Appliance host with multiple service interfaces for coupling multiple consumer electronic devices

• US 8,154,857 B2
• Filed: 01/04/2007
• Issued: 04/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Original Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Inventors: Kendall, James W., McCoy, Richard A., Viswanathan, Ameresh, Knight, John M., Moes, Christopher S., Weinkauf, David A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gandhi, Jayprakash N
• Assistant Examiner(s): Desai, Nidhi
• Application Number:
  US11/619,894
• Publication Number:
  US 20080165509A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,923 Days
• Field of Search: 36167901-67945, 36167955-67959, 361724-727, 312/223.1, 312/223.2, 312/405, 312/406, 345/156, 345/157, 345/168, 345/169, 345/405, 345/406
• US Class Current: 361/679.01
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/028 Details
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/12 Arrangements of compartments additional to cooling compartments; Combinations of refrigerators with other equipment, e.g. stove
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/126 Water cooler
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2400/06 Refrigerators with a vertical mullion
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2400/361 Interactive visual displays
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2400/40 Refrigerating devices characterised by electrical wiring
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0017 with operator interface units

Abstract

A modular system of an appliance host with multiple identical host service interfaces. The multiple identical host service interfaces provide a mechanical service and an electrical service for removable consumer electronic devices. Multiple distinct consumer electronic devices or adapters for consumer electronic devices may be coupled alternatively to the multiple host service interfaces.

Claims

1. A modular system comprising:

an appliance conducting a useful cycle of operation and having a cabinet with a vertical surface defining an exterior of the cabinet;

a first service interface provided on the vertical surface and accessible from the exterior of the cabinet, and providing a first mechanical service and a first data service to a first consumer electronic device; and

a second service interface provided on the vertical surface and accessible from the exterior of the cabinet, and providing a second mechanical service and a second data service to a second consumer electronic device;

multiple adapters, each removably coupling one of the first and second consumer electronic devices to the corresponding first and second service interface, with at least one of the multiple adapters receiving a power service from the appliance and providing the power service to the first consumer electronic device, and at least one of the multiple adapters receiving a data service from the appliance, and providing the data service to the second consumer electronic device;

wherein the appliance is a refrigeration appliance.

2. The modular system of claim 1 wherein the first consumer electronic devices provides data to the first service interface and the second consumer electronic devices receives the data from the second service interface and converts the data into a human communication service.

3. The modular system of claim 2 wherein the first consumer electronic devices comprises a music device, the data comprises music data, the second consumer electronic device comprises a speaker, and the human communication service is sound from the speaker.

4. The modular system of claim 1, wherein the first and second service interfaces are integral with the vertical surface.

5. The modular system of claim 1, further comprising at least a pair of slots in the vertical surface, wherein the first and second service interfaces comprise alternative pairs of locations along the slots.

6. The modular system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second data service is wireless.

7. The modular system of claim 1, wherein the first and second service interfaces are identical.

8. A modular system comprising:

an appliance conducting a useful cycle of operation and having a cabinet with a vertical surface defining an exterior of the cabinet;

a first service interface provided on the vertical surface and accessible from the exterior of the cabinet, and providing a first mechanical service and a first data service to a first consumer electronic device; and

a second service interface provided on the vertical surface and accessible from the exterior of the cabinet, and providing a second mechanical service and a second data service to a second consumer electronic device;

at least one first adapter receiving the first mechanical service and the first data service from the first service interface and providing a mechanical service and at least one data service to the first consumer electronic device; and

a second adapter receiving the second mechanical service and the second data service from the second service interface and providing a mechanical service and at least one data service to the second consumer electronic device;

wherein the appliance is a refrigeration appliance.

9. The modular system of claim 8, wherein the first and second adapters are removably coupled to the corresponding first and second service interface and to the corresponding first and second consumer electronic device.

10. The modular system of claim 8, wherein the first and second adapters receive a power service from the first and second service interfaces.

11. The modular system of claim 10, wherein the at least first and second adapters supply a different category of power service to the corresponding first and second consumer electronic devices.

12. The modular system of claim 8, wherein the first and second service interfaces are identical.

13. The modular system of claim 8, wherein the first and second service interfaces are integral with the vertical surface.

14. The modular system of claim 8, further comprising at least a pair of slots in the vertical surface, wherein the first and second service interfaces comprise alternative pairs of locations along the slots.

15. The modular system of claim 8, wherein at least one of the first and second data service is wireless.