Abstract: A room air conditioner is provided having an evaporator coil located in a front part of the room air conditioner, a condenser coil located in a back part of the room air conditioner, and a wall separating the front part from the back part. The wall prevents a free flow of air between the front part and the back part. A portion of the wall, extending less than a full width of the air conditioner, is formed of metal. An air moving device positioned in the front part creates an air stream flowing through the evaporator coil and out through an air outlet in a front grill of the air conditioner. An air housing surrounds at least a portion of the air moving device and forms an air flow path in the air conditioner, the air housing forming at least a part of the wall. The metal portion of the wall is mounted to the room air conditioner independently of the air housing.

Abstract: A drying apparatus for use in a drying device, having a surface and a first mechanism to at least partially hold an article relative to the surface. A second mechanism associated with the surface is operable to cooperatively engage with an air exit in the drying device, and is in air communication with an interior of the first mechanism. An airflow channel is formed between a portion of the drying device, the article, the interior of the first mechanism, the second mechanism, and an air exit in the drying device, facilitating more even drying of the article.

Abstract: A cutlery device is provided having a blade with a sharpened edge and an opposite, unsharpened back. The cutlery device also includes a tang extending from the blade which is at least partially enclosed in a handle. The tang has a tapered thickness to produce a cutlery device that is balanced when grasped with some fingers on the handle and some fingers on the blade. The back of the blade is curved so that a finger may be comfortably pressed against the back. The handle is curved for comfort and pieces of the handle are secured on the tang with rivets of varying length to accommodate the shape of the handle. A sharpening aid is also provided for the cutlery device which has at least one angled wall for positioning a sharpening surface at a sharpening angle, permitting the cutlery device to be held with the blade positioned vertically during a sharpening operation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for monitoring voltage input to an appliance, such as a dryer, sensing when power input to the appliance is lost. In addition, a controller in the appliance pulses relay coils controlling motors and/or heating devices within the appliance to conserve energy on a backup capacitor that supplies the control circuit of the appliance in the event of power loss. Further, a voltage sense circuit outputting a square wave effects monitoring of the input voltage to the appliance by outputting the square wave signal whose cycle period is monitored to determine power outage. The controller stores current operation settings at the time of power outage in a memory device and ensures proper storage through the extra energy conserved from the capacitor by the pulsing of the relay coils.

Abstract: A refrigeration device is provided having a compressor, a condenser, an evaporator, and tubing to connect the compressor to the condenser, the condenser to the evaporator and the evaporator to the compressor. The condenser coil includes a plurality of tubes arranged in horizontal and vertical rows extending between vertically arranged header plates with return bends interconnecting the tubes to form a serpentine shaped circuit. The header plates are provided with at least one notch in a bottom edge thereof to accommodate a tube extending therebetween. In an embodiment, a wet loop is positioned in the area of the notches in the header plates.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for washing fabric loads without water or using water only as a co-solvent are disclosed. One method of non-aqueous clothes washing includes the steps of disposing clothing in a wash container, delivering a wash liquor to the fabric load, the wash liquor comprising a substantially non-reactive, non-aqueous, non-oleophilic, apolar working fluid and at least one washing additive, applying mechanical energy to the clothing and wash liquor for a sufficient amount of time to provide fabric cleaning and, thereafter, substantially removing the wash liquor from the fabric load. The working fluid may be selected from the group consisting of perfluorocarbons, hydrofluoroethers, fluoronated hydrocarbons and fluoroinerts.

Abstract: This invention relates a control for an automatic washer incorporating a spray pretreatment or stain care cycle. In order to manage the occurrence of the condition of suds lock, the state of the washing machine related to the suds lock condition during spray pretreatment is determined by one or more of a number of methods. With this information concerning the state of the spray pretreatment process, the occurrence of suds lock can be ascertained and the cycle can be controlled accordingly to minimize negative effects resulting from a prolonged suds lock condition. Additionally, with certain information related to the occurrence of suds lock, steps can be taken during the spray pretreatment portion of the cycle to avoid the condition of suds lock altogether. Using the same primary process for measuring suds lock, load size can also be ascertained. Information about load size can be used to control the wash cycle.

Abstract: This invention relates a control for an automatic washer incorporating a spray pretreatment or stain care cycle. In order to manage the occurrence of the condition of suds lock, the state of the washing machine related to the suds lock condition during spray pretreatment is determined by one or more of a number of methods. With this information concerning the state of the spray pretreatment process, the occurrence of suds lock can be ascertained and the cycle can be controlled accordingly to minimize negative effects resulting from a prolonged suds lock condition. Additionally, with certain information related to the occurrence of suds lock, steps can be taken during the spray pretreatment portion of the cycle to avoid the condition of suds lock altogether. Using the same primary process for measuring suds lock, load size can also be ascertained. Information about load size can be used to control the wash cycle.

Abstract: A food preservation refrigerator such as an upright refrigerator or a chest freezer comprises at least one food preservation compartment on which at least one corresponding closure member is provided, said refrigerator comprising a refrigeration circuit, driver means for controlling the operation of this latter and means for controlling the operation of any accessory user items provided in the refrigerator, such as an ice producer, ice cream maker or the like, said control means being associated with a user interface; this latter is positioned on the closure member. Remote connection means are provided to enable said driver means positioned on the user interface to control the various refrigerator components.

Abstract: A dishwasher rack which includes a basket supporting a plurality of fences rotatably about a common axis. The basket has a plurality of wires forming a bottom wall, a pair of side walls and a front and back wall. The bottom wall has a plurality of upwardly oriented tines connected to and extending from the bottom wall in a first area and further has an open area without upwardly oriented tines. A first fence is provided having an axle wire and a plurality of support wires. The axle wire is rotatably supported adjacent the bottom wall such that the first fence may be rotated between a front position and a back position. A second fence is provided having a connection wire and a plurality of support wires. The connection wire is rotatably connected to axle wire such that the second fence may rotate about the axle wire between a front position and a back position.

Abstract: A refrigeration device is provided having an air pressurizing device and a shroud enclosing the air pressurizing device and defining a first air flow path for an air flow generated by the air pressurizing device. The air pressurizing device and the shroud are positioned in a front side of the room air conditioner. A back side of the air conditioner includes air outlets communicating with an exterior of the air conditioner. A second air flow path extends between the first air flow path and the air outlets. A slider member is positioned in the second air flow path such that in a first position the second air flow path is closed to prevent communication between the first air flow path and the air outlets and in a second position of the slider member, the second air flow path is open to allow communication between the first air flow path and the air outlets.

Abstract: A dual-heating element oven comprising a bake heating element and a broil heating element in combination with a control system that permits the selective alteration of the output of the broil heating element by the user to control the browning of a food item during the bake cycle.

Abstract: The invention includes a saddle air conditioner. The saddle air conditioner includes a remote unit having a first channel extending from a back of the remote unit. The saddle air conditioner also includes a local unit having a second channel extending from a back of the local unit. The first channel and the second channel overlap to form a bridge disposed between the remote unit and the local unit.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for operating a front-loading washing machine with a washing aggregate comprising a tub holding a rotatably-mounted drum suspended in the machine housing so as to be able to oscillate with a midaxis descending from front to back and equipped an imbalance sensor that changes the rotation of the drum by means of a control program when an imbalance occurs in the spin cycle. In many cases of operation an improved spin result can be achieved for a small loads of cotton laundry and the related laundry absorbency by disabling the imbalance sensor and running the spin cycle at the programmed maximum speed.

Abstract: An automatic dishwashing mechanism with a pivoting door that incorporates a push/pull door latch mechanism comprising a moveable strike plate and a positive-return cam. The cam movement is limited such that the door opening force and door closing force are independent of each other.