Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080248738 | FLOW CONTROLLING ASSEMBLY AND METHOD - A flow controlling assembly configured to permit air flow between a first chamber and a second chamber. A frame member includes a damper contacting surface at least partially surrounding a frame opening configured to permit the air flow therethrough. A damper plate includes a frame contacting surface configured to contact the damper contacting surface when the damper plate is in a closed position. A hinge assembly is disposed between the frame member and the damper plate. The hinge assembly is configured to permit the damper plate to rotate on a rotational axis relative to the frame member and to permit the rotational axis to translate relative to the frame member. | 10-09-2008 |
20090155557 | LAMINATED STEEL APPLICATION FOR MAJOR APPLIANCES DOORS AND CASES - A dent resistant laminated steel application is provided for a laminated appliance wall, including: an exterior cover having a first outer skin layer and at least a second substrate layer laminated thereto, wherein the first outer skin layer is stainless steel and overlays the second substrate layer. The second substrate layer can be bonded to the first outer skin layer, wherein the bonding material is disposed in the interspace between the first outer skin layer and the second substrate layer. The laminated wall can further include a first outer skin layer having a material thickness from about 0.014 to about 0.022 inches. The second substrate layer can be selected from the group consisting of fiberboard, galvanized steel, and polyester. | 06-18-2009 |
20090165478 | LOW VOLTAGE BUS FOR AN APPLIANCE - According to an aspect of the present invention a control system for an appliance includes a plurality of peripheral devices and a plurality of sensors and a controller. A first communications/DC power bus is coupled to the plurality of sensors and peripheral devices and coupled to the controller. A second communications/ac power bus is coupled to the plurality of sensors and peripheral devices and coupled to the controller. Wherein the controller is configured to receive data from the sensors over the either communications bus and transmit control operations to the peripheral devices based on the data. | 07-02-2009 |
20090166013 | Condenser for a Refrigerator - According to an aspect of the present invention a condenser comprises an aluminum tube. The aluminum tube comprises a first interior surface in thermal communication with a first fluid and a second exterior surface in thermal communication with a second fluid. In an alternate embodiment a refrigerator comprises a condenser. The condenser further comprises an aluminum tube. The aluminum tube has a first interior surface in thermal communication with a first fluid and a second exterior surface in thermal communication with a second fluid. Wherein the first surface further comprises internal fins and the second surface further comprises external fins. | 07-02-2009 |
20090235674 | DEMAND DRIVEN ICE MODE SOFTWARE - This disclosure is related to software that responds to consumer usage patterns in order to create more ice. The developed software monitors ice dispenses rather they are crushed or cubed. When a threshold of the number of dispenses within the preset time period has been met, the freezer enters a high demand mode. During high demand mode, the freezer is commanded to run at a colder temperature for a preset period of time. The method described in this disclosure includes setting a threshold for the number of dispenses within a time interval and detecting the number of dispenses that are related to a trigger's activation. The method continues with sending a signal when the number of dispenses surpasses the threshold within the time interval and taking a corrective action that increases the production of ice when the signal is received. | 09-24-2009 |
20090308085 | ROTATING ICEMAKER ASSEMBLY - An icemaker assembly disposed within a refrigerator is configured for continuous freezing of water and continuous harvesting of ice. The icemaker assembly includes a rotating ice mold having a plurality of ice forming compartments. A water distributor is operably disposed above the ice mold for supplying water individually to each of the plurality of ice forming compartments. The water distributor supplies the water at a flow rate which is dependent on a rotational speed of the ice mold. The rotating ice mold is rotatable such that each ice forming compartment is movable to a first position for receiving water from the water distributor and movable to a second position for harvesting ice. At the first position, each ice forming compartment is at a first temperature for rapidly freezing the water received from the water distributor. At the second position, each ice forming compartment is at a second, higher temperature for releasing the ice therein. | 12-17-2009 |
20100044391 | ICE DISPENSER HAVING A SAFETY APPARATUS - An ice dispenser having a safety apparatus is disclosed. The ice dispenser includes a bin for storing ice to be dispensed; a chute in communication with the bin; a device for at least one of crushing the ice and moving the ice from the bin to the chute; a controller for activating the device in response to a dispensing signal; and a safety apparatus configured to determine a presence of an object in the chute and to provide an indication responsive to the determined presence to the controller. The controller deactivates the device after receiving the indication. A refrigerator incorporating such an ice dispenser is also disclosed. | 02-25-2010 |
20100101254 | ENERGY MANAGEMENT OF HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCES - A refrigerator comprises a fresh food compartment and a freezer compartment and one or more power consuming features/functions including a refrigeration system for cooling the fresh food compartment and the freezer compartment. A controller is operatively connected to the one or more power consuming features/functions. The controller is configured to receive and process a signal indicative of current state of an associated energy supplying utility. The controller operates the refrigerator in one of plurality of operating modes, including at least a normal operating mode and an energy savings mode, in response to the received signal. The controller is configured to at least one of selectively schedule, delay, adjust and deactivate at least one of the one or more power consuming features/functions to reduce power consumption of the refrigerator in the energy savings mode. | 04-29-2010 |
20100142104 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ELECTRICAL PROTECTION OF APPLIANCES - An electrical protection system includes a household electronic device and an electrical protection unit permanently interfaced therewith. The household electronic device is configured for detachable electric connection to an external household source and to utilize electrical power received from the household source. The electronic device operates according to an electrical power waveform, e.g., the device exhibits the electrical power waveform during operation. The electrical protection unit is configured to allow electrical power to pass from the household source to the electronic device if the power waveform is within a waveform profile, and to prevent electrical power from passing from the household source to the electronic device if the power waveform is outside a fault deviation of the waveform profile. The waveform profile is indicative of normal electrical operation of the electronic device, across its entire operational range. | 06-10-2010 |
20100313589 | TUBULAR ELEMENT - A tubular element including a wall defining therein an inner cavity, and a plurality of microchannels supported by the wall and extending along a length of the wall. | 12-16-2010 |
20110309752 | APPLIANCE WITH AN IMPROVED SOLID STATE DEVICE LIGHTING - An appliance includes a cabinet, a solid state lighting device assembly integrated in the cabinet, and a power controller coupled to the solid state lighting device assembly for supplying electrical power to the solid state lighting device lighting assembly. The power controller is configured to provide a pulse modulated power signal to the solid state lighting device assembly that has a duty cycle. Each solid state lighting device in the solid state lighting device assembly cycles on and off in accordance with duty cycle. | 12-22-2011 |
20120019378 | APPLIANCE MONITORING SYSTEM AND METHOD - A method and system for monitoring an appliance is disclosed. The method includes establishing a wireless communication connection between a communication module in an appliance and a communication network, transmitting operational data in real-time from the appliance to an external monitoring system over the communication network, determining a status of a component of the appliance from the real-time operational data, and if a failure mode of the component is detected, initiating a service protocol corresponding to the component. | 01-26-2012 |
20120036877 | EVAPORATIVE COOLING CONDENSER FOR HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCE - An evaporative cooling condenser for a household appliance cooling system includes a water source, a heat exchanger configured to contain a refrigerant, and a fluid heat transfer device, the fluid heat transfer device configured to receive water from the water source and apply the water to the heat exchanger for rejecting heat from the heat exchanger. | 02-16-2012 |
20120042680 | ICEMAKER WITH REVERSIBLE THERMOSIPHON - An apparatus includes a mold body with at least one cavity configured and dimensioned to receive water to be frozen into ice; a hollow sealed tube having an evaporator portion in thermal communication with the mold body and an offset condenser portion opposite the evaporator portion; a two-phase heat transfer fluid contained within the hollow sealed tube; and an actuation arrangement which causes the mold body and the tube to transition between a first position and a second position. In the first position, the water can be introduced into the at least one cavity and the offset condenser portion is above the evaporator portion. In the second position, the ice can be discharged from the at least one cavity and the offset condenser portion is below the evaporator portion. A refrigerator using the apparatus is also disclosed. | 02-23-2012 |
20120080990 | TOP-LOADED REFRIGERATOR DOORS - Top hinge-weight loaded refrigerator doors are provided. A refrigerator apparatus is provided that includes a body portion; and at least one door hinged to the body portion using at least one top hinge. The top hinge is a weight load bearing hinge. | 04-05-2012 |
20120144855 | MODULAR WATER FILTER ASSEMBLY - A modular water filter assembly is disclosed. The modular water filter assembly includes a primary module having primary filter media for treating water; a secondary module having a first end and a second end; and a manifold defining an inlet connectable to a water source, and an outlet connectable to a water dispenser. The secondary module is removably coupled to the manifold at the first end thereof, and to the primary module at the second end thereof, the secondary module defining a flow path for carrying water therethrough. The water filter assembly is variably configurable for treating water passed from the water source through the inlet of the manifold and through at least one of the primary module and the secondary module and then through the outlet of the manifold. An appliance incorporating such a modular water filter assembly is also disclosed. | 06-14-2012 |
20120297815 | Ice Making Assembly with Bimetallic Actuating Element and Refrigeration Appliance Incorporating Same - An ice making assembly includes an ice maker including a mold body defining a one or more compartments for forming ice cubes therein, a harvesting assembly removes an ice cube from the compartment, and one or more bimetallic elements. Each bimetallic element is configured with a respective one of the compartments so that when energized the bimetallic element deforms with a portion moving in a direction so as to assist in removing an ice cube from the compartment. Related refrigeration appliances are also disclosed. | 11-29-2012 |
20130030552 | OPTICALLY-PROJECTED USER INTERFACE FOR APPLIANCES - An apparatus comprises a front projection system operatively mounted as part of an appliance and configured to optically project a virtual user interface; an optics system operatively mounted as part of the appliance and configured to direct the virtual user interface optically projected by the front projection system onto a given surface; a user input system operatively mounted as part of the appliance and configured to receive one or more input selections made by a user in correspondence with one or more features that are part of the virtual user interface optically projected by the front projection system on the given surface via the optics system; and a controller operatively coupled to the front projection system and the user input system, and configured to control operation of one or more components of the appliance in response to the one or more input selections made by the user in correspondence with the one or more features that are part of the virtual user interface. | 01-31-2013 |
20130216791 | VACUUM INSULATED PANEL WITHOUT INTERNAL SUPPORT - A thermal insulating structure comprises a first curved layer, the first curved layer having a first radius of curvature associated therewith, and a second curved layer, the second curved layer having a second radius of curvature associated therewith. The first radius of curvature is different than the second radius of curvature. The first curved layer and the second curved layer are sealed and a vacuum space is formed there between. The first curved layer and the second curved layer substantially maintain their respective shapes without internal support in the vacuum space there between. | 08-22-2013 |
20140170969 | COMMUNICATION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION PRESENTED ON AN APPLIANCE DISPLAY - A system and method of communicating information associated with an appliance is provided. An appliance can present an optical machine-readable representation, such as a linear or matrix barcode, on a display of the appliance. The optical machine-readable representation can encode information associated with an event occurrence for the appliance. A client, such as a computer, smartphone, tablet, etc., can capture information indicative of the optical machine-readable representation. The client computing device can then access information, such as diagnostic information, responsive to the optical machine-readable representation. | 06-19-2014 |