Substance Communicating Device for Coupling to a Host

• US 20110147417A1
• 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: Kuehl, Steven J.
• Granted Patent: US 9,103,578 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 222/192
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2400/361 Interactive visual displays
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 29/00 Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices

Abstract

A substance communicating device for coupling to a host in at least two distinct orientations, as well as a modular system comprising a host, and a functional device in addition to the substance communicating device. The substance communicating device provides a substance from the host to the functional device. The substance communicating device may be an adapter for coupling the functional device to the host, or a functional unit of an adapter and a functional device. The substance communicating device may include a first member having a first interface connectable to the host, and a second member pivotally connected to the first member and having a second interface connectable to the functional device. The modular system may include a plurality of hosts having differently-oriented substance communication service interfaces and the substance communicating device.

Claims

1. A substance communicating device for mounting a functional device to a host having a horizontal surface with an upwardly-oriented host substance communication service interface communicating a first substance, the substance communicating device comprising:

a first member capable of supporting a functional device; and

a second member having a substance communication service interface capable of removably coupling with the host substance communication service interface and receiving the first substance from the host substance communication service interface;

wherein the second member is pivotally connected to the first member.

2. The substance communicating device according to claim 1 wherein the first member has a device substance communication service interface capable of removably coupling with the functional device.

3. The substance communicating device according to claim 2 wherein the device substance communication service interface provides a second substance to the functional device.

4. The substance communicating device according to claim 3 wherein the second substance provided to the functional device is the same as the first substance received by the substance communication service interface.

5. The substance communicating device according to claim 4 wherein the first substance comprises a cooling fluid.

6. The substance communicating device according to claim 1 wherein the functional device is a one of a portable device, an accessory, an independent device, and a dependent device.

7. The substance communicating device according to claim 1, and further comprising at least one releasable lock capable of securing the second member in a predetermined position relative to the first member.

8. The substance communicating device according to claim 1, and further comprising a hinge that pivotally connects the second member to the first member.

9. The substance communicating device according to claim 8 wherein the hinge permits the second member to pivot relative to the first member between a first orientation having a first angular relationship between the first and second members, and a second orientation having a second angular relationship between the first and second members different than the first angular relationship.

10. The substance communicating device according to claim 9 wherein in the first angular relationship, the first and second members are generally oriented along a common plane, and in the second angular relationship, the first and second members are generally oriented along perpendicular planes.

11. The substance communicating device according to claim 10 wherein the second member is configured to communicate the first substance with the first member in both the first and second orientation.

12. The substance communicating device according to claim 10 wherein the substance communication service interface and the host substance communication service interface face opposing directions when the second component is in the first orientation.

13. The substance communicating device according to claim 1 wherein the second member is configured to communicate the first substance with one of the first member and the functional device supported by the first member.

14. The substance communicating device according to claim 1 wherein the first substance comprises one of a fluid and a gas.

15. The substance communicating device according to claim 1 wherein the first substance is capable of producing at least one of heat, movement, and power when consumed.

16. The substance communicating device according to claim 15 wherein the first substance is one of a fuel, a food additive, blown air, compressed air, water, ice cubes, and a beverage.

17. The substance communicating device according to claim 1 wherein the first substance comprises a laundry process additive.

18. The substance communicating device according to claim 17 wherein the laundry process additive comprises at least one of liquid soap, powdered soap, normal detergents, gentle detergents, dark clothing detergents, cold water detergents, fabric softeners, chlorine bleaches, color-safe bleaches, or fabric enhancement chemistry, stain resistance chemistry, wrinkle resistance chemistry, water repellency chemistry, insect repellency chemistry, color fastness chemistry, fragrances, anti-microbials, and filters.

19. The substance communicating device according to claim 1, and further comprising the functional device.

20. The substance communicating device according to claim 19 wherein the functional device is a one of a portable device, an accessory, an independent device, and a dependent device.

21. The substance communicating device according to claim 19 wherein the functional device comprises at least one of a speaker, a user interface, a display projection, a media manager, a whiteboard, physical storage, application software hosting, communications routing, power storage, a microphone, a mixing chamber, a process delay, an evaporator, a compressor, a condenser, and a data storage device.

22. A substance communicating device for mounting a functional device to a host substance communication service interface capable of providing a mechanical support service and communicating at least one substance, the substance communicating device comprising:

a first member having a device substance communication service interface capable of removably coupling with the functional device and capable of providing the functional device with mechanical support service and capable of communicating at least one substance with the functional device;

a second member having a first substance communication service interface oriented in a first direction and capable of removably coupling with the host substance communication service interface and capable of receiving the at least one mechanical support service and capable of communicating the at least one substance from the host substance communication service interface; and

a hinge system pivotally connecting the first member to the second member to pivotally support the second member in a plurality of angular orientations relative to the first member.

23. The substance communicating device according to claim 22 wherein the device substance communication service interface is oriented in a second direction which is different than the first direction.

24. The substance communicating device according to claim 22, and further comprising a releasable lock capable of releasably locking the first and second members in at least one of the plurality of angular orientations.

25. The substance communicating device according to claim 24 wherein the releasable lock system is capable of releasably locking the first and second members in a first angular orientation and a second angular orientation, and the first and second angular orientations are approximately 90°

apart from the other.

26. The substance communicating device according to claim 22 wherein the at least one substance is capable of producing at least one of heat, movement and power when consumed.

27. The substance communicating device according to claim 22 wherein the second member is configured to communicate the at least one substance with at least one of the first member, the device substance communication service interface, and the functional device.

28. The substance communicating device according to claim 22 wherein the second member is configured to communicate the at least one substance between the first and second member in at least two different angular orientations of the second member.

29. A system for communicating a substance, comprising:

a host having a host substance communication service interface capable of providing a mechanical support service and a substance, the host substance communication service interface having one of a vertical orientation and a horizontal orientation; and

a substance communicating device removably coupled with the host and comprising;

a first member having a substance communication service interface removably coupled with the host substance communication service interface to receive the mechanical service and the substance from the host substance communication service interface; and

a second member capable of supporting a functional device, the second member pivotally connected to the first member to move between at least a first position for connecting to the host substance communication service interface having the vertical orientation, and a second position for connecting to the host substance communication service interface having the horizontal orientation.

30. The system according to claim 29 wherein in the first position the first and second members are oriented along a common plane and in the second position the first and second members are oriented along perpendicular planes.

31. The system according to claim 29 wherein the second member comprises a device substance communication service interface is capable of providing a mechanical support service and a substance to the functional device.

32. The system according to claim 29 wherein the substance is capable of producing at least one of heat, movement and power when consumed.

33. The system according to claim 29, and further comprising at least one releasable lock securing the second member in at least one of the first and second positions.

34. The system according to claim 29 wherein the host is an appliance.

35. The system according to claim 29, and further comprising a removable cover connected to the host to cover the host substance communication service interface when the substance communicating device is not coupled with the host, and connected to the substance communicating device when the substance communicating device is coupled with the host.

36. The system according to claim 35 wherein the removable cover is connected to the first member when the substance communicating device is coupled with the host.

37. The system according to claim 29, wherein the substance communicating device provides at least one service different from the mechanical support service provided by the host.

38. The system according to claim 29 wherein the host further comprises a standardized substance communication service interface providing the mechanical support service and the substance communication service.

39. The system according to claim 38 wherein the standardized substance communication service interface is integral with the host.

40. The system according to claim 38 wherein the host comprises a door with a peripheral edge, and the host substance communication service interface has a horizontal orientation and is provided on the peripheral edge.

41. The system according to claim 38 wherein the host comprises a door with a vertical face, the host substance communication service interface has a vertical orientation and is provided on the vertical face.

42. The system according to claim 38 wherein the hosts comprises a wall.

43. An adapter for mounting a functional device to a host having a horizontal surface with an upwardly oriented host substance service interface providing at least one substance, the adapter comprising:

a first member capable of supporting a functional device;

a second member having a substance service interface capable of removably coupling with the host substance service interface and receiving the at least one substance from the host substance service interface, wherein the second member is pivotally connected to the first member for movement between a first orientation having a first angular relationship between the first and second members, and a second orientation having a second angular relationship between the first and second members different than the first angular relationship; and

a substance pathway configured to communicate the at least one substance between the first and second members in both the first and second orientation of the second member.

44. The adapter according to claim 43 wherein the first member has a device substance service interface capable of removably coupling with the functional device.

45. The adapter according to claim 44 wherein the device substance service interface provides at least one service to the functional device.

46. The adapter according to claim 45 wherein the at least one service comprises providing the at least one substance to the functional device

47. The adapter according to claim 43 wherein the functional device is one of a portable device, an accessory, an independent device, and a dependent device.

48. The adapter according to claim 43, and further comprising a releasable lock securing the second member in one of the first orientation and the second orientation.

49. The adapter according to claim 43 wherein in the first orientation the first and second members are oriented along a common plane and in the second orientation the first and second members are oriented along perpendicular planes.

50. The adapter according to claim 49 wherein the substance communication service interface and the host substance communication service interface face opposing directions when the second component is in the first orientation.

51. The adapter according to claim 43, and further comprising a hinge that pivotally connects the second member to the first member hinge.