Illinois Tool Works Inc.

Chong Bin Wong

Robert Dam

Michael W Davis

Richard R Herzog

Karl S Morgan

Luca Gennaretti

Kurt A Kuehn

John G Drelicharz

A thermally actuated lock for an appliance incorporates a fusible material that holds a spring-loaded bolt in retraction. Temperatures that would indicate an appliance fire allow the bolt to extend between the housing and appliance door to lock the appliance door in a closed position.

Thermally actuated dryer door lock

A ball support for a suspension rod in top loading washing machines includes a main body, a support segment and a hook capture head for securing the hooked end of the rod between spaced bars of the cylindrical rod support. Attaching and detaching the ball support from the rod requires inversion of the parts relative to one another.

Washing machine suspension ball support

Embodiments of the present invention provide a system for adjusting a height of a rack within a dishwasher. The system includes a rack plate assembly and a wheel plate assembly. The rack plate assembly is configured to be secured to the rack. The rack plate assembly includes a rack plate and a handle pivotally secured to the rack plate. The wheel plate assembly is adjustably secured with respect to the rack plate. The wheel plate assembly includes a wheel plate having at least one adjustment slot. A portion of the handle securely engages the wheel plate through the at least one adjustment slot. The portion of the handle is configured to disengage from the at least one adjustment slot in order to adjust the rack plate with respect to the wheel plate.

Height adjustment device for a dishwasher rack

A fastener includes a rod and a sleeve. The rod has a flat top for depression and a rod body extending downwardly from the flat top. The upper end of the rod body is provided with a circular groove. The sleeve is formed with a through hole and a flange close to its upper end. The inner side of the sleeve is provided above the flange with a first engaging section engageable with the circular groove of the rod. The sleeve is provided with a second engaging section below the flange and a third engaging section at the lower end thereof. By means of the engagement between the circular groove of the rod and the first engaging section of the sleeve, the rod will be prevented from detaching from the sleeve. The second and third engaging sections are used for preventing the fastener from disengaging from a workpiece.

Fastener for heat sinks

Embodiments of the present invention provide a leveling assembly configured to be secured to an appliance. The leveling assembly supports the appliance on a floor, and includes a base having a column integrally connected to a ledge, which is integrally connected to a stem. The assembly also includes a spring positioned around the stem, and a sleeve secured to the stem and positioned around the spring. The spring exerts equal and opposite forces into the sleeve and the ledge, respectively.

Leveling assembly

A drawer guide for supporting a drawer found in a desk, cabinet, appliance or other articles of furniture includes a drawer guide body defining a wall having on a first side an outwardly extending wedge, a half-prong integral with the wedge, and a support rib spaced apart from the wedge. The half-prong includes a flexible latching member extending downwardly from the wedge. The wall of the drawer guide body has on a second side a drawer mounting track for slidably receiving and mounting the drawer. The drawer guide of the invention is mountable to a pair of openings in a panel on the desk, cabinet, or appliance. Specifically, the wedge, half-prong, and flexible latching member will extend through one opening in the panel with the flexible latching member causing the drawer guide to snap fit to the panel and with the flexible latching member preventing the drawer guide from withdrawing from the panel. In addition, the support rib will extend through a second opening in the panel to support the weight of the drawer guide and the mounted drawer.

Growing community of inventors

Vernon Hills, IL, United States of America

Chong Bin Wong