Abstract: A microwave oven with an oven capacity (3) which is designed so that a part (9) of the cavity is essentially free of microwave radiation, in which part (9) is arranged a grill element which radiated IR radiation. The microwave-free space is obtained by a special dimensioning of the connection opening between the actual oven cavity, in which foodstuffs are heated by means of microwave radiation, and the microwave-free space (9).

Abstract: A door switch assembly for a refrigerator. The door switch assembly includes a housing mounted to one of the walls of the refrigerator and further has an electrical circuit for switching on or off electrical equipment mounted within the refrigerator. The door switch includes a ball retractably mounted in the housing and biased to project partially outward from the at least one wall for engagement with the door. A pusher is slidably mounted adjacent the ball and biased to remain in contact with the ball. A flexible strip contact element is supported within the housing which is moved by the pusher in such a way as to open or close the electrical circuit. The housing includes a projecting portion which extends through an opening provided in the at least one wall, the projection portion includes a deformable flange.

Abstract: A refrigerator having a cabinet forming a freezer compartment having an access opening. A closure member is hingedly connected to the cabinet for closing the access opening and an ice maker is mounted on the closure member. An ice bucket or storage receptacle is mounted to the closure member below the ice maker. A support rail is provided along the inner surface of the closure member wherein the ice maker is vertically movable along the support rail. The ice maker has an ice level sensor and the amount of ice supplied to the ice bucket is controlled by the vertical position of the ice maker. The ice bucket is pivotably mounted to the closure member and can be pivoted between an orientation wherein the ice bucket is positioned adjacent the closure member substantially under the ice maker and an orientation wherein the ice bucket is pivoted away from the closure member. The ice bucket is a pitcher-like receptacle having a handle and is removable from the closure member.

Abstract: A method for operating an automatic dishwasher in a manner to minimize the deposition of contaminants or filming on the dishes is provided. The present invention contemplates that objectionable filming on washed dishes or dishware items may occur if residual water left on the dishes at the end of the final drain step is not given a chance to drip off or drain from the dishware. The present invention provides for a drip period following the final drain step in the dishwashing cycle. The drip period provides an opportunity for gravity assisted draining or "drip-off" of residual water from the dishware items prior to evaporation such that the minute particles which are suspended in the residual water are not deposited onto the dishes. During the drip period, rapid evaporation of residual liquid from the dishware items is prevented.

Abstract: An automatic washer including an automatic liquid temperature control system having a control panel which includes selector means for selecting between a normal wash cycle and a soak cycle. The control panel further includes means for selecting a desired wash water temperature in the soak cycle and means for selecting a desired wash water temperature during the normal wash cycle. The temperature selection means for the normal wash cycle is independent from the temperature selection means for the soak cycle. The temperature selection means for the normal cycle limits the maximum temperature setting during the normal wash to less than the maximum temperature setting for the soak cycle. The reduced temperature wash system is further combined with a spray rinse process. Specifically, after the wash step, the clothes load is rinsed by a plurality of recirculating spray rinse steps.

Abstract: A self-regulating device for controlling refrigerating appliances, such as refrigerators or freezers, preferably domestic, which comprise a refrigerating circuit with compressor, evaporator, condenser and controlling means of the compressor with a temperature sensor placed in contact with the evaporator, where said means of controlling the compressor is a microprocessor device which records and processes the temperature of the evaporator and at least one of the following two parameters: the compressor functioning time and the time during which the compressor is inactive and compares said time(s) with one or more tabulated values, in order to ensure that the disconnection time (t.sub.r) of the compressor reaches and maintains, by self-regulation, a constant predetermined tabular value (t.sub.r1).

Abstract: A drive and support system for a bottom plate disposed in the bottom of a wash basket of an automatic washer. The bottom plate is driven to radially gyrate or wobble within the wash basket by an output shaft which extends upwardly though the bottom and is rotatable in a first and second direction. A spin tube is disposed coaxially about the output shaft and has a top end which engages the bottom of the basket. The spin tube is co-rotatable in the second direction with the output shaft. A universal joint pivotably supports the wash plate about the top end of the spin tube. Drive means connect the wash plate with the upper end of the output shaft such that the wash plate is disposed in an angled orientation when the output shaft is driven in the first direction and the wash plate is disposed in a level orientation when the output shaft is driven in the second direction.

Abstract: The invention relates to a crockery basket for a dishwashing machine with a supporting frame into which adapted inserts may be introduced for various items such as cutlery, crockery and similar. An optimal, flexibly constructable fitting out of the crockery basket with crockery items is achieved according to the invention by virtue of the fact that the supporting frame is designed as a wire crockery basket, that all the inserts have a uniformly sized surface area with a base width and a base depth and that the wire crockery basket forms a right-angled receiving means for the inserts, the width of which corresponds to an x-multiple of the base width and the depth of which corresponds to a y-multiple of the base depth of the inserts.

Abstract: A lid seal for an automatic vertical axis washer. The lid seal includes rigid and flexible components and generally attaches to a flange of the lid along at least a portion of a lid periphery. When the lid is closed, the lid seal engages the washer housing to eliminate or greatly reduce operational noise and wash fluid spray from escaping through gaps between the lid and the washer housing. In addition, the lid seal acts to improve lid closure sound quality. In doing so, the user is provided with a simple and low cost method to reduce noise and wash fluid spray nuisances associated with the operation of an automatic vertical axis washer.

Abstract: A dishwasher pump and automatic purge system for a dishwasher having a recirculation pump, a drain pump and a wash chamber having a sump. The recirculation pump includes a main outlet and a secondary outlet wherein wash liquid pumped out through the main outlet is recirculated throughout the dishwasher interior wash chamber during a wash phase. The sump includes a soil collector which receives wash liquid from the secondary outlet. The soil collector includes a filter screen for returning filtered wash liquid back into the sump such that soils are retained in the soil collector. During a first wash phase while the recirculation pump is recirculating wash liquid throughout the wash chamber, the drain pump is energized on and off to drain soils from the soil collector. More specifically, the drain pump is energized on and off during the wash phase in response to the pressure within the soil collector which is sensed by a pressure sensor.

Abstract: A ventilation system for electrical food-cooking appliances comprising a cooking hob and an oven with a fan positioned in a compartment between the two in order to generate air flow for cooling electronic components controlling the oven operation, in which the fan is of variable speed, its speed being gauged on the basis of the appliance use.

Abstract: A blade is provided for use in a blender wherein the blade is to rotate about a vertical axis of rotation. The blade is formed with a central hub portion defining a horizontal plane, and in a preferred arrangement, has four tines extending outwardly from said hub portion with each tine angularly spaced at 90.degree. to two adjacent tines to form two opposed pairs of tines, however, with the tines being arranged asymmetrical to one another. In order to reduce vibration and torque occasioned by the asymmetrical arrangement of the tines, each tine in an opposed pair is formed to be balanced to the other tine with respect to a first product of its mass times a distance of its center of mass from the center of rotation and with respect to a further product of its mass times a distance of its center of mass from the axis of rotation and times a distance of its center of mass from the horizontal plane.

Abstract: A system for indicating by means of at least one warning light the residual heat of at least one pan support grid for a gas burner in domestic cooking or heating appliances controlled by an electronic control device, in which the residual heat of the grid is measured indirectly by the electronic control device on the basis of data relative to the flame level set for the burner and the time for which said flame level is maintained, these data being corrected by a factor which takes account of the physical characteristics of the grid, such that the warning light is and remains activated when the residual heat of the grid exceeds a predetermined safety threshold (A) for its handling by the user.

Abstract: A refrigerator having a cabinet defining a freezer compartment having an access opening and a closure member for closing the access opening. An ice maker is disposed within the freezer compartment for forming ice pieces and an ice storage bin is removably mounted to the closure member below the ice maker for receiving ice from the ice maker. The ice storage bin has an upper portion which is transparent and has a bottom opening. An ice discharge chute extends through the closure member below the bottom opening of the ice storage bin. A motor is mounted on the closure member. An auger is vertically disposed within the ice storage bin and is drivingly connected to the motor. Upon energization of the motor, the auger moves ice pieces from the ice storage bin through the bottom opening to the ice discharge chute for dispensing ice pieces from the ice storage bin.

Abstract: A venturi tube mounting system having a removable support which supports a venturi tube from a cooktop, prior to assembling of the cooktop, without the need for a burner box and support brackets. The mounting system includes a support device with a first portion engageable to a part of the gas stove cooktop and a second portion engageable to the venturi tube. The support device may have a C-shaped extension at one end for engaging the cooktop and a support element at a second end for supporting the venturi tube. The support can be provided in various forms including a wire-form structure, a clip-type structure, a stamp-formed structure, or similar structures.

Abstract: A latch mechanism for use with an oven having a door, the latch mechanism including a base plate which pivotably supports a latch member about a pivot point. The latch member is rotatable between a latched and unlatched position and includes a drive surface offset from the pivot point. An actuator pin is supported by the base plate for rectilinear movement wherein the actuator pin has an outer end extending beyond the base plate for engaging the oven door upon closure and an inner end drivingly engaging the drive surface for rotating the latch member into a latched position against a spring bias. The base plate is a molded plastic member having a boss including snap connection means for rotatably supporting the latch member and a sleeve for slidingly supporting the actuator pin for rectilinear movement. A solenoid is mounted to the base plate and has a locking pin selectably movable between an extended position and a retracted position.

Abstract: A fabric support device is provided for use in a wash basket of an automatic washer. The fabric support device includes an elongated bag having a generally rectangular shape, the bag being formed from a mesh material which allows fluid to pass therethrough. The bag has an open side edge such that clothes can be inserted into the bag. At least one spring member may extend longitudinally along the bag wherein the bag may be rolled into a generally cylindrical shape against the bias of the spring and inserted into the wash basket. Upon release, the bag is biased outwardly against the inner wall of the wash basket such that clothes are supported within the wash basket for washing but are not subject to stretching, twisting and excessive movement.

Abstract: A detergent dispensing method and apparatus for an automatic vertical axis washer. The washer includes a tub ring having a louvered area creating a drop zone through which wash additives are directly dispensed into the wash tub. In addition, the washer further includes a tub ring splash shield and D-ring splash shield. The tub ring and D-ring splash shields, along with the tub ring with the louvered area, act to direct wash additives into the wash tub and to further prevent wash fluid from escaping from the wash cycle.