Abstract: A refrigeration appliance including a partition that defines a through passage between an upper compartment and a lower compartment. A temperature control system is positioned in the upper compartment and includes an air passage. A lower inlet opening extends through a front surface of the vertical partition to the air passage. A damper assembly includes a door that is moveable between a first position and a second position. When the door is in the first position the door fluidly isolates the through passage in the partition from the upper compartment while allowing the lower inlet opening in the vertical partition to fluidly communicate with the air passage in the vertical partition. When the door is in the second position the door fluidly isolates the lower inlet opening from the air passage while allowing the through passage to fluidly communicate with the upper compartment.

Abstract: A temperature control system for a refrigerator. The temperature control system is positioned in a refrigerated compartment and fluidly communicates with a cooling fan. The temperature control system includes a vertical partition having a front surface and a rear surface. The rear surface faces a rear wall of the refrigerated compartment and the front surface faces an open end of the refrigerated compartment. An air passage is formed in the vertical partition extending from a lower portion of the vertical partition to an upper portion of the vertical partition. A heater assembly is disposed between the front surface and the rear surface of the vertical partition proximate the air passage wherein air conveyed along the air passage is heated by the heater assembly when the heater assembly is energized.

Abstract: A water circuit assembly for a refrigerator that delivers water from a source to a first destination and a second destination spaced apart from the first destination. The water circuit assembly includes an inlet valve positioned outside a compartment of the refrigerator and a water filter assembly positioned adjacent a top wall and a first side wall of a liner that defines the compartment. The water circuit further includes a bracket secured to a rear wall of the liner, a water tank supported by the bracket along the rear wall of the liner, and a diverter valve attached to the bracket and fluidly connected to the inlet valve to thereby divert the flow of water from the inlet valve to a selected one of the first destination or the second destination.

Abstract: A cover is provided for a storage bin of a refrigerator. The cover includes a panel and a communication portion. The panel has an upper surface for storing food items thereon that is substantially planar and substantially horizontal. Moreover, the panel separates an upper space located above the panel from a lower space located below the panel. The communication portion is configured to provide fluid communication between the upper and lower spaces. In particular, the communication portion includes an upward-facing recessed surface, one or more side wall portions that extend above and at least partially bound the recessed surface, and a plurality of apertures that extend through the recessed surface and provide fluid communication between the upper space and lower space. The recessed surface and the one or more side wall portions collectively define a recess. Optionally, a wine rack is provided.

Abstract: A refrigeration appliance includes a liner having a rear wall that is contoured to define a first vertical recess therein. A partition divides the compartment into an upper and a lower compartment and includes a first protrusion disposed in the first vertical recess in the liner. A first opening extends through the first protrusion and is aligned with the first vertical recess in the liner. A temperature control system is positioned in the upper compartment and includes a vertical partition. At least one lower opening extends through a front surface of the vertical partition and fluidly communicates with an upper end of the first vertical recess in the liner and the first opening extending through the partition. An evaporator fan is disposed in the lower compartment.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling the defrost cycles of evaporators associated with the compartments of a refrigerator. Defrost heaters associated with each evaporator are turned on and run until either a predetermined maximum defrost temperature is reached for the compartments or until a predetermined maximum run time is reached for each defrost heater. A controller determines a defrost interval based on running times of the freezer defrost heater and the ice maker defrost heater so that the duration of the defrost interval is inversely related to the duration of the running time of the freezer defrost heater and the ice maker defrost heater. The controller also reduces the defrost interval for every second a door of the compartments remains open, compares the reduced defrost interval with the defrost length, and selects the shorter one as the new defrost interval.

Abstract: A refrigerator including a cabinet and a compartment formed inside the cabinet and having an open front portion. A compartment door is movably connected to the cabinet for closing at least partially the open front portion of the compartment. An ice maker assembly is arranged inside the compartment and includes an ice maker. The ice maker includes an ice maker casing, a water tank and a water filter. The ice maker assembly is accessible inside the compartment when the compartment door is in an open position. The ice maker assembly includes a support housing arranged below the ice maker casing to receive the water tank and the water filter such that the ice maker casing and the support housing are provided as respective modules.

Abstract: A refrigeration appliance including a partition that defines a through passage between an upper compartment and a lower compartment. A temperature control system is positioned in the upper compartment and includes an air passage. A lower inlet opening extends through a front surface of the vertical partition to the air passage. A damper assembly includes a door that is moveable between a first position and a second position. When the door is in the first position the door fluidly isolates the through passage in the partition from the upper compartment while allowing the lower inlet opening in the vertical partition to fluidly communicate with the air passage in the vertical partition. When the door is in the second position the door fluidly isolates the lower inlet opening from the air passage while allowing the through passage to fluidly communicate with the upper compartment.

Abstract: A method for controlling the functioning of two or more smart home appliances of a network system comprising a cloud server, a terminal device and two or more smart home appliances registered in said cloud server. The method comprises: selecting two or more smart home appliances of the same type; grouping the selected smart home appliances into a products group; selecting control instructions; associating the selected control instructions to the products group to define group control instructions; and sending the group control instructions to the grouped smart home appliances so that all the grouped smart home appliances concurrently execute identical functions according to the group control instructions.

Abstract: A method of creating a sharing users' group for sharing control of a registered smart home appliance, wherein a first registered user sends an invitation notification to a second terminal device of a second user to participate to the users group, the second user accepts the invitation notification, and a cloud server associates the second terminal device to the registered smart home appliance, whereupon the second user is able to select control instructions and associate the selected control instructions to the registered smart home appliance, and the cloud server is able to send the control instructions selected by the second user to the registered smart home appliance.

Abstract: A method for controlling the functioning of at least one smart home appliance of a network system comprising a cloud server, a terminal device and at least one smart home appliance registered in said cloud server. The method comprises a phase of creating an activity group comprising: selecting one or more registered smart home appliance; selecting control instructions; associating the selected control instructions to the selected smart home appliances; selecting a trigger event for each one of the selected control instructions; activating said activity group; and the cloud server sending the selected control instructions to the selected smart home appliances according to the trigger event.

Abstract: A laundry machine and a washing process allow the storage of water from prior washes, in order to minimize the consumption of water destined for laundry washing. According to an embodiment, the laundry machine includes an impeller (201); a wash tub (202); a mechanical and/or electric drive element of the impeller and of the tub; and at least a tank (203) encircling the wash tub. There is additionally a reservoir (300) in fluid communication (250) with the tank and disposed below the tank and the wash tub and encircling, at least partially, the mechanical and/or electric drive element of the impeller and the tub.

Abstract: A water circuit assembly for a refrigerator that delivers water from a source to a first destination and a second destination spaced apart from the first destination. The water circuit assembly includes an inlet valve positioned outside a compartment of the refrigerator and a water filter assembly positioned adjacent a top wall and a first side wall of a liner that defines the compartment. The water circuit further includes a bracket secured to a rear wall of the liner, a water tank supported by the bracket along the rear wall of the liner, and a diverter valve attached to the bracket and fluidly connected to the inlet valve to thereby divert the flow of water from the inlet valve to a selected one of the first destination or the second destination.

Abstract: A door warmer for a refrigerator includes a liner defining a compartment. The liner includes a front face circumscribing the compartment, a flange extending outwards from the front face, and a recessed pocket formed into the flange. An inner retention lug is positioned adjacent to, and extends a first distance over, the recessed pocket. An outer retention lug is positioned adjacent to, and extends a second distance over, the recessed pocket and located on a side of the recessed pocket opposite from the inner retention lug. A heat pipe is disposed within the recessed pocket and secured therein by the inner and outer retention lugs. In another embodiment, the refrigerator includes a basket having a storage space therein, and a divider disposed within the storage space. The divider is selectively moveable upon a pair of carriages.

Abstract: An adjustable shelf for a refrigerator includes a first and a second shelf portion being slidably moveable between extended and retracted positions. A frame includes a main track that guides the second shelf portion. An auxiliary external track is disposed on an extended lower edge of the frame, following the main track. A hook member is attached to and protrudes downwards from the second shelf portion, the hook member engaging with and sliding along the auxiliary external track to minimize lateral movement of a front end of the second shelf portion as the second shelf portion is slidably moved. In another embodiment, a freezer drawer assembly comprises first and second storage baskets. The second storage basket comprises front roller members that are seated on the first storage unit and are guided along a primary track by parallel, opposing track sidewalls.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling the defrost cycles of evaporators associated with the compartments of a refrigerator. Defrost heaters associated with each evaporator are turned on and run until either a predetermined maximum defrost temperature is reached for the compartments or until a predetermined maximum run time is reached for each defrost heater. A controller determines a defrost interval based on running times of the freezer defrost heater and the ice maker defrost heater so that the duration of the defrost interval is inversely related to the duration of the running time of the freezer defrost heater and the ice maker defrost heater. The controller also reduces the defrost interval for every second a door of the compartments remains open, compares the reduced defrost interval with the defrost length, and selects the shorter one as the new defrost interval.

Abstract: A refrigeration appliance includes a liner having a rear wall that is contoured to define a first vertical recess therein. A partition divides the compartment into an upper and a lower compartment and includes a first protrusion disposed in the first vertical recess in the liner. A first opening extends through the first protrusion and is aligned with the first vertical recess in the liner. A temperature control system is positioned in the upper compartment and includes a vertical partition. At least one lower opening extends through a front surface of the vertical partition and fluidly communicates with an upper end of the first vertical recess in the liner and the first opening extending through the partition. An evaporator fan is disposed in the lower compartment.

Abstract: A laundry washing machine agitator having a base and an elongated hollow body provided with at least one opening for the admission of washing liquid. The base has a plurality of radial openings located in the radial periphery of the base.

Abstract: A refrigeration appliance including a partition that defines a through passage between an upper compartment and a lower compartment. A temperature control system is positioned in the upper compartment and includes an air passage. A lower inlet opening extends through a front surface of the vertical partition to the air passage. A damper assembly includes a door that is moveable between a first position and a second position. When the door is in the first position the door fluidly isolates the through passage in the partition from the upper compartment while allowing the lower inlet opening in the vertical partition to fluidly communicate with the air passage in the vertical partition. When the door is in the second position the door fluidly isolates the lower inlet opening from the air passage while allowing the through passage to fluidly communicate with the upper compartment.

Abstract: Provided is a refrigeration appliance including a main electrical board that controls operation of the refrigeration appliance and an adjustable temperature compartment for storing food items at a user-selectable target temperature. The adjustable temperature compartment includes a user interface connected to the main electrical board by an electric wire cable and enabling selection of user-selectable target temperature. A first end of the electric wire cable includes a removable connector connected to the user interface. The second end of the electric wire cable is connected to the main electrical board. A method for manufacturing a refrigeration appliance with an adjustable temperature compartment is also provided.