Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080256999 | APPLIANCE LATCH WITH POWER FAILURE UNLOCK - 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. | 10-23-2008 |
20080264455 | HUMIDITY REDUCING EXHAUST DUCT FOR DISHWASHER - A vent system for a dishwasher provides a mixing chamber receiving high humidity air from a downdraft dishwasher vent system or the like and mixes this air with dry air before discharging it from the dishwasher to reduce the humidity of the discharged air moderating condensation problems | 10-30-2008 |
20100052338 | GASKET-COMPENSATING LATCH MECHANISM - 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. | 03-04-2010 |
20120175894 | APPLIANCE LOCK WITH MECHANICAL DOOR SENSOR - 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. | 07-12-2012 |
20120186288 | ICE-HARVEST DRIVE MECHANISM WITH DUAL POSITION BAIL ARM - An ice-maker drive mechanism presents a housing having a frontward extending drive for an ice-harvester mechanism and left and right bail arm drive hubs. A bail arm that may drop into an ice bin collecting ice from the ice-maker to sense a height of ice cubes in a the ice bin may be attached to either of the left and right bail arm drive hubs providing a versatile ice-making mechanism that may be used in a variety of refrigerator designs. | 07-26-2012 |
20120312594 | LID LOCK WITH MAGNETIC ANTI-TAMPER FEATURE - 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. | 12-13-2012 |
20130008046 | APPLIANCE LATCH WITH IMPROVED DOOR RETENTION AT ELEVATED TEMPERATURES - A door latch for an appliance provides a U-shaped spring for engaging a strike having an expanded tip and passing between the arms of the U-shaped spring in a direction substantially perpendicular to the extent of those arms. Locking of the latch may be provided by collaring the distal ends of the arms to prevent their expansion once the strike is engaged. | 01-10-2013 |
20140170954 | DISHWASHER WITH SELF-SEALING VENT FAN - 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. | 06-19-2014 |