Abstract: A refrigerator includes a freezer, a fresh food compartment and an evaporator chamber. A supply conduit conducts cold air from the evaporator chamber to the top rear of the fresh food compartment and a return conduit conducts warm air from the fresh food compartment to the evaporator chamber. A fan mounted adjacent the bottom rear portion of the fresh food compartment directs air up the rear wall of the fresh food compartment to enhance air circulation in the fresh food compartment and reduce moisture condensation therein.

Abstract: A lid switch assembly including a lid switch configured to be substantially located within a coin box of a coin operated appliance is described. In one embodiment, the lid switch assembly is configured for use in connection with a coin operated washing machine including a lid rotatably mounted to a washer cover and a coin box mounted to the washer cover adjacent the lid. The lid switch assembly includes a hinge rod secured to the lid and rotatable with the lid. The hinge rod includes an actuating arm configured to be substantially located within the coin box. The lid switch assembly also includes a switch configured to be mounted within the coin box. The switch is electrically connected in series with a power source and the washing machine motor. As the washing machine lid is opened, the hinge rod actuating arm rotates so that the switch actuator moves.

Abstract: A refrigerator includes a front face surrounding the front openings of the storage compartments. Operation of the refrigerator tends to cause some portions of the face to be colder than the dew point temperature of the surrounding air. Moisture in the surrounding air tends to condense on such colder than dew point portions. Sheets of aluminum foil are in intimate contact with the inside of the case, extend along those portions of the face subject to condensation and project onto adjacent areas of the case which are warmer than the dew point temperature. This keeps the temperature of those portions subject to condensation above the dew point temperature. Portions of the doors, such as the adjacent peripheral walls of doors on multi-compartment units, also may tend to be below the dew point temperature. Sheets of aluminum foil are positioned in intimate contact with the inside of those portions of the doors and project onto adjacent areas of the doors which are warmer than the dew point temperature.

Abstract: A heat exchanger which, in one embodiment, includes an elongate tube having a plurality of straight tube segments and a plurality of bent tube segments to form a generally oval spiral configuration is described. The straight tube segments form opposite sides of the exchanger, and the straight tube segments are configured to be located substantially perpendicular to a direction of air flow. A space is formed between the exchanger opposite sides, and the cross-sectional area of the space between the exchanger opposite sides continuously decreases from a first end of the exchanger to a second end of the exchanger. An end straight tube segment substantially extends over, or substantially covers or closes, an opening between opposing tube segments at the exchanger second end. A plurality of heat exchange fins project outwardly from the elongate tube. Due to its general shape, the above described heat exchanger sometimes is referred to herein as a pyramid exchanger.

Abstract: A water trap cup for use in connection with a drain tube in a refrigerator is described. In one embodiment, the water trap cup includes a bottom wall and a side wall extending from the bottom wall. The side wall includes retaining webs configured for retaining an end of the drain tube within the water trap cup, and a bottom stop extends from the side wall and maintains the drain tube end spaced from the bottom wall so that a seal is not formed between the bottom wall and the drain tube. The retaining webs generally define a first chamber and a second chamber, and the first and second chambers are in fluid communication. To assemble the water trap cup to the drain tube, the first chamber is aligned with the tube, and the cup is pushed upward into engagement with the drain tube until the drain tube end contacts the bottom stop.

Abstract: A refrigerator cabinet has an outer case with lateral walls and a continuous front flange. A pair of liners are nested in the case and have lateral walls with a front edge positioned rearward of the case front flange. A resilient breaker strip connects the case walls to corresponding liner walls. The strip front wall extends inward from the case flange to a point inward of the liner wall and a side wall extends rearward to overlap the liner wall. A bifurcated edge of the strip receives the case flange. The strip side wall is return bent to form an inner wall engaging the inner surface and a resilient finger engaging the outer surface of the liner wall. A resilient mullion, connecting the adjacent inner lateral walls of the liners, has a front wall extending across the space between the liners and a side wall projecting rearward from each edge of the front wall to overlap the liner lateral wall.

Abstract: A range has a housing with a cook top, including a plurality of surface cooking units and a backsplash assembly extending upward at the rear of the cooking top. The backsplash assembly includes end caps, with generally vertical front and rear walls extending therebetween and a top wall extending between the front and rear walls to define a control cavity. A display plate of light transparent material overlies the front wall and has an upper portion extending above the top wall. A lamp cover extends between the end caps and projects forward from the rear wall and overlaps the display plate to form a lamp cavity separate from the control cavity. A lamp is mounted in the lamp cavity and the upper portion of the display plate transmits light from the lamp outwardly to illuminate the surface cooking units. The top edge of the display plate is exposed to light from the lamp for edgewise illumination of the plate. The lamp cover is removable for servicing the lamp without exposing any controls in the control cavity.

Abstract: A fabric washing machine includes a container to receive water and fabrics to be washed in the water and an unitary inlet member for supplying water to the container. The inlet member includes a flexible conduit section connected to a source of water and a nozzle section with one end connected in fluid flow relationship with the conduit section. The nozzle section has spaced apart top and bottom walls joined by spaced apart side walls. The distance between the side walls becomes larger in the direction away from the conduit section. The top wall has a downwardly curved distal end portion remote from the conduit section and the bottom wall terminates generally adjacent the position at which the downwardly curved portion of the top wall begins.

Abstract: An assembly to mount an appliance on a floor includes a pair of openings in the appliance base, each surrounded by a helical thread. The thread includes a pair of downwardly projecting detents. A mount for each opening includes a head with a shaft extending from the top thereof and received in the opening. The shaft includes an external helical thread mating with the appliance base thread. The mount is made of plastic which cold flows sufficiently for the shaft thread to conform to the detents. An unbalance responsive mechanism includes a strap extending across the housing with a transverse pin adjacent each end. A mount for each end of the strap includes a head with a shaft extending from the top thereof. The distal end of the shaft includes transverse openings to receive an end portion of the strap and the corresponding transverse pin. Non-skid, insulating pads are bonded to the bottom of the heads.

Abstract: A top assembly for an appliance, such as a top loading clothes washer, includes a top support member. A top panel is attached to and positioned over the support member. The top panel terminates forward of the rear of the support member and includes a rear portion extending side to side of the support member. A control housing includes an assembly of a rear wall and end caps. The end caps are mounted on the support member and extend rearward of the rear portion of the top panel and the rear wall extends across the rear of the support member. The control housing also includes a control panel assembly mounted on the rear portion of the top panel and attached to the rear wall and end cap assembly.

Abstract: An appliance backsplash assembly includes a cover with a face having an opening for viewing and setting a clock. Top and bottom walls extend rearward of the face. An upper rear wall projects downward from the top wall and a lower rear wall projects upward from the bottom wall. A pair of mounting clips are positioned in the backsplash on each side of the opening. Each clip has a base extending vertically along the face, with a top arm and a bottom arm extending rearward along the top and bottom walls respectively. The clock includes a housing sized to overlie the opening and overlap the clips. Threaded connectors mount the clock housing to the clips and flex the clips to cause the clip bases to firmly engage the cover face and the top and bottom arms to firmly engage the top and bottom walls. The top arms include distal ends which engage the upper rear wall and the bottom arms include distal ends received in slots in the lower rear wall.

Abstract: An electronic control system, particularly adaptable to coin-operated laundry appliances, which enables owners of such machines to customize machine operation. Laundry parameters are stored in random access memory, and timing functions are performed in control logic. Thus, the owner may simply update the information on a computer and download the parameters to individual laundry machines. A portable receiver/transmitter may be utilized to transfer information to the laundry machine controller by way of an infrared communications link. Also disclosed is a reconfigurable fuzzy logic control which is general purpose, having a functionality that may be easily altered in accordance with the type of machine. The structure of the fuzzy logic controller is identical for all applications.

Abstract: A handle assembly includes a handle gripping portion and two handle end caps receiving the ends of the handle gripping portion. The handle gripping portion is a hollow bar of rolled steel having a non-rectangular, non-circular cross section, which is preferably D-shaped. The D-shaped cross section has its center of mass remote from a door, which has the handle end caps attached thereto. The handle gripping portion is bowed outwardly relative to the door with a radius of curvature between 150 inches and 250 inches and preferably 200 inches. The handle end caps are formed of a molded thermoplastic.

Abstract: A refrigerator includes an upper freezer compartment and a lower fresh food compartment, with bottom and top walls respectively. A panel is mounted in front of the freezer rear wall to form a chamber containing an evaporator. An air flow separator, adjacent the rear of the compartments, extends through the freezer compartment bottom wall and the fresh food compartment top wall. It defines a first air passage for flow of relatively cold air to the fresh food compartment and a second air passage for return of relatively warm air to the evaporator chamber. A first member is mounted against the fresh food top wall to form a duct extending front to rear of the fresh food compartment. The duct is open adjacent the front of the fresh food compartment and communicates with the second air passage for return flow of warm air to the evaporator chamber.

Abstract: An electric control mounting includes a control housing having a peripheral wall and a control shaft projecting forward of its front. A base covers the housing front and has an opening through which the shaft extends. A pair of ears extend from the base outward of the peripheral wall on opposite sides of the shaft and lie in a plane parallel to the base. A resilient finger is positioned outward of the peripheral wall and has a tang at its end which projects forward of the base. A mounting plate has an opening to receive the shaft, a pair of mounts formed on opposite sides of the shaft opening and adapted to mate with the ears, and an additional opening adapted to receive the tang as the ears become fully mated with the mounts.

Abstract: An electronic control system, particularly adaptable to coin-operated laundry appliances, which enables owners of such machines to customize machine operation. Laundry parameters are stored in random access memory, and timing functions are performed in control logic. Thus, the owner may simply update the information on a computer and download the parameters to individual laundry machines. A portable receiver/transmitter may be utilized to transfer information to the laundry machine controller by way of an infrared communications link. Also disclosed is a reconfigurable fuzzy logic control which is general purpose, having a functionality that may be easily altered in accordance with the type of machine. The structure of the fuzzy logic controller is identical for all applications.

Abstract: A housing assembly for an appliance, such as a front loading clothes dryer, includes side panels joined by a front panel. A cover includes a front member and a rear member. The rear member is mounted on the side panels while the rear portion of the front member is positioned between the top of the side panels and upwardly offset front portions of the rear member. Tabs and slots align the front cover member with the top of the housing front and side panels and fasteners connect the front member to the front panel. A control housing includes an assembly of an elongated rear wall connected to a pair of spaced apart end caps. The end caps are mounted on the rear cover member and the rear wall extends across the rear of the cover. A control panel assembly is mounted on the rear portion of the front cover member and is attached to the rear wall/end cap assembly.

Abstract: A control housing for an appliance includes a rear wall and a pair of end caps extending forward from the ends of the rear wall. A control panel assembly extends between the end caps forward of the rear wall. The panel assembly includes a cover plate with a planar body having a perpendicularly projecting rim extending along its top, bottom and ends. The assembly also includes a control mounting plate with a planar body. The mounting plate is shorter than the cover member. The plates are assembled in overlying relationship with the mounting plate positioned within the cover plate rim. A pair of bridging members are connected to the ends of the mounting plate and fit closely within the end portions of the cover plate.

Abstract: A control mechanism for simultaneously supplying air to a refrigerated compartment in two separate air streams includes a housing having an inlet communicating with first and second outlets. A first valve seat interconnects the inlet and first outlet and a second valve seat interconnects the inlet and second outlet. A unitary valve member rotatably mounted in the housing is movable between a closed condition engaging both of the valve seats to block air flow from the inlet to both of the outlets and an open condition out of engagement with both of the valve seats to permit air flow from the inlet to both of the outlets. A temperature responsive mechanism senses the temperature in the compartment and controls the condition of the valve member in response to the sensed temperature.