Abstract: An apparatus including a frame, a door and a compliant hinge mechanism hingably mounting the door to the frame, the compliant hinge mechanism including a resistance configured to provide a preload to balance the door in a first open position and an increasing force resisting further opening of the door when the preload is overcome and the door is opened past the first open position.

Abstract: A gas range includes a gas cooktop including a plurality of gas cooktop burners, and an oven coupled to the gas cooktop. The oven includes an oven cavity comprising a top portion, a bottom portion, a rear portion coupled to the top and bottom portions, a first side portion, and a second side portion, the first and second side portions coupled to the top, bottom, and rear portions respectively, at least one gas oven burner positioned proximate to the bottom portion within the oven cavity; and a first electrical heating element positioned proximate the top portion within the oven cavity.

Abstract: An apparatus including a frame forming an internal cavity, the frame having an opening for accessing the internal cavity, a first door and a second door mounted to the frame and a door coupling mechanism for effecting a substantially simultaneous movement of the first door and second door relative to the frame, the door coupling mechanism including a first door link, a second door link and at least one ternary link, the first door link being rotatably coupled to the first door and the at least one ternary link, the second door being rotatably coupled to the second door and the at least one ternary link.

Abstract: A control system for a gas grill is disclosed. The gas grill has a cooking surface. The control system includes at least two fuel flow valves located between a fuel source and at least one grill burner, a user interface unit configured to receive grill operation settings, at least one temperature sensor disposed adjacent to the cooking surface and configured to detect at least a grill operating temperature and a control unit configured to, receive the grill operation settings from the user interface unit, receive the grill operating temperature from the at least one temperature sensor, and automatically control the at least one fuel flow valve for modulating the amount of fuel delivered to the at least one grill burner to maintain the grill operating temperature at a predetermined temperature based on the operation settings and the grill operating temperature.

Abstract: An appliance including at least two surface burners and a burner control system configured to selectively allow individual control of each of the at least two burners or simultaneous control of the at least two burners as a unit.

Abstract: A washing machine is provided that includes a tub and a perforated basket rotationally mounted within the tub for relative rotation therewith. A recirculation system is coupled between the tub and the basket and is configured to remove wash liquid from the tub and return wash liquid to the basket. A controller is operatively coupled to the washing machine. The controller is configured to begin recirculation of concentrated wash liquid after an initial fill during a basket slow spin and continue the recirculation of concentrated wash liquid for a predetermined time period prior to a complete fill.

Abstract: A vent system for a cooking appliance is disclosed. The appliance has a cooktop surface supporting a plurality of surface heating units. The vent system includes a vent box mounted beneath the cooktop surface; a telescopic vent assembly telescopically mounted relative to the vent box, the telescopic vent assembly being movable between a retracted position proximate the cooktop surface and an extended position above the cooktop surface; a retention unit configured to releasably hold the telescopic vent assembly in the retracted position; and a stored energy mechanical drive unit configured to move the telescopic vent assembly in a first direction to the extended position upon release of the retention unit.

Abstract: A vent hood is disclosed. The vent hood includes an enclosure having an inlet and a fluid passage, a first stage fluid moving device disposed adjacent to the inlet and configured to provide a substantially uniform inflow of fluid across the inlet, and a second stage fluid moving device disposed within the enclosure and downstream of the first stage fluid moving device.

Abstract: A washing machine is provided. The washing machine includes a tub, a sensor operatively coupled to the tub and configured to sense a conductivity of a fluid in the tub and a controller operatively coupled to the sensor for controlling an amount of the fluid in the tub based on the conductivity of the fluid.

Abstract: A door assembly for a cooking appliance including a cabinet, a lower oven cavity and an upper oven cavity defined within the cabinet is provided. The door assembly includes a lower oven door movably coupled to the cabinet and configured to cover the lower oven cavity. The lower oven door defines a lower oven door air inlet and a lower oven door air outlet. A lower oven door air passage is defined within the lower oven door and provides flow communication between the lower oven door air inlet and the lower oven door air outlet. An upper oven door is movably coupled to the cabinet and configured to cover the upper oven cavity. The upper oven door defines an upper oven door air inlet and an upper oven door air outlet. An upper oven door air passage is defined within the upper oven door and provides flow communication between the upper oven door air inlet and the upper oven door air outlet.

Abstract: A method for operating a washing machine in a wash cycle is provided. The washing machine includes a rotatable basket disposed in a wash tub and an agitator disposed in the basket. The method includes, in an exemplary embodiment, adding a predetermined amount of wash liquid to the wash tub, oscillating the agitator at a first speed, and oscillating the agitator at a second speed that is greater than the first speed.

Abstract: An oven rack apparatus for supporting a cooking utensil in an oven. The oven rack apparatus includes a support portion configured to support the cooking utensil thereon. A handle portion is disposed on a side of the support portion. The handle portion has an extremely low thermal conductivity.

Abstract: A grate assembly includes a cook top defining a support surface, and a grate that includes a projection extending from a peripheral portion. The projection is configured to support a cooking vessel on the grate. The peripheral portion is configured to support the grate on the support surface. A hole is formed in one of the peripheral portion of the grate or the support surface of the cook top. An insert is disposed within the hole and between the support surface of the cook top and the peripheral portion of the grate.

Abstract: An icemaker assembly is disposed within a refrigerator having a freezer compartment, a fresh food compartment and respective freezer and fresh food door assemblies. The icemaker assembly comprises a conveyor assembly positioned within the freezer compartment having a flexible conveyor belt with a multiplicity of individual ice cube molds for creation of individual ice cubes. An ice cube storage bin is positioned below the conveyor assembly for storing the ice cubes and a fullness sensor is positioned for determining the fill level of ice cubes within the ice cube storage bin.

Abstract: An electric cooking appliance is provided. The electric cooking appliance includes a plurality of surface heating elements and a plurality of sensors configured to monitor an operational status of a corresponding surface heating element. The electric cooking appliance also includes a first cooking unit, a second cooking unit and an electronic control to facilitate sharing power between the first cooking unit and the second cooking unit based on the operational status of the plurality of surface heating elements.

Abstract: An electric cooking appliance is provided. The electric cooking appliance includes a plurality of surface heating elements and a plurality of sensors configured to monitor an operational status of a corresponding surface heating element. The electric cooking appliance also includes a first cooking unit, a second cooking unit and an electronic control to facilitate sharing power between the first cooking unit and the second cooking unit based on the operational status of the plurality of surface heating elements.

Abstract: A rack assembly includes a pair of laterally spaced inner rails, wherein each inner rail includes a coating layer configured to withstand a self clean oven temperature, and a pair of laterally spaced outer rails, wherein each outer rail is slidably coupled to a corresponding inner rail, and each outer rail includes a coating layer configured to withstand a self clean oven temperature. The rack assembly also includes a plurality of bearings positioned between the inner rails and the outer rails, a lubricant to facilitate movement between the plurality of bearings and at least one of the inner rails and the outer rails, wherein the lubricant is configured to withstand a self clean oven temperature, and a cooking rack coupled to each inner rail.

Abstract: A method for operating a washing machine in a wash cycle is provided. The washing machine includes a rotatable basket disposed in a wash tub and an agitator disposed in the basket. The method includes, in an exemplary embodiment, adding a predetermined amount of wash liquid to the wash tub, oscillating the agitator at a first speed, and oscillating the agitator at a second speed that is greater than the first speed.

Abstract: An icemaker assembly is disposed within a refrigerator having a freezer compartment, a fresh food compartment and respective freezer and fresh food door assemblies. The icemaker assembly comprises a conveyor assembly positioned within the freezer compartment having a flexible conveyor belt with a multiplicity of individual ice cube molds for creation of individual ice cubes. An ice cube storage bin is positioned below the conveyor assembly for storing the ice cubes and a fullness sensor is positioned for determining the fill level of ice cubes within the ice cube storage bin.

Abstract: An icemaker assembly is disposed within a refrigerator having a freezer compartment, a fresh food compartment and respective freezer and fresh food door assemblies. The icemaker assembly comprises a conveyor assembly positioned within the freezer compartment having a flexible conveyor belt with a multiplicity of individual ice cube molds for creation of individual ice cubes. An ice cube storage bin is positioned below the conveyor assembly for storing the ice cubes and a fullness sensor is positioned for determining the fill level of ice cubes within the ice cube storage bin.