Abstract: A beverage dispensing assembly may include a brewing body and a lid, as well as a contact pin or dispersion head. The brewing body may define a brew chamber to receive a brew pod. The brewing body may extend along the rotation axis between an upper end and a lower end. The brewing body may define an outlet at the lower end. The lid may be rotatably attached to the brewing body at the upper end to rotate about the rotation axis between a first position and a second position. The first position may secure the lid to the brewing body and restrict access to the brew chamber. The second position may release the lid from the brewing body.

Abstract: A free-standing appliance may include a cabinet, a water source, an icemaker, an ice bin, a cold water line, and one or more other features. The icemaker may be mounted within the cabinet downstream from the water source to receive water therefrom. The ice bin may be disposed within the cabinet downstream from the icemaker to receive ice therefrom. The cold water line may be mounted to the cabinet and define a cold water outlet downstream from the water source in fluid isolation from the icemaker.

Abstract: An indoor gardening appliance includes a grow module that is rotatably mounted within a grow chamber and that defines pod apertures for receiving a plurality of plant pods. A hydration system includes a discharge nozzle positioned within the grow chamber for selectively discharging a mist of nutrients. An electrostatic charging assembly is coupled to the discharge nozzle for selectively charging the mist of nutrients. By contrast, the plant pods may be electrically coupled to a grounding assembly for selectively grounding the root end of the plant pods. In this manner, the roots of the plants may have an opposing charge relative to the mist of nutrients such that the mist of nutrients are attracted to and deposited on the roots of plants.

Abstract: A beverage dispensing assembly may include a brewing body and a lid, as well as a contact pin or dispersion head. The brewing body may define a brew chamber to receive a brew pod. The brewing body may extend along the rotation axis between an upper end and a lower end. The brewing body may define an outlet at the lower end. The lid may be rotatably attached to the brewing body at the upper end to rotate about the rotation axis between a first position and a second position. The first position may secure the lid to the brewing body and restrict access to the brew chamber. The second position may release the lid from the brewing body.

Abstract: A beverage cooling system includes a first tub, a second tub nested within the first tub to define a first space therebetween for receiving a heat transfer material. A tube passes through the first space, is in thermal communication with the heat transfer material, and is configured for receiving a beverage. In operation, the second tub may be filled with ice or another cool material such that the beverage passing through the tube, which is in thermal communication with the heat transfer material and the ice, may be chilled before being dispensed to a user.

Abstract: A hydration system for an indoor gardening appliance includes sump for collecting water used to hydrate plants and a water supply containing fresh water. The sump and the water supply are fluidly coupled to a supply conduit and a pump assembly urges a flow of liquid through the supply conduit. A diverter assembly controls the amount of liquid recirculated from the sump and the flow of fresh water from the water supply. The hydration system further includes a drain valve that selectively discharges liquid from the sump to an external drain.

Abstract: An indoor smoker includes a smoking chamber that is defined at least in part by a sidewall and a smoke generating assembly for providing a flow of smoke into the smoking chamber through a chamber inlet defined in the sidewall. A ladder rack is mounted to the sidewall for supporting a plurality of racks and includes a support plate that is space apart from the sidewall to define a flow plenum for distributing the flow of smoke throughout the smoking chamber. A heating assembly includes a side heating element mounted to the sidewall adjacent to the flow plenum for heating the flow of smoke within the plenum and urging the flow of smoke upward through the flow plenum along the vertical direction.

Abstract: A sensor assembly for controlling the operation of an ice making appliance is provided. The ice making appliance includes an ice maker that forms and dispenses ice into an ice bucket. A sensor assembly includes an emitter for generating a beam of energy and a receiver that monitors the time of flight of the beam of energy to determine a level of the ice within the ice bucket.

Abstract: The present invention provides a binary refrigerant mixture that can be used in single or dual evaporator refrigeration systems to provide for efficient cooling without the use of a high global warming potential (GWP) hydrofluorocarbon refrigerant such as R-134a and that is less flammable than a hydrocarbon refrigerant such as R-600 (n-butane) or R-600a (isobutane). Further, the binary refrigerant mixture can be classified as an A2 refrigerant in that it has a heat of combustion of less than 19 kilojoules per kilogram. In addition, the binary refrigerant mixture has a comparable energy efficiency when compared to R-134a and can be used in refrigeration systems designed for use with R-600 or R-600a refrigerants without having to change their design (i.e., without having to change the compressor design).

Abstract: The present invention provides a binary refrigerant mixture that can be used in single or dual evaporator refrigeration systems to provide for efficient cooling without the use of a high global warming potential (GWP) hydrofluorocarbon refrigerant such as R-134a and that is less flammable than a hydrocarbon refrigerant such as R-600 (n-butane) or R-600a (isobutane). Further, the binary refrigerant mixture can be classified as an A2 refrigerant in that it has a heat of combustion of less than 19 kilojoules per kilogram. In addition, the binary refrigerant mixture has a comparable energy efficiency when compared to R-134a and can be used in refrigeration systems designed for use with R-600 or R-600a refrigerants without having to change their design (i.e., without having to change the compressor design).

Abstract: A solar-assisted is generally provided herein. The appliance may include an alternating current voltage source, an alternating current component, a direct current component, a rectifier, and a solar panel. The alternating current component may be electrically coupled to the alternating current voltage source. The direct current component may be electrically coupled to the alternating current voltage source. The rectifier may be operably connected between the direct current component and the alternating current voltage source. The solar panel may be electrically coupled to the direct current component and bypassing the rectifier.

Abstract: Systems and methods of controlling one or more aspects of a wireless network are provided. In particular, a home appliance, such as a refrigeration appliance can be configured to detect and join a home area network. The home appliance can then be configured to facilitate the connection of at least one network device to the home area network. The home appliance can further be configured to receive data from the router, amplify the data, and retransmit the data, thereby extending the range of the home area network.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for controlling the operation of an icemaker. For instance, a usage profile can be determined for an icemaker based at least in part on previous icemaker activity during one or more periods of time. The usage profile can be indicative of an amount of ice to be made by the icemaker at various times. The icemaker can then be configured to make ice in accordance with the usage profile.

Abstract: The present invention provides a refrigerator appliance and for operation of a refrigerator appliance. The refrigerator appliance and method of operating a refrigerator appliance include features for regulating the time between evaporator defrost cycles to efficiently defrost the evaporator. Features are also included for increasing the temperature of refrigerant circulating through a refrigeration system of the refrigerator appliance to prevent condensation on outer surfaces of the refrigerator.

Abstract: A system and method of communicating information associated with an appliance is provided. An appliance can present an optical machine-readable representation, such as a linear or matrix barcode, on a display of the appliance. The optical machine-readable representation can encode information associated with an event occurrence for the appliance. A client, such as a computer, smartphone, tablet, etc., can capture information indicative of the optical machine-readable representation. The client computing device can then access information, such as diagnostic information, responsive to the optical machine-readable representation.

Abstract: An ice making assembly includes an ice maker including a mold body defining a one or more compartments for forming ice cubes therein, a harvesting assembly removes an ice cube from the compartment, and one or more bimetallic elements. Each bimetallic element is configured with a respective one of the compartments so that when energized the bimetallic element deforms with a portion moving in a direction so as to assist in removing an ice cube from the compartment. Related refrigeration appliances are also disclosed.

Abstract: Isocyanurate-reactive mixture obtained by reacting an anhydride and a polyol; process for making it; polyisocyanate composition comprising this mixture; binder composition comprising such a polyisocyanate composition; the use of such a polyisocyanate composition and/or binder composition for making a polyisocyanurate and such polyisocyanurates.

Abstract: A system and method of communicating information associated with an appliance is provided. An appliance can present an optical machine-readable representation, such as a linear or matrix barcode, on a display of the appliance. The optical machine-readable representation can encode information associated with an event occurrence for the appliance. A client, such as a computer, smartphone, tablet, etc., can capture information indicative of the optical machine-readable representation. The client computing device can then access information, such as diagnostic information, responsive to the optical machine-readable representation.

Abstract: A method and system for monitoring an appliance is disclosed. The method includes establishing a wireless communication connection between a communication module in an appliance and a communication network, transmitting operational data in real-time from the appliance to an external monitoring system over the communication network, determining a status of a component of the appliance from the real-time operational data, and if a failure mode of the component is detected, initiating a service protocol corresponding to the component.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a mold body with at least one cavity configured and dimensioned to receive water to be frozen into ice; a hollow sealed tube having an evaporator portion in thermal communication with the mold body and an offset condenser portion opposite the evaporator portion; a two-phase heat transfer fluid contained within the hollow sealed tube; and an actuation arrangement which causes the mold body and the tube to transition between a first position and a second position. In the first position, the water can be introduced into the at least one cavity and the offset condenser portion is above the evaporator portion. In the second position, the ice can be discharged from the at least one cavity and the offset condenser portion is below the evaporator portion. A refrigerator using the apparatus is also disclosed.