APPLIANCE WITH CLOSURE ELEMENT HAVING AN OPERATIVE DEVICE

• US 20140319990A1
• Filed: 04/29/2013
• Published: 10/30/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Original Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Inventors: GEPHART, JONATHAN D., MIDDLETON, ANDREW T., SMITH, BLAYNE C., WELSH, ANTHONY B.
• Granted Patent: US 9,572,475 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 312/405
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/0084 of drawer-type
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4257 Details of the loading door
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/021 Sliding doors
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2400/40 Refrigerating devices characterised by electrical wiring
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 25/025 Drawers
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 29/005 Mounting of control devices

Abstract

An appliance that conducts a useful cycle of operation on an article comprises a treating chamber receiving the article and having an access opening. A first closure element selectively closes at least a first portion of the access opening, and a second closure element movable relative to the first closure element selectively closes at least a second portion of the access opening. An operative device can be coupled to the second closure element. A cable providing at least one of electrical or data communication to the device is routed through the first closure element to the second closure element and is operatively connected to the device on the second closure element.

Claims

1. An appliance conducting a useful cycle of operation on an article, the appliance comprising:

a treating chamber for receiving the article and having an access opening;

a first closure element selectively closing at least a first portion of the access opening;

a second closure element selectively closing at least a second portion of the access opening and movable relative to the first closure element;

an operative device coupled to the second closure element; and

a cable providing at least one of electrical or data communication to the device, the cable routed through the first closure element to the second closure element and connected to the device on the second closure element.

2. The appliance of claim 1 wherein the portion of the cable located in the first closure element has a length sufficient to accommodate movement of the second closure element relative to the first closure element.

3. The appliance of claim 2, further comprising a drawer slidable relative to the treating chamber through the second portion of the access opening, and the second closure element forms a drawer front for the drawer.

4. The appliance of claim 3 wherein the cable enters the second closure element at a lower end of the second closure element.

5. The appliance of claim 4 wherein the cable exits the first closure element at an upper end of the first closure element.

6. The appliance of claim 3, further comprising a cable storage system in the first closure element storing at least a portion of the length of the cable sufficient to accommodate movement of the second closure element relative to the first closure element.

7. The appliance of claim 6 wherein the cable storage system comprises a cable carrier coupled to a portion of the cable located in the first closure element and movable with the portion of the cable in and out of the first closure element to accommodate movement of the second closure element relative to the first closure element.

8. The appliance of claim 7 wherein the cable carrier comprises an articulated chain.

9. The appliance of claim 8 wherein the articulated chain is self-supporting such that it assumes a generally horizontal configuration under the drawer during movement of the second closure element relative to the first closure element.

10. The appliance of claim 8 wherein the cable storage system further comprises a weight coupled to the articulated chain to pull the articulated chain downward within the first closure element.

11. The appliance of claim 6 wherein the cable storage system comprises a pulley, and the at least a portion of the length of the cable sufficient to accommodate movement of the second closure element relative to the first closure element is wound around the pulley.

12. The appliance of claim 11 wherein the cable storage system further comprises a biasing member coupled to the pulley and biasing the pulley in a retraction direction and placing the at least a portion of the length of the cable sufficient to accommodate movement of the second closure element relative to the first closure element under tension.

13. The appliance of claim 12 wherein the biasing member is a constant force spring located inside the pulley.

14. The appliance of claim 12 wherein the cable exits the first closure element at an upper end of the first closure element, and the cable storage system further comprises a roller at the upper end of the first closure element, and the cable is positioned to ride along the roller during movement of the second closure element relative to the first closure element.

15. The appliance of claim 3 wherein the appliance is a dishwasher further comprising a tub defining the treating chamber and the access opening.

16. The appliance of claim 15 wherein the first closure element is a door hingedly mounted to the tub and located below the second closure element.

17. The appliance of claim 16 wherein the cable is routed into the door at a lower end of the door and exits the door at an upper end of the door and is routed into the drawer front at a lower end of the drawer front for connection to the operative device.

18. The appliance of claim 2 wherein the appliance is a refrigerator further comprising a cabinet defining the treating chamber and the access opening.

19. The appliance of claim 18 wherein the first closure element is a door pivotably mounted to the cabinet, and the second closure element physically links with the first closure element for cooperative pivoting movement in a full mode and physically unlinks from the door for movement independent of the door in a partial mode.

20. The appliance of claim 1 wherein the operative device is a user interface.