SYSTEM FOR CHARGING A POWER SUPPLY IN A CLOSURE ELEMENT OF A HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCE

• US 20130125938A1
• Filed: 11/20/2012
• Published: 05/23/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Original Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Inventors: BALDWIN, MARK W., FISCHER, MARCUS R., HUSSAIN, SAADAT, MCIVER, JUSTIN D., MOIT, ELIZABEH A., SCHAAF, DEMETRIUS J., TOPP, BRYAN M., TULLER, BARRY E., VISWANATHAN, AMERESH B., WELSH, ANTHONY B., SMITH, BLAYNE C., MIDDLETON, ANDREW T.
• Granted Patent: US 9,307,888 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 134/56.D
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/0018 Controlling processes, i.e. processes to control the operation of the machine characterised by the purpose or target of the control for control of water softening or water softener regeneration A47L15/4229; for control of water level A47L15/4244; for control of bad smells or odours A47L15/4276; for control of water temperature A47L15/4287; for control of water pressure A47L15/4289; for control of condition of crockery or tableware A47L15/4295; for control of condition of washing water A47L15/4297
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/0021 Regulation of operational steps within the washing processes, e.g. optimisation or improvement of operational steps depending from the detergent nature or from the condition of the crockery
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/006 using wireless communication between internal components of the machine
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/0063 using remote monitoring or controlling of the dishwasher operation, e.g. networking systems
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/0084 of drawer-type
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/22 Rotary spraying devices
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4219 Water recirculation A47L15/0078 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4221 Arrangements for redirection of washing water, e.g. water diverters to selectively supply the spray arms A47L15/0078 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4257 Details of the loading door
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4259 Arrangements of locking or security/safety devices for doors, e.g. door latches, switch to stop operation when door is open
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4263 Door sealing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4293 Arrangements for programme selection, e.g. control panels; Indication of the selected programme, programme progress or other parameters of the programme, e.g. by using display panels
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/486 Blower arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/488 Connections of the tub with the ambient air, e.g. air intake or venting arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/507 Arrangements for extracting racks, e.g. roller supports
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2301/08 Other manual input
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2401/12 Water temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2401/18 Air temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2401/26 Loading door status, e.g. door latch opened or closed state
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2501/22 Loading doors, e.g. door latches, inflatable door seals
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2501/26 : Indication or alarm to the controlling device or to the user
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2501/30 : Regulation of machine operational steps within the washing process, e.g. performing an additional rinsing phase, shortening or stopping of the drying phase, washing at decreased noise operation conditions
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 : electric

Abstract

A dishwasher includes an open-face tub and a closure element selectively closing the open face of the tub and housing a user interface powered by a rechargeable power supply, such as a battery, operatively coupled to a power charger. In one embodiment, the user interface is not removable from the closure element, and the power charger may be remote from the closure element to selectively provide power to the rechargeable power supply. In another embodiment, the closure element may include a first door and a second door, with each door having an inductive part for formation of an inductive coupling to charge the rechargeable power supply when the doors are in juxtaposition.

Claims

1. A dishwasher configured to execute at least one automatic cycle of operation for treating utensils, the dishwasher comprising:

a tub at least partially defining a treating chamber with an open face for receiving utensils for treatment;

a closure element movable between opened and closed conditions to selectively close the open face;

a user interface non-removably mounted to the closure element;

a rechargeable power supply operably coupled to the user interface; and

a power charger remote from the closure element selectively providing power to the rechargeable power supply.

2. The dishwasher of claim 1, further comprising a non-wired connection coupling the power charger to the rechargeable power supply.

3. The dishwasher of claim 2 wherein the rechargeable power supply is removably mounted to the closure element and configured to be operably coupled to the power charger when remote from the closure element to receive power from the power charger.

4. The dishwasher of claim 3 wherein the non-wired connection comprises an electromagnetic radiation transmitter coupled to the power charger and an electromagnetic radiation receiver coupled to the rechargeable power supply, wherein power from the power charger may be transmitted to the rechargeable power supply by electromagnetic radiation.

5. The dishwasher of claim 4 wherein the electromagnetic radiation transmitter comprises at least one of an electromagnetic short, medium, and microwave generator.

6. The dishwasher of claim 3 wherein the non-wired connection comprises a magnetic field generator coupled to the power charger and a magnetic field receiver coupled to the rechargeable power supply.

7. The dishwasher of claim 1, further comprising a wired connection selectively coupling the rechargeable power supply to the power charger.

8. The dishwasher of claim 7 wherein the wired connection comprises a wired port on the closure element, and the power charger comprises a wired connector receivable within the wired port.

9. The dishwasher of claim 1 wherein the closure element comprises at least one of a door and a drawer.

10. The dishwasher of claim 9, further comprising a utensil rack slidably coupled to the tub, and the closure element comprises a door having a first part hingedly mounted to the dishwasher for pivotal movement relative to the open face, and a second part selectively coupled to one of the first part and the utensil rack, wherein the door is operable in one of a door mode, where the second part is connected to the first part and the second part pivotally moves with the first part to selectively open and close the open face, and a drawer mode, where the second part is coupled to the utensil rack and second part can be pulled or pushed to slidably move the utensil rack.

11. The dishwasher of claim 10, further comprising a controller operably coupled to the user interface, wherein the user interface is provided with the second part of the door, and the controller is not provided with the second part of the door.

12. The dishwasher of claim 11 wherein the controller is provided with the first part of the door.

13. The dishwasher of claim 11 wherein the controller is not provided with the first part of the door.

14. The dishwasher of claim 1 wherein the rechargeable power supply comprises at least one battery.

15. A household appliance comprising:

a cabinet having an open face;

a first door movable relative to the cabinet to provide selective access to at least a first portion of the open face;

a second door movable relative to the cabinet to provide selective access to at least a second portion of the open face, which is different than the first portion, and the second door having at least one electrical component powered by a battery; and

a power charger having a first inductive part mounted to the first door and operatively coupled to an external power source and a second inductive part mounted to the second door and operatively coupled to the battery such that when the first and second doors are in juxtaposition, the first and second inductive parts form an inductive coupling to charge the battery with electricity from the external power source.

16. The household appliance of claim 15 wherein the inductive parts are adjacent to each other when the first and second doors are in juxtaposition.

17. The household appliance of claim 15 wherein the first door and the second door are coplanar when they are in juxtaposition.

18. The household appliance of claim 15 wherein the first door and the second door are in juxtaposition at least when both of the first door and the second door are positioned to close the respective first and second portions of the open face.

19. The household appliance of claim 15 wherein the first door is configured to be selectively coupled to the second door, and the first and second doors are in juxtaposition when they are coupled together.

20. The household appliance of claim 19 wherein the household appliance is a dishwasher wherein the cabinet forms a tub having an open face and defining a treating chamber for receiving utensils to be treated, the first door is hingedly mounted to the dishwasher for pivotal movement relative to the tub open face, and the second door is configured to be coupled to the first door in a full door mode, wherein the first and second doors pivot together relative to the tub to selectively open and close the first and second portions of the tub open face, and configured to move independently of the first door in a partial door mode, wherein the second door moves relative to the first door to selectively open and close the second portion of the tub open face.

21. The household appliance of claim 20, further comprising a utensil rack slidably coupled to the tub for slidable movement relative to the tub, wherein the second door is coupled to the utensil rack in the partial door mode such that the second door can be pulled or pushed to slidably move the utensil rack.

22. The household appliance of claim 20 wherein the at least one electrical component comprises an actuator mounted in the second door and configured to convert the first and second doors between the full door mode and the partial door mode.

23. The household appliance of claim 15 wherein the at least one electrical component comprises a user interface.

24. The household appliance of claim 15 wherein the power charger charges the batteries by electromagnetic induction.

25. The household appliance of claim 15 wherein the power charger charges the batteries by electrostatic induction.