Abstract: An appliance housing assembly is configured for improved load distribution. The assembly includes first and second side panels, each including a pair of vertical support columns configured to carry the loads of the appliance to the appliance support surface. The assembly further includes common components that can be use across various different assembly configurations.

Abstract: An isolated voltage door latch for an appliance that includes a controller and a door contact. The controller is configured to control an electrical load device within the appliance based on a control signal. The door contact is configured to trigger transmission of a sensing signal to an electrical load actuator electrically coupled to the electrical load device. The sensing signal is transmitted to the electrical load actuator via a door latch circuit in a first instance in which the door contact is in a closed state. Furthermore, the electrical load device is configured to be activated in a second instance in which the sensing signal and the control signal are received by the electrical load actuator.

Abstract: A spring clip for securing a heating element in a cooktop is provided and includes a seat portion that supports the heating element thereon. A first tab extends upwards from the seat portion from a first junction therewith and a second tab extends vertically downward from the seat portion from a second junction therewith, located remote from the first junction. A spring tab extends downward from the seat portion and is elastically biased to a resting orientation. The spring tab is deflectable upward from the resting orientation upon engagement of the spring clip against a wall below the spring clip.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for cooking food in an oven cavity, where air is the cooking medium. Using a predetermined cooking algorithm, a temperature of the oven cavity is adjusted in a plurality of temperature and/or time regulated cooking stages. An initial pre-heat stage targets a first target temperature including a user-selected oven cavity temperature plus a first offset. A subsequent post-heat stage targets a second target temperature including the user-selected temperature plus a second offset different from the first offset. Two or more heating elements and a fan are operated during the post-heat stage according to a duty cycle controlled via a hysteresis temperature control algorithm or a PID temperature control algorithm.

Abstract: An ice maker for freezing water into ice pieces, the ice maker including an elongated cage having a central revolving axis about which the elongated cage revolves. The elongated cage having a first end, a second end and at least one elongated slot extending between the first end and the second end. An ice tray is configured to be received in the at least one elongated slot. The ice tray includes a plurality of cavities for receiving water to be frozen into ice pieces. A motor is coupled to the elongated cage for revolving the elongated cage about the central revolving axis. A controller is connected to the motor for controlling the revolving of the elongated cage about the central revolving axis.

Abstract: Provided is a household appliance including a user interface with a visible indicator that conveys primary operational information indicative of an operational aspect of the household appliance to a user during normal operation of the household appliance, and a controller. The controller receives a signal indicative of diagnostics data of the household appliance and causes the visible indicator to transmit a communication signal to an external device that interprets the communication signal and communicates the diagnostics data to the user. The visible indicator provides a two-way communication between the household appliance and the external device. A method for diagnosing a household appliance is also provided.

Abstract: A refrigeration appliance includes a refrigeration circuit with a variable speed compressor, an evaporator, and a variable speed evaporator fan. A controller is operatively connected to the refrigeration circuit and is programmed to calculate a heat load ratio as a ratio between the difference between the ambient temperature and the set point temperature of the fresh-food compartment and the difference between the ambient temperature and the freezer compartment reference point; calculate a speed of one or both of the variable speed compressor and the variable speed evaporator fan as a function of the calculated heat load ratio; and operate one or both of the variable speed compressor and the variable speed evaporator fan at the calculated speed. A method of controlling temperature in cavities of a refrigerator is also provided.

Abstract: A crisper drawer for a refrigerator having a refrigerated compartment is disclosed. The crisper drawer includes a plurality of side walls defining a storage chamber, an opening in a side wall to provide fluid communication between the storage chamber and the refrigerated compartment, and a multi-function filter cassette configured to be positioned within the opening. The multi-function filter cassette includes a first filter configured to remove contaminants from a first air flow within the refrigerated compartment, a second filter configured to remove contaminants and/or moisture from a second air flow within the storage chamber, and a central wall configured to prevent fluid communication between the refrigerated compartment and the storage chamber.

Abstract: A refrigerator appliance includes a storage compartment having a crisper assembly disposed therein. The crisper assembly includes a drawer, a lid, and a shelf. The lid is fixed to the storage compartment and remains stationary therewith. The drawer and the shelf are each configured to be extended or retracted relative to the storage compartment and are provided in a stacked arrangement. The lid seals the drawer when the drawer is in the retracted position.

Abstract: An appliance is provided with a cavity wrapper defining a cooking chamber therein. An embossment is formed in a wall of the cavity wrapper and protrudes within the cooking chamber. The embossment has a leading sloped portion. A shroud is located adjacent the wall and includes an outer perimeter edge that is spaced from the embossment thereby defining an exhaust port therebetween. A bracket is disposed outside the cavity wrapper and includes a pair of mounting tabs affixed to an external surface of the wall of the cavity wrapper. The pair of mounting tabs straddling the embossment in a staggered formation.

Abstract: An oven muffle is provided with a cavity wrapper disposed between and connected to each of a bottom cap and a top cap. A lower rack-support embossment is formed on a peripheral skirt of the bottom cap, and at a position vertically below a seam where the cavity wrapper and the bottom cap are joined. The peripheral skirt can have first and second curved sections with a linear section disposed therebetween, when viewed in cross-section. The lower rack-support embossment has embossed features, each having a respective contour that is or converges to tangent to the linear section of the peripheral skirt.

Abstract: An ice maker (126) including an ice maker frame having an air inlet provided at a first end thereof. An ice tray (144) is rotatably secured to the ice maker frame and configured to form ice pieces therein. An air handler (142) includes an outlet diffuser having a central body defined by a first wall—and a radially spaced apart second wall, wherein a plurality of radially extending fins are disposed between the first and second walls. Each of the fins is spaced apart, one from the other, along an outer peripheral surface of the first wall. In an installed position, the outlet diffuser is disposed directly adjacent the air inlet at the first end of the ice maker frame. A method is provided for synchronizing an ice making cycle of an ice making unit and a defrost cycle of an evaporator.

Abstract: An ice maker for a refrigeration appliance, the ice maker including an ice maker frame and an ice tray housed within the ice maker frame and configured to form ice pieces therein. An air handler is disposed adjacent the ice maker frame and an ice maker fan is disposed within the air handler and is configured to direct cooled airflow out of the air handler and into the ice maker frame. A controller is configured to operatively control the ice maker during an ice making cycle. The ice maker is operable in a first mode and a second mode. When the ice maker is operated in the second mode, the ice maker fan is cycled on and off during predetermined time intervals in order to produce clear ice pieces.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to systems, methods, and computer program products for integrated device connectivity and agile device control for dynamic object tracking and management. In this regard, embodiments of the invention provide provides a comprehensive integrated platform for dynamic inventory construction and tracking, dynamic food item identification, expiration tracking, dynamic inventory construction, recipe generation, interactive meal planning and guided cooking, in real-time. The system is also configured for establishing operative communication with a plurality of auxiliary devices for achieving the foregoing. The system may initiate a presentation of parameters identified by the auxiliary devices on a user interface associated with a user device.

Abstract: A laundry washing machine and a method for operating the washing machine offer ways to load a unit dose package into a compartment of the washing machine. A control unit controls the washing machine to add water to a compartment having a unit dose package. The tub is then filled with hot or cold water depending on the temperature of the water in the tub, or whether a sanitizing cycle of a washing program has been selected.

Abstract: A cooking appliance includes: a cooking cavity with a bottom wall and a rear wall. A convection fan is disposed adjacent to the rear wall of the cooking cavity. A gas burner is located in a subjacent space beneath the bottom wall and adjacent to the rear wall of the cooking cavity. A heat duct provides communication through the bottom wall and includes an inlet positioned directly above and adjacent to the gas burner through which combustion gases from the gas burner can enter the heat duct. An annular portion of the heat duct defines a pass-through opening in which the convection fan is disposed. Flames from the gas burner extend upwardly toward or through the inlet of the heat duct and are substantially isolated from turbulent air flow generated by the convection fan.

Abstract: An ice bin for a refrigerator appliance, the ice bin includes a storage body. An auger, rotatably driven by an auger motor, extends within the storage body and has first and second ends. The auger is rotatably driven about a first axis. A first crusher roller is disposed at the second end of the auger and is coupled thereto to rotate together with the auger about the first axis. A second crusher roller is disposed on an axle extending along a second axis, the second crusher roller is freely rotatable about the axle. The second crusher roller is movable between a first position and a second position. When the second crusher roller is in the first position, the first crusher roller and the second crusher roller are spatially arranged and configured to grind the produced ice pieces into crushed ice.

Abstract: An appliance door including an outer skin extending between first and second distal edges thereof, and an inner liner disposed adjacent the outer skin such that a space is formed therebetween. A first endcap is disposed at the first distal edge of the outer skin and the first endcap partially enclose the space formed between the outer skin and the liner. A wireless module is positioned on the first endcap and is configured to wirelessly communicate with a mobile device. The wireless module includes a printed circuit board and an antenna, wherein the antenna faces outwards and away from the first endcap.

Abstract: A refrigerator appliance includes an ice packer assembly including an enclosure with a rotatable door, and an ice mold slidably supported by the enclosure. The ice mold is configured to translate between a first position and a second position. The door is configured to rotate from a first orientation to a second orientation as the ice mold is translated from the first position to the second position. The enclosure defines a pass-through opening therethrough. The door opens up the pass-through opening when rotated to the first orientation, and closes the pass-through opening and defines a platform for receiving crushed ice thereon when it is rotated to the second orientation.