Door with a service interface on an edge

• US 8,040,666 B2
• Filed: 01/04/2007
• Issued: 10/18/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Original Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Inventors: McCoy, Richard A., Knight, John M., Weinkauf, David A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Duverne; Jean F
• Application Number:
  US11/619,912
• Publication Number:
  US 20080165505A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,748 Days
• Field of Search: 361/679.01, 439/676
• US Class Current: 361/679.01
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/126 Water cooler
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2400/361 Interactive visual displays

Abstract

A door movably mounted to a cabinet to selectively close a chamber. The door has a peripheral edge, and a standardized service interface is located on the peripheral edge. The standardized service interface is configured to supply at least one service for use by a consumer electronic device. The peripheral edge can be the top edge of the door. The standardized service interface can receive the service from the use environment of the cabinet. A connector can be incorporated into the standardized service interface to selectively supply the consumer electronic device with the service. The service can comprise mechanical, power, or data communication.

Claims

1. A cabinet door for selectively closing a chamber of a cabinet, the door comprising:

a front door face;

a peripheral edge disposed at the periphery of the front door face; and

a standardized service interface comprising;

at least one mechanical communication provider located in the peripheral edge and configured to provide mechanical communication service for use by a consumer electronic device; and

at least one electrical connector located in the peripheral edge for supplying at least one electrical service for use by the consumer electronic device.

2. The door of claim 1, wherein the standardized service interface comprises a recess in the peripheral edge, the recess providing the mechanical communication service for use by the consumer electronic device.

3. The door of claim 1, wherein the peripheral edge comprises a recess, and the electrical connector is located in the recess.

4. The door of claim 1, wherein the at least one electrical service is a wireless service.

5. The door of claim 1, wherein the peripheral edge comprises a top peripheral edge, and the standardized service interface is located on the top peripheral edge.

6. The door of claim 5, wherein the standardized service interface is integrated into the top peripheral edge such that the standardized service interface is substantially coplanar with the top peripheral edge.

7. The door of claim 2, wherein the recess is configured to receive at least a portion of the consumer electronic device.

8. The door of claim 1 in combination with the electrical appliance, wherein the at least one electrical service is provided by the electrical appliance.

9. The door of claim 1 wherein the at least one mechanical communication provider comprises a mechanical connector located in the peripheral edge.

10. A cabinet door located within a use environment for selectively supporting and providing at least one service to a portable consumer electronic device, the cabinet door comprising:

a vertical front face;

a peripheral edge disposed at the periphery of the vertical front face;

a standardized service interface configured to receive at least one electrical service from the use environment and comprising;

an open recess located in the peripheral edge and configured to supply a mechanical support service to support the consumer electronic device adjacent the vertical front face; and

an electrical connector located in the recess, below the peripheral edge, and configured to selectively supply the consumer electronic device with the at least one electrical service;

wherein the at least one electrical service is selected from a power service and a data service;

wherein the cabinet door selectively closes a chamber of a cabinet comprising an electrical appliance performing a household task by conducting a useful cycle of operation on a consumer item, and the chamber selectively contains the consumer item when conducting the useful cycle of operation.

11. The cabinet door of claim 10, and further comprising an adapter coupling the consumer electronic device to the door.

12. The cabinet door of claim 10, wherein the recess is configured to receive at least a portion of the consumer electronic device to support the consumer electronic device adjacent the vertical front face.

13. The cabinet door of claim 10, wherein the peripheral edge comprises a top peripheral edge, and the open recess and electrical connector are located in the top peripheral edge.

14. The door of claim 13 further wherein the mechanical and electrical connectors are integrated with each other.

15. A cabinet comprising:

a housing defining at least one chamber having an open face;

a door movably mounted to the housing for selectively closing the open face and having a front surface bounded by a peripheral surface; and

a standardized service interface comprising;

at least one mechanical communication provider located in the peripheral surface and configured to supply a mechanical communication service for use by a consumer electronic device; and

at least one electrical connector located in the peripheral surface and configured to supply at least one electrical service for use by a consumer electronic device;

wherein the cabinet comprises an electrical appliance performing a household task by conducting a useful cycle of operation on a consumer item, and the chamber selectively contains the consumer item when conducting the useful cycle of operation.

16. The cabinet of claim 15, wherein the at least one electrical service is a wireless service.

17. The cabinet of claim 15, wherein the standardized service interface is integrated into the peripheral surface such that the standardized service interface is substantially coplanar with the peripheral surface.

18. The cabinet of claim 15, wherein the standardized service interface comprises a recess in the peripheral surface, the recess providing the mechanical communication service for use by the consumer electronic device.

19. The cabinet of claim 18, wherein the recess is configured to receive at least a portion of the consumer electronic device.

20. The cabinet of claim 15 further comprising electrical equipment providing the at least one electrical service to the at least one electrical connector, wherein the electrical equipment is contained within one of the housing and the door.

21. The cabinet of claim 15, wherein the peripheral surface comprises a peripheral top surface, and the at least one mechanical communication provider and at least one electrical connector are located in the top surface.

22. The cabinet of claim 21, wherein the top surface comprises a recess, and the at least one electrical connector is located in the recess.