System for charging a power supply in a closure element of a household appliance

• US 9,307,888 B2
• Filed: 11/20/2012
• Issued: 04/12/2016
• 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, Smith, Blayne C., Tuller, Barry E., Viswanathan, Ameresh B., Welsh, Anthony B., McIver, Justin D., Moit, Elizabeh A., Schaaf, Demetrius J., Topp, Bryan M., Middleton, Andrew T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cormier, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): Graf, Irina
• Application Number:
  US13/681,793
• Publication Number:
  US 20130125938A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,239 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 with an open face for receiving utensils for treatment and at least partially defining an upper treating chamber and a lower treating chamber, wherein the upper treating chamber and the lower treating chamber are separated by a partition;

a utensil rack slidably coupled to the tub;

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

a user interface non-removably mounted to the door;

a rechargeable power supply operably coupled to the user interface;

a power charger remote from the door selectively providing power to the rechargeable power supply; and

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.

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 door and configured to be operably coupled to the power charger when remote from the door 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 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.

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

7. The dishwasher of claim 6 wherein the wired connection comprises a wired port on the door, and the power charger comprises a wired connector receivable within the wired port.

8. The dishwasher of claim 1 wherein the door further comprises a drawer.

9. The dishwasher of claim 1, 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.

10. The dishwasher of claim 9 wherein the controller is provided with the first part of the door.

11. The dishwasher of claim 9 wherein the controller is not provided with the first part of the door.

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