Abstract: A refrigerator including two compartments, one of which is maintained at a temperature above freezing for the storage of fresh foods and the other of which is maintained at a temperature below freezing for storage of frozen foods is cooled by air circulated over an evaporator disposed outside the compartments. The evaporator comprises a metal plate having a cooling element mounted thereon in heat exchange relationship. The evaporator is positioned in the cabinet in such a manner that the cooling element is disposed in a first passage and air is circulated over the cooling element and then in proportioned amounts to the aforementioned compartments. To reduce the amount of frost collecting on the cooling element a second passage is provided in the refrigerator cabinet adjacent the opposite side of the plate from that on which the cooling element is mounted.

Abstract: An air conditioner control circuit having a thermostat for automatically causing the air conditioner to be de-energized at predetermined low temperatures and including means for causing the fan motor to run periodically for some time period after the air conditioner has been de-energized to allow the air temperature to be better sampled by the thermostat. Means are also provided in the control circuit for allowing fan operation for a period of time after the air conditioner has been de-energized.

Abstract: A two-door household refrigerator with a separate freezer compartment and a manually-initiated freezer defrost cycle. A frost-sensing means is located in the thermal insulation in outer-spaced relation from the combined freezer liner and evaporator. The frost sensing means is thermally sensitive at a preselected high temperature of the insulation at the completion of the defrost cycle.

Abstract: A fastener clip is adapted for removably mounting a plate-like member to a side wall, the plate-like member including a leading edge perpendicular to the side wall. The fastener clip comprises a base member adapted for secure mounting to the side wall and a pair of spaced resilient parallel legs projecting outwardly from the base member generally perpendicularly to the side wall. The gap between the parallel legs is generally parallel to the installed position of the plate-like member. A head is formed on the end of each leg, extending generally away from the gap. Each of the heads has at least a first inclined surface, with the first inclined surfaces oriented with respect to each other so as to form a generally "V" shaped channel for guiding the leading edge and bead of the plate-like member into the space between the parallel legs.

Abstract: A one-way ball check valve arranged in a tube so that minimum point contact is maintained between the moving ball valve member and the surrounding stationary portions of the valve so as to prevent malfunction of the valve due to surface tension therebetween. The ball valve is contained in an enclosure having relatively flat guide portions that permits minimum contact with the ball valve surface during movement between its closed and open position. The closed end portion of the enclosure is provided with a dimple that affords minimum point contact with the ball valve when it is in the open position.

Abstract: A vertically adjustable lower hinge assembly for a center-hung door, such as for use on a refrigerator or freezer. The lower hinge assembly is adjustably fastened to the door frame. Beneath the lower hinge assembly is an adjustable support member in the form of a cam plate that is also fastened to the door frame. The support member is used for raising or lowering the lower hinge assembly, and in turn changing the elevation of the door. The support member also reinforces the holding power of the fasteners of the lower hinge assembly.

Abstract: A method of cleaning dishes, utilizing a dishwasher apparatus connected to both hot and cold-water lines, the method includes: beginning with one or more cold-water pre-rinses, then providing a hot-water wash, and, finally, concluding with one or more cold-water post-rinses and a last hot-water rinse. Drying then follows with air being circulated through the dishwasher wash chamber. The drying is aided by the residual heat of the dishes from the last rinse.

Abstract: An air seal arrangement in a clothes dryer having a cabinet housing a rotatable drum, the drum having a front wall with a loading opening therethrough and the cabinet having an access opening larger than the drum loading opening. There is a circular seal ring having a circumferential area tapered inwardly and the ring extends from the cabinet front through the access opening of the cabinet into the loading opening of the drum. A seal is provided having an area attached to the front wall of the drum circumferentially around the loading opening and a flexible area extending from the attached area toward the front of the cabinet. The seal ring and seal cooperate and overlappingly engage each other at the tapered area of the seal ring and the flexible area of the seal to provide the air seal.

Abstract: A device for controlling the opening and closing movement of a duct seal door of an automatic ice maker which requires a regulator for slowing down the closing of the door. The movement of the door about its rotational axis is transmitted via connecting linkages to the closure regulator which comprises a rotor positioned within a stator housing. The rotor's movement is coupled to the connecting linkages via a one-way clutch which decouples the rotor when the door is being opened, and causes positive coupling therebetween when the door is being closed. Disposed within the stator housing in a fixed-volume compartment is a viscous fluid, such as silicone gum. The rotor and stator include opposed rippled surfaces between which the viscous fluid is coactively disposed. The fluid acts as an impedance to the motion of the rotor, which motion occurs only upon the closing of the door, to thereby provide a controlled slow closure thereof.

Abstract: A self-locking support mechanism for leveling an appliance relative to the floor that includes a support member secured to the appliance and having at least one end wall and one side wall with the side wall having a slot therethrough. There is also provided a rotatable cam member having a pivot point, a cam surface to contact the floor for height adjustment, and a radius surface relative to the pivot point. The cam member rotates by a pin through the pivot point and the slot in the support member and the pin is slidably movable within the slot. The slot and support end wall are spaced from each other and converge toward each other in a direction away from the floor. Upon rotating the cam member the pin is moved within the slot away from the floor and the cam member radius surface abuts the support end wall to lock the cam member.

Abstract: A dishwasher control circuit including a single-pole, double-throw door interlock switch and a water level sensing means, which sensing means includes a single-pole, double-throw switch. The sensing means switch connects the water inlet valve control solenoid and the drain valve control under normal operating conditions, and connects in series a direct power line and the pump motor and drain solenoid during flooding conditions. The control provides continuous protection against flooding in the dishwasher.

Abstract: A recess-type, screw-receiving fastener is formed directly into a thermoplastic sheet, preferably during the same operation which forms the plastic sheet into a useful configuration, such as a refrigerator inner liner. The fastener, when viewed from the rear side, resembles a plurality of "pinches" forming gusset-like folds. From the front side, it comprises a central recess in communication with side recesses formed by the interiors of the gusset-like folds. The central recess is adapted for receiving a male fastener such as a screw and the gusset-like folds distribute the load into a sufficient surrounding area of the plastic sheet.

Abstract: In a side by side refrigerator-freezer appliance, thermal leakage between the compartments is reduced by forming the liners separately for each compartment, but without the partition wall. Adjacent edges of the liners are spaced apart and desirably out-turned to form a truncated V groove. A partition wall is separately formed and foam insulated; edges of the partition are upset to form a tongue slidable along the groove whereby the partition is retained in position.

Abstract: A water softening system utilizing a reusable, self-contained water softener device for an agitator type clothes washer. The water softener device includes a quantity of cation exchange resin contained in a chamber. The water softener device is placed in the clothes washer in association with the agitator and water is percolated upwardly through the resin by a pump to thereby effect hardness reduction by the removal of calcium and/or magnesium ions from the water. After the softening operation, the water softener is removed from the washer and detergent and soiled fabrics are placed therein. The resin may then be regenerated by treatment of the device with a salt solution.

Abstract: A combination drain sump and air pressure chamber member for use in an automatic washing machine having a switch responsive to air pressure, a tub for holding washing liquid, and a pump for removing the liquid from the machine. The combination comprises a sump member having a side wall and bottom wall with the side wall having an opening in liquid flow communication with the pump. There is an openended dip tube in liquid flow communication with the tub and extends downwardly within the sump below the outlet opening and spaced from the sump walls. An air pressure chamber member is located laterally of and above the sump and a connecting chamber member is arranged in communication at one end with the air chamber member and at the opposite end with the top of the sump member and has a major portion thereof located above the sump outlet opening when viewed in vertical cross-section.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for hingedly mounting a room air conditioner control access cover on a panel member. The present invention relates to a hinge including support and hinge members formed integrally with the panel and cover respectively, and more particularly to an arrangement wherein notches in the support members line up with a slot in the hinge member to form a continuous channel for receiving a hinge pin in the closed cover position and for retaining the cover on the panel when the cover is rotated from its closed position.

Abstract: A water softening system utilizing a reusable, self-contained water softener device for an agitator type clothes washer. The water softener device includes a quantity of cation exchange resin contained in a chamber. The water softener device is placed in the clothes washer in association with the agitator and water is percolated upwardly through the resin by a pump to thereby effect hardness reduction by the removal of calcium and/or magnesium ions from the water. After the softening operation, the water softener is removed from the washer and detergent and soiled fabrics are placed therein. The resin may then be regenerated by treatment of the device with a salt solution.

Abstract: A batch type automatic icemaker adapted for installation in the freezing compartment of a refrigerator is provided with a water-carrying member having first and second ends. The first end of the water-carrying member is in fluid communication with at least one of the ice-forming cavities and positioned to be wetted by water therein. The second end projects into cold air within the freezer. A small quantity of water is thereby carried out of the ice-forming cavity to the second end of the member and exposed to cold air within the freezing compartment. Because the small quantity of water is of small mass and is thermally isolated from the mold, it is rapidly lowered to a temperature sufficiently low to reliably form a seed ice crystal. The seed ice crystal initiates freezing of the bulk of the water in the ice-forming cavities with a minimum of supercooling.

Abstract: An airflow distribution arrangement in a side-by-side refrigerator includes a cover which is located in the freezer compartment and which has an inner surface against which cool evaporator airflow is directed. A portion of the airflow travels down the inner surface of the cover to emerge through openings in the bottom of the cover into the freezer compartment. Additionally, the inner surface of the cover forms a part of a lateral duct in communication with the fresh food compartment. In order to force a sufficient quantity of cool evaporator airflow through the lateral duct into the fresh food compartment, a horizontally-extending, inward bulge is formed in the cover and located generally between the region on the inner surface of the cover against which airflow is directed and the bottom of the cover. The inward bulge serves to interrupt the otherwise smooth downward flow of air to produce an air eddy which in turn produces back pressure.

Abstract: A batch type automatic icemaker adapted for installation in the freezer compartment of a refrigerator includes a means for retaining a piece of ice throughout an entire icemaker operating cycle. The retained ice piece is in communication with at least one of the icemaker mold ice-forming cavities and reliably provides a seed ice crystal to initiate freezing of the water in the ice-forming cavities with a minimum of supercooling.