Patents Examined by Joseph L. Perrin
  • Patent number: 11717133
    Abstract: A dishwasher with a rotary multiple use detergent dispenser is disclosed. The rotary multiple use detergent dispenser may include a blister pack having a plurality of detergents. One or more components of the detergent dispenser may be used to dispense/expel the plurality of detergents from the blister pack into a wash tub of the dishwasher.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: MIDEA GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Joel Boyer, Bassam Fawaz
  • Patent number: 11712148
    Abstract: A dishwasher appliance including at least one upper rack assembly. Adjacent panels along a transverse direction of the dishwasher appliance form a pivotable connection at the longitudinal sides between adjacent panels that allow adjacent panels to collapse or fold towards each other such that the upper rack assembly may be selectively collapsed or extended along the transverse direction by movement of the plurality of panels towards or away from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Kathirvel Sakthivel, Chanemougassoundram Raji
  • Patent number: 11713534
    Abstract: A laundry appliance includes a wash tub disposed within a cabinet. A rotating drum is disposed within the wash tub. A drain system directs a fluid from the wash tub to a fluid pump. A trap is disposed within a tub drain of the wash tub. The trap includes an elongated body having a plurality of fingers that extend across an aperture defined within the elongated body. The plurality of fingers are configured to permit passage of particulate material and prevent passage of foreign objects through the elongated body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Joao P. Curiel, Dennis Kehl
  • Patent number: 11713535
    Abstract: A washing machine includes: a case defining a receiving space and an open surface, a drawer provided in the case and configured to slide out through the open surface of the case, the drawer being configured to perform at least one of a washing operation, a rinsing operation, a spin-drying operation, or an air-drying operation for laundry, and a locking device configured to limit a sliding motion of the drawer relative to the case. The locking device includes: a holder provided on an inner wall surface of the case, a lever provided in the drawer and configured to be inserted into the holder, and an elastic member provided in a portion of the holder to which the lever is inserted and configured to come into contact with the lever in a space between the holder and the lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Yonggeun Hwang, Ji Hun Kim
  • Patent number: 11708657
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a laundry treating appliance having a dispenser assembly. The dispenser assembly includes a frame defining an opening, and at least one dispenser container mounted to the frame for movement between extended and retracted positions. A dispenser door is mounted to the frame for movement between closed and opened positions. The dispenser door closes the opening in the closed position and the dispenser door opens the opening in the opened position. The at least one dispenser container is operably coupled to the dispenser door such that movement of the dispenser door between the closed and opened positions effects a corresponding movement of the at least one dispenser container between the retracted and extended positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Kevin Ayers, Seth Bixby, Sayer J. Murphy
  • Patent number: 11705860
    Abstract: An apparatus, method and system for cleaning a solar panel includes a solar panel, one or more fluid reservoirs, a fluid dispenser at a first side of a solar panel, a mechanism for providing pressurized fluid to the fluid dispenser from the fluid reservoir(s), and a mechanism for dispensing the fluid from the dispenser. The solar panel is periodically cleaned and the motivation for cleaning may be a detected output condition of the panel, a detected weather condition, an expired time condition, detected precipitant accumulation, a manual command, or the like. The fluid(s) may include a gas and/or one or more liquids. A heater may be provided to heat the fluid(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Inventor: Jagadish Iyer
  • Patent number: 11701692
    Abstract: The present disclosure is a food injection needle cleaning system and method. The food injection needle cleaning system comprises a cleaning fluid tank coupled to high-pressure pump configured to pump cleaning fluid through at least one inlet, a channel, and at least one outlet of a food injection needle to dislodge and remove debris as well as sanitize the needle. The present disclosure comprises a high-pressure chamber configured to secure the food injection needle and seal around the needle such that fluid enters the needle through an inlet of the high-pressure chamber and exits the needle through a waste line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: Bluebonnet Foods, L.P.
    Inventor: Julio C. Palmaz
  • Patent number: 11702790
    Abstract: A laundry treatment apparatus including a plurality of swivel casters. Two of the swivel casters are braked swivel casters. One of the swivel casters other than the braked swivel casters is a vertically adjustable swivel caster. The braked swivel casters restrain translational movement of the laundry treatment apparatus across a floor. The vertically adjustable swivel caster can help fix the position of the laundry treatment apparatus so as to restrain rocking and twisting of the laundry treatment apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Clifford Theodore Papsdorf, Scott Eugene Mizer, Mark Neil Howdyshell
  • Patent number: 11697900
    Abstract: A laundry apparatus includes an exterior housing, a tub, one or more tub mounts rigidly mounting the tub to the exterior housing, a drum positioned within the tub and rotatable relative to the tub, a control unit, a motor, one or more load imbalance sensors, and a dynamic balancing assembly. The motor is communicatively coupled to the control unit and operatively coupled to the drum. The one or more load imbalance sensors are communicatively coupled to the control unit and configured to output a load imbalance signal to the control unit, the load imbalance signal being indicative of a load imbalance within the drum. The dynamic balancing assembly is includes one or more counterweight devices configured to be orbited about the primary rotation axis to counteract a detected load imbalance in the drum. The tub is unsupported by any displaceable suspension members extending between the tub and the exterior housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventor: Clifford Theodore Papsdorf
  • Patent number: 11692297
    Abstract: A household cleaning appliance having a rotatable drum located within the interior and defining a treating chamber for receiving an article for treating and a method for operating the household cleaning appliance. The household cleaning appliance includes a dispensing system that includes and can be operated as a non-bulk dispensing system or as a bulk dispensing system in a household cleaning appliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Colleen M. Doyle, Michael S. Hendrickson, Joel A. Luckman, Joseph W. Adams, Eric A. Gallagher, Erik D. Riutta, Ajay Singhal, Guy Stormo
  • Patent number: 11686036
    Abstract: Disclosed is a laundry treating apparatus. The present invention includes a cabinet, a tub provided within the cabinet, a drum provided within the tub to receive a treatment target therein, the drum made of metallic material, an induction module provided to the tub to heat the drum by induction, an infrared sensor provided to the tub to measure a temperature of the drum, and a barrel lens connected to the infrared sensor so that thermal radiation radiated from the drum enters the barrel lens, wherein the barrel lens includes a guide portion guiding vertically incident thermal radiation to the infrared sensor only.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Woore Kim, Beomjun Kim, Sangwook Hong
  • Patent number: 11686029
    Abstract: A washing machine appliance or agitator may include an impeller base and an extended post. The impeller base may define a rotation axis and include one or more impeller fins and a mating collar. The mating collar may be disposed radially inward from the impeller fins and extend along the rotation axis. The extended post may be removably attached to the impeller base to rotate therewith. The extended post may include a base body, an auger fin, an overmolded bottom bracket, and a connector bolt. The base body may extend between a bottom end proximal to the impeller base and a top end distal to the impeller base. The auger fin may extend radially from the base body. The overmolded bottom bracket may be disposed on the base body. The connector bolt may attach the extended post to the impeller base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: John Joseph Roetker, Ryan Persaud
  • Patent number: 11684235
    Abstract: Provided are an air exhausting device for kitchenware, a dishwasher, and kitchenware. The air exhausting device for kitchenware includes: an air duct including an air outlet end and a first connecting portion disposed on the air outlet end; and an air outlet member including an air inlet end and a second connecting portion provided on the air inlet end, and an air outlet end of the air outlet member being provided with an air outlet port. The first connecting portion is slidably coupled to the second connecting portion for adjusting a relative position of the air outlet port and the air duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Gree Electric Appliances, Inc. of Zhuhai
    Inventors: Yibin Tan, Shuguang Li, Chunhong Li, Yao Liu, Min Yi, Pu Zhang, Qiwen Yang, Shuai Shan
  • Patent number: 11674254
    Abstract: A laundry treating apparatus includes: a drum and a lifter that is disposed at an inner circumferential surface of the drum, that revolves, that includes a frame cover and a lifter frame including (i) a frame base coupled to the inner circumferential surface and including a seating groove provided along a circumference of the frame base, (ii) a frame upper plate spaced apart from the frame base in a direction toward a center of the drum, and (iii) a frame sidewall connecting the frame upper plate to the frame base. The frame cover includes a cover upper plate and a cover sidewall having (i) a lower end mounted on the seating groove to couple to the frame base and (ii) an upper end connected to the cover upper plate. A spacing rib providing a space between the cover sidewall and the frame sidewall protrudes from the seating groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Sunghoon Kim
  • Patent number: 11674253
    Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a method for washing clothing by an intelligent clothing washing management device, comprising following steps. The method includes selecting one or more of categories of clothing displayed on a clothing module and displaying a selected clothing model in an area to be washed. The method also includes clicking on a start item, a washing procedure recommendation module analyzing and automatically recommending washing parameters according to the selected clothing model. The method further includes applying the washing parameters displayed and recommended, a processing module receiving washing parameters recommended by the washing procedure recommendation module and controlling a washing device; wherein the washing parameters at least include washing time, washing temperature and rotation speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: QINGDAO HAIER WASHING MACHINE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hai Shu, Sheng Xu, Yang Li, Chenyu Ji, Shuchun Wang, Yan Li, Junming Yin
  • Patent number: 11672404
    Abstract: A dish treating appliance includes a tub at least partially defining a treating chamber with an access opening. A door is movable relative to the tub between closed and opened positions to selectively close and open the access opening. The dish treating appliance further includes an air supply circuit. The air supply circuit includes an air inlet and an air outlet facing an upper portion of the access opening. An air channel fluidly couples the air outlet to the air inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Mateusz Michal Wolowicz, Philip J. Czarnecki, Subhash Nivrutti Varvate, Pawel Krzysztof Kolodziej, Justyna Zuzanna Kepinska
  • Patent number: 11659976
    Abstract: A dishwasher includes a tub, a door, and a drying device configured to supply air to a washing space in the tub. The drying device includes a drying duct that is disposed outside the tub and includes a condensing duct and a return duct, a fan configured to cause a flow of air in the drying duct, and a heater configured to heat the air in the drying duct. The condensing duct includes a first condensing duct connected to an inlet port configured to receive moist air from the washing space, and a second condensing duct disposed vertically below a bottom portion of the tub and connected to the first condensing duct. The return duct includes a return upstream end connected to the second condensing duct and a return downstream end connected to an outlet port configured to supply air to the tub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Hyung Man Park, Seungyoun Kim, Min Jae Jeong, Kijoong Kang, Youngsoo Kim
  • Patent number: 11661695
    Abstract: A laundry apparatus includes a tub, a drum, a control unit, a motor, and a dynamic balancing assembly. The drum is positioned within a fluid containment envelope of the tub and rotatable relative to the tub about a primary rotation axis. The motor is coupled to the tub and operatively coupled to the drum to cause rotation of the drum. The dynamic balancing assembly includes an orbital balancing passage arranged concentrically around the motor, a first counterweight device, and a second counterweight device. The first and second counterweight devices are positioned within the orbital balancing passage and are responsive to the control unit to move the first and second counterweight devices along the orbital balancing passage to adjust an angular position of the first and second counterweight devices. A cross-sectional plane passes through the dynamic balancing assembly, the motor, and the fluid containment envelope of the tub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventor: Clifford Theodore Papsdorf
  • Patent number: 11661696
    Abstract: Disclosed is a laundry treating apparatus including a cabinet having a front face with a drawer hole defined therein, and a rear cover for forming a rear face of the cabinet, a drawer including a drawer body, a drawer cover, and a cover through-hole defined to penetrate the drawer cover, a tub including a tub body, a tub cover for forming a top face of the tub body, and an inlet defined to penetrate the tub cover, a drum rotatably disposed in the tub, wherein the drum accommodates laundry, a door for closing the inlet, and a door guide for providing a path for the door to reciprocate between a first point where the inlet is closed and a second point where the inlet is opened in a space defined between the tub cover and the drawer cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Jihong Lee, Kwanwoong Jeong
  • Patent number: 11649577
    Abstract: Provided are a washing machine that can be manufactured in a large capacity without deterioration in function, and a manufacturing method thereof. A washing machine includes a drum, a drum back, and a spider. The drum back includes a coupling portion formed to protrude in a front direction of the drum at a portion of the drum back to which the spider is coupled so as to correspond to a shape of the spider, a first forming portion formed to be recessed in a back direction of the drum at a portion of the drum back to which the spider is not coupled, and a reinforcement portion formed to additionally protrude in the front direction of the drum at a portion of the coupling portion that is adjacent to the first forming portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Sunghoon Kim, Hyun Seung Lee