Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090040012 | CONSUMABLE HOLDER WITH A CYCLE STRUCTURE FOR AN APPLIANCE - A consumable holder for use in an appliance configured to perform an operation cycle related to a consumable in the consumable holder, in response to a cycle structure, has or is enabled to acquire information about the cycle structure. The information about the cycle structure can be communicated to the appliance for use by the appliance to change the cycle structure and thereby change the operation cycle related to the consumable. | 02-12-2009 |
20090044129 | GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACE TO CONTROL INTERACTIONS BETWEEN AN APPLIANCE AND A CONSUMABLE HOLDER - A graphical user interface has software configured to communicate with an appliance adapted to perform a physical cycle of operation on an article and to communicate with a consumable holder for use with the appliance where the operation cycle is related to a consumable in the consumable holder. The software is configured to cause the graphical user interface to communicate to a user information associated with an appliance, a cycle of operation, a consumable holder, or a consumable. The software also causes the graphical user interface to communicate to an appliance or to a consumable holder information from a user. | 02-12-2009 |
20090172891 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CLEANING OBJECTS IN AN AUTOMATIC CLEANING APPLIANCE USING AN OXIDIZING AGENT - A method and apparatus for cleaning objects in an automatic cleaning appliance is provided that includes the steps of introducing a load of objects into a wash zone of the automatic cleaning appliance, applying a wash liquor and at least one of electromagnetic, chemical and mechanical energy to the load of objects in the wash zone to remove soil from the load of objects, and subsequently applying an oxidizing agent to the load of objects through the medium of a fluid applied to the load of objects. The oxidizing agent may be generated in association with the automatic cleaning appliance. | 07-09-2009 |
20090255300 | Modular Laundry System with Work Surface Having a Functional Element - A modular laundry system comprises at least one laundry appliance and a worksurface provided on the at least one laundry appliance. The worksurface can optionally have one or more different features and/or functional elements, including a backsplash with a recess formed therein, a functional element extending from a side of the perimeter of the worksurface and providing a storage and/or staging function, or a hanging function element. | 10-15-2009 |
20100018262 | MODULAR FABRIC REVITALIZING SYSTEM - A modular system according to one embodiment of the invention for treating fabric load comprises a first module and a second module. The first module can include a chamber having an interior for holding a fabric load, and the second module can have at least one of a fluid delivery system, a fluid removal system, and a fluid recycling system. The modular system can further include conduits for coupling the systems of the second module with the first module. | 01-28-2010 |
20100102051 | CONSUMABLE HOLDER WITH ELECTRONICS TO COMMUNICATE WITH AN APPLIANCE - A consumable holder includes a source of a consumable, at least one appliance coupling point configured to convey the consumable to an appliance configured to use the consumable in a cycle of operation on an article, and electronics adapted to connect to a process control apparatus in the appliance. The electronics can thus cause a consumable to affect a resource or an article in an appliance using the process control apparatus when the consumable holder is coupled to the appliance. | 04-29-2010 |
20100102076 | APPLIANCE WITH A SERVICE INTERFACE FOR COMMUNICATING WITH A CONSUMABLE HOLDER - An appliance configured to perform a physical operation on an article, using a resource, includes a process control apparatus to control a cycle of the physical operation, and a service interface in communication with the process control apparatus and configured to receive a consumable holder. The service interface has at least one coupling point for conveying the consumable from a consumable holder to the appliance. | 04-29-2010 |
20100102082 | CONSUMABLE HOLDER WITH PROCESS CONTROL APPARATUS - A consumable holder has a source of a consumable, a first appliance coupling point configured to receive a resource from and convey the resource or consumable to an appliance configured to use the consumable and the resource in a physical operation on an article, a process control apparatus to control conveyance of the resource or consumable to and from the consumable holder, and a second appliance coupling point in communication with the process control apparatus and configured to connect to an appliance. Thus, an appliance coupled to the consumable holder can communicate with the process control apparatus via the second coupling point. | 04-29-2010 |
20100125364 | CONFIGURABLE CONSUMABLE HOLDER FOR AN APPLIANCE - A removably coupled consumable holder for an appliance configured to perform a cycle of operation on a physical article comprises a receptacle sized to hold one or more compartments for holding a consumable. The compartments are connected with an array of actuators for controlling the delivery of the consumable from the compartment to the appliance. A controller is connected with the array of actuators for actuation of the actuators during a cycle of operation. The consumable holder is further connected with an internal communications network in the appliance for communication with one or more components of the appliance. | 05-20-2010 |
20100186176 | FABRIC REVITALIZING METHOD USING MIST - A method of revitalizing a fabric in a laundry treating appliance by applying a processing aid to the fabric and reducing the fluid content of the fabric. | 07-29-2010 |
20110016928 | MODULAR FABRIC REVITALIZING SYSTEM - A modular system according to one embodiment of the invention for treating a fabric load comprises a first module and a second module. The first module can include a chamber having an interior for holding a fabric load, and the second module can have at least one of a fluid delivery system, a fluid removal system, and a fluid recycling system. The modular system can further include conduits for coupling the systems of the second module with the first module. | 01-27-2011 |
20110041564 | HEAT PUMP (SERVER) COUPLED WASHER AND DRYER PAIR - An appliance system that includes an appliance group containing at least two appliances, a first appliance designed to perform a first consumer function related to the first appliance and a second appliance that is separate from the first appliance and designed to perform a second consumer function related to the second appliance. The appliance system also includes a thermal energy generator, typically a heat pump, where the thermal energy heats at least one thermal energy bearing fluid and is operably connected to the first and second appliances to deliver thermal energy to the first and second appliances simultaneously or at different times via one or more of the thermal energy bearing fluids. | 02-24-2011 |
20110146328 | Substance Communicating Device with Mechanically Energized Connector - A substance communicating device for use in conjunction with an appliance or a system including an appliance and a consumable holder. The appliance has a first substance service connector component and a first service switch component. The substance communicating device has a second substance service connector component operably engageable with the first substance connector component to permit the communication of a substance between the first and second substance service connector components. The substance communicating device further has a second service switch component operably associated with the second substance service connector component, the second service switch component being configured to engage the first service switch component when the first and second substance service connector components are engaged to selectively permit the communication of the substance between the substance communicating device and the appliance. | 06-23-2011 |
20110146819 | Substance Communicating Device with Mechanically Energized Connector System - Systems and components for providing or receiving a service through a service connector system. A first substance communicating device has a first service connector component and a first switch component. A second substance communicating device has a second service connector component operably actuatable by the first service connector component to permit the communication of a service between the first and second service connector components. One of the substance communicating devices further has a second switch component operably associated with the second service connector component, the second switch component being configured to be actuatable by the first switch component when the first service connector component is adjacent the second service connector component to selectively draw the first and second service connector components into engagement to permit the communication of the service between the substance communicating devices. | 06-23-2011 |
20110148651 | Substance Communicating Device with Sensor Enabled Connector - A substance communicating device for use in conjunction with an appliance or a system including an appliance and a substance communicating device. The appliance has a first service connector component and a first proximity system component. The substance communicating device has a second service connector component operably engageable with the first connector component to permit the communication of a service between the first and second service connector components. The substance communicating device further has a second proximity system component operably associated with the second service connector, the second proximity system component being configured to engage the first proximity system component when the first and second service connector components are engaged to selectively permit the communication of the service between the substance communicating device and the appliance. | 06-23-2011 |
20110153871 | Substance Communicating Device with Activatable Connector and Cycle Structure - A substance communicating device for use in conjunction with an appliance or a system including an appliance and a substance communicating device. The substance communicating device has a service connector component operably engageable with a service connector component of the appliance to permit the communication of a substance between the appliance and the substance communicating device. Information related to the substance can be communicated to the appliance and used to affect the physical cycle of operation of the appliance. | 06-23-2011 |
20110252835 | HEAT PUMP (SERVER) COUPLED WASHER AND DRYER PAIR - An appliance system that includes an appliance group containing at least two appliances, a first appliance designed to perform a first consumer function related to the first appliance and a second appliance that is separate from the first appliance and designed to perform a second consumer function related to the second appliance. The appliance system also includes a thermal energy generator, typically a heat pump, where the thermal energy heats at least one thermal energy bearing fluid and is operably connected to the first and second appliances to deliver thermal energy to the first and second appliances simultaneously or at different times via one or more of the thermal energy bearing fluids. | 10-20-2011 |
20130119082 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING LAUNDERING CYCLE BY SENSING WASH AID CONCENTRATION - An automatic washing machine can be operated in accordance with a selected wash cycle by determining a concentration of a wash aid prior to a dispensing of the wash aid into at least one of a tub and a drum, and selecting an operating parameter of the automatic washing machine in response to the determined concentration. | 05-16-2013 |