Abstract: A sliding and connecting device configured to slidably secure a cabinet panel to an appliance door includes a rail element and a sliding element. The sliding element has a first flat portion and a second flat portion. The second flat portion has a first cross-sectional hollow profile and a second cross-sectional hollow profile intersecting the first cross-sectional hollow profile. Each of the first and second cross-sectional hollow profiles are configured to engage and slide along a matching cross-sectional profile formed on the rail element.

Abstract: A stand mixer includes a motor output shaft and a locking planetary output. The locking planetary output has a center shaft operably connected with the output shaft for driven rotation about a fixed axis, an agitator shaft mounted to the center shaft such that the agitator shaft moves around the fixed axis of the center shaft in a planetary arrangement, and a planetary gear centrally arranged about the fixed axis of the center shaft. A gear unit is rotatably fixed on the agitator shaft and is slidably mounted therewith to be moveable between a first position, in which the gear unit is engaged with the planetary gear, and a second position in which the gear unit is disengaged from the planetary gear and is engaged with a locking member.

Abstract: A refrigerator includes a cabinet, a first door, a second door, a partition wall, and a pressure relief valve. The cabinet defines first and second internal storage chambers. The first and second doors are disposed over the first and second internal storage chambers, respectively. The first and second doors are configured to transition between open and closed positions to provide access to and cover the first and second internal storage chambers, respectively. The partition wall separates the first internal storage chamber from the second internal storage chamber. The partition wall defines a channel that establishes fluid communication between the first and second internal storage chambers. The pressure relief valve extends between the first internal storage chamber and an exterior of the cabinet. The pressure relief valve is configured to open to vent air from the first internal storage chamber to the exterior of the cabinet.

Abstract: A laundry appliance includes a rotating drum for processing laundry. A blower directs process air through an airflow path that includes the rotating drum. A heat exchanger is positioned within the airflow path that dehumidifies the process air. A fixedly-secured lint filter captures lint from the process air at a position upstream of the heat exchanger. A fluid spray system has spray nozzles that deliver fluid to a surface of the fixedly-secured lint filter. Each spray nozzle of the plurality of spray nozzles directs captured lint away from the fixedly-secured lint filter.

Abstract: An automatic dishwashing device may include a tub defining a hollow dishwashing cavity having a back, top, bottom, and two sides and is accessible via an access opening at a front of the cavity, a rack slidably disposed within the tub and moveable in a longitudinal direction between a stored position within the tub to an extended position where the rack extends outside of the tub, and a tray slidably engaged with the rack for sliding movement in the longitudinal direction, wherein the tray is configured to selectively remain partially within the tub when the rack is in the extended position or extend outside the tub when the rack is in the extended position.

Abstract: A pump mount system for a laundry treating appliance having a cabinet and a pump located within the cabinet, a pump mount secured to the pump; a base mount spaced from the pump mount; at least one vibration isolator comprising a singular body having a first portion passing through a first opening on the pump mount, a second portion extending between the pump mount and the base mount, and a pin aperture passing through the vibration isolator; a pin removably received within the pin aperture; and at least one protrusion extending from at least one of the vibration isolator or the pin; wherein the at least one protrusion is engaged with at least one of the pin, the vibration isolator, or the base mount.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a door assembly for a laundry treating appliance having an inner door subassembly comprising an inner door frame, an intermediate door frame attached to the inner door frame, and an outer door screen attached to the intermediate door frame, and one or more mechanical fasteners extending from a front to a back of the inner door frame for mounting a handle or a hinge. The method including adhesively bonding a handle cover or hinge cover to the inner door frame to cover the one or more mechanical fasteners on the back of the inner door frame; affixing a user interface controller to the intermediate door frame through an aperture in the inner door subassembly, and adhering a touch film having an integrated flexible printed circuit board with touch buttons to the interior surface of the outer door screen. The touch film being communication with and configured to control the user interface controller.

Abstract: A laundry appliance includes a tub that is positioned within a cabinet. A drum includes an imperforate outer wall that is rotationally positioned within the tub. A blower delivers process air through an airflow path that includes a processing space defined within the drum. A heat exchange system conditions the process air that is delivered at least into the processing space as heated process air for drying articles contained within the processing space. The imperforate outer wall of the drum and the tub define supplemental heat exchange space that delivers supplemental heat through the imperforate outer wall and into the processing space. The supplemental heat exchange space is in thermal communication with the heat exchange system.

Abstract: A storage lid for a countertop appliance includes a body that has a first surface and a second surface and includes a raised peripheral wall that is disposed around the first surface and a lid that is disposed around the second surface. An elongated handle extends outwardly from the first surface and defines a recessed channel along the second surface of the body. A tab is operably coupled to the raised peripheral wall of the body. A sealing member is disposed proximate to the lip of the body.

Abstract: A refrigeration appliance includes a freezer compartment fluidly coupled to an ice maker compartment via an ice maker return duct. An internal sensor is positioned within the freezer compartment and configured to sense a first condition within the freezer compartment. An external sensor is coupled to said refrigeration appliance and configured to sense a second condition external to said refrigeration appliance. A return fan is positioned within the ice maker return duct. A controller is operably coupled to the internal and external sensors to receive sensed first and second conditions. The controller is configured to determine a differential between the sensed first condition within the freezer compartment and the sensed second condition external to said refrigeration appliance. The controller activates the return fan to blow air from the ice maker compartment into the freezer compartment in response to the differential.

Abstract: A laundry appliance includes a fluid pump that delivers process fluid through a fluid path. A tub is disposed within a cabinet and a drum that is rotationally operable within the tub. The tub and the drum define a portion of the fluid path, and a sprayer assembly is coupled with the tub for directing the process fluid into the drum. The sprayer assembly includes a first wall including a water inlet conduit and a light housing, a second wall spaced from the first wall, and a sidewall partially coupling the first wall and the second wall, thereby defining a cavity and an outlet.

Abstract: A laundry appliance including a cabinet, a tub, and a drum. The tub is positioned inside the cabinet. The tub includes a front tub wall having a front tub opening, a rear tub wall, and a tub sidewall that extends between the front tub wall and the rear tub wall. The drum is rotatably supported within the tub. The drum includes a front drum opening, a rear drum wall, a drum sidewall that extends between the front drum opening and the rear drum wall, and a laundry compartment positioned inside the drum that is accessible through the front drum opening. An air gap is positioned radially between the tub sidewall and the drum sidewall. At least one heating element is positioned on or in the tub sidewall to heat the tub sidewall and therefore air flowing through the air gap.

Abstract: A laundry appliance includes a basement housing comprising a capacitor receiver. A capacitor is disposed within the capacitor receiver to define a secured position. The capacitor receiver includes at least one retaining flange that is coupled to the basement housing via a living hinge. At least one retaining flange is outwardly biased away from a body of the capacitor when the capacitor is placed in an inserted position. At least one retaining flange includes a thread-engaging surface that operates to the secured position upon rotation of the capacitor in the inserted position.

Abstract: A method of forming a vacuum insulated structure includes providing a structural envelope an insulating cavity defined within the structural envelope. An expanding device is attached to opposing outer walls of the structural envelope and the interior cavity is expanded by pulling the opposing outer walls away from one another to define an expanded state. An insulating material is disposed within the insulating cavity to occupy substantially all of the insulating cavity in the expanded state. Gas is expressed from the insulating cavity to collapse the structural envelope to a final state and a final interior volume that is less than the expanded interior volume. The final state of the structural envelope defines a densified state of the insulating material within the insulating cavity. The vacuum port is then closed to hermetically seal the insulating cavity.