| BSH HOME APPLIANCES CORPORATION Patent applications |
| Patent application number | Title | Published |
|---|
| 20120118601 | HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCE INCLUDING TWO-PIECE FASCIA PANEL AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE TWO-PIECE FASCIA PANEL - A household appliance having at least one fascia panel. In an exemplary embodiment, the at least one fascia panel may include an electronics housing structured to house electronic components for operating the household appliance, and a cosmetic panel structured to be at least one of mounted and joined with the electronics housing. The cosmetic panel may include one or more interfaces cooperating with the electronic components for operating the dishwasher. | 05-17-2012 |
| 20120117735 | SYSTEM FOR AND METHOD OF DETECTING IMBALANCE OF A LAUNDRY MACHINE - A system and method of using a fluid flow sensor for detection of load imbalance in a laundry machine. The invention includes a laundry machine, wherein the laundry machine includes a housing; a tub disposed in the housing; a drum rotatably disposed in the tub; a motor to rotate the drum; an outflow orifice at substantially the lowest point of the tub; a pump for draining the tub of water during a dewatering phase; and an outflow line between the outflow orifice and the pump. The system further includes a fluid flow sensor disposed inline with the outflow line, wherein the fluid flow sensor senses fluid flow rate variation within the outflow line; and a controller adapted to measure motor speed variation and/or fluid flow rate variation, wherein the controller initiates an imbalance routine when a threshold value of variation in motor speed or fluid flow rate is exceeded. | 05-17-2012 |
| 20120090390 | Apparatus and method for testing an edge of a workpiece for sharpness - An apparatus for testing an edge of a workpiece for sharpness includes a body, a probe extending outwardly and pivotably mounted from the body, the probe is biased in a direction for placement against an edge of a workpiece with a predetermined force, a test head on a distal end of the probe for mounting test tape for physical contact with an edge as a test medium, a test point for mounting to the workpiece, and a continuity circuit mounted to the body in electrical communication with the test head and the test point for providing a predetermined electrical current between the test head and the test point through the workpiece when the test tape is cut sufficiently by the workpiece to allow the test head to touch the workpiece to form a complete circuit. | 04-19-2012 |
| 20120061185 | BUSHING LUBRICATOR AND SYSTEM - A bushing lubricator includes an elongate body having a lubricant passage extending from an inlet opening to an outlet port. The elongate body includes a connection portion at the inlet opening for engaging with a lubricant tray of a lubricating system, a main body portion in a central region, and a bushing lubricator portion of a width to accommodate a bushing with an interior surface of the bushing surrounding the bushing lubricator portion. The outlet port on a periphery of the bushing lubricator portion discharges lubricant onto the interior surface of a bushing. | 03-15-2012 |
| 20110320041 | OVEN TESTING FIXTURE AND METHOD - A testing apparatus is provided for opening and closing a door of an appliance being tested. The apparatus includes a framework; a first actuator attached to the framework, the first actuator having a retracted position and an extended position; a first attaching bar attached to the first actuator and to the door; and a controller for controlling the first actuator such that the first actuator causes the door to move to an open position when the actuator moves from a first one of the extended position and the retracted position to the other of the extended position and the retracted position, and the first actuator causes the door to move to a closed position when the actuator moves from the other of the extended position and the retracted position to the first one of the extended position and the retracted position. | 12-29-2011 |
| 20110317738 | TEMPERATURE CABINET SUPPORT STRUCTURE - A framework is provided for positioning a testing cabinet for testing an appliance. The framework includes a base for supporting the appliance; a first side frame attached to the base; a rear frame attached to the base; a second side frame attached to the base and located opposite to the first side frame; and a top frame attached to the first side frame. The first side frame, the rear frame, the second side frame, and the top frame are adapted to hold panels of the testing cabinet in a predetermined position relative to the appliance, and the framework is adapted to hold a side panel of the panels of the testing cabinet in a plurality of different positions. | 12-29-2011 |
| 20110315835 | COMPRESSIVE STABILIZING GRATE FOOT - A foot for a pan support of a home appliance is provided. The foot includes an insertion portion at a first end of the foot for inserting into a recess in the pan support; and a lower portion adjacent the insertion portion, the lower portion having a compression edge at a second end of the foot opposite the first end in a longitudinal direction of the foot. The compression edge is adapted to deform under the weight of the pan support when the foot is received by a flat receiving surface of the home appliance. | 12-29-2011 |
| 20110291403 | ANTI-TORQUE PLATE FOR A GAS MANIFOLD PIPE CONNECTION - A pipe and connector assembly of an appliance is provided. The assembly has a pipe for connecting to a fluid system of the appliance; a transition section fluidly connected to the pipe; a connector portion for connecting to the external fluid supply by way of a twisting motion between the external fluid supply and the connector portion; an anti-torque plate fixed rigidly to the transition section, the anti-torque plate having an engagement area; and a shoulder element for attaching the anti-torque plate to a chassis of the appliance. A shoulder portion of the shoulder element is positioned to engage the engagement area of the anti-torque plate such that movement of the anti-torque plate in a plane that is parallel to the twisting motion is restrained by the shoulder portion engaging the engagement area, and movement of the anti-torque plate is permitted along a length of the shoulder portion. | 12-01-2011 |
| 20110290783 | COOKTOP CONTROL PANEL MOUNTING ASSEMBLY - A domestic appliance includes a control panel and a control panel mounting bracket which includes a frame shaped for being installed on a surface panel of a domestic appliance. The surface panel has an opening therein for receiving the frame. The frame has an open portion for receiving a control mount adhered over the open portion. The surface panel has a top surface and a bottom surface, and the frame has a main securing member having at least one tab extending therefrom. The tab is bendable along a line off-set from vertical such that when the tab is bent, it bears against the bottom surface of the surface panel to urge the frame against the surface panel. | 12-01-2011 |
| 20110277742 | SLIDE-IN SIMMER POTENTIOMETER FOR A HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCE - A potentiometer for a household cooking appliance including a gas valve having a valve stem. The potentiometer includes a circuit board having a contact, a wiper rotor that is rotatable with respect to the circuit board and having an opening corresponding to an axis of rotation of the wiper rotor, the opening of the wiper rotor for engaging the valve stem of the gas valve, the wiper rotor including a wiper electrically contacting the contact of the circuit board, a housing coupled to the circuit board and enclosing the wiper rotor between the housing and the circuit board, and a first interior edge and a second interior edge formed in each of the circuit board, the wiper rotor, and the housing and defining a channel extending from an outer edge of the potentiometer to the opening of the wiper rotor. | 11-17-2011 |
| 20110265827 | DISHWASHER WITH IMPROVED CLEANING EFFECT - A dishwasher, wherein a duct system has a function describing a pressure difference in dependence on the rotational speed of the circulating pump and having a lower rotational speed range in which the pressure difference changes at most in proportion to the rotational speed of the circulating pump and an upper rotational speed range in which the pressure difference changes more than in proportion to the rotational speed of the circulating pump; and wherein the control device has a first rinsing program in which the circulating pump is operated at a normal cleaning rotational speed for normal cleaning of the rinsing stock and a second rinsing program in which the circulating pump is operated at an intensive cleaning rotational speed higher than the normal cleaning rotational speed and lying in the upper rotational speed range for intensive cleaning of the rinsing stock. | 11-03-2011 |
| 20110241844 | APPLIANCE INCLUDING A RADIO FREQUENCY IDENTIFICATION (RFID) DEVICE AND METHOD FOR TWO-WAY COMMUNICATION OF DYNAMIC DATA BY THE APPLIANCE VIA THE RFID DEVICE - An appliance including a two-way radio frequency identification (RFID) device for dynamic communications, with for example, an RFID reader used by a technician. The RFID device may include an electronic controller structured to control operating functions of the appliance. The RFID device may further include a storage medium structured to store information about the appliance and computer-executable instructions operable to control the operating functions of the appliance. A transmitter may be incorporated allowing the appliance to send and receive dynamic data between the appliance and one or more remote RFID devices using two-way communication protocols at all levels. | 10-06-2011 |
| 20110241507 | HINGE PULLEY FOR DOMESTIC HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCE - A hinge pulley for a household appliance having a housing, a washing container in the housing, a door pivotable about a horizontal axis at the lower part of the door between an open and a closed position for accessing an interior of the washing container, and a transmission element coupled between the door and the housing. The hinge pulley includes a unitary molded body having an integral first channel having a first curved portion for guiding the transmission element, and an integral second channel having a second curved portion for guiding the transmission element, wherein a portion of one of the integral first channel and the integral second channel includes a sliding surface formed from an ultra high molecular weight material. | 10-06-2011 |
| 20110240060 | VARIABLE SPRAY-PATTERN IN WATER-USING CLEANING APPLIANCES - A dishwasher including a variable spray device operable to spray a liquid into a washing container of the dishwasher, the variable spray device, and a method thereof. The variable spray device may be structured to include a chamber for receiving the liquid therein, such as a dishwashing liquid or water, and a liquid deflector disposed in the chamber. The liquid deflector may have a geometrically shaped perimeter, for example, a conical shape, that allows for the generation of a centrifugal force within the chamber used in directing the spray of the liquid into the washing container. By varying a force or pressure of the liquid as it interacts with the liquid deflector in the chamber, variable spray patterns may be generated. | 10-06-2011 |
| 20110221313 | REMOVABLE KICK PANEL FOR A HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCE - A kick panel for a household appliance, wherein the household appliance includes a housing body and a front panel defining a front of the housing body, the front panel including a front wall and a first side wall adjacent to a first end of the front wall of the front panel, the first side wall of the front panel including a cut-out. The kick panel includes a front wall and a first side wall adjacent to a first end of the front wall of the kick panel, wherein an inner concealed surface of the first side wall of the kick panel includes a catch device extending therefrom for engaging the cut-out of the front panel and securing the kick panel to the front panel, and wherein the kick panel conceals the catch device from view when viewed from a front of the household appliance. | 09-15-2011 |
| 20110220636 | FREQUENCY-MODULATED ELECTRIC ELEMENT CONTROL - A system, method, and computer-readable medium for controlling power applied to a heating element. A rectifier receives AC voltage supplied from an AC voltage supply and rectifies the AC voltage to DC voltage. A pulse-width modulation controller generates and transmits a pulse-width modulation signal, and a DC voltage modulator receives the DC voltage from the rectifier and the pulse-width modulation signal from the pulse-width modulation controller. Based on the pulse-width modulation signal, the DC voltage modulator supplies an analog DC voltage signal to the heating element. A feedback circuit reports the actual DC voltage applied to the heating element to a microcontroller and, if the actual DC voltage deviates from the DC voltage encoded in the pulse-width modulation signal, the pulse-width modulation controller modulates the pulse-width modulation signal to minimize or eliminate the deviation. | 09-15-2011 |
| 20110197638 | STEAM GENERATOR FOR DOMESTIC HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCE - A household appliance includes a housing having a door formed in a front panel thereof for accessing an interior of the housing, a tub disposed inside the housing for containing a liquid, the tub having an inner surface and an outer surface, and a steam generator. The steam generator includes a heating element inside the tub, and a liquid level sensor on the outer surface of the tub, the liquid level sensor detecting a level of the liquid inside the tub, wherein the liquid level sensor includes a non-contacting sensor that detects the level of the liquid without directly contacting the liquid. | 08-18-2011 |
| 20110153105 | HOME APPLIANCE AND METHOD FOR OPERATING A HOME APPLIANCE - A home appliance includes an electronic controller with a trigger port which starts an operating cycle for the home appliance in response to a signal received on the trigger port that indicates availability of an alternative resource. | 06-23-2011 |
| 20110148259 | DOMESTIC APPLIANCE WITH HEIGHT ADJUSTABLE FOOT - A domestic appliance, in particular a domestic dishwasher, having at least one height-adjustable foot. According to an embodiment the invention, the foot comprises sections with essentially different coefficients of static friction. | 06-23-2011 |
| 20110146355 | DYNAMIC LAUNDRY DEFLECTOR FOR A HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCE - A washer including a housing, a washing tub in the housing, a drum rotatably mounted in the washing tub for receiving laundry to be washed, the drum having an axis of rotation and an opening for inserting the laundry into an interior of the drum, and a dynamic deflector coupled to the washing tub, the dynamic deflector being one of translatable in one or more axes and rotatable about one or more of the axes, the dynamic deflector deflecting the laundry that contacts the dynamic deflector toward the interior of the drum. | 06-23-2011 |
| 20110132041 | HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCE HAVING A TUB WITH A FLUID GUIDE - A household appliance includes a housing having a door formed in a front panel thereof for accessing an interior of the housing, a tub disposed inside the housing, and a rotatable drum within the tub and having an axis of rotation, the rotatable drum for receiving laundry through the door. The tub includes a tub body, a heater pocket integrally formed in a lower portion of the tub body, the heater pocket forming a cavity in fluid communication with the drum, the heater pocket for at least partially surrounding a heating element for heating a fluid in the tub, and a fluid guide on an interior surface of the tub, the fluid guide one of guiding the fluid from the tub body into the heater pocket and disrupting a fluid ring formed in the tub body during rotation of the rotatable drum. | 06-09-2011 |
| 20110025178 | DOOR FRAME FOR A HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCE DOOR - A door frame for a door assembly of a household appliance including a housing having an opening, a tub disposed inside the housing, the door assembly having a see-through portion, being pivotably coupled to the housing and movable between an open and a closed position, and including a front ring and inner ring, wherein the door frame includes a front face having an outside edge and inside edge, wherein the inside edge defines an opening in the front face that substantially corresponds to a shape of the opening of the housing, a rear face on an opposite side of the door frame from the front face, a plurality of first fastening points spaced around the door frame for coupling the door frame to the inner ring, and a plurality of second fastening points spaced around the door frame for separately coupling the door frame to the front ring. | 02-03-2011 |
| 20110025177 | OVERMOLD SEAL AND RAMP FOR A HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCE DOOR - A door assembly of a household appliance, wherein the door assembly includes a glass bowl including a bowl portion and a rim portion projecting from the bowl portion, and a door frame sealingly engaged with the rim portion of the glass bowl. The door frame includes a front face having an outside edge and inside edge. The inside edge defines an opening in the front face that substantially corresponds to a shape of the bowl portion, a rear face on an opposite side of the door frame from the front face, a plurality of openings formed in the door frame spaced around the opening of the door frame and adjacent to the inside edge of the door frame, and an overmold seal formed on the front face of the door frame. The overmold seal covers the plurality of openings and extends substantially entirely around the opening of the door frame. | 02-03-2011 |
| 20110017883 | APPARATUS FOR SETTING THE SPACING OF A FREE STANDING RANGE FROM A FLOOR - An apparatus for setting the spacing of a free standing range relative to a floor includes a base component for contacting the floor, a threaded element, and a winding follower. The winding follower extends into the helical recess of the threaded element such that the winding follower travels progressively further along the helical recess of the threaded element. A blocking member engages the winding follower during travel of the winding follower along the helical recess of the threaded element to resist a disengagement movement. | 01-27-2011 |
| 20100199968 | PEDESTAL FOR A BURNER OF A HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCE - A gas burner of a household cooking appliance is provided. The gas burner includes a burner portion, and a pedestal portion under the burner portion for elevating the burner portion above a cooktop surface of the household cooking appliance. The pedestal portion includes a base portion for mounting with the cooktop surface of the household cooking appliance, and an upper portion that interposes the base portion and the burner portion, and interfaces with the burner portion. A perimeter of the base portion has no mathematical correlation to one of a perimeter of the burner portion and a perimeter of the upper portion. | 08-12-2010 |
| 20100117625 | ENERGY USAGE MONITOR FOR A HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCE - An energy usage monitor for a household appliance, and a method of monitoring energy usage of a household appliance, are provided. The system and method include a system and an energy usage monitor that monitors energy usage information of the system of the household appliance. The system and method may include outputting energy usage information of the system of the household appliance based on the energy usage determined by the energy usage monitor. | 05-13-2010 |
| 20100092275 | HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCE INCLUDING A FAN SPEED CONTROLLER - A household appliance including a fan speed controller, and a method of controlling fan speed of a household appliance, are provided. The system includes a fan speed controller that cut a voltage to the fan motor, measures an electromotive force (EMF) of the fan motor at a predetermined time after the cutting of the voltage to the fan motor, and compares the measured electromotive force (EMF) to a table. | 04-15-2010 |
| 20100090637 | MOTOR SPEED CONTROLLER - A motor speed controller and a method of controller a speed of a motor are provided. The system and method include a motor and a motor controller that monitors operation of the motor based on electromotive force (EMF) conditions of the motor. The motor controller cuts a voltage to the motor, measures an electromotive force (EMF) of the motor at a predetermined time after the cutting of the voltage to the motor, and compares the measured electromotive force (EMF) to a table. | 04-15-2010 |
| 20100083842 | BREW HEAD OF BEVERAGE PREPARATION MACHINE - A brew head for a beverage brewer includes a lid, a handle rotatably mounted to the lid and including a cam surface, and a spring mounted to the lid with a follower that engages the cam surface such that movement of the handle from an open position to a closed position relative to the lid, or vice-versa, by a user causes the user to experience a clicking feeling. | 04-08-2010 |
| 20100031529 | CLOTHES DRYER MOTOR WITH BROKEN BELT SWITCH - A clothes dryer includes a motor adapted to be mounted on a frame of the dryer for driving a dryer belt to rotate a drum of the dryer. The motor includes a rotor adapted to rotate the belt, at least one winding energizable to cause rotation of the rotor, and a first switch operable to control energization of the winding. A second switch has a sensor for sensing belt breakage. The second switch is mounted on the first switch and is electrically connected to the winding so that when the belt is no longer sensed, the second switch stops operation of the winding and thereby stops rotation of the rotor. | 02-11-2010 |
| 20100000514 | RETRACTABLE OVEN RACK ASSEMBLY - A retractable oven rack includes a slidable wire base with four wire sections extending generally horizontally around a periphery. Two of the wire sections extend parallel to each other along the width of the wire base and the other two extend parallel along the length. The four wires sections are connected to each other at their ends. A pair of support rods extend from and respectively parallel two of the wire sections along the length of the slidable wire base. The oven rack also includes a grid shelf having a pair of raised wire sections extending the length of the grid shelf that are slidably supported on the pair of support rods for allowing the grid shelf to be supported and slide on the pair of support rods. | 01-07-2010 |
| 20090261087 | Cooking appliance having a broiling element with loops of non-uniform length - An electric resistance heating element for an oven is provided. The electric resistance heating element includes a sinuous-shaped element having a front side flank portion and a front side flank portion and at least one front side interior portion. The at least one front side interior portion is disposed intermediate the front side flank portion and the front side flank portion as viewed in a width direction perpendicular to the depth direction of the oven from the front of the oven to the rear of the oven and the front side flank portion and the front side flank portion each being located closer to the front of the oven than the at least one front side interior portion. | 10-22-2009 |
| 20090183530 | Heating element retainer - A washer is provided. The washer includes a housing, a tub in the housing, a laundry drum rotatably mounted in the tub, a heating element in the tub, and a heating element retainer, on an inner surface of the tub, for retaining the heating element. The heating element retainer includes a first longitudinal end and a second longitudinal end. The heating element further includes an engaging portion that is formed closer to the second longitudinal end than to the first longitudinal end, and that retains a first end of the heating element. | 07-23-2009 |
| 20090178443 | Front-loading washing machine having liquid distributing paddles - A washing machine paddle includes a plurality of intake openings for collecting liquid at the bottom and rear of a drum of a front loading washing machine. Discharge openings are located on the paddle toward the front of the drum for discharging liquid therethrough. A baffle arrangement in the paddle directs the liquid collected from the intake openings to the discharge openings upon rotation of the drum to place the paddle into a top location. A drum arrangement and washing machine includes at least one such paddle mounted thereon. | 07-16-2009 |
| 20090151398 | Anti-vibration device - A washing machine is provided. The washing machine includes a housing, a tub disposed in the housing, a laundry drum rotatably mounted in the tub, and an anti-vibration device on the tub. | 06-18-2009 |
| 20090145172 | Washing machine with ultraviolet protection cycle - A controller for a washing machine includes a memory storing an ultraviolet protection wash cycle and another wash cycle, and a selector that selects one of the ultraviolet protection wash cycle and the another wash cycle. | 06-11-2009 |
| 20090134301 | Appliance base for an appliance - An appliance base for an appliance for supporting the appliance during manufacture and use, with the appliance base including a skeletal outer frame structure including a generally elongate “U”-base rail member and first and second “U”-side rails extending outwardly from the first and second ends of the “U”-base rail at generally right angles therewith. The outer frame structure defines four corners and a support area intermediate the “U”-base rail member and the “U”-side rails. The appliance base includes an inner frame structure including an index ring disposed in substantially the center of the support area, a plurality of diagonally extending support members with a diagonal support member extending inwardly from each corner of the outer frame structure and fixed to the index ring, and a front rail member extending between diagonal cross members on a side opposite from the “U”-base rail member. | 05-28-2009 |
| 20090127246 | Treated structural components for a cooking appliance - A structural component for a cooking appliance includes a core structure formed from metal in a general configuration of the structural component for a cooking appliance; and an outer coating defining a ceramic layer formed by a plasma electrolytic oxidation treatment applied to the core structure of the structural component. | 05-21-2009 |
