Abstract: A lid mechanism for a dishwasher having an least one washing unit provided with a lid includes at least one bracket that can be mounted to one of an outer support body and opposing side edge portions of a lid. The bracket includes a pin element that extends laterally outwardly from the bracket. The lid mechanism further includes at least one guide member that can be mounted to another of the outer support body and the opposing side edge portions of the lid. The guide member establishes a cam member and a guide track which cooperates with the pin element to raise and lower the lid relative to the washing unit. A spring is provided to biase the lid in a direction away from the washing unit.

Abstract: An extending vertical wall secures to the rear edge of a shelf assembly inside a refrigerator compartment. The vertical wall comprises a vertical panel with two downwardly protruding legs. The legs removably reside within sockets included in the rear edge of the refrigerator shelf assembly. When the vertical wall is attached to the refrigerator shelf assembly, the vertical wall prevents items placed on the shelf from toppling off the back edge of the shelf assembly. At the user's discretion, the vertical wall may be quickly and easily removed from the shelf assembly. In an alternative embodiment, the wall is a formed retainer having an inserted U-shape such that the legs are received in the shelf sockets.

Abstract: An improved refrigerator is provided with a freeze tolerant valve for the water tank assembly in the refrigerator. The valve includes a body with an internal plastic spool which minimizes the volume of water within the valve, and which provides a space in the valve to accommodate freezing water in the valve. The valve will not crack or fail in the event of a temperature control problem in the refrigerator which results in frozen water within the valve.

Abstract: An insulated ice making compartment is provided in the fresh food compartment of a bottom mount refrigerator. The ice making compartment may be integrally formed with the liner of the fresh food compartment, or alternatively, may be modular for installation anywhere in the fresh food compartment. A removable bin assembly with a front cover normally seals the ice making compartment to maintain the temperature in the compartment. A cold air duct formed in the rear wall of the refrigerator supplies cold air from the freezer compartment to the ice making compartment. A return air duct directs a portion of the air from the ice making compartment back to the freezer compartment. An air vent in the ice making compartment directs another portion of air into the fresh food compartment. A control system provides for controlling refrigerator functions in a manner that promotes energy efficiency. The refrigerator has an improved water fill tube for the ice maker.

Abstract: A refrigerator includes a refrigerator cabinet, a fresh food compartment disposed within the cabinet, a freezer compartment disposed within the cabinet, an ice compartment disposed within the cabinet, and an electronic control system associated with the refrigerator and adapted to monitor and control the fresh food compartment, the freezer compartment and the ice compartment. The control system provides for energy efficient control and operation through various means, including by monitoring state of an ice maker associated with the ice compartment and controlling temperature within compartments of the refrigerator based on the ice maker state. A heater is controlled by the control system to increase energy efficiency of the refrigerator.

Abstract: A door mounted dispenser for a refrigerator includes rear and opposing side walls that collectively define a cavity, a release mechanism for dispensing ice and/or water and a light for illuminating the cavity. The cavity light can be operated in one of three distinct modes, i.e., in a first mode wherein the cavity light is continuously illuminated, in a second mode wherein the cavity light is illuminated only through activation of the release mechanism, and in a third mode wherein the cavity light is illuminated based upon a sensed level of ambient light present at or near the refrigerator. In the third mode, the cavity light is illuminated at a first level based upon ambient light and a second, higher level when the release mechanism is operated. The level of ambient light necessary to activate the cavity light can be set by a consumer through control panel inputs.

Abstract: A refrigerator includes a universal handle that may be selectively mounted to a front face portion or a side edge of a refrigerator door. The universal handle includes first and second handle ends separated by an intermediate portion, wherein each of the handle ends includes a recessed section. Each of the recessed sections includes a mounting arrangement formed therein, which is adapted to receive either a bracket for mounting the handle to the side edge of the door or a clip for mounting the handle to the front face portion of the door.

Abstract: An insulated ice making compartment is provided in the fresh food compartment of a bottom mount refrigerator. The ice making compartment may be integrally formed with the liner of the fresh food compartment, or alternatively, may be modular for installation anywhere in the fresh food compartment. A removable bin assembly with a front cover normally seals the ice making compartment to maintain the temperature in the compartment. A cold air duct formed in the rear wall of the refrigerator supplies cold air from the freezer compartment to the ice making compartment. A return air duct directs a portion of the air from the ice making compartment back to the freezer compartment. An air vent in the ice making compartment directs another portion of air into the fresh food compartment. A control system provides for controlling refrigerator functions in a manner that promotes energy efficiency. The icemaker has improved air impingement to enhance ice making.

Abstract: A drying rack assembly, for use in a clothes dryer with a rotatable tumbler, is constructed with a perforated tray to support clothing in a stationary manner within the tumbler. A duct is attached to the perforated tray to direct a primary airflow through the perforated tray and to at least a portion of air outlet opening in the tumbler cavity. The duct further includes openings to provide a secondary path by which a portion of the total airflow is allowed to bypass the perforated tray. A movable damper is provided to allow variable bypass airflow. An air outlet cover, attached to the combination of the duct and perforated tray, is adapted to cover the portion of the air outlet opening that does not interface with the duct. The air outlet cover is movable to a second position to enable compact storage. A hanging feature is further provided on the side of the dryer cabinet to provide a convenient storage space.

Abstract: A refrigerator handle assembly includes a plurality of base members which are initially attached at spaced longitudinal positions to a front face portion of a refrigerator door, with tab elements of the base members extending into openings formed in the door and screws fixing the base members in place. The handle assembly also includes a plurality of handle clip members positioned within recesses formed in end portions of a handle member. Once the base members are secured, sections of the handle are placed over the base members and the handle is slid relative to the base members whereupon portions of the base members become engaged and co-act with the handle clip members such that the handle member is drawn tight to the front face portion of the door and releasably locked in position.

Abstract: An insulated icemaking compartment is provided in the fresh food compartment of a bottom mount refrigerator. The icemaking compartment may be integrally formed with the liner of the fresh food compartment, or alternatively, may be modular for installation anywhere in the fresh food compartment. A removable bin assembly with a front cover normally seals the icemaking compartment to maintain the temperature in the compartment. A cold air duct formed in the rear wall of the refrigerator supplies cold air from the freezer compartment to the icemaking compartment. A return air duct directs a portion of the air from the icemaking compartment back to the freezer compartment. An air vent with a damper in the icemaking compartment directs another portion of air into the fresh food compartment. A control system provides for controlling refrigerator functions in a manner that promotes energy efficiency, including movement of the damper between open and closed positions.

Abstract: A refrigerator incorporates a dual swing door including a dual hinge mechanism. The dual hinge mechanism includes a lock bar having a first end portion and a second end portion joined by an intermediate portion. Each of the first and second end portions includes first and second lobe elements. The hinge mechanism also includes a hinge plate having a first end section and a second section joined by an intermediate section. Each of the first and second end sections include a wedge member and a rudder member. The hinge plate further includes first and second hinge pins, mounted to corresponding ones of the first and second end sections, that define left and right pivot axes for the door. The rudder and wedge members interact with the first lobes to automatically force one of the second lobes into engagement with a respective hinge pin to establish a desired hinge axis for pivoting of the door.

Abstract: A cabinet includes a decorative corner cover for concealing unfinished corner regions of the cabinet. The cabinet includes laterally spaced side walls that are joined by a top wall to form corner regions having an opening. The cover member includes a main body having first and second ends with the first end having a tab element that projects substantially perpendicularly from the main body portion. The tab element is preferably cylindrical and formed with a longitudinal slot that creates a radial spring. The tab element further includes a hook member integrally formed with the cylindrical element. The cylindrical element is inserted into the opening so that the hook member engages with the cabinet. The radial spring provides a biasing force that retains the cover in place. Preferably, the opening is constituted by a slot providing additional gripping surfaces for the hook member.

Abstract: A control system for a refrigerator ice/water dispenser includes an actuation switch, at least one drive unit for releasing either ice or water, a motor activation relay that controls operation of the drive unit, and a power system having multiple power supplies for operating the control system, motor activation relay and drive unit(s). Preferably, the dispenser includes multiple actuation switches, e.g. a water activation switch and a water/ice activation switch, each having an associated activation relay for independently controlling the release of water and/or ice respectively. Current for initiating the drive unit activation relays must pass through a corresponding actuation switch in order to prevent unintended release of water and/or ice. Multiple processor circuits are preferably employed, with one processor circuit relaying to another processor circuit to enable drive unit activation.

Abstract: A divider for a pan, drawer or the like compartment in a refrigerator is constituted by multiple, pivotally interconnected pieces which can be selectively locked in a desired position to compartmentalize the storage compartment. The divider defines an over-center device that can be snapped into a locked in a desired position in the compartment, while being locked in position as a result of compressive forces being applied by front and rear walls of the pan or drawer. That is, the pan or drawer is preferably made of plastic and includes walls which deflect upon locking the divider in place. When the divider is opened or unlatched, all compressive forces are removed and the divider can be easily adjusted within the pan or drawer.

Abstract: A refrigerator incorporates a variable speed refrigeration system including a variable speed compressor, a variable speed evaporator fan, a variable speed fresh food compartment stirring fan and a variable position damper. Various temperature sensors are provided to sense system parameters which are used by a controller to regulate each of the variable components in order to compensate for temperature changes within at least one refrigerator compartment in a highly effective, energy efficient and synergistic manner.

Abstract: A side-by-side refrigerator includes a cabinet defining fresh food and freezer compartments, each having upper and lower sections which vary in width and volume along with corresponding fresh food and freezer doors that vary in width. The fresh food and freezer compartments are spaced by an offset mullion assembly against which the doors seal. The offset mullion assembly includes a first longitudinal member, a second longitudinal member, a brace having first and second legs and a laterally extending portion and a cosmetic cover. The offset mullion assembly provides strength to the cabinet while providing an aesthetically pleasing and uniform sealing surface for the fresh food and freezer doors.

Abstract: A refrigerator water filter assembly is provided in the ceiling of a refrigerator and is adapted to hinge downwardly from the ceiling for changing the filter cartridge. The cartridge is normally partially recessed within the ceiling so as to minimize the use of space in the food compartment of the refrigerator. The filter assembly includes a base mounted in the refrigerator ceiling, a manifold pivotally mounted on the base, a filter cartridge attached to the manifold, and a cover pivotally mounted on the manifold so as to be movable between open and closed positions. When the cover is opened, the filter cartridge is angled downwardly from the ceiling for easy grasping by a person for replacement of the cartridge.

Abstract: The current invention relates to a clothes dryer having a dryness sensing device and method of use comprising at least two electrically conductive sensor bars placed closely together but not touching one another so that articles in the dryer can contact two of the sensor bars at the same time. At least one sensor bar is electrically connected to an electrical current source and at least one sensor bar is electrically connected to an electrical ground. A microcontroller is electrically connected between the electrical current source and the electrical ground so as to be capable of measuring the voltage across the sensor bars when the sensor bars are contacted by the articles being dried. The microcontroller is configured so as to determine the dryness of the articles by calculating the electrical resistance of the articles by using the value of the voltage across the sensor bars and the value of the current through the sensor bars.

Abstract: A bottom-mount refrigerator provides additional storage capacity by mounting a refrigeration component, for example a compressor, behind a full-width freezer drawer arranged between an upper fresh food compartment and a lower freezer compartment. In this manner, the freezer compartment is not required to be shortened or otherwise re-shaped to accommodate the refrigeration component. The refrigerator also includes an automatic ice maker mounted above the freezer drawer. The ice maker is positioned above the freezer drawer at a rearward position that accommodates structure present in the fresh food compartment. Specifically, a bi-level bin is slidably mounted in the fresh food compartment. The bin includes a deep portion that joins a shallow portion through a step section. The ice maker is mounted rearward of the step section to allow the bin to be removed from the fresh food compartment.