us20090235682a1 pulse electrothermal mold release icemaker with safety baffles for refrigerator

8/7/2019 US20090235682A1 Pulse Electrothermal Mold Release Icemaker With Safety Baffles For Refrigerator

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PETRENKO et al.(10) Pub. No.: US 2009/0235682 At(43) Pub. Date: Sep. 24, 2009

(54) PULSE ELECTROTHERMAL MOLDRELEASE ICEMAKER WITH SAFETYBAFFLES FOR REFRIGERATOR

(75) Inventors: Victor F. PETRENKO, Lebanon,NH (US); Gabriel MARTINEZ,Wilder, VT (US); Tae Hee LEE,Seoul (KR); Hong Hee PARK,Seoul (KR); Joon Hwan OH, Seoul(KR); Kwang Ha SUH, Seoul (KR)

Correspondence Address:LATHROP & GAGE LLP4845 PEARL EAST CIRCLE, SUITE 201BOULDER, CO 80301 (US)

(73) Assignee: THE TRUSTEES OFDARTMOUTH COLLEGE,Hanover, NH (US)

(21) Appl. No.: 12/340,067

(22) Filed: Dec. 19, 2008

Related U.S. Application Data(60) Continuation-in-part of application No. 11/338,239,filed on Jan. 24, 2006, which is a continuation-in-part

of application No. PCT/US2005/022035, filed on Jun.22,2005, said application No. 11/338,239 is a continu-ation-in-part of application No. 101939,289, filed onSep. 9, 2004, now Pat. No. 7,034,257, which is a divi-sion of application No. 10/364,438, filed on Feb. 11,2003, now Pat. No. 6,870,139, Continuation-in-part ofapplication No. PCT/US2007/069478, filed on May22, 2007, which is a continuation-in-part of applica-tion No. PCT/US2006/002283, filed on Jan. 24, 2006,said application No. PCT/US2007/069478 is a con-tinuation-in-part of application No. 11/571,231, filedonApr. 23, 2009, filed as application No. PCT/US05122035 on Jun. 22, 2005, said application No. PCTI

US2007/069478 is a continuation-in-part of applica-tion No. 11/338,239, filed on Jan. 24, 2006, which is acontinuation-in-part of application No. PCTlUS20051022035, filed on Jun. 22, 2005, said application No.11/338,239 is a continuation-in-part of application No.101939,289, filed on Sep. 9,2004, now Pat. No. 7,034,257, which is a division of application No.1 0/364,438,filed on Feb. 11,2003, now Pat. No. 6,870,139.

(60) Provisional application No. 60/646,394, filed on Jan.24, 2005, provisional application No. 60/646,932,filed on Jan. 25, 2005, provisional application No.601739,506, filed on Nov. 23, 2005, provisional appli-cation No. 60/581,912, filed on Jun. 22, 2004, provi-sional application No. 60/646,394, filed on Jan. 24,2005, provisional application No. 60/646,932, filed onJan. 25, 2005, provisional application No. 60/802,407,filed on May 22, 2006, provisional application No.

(Continued)

Publication Classification(51) Int. Cl.

F25e 5/08F25D 17/04F25D 23/02

(2006.01)(2006.01)(2006.01)

(52) U.S. Cl. 62/351; 62/407; 62/449

(57) ABSTRACTAn icemaker and a refrigerator having an icemaker are dis-cussed. The icemaker has pulse-electrothermal ice releaseand includes an ice-making tray having several ice formingportions in which water is stored and ice is formed; and ahousing surrounding the ice-making tray provided with atleast one cold air inlet and/or ice ejection port through whichcold air is supplied and ice released along a bent channel. Thecold air inlet and/or ice ejection ports are baffled to preventcontact with a user 's fingers and thereby reduce the possibil-ity of electric shock.


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Related U.S. Application Data(60) 60/646,394, filed on Jan. 24, 2005, provisional appli-

cation No. 60/646,932, filed on Jan. 25, 2005, provi-sional application No. 601739,506, filed on Nov. 23,2005, provisional application No. 60/581,912, filed onJun. 22, 2004, provisional application No. 60/646,394,filed on Jan. 24, 2005, provisional application No.60/646,932, filed on Jan. 25, 2005, provisional appli-cation No. 60/646,394, filed on Jan. 24, 2005, provi-

sional application No. 60/646,932, filed on Jan. 25,2005, provisional application No. 601739,506, filed onNov. 23, 2005, provisional application No. 60/581,912, filed on Jun. 22, 2004, provisional application No.60/646,394, fi led on Jan. 24, 2005, provisional appli-cation No. 60/646,932, filed on Jan. 25, 2005, provi-sional application No. 60/356,476, filed on Feb. 11,2002, provisional application No. 60/398,004, filed onJul. 23, 2002, provisional application No. 60/404,872,filed on Aug. 21, 2002.


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PULSE ELECTROTHERMAL MOLDRELEASE ICEMAKER WITH SAFETY

BAFFLES FOR REFRIGERATORCLAIM TO PRIORITY

[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of com-monly-owned and copending U.S. patent application Ser.No.11/338,239 filed 24 Jan. 2006, which claims the benefit ofpriority to U.S. Provisional Patent Applications Nos. 60/646,394, filed 24 Jan. 2005, 60/646,932, filed 25 Jan. 2005, and601739,506, fi led 23 Nov. 2005. U.S. patent application Ser.No. 11/338,239 is also a continuation-in-part of commonly-owned PCT Application No. PCTIUS2005/22035 filed 22Jun. 2005, which claims the benefi t of priority to U.S. Provi-sional Patent Applications Nos. 60/581,912, filed 22 Jun.2004,60/646,394, filed 24 Jan. 2005, and 60/646,932, filed 25Jan. 2005. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/338,239 is alsoa continuation-in-part of commonly-owned and copendingU.S. patent application Ser. No. 101939,289 filed 10 Sep.2004, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,034,257, which is a divisionalapplication that claims the benefi t of priori ty to U.S. patentapplication Ser. No.1 0/364,438, filed 11Feb. 2003, now U.S.Pat. No. 6,870,139, which claims the benefit of priority toU.S. Provisional Patent Applications Nos. 60/356,476, filed11 Feb. 2002, 60/398,004, filed 23 Jul. 2002, and 60/404,872,fi led 21 Aug. 2002.[0002] This application is also a continuation inpart ofPCTApplication No. PCTIUS2007/069478, fi led May 22, 2007,which claims benefit of priority to commonly-owned U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 60/802,407, filed 22 May2006. PCT Application No. PCT/US2007/069478 is also acontinuation-in-part of commonly-owned PCTlUS20061002283, filed 24 Jan. 2006, which claims the benefit of pri-ority to U.S. Provisional Patent Applications Nos. 60/646,394, filed 24 Jan. 2005, 60/646,932, filed 25 Jan. 2005, and601739,506, filed 23 Nov. 2005. PCT Application No. PCTIUS2007/069478 is also a continuation-in-part of commonly-owned and copending U.S. patent application Ser. No.11/571,231, filed 22 Dec. 2006, which claims the benefit ofpriority to PCTIUS2005/022035, filed 22 Jun. 2005, whichclaims the benefit of priority toU.S. Provisional Patent Appli-cations Nos. 60/581,912, filed 22 Jun. 2004,60/646,394, filed24 Jan. 2005, and 60/646,932, filed 25 Jan. 2005. PCT Appli-cation Serial No. PCT/US07/069478 is also a continuation-in-part of commonly -owned and copending U.S. patent appli-cation Ser. No. 11/338,239, fi led 24 Jan. 2006, which claimsthe benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Patent ApplicationsNos. 60/646,394, filed 24 Jan. 2005, 60/646,932, filed 25 Jan.2005, and 601739,506, filed 23 Nov. 2005. U.S. patent appli-cation Ser. No. 11/338,239 is also a continuation-in-part ofcommonly-ownedPCT Application No. PCT/US2005/22035fi led 22 Jun. 2005, which claims the benefit of priority to U.S.Provisional Patent Applications Nos. 60/581,912, filed 22Jun. 2004, 60/646,394, filed 24 Jan. 2005, and 60/646,932,filed 25 Jan. 2005. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/338,239 is also a continuation-in-part of commonly-owned andcopending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 101939,289, nowU.S. Pat. No. 7,034,257, filed 10 Sep. 2004, which is a divi-sional application that claims the benefit of priority to U.S.patent application Ser. No. 10/364,438, now U.S. Pat. No.,6,870,139, filed 11 Feb. 2003, which claims the benefit ofpriority to U.S. Provisional Patent Applications Nos. 60/356,476, filed 11 Feb. 2002, 60/398,004, filed 23 Jul. 2002, and60/404,872, filed 21 Aug. 2002.

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[0003] All of the above-identified patent applications areincorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0004] The present invention relates to an icemaker and arefrigerator having an icemaker. More specifically, thepresent invention relates to a pulse electrothermal icemakerand a refrigerator having the icemaker, wherein the icemakerhas a baffled passage for admitting cold air and releasing icewhile preventing users from accessing interior components ofthe icemaker.

BACKGROUND[0005] Generally, an ice-making tray is an apparatus inwhich ice is made from water by exposure to cold air in afreezing device. In particular, an ice making tray, which storeswater in a specific container and makes the stored water intoice by freezing the stored water below the freezing point, isgenerally used in a refrigerator, a water purifier or vendingmachine, and an icemaker (hereinafter, referred to as a"refrigerator and so forth").[0006] In the past, a simply configured ice making process,inwhich an ice-making container filled with water isplaced ina freezing chamber below the freezing point and ice is incon-veniently taken out ofthe ice-making container by a user afterice ismade, was generally used. However, as living standardsrise and technologies develop, more and more refrigeratorshave automatic icemakers.[0007] Ice making trays are largely classified into thermalicemaking trays and twist icemaking trays according to thetype of ice release. The thermal type generally has a heaterinstalled adjacent to the tray to melt and separate ice there-from, and the twist type is a type in which ice is released bytwisting the ice-making tray without using a heater.[0008] A pulse-electrothermal icemaking tray releases iceby applying a brief pulse of electric current through the tray tomelt an interface layer and release the ice.[0009] Application of electric current to an icemaking traycan, however, pose risk to users if users are permitted easyaccess to the icemaking trays.[0010] However, as the ice making tray installed in theicemaker chills water not by itselfbut by cold air supplied, theice making tray installed in the icemaker must have a cold airinlet port for sufficiently supplying cold air because cold airmust be sufficiently supplied into the ice making tray installedin the icemaker.[0011] Also, an ice outlet must be provided so that ice canbe discharged from the icemaker.

SUMMARY[0012] Toachieve these objects and other advantages and inaccordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodiedand broadly described herein, an icemaker having pulse-elec-trothermal ice release includes an ice making tray havingseveral of ice forming portions in which water is stored andice is formed; and a housing surrounding the ice making trayprovided with at least one cold air inlet and/or ice ejectionport through which cold air is supplied and ice released alonga bent channel.[0013] In an embodiment, a cold air inlet port is a gapbetween spaced plates disposed at an upper part of the ice-making tray. In an embodiment, the plates are positioned at


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different heights and parallel to each other. In anotherembodiment, a cold air inlet ports may be formed by severalslanted block members.[0014] Further, the housing is provided with a slanted innersurface that faces toward the inner side of the housing at aspecific angle, and the ice outlet may be a gap between twoslanted inner surfaces of the housing. In a particular embodi-ment' the pair of slanted inner surfaces have a verticallyoverlapped portion at the lower part of the ice-making tray.Also, the gap that constitutes the ice outlet is preferably lessthan the maximum width of ice that is formed in the ice-making tray.[0015] In an embodiment, a refrigerator having an ice-maker includes: a cabinet provided with a freezing chamberfor freezing foods; a door which is hinged to the cabinet inorder to selectively open/close the freezing chamber; an icemaking tray within the icemaker; and a housing surroundingthe ice making tray and provided with a cold air inlet portthrough which cold air supplied from an upper part of the icemaking tray flows to the ice making tray along a bent channeland an ice outlet through which ice moved from the icemaking tray is discharged along a bent passage at the lowerside.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS[0016] FIG. 1 isa perspective view of an icemaker providedwith an ice making tray according to the present invention;[0017] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an ice making trayaccording to the present invention;[0018] FIG.3A and FIG. 3B show an icemaker according toa preferred embodiment of the present invention;[0019] FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B illustrate an icemaker accord-ing to another embodiment of the present invention; and[0020] FIG.SA and FIG. 5B show an icemaker according tofurther another embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THEEMBODIMENTS

[0021] Reference will now be made in detail to embodi-ments of the present invention, examples of which are illus-trated in the accompanying drawings. However, the presentinvention is not restricted to the illustrated embodiments, butmay be embodied in different ways within in the scope of theinvention. The embodiments are described so that the conceptofthe present invention is sufficiently appreciated by a personskilled in the art. Wherever possible, the same reference num-bers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the sameor like parts.[0022] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an icemakingtray provided in an icemaker according to the present inven-tion, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing only theicemaking tray.[0023] The icemaker 100 according to the present inventionhas an ice making tray 110 with apparatus for dispensingwater therein, and an icemaking tray cover (not shown) at theupper part of the ice making tray 110 to prevent water fromoverflowing or splashing.[0024] The ice making tray 110 includes at least one receiv-ing portions 112 receiving water for making ice cubes andprovided with an opening through which water is suppliedand ice cubes are separated. The icemaking tray 110 may bean assembly of several receiving portions 112.

Sep.24,20092

[0025] In variations of this embodiment, the ice-makingtray 110 may be configured that receiving portions 112 arearranged in a row as shown, orthe receiving portions 112 maybe arranged in several rows.[0026] Receiving portions 112 may be formed in variousshapes. Specifically, the receiving portions 112 may beformed in a hemisphere shape or in a cube shape. Multipleinterchangeable ice making trays 110 having receiving por-tions 112 of various shapes may be provided such that icecubes having shape satisfying a particular user's taste andneed can be made. Itis understood that the receiving portions112 having complicated shapes such as a star shape and aheart shape can be provided.[0027] Icemaker 100 has a moving portion that moves theice-making tray 110 to an ice release posit ion sothat the afterwater freezes in icemaking tray 110 the ice can be separatedfrom the ice-making tray 110.[0028] In an embodiment, the moving portion may be con-figured that it translates the ice-making tray 110. In anotherembodiment, however the moving portion rotates the ice-making tray 110 about a longitudinal axis so the open upperpart of the receiving portions 112 of the ice making tray 110faces downwards toward the lower part.[0029] The moving portion may further include a pivot 122that is axially connected to both longitudinal ends of theice-making tray 110, and a motor (not shown) for rotating theice-making tray 110.[0030] After completing the ice making process the motorstarts and rotates the ice-making tray 110 through an angle of90-180. On one side of the moving portion, a water supplydevice for supplying water into the ice-making tray 110 isprovided. The water supply may include a storage container132 inwhich water is stored, and a water supply pipe 134 thatsupplies water from the storage container 132 to the ice-making tray 110.[0031] The storage container 132 is configured that it canbe supplied with water from a water supply hose 136. Also,since a valve (not shown) is provided in a region where thewater supply pipe 134 and the storage container 132 areconnected, water flows into the ice-making tray 110 onlywhen needed.[0032] The ice making tray 110 is made of an electricalconductor, and the ice making tray 110 generates heat ascurrent is passed through tray 110. This heat melts an inter-facial layer of ice thereby separating the ice from the tray 110.[0033] A power supply 142 capable of supplying electriccurrent through the ice-making tray 110 is provided. Thepower supply device 142 has a power supply 143 and an inputcontrol device 144.[0034] The electrical conductor of which the ice makingtray 110 may be made of a material including, but not l imitedto, Copper, Silver, Aluminum, Titanium, stainless steel alloyor aluminum alloy having high electric conductivity, as wellas an injection molded electrically conductive plastic.[0035] It is possible to uniformly heat the ice-making tray110 rapidly by applying electric current through electrode114.[0036] The ice making tray 110 is configured that electriccurrent flows lengthwise through the ice making tray 110Anelectric circuit (not shown) is connected to an electrode 114(illustrated only at one end) at each end of the tray 110.[0037] As heat is generated by applying an electric currentto the ice making tray 110 ice is melted at the contact surfacebetween the receiving portions 112 ofthe ice making tray 110


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and the ice formed therein. While icemaking tray 110 isrotated to face the icemaker bottom, ice attached to the receiv-ing portion 112 separates from the receiving portion 112, anddrops from the ice-making tray 110.[0038] The heating of the ice-making tray 110 is producedby a pulse of current controlled by the input control device144. Here, the input control device 144 may include a resis-tive circuit , a triac circuit or a coil circuit.[0039] FIG. 3a is a perspective view of an icemaker havinga housing 150, wherein a side surface of the housing isincised, and FIG. 3b is a cross-sectional view schematicallyshowing an icemaker according to the present invention.[0040] The housing 150 of the icemaker 100 surrounds theice-making tray, and the housing is configured to dischargeice and to receive cold air.[0041] A cold air inlet port 151a through which cold airenters is provided at the upper part of the housing. Cold airinlet port 151a allows cold air introduced from the upper partof the housing 150 to reach the ice-making tray 110 along abent channel. The bent or baffled channel prevents users fromcontacting the tray and being electrically shocked as well assupplying cold air for making ice.[0042] The cold air circulates into the ice-making tray 110by convection. Therefore, the cold air supplied into the ice-making tray 110 is supplied from the upper part and ice ismade by freezing water in the ice-making tray 110.[0043] As shown in FIG. 3b, the cold air introduced fromthe upper part ofhousing 150 reaches the ice-making tray 110along the bent channel X.[0044] In the embodiment of FIG. 3b, the cold air inlet port151a, through which cold air is supplied, is a gap betweenspaced plates 154a, 155a. Plates 154a, 155a may have a bentand extended portion, and they may be installed at both sides154,155 of the housing 150. In an embodiment, plates 154a,155a have an overlapped portion at the upper part of theice-making tray 110.[0045] Plates 154a, 155a are overlapped atthe upper part ofthe icemaking tray 110to prevent users from contacting withthe ice-making tray 110 and protect users from electricalshock from contacting the icemaking tray 110.[0046] The channel for cold air supplied to the ice-makingtray 110 is formed as a bent channel to prevent the user fromcontact with the icemaking tray 110.[0047] The extended length of the plates 154a, 155a ispreferably set such that the icemaking tray 110cannot be seenfrom outside housing 155.[0048] Since the ice making tray 110 cannot be seen fromthe outside housing 155, then straight metal objects (forexample, kitchen utensils such as a knife) inserted by a userinto the cold air inlet port 151a will not contact tray 110.[0049] Also, the housing is provided with an ice outlet 153from which ice released from the ice making tray 110 isdischarged via a bent passage to prevent the user from con-tacting the ice making tray 110 though the ice outlet.[0050] The ice-making tray 110 is heated by an electriccurrent to release ice into the ice storage cabinet after theicemaking tray rotates so that the receiving portions facedown.[0051] In the embodiment of FIG. 3b, the dotted lines indi-cate the rotated state of the ice-making tray 11O.Released icedrops by its own weight, and is discharged to the ice outlet 153via bent passage Y.

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[0052] Ice discharged drops through the ice outlet 153, agap between the slanted inner surfaces 154b, 155b providedat the lower part of a pair of opposing inner surfaces 154, 155of housing 150.[0053] The slanted inner surfaces 154b, 155b may be inte-grally formed in the inner surfaces 154, 155 as illustrated inFIG. 3b, or may be formed separately from the inner surfaces154, 155. The inner surfaces are bent toward the inner side ofthe housing at an angle and extended, and the ice outlet 153 isa gap between the slanted inner surfaces 154b, 155b that arebent and extended.[0054] The ice-making tray may be installed in a refrigera-tor with the ice-making tray at the door of the freezing cham-ber. In this case, it is necessary to prevent the hands of usersfrom approaching the ice-making tray 110 of the icemakerfrom the bottom.[0055] In part icular, users oflow stature, specifically chil-dren, should be prevented from being electrically shocked byinserting their hands into the housing at the lower part of theice-making tray 110.[0056] Therefore, according to the embodiment shown inFIG. 3b, the bent channel Y, from which ice is discharged, isconfigured that the ice isnot vertically dropped, but is collideswith the higher inner side surface of the pair of inner sidesurfaces 154, 155 of the housing and again with the lowerinner side surface before discharge.[0057] In this embodiment, the angle of the inner side sur-face of the housing which is bent and extended at an angle,and the length of the slanted inner surface 154b, 155b arepreferably determined as follows.[0058] That is, the angle 81,82 of the bent and extendedinner side surface is preferably within the range that candownwardly slide ice without remaining on the bent innerside surface 154b, 155b even when the ice collides with theinner side surface.[0059] Also, since ice is not downwardly slid where theangle of the bent and extended inner side surface is a steepangle, the angle should be the range that allows ice to bedownwardly slide after colliding thereto.[0060] Also, as well as the above described cold air inletport 151a, the respective length a, ~ of the slanted innersurface 154b, 155b has an overlapped portion atthe lower partof the ice making tray 110, as the plate constituting the coldair inlet port has an overlapped portion.[0061] The housing 150 ispreferably designed such that theice-making tray cannot be seen from below by extending therespective slanted inner surface 154b, 155b.[0062] The respective lengths a, ~ of the slanted innersurface 154b, 155b and the angle 81, 82 of the bent andextended inner side surface are determined according to thesize of ice capable of being discharged.[0063] The width of the ice outlet 153 should be greaterthan the minimum size capable of discharging the ice.[0064] The least distance between the slanted inner surface155b disposed at the lower side and the slanted inner surface154b disposed at the upper side is defined as 0. This 0 is avertical distance from the slanted inner surface 155b disposedat the lower side to the lower end of the slanted inner surface154b disposed at the upper side.[0065] In an embodiment, the least distance 0 is greaterthan the maximum depth c ofthe unit receiving portion 112 ofthe ice making tray 110 and is less than the maximum diam-eter d of one receiving portion 112.


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[0066] The least distance 0 is greater than the maximumdepth of the receiving portion 112 of the ice-making tray 110,because the least distance 0 must be greater than the depth ofthe receiving portion 112, i .e. the thickness of ice, in order todischarge released ice through the ice outlet 153.[0067] The receiving portion 112 can be shaped in variousways.[0068] As described in the above, the ice-making trayaccording to the present invention may be installed at the doorof the freezing chamber when it is installed in the refrigerator.In this embodiment, the door of the freezing chamber is a doorthat is hinged to the cabinet, inwhich the freezing chamber isprovided, to selectively open or close the freezing chamber.[0069] Since the inner side surface, which is installed in adirection of the inner side surface of the door, is configuredwith the higher slanted inner surface 154b surrounding thelower slanted inner surface 155b, it is difficult for users toapproach the ice-making tray than otherwise, even whenuser's arm is bent.[0070] FIG. 4a is a perspective view of an icemaker havinga housing 150, wherein a side surface of the housing isincised, and FIG. 4b is a cross-sectional view schematicallyshowing an icemaker according to the present invention.[0071] The overlapped explanation with the embodiment inFIG. 3 will be omitted from the embodiment in FIG. 4.[0072] According to the embodiment in FIG. 4, the housing150 surrounding the ice making tray 110, in which ice ismade, is provided with a plurality of slot-like cold air inletports 151b that are formed by a plurality of slanted blockmembers 152.[0073] FIG. 4b illustrates the cold air inlet ports 151b withreference to the schematic cross-sectional view of the ice-maker according to the present invention.[0074] Cold air supplied into the upper part of the ice mak-ing tray 110 is supplied to the ice making tray provided inthehousing via the cold air inlet ports 151b formed by the plu-rality of slanted block members 152.[0075] The block members 152 at the upper part of thehousing 152 are inclined at a specific angle. Block members152 may be integrally formed with the housing 150, or may beseparately made and installed at the upper part of the housing.[0076] By adjusting the spacing between of the blockmem-bers 152, it is possible to block user's fingers from the ice-making tray 110. For example, if the diameter of an objectcapable of passing through the cold air inlet port ISla is lessthan 10 mm, it is possible to prevent parts of the body, forexample the finger of children, from touching tray 110.[0077] To prevent straight conductive slender objectsinserted into the cold air inlet port 151b from contacting tray110, the angle 83 of the block member 152 can be increased.[0078] Ifthe angle 83 ofthe block member 152 is increased,the ice-making tray 110 cannot be seen from the upper part ofthe housing.[0079] FIG. Sa is a perspective view of an icemaker havinga housing 150, wherein a side surface of the housing isincised, and FIG. 5b is a cross-sectional view schematicallyshowing an icemaker according to the present invention.[0080] In the embodiment of FIGS. SA and 5B, the blockmember constituting the cold air inlet port are arranged indouble layers and the slot constituting the cold air inlet port isarranged in double layers.[0081] The cold air inlet ports ISle, 151d in the shape of aslot will be explained with reference to FIG. 5b.

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[0082] As shown in FIG. 5b, block members 152a, 152bareslantedly arranged in double layers with cold air inlet portsISle, 151d formed by the block members overlapping eachother. The cold air supplied from the upper part of the housingthrough the overlapped cold air inlet ports can be suppliedinto the ice-making tray 110 along the cold air passage X.[0083] As shown in FIG. Sa and 5b, the angle 83 of theblock member 152 is high enough so that the ice-making traycannot be seen from above the upper part of the housing.[0084] With the horizontal position of the respective blockmember 152a, 152b is appropriately adjusted, the possibilityof metallic objects touching the ice-making tray isminimizedbecause the ice-making tray 110 cannot be seen from theupper part of the housing.[0085] Itistherefore possible to prevent electric shock fromthe conductive ice-making tray while sufficient cold air flowsinto the ice-making tray and the discharge of ice is unim-peded.[0086] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art thatvarious modifications and variations can be made in thepresent invention without departing from the spirit or scope ofthe inventions. Thus, i t is intended that the present inventioncovers the modifications and variations of this invention pro-vided they come within the scope ofthe appended claims andtheir equivalents.What is claimed is:1.An icemaker, comprising:an icemaking tray having a plurality of ice receiving por-tions in which water is stored to make ice, the icemakingtray comprising a material that generates heat when anelectric current flows through the icemaking tray;

a controller for providing an electric current through theicemaking tray to perform an ice body separation; and

a housing surrounding the ice making tray and providedwith a cold air inlet port through which cold air suppliedfrom an upper part of the ice making tray flows to the icemaking tray along a bent channel, and an ice outletthrough which ice moved from the ice making tray isdischarged along a bent passage at the lower side.

2. The icemaker according to claim 1, wherein the cold airinlet port is a gap between spaced plates disposed at an upperpart of the ice-making tray.3. The icemaker according to claim 2, wherein the plates

are positioned at different height and are parallel to eachother.4. The icemaker according to claim 3, wherein the plates

overlap each other such that they are spaced apart at the upperpart of the ice making tray.5. The icemaker according to claim 1, wherein the cold air

inlet port is a plurality of slots formed by a plurali ty of slantedblock members.6. The icemaker according to claim 5, wherein the block

members are slanted such that the ice making tray cannot beseen from any location at the upper part of the housing.7. The icemaker according to claim 5, wherein the slots

formed by the block members may be formed as double layersat different heights.8. The icemaker according to claim 5, wherein the housing

is provided with slanted inner surfaces that face toward theinner side ofthe housing at a specific angle, and the ice outletis a gap between the slanted inner surfaces of the housing.9.The icemaker according to claim 8, wherein the height of

an upper end of the pair of slanted inner surfaces differs.


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