Illinois Tool Works Inc.

Monster Medic, Inc.

Rauch & Romanshek Industries, LLC

Jeffrey J Krieger

Joel C Bragg

Jaime C Reed

Richard T Seizer

Jarod Michael Sulik

Randy S McDonald

Michael K Hintz

Shawn G Bhend

Michael Osvatic

Kenyon A Hapke

Jonathan H Olson

James Richard Hanson

Mark D Rodaer

Nicola Sartori

Dale F Baumer

James D Spors

Randy S Mcdonald

An appliance latch receives a strike when the appliance lid is closed and provides an electrically activated lock holding the lid closed during portions of the wash cycle that might present a hazard. The strike presents two different surfaces to the latch, the first to activate a lock mechanism and the second to activate an anti-tamper switch before the appliance may be actuated thereby reducing the risk of tampering.

Tamper resistant appliance latch

A diverter valve for an appliance having water containing filamentous materials such as hair or string provides a low turbulence conduit () interconnecting an inlet () and multiple outlets () reducing dead space and opportunities for filamentous materials to catch or collect. The conduit may be contained in a rotating spool () within a watertight housing () allowing simplified gasketing augmented by an ability to turn on and off waterflow separately, for example, with the valve or pump.

Clog resistant appliance diverter valve

An appliance lid lock mechanism provides a lock pin that may be extended into or withdrawn out of a lock cavity that receives a strike attached to the appliance lid interacting with the lock pin when the lid is closed. The lock pin communicates with the electric actuator on the opposite side of the lock pin from the lock pin's entry into the lock cavity by means of sidebars passing to the side of the lock cavity. The lock bar and sidebars are substantially coplanar with an actuation axis to prevent passage of liquid along these elements between the lock pin and the actuator.

Contamination resistant appliance latch

An appliance door latch system is provided that automatically aligns latching components each time an appliance door is closed with a pre-latching catch alignment system. The pre-latching catch alignment system may include a floating catch carrier that is deflected by a door-mounted latch feature to passively reposition a catch to properly align with the striker assembly.

Appliance door latch system with pre-latching catch alignment system

A wash-aid dispenser () for dispensing dishwasher detergent and rinse-aid employs a DC motor () and drive train () to separately actuate a door () for the release of detergent and a valve () for the release of rinse-aid allowing reduced noise and reduce energy operation using a single electric actuator.

Motor driven in-door dishwasher aid dispenser

A dishwasher detergent dispenser includes a viscous damper allowing a dispenser door to be preloaded with a sufficiently strong spring to overcome resistance caused by detergent encrustation and the like while significantly reducing noise caused by the door opening.

Dishwasher detergent dispenser with reduced noise

A latch switch assembly for an appliance or the like provides spring-loaded jaws to retain a latch strike when a door of the appliance is closed and a switch operator positioned behind spring-loaded jaws be activated by the latch strike when it is received.

Hidden dryer door switch

A vent fan for use with the dishwasher and providing a vent door covering the opening associated with a motorized fan employs a mechanical coupling between the fan motor and vent door to eliminate the need for a separate vent door actuator by using energy of the fan motor to accomplish the actuation.

Dishwasher with self-sealing vent fan

The present invention relates to ambulance cots, cot systems and methods of using the same. In particular, the present invention provides an ambulance cot comprising one or more control features (e.g., a notched ladder rail assembly (e.g., for preventing hot dropping of cot); a hand braking system; and/or team lift rails) and methods of using the same (e.g., to transport a subject (e.g., into and/or from an ambulance)).

Ambulance cot system

The present invention relates to ambulance cots, cot systems and methods of using the same. In particular, the present invention provides an ambulance cot comprising a hydraulic system and a tip angle monitoring, recording and alert system, and methods of using the same (e.g., to transport subjects and/or to detect and/or record operational data related to cot usage).

A chair configured for transporting a subject (e.g., up or down an elevated surface (e.g., a stairway, a curb, a ramp, etc.)) and methods of using the same is provided. In particular, a chair comprising a rail assembly, a pair of back legs and a pair of front legs, wherein the rail assembly is fastened to the back legs and wherein the back legs and front legs are interconnected via a pair of side rails and a seat assembly, wherein the seat assembly comprises a seat frame and a swivel seat assembly, and methods of using the same (e.g., to load and/or unload a subject onto the chair and/or to transport a subject) are provided.

Stair chair

An electrical linear actuator employs a reversible motor driving a helical wire spring. The coils of the spring engage a follower that moves along the axis of the spring with rotation of the motor to provide linear motion. This actuator may be used as a linear drive in an appliance lock.

Growing community of inventors

Mukwonago, WI, United States of America

Jeffrey J Krieger