Abstract: A clothes dryer has a rear panel and an exhaust vent passing through the rear panel. The exhaust vent is adapted to be connected with a flexible venting hose. The spacer is pivotally mounted to the rear panel of the clothes dryer for movement between an upright shipping position extending adjacent the dryer rear panel and a lowered position extending out and away from the dryer rear panel for maintaining a predetermined distance between the rear panel of the dryer and a room wall adjacent to which the clothes dryer is adapted to be positioned. The spacer has a cover member which is adapted to at least partially cover the exhaust vent when the spacer is in the upright position to prevent connection of a flexible venting hose to the dryer exhaust vent. The spacer of the present invention insures that a predetermine distance is maintained between the rear panel of the dryer and a room wall adjacent to which the dryer is positioned so as to prevent kinking of the flexible heating hose.

Abstract: A clothes dryer has a first four pole motor that rotates a rotatable drum in the dryer through a transmission system. The clothes dryer has a second two pole self speed regulated induction motor connected to a blower fan in the air passageway of the dryer. The second motor rotates the fan to draw air out of the dryer and exhaust the air to an external vent. The second motor provides a long venting application and has a slip characteristic whereby the speed of the second motor automatically varies directly proportional to air flow restrictions associated with the external vent.

Abstract: A clothes dryer has a first four pole motor that rotates a rotatable drum in the dryer through a transmission system. The clothes dryer has a second two pole self speed regulated induction motor connected to a blower fan in the air passageway of the dryer. The second motor rotates the fan to draw air out of the dryer and exhaust the air to an external vent. The second motor provides a long venting application and has a slip characteristic whereby the speed of the second motor automatically varies directly proportional to air flow restrictions associated with the external vent.

Abstract: A control system for a clothes dryer has an inlet thermister located in the air flow system prior to the dryer drum to monitor the inlet temperature. This inlet temperature signal is provided to a microprocessor which samples this temperature over time and when this temperature exceeds a predetermined rate of increase with respect to time, the microprocessor generates an air flow restriction or blockage signal representing an air flow restriction or blockage in the dryer vent ducting.

Abstract: An automatic clothes dryer has a drying cycle followed by a cool down cycle where the cool down cycle is terminated when the sensed output temperature of the dryer drum falls below a default temperature value preselected or altered by user. This permits the user to adjust the termination cool down cycle temperature to the user's preference and touch sensitivity to the warmth of clothing removed from the dryer. The user adjusts the setting of a user variable selection device on the dryer control panel to a preferred temperature signal representing the desired temperature of articles in the dryer when the cool down cycle is terminated. The dryer has a comparator that is connected to the outlet thermistor for receiving the sensed signal representing the temperature of the air leaving the drum and that is connected to the user variable selection device for receiving the user preferred temperature signal.

Abstract: There is disclosed a support tube for use in supporting a refrigerant tube within the insulation of a refrigerator cabinet. The support tube is mounted at it's lower end by a shoulder to extend through an exit opening in the bottom wall of the shell from the compressor motor housing up through a cavity space between the rear walls of the inner liner and the outer cabinet shell and into an insulation block. The insulation block has a passageway that faces downwardly, vertically into the cavity and curves gently to a refrigerant suction tube access opening in the inner liner. This opening and a corresponding opening in the tube have an elliptical shape which together with the gentle curvature of the tube permits for the easy insertion of the refrigerant tube in through the liner access opening, through the tube, and into the compressor motor.

Abstract: A clothes dryer has a rear panel and an exhaust vent passing through the rear panel. The exhaust vent is adapted to be connected with a flexible venting hose. The spacer is pivotally mounted to the rear panel of the clothes dryer for movement between an upright shipping position extending adjacent the dryer rear panel and a lowered position extending out and away from the dryer rear panel for maintaining a predetermined distance between the rear panel of the dryer and a room wall adjacent to which the clothes dryer is adapted to be positioned. The spacer has a cover member which is adapted to at least partially cover the exhaust vent when the spacer is in the upright position to prevent connection of a flexible venting hose to the dryer exhaust vent. The spacer of the present invention insures that a predetermine distance is maintained between the rear panel of the dryer and a room wall adjacent to which the dryer is positioned so as to prevent kinking of the flexible heating hose.

Abstract: A control circuit for a clothes dryer operating with a 120 volt power supply compensates for changes in the ambient temperature to compensate for premature advancement of the dryer timer motor during an automatic drying cycle. The control circuit has a thermally biased low outlet thermostat and a thermally biased high outlet thermostat which control the energization of a heater in the dryer. The low outlet thermostat and the high outlet thermostat each open circuit at respective lower and higher predetermined temperatures when the outlet air flow from the dryer drum reaches the lower or higher respective predetermined temperatures to thereby de-energize the heater and advance the timer motor. The control circuit includes a thermally biased ambient thermostat that is normally open and unbiased, and that switches control of the heater energization from the low output thermostat to the high outlet thermostat when thermally biased and when the ambient temperature rises above a predetermined ambient temperature.

Abstract: A refrigerator door has reinforcing corner brackets that structurally complete the corners of the door. The corner brackets are located at the door corners adjacent vertical and horizontal side walls of the outer door skin of the door. At least one reinforcing member such as a sheet or rectangular collar, for example, or preferably reinforcing cross brace members are connected to the corner brackets. To achieve this connection and restrict heat transfer through the door and or adjacent the inner liner or in-turned flange of the outer door skin, the corner brackets have connecting tab portions that extend into the cavity of the door away from one of the side walls of the door and spaced from the other side wall of the door. The connecting tab portion is also spaced from the outer skin sheet and the inner door liner.

Abstract: A control system for a clothes dryer has an inlet thermister located in the air flow system prior to the dryer drum to monitor the inlet temperature. This inlet temperature signal is provided to a microprocessor which samples this temperature over time and when this temperature exceeds a predetermined rate of increase with respect to time, the microprocessor generates an air flow restriction or blockage signal representing an air flow restriction or blockage in the dryer vent ducting.

Abstract: A two part shelf for use in a refrigerator and preferably in a freezer compartment of a refrigerator has at least four shelf members mounted to the cabinet for supporting the two part shelf assembly. The two part shelf has a main shelf portion and an auxiliary shelf portion. The main shelf portion has a frame that supports a shelf floor that preferably extends from the rear wall towards an open front and partially across the width of the refrigerator cabinet. The main shelf portion has a rear frame member supported by at least two shelf support members and extends across the width of the cabinet beyond the width of the shelf floor. The auxiliary shelf portion has a second frame for supporting a second shelf floor. The second load supporting floor extends from the rear wall towards the open front and extends from one of the side walls towards the first load supporting floor of the main shelf portion.

Abstract: There is disclosed a support tube for use in supporting a refrigerant tube within the insulation of a refrigerator cabinet. The support tube is mounted at it's lower end by a shoulder to extend through an exit opening in the bottom wall of the shell from the compressor motor housing up through a cavity space between the rear walls of the inner liner and the outer cabinet shell and into an insulation block. The insulation block has a passageway that faces downwardly, vertically into the cavity and curves gently to a refrigerant suction tube access opening in the inner liner. This opening and a corresponding opening in the tube have an elliptical shape which together with the gentle curvature of the tube permits for the easy insertion of the refrigerant tube in through the liner access opening, through the tube, and into the compressor motor.

Abstract: A refrigerator with a pull out drawer has plastic cabinet and drawer liners and a closed reinforcing assembly mounted within the drawer and cabinet for supporting loads carried by the drawer. The assembly has a reinforcing brace secured within the drawer having two spaced apart wing members and a cross member connected to and extending between the wing members adjacent an inside surface of the inner liner. The assembly has a pair of telescopically extendable guide rails each mounted to one of the opposing liner side walls of the cabinet and the through the liner of the drawer to support the drawer for relative movement with the cabinet. The cabinet has a pair of reinforcing bracket members located therein each having a side reinforcing portion extending adjacent a corresponding one of the guide rails and mounted to the liner side wall by fasteners passing through the guide rails and liner side walls.

Abstract: A refrigerator with a pull out drawer has plastic cabinet and drawer liners and a closed reinforcing assembly mounted within the drawer and cabinet for supporting loads carried by the drawer. The assembly has a reinforcing brace secured within the drawer having two spaced apart wing members and a cross member connected to and extending between the wing members adjacent an inside surface of the inner liner. The assembly has a pair of telescopically extendable guide rails each mounted to one of the opposing liner side walls of the cabinet and the through the liner of the drawer to support the drawer for relative movement with the cabinet. The cabinet has a pair of reinforcing bracket members located therein each having a side reinforcing portion extending adjacent a corresponding one of the guide rails and mounted to the liner side wall by fasteners passing through the guide rails and liner side walls.

Abstract: A portable water dispensing module is mounted to a refrigerator door inner liner. The liner has side walls with aligned vertically spaced module supports. The water dispensing module comprises a reservoir having a fill chamber located above a main reservoir. The fill chamber has a lid that has an opening closed by a cap. The reservoir supports the fill chamber and has side walls with anchoring supports that releasably and matingly engage with the module supports on the liner side walls to mount the water dispensing module against the liner walls. A lower recessed portion of the front wall of the reservoir protects a spigot, mounted into the recess, from inadvertent contact with a user. The reservoir further includes recessed handle portions on the side walls located forward of the refrigerator door liner side walls and below the fill chamber to facilitate the portability of the water dispensing module from the refrigerator door.

Abstract: An automatic clothes dryer has a drying cycle followed by a cool down cycle where the cool down cycle is terminated when the sensed output temperature of the dryer drum falls below a default temperature value preselected or altered by user. This permits the user to adjust the termination cool down cycle temperature to the user's preference and touch sensitivity to the warmth of clothing removed from the dryer. The user adjusts the setting of a user variable selection device on the dryer control panel to a preferred temperature signal representing the desired temperature of articles in the dryer when the cool down cycle is terminated. The dryer has a comparator that is connected to the outlet thermistor for receiving the sensed signal representing the temperature of the air leaving the drum and that is connected to the user variable selection device for receiving the user preferred temperature signal.

Abstract: A control circuit for a clothes dryer operating with a 120 volt power supply compensates for changes in the ambient temperature to compensate for premature advancement of the dryer timer motor during an automatic drying cycle. The control circuit has a thermally biased low outlet thermostat and a thermally biased high outlet thermostat which control the energization of a heater in the dryer. The low outlet thermostat and the high outlet thermostat each open circuit at respective lower and higher predetermined temperatures when the outlet air flow from the dryer drum reaches the lower or higher respective predetermined temperatures to thereby de-energize the heater and advance the timer motor. The control circuit includes a thermally biased ambient thermostat that is normally open and unbiased, and that switches control of the heater energization from the low output thermostat to the high outlet thermostat when thermally biased and when the ambient temperature rises above a predetermined ambient temperature.

Abstract: A refrigerator with a pull out drawer has plastic cabinet and drawer liners and a closed reinforcing assembly mounted within the drawer and cabinet for supporting loads carried by the drawer. The assembly has a reinforcing brace secured within the drawer having two spaced apart wing members and a cross member connected to and extending between the wing members adjacent an inside surface of the inner liner. The assembly has a pair of telescopically extendable guide rails each mounted to one of the opposing liner side walls of the cabinet and the through the liner of the drawer to support the drawer for relative movement with the cabinet. The cabinet has a pair of reinforcing bracket members located therein each having a side reinforcing portion extending adjacent a corresponding one of the guide rails and mounted to the liner side wall by fasteners passing through the guide rails and liner side walls.

Abstract: A hollow full grip gas assist appliance handle for use in a household refrigerator has a hollow full grip portion comprising a thermal plastic material that is a 10-40% glass filled homopolymer polypropylene. The distal ends of the hollow grip portion are solid thermoplastic material which encases a metal insert that is adapted to be secured to a side panel of the refrigerator door. The hollow appliance handle provides a solid feel or touch handle along it's full grip portion with solid distal end portions subject to little bending movement due to the metal inserts permitting the door handle to be firmly attached to the side panels of the refrigerator door.

Abstract: A refrigerator door has reinforcing corner brackets that structurally complete the corners of the door. The corner brackets are located at the door corners adjacent vertical and horizontal side walls of the outer door skin of the door. At least one reinforcing member such as a sheet or rectangular collar, for example, or preferably reinforcing cross brace members are connected to the corner brackets. To achieve this connection and restrict heat transfer through the door and or adjacent the inner liner or in-turned flange of the outer door skin, the corner brackets have connecting tab portions that extend into the cavity of the door away from one of the side walls of the door and spaced from the other side wall of the door. The connecting tab portion is also spaced from the outer skin sheet and the inner door liner.