Abstract: A convection oven includes a heating element made of a single coil formed into a pair of concentric loops. The concentric loops are disposed in parallel planes to improve the thermal efficiency and power requirements of the convection oven.

Abstract: A refrigerator includes: a fresh food compartment with an interior wall, an opening, and a door movable between a closed position and an open position for accessing the fresh food compartment via the opening; a cold plate mounted in the interior wall with an evaporator in contact with the cold plate; a chilled component movably mounted on the door adjacent the cold plate, the chilled component includes a heat transfer plate on a side of the chilled component for thermal communication with the cold plate, and a biaser moves the chilled component into thermal communication with the cold plate when the door is closed. The chilled component may be: an ice maker, a liquid/drink cooler, a vegetable cooler, a meat cooler, and/or a wine cooler. The biaser may include the following for moving the chilled component: a spring, an inclined plane, a pulley and weights, and/or a hydraulic piston.

Abstract: An apparatus, method, and system are provided for computing network-independent appliance control using natural language processing and user feedback. In particular, the system may comprise an intelligent front end (e.g., a communications adapter) that may interface with a user and an electronic controller configured to transmit commands to the appliance. The communications adapter may comprise an artificial intelligence module with natural language understanding and/or natural language processing capabilities, where the module may receive auditory inputs from and provide auditory feedback to the user to allow voice-based control of the appliance. The front-end system may further be configured to store voice recognition data and/or natural language processing data locally, such that the voice control may continue to function even in the absence of a network connection to other computing systems. In this way, the system may provide an effective way to provide voice-based control functionality to an appliance.

Abstract: A shelf assembly for a refrigerator includes a shelf; a base member defining a channel; a link member coupling the shelf to the base member such that the shelf is movable relative to the base member between a first position and a second position; a first pin pivotably coupling the link member to the base member; and a second pin pivotably coupling the link member to the shelf. The channel of the base member receives the second pin in the second position.

Abstract: A water dispenser for a refrigerator including a water discharge nozzle fluidly connected to a water source, a valve configured to selectively block the fluid connection, and an actuator operated to allow water to be dispensed. The water discharge nozzle is pivotally mounted to a surface of the refrigerator to pivot between a retracted position and an extended position. In the extended position, the water discharge nozzle is extended outwards beyond the surface of the refrigerator. The water discharge nozzle is biased towards one of the extended and retracted positions. The valve is configured to block the fluid connection between the water discharge nozzle and the water source when the water discharge nozzle is in the retracted position. When the water discharge nozzle pivots to the extended position, the valve is operated to enable fluid connection between the water discharge nozzle and the water source.

Abstract: A method for initiating a safety-critical function in an appliance. The method including receiving a first user input for the safety-critical function via a touchscreen and receiving a second user input confirming the safety-critical function via a first separate input element adjacent to the touchscreen. The operation of the touchscreen can be manipulated externally, directly or indirectly, via wireless communication while a safety-critical function is active. The first separate input element communicates via a wired connection to a control device that is not capable of being manipulated externally via wireless communication while a safety-critical function is active, wherein the control device controls initiation of the safety-critical function. In the method, both the first user input and the second user input are required to initiate the safety-critical function.

Abstract: A fan assembly including an air duct; an evaporator coil cover; a radial fan mounted onto the evaporator coil cover and disposed between the air duct and the evaporator coil cover; wherein the air duct includes a ring portion which interlocks with the evaporator coil cover around the radial fan; wherein the evaporator coil cover comprises three darts positioned substantially uniformly around the radial fan position; three grommets, each grommet having a central opening configured to fit over a dart, each grommet having a circumferential ridge configured to interlock with a lower rim or the radial fan is provided. Further provided is a method of reducing noise in a refrigeration appliance.

Abstract: There is provided a cooking appliance having an oven cavity, a fan, a heater, and a convection shroud. The fan is configured to circulate air heated by the heater to redistribute the air throughout the oven cavity. The heater configured both to heat the expelled by the fan and to generate steam from water in which the heater is immersed within a water reservoir. In described embodiments, the water reservoir is part of the convection shroud and is formed or attached together with a fan cover thereof.

Abstract: A refrigerator drawer having a body having a front panel, a rear panel, two side panels, more than one pivotable dividers, each divider pivotable between use and non-use positions, the dividers capable of dividing the drawer body into more than one compartments, a ducted cover and/or a ducted bottom, the ducted cover and ducted bottom each having a channel connecting to more than one fans, and a temperature sensor located within each of the possible compartments is provided.

Abstract: A refrigerator appliance includes a refrigerator compartment with a bottom-hinged door that is operable to open and close the refrigerator compartment. In one example, the door is hingedly coupled to a bottom of the cabinet and configured to pivot between a closed state to restrict access, or an open state to permit access, to the freezer compartment. The refrigerator compartment includes a liner comprising opposing side walls. A swing-up storage assembly is pivotally and telescopically connected to the side walls and is configured to move between a lower retracted position and an upper extended position. The swing-up storage assembly includes a receptacle support body and a storage receptacle that is removably mounted to the receptacle support body.

Abstract: Provided is a refrigeration appliance including a storage compartment, a user interface controller, and a user interface arranged in the storage compartment. The user interface is a stacked arrangement including a sensor assembly carrier, a graphic overlay, a light guide, and a printed circuit board (PCB) with a user interface controller and a self-capacitive electrode sensor. The main controller receives a signal from the user interface with self-capacitive electrode sensor and adjusts the temperature of the storage compartment based on the signal from the self-capacitive electrode sensor. A method controlling a refrigeration appliance with a stacked user interface is also provided.

Abstract: A mechanical interlock system for a fluid filter is described herein. The mechanical interlock system may include a filter cartridge and a filter cartridge manifold for receiving the filter cartridge. The filter cartridge may include a filter body, a fluid inlet and outlet, and an integrated locking head. The integrated locking head may include a key extending radially outward from the integrated locking head and channels on an outer surface of the integrated locking head. The filter cartridge manifold may include an insertion and extraction tube for receiving the key and latching mechanisms. The insertion and extraction tube may include a primary keyway and a secondary keyway. The key, keyways, latching mechanisms, and/or channels may interact to maintain alignment of the filter cartridge during insertion of the filter cartridge into an appliance including the filter cartridge manifold.

Abstract: Provided is a refrigeration appliance that includes a fresh food compartment and a freezer compartment. An opening is provided between the freezer compartment and the fresh food compartment to allow air to flow from the fresh food compartment to the freezer compartment and an air tower located within the fresh food compartment is adapted to deliver air from the freezer compartment to the fresh food compartment.

Abstract: A refrigerator appliance includes a cabinet and a storage compartment with a drawer assembly disposed therein. One or more storage compartment doors are pivotally coupled to the cabinet to restrict or gain access to the storage compartment. At least one of the doors defines an opening that is shaped and dimensioned to enable the drawer assembly to be extended and retracted through the opening.

Abstract: A gas burner assembly for a cooktop appliance including an upper chamber, a first plurality of burner ports, a lower chamber and a second plurality of burner ports. A first fuel-gas injector is configured to direct a first stream of fuel gas into the upper chamber, thereby drawing surrounding air to yield injection of a first mixture of fuel gas and air into the upper chamber. A second fuel-gas injector directs a second stream of fuel gas into a secondary opening that communicates with the lower chamber, thereby drawing surrounding air to yield injection of a second mixture of fuel gas and air into the lower chamber. The upper chamber being isolated from the lower chamber so that the first mixture of fuel gas and air in the upper chamber does not mix with the second mixture of fuel gas and air in the lower chamber.

Abstract: A method for automatically filling a container with water and/or ice from a dispenser in a refrigerator door or within a refrigerator cavity includes the steps of: placing a container adjacent the dispenser; determining a volume of the container by using a camera associated with the dispenser, capturing a picture of the containing, visually estimating a volume of the container via a microprocessor associated with the camera or a cloud-based application associated with the camera, and converting the estimated container volume to an estimated weight based on densities of water and/or ice; filling the container with water and/or ice from the dispenser based on the estimated weight; and terminating filling of the container based on the estimated weight. And the refrigerator carrying out the method.

Abstract: A wire harness assembly including a first connector, a second connector, and conductors extending between the first connector and the second connector. Contacts are provided on the second connector. The contacts have termination sections which are mounted on the second connector, compliant sections which extend from the termination sections, and substrate engagement sections which extend from the compliant sections. The substrate engagement sections have curved contact sections which are configured to be positioned in mechanical and electrical engagement with circuit pads of a mating printed circuit board. Embossments are provided on the curved contact sections to provide additional strength and stability to the curved contact sections.