Whirlpool Corporation

Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.

Manitowoc Foodservice Companies, Inc.

Alan Stevenson Lucas

James William Kendall

Guolian Wu

Paul B Allard

Andrew Michael Tenbarge

John J Vonderhaar

Steven John Kuehl

Robert Bradley

Douglas David Leclear

Jason Robert Yochum

Harish Prakash Kulkarni

John Joseph Vonderhaar

Hershel E Fancher

M Scott Bennett

Allan R Steinkuhl

Joseph L Coleman

Jerry L Landers

Keith Allen Snyder

Ralph Tate, Jr

Marcelo Torrentes

Rohan Gajananrao Gore

James Charles Leslie Guarino

Todd Lawrence Rose

Donna J Heacock

Vikas Malhotra

Patrick S Streeter

Arpit Singhal

Bozhi Yang

Wm Derek Slone

A basket is selectively receivable within a dishwashing appliance. The basket includes a plurality of vertically arranged receiving bosses that receive spray tines therein and a lid having a domed interior surface for dispersing liquid dispensed from the spray tines throughout the basket.

Removable basket for a dishwashing appliance

An appliance, such as a dishwashing appliance having a door linkage assembly is generally provided herein. The dishwashing appliance may include a cabinet, a tub, a door, a spring linkage, and a linkage latch. The tub may be disposed inside the cabinet and define a front opening. The door may be rotatably positioned at the front opening. The spring linkage may bias the door toward a closed position. The spring linkage may extend from a first end to a second end. The first end may be mounted to the cabinet. The second end may include a fastener that is selectively attached to the door. The linkage latch may extend laterally from one of a pair of opposing sidewalls below the door. The linkage latch may define a latch channel to selectively receive the spring linkage when the fastener is detached from the door.

Dishwashing appliance having a door linkage assembly

A connection system includes a feature module that supplies various functionalities, a portable countertop stand having an upright section that selectively receives the feature module and an umbilical connecting the portable stand to an external appliance to deliver utilities to the portable countertop stand. A utility port selectively delivers at least one utility to the feature module when engaged with the upright section. A utility receiver removably engages the utility port by hand without the use of tools and selectively receives a predetermined set of utilities when the feature module engages the upright surface. A connection interface detects when the feature module is engaged with the upright section and the predetermined utility set required by the engaged feature module. After the feature module is engaged, the connection interface prompts the utility port to release the predetermined utility set to the feature module.

Refrigerator module utilities enabled via connection

A method of making an appliance door includes inserting a door pan into a fixture having first and second forming molds, which are pressed together. An inner door liner is placed over the door pan and secured thereto to form a base door. A mold cavity is formed between the door pan and the inner door liner. An insulative material is injected into the mold cavity defined by the space between the door pan and the inner door liner. A removable decorative exterior skin is extended over the base door. A support frame and a plurality of utility lines are provided. An insulative material contacts the support frame. A base door is formed by an inner door liner secured to the insulative material and the support frame.

Method of making an appliance door

Countertop module utilities enabled via connection

A refrigerator door includes the ability to mount a variety of modules requiring utilities, such as electricity and fluids, within adjustable locations in the door of the refrigerator. The door includes a conduit extending in at least one direction and including one or more plug-in connectors for allowing a module with a mating connector to be positioned on the door for supplying operating utilities to the module. This allows the purchaser of the refrigerator to add components and accessories to the refrigerator after purchase or select desired features at the time of purchase.

Refrigerator with module receiving conduits

A modular utility supply unit that includes a utility supply module housing having removable engageability to a surface of an appliance. Also included is at least one refillable reservoir capable of storing a plurality of utilities and receiving at least one utility from the appliance when the utility supply unit is operably engaged to the appliance. Further included is an interface capable of engaging a plurality of feature modules, where the interface includes a recognition device that prompts the utility supply unit to provide the engaged feature module with at least one of the storage utilities within the utility supply from at least one of the refillable reservoirs.

Appliance feature module enabled by energy or materials sourced from the host appliance

A domestic refrigerator includes a cabinet having a refrigerated compartment defined therein, and a base grille secured to a lower front of the cabinet. The base grille has an opening defined therein that is sized to receive a hinge bracket. A cover is positioned in front of the opening defined in the base grille. The cover is formed from a semi-flexible elastomeric material.

Grille cover assembly for domestic refrigerator

A method of forming a passageway in an insulated door of a refrigerator includes the steps of forming a conduit by inserting a mandrel in the space between a door liner and outer skin, filling the space with foam insulation, and removing the mandrel. In one embodiment, the mandrel is encased with a polymeric skin prior to the inserting step, such that, when the mandrel is removed, the skin remains at the boundary of the passageway so formed. In another embodiment, the method includes mounting fluid and/or electrical conduits to an inside surface of the door liner and subsequently injecting the foam insulation to surround the conduits. In yet another embodiment, fluid and/or electrical conduits are mounted to an outer surface of the door liner. A cover is then positioned over the conduits.

Method of forming conduit receiving passageways in a refrigerator

A connection system for connecting an encoded domestic appliance feature module to a utility source and transferring a plurality of utilities between the encoded feature module and the utility source. The connection system includes a utility source that has a coupler capable of removably engaging an encoded domestic appliance feature module to the utility source. Also included is at least one encoded domestic appliance feature module that independently supplies one or more functionalities. Further included is an interface between the utility source and the feature module, where the interface includes a detection and recognition device that operates to detect when the encoded feature module is connected to the utility source, where one or more predetermined utilities are transferred between the utility source and the feature module based upon which feature module is connected to the utility source, and where the detection and recognition device may be a reed switch, a DIP switch, and a comparator circuit.

A refrigerator includes a cabinet defining an open storage space. A door is disposed on the cabinet operable between an open position and a closed position. The door includes a forward wall and a rearward wall. An insulation layer is disposed between the forward wall and the rearward wall. An exterior skin is disposed adjacent to the forward wall and substantially covers the forward wall. A plenum is defined by the space between the exterior skin and the forward wall and is adapted to receive utility lines.

Plenum on front of refrigerator/freezer door

A refrigerator module connection system for connecting a feature module to a utility source and transferring a plurality of utilities between the feature module and the utility source. The feature module connection system includes a utility source that has a connection capable of removably engaging the feature module to the utility source. Also included is at least one feature module that independently supplies one or more functionalities. Further included is an interface between the utility source and the feature module, where the interface includes a detection and recognition device, such as a reed switch, a DIP switch, or a comparator circuit, that operates to detect when the feature module is connected to the utility source. One or more predetermined utilities are transferred between the utility source and the feature module based upon which feature module is connected to the utility source.

Feature module connection system

An articulated hinge allowing non-circular motion of a refrigerator door and having a mechanism for transmitting utilities through the hinge is provided. A support rod for preventing torsional deformation of a refrigerator door adapted to carry utilities to an in-door dispenser is also provided.

Method of routing utilities through an articulated hinge

A hinge for controlling the movement of a door on a refrigerator is disclosed, the hinge allowing the refrigerator to be installed flush to adjacent cabinets. The door translates and rotates in order to allow access to the refrigerator cabinet interior without contacting the adjacent cabinets.

Articulated hinges using non-circular gears

A door assembly for an appliance includes a door having an interior side and an exterior side. A frame defines an aperture extending through the door from the interior side to the exterior side. A module is disposed in the aperture. The module includes a first component and a second component. The second component disengageably connects with the first component. A pivot member is operably coupled with the module and with the frame. The module is rotatable about the pivot member thereby allowing access to both the first component and the second component from the exterior side of the door body.

Growing community of inventors

Evansville, IN, United States of America

Alan Stevenson Lucas