US 12,326,294 B2
Refrigerator with an assisted door opener
Michael Goodman Schroeder, Crestwood, KY (US); and Tanner Davis Gunn, Louisville, KY (US)
Assigned to Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc., Wilmington, DE (US)
Filed by Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc., Wilmington, DE (US)
Filed on Nov. 9, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/983,875.
Prior Publication US 2024/0151089 A1, May 9, 2024
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. F25D 23/02 (2006.01); E05F 15/622 (2015.01); E05F 15/75 (2015.01); F25D 29/00 (2006.01)
CPC F25D 23/028 (2013.01) [E05F 15/622 (2015.01); E05F 15/75 (2015.01); E05Y 2900/31 (2013.01); F25D 2700/02 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A refrigerator appliance defining a vertical direction, a lateral direction, and a transverse direction, the vertical, lateral, and transverse directions being mutually perpendicular, the refrigerator appliance comprising:
a cabinet defining a food storage chamber, the food storage chamber extending between a front portion and a back portion along the transverse direction, the front portion of the food storage chamber defining an opening for receipt of food items;
a door positioned at the front portion of the food storage chamber and movable between a closed position and an open position to selectively sealingly enclose the food storage chamber in the closed position and provide access to the food storage chamber in the open position;
a door opener attached to the cabinet, the door opener comprising a casing fixedly mounted to the cabinet, a push rod extending through the casing towards the door and movable relative to the casing to motivate the door toward the open position, and a rod-load sensor attached to the cabinet to detect a mechanical load on the push rod; and
a controller in operable communication with the door opener and configured to direct a opener operation, the opener operation comprising
directing the push rod to a retracted position,
detecting the door in the closed position following directing the push rod to the retracted position,
directing the push rod forward from the retracted position following detecting the door in the closed position,
monitoring sensor output at the rod-load sensor while directing the push rod forward,
detecting contact with the door while monitoring sensor output and based on the monitored sensor output, and
halting the push rod at a partially extended position in response to detecting contact.