Patents Examined by Jason Y. Ko
  • Patent number: 11766113
    Abstract: A paintbrush cleaning apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus includes a vessel that is configured to contain a quantity of a paint solvent within an interior cavity of the vessel. A brush suspension bar is attached to an interior sidewall of the vessel and has a plurality of brush suspension points disposed in a spaced apart relation to suspend a brush end of the paintbrush in the solvent, while maintaining a handle end of the brush in a dry condition above the solvent. The brush suspension points allow the brush to be immersed in the solvent to prevent drying of the paint until the brush can be cleaned. Magnetic retainers are provided to hold or capture fasteners and paint sprayer components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Inventor: Frank Molett, III
  • Patent number: 11761134
    Abstract: A laundry appliance includes a cabinet defining a front opening in a front panel. The front opening is defined by a lip having a curved edge. The lip defines a plurality of apertures spaced-apart around the front opening. A tub is disposed within the cabinet. The tub defines an access opening aligned with the front opening. A drum is disposed within the tub. A bellows assembly extends between the cabinet and the tub. The bellows assembly includes a projection coupled to the curved edge of the cabinet. A deflector has a rim and a chute wherein the chute extends toward the drum. The rim is configured to snap-fit over the projection of the bellows assembly. The rim includes a plurality of hooks where each hook is configured to extend through an aperture and interlock with the cabinet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Darryl C. Bodine, Gregg P. Fitzgerald, Eric A. Hill, Patrick A. McCormick, Stephen D. Ostdiek, Anna C. Schelling, Robert J. Schneider, Mohaideen Abdul Khadaar Sikkandar Batcha, Todd J. Tunzi
  • Patent number: 11761139
    Abstract: A drawer of a clothes treating machine includes a drawer frame that extends in a lengthwise direction and defines an inner space, and a storage unit disposed in the inner space of the drawer frame and configured to accommodate a clothes treatment agent therein. The drawer frame includes a housing accommodation part that defines a space separated from the inner space, a clothes treatment agent housing that is configured to be inserted into the housing accommodation part, and a protruding portion that separates the housing accommodation part and the clothes treatment agent housing from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Sungwoon Jung, Hunjun Jang
  • Patent number: 11761136
    Abstract: Provided is a washing machine with improved clutch-assembly structure for transmitting the power of a motor. A washing machine comprises: a water tub; a spin basket rotatably provided in the water tub; a pulsator rotatably provided in the spin basket; a motor configured to rotate the pulsator; a clutch housing coupled to the water tub; a lever holder coupled to the clutch housing; and a noise prevention member provided in the lever holder to reduce noise generated between the water tub and the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Young-Hyun Kim, Young Jin Um, Kyu Nam Lee
  • Patent number: 11753764
    Abstract: The present invention is a process and system for treating at least one piece of laundry that has a Radio-Frequency Identifier Tag, where the laundry is placed inside a double drum laundry processing system, the system including a receiver for reading signals from the RFID through openings for transmission in the inner drum to provide laundry data to processing unit which controls the cleaning cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: KREBE-TIPPO TOVARNA INDUSTRIJSKE PRALNE IN PROCESNE OPREME D.O.O.
    Inventors: Mojca Krepek, Robert Dreven{hacek over (s)}ek
  • Patent number: 11750137
    Abstract: A laundry machine having a casing, a drum a motor to rotate the drum, and an inverter-based apparatus to control the motor. The inverter-based apparatus comprises: an input stage configured to convert alternating mains voltage to rectified DC voltage, an electrolytic capacitor-less inverter configured to generate output currents to feed to the electric moto based on duty cycles of switching signals, a DC-link connecting the electrolytic capacitor-less inverter to the input stage and crossed by DC-link currents from/towards the electrolytic capacitor-less inverter, a DC-link capacitor connected to the DC-link, a regulator system configured to control duty cycles of switching signals based on determined/estimated motor values indicating a controlled parameter of said motor, and a motor reference value associated to the controlled parameter of the motor, and an active voltage limiter unit configured to regulate the motor reference value to limit the DC-link capacitor voltage within a predetermined voltage range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Inventors: Enrico Marson, Gilberto Pin, Paolo Posa, Luca Della Schiava
  • Patent number: 11746461
    Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for treating laundry, including a cabinet having a top surface providing a space for seating an object therein, a front surface provided with a first perforated hole and a second perforated hole and a top surface perforated hole configured to perforating the top surface, a drawer drawable from the cabinet through the first perforated hole, a drum rotatably provided within the drawer to provide a space for storing the laundry therein, a slide exposed to the front surface of the cabinet through the second perforated hole to maintain a state that the drawer is drawn from the cabinet in a preset reference distance, and a transfer part exposed to the top surface of the cabinet through the top surface perforated hole so as to move the slide into the cabinet if an object is seated on the top surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Jihong Woon Lee, Cheong Woon Kim, Jeong Hyun Ji
  • Patent number: 11746460
    Abstract: A laundry treating apparatus includes a housing, a tub, a drum, a top cover located above the housing and configured to cover an upper portion of the tub and the drum, a detergent box, a distributor configured to receive washing water from an external water supply source and to distribute washing water, a detergent water supply pipe connected to the distributor, and a tub water supply pipe connected to the distributor. The top cover includes a distributor holder located at a rear portion of the top cover and configured to support the distributor, a detergent box holder located at a front portion of the top cover and configured to support the detergent box, and a first pass through that allows the detergent water supply pipe to pass through the top cover from an upper portion of the top cover to a lower portion of the top cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Jihong Lee, Minkyu Sang
  • Patent number: 11739465
    Abstract: A drum for a combination washer dryer can include a plurality of sections. The sections can be interconnected by a plurality of flexible gaskets. The drum can be configured to expand and contract radially. The drum can radially expand to dry wet laundry during a drying phase following a washing phase in which laundry is washed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tara Sriram, Marc Estruch Tena, Fulya Yilmaz
  • Patent number: 11739466
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods of reducing a likelihood of contact between a rotating laundry-container, such as a basket or drum, located within a tub of a laundry treating appliance where the method includes rotating the drum during a measurement period, determining a torque, speed, acceleration, and position of the drum, using a parameter estimator to estimate the position of a mass relative to an imbalance of laundry and accelerating the rotation of the drum when the mass is determined to be angularly spaced from the relative position of the imbalance of laundry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher L. Borlin, Brian P. Janke, Joseph M. Keres, Stephen L. Keres, Guilherme Bencke Teixeira Da Silva, Adrian A. Rodriguez
  • Patent number: 11739460
    Abstract: A filtration-free liquid sampling system may be used to extract particulate or debris-containing liquid samples that may otherwise plug a filter over its service life. For example, such a system may be used to extract liquid sample from an industrial textile washer to monitor and/or validate the quality of wash conditions within the washer. In some examples, the system includes a pump that creates a vacuum on a backstroke, drawing liquid into a sensor housing positioned between the pump and the washer. After holding the liquid in the sensor housing long enough to measure its properties, the pump can be driven in a reverse stroke to pressurize the contents in the sensor housing and force the liquid back into the washer. This vacuum fill/pressure purge can keep the sensor housing free of debris.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Ecolab USA Inc.
    Inventors: Jimmy Maxwell Stokes, Jason Gregory Lang, Timothy Charles Nygaard
  • Patent number: 11739461
    Abstract: A washing machine appliance includes a wash basket that is rotatably mounted within a wash tub and that defines a wash chamber for receiving a load of clothes. A motor assembly is mechanically coupled to the wash basket for selectively rotating the wash basket and a camera assembly is mounted within the cabinet in view of the wash chamber. A controller is configured to obtain a series of image frames using the camera assembly during a wash cycle, identify a tracking point on a clothing article, generate a motion path of the tracking point over the series of image frames using an optical flow technique, estimate a turnover rate of the load of clothes based at least in part on the motion path of the clothing article, and implement responsive action in response to determining that the turnover rate falls below a predetermined threshold rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Khalid Jamal Mashal
  • Patent number: 11742222
    Abstract: An apparatus for fabricating a semiconductor device may include a nozzle having a slit configured to eject solution and an ultraviolet emitter provided outside the nozzle. The ultraviolet emitter and the nozzle may be configured to move horizontally. The slit may be provided on a bottom surface of the nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jihun Cheon, Hyun Jung Lee, Pyojin Jeon, Yong-Jhin Cho, Wonjun Lee
  • Patent number: 11732408
    Abstract: Described herein are apparatuses and methods for dyeing garments. An exemplary apparatus comprises a dye injection system configured to dispense concentrated liquid dye; a dyeing machine comprising a dyeing chamber configured for dyeing at least one garment in a dyebath; and a controller in communication with the dye injection system and the dyeing machine, wherein the controller is configured: to receive at least one garment parameter corresponding to the at least one garment; based at least in part on the at least one received garment parameter, cause the dye injection system to dispense a volume of concentrated liquid dye containing an amount of dyestuff that can be substantially absorbed by the at least one garment; and cause the dyeing machine to execute a dye cycle such that substantially all of the dyestuff in the dispensed concentrated liquid dye is absorbed by the at least one garment within the dyeing chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: RALPH LAUREN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jason Andrew Berns, Richard Paul Tinsley
  • Patent number: 11728718
    Abstract: A laundry appliance includes a drum rotationally positioned within a structural cabinet. An impeller is rotationally positioned within the drum. The impeller is selectively and independently operable with respect to the drum. A binary motor has a first motor and a second motor disposed within a common housing. A first drive belt extends between the first motor and the drum. A second drive belt extends between the second motor and the impeller. The first and second motors engage the first and second drive belts on a belt side of the common housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Krati Bhargava, Fang Deng, James Hull, Jagtanand More
  • Patent number: 11725322
    Abstract: Systems and methods for improved laundry dosing are provided. An image of a detergent container captured by a user is received. Image recognition is performed on the image of the detergent container to identify a detergent to be used based on shape, color, text, and/or brand logo of the detergent container. Parameters of the detergent are identified based on the image recognition. A dose of the detergent is recommended and/or a controlled release of a dose of the detergent is performed for a laundry cycle of a laundry appliance according to the parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Adriano Carafini, Omar Rachid Murad, Jean Ricardo Rusczak, Mauro Roberto Ushizima, Caio Cesar Rodrigues Ferrari
  • Patent number: 11721567
    Abstract: A system includes a cleaning device and a concentration measuring device. The cleaning device includes a first pipe and a first pump. The first pump is configured to move first liquid in the first pipe. Two terminals of the first pump are respectively coupled to the first pipe. The concentration measuring device includes a tube, a cooler, a concentration meter and a second pump. The tube is coupled to the first pipe, and is configured to retrieve the first liquid. The cooler covers the tube to cool the first liquid. The concentration meter is configured to measure a concentration of the first liquid cooled by the cooler. The second pump is coupled to the tube, and is configured to move the first liquid according to the concentration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jia-Rong Xiao, Wei-Hsiang Huang, Sen-Yeo Peng, Chui-Ya Peng
  • Patent number: 11702785
    Abstract: An ozone laundry system that injects ozone into the chemical injection system in order to allow the system to inject ozone as other cleaning chemicals are injected into the washer. This allows ozone to be injected through the wash cycle rather than just during the initial fill phase and additional avoids the expense and maintenance of adding ozone recirculation plumping to an ozone laundry system. Accordingly, ozone levels may be maintained at superior levels throughout the wash cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: OMNI SOLUTIONS LLC
    Inventor: Andrew Rupnow
  • Patent number: 11702787
    Abstract: A storage container and a clothes treating machine having the same are described. A discharge inclined portion is formed on a lower side of a storage container. The discharge inclined portion is inclined from one side to another side in a lengthwise direction. Therefore, a clothes treatment agent accommodated in the storage container can flow from the one side to the another side along the discharge inclined portion. Also, a check valve is partially accommodated in a space partially surrounded by the second bottom surface, so as to allow the clothes treatment agent collected in the space to be discharged. Accordingly, an amount of clothes treatment agents remaining inside the storage container can be minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Sungwoon Jung, Hunjun Jang
  • Patent number: 11702784
    Abstract: A laundry treating apparatus includes a cabinet including a front panel having a detergent opening defined therein; a tub disposed inside the cabinet; a drum rotatably disposed inside the tub; and a detergent storage unit retracting into the cabinet through the detergent opening. A detergent to be supplied to the drum is stored in the detergent storage unit. The front panel has an opening extension portion extending from a periphery of the detergent opening toward an inside of the cabinet. The apparatus further includes a protective casing disposed inside the cabinet and coupled to the opening extension portion. The protective casing surrounds at least a portion of the detergent storage unit retracting into the cabinet through the detergent opening. The protective casing includes an opening protection wall constructed to cover an inner face of the opening extension portion facing toward the detergent opening to protect the opening extension portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Donghyun Jin, Sanghee Yoo, Youngho Jung