Maytag Corporation

Michael D Lafrenz

Daniel F Wunderlich

Jordan S Bruntz

Kirk M Dunsbergen

Curtis J Tremel

Brian L Ness

Douglas W Gardner

Kimberly J Hood

Scott E Griffith

Nedra A Herr

Kim L Wright

Brett C Oleson

Gregory K Harmelink

Pamela M Kuecker

J Christopher Millet

Craig M Thies

An appliance lid lock includes a sensing circuit which senses the position of the lid lock relative to the appliance lid. When the appliance lid is in its closed position and the lid lock retentively engages the appliance lid, a controller causes activation of the appliance driver. When the appliance lid is not in its closed position and the lid lock moves beyond its locked position to a third position, a sensing circuit causes the controller to maintain all the appliance drivers in a deactivated state and to return the lid lock to its original unlocked position.

Appliance lid lock and method for using same

A laundry appliance can be selectively operated in either manual or automatic modes of operation. In the automatic mode, a laundering operation is initiated upon receiving a single cycle input parameter from the user, preferably through a LCD touch screen display, while relying on additional operating cycle parameters established by factory preset settings or prior consumer established preferences. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, a consumer need merely select a single cycle parameter and the appliance will start based on temperature and other setting parameters taken from memory. However, even with the automatic start feature activated, the user will still be able to adjust pre-established cycle parameters by changing default values after the cycle has started.

Laundry appliance having automatic start feature

A method and apparatus for operating an automatic cycle of a clothes dryer wherein after initiation of an automatic cycle, a CPU displays the expected time remaining during the current cycle. At various times during the cycle, the expected time remaining is updated by comparing the time required to reach certain moisture levels of the articles contained therein to reference times. The comparison also results in the expected times being updated for future uses of the clothes dryer. Finally, the invention includes a system for updating the amount of time required to reach a desired final temperature during a cooldown sequence.

Self programming clothes dryer system

An apparatus and method for infinitely variable adjustment of temperature range of a device in multiple selected temperature ranges. The method includes providing a plurality of operational temperature ranges of the device, selection of a desired temperature range, and infinitely variable selection of a specific temperature within a selected range. The apparatus includes a temperature range mechanism limiting operational temperature to first and second temperature ranges, and a control mechanism to select one of the first and second temperature ranges and then infinitely adjusting temperature within the selected range. In the example of a clothes dryer, the invention allows the selection of a higher or lower temperature range for the clothes dryer and, once the range is selected, infinitely variable temperature control within the selected range.

Apparatus and method for multiple temperature range control

A washing machine lid having a lid frame is provided with the lid frame including a forward edge, a rear edge, at least first and second opposite side edges, and upper surface and a lower surface. A housing is detachably mounted to the lid frame by a bracket assembly. The bracket assembly retentively engages the lid frame. At least one isecuring member retentively engages the housing and also retentively engages the bracket assembly for attaching the housing to the lid frame.

Washing machine assembly

A washing machine lid having a lid frame is provided with the lid frame including a forward edge, a rear edge, at least first and second opposite side edges, and upper surface and a lower surface. A housing is detachably mounted to the lid frame by a bracket assembly. The bracket assembly retentively engages the lid frame. At least one securing member retentively engages the housing and also retentively engages the bracket assembly for attaching the housing to the lid frame.

Apparatus for assembling washing machine lid assembly

A hanging feature is provided for a clothes dryer. The hanging feature is included on the door, or on the cabinet adjacent the door opening so that shoes or other objects can be hung from the hanging feature and suspended in a position exposed to the hot air within the rotating drum while at the same time being held free from rotation with the rotating drum.

Clothes dryer hanging feature

A timer mechanism for an appliance such as a clothes dryer includes a pulser cam and a timer cam. The timer cam has a notch along its perimeter while the pulser cam has a step formed in its perimeter. The cams rotate in opposite directions with a cam follower biased against the cams. A clapper is connected to the cam follower and is adapted to strike a chime if the cam follower is aligned with the notch in the timer cam and the cam follower drops off the step in the pulser cam as the pulser cam rotates past the cam follower. The pulser cam is connected to the timer motor and continuously rotates at a first speed throughout a cycle while the timer cam is connected to the timer motor and the timer dial of the appliance and rotates in the opposite direction at a second slower speed.

Mechanical timer including cam operated clapper and chimes

An agitator assembly for a fabric washer includes an agitator body having an elongated agitator barrel and a plurality of vanes extending radially outwardly from one end of the agitator barrel. An auger tube is telescopically mounted over the agitator barrel and includes a helical flighting on its outer surface. A bearing assembly is located between the outer surface of the agitator barrel and the inner surface of the auger tube, and holds the inner auger tube surface free from contact with the outer agitator barrel while at the same time permitting relative rotational movement between the auger tube and the agitator body. A ratchet clutch assembly is provided for permitting the auger tube to rotate only in one direction with respect to the agitator. The ratchet clutch assembly includes a circular array of ratchet teeth, and a plurality of ball bearings resting upon the ratchet teeth. The ball bearings move vertically in vertical tracks. A flexible friction ring is provided to increase the friction between the auger body and the bearing assembly, such that the auger body oscillates with the agitator body until sufficient resistance provided by larger fabric loads overcomes the internal friction, thereby allowing the auger body to rotate in a ratcheting manner.

Double action agitator assembly with auger when needed

A microprocessor controlled clothes dryer wherein the posture of a switch in the lint filter system is monitored and a signal to CHECK FILTER is displayed if the switch posture has not changed. The switched is a reed switch mounted stationary on the lint filter assembly and a magnet operator is attached to the removable filter screen. Movement of the filter screen into and out of filtering position in the lint filter assembly of the exhaust duct changes the posture of the magnet operated reed switch. Change of posture of the switch through its cycle impresses a change of voltage on the microprocessor. The microprocessor effects control over the CHECK FILTER signal that is visually illuminated on a VFD tube; such that, if the microprocessor sees the cycling of the switch the CHECK FILTER signal is extinguished.

Growing community of inventors

Newton, IA, United States of America

Michael D Lafrenz