between an open position and a closed position, the dispenser assembly comprising a compartment configured to hold the specified amount of ice, wherein the compartment is positioned within the container in the closed position and is accessible from outside the container in the open position.   
     
     
         2 . The stand-alone ice making appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the compartment is configured to receive the specified amount of ice by gravity when in the closed position, and wherein the compartment is configured to hold the specified amount of ice within an internal volume of the casing when in the closed position. 
     
     
         3 . The stand-alone ice making appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the front portion of the dispenser assembly comprises a front surface, and wherein the front surface of the dispenser assembly is flush with the front surface of the container when in the closed position. 
     
     
         4 . The stand-alone ice making appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the dispenser assembly further comprises a rotatable half-puck extending within the container, the front portion of the dispenser assembly defined by a front surface of the rotatable half-puck, the rotatable half-puck configured to parcel the specified amount of ice in the compartment for dispensing. 
     
     
         5 . The stand-alone ice making appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the dispenser assembly further comprises a tray slidably mounted to and extending within the container, wherein a front surface of the tray defines the front portion of the dispenser assembly, wherein the compartment of the dispenser assembly is one of a plurality of compartments, the tray configured to parcel the specified amount of ice in each compartment of the plurality of compartments for dispensing. 
     
     
         6 . The stand-alone ice making appliance of  claim 5 , wherein the front portion of the dispenser assembly further comprises a handle extending from the front surface of the tray, whereby the tray is pullable from the container by the handle. 
     
     
         7 . The stand-alone ice making appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the dispenser assembly further comprises a slider mounted to and extending within the container, the front portion of the dispenser assembly defined by a front surface of the slider, the slider configured to parcel a predefined amount of ice in the compartment of the slider for dispensing. 
     
     
         8 . The stand-alone ice making appliance of  claim 7 , further comprising a handle extending from the front portion of the dispenser assembly, whereby the slider is pullable from the container by the handle. 
     
     
         9 . The stand-alone ice making appliance of  claim 8 , further comprising a ramp extending from the front surface of the container, the dispenser assembly configured to dispense ice down the ramp from the compartment. 
     
     
         10 . An ice making appliance, comprising:
 a casing;   a user interface on the casing;   a container within the casing; and   a dispenser assembly configured to dispense a specified amount of ice, the dispenser assembly coupled to and extending within a front surface of the container, the dispenser assembly comprising a front portion configured to operate the dispenser assembly, the dispenser assembly moveable between an open position and a closed position, the dispenser assembly comprising a compartment configured to hold the specified amount of ice, wherein the compartment is positioned within the container in the closed position and is accessible from outside the container in the open position.   
     
     
         11 . The ice making appliance of  claim 10 , wherein the compartment is configured to receive the specified amount of ice by gravity when in the closed position, and wherein the compartment is configured to hold the specified amount of ice within an internal volume of the casing when in the closed position. 
     
     
         12 . The ice making appliance of  claim 10 , wherein the front portion of the dispenser assembly comprises a front surface, and wherein the front surface of the dispenser assembly is flush with the front surface of the container when in the closed position. 
     
     
         13 . The ice making appliance of  claim 10 , wherein the dispenser assembly further comprises a rotatable half-puck extending within the container, the front portion of the dispenser assembly defined by a front surface of the rotatable half-puck, the rotatable half-puck configured to parcel the specified amount of ice in the compartment for dispensing. 
     
     
         14 . The ice making appliance of  claim 10 , wherein the dispenser assembly further comprises a tray slidably mounted to and extending within the container, wherein a front surface of the tray defines the front portion of the dispenser assembly, wherein the compartment of the dispenser assembly is one of a plurality of compartments, the tray configured to parcel the specified amount of ice in each compartment of the plurality of compartments for dispensing. 
     
     
         15 . The ice making appliance of  claim 14 , wherein the front portion of the dispenser assembly further comprises a handle extending from the front surface of the tray, whereby the tray is pullable from the container by the handle. 
     
     
         16 . The ice making appliance of  claim 10 , wherein the dispenser assembly further comprises a slider mounted to and extending within the container, the front portion of the dispenser assembly defined by a front surface of the slider, the slider configured to parcel a predefined amount of ice in the compartment of the slider for dispensing. 
     
     
         17 . The ice making appliance of  claim 16 , further comprising a handle extending from the front portion of the dispenser assembly, whereby the slider is pullable from the container by the handle. 
     
     
         18 . The ice making appliance of  claim 17 , further comprising a ramp extending from the front surface of the container, the dispenser assembly configured to dispense ice down the ramp from the compartment.