Inventor: Kenyon A. Hapke

Address: Libertyville, IL
No. of patents: 36
Last patent issue date: 07/10/2012

Number	Title	Issue Date
8215135	Appliance latch with power failure unlock A lock for a washing machine or the like provides fast actuation through a solenoid driven bolt that remains stably in the locked position after power is no longer applied to the solenoid. The possibility of power failure preventing subsequent access to the washing ...	07/10/2012
7909939	Humidity reducing exhaust duct for dishwasher A vent system for a dishwasher provides a mixing chamber receiving high humidity air from a downdraft dishwasher vent system or the like and mixes this air with dry air before discharging it from the dishwasher to reduce the humidity of the discharged air moderating...	03/22/2011
7900979	Low power consumption lock for appliance latch A transportation-robust bi-stable latch mechanism preserves low actuation forces by means of an auxiliary mechanism blocking the effects of shock forces during transportation. ...	03/08/2011
7887643	Dishwasher with counter-convection air flow A dishwasher provides forced air flow in a counter-convectional direction so as to exhaust air out of a bottom portion of the washing volume in contrast to normal convective air flow. ...	02/15/2011
7758088	Vending machine lock system A motorized lock for a vending machine provides a simple lever mechanism that provides two separate points of engagement between the door and the machine to resist tampering and provide for more even pull in of a gasketed door. ...	07/20/2010
7731806	Automatic door for dishwasher Automatic sealing of a dishwasher door is obtained through an electric actuator that moves the door from a close position adjacent to the opening of the washing chamber to a seal position in which the washing chamber is sealed typically against a gasket or the like....	06/08/2010
7705253	Appliance lock using a motor driven linear actuator with helical spring drive An electrical linear actuator employs a reversible motor driving a helical wire spring. The coils of the spring engage a follower that moves along the axis of the spring with rotation of the motor to provide linear motion. This actuator may be used as a linear drive...	04/27/2010
7654590	Magnetic appliance latch An electrically operable door latch employs a permanent magnet for retaining an appliance door closed against the force of a resilient seal. An electromagnet bucks the magnetic attraction of the permanent magnet allowing the latch to be electronically releasable. A ...	02/02/2010
7493783	Washing machine lid lock with magnetic lid sensor A magnetic lid closure sensor uses a magnet sensor element mounted within the washing machine housing below the closed lid. Flux directors conduct flux from a magnet in the lid to the magnet sensor. A lock mechanism employs a hook engaging an aperture in the lid so ...	02/24/2009
7306266	Appliance latch having a rotating latch hook mounted on a linear slide An appliance door latch provides a rotating hook supported on a linear carriage that may move along a line toward and away from a strike. A release of the strike from the rotating hook requires a compression of springs biasing the linear carriage which are then reta...	12/11/2007
7251961	Washing machine lid lock with magnetic lid sensor A magnetic lid closure sensor uses a magnet sensor element mounted within the washing machine housing below the closed lid. Flux directors conduct flux from a magnet in the lid to the magnet sensor. A lock mechanism employs a hook engaging an aperture in the lid so ...	08/07/2007
7103996	Agitator for removing wrinkles from clothing An agitator mechanism for a clothes finishing cabinet provides a pendulum mounted hanger bar that may reciprocate under the application of a periodic force by an actuator without rigid connection between the cabinet housing and the hanger bar. Quiet operation is obt...	09/12/2006
6940373	Fast engage, slow release electrical actuator A fast engage, slow release electrical actuator combines an electromagnetic actuator with a thermal actuator, the latter which retains the electromagnetic actuator after the former has been actuated to delay the release thereof. ...	09/06/2005
6434977	Automatic laundry aid dispenser for washing machine A laundry aid dispenser for a washing machine allows simple introduction of laundry aids into cups whose volumes are visible to the user and held within the console of the washing machine. A vertically oriented valve and flush chamber arrangement allows f...	08/20/2002
6293289	Surge pressure vent for low noise dishwasher A vent for a dishwasher provides a valve with dual actuation, either to be electrically actuated according to a cycle of the dishwasher so as to close during periods of high noise generation, typically the wash cycle, and opened during the dry cycle, or t...	09/25/2001
5967760	Jet pump with filter for washing machines A clog resistant pump for washwater employs two water flow circuits. The first powered by a conventional motor-driven pump uses filtered washwater and drives a jet-pump discharging unfiltered washwater from the washing machine. The intake or discharged wa...	10/19/1999
5941374	Self-adjusting lid switch with dampening element A switch for a washing lid or the like has a collapsing operator. Over travel in the adjustment of the switch with the first lid closure is prevented by the incorporation of a deformable dampening element fitting within the collapsible portion of the oper...	08/24/1999
5841343	Buzzer with rotary volume adjustment A electromechanical buzzer provides a rotational volume control having a flange extending over the armature of the buzzer with a downwardly extending wedge surface reducing the vibrational range of the armature. The wedge surface is oversized so that when...	11/24/1998
5828281	Rotary switch with low play A rotary switch adapted to be integrated into a push-to-start electrical control for a clothes dryer or the like employs a rotatable and axially translatable operator having an outwardly extending arm supporting a downward finger which travels across a pi...	10/27/1998
5823017	Rapid release washing machine lid lock A lid lock for a washing machine or the like employs a rapid bistable electromagnetic actuator that can be released immediately upon detecting a ceasing of rotation of the spin basket. The actuator is bistable to operate despite possible power failure dur...	10/20/1998
5728985	Washing machine lid switch assembly A lid switch for disabling a top loading washing machine when the lid is raised is provided in which an arcuate arm passing downward from the lid near the hinge of the lid curves around the hinge axis into a space behind the lid under the top surface of t...	03/17/1998
5691520	Self adjusting lid switch A self-adjusting lid switch for a type washing machine connects the switch to the lid by means of a slip joint composed of intermeshing toothed plates spring biased together. The first time the washing lid is closed the plates slip with respect to each ot...	11/25/1997
5685038	Out-of-balance control for washing machine An acceleration sensitive switch for use in detecting an out-of-balance condition on a residential washing machine, or the like, uses a pendulum activated switch wherein the pendulum is biased against an energy absorbing stop by a predetermined threshold ...	11/11/1997
5682772	Lid switch with contact failure detection A switch for a washing machine lid or the like detects welded load contact through an auxiliary set of contacts which shunt the load when the first set of contacts should be open and thus provide a high-current path when those contacts are welded. A serie...	11/04/1997
5600976	Washing machine lid switch assembly A lid switch for disabling a top loading washing machine when the lid is raised is provided in which an arcuate arm passing downward from the lid near the hinge of the lid curves around the hinge axis into a space behind the lid under the top surface of t...	02/11/1997
5594220	Rotary switch with cam operated sliding contact engaging noble metal stationary contact bar surface In a rotary switch, a manually rotatable shaft turns a disk which has a plurality of riser cam segments on one of its faces. Stepwise rotation of the disk causes the cam segments to press down on flat spring contacts arranged in the switch to put the tip ...	01/14/1997
5589671	Rotary switch with spring stabilized contact control rotor In a rotary switch, a manually rotatable shaft turns a disk which has a plurality of riser cam segments on one of its face. Stepwise rotation of the disk causes the cam segments to press down on flat spring contacts arranged in the switch to put the tip o...	12/31/1996
5572869	Actuator assembly for use in appliances A casing (11, 12) holds an actuator (18) having a stem (21) that is moves a plunger with substantial force in response to the actuator (18) being heated. The movement of the plunger (22) loads a compression spring (23) that is located between a base end o...	11/12/1996
5520424	Tamper-proof door switch and latch device In a door latching and switch contact controlling device, an actuator having first and second radially extending angularly spaced apart members is mounted on a common shaft in a housing with a latching member for the member and actuator to rotate together...	05/28/1996
4145126	Film cassette sensing and retaining unit A film cassette sensing and retaining unit for film handling apparatus. The unit is responsive to completed insertion of a cassette into the film handling apparatus to mechanically latch the cassette in position and to electrically condition and actuate t...	03/20/1979
4093366	Motion picture projector apparatus and high intensity projection arrangement A motion picture projector is provided with a high intensity projection arrangement for improved image projection that also provides a projection lamp having a longer operating life. The projector is interconnected to a power supply unit by a multiconduct...	06/06/1978
4043650	Film handling device An improved film handling device or film cartridge designed for permanent mounting on a film strip projector or the like. The device or cartridge includes a base plate pivotally mounted to a sliding carriage and a storage cavity on the top of the base pla...	08/23/1977
4019815	Film handling apparatus blower system A film handling apparatus blower system. The system includes a blower having a high-pressure, low-volume section and low-pressure, high-volume section. The high-pressure, low-volume section is a scroll-type centrifugal blower with a circular impeller of c...	04/26/1977
3997252	Film cassette conditioning mechanism A mechanism for conditioning a film cassette for plural film handling modes. The mechanism is effective to condition the film cassette for particular film handling modes by controlling the entry of light into the cassette and controlling the status of the...	12/14/1976
3977623	Film drive mode change actuator A system for initiating operating mode change in a film handling apparatus in response to cessation of film movement incident to an end-of-film condition....	08/31/1976
3941465	Film handling apparatus control system A control system for a cinematographic film cassette processor/projector unit. The control system includes a function programmer comprising an operating cycle selector responsive to a processed/unprocessed indicator on the cassette to program the control ...	03/02/1976

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Inventor: Kenyon A. Hapke