Abstract: An automatic dishwasher, comprises a wash chamber, a rotating spray arm having an outer periphery or rotation and having at least one outlet for introducing a stream of liquid into the wash chamber, a disperser located within the wash chamber and exteriorly of the outer periphery of the rotating spray arm where during at least a portion of one revolution of the rotating spray arm the disperser is fluidly connected such that the stream of liquid is transferred to the disperser, and a liquid volume controller to control the volume of liquid transferred from the rotating spray arm to the disperser. Wherein the disperser provides an additional source of water spray to utensils in the wash chamber and the liquid volume controller controls the amount of such additional spray.
Abstract: A vacuum accessory tool has a nozzle body with a suction opening and a hose section for connecting the accessory tool with a hose of an external vacuum source. The nozzle body includes a serrated blade that can be used for grooming a domestic animal. The nozzle body further comprises a transparent or semi-transparent tool hood for viewing the area being groomed. The nozzle body is pivotally mounted to the hose section by a rotatable cuff for rotation of the nozzle body relative to the hose section. Adaptors connect the vacuum accessory tool to multiple different size hoses of a variety of vacuum cleaners.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 1, 2009
Date of Patent:
June 26, 2012
Assignee:
BISSELL Homecare, Inc.
Inventors:
Mary Catherine Bissell, Justin Benequisto, Steven Johnson
Abstract: An apparatus and method for operating a dispensing system as a non-bulk dispensing system or a bulk dispensing system in a household cleaning appliance.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
July 1, 2008
Date of Patent:
June 12, 2012
Assignee:
Whirlpool Corporation
Inventors:
Michael S. Hendrickson, Joel Adam Luckman, Colleen M. Doyle
Abstract: A biopsy device having a sample size control assembly for selecting the specimen size to be collected. The sample size control assembly includes a rotatable nose on the exterior of the biopsy device for actuating the operation of the sample size control assembly. A needle assembly of the biopsy device can extend through the rotatable nose. A tip protector can be coupled to the sample size control assembly, and can be engaged by a user to operate the sample size control assembly. Also disclosed is a method for making a biopsy device, including coupling a tip protector to a sample size control assembly.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
May 29, 2009
Date of Patent:
June 12, 2012
Assignee:
Inrad, Inc.
Inventors:
Steven E. Field, Chad J. Bacon, Michael O. Bray, II, Ryan Goosen
Abstract: A biopsy device includes a housing, a stylet carriage having a strike, a cannula carriage having a strike, and a cocking element comprising a catch carried by a resilient shaft that extends along an operational axis of the biopsy device. To arm the biopsy device, the cocking element is moved in a first arming stroke such that the catch engages the strike on the cannula carriage to deflect the resilient shaft from the operational axis such that the catch clears the strike on the stylet.
Abstract: A dishwashing machine includes a washing chamber, a spray arm, and a sensor. The sensor provides data regarding the rotation of the spray arm. The direction of rotation of the spray arm is reversed in response to a control signal generated when a load on the spray arm exceeds a predetermined limit.
Abstract: A business method for optimally determining appropriate ergonomics of occupants of a workspace including a metric determined from personal-, environmental- and task-related attributes.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 3, 2003
Date of Patent:
June 5, 2012
Assignee:
Atlas Ergonomics LLC
Inventors:
James Landsman, Sherman Robbins, Douglas Gregory, Drew Bossen
Abstract: A method for determining the amount of laundry in a laundry treating appliance comprises determining a first load amount based on a characteristic of the oscillating of a drum and determining if the first load amount satisfies a load amount threshold. When the first load amount satisfies the load threshold, the drum may be rotated in accordance with a laundry inertia algorithm to determine inertia of the load. The second load amount may then be determined based on the inertia of the laundry.
Abstract: A dishwasher having a tub defining a wash chamber for washing dishes and a dish rack located within the wash chamber. The dishwasher also has a spray arm assembly configured to spray a first flow of wash liquid toward the dish rack, thereby providing a first wash zone. A spray manifold provided within the wash chamber is configured to provide a second flow of wash liquid toward the dish rack, thereby providing a second wash zone.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 28, 2011
Date of Patent:
May 29, 2012
Assignee:
Whirlpool Corporation
Inventors:
Chad T. Vanderroest, Jay C. Landsiedel, Christopher J. Carlson, Vincent P. Gurubatham, Edward L. Thies
Abstract: A vacuum cleaner has a cyclone module assembly comprising a cyclone separation chamber for separating dust and debris from air with the generation of a cyclonic airflow vortex forming a vortex tail, the cyclone separation chamber having an inlet opening in fluid communication with the suction nozzle through the working air path and an outlet opening for discharging cleaned air, and a dirt cup for collecting dust and debris that is separated from the air in the cyclone separation chamber. The inlet opening in the cyclone separation chamber is formed with a pair of opposed inlets. The opposed inlets can be symmetrically or asymmetrically positioned with respect to each other. The cyclone separation chamber can comprise first and second concentric cyclone separation chambers and the opposed inlets can form the inlet opening to the second or inner cyclone separation chamber.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
July 11, 2006
Date of Patent:
May 15, 2012
Assignee:
BISSELL Homecare, Inc.
Inventors:
Louis E. Stein, Doris Stein, legal representative, Charles A. Reed, Jr., Paul B. Long
Abstract: A method and apparatus for operating a laundry treating appliance that has a rotating treating chamber, which is rotatable about a rotation axis by a motor operably coupled to the rotating treating chamber, with the operation of the motor being controlled by an underdamped control scheme to determine a laundry load size.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
July 9, 2009
Date of Patent:
May 15, 2012
Assignee:
Whirlpool Corporation
Inventors:
Farhad Ashrafzadeh, Kurt J. Mitts, Richard A. Sunshine
Abstract: A household appliance functions according to multiple operating cycles, wherein each operating cycle comprises at least one step characterized by a parameter having a factory-set default value. A user can access a controller of the household appliance through a user interface to simultaneously set new default values for a parameter common to at least two of the multiple operating cycles.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
November 15, 2007
Date of Patent:
May 15, 2012
Assignee:
Whirlpool Corporation
Inventors:
Christopher John Woerdehoff, Joshua Paul Carroll, Andrew Charles Reck, David John Kmet