Whirlpool Corporation

Vincent D Csapos

Muhammad Khizar

Charles R Cravens

Ermanno Buzzi

Yen-Hsi Lin

Xi Shan

Mario J Godinho

Devidas Balu Raskar

Maurizio Longhi

Paulo Henrique Amorim

Fabio F Ribas

David Edwards

A household appliance liner includes a first polymeric capping layer and a polymeric base layer. The first polymeric capping layer includes a first pigment additive. The polymeric base layer is coupled to the first polymeric capping layer. The polymeric base layer includes one or more polymers, a second pigment additive, and a natural fiber. The natural fiber can be present at a concentration of at least 50% by weight of the polymeric base layer. Methods of producing the household appliance liner are also disclosed.

Appliance liner having natural fibers

A method of making a liner for an appliance is provided that includes: mixing a polymeric capping layer precursor and a pigment additive; forming the capping layer precursor and the pigment additive into a capping layer at a capping layer formation temperature; and rolling the capping layer, a barrier layer and a polymeric base layer together to form a liner, each of the capping layer, the barrier layer and the base layer at about the capping layer formation temperature. Further, the liner comprises a capping region, a barrier region and a base region, the capping region comprising the pigment additive.

Pigmented monolayer liner for appliances and methods of making the same

A refrigerator includes an inner liner, an outer wrapper and a trim breaker that extends between the inner liner and the outer wrapper to define an insulated structural cabinet. The trim breaker includes a plurality of gas-blocking flakes, wherein each gas-blocking flake includes a longitudinal axis that extends substantially parallel with an elongated surface of the respective gas-blocking flake. The longitudinal axis and the elongated surface of each corresponding gas-blocking flake is oriented to be substantially parallel with a portion of an outer surface of the trim breaker located near the respective gas-blocking flake.

Polymer trim breaker having gas-blocking flakes and an epoxy coating

A method of making a liner for an appliance is provided. The method includes mixing a polymeric capping layer precursor and a pigment additive to form a color capping layer. The method also includes extruding a polymeric base resin to form a polymeric base layer at a base layer formation temperature. The method further includes laminating the polymeric base layer and the color capping layer to form the liner at about the base layer formation temperature.

Hybrid pigmented hot stitched color liner system

A divider assembly is provided for dividing a cooking cavity of a microwave oven into two cooking subcavities. The divider assembly includes a first tempered glass panel, a metal frame extending around the periphery of the first tempered glass panel to support the first tempered glass panel, a honeycomb core positioned above the first tempered glass panel, a second tempered glass panel positioned above the honeycomb core, and a gasket extending around the periphery of the metal frame for engaging metal walls of the microwave oven, wherein the gasket includes small-diameter, long-length carbon nano-tubes.

Divider assembly for a microwave oven

An ice making module for an appliance includes a conductive ice tray having an ice forming cavity. An electrical circuit is in electrical communication with the conductive ice tray and includes a power source in electrical communication with the conductive ice tray and a switch. The switch releases an electromagnetic pulse through the conductive ice tray. A water dispensing mechanism disposes water into the ice forming cavity and a cooling apparatus cools the water to form at least one ice piece that is in electromagnetic communication with the conductive ice tray. The electromagnetic pulse released through the conductive ice tray generates an induced electrical current through the ice piece and a repelling electromagnetic force between the conductive ice tray and the ice piece, wherein the repelling force biases the ice piece away from the conductive ice tray, thereby ejecting the ice piece from the ice forming cavity.

Ice maker with heatless ice removal and method for heatless removal of ice

A refrigeration appliance has a cabinet defining a refrigeration compartment with a thermoformed inner liner disposed within the refrigeration compartment. A light source is located within the refrigeration compartment and configured to emit light such that the refrigeration compartment is illuminated when the light source is powered. The thermoformed liner has a reflective surface. The reflective surface includes a plurality of microcrystalline structures and is positioned to reflect emitted light from the light source and ambient light.

Passive illumination system for appliances

An ice making module includes a conductive ice tray having a bottom surface and a barrier coating on at least a portion of the conductive ice tray. An electrical circuit in electrical communication with the conductive ice tray includes a power source and a capacitor. A switch is configured to move between a charging position, wherein the capacitor stores an electrical charge, and a pulse position, wherein the capacitor releases the electrical charge. A conductive material disposed proximate the conductive ice tray is in selective electromagnetic communication with the conductive ice tray. The electrical charge released by the capacitor generates an induced electrical current through the conductive material and a repelling electromagnetic force between the conductive ice tray and the conductive material. A water dispensing mechanism disposes water into the conductive ice tray. A cooling apparatus decrease the temperature of the water in the conductive ice tray.

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Hamilton, MI, United States of America

Vincent D Csapos