Maytag Corporation

Emz-hanauer Gmbh & Co Kgaa

Other

Whirlpool Corporation

Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.

Anthony Lewis Durfee

John Henry Miilu

Rodney Michael Welch

Barry E Tuller

Ronald Scott Tarr

Chad M Thomas

Thomas M Johnson

Robert Alan Elick

Georg Spiessl

Kory A Gunnerson

Scott D Raches

Srinivas Mallampalli

Christopher Lynn Flowers

John Trevor Morrison

Neeraj Singh

Peter Nitsche

A latch assembly includes coplanar pairs of magnets that engage each other when the latch assembly is in a closed position in order to secure the latch assembly in the closed position. A related appliance with features for selectively securing a door of the appliance in a closed position is also provided.

Latch assembly

A combination module for an appliance includes a transmission selector mechanism adapted to selectively operate transmission shift structure of the appliance, and a speed sensor mechanism adapted to sense the operative speed of a motive element of the appliance. In one example, the combination module further includes a single electrical connector adapted to electrically couple the transmission selector mechanism and the speed sensor mechanism to control circuitry of the appliance.

Combination transmission selector and speed sensor

An air-flap device for a refrigerator and/or freezer for equipping a kitchen comprises an air flap () which is mounted so as to be pivotable about a first axis of rotation () between an open position and a closing position and which, in the open position, unblocks an air-passage aperture () for the passage of air and, in the closing position, blocks said air-passage aperture, at least substantially, against the passage of air, and said air-flap device also comprises a motorized flap-actuating mechanism for displacing the air flap in a pivoting manner. According to the invention, the flap-actuating mechanism comprises a movably disposed flap-actuating element () having a flap-engaging section () which can be moved, as a result of movement of said flap-actuating element, from outside the pivoting space of the air flap into said pivoting space in order, in doing so, to pass into engagement with the air flap and lift the latter out of one of the two flap positions towards the other. The flap-actuating element () is preferably a body of revolution which is disposed so as to be rotatable about a second axis of rotation () which is substantially parallel to the first axis of rotation () but extends at a distance from the latter.

Air-flap device for a refrigerator and/or freezer for equipping a kitchen

A dishwasher, including a tub provided with a front lip, has a front door provided with alignment structure on an inner bottom portion which is designed to abut and deflect the front lip, when the front lip is bowed or otherwise deformed, to control the relative positioning between the door and the frontal lip in order to prevent the development of a leakage gap or undesirable engagement between the door and lip. The alignment feature preferably includes at least one cam rib located on the lower underside of the door, as well as adjacent abutment rib(s) adapted to extend toward the front lip of the tub when the door is opened. The cam rib functions to guide the lip along a smooth surface when the tub is bowed or otherwise significantly shifted from a design position to assure quiet shifting of the door, while the abutment rib functions to prevent the development of a potential leakage gap between the front lip and the door.

Tub lip alignment system for a dishwasher

An improved turbidity sensor is provided with a pair of spaced apart arms respectively housing a light transmitter and a light receiver, with the receiver adapted to sense the light from the transmitter and generate a corresponding output signal. The opposing surfaces of the arms adjacent the transmitter and receiver are flame treated for approximately one second each so as to raise the surface energy such that bubble-induced noise is reduced or eliminated for a more accurate output signal.

Flame treated turbidity sensor

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for a dishwasher having variable fill times. The dishwasher includes a fill volume sensor for sensing that the dishwasher has reached a known fill volume, a timer for timing a period of time between a beginning of fill and the known fill volume being reached, and an intelligent control electrically connected to the fill volume sensor and operatively connected to the timer and adapted for calculating a dishwasher fill rate. According to the present invention, once filling of the dishwasher begins, a sensor is triggered when a known water level and/or fill volume of the dishwasher is reached. The amount of time between initiating the fill and triggering the sensor is measured. A fill rate for the dishwasher is then calculated based on the known fill volume of the dishwasher and the amount of time.

Method for dishwasher variable fill control

A control panel is retractably received within a recess in an appliance housing. The panel may be moved from an extended position wherein the control panel is exposed outside the cabinet to a retracted position wherein the control panel is enclosed within the recess. A spring urges the control panel to its extended position, and a latch is provided for releasably holding the control panel in its retracted position.

Retractable appliance control

A membrane switch incorporated in a control panel of a domestic washing appliance is vented through a labyrinth venting arrangement composed of a long, small diameter, twisting passage, including concentric arcuate sections and an intermediate portion. The venting arrangement establishes an effective barrier to fluids and other moisture, while accommodating the free passage of gases. In the most preferred form, the labyrinth venting arrangement is formed by cutting a channel into a supporting plastic assembly and then adhesive bonding a control plate incorporating the membrane switch over the labyrinth feature to complete the passage. One end of the passage is open to atmosphere by way of a slot in the supporting plastic assembly, while the other end joins the venting path with the membrane switch.

Growing community of inventors

Jackson, TN, United States of America

Anthony Lewis Durfee