Refrigerator module utilities enabled via connection

US8456040B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION · US

Inventors

• Paul B. Allard · Coloma, US
• Robert Ryan Bradley · Granger, US
• James W. Kendall · Rantoul, US
• Steven J. Kuehl · Stevensville, US
• Douglas D. Leclear · Benton Harbor, US
• Alan S. Lucas · Mount Washington, US
• Andrew M. Tenbarge · Three Rivers, US
• John J. Vonderhaar · Three Rivers, US
• Guolian Wu · Three Rivers, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 3, 2012
• Grant date: Jun 4, 2013
• Expiry date: Oct 3, 2032

Classification

• Technology area (CPC F): Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
• CPC primary: F25D2400/16
• WIPO field: Other consumer goods
• WIPO sector: Other fields

Abstract

A connection system for connecting an encoded domestic appliance feature module to a utility source and transferring a plurality of utilities between the encoded feature module and the utility source. The connection system includes a utility source that has a coupler capable of removably engaging an encoded domestic appliance feature module to the utility source. Also included is at least one encoded domestic appliance feature module that independently supplies one or more functionalities. Further included is an interface between the utility source and the feature module, where the interface includes a detection and recognition device that operates to detect when the encoded feature module is connected to the utility source, where one or more predetermined utilities are transferred between the utility source and the feature module based upon which feature module is connected to the utility source, and where the detection and recognition device may be a reed switch, a DIP switch, and a comparator circuit.