# US 12,000,645 B2 · Refrigerator with an assisted door opener > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,000,645 B2 - Document ID: US12000645B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/982,735 - Filed: 2022-11-08 - Published: 2024-05-09 - Granted: 2024-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2022-11-08 - Assignees: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc. - Applicants: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc. - Inventors: Michael Goodman Schroeder; Stephanos Kyriacou - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12000645B2 ## CPC - F25D 23/028: {Details} - E05F 15/611: for swinging wings - E05F 15/616: operated by push-pull mechanisms - E05F 15/75: responsive to the weight or other physical contact of a person or object - F25D 2700/02: Sensors detecting door opening - F25D: REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (refrigerated showcases A47F3/04; thermally-insulated vessels for domestic use A47J41/00; refrigerated vehicles, see the appropriate subclasses of classes B60 - B64; containers with thermal insulation in general B65D81/38; heat-transfer, heat-exchange or heat-storage materials, e.g. refrigerants, or materials for the production of heat or cold by chemical reactions other than by combustion C09K5/00; thermally-insulated vessels for liquefied or solidified gases F17C; air-conditioning or air-humidification F24F; refrigeration machines, plants, or systems F25B; cooling of instruments or comparable apparatus without refrigeration G12B) - E05F: DEVICES FOR MOVING WINGS INTO OPEN OR CLOSED POSITION; CHECKS FOR WINGS; WING FITTINGS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, CONCERNED WITH THE FUNCTIONING OF THE WING ## Abstract A refrigerator appliance may include a cabinet, a door, a door opener, and a controller. The door opener may be attached to a cabinet and include a casing, a push rod, and a position sensor. The controller may be in operable communication with the door opener and configured to direct an opener operation. The opener operation may include receiving an opening prompt for the door opener, directing the push rod forward at a first extension speed in response to the received opening prompt, detecting the push rod at a first threshold between the retracted position and the extended position, and directing the push rod forward at a second extension speed in response to detecting the push rod at the first threshold, the second extension speed being less than the first extension speed. ## Claims ### Claim 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 between a retracted position and an extended position to motivate the door toward the open position, and a position sensor attached to the cabinet to detect a position of the push rod relative to the casing; and a controller in operable communication with the door opener and configured to direct an opener operation, the opener operation comprising receiving an opening prompt for the door opener, directing the push rod forward at a first extension speed in response to the received opening prompt, detecting the push rod at a first threshold between the retracted position and the extended position, directing the push rod forward at a second extension speed in response to detecting the push rod at the first threshold, the second extension speed being less than the first extension speed, directing the push rod rearward at a first retraction speed following directing the push rod forward at the second extension speed, detecting the push rod at a second threshold between the extended position and the retracted position while directing the push rod rearward, detecting the push rod at a third threshold, halting the push rod in response to detecting the third threshold, and directing the push rod forward at a third extension speed following halting the push rod, wherein the third extension speed is less than the second extension speed. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The refrigerator appliance of claim 1, wherein receiving the opening prompt comprises detecting door movement at the push rod at a partially extended position of the push rod between the retracted position and the extended position. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The refrigerator appliance of claim 1, wherein the opener operation further comprises halting the push rod at the extended position. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The refrigerator appliance of claim 1, wherein the opener operation further comprises directing the push rod rearward at a second retraction speed in response to detecting the push rod at the second threshold, the second retraction speed being greater than the first retraction speed. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The refrigerator appliance of claim 4, wherein the opener operation further comprises detecting contact with the door while directing the push rod forward at the third extension speed, and halting the push rod at a partially extended position in response to detecting contact. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The refrigerator appliance of claim 1, wherein the opener operation further comprises detecting user opening of the door following directing the push rod forward at the second extension speed, and directing the push rod rearward to the retracted position in response to detecting user opening of the door. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The refrigerator appliance of claim 6, wherein detecting user opening of the door comprises detecting a variation above a set condition at a rod-load sensor to detect a mechanical load reduction on the push rod.