Illinois Tool Works Inc.

U.S. Controls Corporation

Ark-les Corporation

Polaroid Corporation

Bell + Howell Company

U.S. Controls Copr.

Kenyon A Hapke

Spencer C Schantz

Michael Osvatic

Michael K Hintz

David M Howie

Joel C Bragg

Jarod Michael Sulik

John P Bagby

Randy S McDonald

Jeffrey J Krieger

Jonathan H Olson

Erwin E Figge

Mark Edward Brewer

George C Karalus

Walter G Stelzer

David G Hackbarth

Adrian J Tengler

Timothy Laseke

David Koth

Thomas R Wells

Richard G Smith

Leonard A Ferrari

William E Bargholtz, Jr

Frank L Weninger

Eugene F Koppensteiner

Mark R Heckenkamp

Roger R Tomlinson

Jack W Hinshaw

Steve L Sagar

William Roos

Spencer C Schantz, Deceased

James D Spors

Roger N Tyre

Lester V Jorgensen

Robert T Hilgendorf

Robert C Lenell

Michael S Osvatic

A door locking mechanism for an appliance provides a bolt that may be moved by an actuator between an extended and retracted position. A bolt stop mechanism blocks movement of the bolt in retraction at one of two positions, depending on how the bolt was extended before the retraction. In this way the bolt automatically retracts when the door is not present because this causes extra extension of the bolt and an over-travel position need not be directly sensed reducing controller complexity or wiring.

Appliance latch with door presence sensing

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

A locking latch for an appliance provides an improved three-wire interface that reduces the chance of malfunction if the door is forcibly opened when it is in the lock state and a bi-stabile actuator is used. In one embodiment, the door switch is positioned to disengage the major load of the washing machine when the doors open, regardless of the lock or unlock state.

Appliance lock with mechanical door sensor

A door latch for an appliance provides a U-shaped spring for engaging a strike having an expanded tip and passing between the arms of the U-shaped spring in a direction substantially perpendicular to the extent of those arms. Locking of the latch may be provided by collaring the distal ends of the arms to prevent their expansion once the strike is engaged.

Appliance latch with improved door retention at elevated temperatures

An appliance latch provides a hook that may be energized against a spring force to receive a catch element which releases the hook to pull the catch element into engagement. A toggle arm may be used to hold the hook in the energized state before receipt of the catch element to provide for a sensitive and predictable release of the spring force with rotation of the hook. The hook may be mounted on a floating pivot both to accommodate the toggle arm operation and to permit re-engagement of the catch element with the hook in the event that the hook is released from its energized state without engagement of the catch element, for example, by inertial forces.

Stored energy gasket-compressing latch with reduced rotational friction

A rotary actuator suitable for use in a refrigerator ice-dispensing door provides a rotating shaft driven by a DC permanent magnet motor through a gear train and subject to a returning force of an internal spring. The gear train communicates with a switch to reduce current to the motor when a limit of travel is reached and a shunting path is provided around the motor to produce generative braking when power is removed from the motor and the actuator rotates backward to its initial position.

Rotary actuator for energy efficient ice cube dispenser door system

A latch for a washing machine or other appliance provides two interengaging elements on a lid and housing each having a magnet oriented for mutual repulsion. Proper repulsion of the magnets is necessary to signal that the lid is properly closed such as may be used to determine if the appliance may be locked and safely operated, for example, in a clothes spinning mode.

Lid lock with magnetic anti-tamper feature

A latch for an appliance or the like provides a floating bolt assembly spring biasing a door against a sealing gasket in different positions depending on gasket compliance. A lock provides a stop that may adjustably bridge a distance between the latch frame and the floating bolt assembly as the gasket ages thereby providing positive locking of the door over the life of the appliance.

Gasket-compensating latch mechanism

A lock for a washing machine or the like provides fast actuation through a solenoid driven bolt that remains stably in the locked position after power is no longer applied to the solenoid. The possibility of power failure preventing subsequent access to the washing machine is avoided through the use of a slower actuation time, thermal actuator storing sufficient energy to unlock the bolt after a time delay when power is lost.

Appliance latch with power failure unlock

A vent system for a dishwasher provides a mixing chamber receiving high humidity air from a downdraft dishwasher vent system or the like and mixes this air with dry air before discharging it from the dishwasher to reduce the humidity of the discharged air moderating condensation problems.

Humidity reducing exhaust duct for dishwasher

A transportation-robust bi-stable latch mechanism preserves low actuation forces by means of an auxiliary mechanism blocking the effects of shock forces during transportation.

Low power consumption lock for appliance latch

A dishwasher provides forced air flow in a counter-convectional direction so as to exhaust air out of a bottom portion of the washing volume in contrast to normal convective air flow.

Dishwasher with counter-convection air flow

A motorized lock for a vending machine provides a simple lever mechanism that provides two separate points of engagement between the door and the machine to resist tampering and provide for more even pull in of a gasketed door.

Vending machine lock system

Automatic sealing of a dishwasher door is obtained through an electric actuator that moves the door from a close position adjacent to the opening of the washing chamber to a seal position in which the washing chamber is sealed typically against a gasket or the like. The actuator eliminates the need for the user to provide the force necessary to seal the gasket and/or can be used for improved venting of the washing chamber.

Automatic door for dishwasher

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

Libertyville, IL, United States of America

Kenyon A Hapke