Abstract: A door assembly for an appliance includes an inner door, an outer door, and a lighting assembly positioned therebetween for illuminating a status indicator mounted on the outer door. The lighting assembly may include a mounting flange and a spring-loaded lighting board that engages an alignment feature mounted on the outer door when the door assembly is assembled, thereby aligning the light sources on the lighting board with the status indicator.

Abstract: In one exemplary aspect of the present disclosure, an ice making assembly is provided for making clear ice. The ice making assembly may include a conductive ice mold, an insulation jacket, and a water dispenser. The conductive ice mold may define an upper portion of a mold cavity extending from a top end to a bottom end. The insulation jacket may extend downward from the conductive ice mold. The insulation jacket may define a lower portion of the mold cavity. The lower portion of the mold cavity may be a vertically open passage aligned with the upper portion of the mold cavity. The water dispenser may be positioned below the insulation jacket to direct an ice-building spray of water to the mold cavity through the vertically open passage of the insulation jacket.

Abstract: An ice making assembly and method for making clear ice utilizing an ice making appliance are provided herein. The ice making appliance may include a cabinet, an ice mold, a heating element, and a controller. The ice mold may be positioned within the freezer chamber and define a mold cavity. The heating element may be mounted within the ice mold in conductive thermal communication with the mold cavity. The controller may be configured to initiate an ice making operation. The ice making operation may include maintaining the freezer chamber below a first sub-freezing during an ice formation cycle subsequent to a volume of water being received within the mold cavity, and heating the ice mold during the ice formation cycle at the heating element as a portion of the volume of water freezes to a frozen volume.

Abstract: Ice making assemblies and methods for making ice, and particularly clear ice, are provided herein. The methods of making ice may include providing a volume of water within a mold cavity defined by an ice mold. The volume of water may be demineralized. Additionally or alternatively, the mold cavity may be pre-chilled to a sub-freezing temperature. Also additionally or alternatively, a freezer chamber in which the ice mold is provided may be directed to one or more sub-freezing temperatures while the volume of water is within the mold cavity.

Abstract: A battery-powered temperature probe for measuring the temperature of food products within a cooking utensil. The temperature probe includes a temperature sensor and a control housing positioned at opposite ends of a flexible arm. The flexible arm is magnetically attachable to the cooking utensil such that the temperature sensor is in thermal communication with the food products and the control housing is positioned outside of and below the top of the cooking utensil. A radiant heat shield may be included in the control housing and the control housing may be oriented such that temperature-sensitive components, such as the battery and display, experience reduced temperatures during operation.

Abstract: A battery-powered temperature probe for measuring the temperature of food products within a cooking utensil. The temperature probe includes a temperature sensor and a control housing positioned at opposite ends of a flexible arm. The flexible arm is magnetically attachable to the cooking utensil such that the temperature sensor is in thermal communication with the food products and the control housing is positioned outside of and below the top of the cooking utensil. A radiant heat shield may be included in the control housing and the control housing may be oriented such that temperature-sensitive components, such as the battery and display, experience reduced temperatures during operation.

Abstract: An active ice press is provided herein and may be utilized to reshape an initial ice billet as a sculpted ice nugget. The active ice press may include a mold body and an electric heater. The mold body may define an axial direction and a mold cavity within which the sculpted ice nugget is shaped. The mold body may include a first mold segment and a second mold segment. The first mold segment may define a first cavity portion of the mold cavity. The second mold segment may be movably positioned above the first mold segment along the axial direction. The second mold segment may define a second cavity portion of the mold cavity. The electric heater may be disposed within the mold body in conductive thermal engagement with the mold cavity.

Abstract: A cooktop includes a cooking surface and a heating element. A cover for the cooktop includes a top sheet extending between a left side and a right side and between a front side and a back side. A locator opening is defined in the top sheet. A first peripheral flange extends from one of the left side and the front side, and a second peripheral flange extends from one of the right side and the back side. A first plurality of cooling slots is between the top sheet and the first peripheral flange. A second plurality of cooling slots is between the top sheet and the second peripheral flange. The cover is configured to overlie the cooktop such that the locator opening corresponds to the heating element of the cooktop.

Abstract: An assistive control attachment for an appliance can include features for sensing the position or orientation of the assistive control attachment, determining the mode of operation of the appliance based at least in part on the position of the assistive control attachment, communicating the mode of operation of the appliance to a user, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: An assistive control attachment for an appliance can include features for sensing the position or orientation of the assistive control attachment, determining the mode of operation of the appliance based at least in part on the position of the assistive control attachment, communicating the mode of operation of the appliance to a user, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: A beverage brewing system is provided that includes a brewing body defining a brew chamber and a lid that is removably attachable to the brewing body to seal the brew chamber. The brewing system further includes a vacuum pump for drawing a vacuum in the brew chamber through a vacuum line assembly. An inlet to the vacuum line assembly is positioned above a top lip of the brewing body and a baffle may extend from the lid to assist in preventing water within the brew chamber from splashing, sloshing, or otherwise entering the inlet to the vacuum line assembly.

Abstract: A beverage brewing system is provided that includes a brewing body defining a brew chamber and a lid that is removably attachable to the brewing body to seal the brew chamber. The brewing system further includes a vacuum pump for drawing a vacuum in the brew chamber through a vacuum line assembly and a solenoid valve for preventing air from entering the brew chamber and breaking the vacuum. A moisture removal device is operably coupled to the vacuum line assembly for collecting water drawn into the vacuum line assembly from the brew chamber.

Abstract: A rack lifting assembly for a dishwasher appliance is provided. The rack lifting assembly includes frame having rotatably mounted wheels to enable the frame to be rolled in and out of the wash chamber of the dishwasher appliance. A lower rack may be operably coupled to the frame by a pulley system including a rope winding between a first set of pulleys mounted to the frame and a second set of pulleys mounted to the lower rack. A retracting means, such as a motor, may wind and unwind a rope of the pulley system to move the lower rack vertically within the frame. Linear slides are mounted on the left and right sides of the frame to guide the lower rack, thereby keeping it in a horizontal orientation while lifting.

Abstract: A rack lifting assembly for a dishwasher appliance is provided. The rack lifting assembly includes frame having rotatably mounted wheels to enable the frame to be rolled in and out of the wash chamber of the dishwasher appliance. A lower rack may be operably coupled to the frame by a pulley system including a rope winding between a first set of pulleys mounted to the frame and a second set of pulleys mounted to the lower rack. A retracting means, such as a motor, may wind and unwind a rope of the pulley system to move the lower rack vertically within the frame. Linear slides are mounted on the left and right sides of the frame to guide the lower rack, thereby keeping it in a horizontal orientation while lifting.

Abstract: A battery-powered temperature probe for measuring the temperature of food products within a cooking utensil. The temperature probe includes a temperature sensor and a control housing positioned at opposite ends of a flexible arm. The flexible arm is magnetically attachable to the cooking utensil such that the temperature sensor is in thermal communication with the food products and the control housing is positioned outside of and below the top of the cooking utensil. A radiant heat shield may be included in the control housing and the control housing may be oriented such that temperature-sensitive components, such as the battery and display, experience reduced temperatures during operation.

Abstract: A battery-powered temperature probe for measuring the temperature of food products within a cooking utensil. The temperature probe includes a temperature sensor and a control housing positioned at opposite ends of a flexible arm. The flexible arm is magnetically attachable to the cooking utensil such that the temperature sensor is in thermal communication with the food products and the control housing is positioned outside of and below the top of the cooking utensil. A radiant heat shield may be included in the control housing and the control housing may be oriented such that temperature-sensitive components, such as the battery and display, experience reduced temperatures during operation.

Abstract: A refrigerator appliance including a refrigerated chamber defined by a liner positioned within a cabinet is provided. At least one track extends generally along a vertical direction of the refrigerator appliance attached to or positioned adjacent to the liner. Additionally, a shelf assembly is configured to attach to the track. An electrical bar extends at least partially within the track and a probe of the shelf assembly is configured to extend into the track and press against the electrical bar along a transverse direction. The probe may accordingly make an electrical connection with electrical bar when the shelf assembly is attached the track.

Abstract: An oven appliance including a cabinet having a first wall at least partially defining a cooking chamber configured for receipt of items to be cooked is provided. The oven appliance also includes a lighting system positioned adjacent to an opening defined by the first wall of the cabinet. The lighting system includes an optical feature and a light source positioned outside the cooking chamber and spaced from the opening in the first wall. The optical feature extends between the light source and the opening defined by the first wall to direct light from the light source into the cooking chamber when the lighting system is activated.

Abstract: A refrigerator appliance including a refrigerated chamber defined by a liner positioned within a cabinet is provided. At least one track extends generally along a vertical direction of the refrigerator appliance attached to or positioned adjacent to the liner. Additionally, a shelf assembly is configured to attach to the track. An electrical bar extends at least partially within the track and a probe of the shelf assembly is configured to extend into the track and press against the electrical bar along a transverse direction. The probe may accordingly make an electrical connection with electrical bar when the shelf assembly is attached the track.

Abstract: An oven appliance including a cabinet having a first wall at least partially defining a cooking chamber configured for receipt of items to be cooked is provided. The oven appliance also includes a lighting system positioned adjacent to an opening defined by the first wall of the cabinet. The lighting system includes an optical feature and a light source positioned outside the cooking chamber and spaced from the opening in the first wall. The optical feature extends between the light source and the opening defined by the first wall to direct light from the light source into the cooking chamber when the lighting system is activated.