Illinois Tool Works Inc.

Ark-les Corporation

U.S. Controls Corporation

Michael Osvatic

Kenyon A Hapke

Michael K Hintz

Joel C Bragg

Jeffrey J Krieger

Jonathan H Olson

Jarod Michael Sulik

Mark D Rodaer

Randy S McDonald

William Dante Chatelle

David M Howie

William E Bargholtz, Jr

Adrian J Tengler

Mark R Heckenkamp

Jerald J Smith

Jason L Berry

Massoud Elkhoury

William S Poehls

XianBo Wang

Michael Hintz

Maxwell J Kirby

James D Spors

Mark Rodaer

A system and method for adjusting a dishwasher rack in a dishwasher includes a base, a slider and a lock for raising and lowering a dishwasher basket between an up and down position, respectively. The slider is connected in a fixed engagement with the dishwasher basket. The base includes two or more rollers for engagement with dishwasher slide rails and is slideably engaged relative to the slider. The lock is biased into a locked position when the base is fully upwardly extended relative to the slider and is released to permit the basket to be lowered downwardly.

Rack adjuster

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 diverter valve for an appliance such as a washing machine or the like provides a valve plate that can be moved by a DC motor both rotationally about an axis and axially along the axis to allow the valve plate to be retracted from engagement with a valve seat before rotation and reengaged after rotation permitting operation with a low-power DC motor.

Single actuator multiple position appliance diverter valve

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 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 printed circuit board provides lateral notches for receiving wire conductors in a lateral direction to be joined with printed circuit board traces by solder or an insulation displacement connector eliminating the need for laborious sequential insertion of conductors through printed circuit board holes.

Printed circuit board with side access termination pads

A door locking mechanism for an appliance provides a bolt that is biased by a spring but may be moved by a unidirectional actuator. A bi-stable mechanism blocks movement of the bolt at certain positions at successive actuations of the unidirectional actuator. In this way, energy need not be provided to the electromechanical actuator except periodically.

Appliance latch with uni-directional actuator

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 switch suitable for use in contaminated environments provides for internal support of the operator allowing an oversized opening in the housing of the switch through which the operator extends. In this way contamination on the outer surface of the operator may be accommodated without a jamming of the operator in the retracted position.

Contamination resistant push button switch

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

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 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 tab terminal for quick-disconnect type connections is formed by bending a single strip of metal back upon itself. The strip includes inward embossments allowing the desired tab thickness to be obtained with less material while using material suitable for spring contacts or internal device conductors.

Tab-form terminal with reduced material and manufacturing cost

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 damper suitable for use in a refrigerator provides for linear motion of a damper plate toward and away from a damper seat. The damper plate may be driven by an axial lead screw attached to a small DC motor and may employ a non-foam gasket to reduce water absorption and possible formation of obstructing ice.

Growing community of inventors

Waukesha, WI, United States of America

Michael Osvatic