APPLIANCE WITH AUTOMATIC DOOR OPENER
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A refrigerator comprising:
- a cabinet;
a door providing access to the interior of the cabinet;
a motor coupled to the door for opening the door;
a handle formed on the door; and
a capacitive touch switch formed on the handle for activating the motor when a user touches the capacitive touch switch.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system is provided for automatically opening the doors of appliances such as refrigerators and freezers. In one example, an appliance door handle includes a capacitive touch sensor. When a user touches the touch sensor, visual and audio indicators are activated. After a slight delay, a motor and drive mechanism opens the appliance door.
39 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A refrigerator comprising:
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a cabinet; a door providing access to the interior of the cabinet; a motor coupled to the door for opening the door; a handle formed on the door; and a capacitive touch switch formed on the handle for activating the motor when a user touches the capacitive touch switch. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A refrigerator comprising:
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a cabinet; a door coupled to the cabinet, the door having an open position and a closed position; a handle coupled to the door; a motor coupled to the door for moving the door from the closed position to the open position; and a touch switch formed on the handle, wherein the touch switch is electrically coupled to the motor for activating the motor in response to a touch from a user. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A refrigerator comprising:
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a cabinet; a door coupled to the cabinet, the door having an open position and a closed position; a handle coupled to the door; a motor coupled to the door for moving the door from the closed position to the open position; a touch switch formed on the handle of the door; and a controller electrically coupled to the motor and touch switch, the controller including program code for controlling the operation of the motor, wherein the controller activates the motor causing the door to open in response to a user activating the touch switch. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification