Abstract: A hollow cathode apparatus includes an outer tubular dielectric barrier circumferentially surrounding an outer tubular surface of the cathode tube, the outer tubular dielectric barrier being composed of a barrier material which is electrically non-conductive. Also disclosed is a system comprising the hollow cathode apparatus, an anode which is spaced from the output end of the tubular cathode, and electrical circuitry connected between the cathode tube and the anode for connection to a source of electrical power for providing an electrical potential between the cathode and anode to cause an electric current to pass from the emitter into the input gas to form a plasma which is then output through the output end of the cathode tube to form a plasma plume.

Abstract: Cooking exhaust systems for use with a cooktop appliance are provided herein. An exhaust system may include a casing, an image monitor, and an air handler. The casing may define an air inlet and an air outlet above the cooktop appliance. The image monitor may be supported on the casing. The air handler may be mounted within the casing in fluid communication between the air inlet and the air outlet to motivate an airflow therethrough. The air outlet may define an airflow curtain path extending outward from the casing in front of the image monitor.

Abstract: A microwave appliance, as provided herein, may include an outer casing, an inner liner, a door, and an air handler. The outer casing may define an air inlet above a cooktop appliance. The outer casing may extend in a lateral direction between a first side end and a second side end. The inner casing may define a cooking chamber. The door may include a peripheral frame and a front window bounded by the peripheral frame. The peripheral frame may define an air outlet downstream from the air inlet and below the front window along the vertical direction. The air handler may be mounted within the outer casing in fluid communication between the air inlet and the air outlet to motivate an airflow therethrough. The air outlet may define an airflow curtain path extending outward from the outer casing in front of the door.

Abstract: An oven appliance includes a cooking chamber positioned within a cabinet and being defined at least in part by a chamber wall. A heating assembly is positioned outside the cooking chamber for heating the cooking chamber. The heating assembly includes a first plate and a second plate joined together to define a heater cavity containing a heating element. The first plate is spaced apart from the chamber wall to define an airgap therebetween.

Abstract: An indoor smoker includes a cabinet defining a discharge vent, a smoking chamber having a chamber outlet, and an exhaust assembly including an exhaust duct and a recirculation duct providing fluid communication between the chamber outlet and the discharge vent. An air handler urges a flow of smoke through a catalytic converter positioned within the exhaust duct to lower volatile organic compounds prior to discharging the smoke. A recirculation port may be defined between the recirculation duct and the exhaust duct upstream of the catalytic converter and a damper may direct the flow of smoke through the recirculation port when the smoke contains unacceptable levels of volatile organic compounds.

Abstract: An exhaust system for a cooking or cooktop appliance is provided herein. The exhaust system may include a casing, an image monitor, and an air handler. The casing may define an air inlet and an air outlet above the cooktop appliance. The image monitor may be supported on the casing above a cooktop surface. The image monitor may include an imagining surface extending in a lateral direction between a first edge and a second edge. The air handler may be mounted within the casing in fluid communication between the air inlet and the air outlet to motivate an airflow therethrough. The air outlet may be defined proximal to the first edge and defines a coolant airflow path extending along the lateral direction across the imaging surface from the first edge.

Abstract: A drawer assembly for an oven appliance is provided. The drawer assembly includes two slide assemblies mounted within a cooking chamber of the oven appliance for supporting a door and a rack assembly. The rack assembly includes a wire support frame for supporting a cooking tray and two support brackets for mounting the wire support frame to the slide assemblies. In this manner, a user may slide the rack assembly and cooking tray out of the cooking chamber by pulling on the door. The wire support frame may be formed from metal using computer numerically controlled machining and may be welded to the support brackets. In this manner, the rack assembly provides a simple, rigid construction that requires a minimal number of parts and is easy to manufacture.

Abstract: A cooking engagement system and methods therefore are provided. The system includes a cooktop appliance and an interactive assembly positioned above the cooktop appliance. The interactive assembly includes an image monitor that presents various images and information to a user, e.g., recipes. The system includes a humidity sensor for detecting operation of the cooktop appliance. When the humidity sensor senses a humidity level that exceeds a threshold, a controller communicatively coupled thereto activates an air handler to move or motivate an airflow across or about the image monitor. In this way, the image monitor may be cooled and condensation is prevented from forming on the imaging surface of the image monitor.

Abstract: A vented grooved foam liner cap system for attachment to a container, including a vented foam liner having a grooved distal side that can be actuated from an open state to a sealed state within a cap of a container by a sealing mechanism. A method of equilibrating pressure and sealing a container, by venting contents of a container through the vented grooved foam liner cap system attached to the container, and after the contents have cooled to a desired temperature, stopping venting, thereby providing pressure equilibration to the container, and sealing the container by activating a sealing mechanism in the vented grooved foam liner cap system.

Abstract: A cooking engagement system and methods therefore are provided. The system includes a cooktop appliance and an interactive assembly positioned above the cooktop appliance. The interactive assembly includes an image monitor that presents various images and information to a user, e.g., recipes. The system includes a humidity sensor for detecting operation of the cooktop appliance. When the humidity sensor senses a humidity level that exceeds a threshold, a controller communicatively coupled thereto activates an air handler to move or motivate an airflow across or about the image monitor. In this way, the image monitor may be cooled and condensation is prevented from forming on the imaging surface of the image monitor.

Abstract: An exhaust system for a cooking or cooktop appliance is provided herein. The exhaust system may include a casing, an image monitor, and an air handler. The casing may define an air inlet and an air outlet above the cooktop appliance. The image monitor may be supported on the casing above a cooktop surface. The image monitor may include an imagining surface extending in a lateral direction between a first edge and a second edge. The air handler may be mounted within the casing in fluid communication between the air inlet and the air outlet to motivate an airflow therethrough. The air outlet may be defined proximal to the first edge and defines a coolant airflow path extending along the lateral direction across the imaging surface from the first edge.

Abstract: A refrigerator appliance is provided herein. The refrigerator appliance may include a cabinet, a door, a secondary liner, and a heat exchange case. The cabinet may include an internal liner defining a freezer chamber and a fresh food chamber. The door may be attached to the cabinet. The secondary liner may be attached to the cabinet and define a sub-compartment in fluid isolation from the freezer chamber and the fresh food chamber. The heat exchange case may be attached to the internal liner at the freezer chamber in conductive thermal communication therewith. The heat exchange case may at least partially define a convection compartment along a portion of the internal liner. The convection compartment may be defined in fluid isolation from the freezer and in fluid communication with the sub-compartment.

Abstract: Cooking exhaust systems for use with a cooktop appliance are provided herein. An exhaust system may include a casing, an image monitor, and an air handler. The casing may define an air inlet and an air outlet above the cooktop appliance. The image monitor may be supported on the casing. The air handler may be mounted within the casing in fluid communication between the air inlet and the air outlet to motivate an airflow therethrough. The air outlet may define an airflow curtain path extending outward from the casing in front of the image monitor.

Abstract: An oven appliance includes a cooking chamber disposed within a housing with an opening in the housing for accessing the chamber. A casing is disposed around the opening, and the casing includes an air curtain outlet configured to prevent smoke and other vapors from escaping the cooking chamber to the ambient atmosphere via the opening.

Abstract: An indoor smoker includes a cabinet defining a discharge vent, a smoking chamber having a chamber outlet, and an exhaust assembly including an exhaust duct and a recirculation duct providing fluid communication between the chamber outlet and the discharge vent. An air handler urges a flow of smoke through a catalytic converter positioned within the exhaust duct to lower volatile organic compounds prior to discharging the smoke. A recirculation port may be defined between the recirculation duct and the exhaust duct upstream of the catalytic converter and a damper may direct the flow of smoke through the recirculation port when the smoke contains unacceptable levels of volatile organic compounds.

Abstract: An oven appliance includes a cooking chamber disposed within a housing with an opening in the housing for accessing the chamber. A casing is disposed around the opening. An air flow restriction door for limiting air flow within the cooking chamber is provided.

Abstract: An oven appliance has a reflector positioned within a housing above an upper heating element. An air distribution manifold defines an entrance proximate a cooking chamber of the housing. A catalytic smoke reducer is positioned above the reflector at the entrance of the air distribution manifold. An air handler is operable to draw air from above the reflector through the catalytic smoke reducer and the entrance of the air distribution manifold.

Abstract: An oven appliance includes a hinge assembly. The hinge assembly couples a door to slide assemblies such that the door is pivotable. The hinge assembly includes a hinge arm that extends through an opening of the door. The hinge arm has a plurality of rounded edges at the opening of the door. A gasket is mounted to the door at the opening of the door. The gasket extends around the hinge arm and contacts the hinge arm at the rounded edges of the hinge arm.

Abstract: An air distribution assembly for an oven appliance is provided. The air distribution assembly includes an air distribution manifold mounted to a housing of the oven appliance at an opening of the housing. An air handler draws air into the air distribution manifold through a manifold inlet, circulates the air throughout the air distribution manifold, and discharges the air through a manifold outlet. A variety of cooling air flow paths may be defined within the air distribution manifold and/or oven appliance, thereby providing optimal cooling with a simplified construction.

Abstract: A refrigerator appliance is provided herein. The refrigerator appliance may include a cabinet, a door, a secondary liner, and a heat exchange case. The cabinet may include an internal liner defining a freezer chamber and a fresh food chamber. The door may be attached to the cabinet. The secondary liner may be attached to the cabinet and define a sub-compartment in fluid isolation from the freezer chamber and the fresh food chamber. The heat exchange case may be attached to the internal liner at the freezer chamber in conductive thermal communication therewith. The heat exchange case may at least partially define a convection compartment along a portion of the internal liner. The convection compartment may be defined in fluid isolation from the freezer and in fluid communication with the sub-compartment.