Abstract: A connection system includes a feature module that supplies various functionalities, a portable countertop stand having an upright section that selectively receives the feature module and an umbilical connecting the portable stand to an external appliance to deliver utilities to the portable countertop stand. A utility port selectively delivers at least one utility to the feature module when engaged with the upright section. A utility receiver removably engages the utility port by hand without the use of tools and selectively receives a predetermined set of utilities when the feature module engages the upright surface. A connection interface detects when the feature module is engaged with the upright section and the predetermined utility set required by the engaged feature module. After the feature module is engaged, the connection interface prompts the utility port to release the predetermined utility set to the feature module.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method for storage in a refrigerated appliance. One aspect includes glides or slides underneath and within the bottom perimeter dimensions of any bin or bin carrier relative to its supporting structure in the refrigerated appliance. This allows adjacent bins to more efficiently utilize lateral storage space in the refrigerator. It also promotes hiding of the glide or slides from view.

Abstract: A split air conditioner has a cabinet with a fan and evaporator for mounting within a structure. The cabinet includes a filter or a stacked filter system positioned in the flow path between an air inlet and an air outlet for filtering contaminants from the air. Movable filters are provided for selectively bypassing the filters to provide a greater or lesser degree of filtration of the air. Preferably, the filters are high performance HEPA-like filter having substantially less pressure drop .

Abstract: A split air conditioner has a cabinet with a fan and evaporator for mounting within a structure. The cabinet includes one or more movable dampers or movable filters positioned in the flow path between the air inlet and the outlet for selectively filtering contaminants from the air to provide a greater or lesser degree of filtration of the air. The movable filters include sliding and/or pivot mounting structure which may accommodate stacking multiple filters with different filtering characteristics. The system may operate in a filtering only mode with no cooling, a cooling only mode with no filtering, or a combination of cooling and selective filtering.

Abstract: A split air conditioner has a cabinet with a fan and evaporator for mounting within a structure. The cabinet includes a filter or a stacked filter system positioned in the flow path between an air inlet and an air outlet for filtering contaminants from the air. Movable dampers are provided for selectively changing the airflow path to selectively bypass the filter to provide a greater or lesser degree of filtration of the air. Preferably, the filter is a high performance HEPA-like filter having substantially less pressure drop .

Abstract: A refrigerator includes a vacuum insulated cabinet structure having side walls that are formed from a tube that has been folded/deformed into a structure having an “O” shape with vertically enlarged front and rear openings. The interior of the tube may be filled with silica powder or other filler, and a vacuum is formed within the tube. An insulated rear panel may be utilized to close off the rear opening of the vacuum insulated cabinet structure.

Abstract: A modular laundry system includes at least one laundry appliance and at least one laundry module below the laundry appliance. Both the laundry appliance and the laundry module have a single width. The laundry module has a height that is less than the height of the laundry appliance and performs a washing function to wash laundry.

Abstract: A laundry module performs a washing function to wash laundry and has a height that is less than the height of a laundry appliance. The laundry module can be part of a modular laundry system including the laundry appliance. The laundry module can be vertically arranged with the laundry appliance, such as by supporting the laundry appliance thereupon.

Abstract: A refrigerator includes a vacuum insulated cabinet structure having side walls that are formed from a tube that has been folded/deformed into a structure having an “O” shape with vertically enlarged front and rear openings. The interior of the tube may be filled with silica powder or other filler, and a vacuum is formed within the tube. An insulated rear panel may be utilized to close off the rear opening of the vacuum insulated cabinet structure.

Abstract: A refrigerator door includes the ability to mount a variety of modules requiring utilities, such as electricity and fluids, within adjustable locations in the door of the refrigerator. The door includes a conduit extending in at least one direction and including one or more plug-in connectors for allowing a module with a mating connector to be positioned on the door for supplying operating utilities to the module. This allows the purchaser of the refrigerator to add components and accessories to the refrigerator after purchase or select desired features at the time of purchase.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method of illumination relative to an appliance. A programmable controller activates one or more light sources automatically based on a trigger or sensed condition. The controller dynamically adjusts the one or more light sources in a closed loop fashion.

Abstract: A vacuum panel cabinet structure comprising a frame having side and back framing members defining a frame opening and panel receptacles, framing edges, at least one outwardly expanded framing member, and an inner surface. A plurality of vacuum panels disposed in the panel receptacles. A barrier layer disposed on the vacuum panels. An outer enclosure having at least one extruded channel engaging the at least one outwardly expanded framing member, at least one outwardly contoured hinge, and an inward surface defining a frame receptacle into which the frame is disposed. A liner having at least four sidewalls, a back panel, a liner outer facing surface, and a liner perimetrical flange, wherein the liner outer facing surface is disposed within the frame opening proximate the frame inner surface. The liner perimetrical flange is disposed to the outer enclosure and includes a hermetically sealed infrastructure notch.

Abstract: A high-efficiency air conditioning system for conditioning a plurality of zones within an interior of a building that includes: at least two independent ductwork systems within a building wherein each independent ductwork system directs heating and cooling to one zone within the building; a single outdoor unit a refrigerant flow pathway having a common refrigerant flow path portion, a first divergent flow path, and a second divergent flow path; at least one throttling device and at least a first indoor air handling unit providing cooling to a first independent ductwork system and a second indoor air handling unit providing cooling to a second indoor ductwork system. The compressor is incapable of simultaneously supplying both the first evaporator and the second evaporator at their full cooling capacity.

Abstract: A high-efficiency air conditioning system for conditioning a plurality of rooms within an interior of a building, the air conditioning system including: two separate rooms within a building, a single outdoor unit a refrigerant flow pathway that includes a plurality of refrigerant conduits having a common refrigerant flow path portion and at least two divergent flow path portions, a first divergent flow path where the first evaporator and second evaporator are in parallel with one another; at least one throttling device and at least a first indoor air handling unit positioned within and providing cooling to the first room and a second indoor air handling unit positioned within and providing cooling to a second room. The compressor is incapable of simultaneously supplying both the first evaporator and the second evaporator at their full cooling capacity.

Abstract: A shelf for supporting items including but not limited to in refrigerated appliances includes in an integrated fashion a supporting surface and around the perimeter of the supporting surface of similar dimensions. A lighting subassembly is mountable to or integrated in the framing. Electrical power can be through touchless or contact electrical communication. In one form the supporting surface is a single substantially clear plate. In another form the supporting surface is a thin glass top layer and a bottom layer overmolded with the framing to the thin glass top layer.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method for storage in a refrigerated appliance. One aspect includes glides or slides underneath and within the bottom perimeter dimensions of any bin or bin carrier relative to its supporting structure in the refrigerated appliance. This allows adjacent bins to more efficiently utilize lateral storage space in the refrigerator. It also promotes hiding of the glide or slides from view.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method for storage in a refrigerated appliance. One aspect includes glides or slides underneath and within the bottom perimeter dimensions of any bin or bin carrier relative to its supporting structure in the refrigerated appliance. This allows adjacent bins to more efficiently utilize lateral storage space in the refrigerator. It also promotes hiding of the glide or slides from view.

Abstract: An appliance such as a refrigerator includes a housing such as a refrigerator cabinet, a compartment disposed within the refrigerator cabinet or housing, a visual display positioned at an interior of the compartment, a circuit operatively connected to the visual display and configured to operate the visual display in a manner indicative of an environmental system of the refrigerator. The visual display may be a flat panel display and may show an animation.

Abstract: A gravity-driven water filtering system comprising: a gravity-driven water filter configured to engage and deliver treated water through apertures of various sizes and a filter receiving device. The gravity-driven water filter includes: a bottom portion; a water filter; and a top portion. The water filter is configured to be removably engaged by hand without the use of tools from the bottom portion and the water filter, the bottom portion and the top portion are each configured to be removably engaged and disengaged to allow for replacement of the filter and reassembly of the overall gravity filter assembly by hand and without the use of tools. The filter receiving device is a) a flat bottomed stand; b) a carrying device; or c) an adapter.

Abstract: A gravity-driven fluid (water) treatment device that includes a bottom portion having at least one treated fluid outlet, an upper perimeter, and a bottom portion side wall that defines an interior volume of the bottom portion and wherein the bottom portion side wall is a shaped surface that is configured to frictionally engage a plurality of differently sized fluid vessel openings and still allow treated fluid to be delivered to the interior of a fluid vessel through the at least one treated fluid outlets; a fluid treatment medium positioned within a fluid filter; and a top portion with an interior volume defined by at least one wall. The fluid filter, the bottom portion and the top portion are each configured to be removably engaged and disengaged to allow for replacement of the filter and reassembly of the overall gravity filter assembly by hand and without the use of tools.