Illinois Tool Works Inc.

Ark-les Corporation

Michael K Hintz

Michael Osvatic

Kenyon A Hapke

Jeffrey J Krieger

Joel C Bragg

Randy S McDonald

Jarod Michael Sulik

Jonathan H Olson

Adrian J Tengler

William Dante Chatelle

Mark D Rodaer

Mark R Heckenkamp

Jason L Berry

James D Spors

Michael S Osvatic

An appliance lid lock mechanism provides a lock pin that may be extended into or withdrawn out of a lock cavity that receives a strike attached to the appliance lid interacting with the lock pin when the lid is closed.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

A lock system for an appliance providing multiple detection switches for lid closure and lid locking encodes the switch states as different voltages on a single signal line to reduce wiring harness costs.

Appliance lock with voltage encoded wiring

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

An appliance switch provides contacts protected within a housing that may fit coaxially within and behind a pushbutton of the switch. The pushbutton includes a rearwardly extending arm that actuates an operator extending from a rear edge of the switch as installed avoiding a water path into the contact assembly.

Compact contamination resistant push button switch

An electrical switch provides a center contact moving between two outer contacts, at least one of which is mounted on a lever. In the event of a contact weld forming between the center contact and the lever mounted contact, unison motion of the lever mounted contact following the center contact during switching causes a strong shear force tending to break the weld. In one embodiment, a fulcrum wall striking the lever of the lever mounted contact causes increased angulation between the contacts so that unison motion rotates and peels the contacts apart.

Electrical switch with shear force contact weld release

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 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

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.

Appliance lock using a motor driven linear actuator with helical spring drive

A mechanized vent for a dishwasher employs a vent plate moving about a hinge axis as driven by a cam mechanism at a surface of the vent plate removed from the hinge axis.

Dishwasher vent assembly

A fast engage, slow release electrical actuator combines an electromagnetic actuator with a thermal actuator, the latter which retains the electromagnetic actuator after the former has been actuated to delay the release thereof.

Growing community of inventors

Waukesha, WI, United States of America

Michael K Hintz