Abstract: A handle assembly for use with doors of household refrigerators includes an elongated stiffener member in the shape of a channel having a base and projecting sides. A number of apertures are spaced along the base. Each end of the member is formed with offset portions. A body of thermoplastic elastomer having a Shore A Durometer hardness of no more than about 50 is injection molded about the stiffener member. The elastomer fills the apertures and surrounds the offset portions.

Abstract: A fabric washing machine includes a container to receive fabrics and fluid to wash the fabrics. A switched reluctance motor is operatively connected to oscillate and rotate the container. A control operates the machine by providing commutation signals to the motor to energize the stator phases in a predetermined sequence as corresponding rotor phases approach the stator phase being energized. To stop the machine the control repeatedly senses the instantaneous alignment of the stator and rotor phases and supplies commutation signals to the motor to energize the stator phases in the same sequence but as corresponding rotor phases have become aligned with the stator phase being energized.

Abstract: A refrigerator cabinet includes a storage compartment defined by encased walls forming a peripheral edge surface surrounding the access opening. A door is hingedly mounted adjacent one edge and includes a resilient sealing gasket to seal the opening. A resilient flap is mounted on the inner panels of the walls or on the opposed liner panel of the door so that an auxiliary seal is formed separate from the gasket. An extended dead air space is provided between the flap, gasket and the opposed panels so that heat transfer from the area of the gasket into the compartment is substantially eliminated. The elongated body of the flap is approximately 70 Shore A Durometer hardness, and the base is approximately 70 Shore D Durometer hardness of a suitable plastic, such as polyvinylchloride. In one embodiment, the cross-section of the body takes the form of a bulb with a substantially semicircular cross-section, and in another embodiment, the body takes the form of a spike in cross-section with a convergent 5.degree.

Abstract: A cooking appliance adapted for energization by a standard domestic household power supply employs a power control arrangement which accommodates electric resistive heating units designed for operation at a maximum RMS voltage level less than the RMS voltage level of the output power signal of the domestic power supply. The power control system couples power pulses from the external power supply to the heating unit at one of a plurality of available pulse repetition rates, each repetition rate establishing a corresponding RMS voltage level for application of power to the heating unit. The repetition rate associated with the maximum user selectable power setting for the appliance is effective to apply an RMS voltage level to the heating unit which corresponds to the voltage level for which the heating unit was designed.

Abstract: An appliance electronic control system which tends to maintain a constant total cycle time, and thus an accurate "Time Remaining" display, notwithstanding variations in the actual time required for a water fill operation. The control system includes a count down timer and a time remaining display indicating cycle time remaining based on the state of the count down timer. The count down timer is initialized to a state representing nominal total cycle time, which includes the sum of a nominal fill time for water filling operations, a nominal time duration for each of several pause intervals, and the time durations of operational modes under the direct control of the control system, such as agitate time and spin time. During operation, the count down timer is decremented at regular predetermined intervals. The first time the machine fills, the actual time for the filling operation is measured.

Abstract: A refrigerator includes an outer cabinet and an inner liner separated by insulation. The liner includes a plurality of walls defining a compartment to receive items to be refrigerated. An electric light is positioned adjacent to a first of the liner walls. A second of the liner walls disposed perpendicular to the first wall has three spaced apart slots positioned closer to the first wall than the light to the first wall. A shield is positioned between the light and the first wall and includes three tabs received in the slots in the second wall. The middle tab has a pair of lateral ears with rest positions angled with respect to the long axis of the corresponding slot. The ears flex as the tab is inserted through the slot and then return to their rest position to overlie the second liner wall. The other tabs also are angled with respect to their slots to firmly engage the second wall when installed.

Abstract: A power switching arrangement for a self-cleaning oven appliance incorporating a unique arrangement of two double throw relays in the oven power control circuit. The two relays are operatively interconnected to selectively couple the oven bake and broil elements to the three wire power supply to switch the bake element across L1 and L2 and the broil element across L1 and N when operating in the bake mode, and switch the bake element out of the circuit and the broil element across L1 and L2, when operating in the broil mode. The interconnection is accomplished in a manner which prevents both heating elements from being simultaneously energized at full power regardless of the failure mode of the switching circuitry, thereby eliminating the need for a thermal limit switch to guard against excessive temperatures in the oven resulting from worst case switching circuit failures.

Abstract: A refrigerator cabinet includes a storage compartment defined by encased walls including inner metal panels and corresponding breaker panels forming a peripheral edge surface surrounding the access opening. A door is hingedly mounted adjacent one edge and includes a resilient sealing gasket to seal the opening. A resilient flap is formed on the breaker panel so that an auxiliary seal is formed separate from the gasket against the liner panel of the door upon closing. An extended dead air space is provided between the flap, gasket and the opposed panels so that heat transfer from the area of the gasket into the compartment is substantially eliminated. The elongated body of the flap is approximately 70 Shore A Durometer hardness of a suitable plastic, such as polyvinylchloride. In the preferred embodiment, the cross-section of the body takes the form of a spike in cross-section with a convergent 5.degree. angle from the base. The flaps extend at included angles of approximately 45.degree. to the panels.

Abstract: The utility conduits (electric conductors and water conduit) of a door mounted dispenser are conducted from below the cabinet to the inside of the door through an inflexible tube. One section of tube rests on a shelf under the refrigerator cabinet and a second section of the tube projects into the bottom of the door in free-standing relationship to the door. The lengths of the tube sections assure that the second section stays in the door without the need of any mechanical connection between the tube and door.

Abstract: A reversible clothes dryer door mounting arrangement in which the hinge assembly attaching the door to the dryer cabinet includes at least one and preferably two leaf hinges, each having a fixed hinge leaf attached to the door and a detachable hinge leaf attached to the cabinet. Each detachable leaf has a pair of vertically disposed keyhole shaped screw holes. The reduced portion of the upper keyhole extends upwardly from the enlarged portion. The reduced portion of the lower keyhole extends downwardly from the enlarged portion. Mounting holes are provided in the cabinet front wall on both sides of the access opening, aligned to be in register with the reduced portions of the upper and lower keyhole openings. The door is mounted by partially inserting a mounting screw in the uppermost mounting hole on the selected side of the cabinet. The enlarged portion of the upper keyhole opening in the leaf is passed over the head of the mounting screw and dropped down.

Abstract: A mechanism for securing items in a dishwasher rack includes a support member mounted on the rack, and a U-shaped contact member with the distal ends of the contact member rotatably connected to the support member. A spring is mounted on the support member and engages the ends of the contact member to urge the contact member into engagement with items in the dishwasher rack.

Abstract: A refrigerator has a compartment to be refrigerated and a refrigerant evaporator normally operable at frost producing temperatures to refrigerate the compartment. The evaporator includes an elongated tube to receive refrigerant with an elongated spine fin ribbon of heat exchange material including an elongated base wound in an open spiral about and in intimate heat exchange contact with the tube. A continuous series of fingers project outwardly of the tube along each edge of the base and the distal ends of the fingers are bent to extend generally perpendicular to the root portions of the fingers.

Abstract: A refrigerator has a compartment to be refrigerated and a refrigerant evaporator normally operable at frost producing temperatures to refrigerate the compartment. The evaporator includes an elongated tube to receive refrigerant with an elongated spine fin ribbon of heat exchange material including an elongated base wound in an open spiral about and in intimate heat exchange contact with the tube. A continuous series of fingers project outwardly of the tube along each edge of the base and the distal ends of the fingers are bent to extend generally perpendicular to the root portions of the fingers.

Abstract: An assembly for introducing electric conductors into the interior of a refrigerator through the liner. The liner is formed with a circular opening and a plurality of notches extending outwardly of the opening. A grommet has a central body portion with a circular cross-section encompassing the conductors. An annular flange and a plurality of mounting lugs project outward from the body. Each lug includes a locking portion spaced from the flange slightly more than the thickness of the liner and a connecting section joined to the flange. The grommet is mounted with its central body portion received in the opening in the liner and with the grommets received through the notches and rotated to capture a portion of the liner between the locking portion of the lugs and the flange.

Abstract: A household refrigerator shelf assembly includes an unitary support structure having a rear and spaced apart side walls with a horizontally oriented channel extending around the periphery of the structure. A high tempered, high strength sheet is mounted in the channel with adhesive positioned between the sheet and the support structure. The side walls extend along only the rear portion of sides of the glass sheet and bosses are formed in the channel to assure room for an effective amount of adhesive.

Abstract: The biasing mechanism of a refrigerator includes a spring connected to provide biasing force in the desired directions at the appropriate degrees of door opening and an arm and roller arrangement which compliments the action of the spring. Within about 30 degrees or so of its closed position the door is biased toward its closed position. From about 30 degrees to about 90 degrees of door opening the biasing mechanism slightly biases the door toward its open position. At about 90 degrees the door is stable and beyond about 90 degrees the mechanism provides an addition stable position.

Abstract: A range with a lift-up cooktop is provided with an integrally formed non-metallic combination cooktop locator and support rod race member to position the cooktop relative to the rang body when the lift-up cooktop is in its lowered position and to provide a non-metallic bearing surface for the support rod to slide against when the lift-up cooktop is raised and lowered.