Patents Examined by Hiwot E Tefera
  • Patent number: 11732952
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes a cabinet, a main door having an opening, a sub-door rotatably provided in front of the main door to open and close the opening and filled with a heat insulating material, a locking member protruding from the sub-door to the main door and operated to lock the main door, an operation member provided below the locking member and protruding downward from a lower portion of the sub-door to be directly operated by a user, a connection member connecting the locking member and the operation member such that the locking member operates when the operation member operates, and a connection member case provided inside the sub-door and defining a space in which the connection member is operatively accommodated. The connection member case is formed with a reinforcement part extending in an upper-and-lower direction along the connection member case to prevent deformation of the connection member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Woojin Jeon, Myeongseong Park
  • Patent number: 11732960
    Abstract: A refrigerator appliance may include a cabinet, a door, and a shelf assembly. The cabinet may define a chilled chamber. The door may be rotatably hinged to the cabinet to provide selective access to the chilled chamber. The shelf assembly may be disposed below the image module within the chilled chamber. The shelf assembly may include a mounting bracket attached to the cabinet, a shelf attached to the mounting bracket, and a weight sensor disposed within the cabinet in cantilevered engagement with the shelf to detect stored mass at the shelf.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Choon Jae Ryu, Stephanos Kyriacou
  • Patent number: 11731719
    Abstract: A telescoping ceiling mounted storage rack include a ceiling mount, a first down-post section, a second down-post section, raising and lowering mechanism, and at least one mounting bracket. The ceiling mount is configured to attach to a ceiling and support a payload from the ceiling. The first down-post section attached to the ceiling mount. The second down-post section telescopically configured with the first down-post section, where the second down-post section is configured to slide up and down about the first down-post section attached to the ceiling mount. The raising and lowering mechanism is configured to move the second down-post section between a lowered position telescopically extended from the first down-post section and a raised position telescopically recessed on or in the first down-post section. The at least one mounting bracket is attached to the second down-post section and is configured to hold the payload.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Inventor: Timothy P. Grove
  • Patent number: 11723457
    Abstract: An overhead storage unit is disclosed. The storage unit has an elongated guide member with a first horizontal segment mountable within an overhead storage area, a second vertical segment mountable below the overhead storage area, and a curved segment extending between the first and second segments. The storage unit also has a storage container with at least a first wall mounted to the guide member and displaceable therealong to be raised and lowered between a stored position and an accessible position. The first wall is disposed within the storage area and has a first orientation to define a bottom surface of the storage container in the stored position. The first wall is disposed below the storage area and has a second orientation different from the first orientation in the accessible position. A residential living unit and method are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: 143046 Canada Inc.
    Inventor: Eleaizer Gelber
  • Patent number: 11725872
    Abstract: A support frame for sliding adjustment shelves of a refrigerated cabinet comprised at least a fixed column, at least a support body and at least a locking unit, the fixed column is provided with a plurality of positioning bosses spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance along its length direction, the support body can be locked on the positioning boss of the fixed column through the locking unit, and when the locking unit is released, the support body can slide along the fixed column. Thus, the invention has a larger bearing capacity and a more stable structure, and is more durable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: ZHONGSHAN HAILE ELECTRIC APPLIANCE CO., LTD
    Inventor: Jimmy Jin
  • Patent number: 11709010
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a refrigerator. The refrigerator includes first storage for defining a first storage space therein, a door for opening and closing the first storage space, and a plurality of shelves installed in the first storage space for placing food thereon. The door includes a door frame having an opening defined therein, and mounted pivotable to the first storage, a panel assembly inserted into the opening, and disposed to allow the first storage space to be seen through, and a flow path blocking portion mounted on the door frame, wherein the flow path blocking portion shields a gap defined between the panel assembly and the shelf as the door closes the first storage space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Seonil Yu, Daesung Lee, Kyutae Park
  • Patent number: 11703269
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes a cabinet provided with a storage compartment, a door capable of opening and closing the storage compartment, a turning plate and a hinge assembly including a hinge moving member and a hinge fixed member connecting the door to the turning plate. One of the hinge moving member or the hinge fixed member defines a trajectory having a first end portion and a second end portion. The other of the hinge moving member or the hinge fixed member has a limiting portion adapted to rotate between the first end portion and the second end portion along the trajectory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: BSH Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventors: Tao Bo, Siting Ren, Xun Wang
  • Patent number: 11696642
    Abstract: A shelf support bracket system for a transparent refrigerator shelf of a refrigerator, including: an unfinished metal, load-bearing support bracket having mounting hooks at one end for mounting to an inside wall of the refrigerator; and a decorative cover sleeve slidably disposed over the unfinished metal, load-bearing support bracket so as to cover a substantial portion thereof. The decorative cover sleeve has an upper surface serving as an attachment surface that is configured to receive the transparent refrigerator shelf.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignees: BSH Hope Appliances Corporation, BSH Hausgeräte GmbH
    Inventors: Cetin Abdullah Celik, Felix Hänßler, Samuel Harward, Cemalettin Hasturk
  • Patent number: 11684155
    Abstract: An overhead storage unit includes a pivot arm extending from a first end to a second end. The first end is pivotably mountable to a fixed pivot and the pivot arm is pivotable about a pivot axis defined by the pivot. A storage container having interconnected walls defines a storage container interior. One of the interconnected walls is a conforming wall. The storage container is mounted to the pivot arm and pivotable to be raised and lowered between a stored position and an accessible position. In the stored position, the storage container is disposed within the overhead storage area and the conforming wall is upright. In the accessible position, the storage container is disposed below the overhead storage area and the conforming wall provides access to the storage container interior. A residential living unit and method are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: 143046 CANADA INC.
    Inventor: Eleaizer Gelber
  • Patent number: 11686525
    Abstract: An insulating structure for an appliance includes a trim breaker, a wrapper, and a liner. The wrapper and liner coupled to the trim breaker and at least partially defining a structural cabinet. A barrier is positioned between the liner and the wrapper. The barrier is also coupled to the trim breaker. An inner compressible gasket is proximate the liner, and an outer gasket is proximate the wrapper. The inner gasket and the outer compressible gasket are coupled to the barrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Devidas B. Raskar, Lorraine J. Westlake
  • Patent number: 11684184
    Abstract: The present invention provides protective enclosures and food and/or beverage stations with these enclosures in which one or more of the side panels are easily raised and lowered and easily fixed in one or more positions as desired. For example, side panels can be easily lowered or closed or easily raised and fixed in one or more open configurations. The present invention is based at least in part on a coupling system that pivotably and slideably couples the moveable and positionable side panels to the protective enclosure. The coupling system uses a system of coordinated slots that cooperatively guide the movement of the side panel in its range of motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: THE VOLLRATH COMPANY, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Brandon M. Hansen
  • Patent number: 11674744
    Abstract: A divider assembly to be mounted in a storage container for dividing the storage container during use, includes a guiding rail having a first surface and a second surface facing each other and extending in a sliding direction, a slider slidably movable in the guiding rail, and a divider attached to the slider and movable with the slider in the storage container for dividing the storage container into sections. The slider includes at least two slider arms extending in opposite directions. Each slider arm has at least one ball-shaped roller. The ball-shaped rollers roll on at least one of the first surface or second surface of the guiding rail when the divider assembly moves in the sliding direction. A cooling device including the divider assembly is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: BSH Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventors: Nagihan Kiziltepe, Mert Oezer, Mustafa Emin Yildirim
  • Patent number: 11672337
    Abstract: The present invention is for a novel pivotable shelving system utilizing (in some embodiments) one or more D-shaped shelves that may pivot such that when it is in a cabinet and the flat portion of the D shape is at a front edge of the cabinet, when the shelf is rotated, a portion of the shelf extends beyond the front of the cabinet. Other improvements in some embodiments include devices having multiple swiveling spinners which may each operate/pivot independently as well as multiple shelves of varied geometry to enable taller items to be placed on the lower shelf and extent above an upper shelf.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Inventor: Dennis Clayton
  • Patent number: 11668513
    Abstract: A refrigerator that includes a cabinet housing a refrigerator compartment and having a front opening. A door provides access to the refrigerator compartment. The door includes a first section and a second section. A locking mechanism is provided for selectively securing the second section to the first section when the second section is in a closed position relative to the first section. The locking mechanism includes a handle disposed within an elongated recess of the second section. A latch hook is engageable with the handle for selectively locking the second section in the closed position relative to the first section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Electrolux Home Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Josh Hanson, Saba Rizzi, Brent Aaron Curtis
  • Patent number: 11662136
    Abstract: A cabinet structure includes a wrapper defining an opening. At least one liner is positioned inside the opening of the wrapper and defines a temperature-controlled compartment. An insulation cavity is defined between the wrapper and the liner. A trim breaker is coupled to the wrapper and the liner. A first hinge bracket is positioned outwardly of the trim breaker. An encapsulation member is positioned rearwardly of the trim breaker and defines an encapsulation cavity. A first hinge support has a first section positioned along a second hinge support and a second section extending rearwardly from the first section. The first hinge bracket is coupled to the first and second hinge supports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel Lottinville, Lynne F Hunter, Karen J. Querfurth, Aaron M. Stewart
  • Patent number: 11656021
    Abstract: A refrigerator having detachably adjacent cabinets is provided. The refrigerator includes a connection mechanism interposed between cabinets adjacent to each other and connecting the cabinets to each other and a manipulation portion configured to drive the connection mechanism by being manipulated from outside, wherein the connection mechanism is configured for the cabinet on one side is pulled toward the cabinet on the other side by a manipulation of the manipulation portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Shibuya, Kentaro Kan, Manabu Kikuchi, Tomohiko Matsuno
  • Patent number: 11650002
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes: a cabinet defining a storage space, a door configured to open and close the storage space, and a step difference adjustment member disposed at a rear surface of the door. The step difference adjustment member comprises (i) a stopper that contacts, based on the door being closed, a front surface of the cabinet and (ii) a mounting portion that defines an accommodation space into which the stopper is inserted, and the stopper is configured to move with respect to the mounting portion to thereby vary a protruding length of the stopper from the mounting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Hyunae Lim, Jinhan Lim
  • Patent number: 11629904
    Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein are directed to a shelf and shelving system for a refrigerator door having a door liner with opposing side walls, where each side wall includes a row of ditch steps. The shelf or shelves includes a gap wall at each end of the shelf. A switch is positioned above each gap wall. Each switch includes a handle, a mounting rod and a biasing member for biasing a long component of the handle outwardly away from the gap wall such that an engagement surface of the long component will engage a ditch step and thereby secure the shelf in place within the refrigerator door. The switch is actuatable by a user to allow for vertical adjustment of the shelf along the rows of ditch steps or to remove the shelf therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: BBY Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Weichao Chen, Kaixuan He
  • Patent number: 11624548
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes a cabinet having a storage space, a hinge bracket configured to be installed on an upper wall of the cabinet and having a hinge shaft, a door configured to be connected to the hinge shaft and to open and close the storage space while rotating, and a hinge cover configured to be installed on the upper wall of the cabinet and to cover the hinge bracket, in which the hinge cover includes a first mounting part and a second mounting part disposed to be spaced apart in a horizontal direction, a bracket cover detachably mounted on one mounting part of the first mounting part and the second mounting part disposed at a position corresponding to the hinge bracket and configured to cover the hinge bracket, and a shielding member detachably mounted on another mounting part of the first mounting part and the second mounting part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Jongmoon Jang, Joonyong Hwang
  • Patent number: 11614270
    Abstract: A suspension device enables a freely projecting suspension of a food-accommodating container. The suspension device has a central rail for the direct suspension of the food-accommodating container. The central rail is a profiled rail made of metal. There is also described an arrangement of a suspension device with a food-accommodating container suspended in a freely projecting manner on the profiled rail, and a household refrigerator component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: BSH Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventors: Robert Briem, Stefan Deissler, Marco Reitwiessner, Ralph Staud, Thomas Tischer