Abstract: A refrigerator is provided, including a cabinet formed with at least one refrigerated compartment and a door pivotally mounted to the cabinet via a hollow hinge to selectively open and close at least a portion of the refrigerated compartment. A water heater is mounted on an exterior surface of the cabinet about the hollow hinge and configured to heat water supplied from the refrigerator. A hot water dispenser is positioned on the door that is configured to dispense hot water supplied from the water heater into a receiver vessel, and a hot water conduit is guided through the hollow hinge and extending from the water heater to the hot water dispenser to supply the hot water from the heater to the dispenser. A method of dispensing hot water is also provided. The method utilizes at least two distinct, user-initiated steps to permit the dispensing of hot water.

Abstract: A refrigerator is provided, including a cabinet formed with at least one refrigerated compartment, and a door pivotally mounted to the cabinet. A vented exhaust conduit is provided at least partially within an interior of the door and defines a pathway in fluid communication with an environment exterior of the cabinet. A water heater includes a heating element located at least partially within the vented exhaust conduit and configured to heat water supplied from the refrigerator, wherein heat generated by said heating element can escape through the pathway of the vented exhaust to said environment exterior of the cabinet. A hot water dispenser is positioned on the door that is configured to dispense hot water supplied from the water heater into a receiver vessel. A method of dispensing hot water is also provided. The method utilizes at least two distinct, user-initiated steps to permit the dispensing of hot water.

Abstract: Provided is a refrigeration appliance (2) that includes a fresh food compartment (8) and a freezer compartment (4). A refrigerator liner (14) is located within the fresh food compartment. The liner includes one or more recesses for receiving brackets (10). Each bracket may be removably inserted into a recess (12) such that when the bracket is inserted into the recess, the bracket and recess form a substantially planar plane across the liner.

Abstract: An ice making assembly includes an ice tray extending along a longitudinal axis. The ice tray includes a first section disposed at a longitudinal first end of the ice tray, the first section including a plurality of first cavities projecting into the ice tray. The ice tray further includes a second section disposed at a longitudinal second end of the ice tray that is opposite from the longitudinal first end. The second section includes an elongated second cavity extending in a direction that is substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of the ice tray. The second cavity has a shape that is longer in length than a length of each of the first cavities.

Abstract: A hinge assembly is provided for a pivoting door mounted about an opening, and may include a hinge plate, an internally threaded adjuster, a locking element, a first cam element, a second cam element, and a limiting plate. The hinge plate is mounted about the opening and includes a pivot projecting therefrom.

Abstract: Provided is a refrigeration appliance (2) that includes a fresh food compartment (8) and a freezer compartment (4). A refrigerator liner (14) is located within the fresh food compartment. The liner includes one or more recesses for receiving brackets (10). Each bracket may be removably inserted into a recess (12) such that when the bracket is inserted into the recess, the bracket and recess form a substantially planar plane across the liner.

Abstract: Provided is a refrigeration appliance including a cabinet defining a fresh-food compartment and a freezer compartment. The refrigeration appliance includes a refrigeration system that is operable to provide a cooling effect to an interior of the fresh-food and freezer compartments. A pair of doors is pivotally connected to the cabinet with a hinge assembly for restricting access to the interior of the fresh-food compartment. Each door includes a side portion extending between an exterior face and an interior portion of the door. The side portions of the doors generally oppose each other when the doors are closed. A user interface is also provided to the side portion of at least one of the doors comprising an input device to be manipulated by a user for controlling a target temperature within at least one of the fresh-food and freezer compartments.

Abstract: Provided is a refrigeration appliance including a cabinet defining a fresh-food compartment and a freezer compartment. The refrigeration appliance includes a refrigeration system that is operable to provide a cooling effect to an interior of the fresh-food and freezer compartments. A pair of doors is pivotally connected to the cabinet with a hinge assembly for restricting access to the interior of the fresh-food compartment. Each door includes a side portion extending between an exterior face and an interior portion of the door. The side portions of the doors generally oppose each other when the doors are closed. A user interface is also provided to the side portion of at least one of the doors comprising an input device to be manipulated by a user for controlling a target temperature within at least one of the fresh-food and freezer compartments.

Abstract: A storage compartment assembly is located within the interior of a compartment of a refrigerator such as a fresh food compartment of a refrigerator. The storage compartment assembly includes a storage container the temperature of which can be controlled independently of the temperature in the fresh food compartment. At least one of the sides of the storage container can be spaced away from a respective interior side of the refrigerator compartment and a housing located in the space between the side of the storage container and the interior side of the refrigerator compartment. The housing can contain components that are configured to function in the operation of the refrigerator, including the storage compartment assembly. The refrigerator can comprise a bottom-mount refrigerator and the fresh food compartment can be provided with double-doors for closing and opening the interior of the fresh food compartment.

Abstract: A hinge assembly is provided for a pivoting door mounted about an opening, and may include a hinge plate, an internally threaded adjuster, a locking element, a first cam element, a second cam element, and a limiting plate. The hinge plate is mounted about the opening and includes a pivot projecting therefrom.

Abstract: Vehicle comprising a box structure (1) in an inner panel (2) of which there is provided an opening (3) for the passage of components, such as a window raiser mechanism (4), mounted on a support plate (5) shaped for being applied in a sealed manner against the periphery of the opening. The support plate of the components has a dishing region (9) situated at the level of the articulation joints R1, R2 of the hips of passengers so as to constitute a pelvis thrust member in the event of a lateral impact on the door. The dishing region (9) is press formed and comprises a group of bosses (11) orientated in the direction toward the window glass (10) and interconnected on the side adjacent to the passengers by planar areas (12) of the support plate.

Abstract: The invention concerns a system, wherein the door casing does not comprise casing slido rails and at least one of the guide members of the sliding pane (3) comprises either a part (4a-4b) of the slide (4) of the pane frame, which is integral with said slide and extends it inside the door casing (2), or a part of said pane fram slide, arranged in its extension, but separate therefrom, said slide part (4a-4b) being mounted in either case in standard fashion on the corresponding edge of the pane.

Abstract: A vehicle door module adapted to support mechanisms such as a window raiser (12) and to be applied in a sealed manner on the surround of two inner openings (7,9) of a box structure of the door includes two distinct panels (3,4) interconnected by a rigid structure (5,6). Each panel is adapted to support components (13,19) of the mechanisms and to be applied in a sealed manner on a respective one of the openings (7,8) of the box structure (9), which has a contour complementary to the contour of the each panel. The window raiser (12) may be of the “double lift” type having two guide rails (13,14) each mounted on a respective panel (3,4). This division into two parts (3,4) reduces the amount of plastics material required and reduces the manufacturing cost of the module (1) while a rigid structure (11) between the two openings (7,8) of the door increases the rigidity of the latter.

Abstract: A module (3) for the door (1) of an automobile vehicle comprises a window raiser mechanism (4) of the type having two substantially parallel rails (5) and driving cables (6) arranged in the form of an X between these rails and slidable relative to the latter, and a support for this mechanism. This support (9) has a generally X shape connecting the upper ends (5a) to the lower ends (5b) of the rails and enveloping the cables. This support may be, for example, formed by an X-shaped tubular structure rigidly interconnecting the two rails and enveloping the cables (6) whose sheaths, which were otherwise necessary, may be eliminated. The tubular structure (9) protects the cables against aggression and deterioration due to transport and mounting in the door.

Abstract: An automobile vehicle door (1) includes a box structure (3), a module (4) including an acoustic chamber (6) supporting a speaker (7) adapted to be applied on the periphery of an opening (5) formed on the inner side of the box structure and an inner trim panel (8) covering the module. The module is fixed in a watertight manner on the surround of the opening (5) of the box structure, a peripheral rib (12) is provided for defining in the module a volume of air V excited by the rear wave of the speaker, and a vent is provided in the trim panel for returning the rear wave of the speaker in the direction toward a listening zone. With this arrangement, the door is provided with an acoustic enclosure of the “bass reflex” type having a very good acoustic efficiency in respect of the bass frequencies with no risk of entry of water into the compartment of the vehicle through the vent (17).

Abstract: A method for mounting a carrier for a window-lifter mechanism in a shell of a vehicle door, the window lifter including at least one rail for guiding the window and the shell having an opening through which the carrier is introduced as well as, at its top, a well for the passage of the window; a) the rail is secured to its carrier with a mutual separation (d1) which is greater than the normal separation in the service position of the window lifter; b) the upper end of the rail is introduced into the shell; c) the upper end of the rail is made to enter the window well by raising the carrier and the window lifter; d) the lower end of the rail is passed over the lower rim of the opening; e) the carrier is pressed against a sealing border around the opening by lowering the assembly back down so that the lower end of the rail positions itself in the shell below the lower rim; f) and the rail is moved from its position of separation (d1) from the carrier into its normal service position (d2) by bringing it closer t

Abstract: Window lifter for vehicle door, comprising two rails which are mutually parallel and parallel to the travel of the window glass (3), a rider mounted so that it can slide on each rail and secured to a window glass support clamp device (14) including a part (15) fixed to the rider and a part (16) which can move, articulated to the fixed part, as well as a system of cables which are connected to the riders and provided with means for driving the said cables and the riders; the mobile part (16) of each clamp has a bearing surface (23) for the window glass, situated substantially along the axis of sliding of the rider, this surface being formed by a bent end (24) extending a lateral lug (25) of the mobile part (16). This arrangement makes it possible for the weight of the window glass (3) to be borne on a bearing surface situated on the axis of sliding of the rider along the rail, which eliminates any cantilever effect and therefore any parasitic forces in the mechanism during travel of the window glass.

Abstract: A piezoelectric moving linear motor consists of three piezoelectric actuators which are controlled relative to each other. One piezoelectric actuators causes two blocks to move away from each other in opposition to a spring force. The other two piezoelectric actuators selectively clamp a block to a guide shaft. By cyclically controlling the actuation of the three piezoelectric actuators, the motor is able to move the blocks axially along the guide shaft. Preferably, a vehicle component such as a window is fixed to one block and is caused to move along the guide shaft.

Abstract: A piezoelectric drive to provide a rotary force to a rotating element includes a pair of circumferentially spaced fingers. The fingers are selectively moved towards and away from the rotating element with piezoelectric actuators that expand and contract. An intermediate piezoelectric actuator moves the two fingers away from each other or allows them to be moved towards each other. A bias force acts in opposition to the intermediate piezoelectric actuator. By controlling the three piezoelectric actuators, the system rotates the rotating element. The system is preferably utilized for driving a vehicle component, and most preferably, a window for a vehicle. The inventive motor provides a low cost compact motor for driving vehicle components.

Abstract: This support consists of a panel (11) and of a window-lift (13) plate (12) preassembled with the panel. This support is fastened to the door frame (3) on the one hand by fastenings between the panel (11) and the frame (3) and on the other hand by fastenings between the plate (12) and this same frame (3). It may be mounted in the door after the fittings (15, 16, 17 . . . ) have been preadjusted and enables them to be serviced conveniently without having to disassemble the whole of the support, while at the same time having a reduced cost.