SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE GUIDE FOR APPLIANCE

• US 20080159494A1
• Filed: 12/17/2007
• Published: 07/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Original Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Inventors: QUINLAN, DANIEL H., LEE, SANG W., KAHWAJI, MICHAEL A., UGGIRALA, ANANTH
• Granted Patent: US 9,057,554 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/90.01
• CPC Class Codes: F25C 2400/10 Refrigerator units
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 11/02 with cooling compartments at different temperatures
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/126 Water cooler
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2400/06 Refrigerators with a vertical mullion
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2400/361 Interactive visual displays
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 29/008 Alarm devices
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0428 Safety, monitoring G05B19/0423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/24084 Remote and local monitoring, local result to remote, remote takes action
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/24086 Expert system, guidance operator, locate fault and indicate how to repair
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2654 Fridge, refrigerator

Abstract

A household appliance such as a refrigerator includes a housing and a user interface operatively connected to the housing. The user interface includes a display and user inputs. The user interface is adapted for showing on the display a part number for a component part, contact information for use in acquiring the component part, and instructions for installing the component part. The contact information may include a phone number. The contact information may include a web site address. The component part may be a replacement part such as a filter or the component part may be an accessory part. The user interface may also be adapted for displaying instructions or service or maintenance tasks.

Claims

1. A refrigerator, comprising:

a refrigerator cabinet for enclosing at least one refrigerating compartment;

a display operatively connected to the cabinet;

a control unit electrically connected to the display;

the control unit adapted for determining presence of a condition requiring a replacement part;

the control unit adapted for displaying on the display a visual indicator indicative of the presence of the condition requiring the replacement part;

the control unit adapted for receiving from the user an input requesting additional information about the condition requiring the replacement part; and

the control unit adapted for displaying additional information about the condition requiring the replacement part on the display after receiving the input requesting additional information from the user.

2. The refrigerator of claim 1 wherein the additional information about the condition includes contact information for ordering a part.

3. The refrigerator of claim 2 wherein the contact information includes a phone number.

4. The refrigerator of claim 1 wherein the additional information about the condition includes a part number for a replacement part.

5. The refrigerator of claim 4 wherein the replacement part is a filter.

6. The refrigerator of claim 5 wherein the filter is a water filter.

7. The refrigerator of claim 1 wherein the additional information about the condition includes instructions for servicing the refrigerator.

8. The refrigerator of claim 7 wherein the instructions for servicing the refrigerator include instructions for installing the replacement part.

9. The refrigerator of claim 1 wherein the visual indicator indicative of the presence of the condition requiring the replacement part blinks.

10. A household appliance, comprising:

a household appliance housing;

a user interface operatively connected to the housing;

wherein the user interface comprises a display and user inputs;

wherein the user interface is adapted for showing on the display a part number for a component part, contact information for use in acquiring the component part, and instructions for installing the component part.

11. The appliance of claim 10 wherein the contact information includes a phone number.

12. The appliance of claim 10 wherein the contact information includes a web site address.

13. The appliance of claim 10 wherein the component part is a replacement part.

14. The appliance of claim 13 wherein the replacement part is a filter.

15. The appliance of claim 10 wherein the component part is an accessory part.

16. The appliance of claim 10 wherein the household appliance is a refrigerator and the household appliance housing is a refrigerator cabinet.

17. A method for providing convenience to a user of a refrigerator, the method comprising:

providing the refrigerator wherein the refrigerator comprises a housing and a user interface operatively connected to the housing and wherein the user interface comprises a display;

displaying on the display of the user interface of the refrigerator a part number for a component part and contact information for use in acquiring the component part.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the component part is a replacement part.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the replacement part is a water filter.

20. The method of claim 17 wherein the component part is an accessory part.

21. The method of claim 17 further comprising displaying on the display of the user interface instructions for replacing a component part.

22. The method of claim 17 wherein the contact information includes a phone number.

23. The method of claim 17 wherein the contact information includes a web site address.

24. The method of claim 17 wherein the display is a touch sensitive display.

25. The method of claim 17 further comprising receiving an order for the component part from the user.

26. A system for use in a household appliance, comprising:

a display;

at least one user inputs associated with the display;

a memory storing screen display information including part numbers for a plurality of component parts, contact information for use in acquiring the plurality of component parts, and instructions for installing the component parts;

wherein the display is adapted for showing on the display at least one of the part numbers, the contact information, and the instructions.

27. The user interface of claim 26 wherein the plurality of component parts are refrigerator parts.

28. The user interface of claim 26 wherein the component parts include replacement parts for a refrigerator.

29. The user interface of claim 26 wherein the component parts include accessory parts for a refrigerator.

30. A household appliance, comprising:

a household appliance housing;

a user interface operatively connected to the housing;

wherein the user interface comprises a display and user inputs;

wherein the display is adapted for showing on the display instructions for performing a service or maintenance task.

31. The household appliance of claim 30 wherein the instructions comprise textual material.

32. The household appliance of claim 30 wherein the instructions comprise video material.

33. The household appliance of claim 32 further comprising a speaker operatively connected to the housing and wherein the instructions further comprise audio material.

34. The household appliance of claim 30 wherein the instructions comprise one or more still images with textual material.

35. The household appliance of claim 30 further comprising a speaker operatively connected to the housing and wherein the instructions comprise one or more still images with audio material.