Abstract: A control mechanism for providing four separate linear control positions. Included is a lever having two ends, one end being free to register the four linear positions. First and second stationary solenoids both being located on one side of the lever are provided and the first solenoid plunger is pivotally secured to the lever at the end opposite the free end. The plunger of the second solenoid is pivotally secured to the lever between the ends of the lever. A stationary assembly including a spring is positioned and arranged to exert force on the lever between the first and second solenoids in a direction opposite the direction of solenoid plunger movement upon solenoid actuation. The spring force exerted on the lever is less than the combined force of the plungers of the first and second solenoids upon their common actuation. Separate spring force is exerted on the lever so that the lever is perpendicular to the plungers of the solenoids when both the first and second solenoids are deactuated.

Abstract: An improved breaker strip for a domestic refrigerating appliance which may be fitted in place prior to the appliance being insulated by an in situ foaming process to prevent foam leakage. First and second mechanical sealing means of a conventional type are provided to seal along the edges of the breaker strip to the appliance walls. An additional flange seal is further provided for each of the first and second sealing means so as to enshroud each means and form a small chamber therebetween and the respective flange seal. Reactive liquid which leaks into the chambers tends to expand to block them prior to any escape of such liquid past the conventional seals, and also to bias the conventional seals into greater sealing contact with the appliance walls.

Abstract: A household refrigerator door is locked in its closed position by a latch, which is rotatably mounted in the door and moved between its locked and unlocked positions by a key. The latch cooperates with a catch, which is mounted on the cabinet exterior of the door gasket. The catch includes a mounting plate which is integral with a portion receiving the latch. The mounting plate is secured to a wall of the cabinet by screws extending through slots in the mounting plate, through elongated holes in the wall of the cabinet and finally into threaded holes in a nutstrip. The slots enable the mounting plate to be adjustable in one direction, and the elongated holes enable movement of the catch in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction.

Abstract: In a domestic two door side by side refrigerator, means for adjusting the curvature of the mullion cover so as to provide thereon a good sealing surface of the doors. The means comprises a spring which biases the mullion cover in a first direction, and a screw element acting upon the mullion cover in opposition to the spring bias.

Abstract: A user input/output device comprises a lighted, segmented bar graph type display and an array of light transmitting touch sensitive areas superimposed over the bar graph display. A suitable circuit means is responsive to the touch sensitive areas and connected for driving the segments of the bar graph such that when any one of the touch sensitive areas is touched, a corresponding display segment and all display segments to one side are energized and the remaining display elements are de-energized.

Abstract: A variable speed drive system for a clothes dryer having a driven rotatable drum wherein the drum may be rotated at high speed, low speed, or no speed during operation of the machine. There is provided an improved mechanism for transmitting torque between a driving rotatable member and the driven rotatable drum through an endless drive belt. The driving rotatable member has a first diameter area and a second diameter area, the first area having a greater diameter than the second. There are two pulley assemblies each being pivotable about each of the first and second diameter areas and each having a drive belt. A shift mechanism for controlling the three modes of drum operation is provided which includes capability to rotate selectively each of the pulley assemblies about the driving member which causes one or both of the drive belts to slip to accomplish the desired mode of drum operation.

Abstract: An improved additive dispensing system for sequentially dispensing a plurality of treating agents into the wash tub of an automatic fabric washing machine at predetermined times during the washing cycle. A plurality of compartments are provided for retaining the various laundry additives to be dispensed into the wash tub. A liquid flow diversion arrangement having a diverter for selectively diverting liquid into pre-selected dispenser compartments is provided and includes a pivotal body with a liquid inlet at one end connected to a water inlet and a nozzle at the other end in liquid flow communication with the dispenser.

Abstract: A track assembly for securing to a wall and receiving shelves. The track assembly includes two spaced, parallel, elongated strips having a plurality of slots along their lengths. There is also provided an adapter member located at one end of each of these strips and the adapter member is U-shaped to provide depending legs connected by a body with the body having at least one circular hole therethrough and dimensioned for each of the legs to be received through the slots in the strips such that the circular hole overlies one of the slots. There is also a headed attachment element through the circular hole of each of the adapter and the underlying strip slot into the wall to secure each of the strips to the wall. Shelf brackets are provided for each of the strips with the brackets having a hook-shaped attachment element at one end removably inserted in the slots for support of the bracket.

Abstract: An improved hand grip assembly for a portable cabinet that includes a finger receiving portion secured to a side wall of the cabinet and located on a line diagonally across the corner of the side wall near the top and front walls of the cabinet. For more control over movement of the cabinet there may also be provided a recess area in the top wall for receiving a person's thumb. This recess area provides a gripping rail for the thumb such that the rail is located between the thumb and the rest of a person's hand. For optimum control over movement of the cabinet a finger receiving portion and recess area are provided on both sides of the cabinet.

Abstract: A reversible turbine pump for producing bi-directional liquid flow wherein there is provided a housing having a substantially annular outer wall and top and bottom walls closing the ends of the outer wall. Within the housing there is a rotatable impeller having an annular series of blades extending outwardly and forming with the wall a toroidal space. First and second spaced outlet openings are provided in the housing and also first and second circumferentially spaced channels between the impeller and each of the outlet openings in liquid flow communication with the toroidal space. A dam is located between the channels. An inlet opening is located in each of the channels.

Abstract: In a laundry machine having a horizontal axis rotatable drum and a door for access into the drum there is provided an air vent including a duct having one end in air flow communication with the interior of the drum and the opposite end in air flow communication with air outside the machine. The air vent also includes a flexible flap within the duct having one end free and movable from a vertical first position to a second position and the opposite end of the flap is secured to the duct. The flap has a dimension less than the inside lateral cross section of the duct. There is also a partition spaced from the free end of the flap when the flap is in the first vertical position and the partition has an opening smaller than the flap whereby the opening is covered when the machine is in operation and the flap is in the second position.

Abstract: A device and method for checking the adequacy of the rate of air flow in a rotating clothes dryer drum having air flow passing through perforations in the rear wall of the drum into the interior of the drum. The device comprises a rotatable fan and a counter assembly arranged to register the number of revolutions of the fan. There is provided a structure for removably attaching the device to the rear wall of the drum over at least some of the perforations in the rear drum wall. With this device and method the rate of air flow to the clothes dryer drum may be tested by operating the clothes dryer and registering the number of revolutions made by the fan for a period of time and comparing that number to a number determined previously to be an adequate air flow rate.

Abstract: An improved automatic clothes dryer and method of drying clothes wherein the clothes dryer has a rotatable drum through which heated air is circulated by a blower wheel driven at the full speed of a single speed electric motor. There is a thermostatic switch for sensing the temperature of air exiting the drum and through appropriate controls when a selected predetermined temperature is reached both the temperature at which the air is heated and the volume of air flowing through the drum are reduced. The improved clothes dryer and method reduces the amount of energy utilized by the dryer yet good clothes drying characteristics are accomplished.

Abstract: An automatic clothes dryer having a gas heater assembly for heating the air includes a gas control valve and a gas nozzle in gas flow communication with the valve. The gas nozzle has an exit orifice having spaced therefrom a plate member such that gas will impinge the plate member. A combustion chamber having a truncated cone shaped upper portion and with an opening at the top and bottom thereof surrounds and is spaced outwardly of both the plate member and the nozzle. The bottom opening of the combustion chamber is arranged to allow air into the combustion chamber for mixing with the gas exiting the nozzle orifice. A hood member is spaced outwardly and below the opening at the top of the combustion chamber to allow ambient air into the hood member for mixing with the heated air. There is also provided an igniter for igniting the gas and air mixture.

Abstract: An improved device and method for checking the adequacy of the rate of air flow in a rotating clothes dryer drum having air flow passing through a first centrally disposed set of perforations and a second set of perforations radially outward of the first set of perforations in the rear wall of the drum into the interior of the drum. The device comprises a rotatable fan and a counter assembly arranged to register the number of revolutions of the fan. There is provided a structure for removably attaching the device to the rear wall of the drum over the first set of perforations in the rear drum wall. A flexible circular skirt having a central opening is removably attached to the rear wall of the drum over and blocking air flow through the second set of perforations.

Abstract: A fastening device and method is provided for fastening first and second members in hingedly assembled relationship. The fastening device includes a slot opening through the first member, an integrally formed hinge member having a first planar portion with an end, a second planar portion, and an intermediate portion with its longitudinal axis at the junction of the first and second portions. The first and intermediate portions are dimensioned to pass through the slot while the second portion is larger than the slot. The intermediate portion is in the slot and the second portion of the hinge is secured to the second member.

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 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 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 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.