Abstract: A refrigerator includes a cabinet coupled to one or more doors forming a storage compartment and an air purifying duct system positioned in the storage compartment. The air purifying duct system includes an air duct in fluid communication with the storage compartment; a fan configured to circulate air between the storage compartment and air duct; a photocatalyst disposed on a portion of the interior surface; one or more LEDs positioned to project light across the air duct and onto the photocatalyst; and an air circulation path configured to direct pathogens within the storage compartment into the air duct using the fan and circulate purified air into the storage compartment.

Abstract: A dishwasher includes a housing having walls defining a tub with an outlet for humid air to flow out from the tub and an inlet for dry air to flow into the tub. The dishwasher also includes a drying system with a fluidized bed containing an adsorbent material, and an air circuit for supplying air to fluidize the adsorbent material via an air inlet, with at least a portion of the air inlet in contact with at least one wall of the tub such that heat is transferred from the tub to the air. During a regeneration cycle, the air circuit supplies heated ambient air to the fluidized bed to regenerate the adsorbent material. During an adsorption cycle, the air circuit receives hot humid air from the tub to be dried by the adsorbent material through the fluidized bed and returned as dry air to the tub.

Abstract: A dishwasher includes a housing having walls defining a tub with an outlet for humid air to flow out from the tub and an inlet for dry air to flow into the tub. The dishwasher also includes a drying system with a fluidized bed containing an adsorbent material, and an air circuit for supplying air to fluidize the adsorbent material via an air inlet, with at least a portion of the air inlet in contact with at least one wall of the tub such that heat is transferred from the tub to the air. During a regeneration cycle, the air circuit supplies heated ambient air to the fluidized bed to regenerate the adsorbent material. During an adsorption cycle, the air circuit receives hot humid air from the tub to be dried by the adsorbent material through the fluidized bed and returned as dry air to the tub.

Abstract: An appliance includes a housing defining an interior cabinet; and a crisper drawer disposed within the interior cabinet. The crisper drawer includes a base, walls, and lid to define a cavity for receiving food items to be stored in the crisper drawer. The lid selectively closes the crisper drawer to limit air flow to and from the cavity. One or more of the base, the walls, and the lid define an opening and include a humidity membrane disposed within the opening. The humidity membrane includes a seal therearound for sealing the opening, wherein the seal of the humidity membrane retains moisture and limits leakage of humidity from the crisper drawer.

Abstract: An appliance includes a housing defining an interior cabinet, a crisper drawer disposed therein, and a circulation system. The crisper drawer includes a base, walls, and lid defining a cavity, the lid selectively closing the drawer to limit air flow to and from the cavity. One or more of the base, the walls, and the lid define an opening for a humidity membrane disposed therein, sealed in the opening. The membrane includes nanofibers dispersed in a matrix to provide pervaporation across the membrane for airflow from the cavity to the interior cabinet. The circulation system cooperates with the membrane, and includes one or more fans disposed within the drawer to selectively facilitate air flow across the membrane and mix air within the cavity to control a humidity level within the drawer.

Abstract: A laundry appliance includes a tub that is positioned within an outer cabinet. A processing space is defined within the tub. A fluid path delivers a process fluid through the tub for treating articles within the processing space. A micro-particle filter is positioned within the fluid path. The micro-particle filter separates micro-sized particles from the process fluid. A secondary flow mechanism delivers the micro-sized particles from the micro-particle filter to a removable collection chamber.

Abstract: A microwave-heating crisp plate includes a body defining a food-supporting surface and an outer surface opposite the food-supporting surface, and a coating applied over at least a portion of the outer surface. The coating includes a base polymer material defining a matrix, carbon nanotubes, and ferrite particles. The carbon nanotubes and the ferrite particles are dispersed throughout the matrix in a predetermined relative ratio and in a predetermined dispersal ratio with respect to the matrix.

Abstract: A household appliance liner includes a first polymeric capping layer and a polymeric base layer. The first polymeric capping layer includes a first pigment additive. The polymeric base layer is coupled to the first polymeric capping layer. The polymeric base layer includes one or more polymers, a second pigment additive, and a natural fiber. The natural fiber can be present at a concentration of at least 50% by weight of the polymeric base layer. Methods of producing the household appliance liner are also disclosed.

Abstract: A household appliance includes a treating chamber and a liquid sump. A liquid circuit fluidly couples the liquid sump and the treating chamber. An immersible laminate heater is located within the liquid sump. The immersible laminate heater includes a pair of electrodes and a structure including at least a first layer and a second layer.

Abstract: A washing machine includes a filter that is operably connected to a water circulation system to filter water. The filter may include a mesh filter element and a porous membrane whereby water passes through the mesh element and then through the porous membrane prior to exiting the washing machine. The porous membrane may include a plurality of openings of about 5 microns to about 100 microns to capture microparticles.

Abstract: A panel is provided. The panel includes a substrate having a top surface and a liquid-repelling element disposed on the top surface as a single line free of parallel sublines, the single line defining a geometric pattern. The liquid-repelling element comprises graphene nanoparticles.

Abstract: A refrigerator is disclosed for improved food storage capability. The refrigerator comprises an internal cavity having a membrane that at least partially covers a portion of the walls of the internal cavity.

Abstract: A method of making a liner for an appliance is provided that includes: mixing a polymeric capping layer precursor and a pigment additive; forming the capping layer precursor and the pigment additive into a capping layer at a capping layer formation temperature; and rolling the capping layer, a barrier layer and a polymeric base layer together to form a liner, each of the capping layer, the barrier layer and the base layer at about the capping layer formation temperature. Further, the liner comprises a capping region, a barrier region and a base region, the capping region comprising the pigment additive.

Abstract: An electric cooking appliance includes a glass-ceramic substrate having a top surface for supporting cookware for heating thereon, and a bottom surface opposite the top surface. The electric cooking appliance includes a plurality of thermoresistive heating elements disposed and spaced apart on the bottom surface of the glass-ceramic substrate, with each of the plurality of thermoresistive heating elements including graphene nanoparticles embedded in a ceramic matrix for generating heat upon application of electric current to the respective thermoresistive heating element. Each thermoresistive heating element is electrically connected to a power supply such that one or more of the plurality of thermoresistive heating elements are selectively activated to receive electric current to heat localized areas of the glass-ceramic substrate.

Abstract: A microwavable dish having a body with a microwave-absorbing coating. A bottom of the microwavable dish or the microwave-absorbing coating defines or includes a dome portion. The microwave-absorbing coating can be coupled to or formed with the bottom of the microwavable dish. The microwave-absorbing coating provides heat to the body by transforming microwaves to heat. The microwave-absorbing coating can include a plurality of nubs, where each nub has a height and a nub diameter.

Abstract: A dishwasher includes a housing having walls defining a tub having an outlet for humid air to flow out from the tub, an inlet for dry air to flow into the tub, and a door for closing the tub to an exterior environment, and a drying system contacting at least one wall of the tub. The drying system includes an inlet conduit fluidly connected to the outlet and an outlet conduit fluidly connected to the inlet with the inlet conduit and the outlet conduit forming an inverted V-shaped air circuit defining an airflow path therethrough. The drying system also includes at least one adsorbent component having an adsorbent material positioned along the airflow path, and at least one gate check valve blocking airflow from the tub to the adsorbent material during a wash cycle. The adsorbent material is regenerated via heat transfer through the at least one wall from the tub during a wash cycle when the gate check valve is closed.

Abstract: A sanitation system includes a drum configured to be positioned within a body of an appliance. The drum includes a lifter on an interior surface. A sanitation device is selectively disposed within the drum. The sanitation device includes a housing. A heatsink is integrally formed with the housing. The heatsink and the housing form an outer structure free of apertures. A sensor assembly is disposed within the outer structure. The sensor assembly includes a humidity sensor configured to sense humidity. A light source is disposed within the outer structure.

Abstract: A refrigeration appliance includes a body defining a compartment, and an evaporator configured to flow air from the compartment over a heat exchange surface. The evaporator has a deicing nanocoating coated on a portion of the heat exchange surface. The refrigeration appliance also includes an evaporator fan directing cooled air from the evaporator to the compartment. The deicing coating is a hydrogel forming a coated surface on the portion of the heat exchange surface with an ice nucleation temperature of ?15 to ?40 degrees C. and a water contact angle of 100 to 140 degrees.

Abstract: A household appliance is configured to implement an automatic cycle of operation for treating an article. The household appliance includes a treating chamber configured to receive the article for treatment according to the automatic cycle of operation. A sump is fluidly coupled to the treating chamber. A liquid circuit is fluidly coupled to at least one of the treating chamber or the sump. An immersible heater is located within the sump.

Abstract: A microwavable dish having a body with a microwave-absorbing coating. A bottom of the microwavable dish or the microwave-absorbing coating defines or includes a dome portion. The microwave-absorbing coating can be coupled to or formed with the bottom of the microwavable dish. The microwave-absorbing coating provides heat to the body by transforming microwaves to heat. The microwave-absorbing coating can include a plurality of nubs, where each nub has a height and a nub diameter.