Substance Communicating Device with Mechanically Energized Connector

• US 20110146328A1
• Filed: 12/21/2009
• Published: 06/23/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Original Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Inventors: Luckman, Joel A., McCoy, Richard A., Hendrickson, Michael S.
• Granted Patent: US 8,342,480 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 62/389
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2400/361 Interactive visual displays
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2700/08 Sensors using Radio Frequency Identification [RFID]
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 29/00 Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices

Abstract

A substance communicating device for use in conjunction with an appliance or a system including an appliance and a consumable holder. The appliance has a first substance service connector component and a first service switch component. The substance communicating device has a second substance service connector component operably engageable with the first substance connector component to permit the communication of a substance between the first and second substance service connector components. The substance communicating device further has a second service switch component operably associated with the second substance service connector component, the second service switch component being configured to engage the first service switch component when the first and second substance service connector components are engaged to selectively permit the communication of the substance between the substance communicating device and the appliance.

Claims

1. A substance communicating device for use in conjunction with an appliance having a first substance service connector component and a first contact proximity coupling component, the substance communicating device comprising:

a main body;

a substance consumer associated with the main body;

a substance line having a first end coupled with the substance consumer and a second end remote from the first end;

a second substance service connector component coupled with the second end of the substance line, the second substance service connector component being operably engageable with the first substance service connector component to permit the communication of a substance between the first and second substance service connector components; and

a second contact proximity coupling component being configured to engage the first contact proximity coupling component when the first and second substance service connector components are engaged to selectively permit the communication of the substance between the substance communicating device and the appliance.

2. The substance communicating device according to claim 1, wherein the second contact proximity coupling component comprises a contact proximity target and the first contact proximity coupling component comprises a contact proximity sensor.

3. The substance communicating device according to claim 1, wherein the second contact proximity coupling component comprises a contact proximity sensor and the first contact proximity coupling component comprises a contact proximity target.

4. The substance communicating device according to claim 1, wherein the second substance connector component comprises a substance flow regulating device.

5. The substance communicating device according to claim 1 and further comprising a second electromagnetic service connector component operably engageable with a first electromagnetic service connector component of the appliance to permit the communication of an electromagnetic service between the first and second electromagnetic service connector components.

6. The substance communicating device according to claim 5, wherein the second contact proximity coupling component is configured to engage the first contact proximity coupling component when the first and second substance service connector components are engaged to selectively permit the communication of the electromagnetic service between the substance communicating device and the appliance between the first and second electromagnetic service connector components.

7. The substance communicating device according to claim 6 and further comprising a switch operable to selectively permit the communication of the substance service between the first and second substance service connector components only when electromagnetic service is communicated between the first and second electromagnetic service connector components.

8. The substance communicating device according to claim 6, wherein the substance communicating device is configured to engage the appliance when the first and second substance service connector components are engaged to selectively permit the communication of the substance and an electromagnetic service between the substance communicating device and the appliance.

9. The substance communicating device according to claim 6, wherein the second electromagnetic service connector component is configured to engage the first electromagnetic service connector component contemporaneous when the first and second substance service connector components are engaged to selectively permit the communication of the substance and an electromagnetic service between the substance communicating device and the appliance.

10. The substance communicating device according to claim 5, wherein the second substance service connector component comprises the second electromagnetic service connector component.

11. The substance communicating device according to claim 5 and further comprising a flow regulating device, wherein the flow regulating device selectively permits the communication of the substance between the first and second substance service connector components in response to the communication of an electromagnetic service between the first and second electromagnetic service connector components.

12. The substance communicating device according to claim 1 and further comprising a flow regulating device, wherein the flow regulating device selectively permits the communication of the substance between the first and second substance service connector components when the substance communicating device is engaged with the appliance.

13. The substance communicating device according to claim 12, wherein the flow regulating device selectively permits the communication of the substance in response to the communication of an electromagnetic service between the first and second electromagnetic service connector components.

14. The substance communicating device according to claim 1, wherein the second contact proximity coupling component further comprises a contact proximity target engageable with a contact proximity sensor of the first contact proximity coupling component to actuate a switch when the contact proximity target and the contact proximity sensor are engaged, and when first and second substance service connector components are engaged.

15. The substance communicating device according to claim 1, wherein the second contact proximity coupling component comprises a proximity target engageable with the first proximity coupling component, wherein the communication of the substance between the first and second substance service connector components is permitted when the proximity target is engaged with the first proximity coupling component.

16. The substance communicating device according to claim 15, wherein the proximity target is engageable with a contact proximity sensor of the first contact proximity coupling component to actuate a switch when the contact proximity target and the contact proximity sensor are engaged, and when the first and second substance service connector components are engaged.

17. The substance communicating device according to claim 14, wherein the switch is configured to selectively permit the communication of a substance between the substance communicating device and the appliance.

18. The substance communicating device according to claim 17, wherein the switch is configured to selectively permit the communication of an electromagnetic service between the substance communicating device and the appliance.

19. The substance communicating device according to claim 1, wherein the substance consumer comprises at least one of a detergent dispenser, a drink dispenser, a bottle, a jug, and an accessory.

20. The substance communicating device according to claim 1, wherein the substance communicating device comprises one of a filter, a water filter, a refrigerator water filter, a dispenser, a chemical dispenser, a dispenser for a washing machine, a dispenser for a dryer, a dispenser for a dishwasher, a dispenser for water, a dispenser for ice, a dispenser of liquid, and a dispenser of a drink.

21. The substance communicating device according to claim 1, wherein the substance communicating device comprises an appliance.

22. A system comprising:

an appliance having a first substance service connector component;

a substance communicating device having a second substance service connector component operably engageable with the first substance service connector component;

a contact proximity coupling system comprising a service switch operably associated with one of the first and second substance service connector components, the service switch being configured to selectively permit the communication of a substance between the substance communicating device and the appliance; and

a contact proximity target associated with the other of the first and second substance service connector components, the contact proximity target being configured to selectively communicate with the service switch when the first and second substance service connectors are engaged to permit the communication of the substance between the substance communicating device and the appliance.

23. The system according to claim 22 and further comprising:

a substance flow regulating device selectively operable to control the flow of the substance;

a substance line extending from at least one of the first and second substance service connector components and the substance flow regulating device;

wherein the service switch comprises a first switch engageable with the proximity target and a control element selectively operated by the first switch to control the substance flow regulating device.

24. The system according to claim 23, wherein the control element is configured to communicate with the first switch when the first and second substance service connector components are engaged to selectively permit the communication of the substance and an electromagnetic service between the substance communicating device and the appliance.

25. The system according to claim 24, wherein the first switch and the control element communicate using an electromagnetic service.

26. The system according to claim 25, wherein the appliance further comprises a first electromagnetic service connector component and the substance communicating device further comprises a second electromagnetic service connector component engageable with the first electromagnetic service connector component, wherein the first switch selectively permits the communication of electromagnetic service between the first and second electromagnetic service connector components and the control element is activated when electromagnetic service is communicated between the first and second electromagnetic service connector components.

27. The system according to claim 23, wherein the substance flow regulating device is selected from a pump, a valve, a fan, a conveyor, a tube with an adjustable diameter, and an elevator.

28. The system according to claim 22, wherein the substance communicating device comprises:

a main body;

a substance consumer associated with the main body; and

a substance line having a first end coupled with the substance consumer and a second end coupled with the second substance service connector component.

29. The system according to claim 22, wherein the service switch is operably associated with the first substance service connector component and the proximity target is operably associated with the second substance service connector component.

30. The system according to claim 22, wherein the service switch is operably associated with the second substance service connector component and the proximity target is operably associated with the first substance service connector component.

31. The system according to claim 22, wherein the substance communicating device further comprises a first electromagnetic service connector component, the service switch being configured to selectively permit communication of an electromagnetic service to the first substance service connector component when the first and second substance service connector components are engaged.

32. The system according to claim 22 and further comprising:

a control element associated with the first substance service connector component and configured to selectively permit the communication of the substance between the substance communicating device and the appliance; and

an actuator operably associated with the second substance service connector component, the actuator being configured to actuate the control element when the first and second substance service connector components are engaged to selectively permit the communication of the substance between the substance communicating device and the appliance.

33. The system according to claim 22, wherein the service switch is further configured to selectively permit the communication of at least one other service between the substance communicating device and the appliance.

34. The system according to claim 33, wherein the at least one other service comprises an electrical service.

35. The system according to claim 22 and further comprising:

a control element operably associated with one of the first and second substance service connector components, and configured to selectively permit the communication of a service between the substance communicating device and the appliance; and

an actuator associated with the other of the first and second substance service connector components, and configured to selectively engage the control element when the first and second substance service connectors are engaged to permit the communication of a service between the substance communicating device and the appliance.

36. The system according to claim 22, wherein the first substance service connector component further comprises a first electromagnetic service connector component, and the second substance service connector component further comprises a second electromagnetic service connector component, wherein the second electromagnetic service connector component is operably engageable with the first electromagnetic service connector component to permit the communication of a substance and an electromagnetic service between the first and second service connector components.

37. The system according to claim 22, wherein the service switch comprises an electromechanical switch and the contact proximity target comprises an actuator in communication with the switch.

38. The system according to claim 22, wherein the substance communicating device comprises one of a filter, a water filter, a refrigerator water filter, a dispenser, a chemical dispenser, a dispenser for a washing machine, a dispenser for a dryer, a dispenser for a dishwasher, a dispenser for water, a dispenser for ice, a dispenser of liquid, and a dispenser of a drink.

42. The accessory according to claim 38, wherein the second substance communicating device comprises a substance provider.

39. An accessory for use in conjunction with an appliance having a first substance communicating device, a first substance service connector component coupled for communicating substance with the first substance communicating device, and a first contact proximity coupling device, the accessory comprising:

a main body having a second substance communicating device;

a second substance service connector component coupled for communication of substance with the first substance communicating device, the second substance service connector component being operably engageable with the first substance service connector component to permit the communication of a substance between the first and second substance service connector components; and

a second contact proximity coupling device being configured to engage the first contact proximity coupling device when the first and second substance service connector components are engaged to selectively permit the communication of the substance between the accessory and the appliance.

40. The accessory according to claim 39 and further comprising a substance switch associated with the second contact proximity coupling device to selectively permit the communication of the substance between the accessory and the appliance.

41. The accessory according to claim 39, wherein the second substance communicating device comprises a substance consumer.

43. The accessory according to claim 40, wherein the substance provider comprises a consumable holder.

44. The accessory according to claim 39, wherein the second contact proximity coupling device comprises a contact proximity target.

45. The accessory according to claim 39, wherein the second contact proximity coupling device comprises a contact proximity sensor.

46. The accessory according to claim 39, wherein the accessory comprises at least one of a filter, a water filter, a refrigerator water filter, a dispenser, a chemical dispenser, a dispenser for a washing machine, a dispenser for a dryer, a dispenser for a dishwasher, a dispenser for water, a dispenser for ice, a dispenser of liquid, and a dispenser of a drink.