Patents Examined by Levon J Shahinian
  • Patent number: 11833532
    Abstract: An apparatus and method of restricting entry velocity into a tank is provided. To this end, a throttle plate is utilized to reduce circulation turbulence and significantly reduce the probability of damage to fragile articles undergoing deglazing, defrosting, washing or other circulation within a fluid tank. The throttle plate includes a main body with a top, bottom, and opposing sides and is configured to interface with a wash tank in a variety of throttle plate conditions. The main body of the throttle plate sits substantially against an interior wall of the wash tank, partially obscuring one or more inward flowing jets associated with the wash tank. Such obscuring dampens or throttles the flow of water from the jets into the wash tank. The throttle plate is adjustable; thus, a user of the wash tank can utilize the throttle plate to selectively control the flow of water into the tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: Unified Brands, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Seiss, Michael P. Licata, Mark Churchill, Tyler Armstrong
  • Patent number: 11826003
    Abstract: A household dishwasher includes a washing chamber, a control apparatus for running a washing program from a number of washing programs, a metering system having a supply unit for receiving an individual dose of a first cleaning agent and supplying the individual dose into the washing chamber at a metering point in time while running the washing program, and an automatic metering apparatus for automatically metering a plurality of metering quantities from a supply of a second cleaning agent in the form of a solid material into the washing chamber at the metering point in time, and a sensor apparatus configured to detect a state of the metering system and to emit a sensor signal depending on the detected state of the metering system. The control apparatus runs the washing program depending on the sensor signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: BSH Hausgeräte GmbH
    Inventors: Alexander Schiele, Jakob Schultz, Georg Walther, Daniel Miller, Alberto Buogo, Addie Muentzenberger, Anne-Katrin Späte
  • Patent number: 11826000
    Abstract: A household dishwasher includes a washing container holding a dishwasher load, and a spray arm for applying washing liquor and/or fresh water to the dishwasher load. The spray arm is mounted for rotation about an axis of rotation and is actively driven by a drive entity. The drive entity includes a drive shaft mounted for rotation about an axis of rotation which extends in parallel relation to and at a distance from the axis of rotation of the spray arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: BSH Hausgeräte GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Lugert, Bernd Eisenbart, Bernd Heisele, Anton Oblinger, Werner Oblinger
  • Patent number: 11819176
    Abstract: Provided is a dishwasher having an improved structure capable of selecting whether to spray wash water. The dishwasher includes a washing tub, a basket provided in the washing tub to accommodate dishware, a duct provided in the washing tub to be supplied with wash water, a sub-duct mounted on the basket to guide the wash water, a connection pipe connected to the sub-duct, and a spray nozzle coupled to the connection pipe to be rotatable from a first position where the connection pipe is open and a second position where the connection pipe is closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Changwook Lee, Minho Jung
  • Patent number: 11814773
    Abstract: A washing machine is provided. The washing machine includes a water tub configured to be disposed in a cabinet and to store wash water, a rotating tub configured to be rotatably installed in the water tub and to include an opening formed in an upper end portion thereof, and a driver configured to be connected to the rotating tub and to rotate the rotating tub, wherein a deviation preventer configured to prevent wash water in the rotating tub from being deviated to one side during rotation of the rotating tub is formed at an upper end portion of the rotating tub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sung-mo Lee, Sang-ho Park, Kyung-up Lim, Seon-woo Lee, So-dam Han, In-hwan Kil, Jun-hyun Park, Do-yeon Kim, Hoon Wee
  • Patent number: 11812915
    Abstract: The invention relates to a cleaning device (01) for food vessels, in particular mixing containers or mixing container parts, in which cleaning liquid is supplied to a valve support (11) and is conveyed through at least one rinsing rod (03), the rinsing rod (03) being disposed in an upwardly open receptacle (02), and an actuating device (09) controlling the flow rate of the cleaning liquid from the valve support (11) into the rinsing rod (03) by means of a valve in the valve support (11), and the rinsing rod (03) having at least one horizontal nozzle (07) for cleaning an inner circumferential surface (08) of the food vessel (04), and the rinsing rod (03) having at least one vertical nozzle (06) for cleaning a bottom surface of the food vessel, the cleaning device (01) being provided with a blocking device (05) which prevents cleaning liquid from exiting through the vertical nozzle (06) and/or the horizontal nozzle (07).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Inventor: Bernd Lölsberg
  • Patent number: 11805964
    Abstract: A dispensing apparatus for an appliance includes a housing assembly which defines a loading chamber and a dispensing chamber. The dispensing chamber is separate from the loading chamber within the housing assembly. The dispensing apparatus includes a corkscrew coil rotatably mounted in the loading chamber of the housing. A motor is coupled to the corkscrew coil. Additionally, there is a first door positioned at a first opening defined by the housing assembly at the loading chamber. The first door is configured to selectively open and close the first opening. A second door positioned at a second opening is defined by the housing assembly at the chute. The second door is configured to selectively open and close the second opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Monica Martinez Mendez, Rose Marie Connelly
  • Patent number: 11805963
    Abstract: A dish washing machine including a housing having an interior wash space for washing dishes. The housing has a liquid inlet for adding a liquid to the dish washing machine. At least one rotating spray nozzle sprays the liquid onto dishes positioned within the interior wash space. The machine further includes a heating tank for heating the liquid which is supplied to the at least one rotating spray nozzle for spraying onto the dishes in the interior wash space. Two heat exchange systems are within the housing. The two heat exchange systems transfer heat from the liquid heated by the heating tank to the liquid added to the dish washing machine from the liquid inlet. A first one of the two heat exchange systems passes heat from water in the wash tank or the interior wash space to water in the first one of the two heat exchange systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: KDW Company Limited
    Inventors: Kwok Din Wong, Li Zhou
  • Patent number: 11805960
    Abstract: A dishwashing appliance with a shrouded filtration assembly for removing dishwashing sediment from recirculated dishwashing fluid is provided. The dishwashing appliance may include a tub, a spray system, a recirculation pump, a drainage pump, and a shrouded filtration assembly in fluid communication with the spray system, the recirculation pump, and the drainage pump. The shrouded filtration assembly may include a lid, a filter frame, and a sump housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: MIDEA GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Joel Boyer, Robert M. Digman
  • Patent number: 11808535
    Abstract: A high pressure nozzle adapted to clean a tube includes an elongated body having a proximal end and a distal end, and defines one or more elongated channels along an exterior, extending from the distal end to the proximal end, and includes a head rotatably mounted to the body adjacent the distal end. The head includes jets that expel liquid at a pressure of at least 1000 psi to clean material from a wall of a tube and/or rotate the head relative to the body about a longitudinal axis. The channels are operable in an evacuation mode in which a portion of liquid is conveyed through the channels away from the head toward the proximal end to prevent and/or impair hydraulicing of the nozzle in the tube when the nozzle encounters a blockage within the tube. Related methods of use of the nozzle also are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: PSI Pressure Systems LLC
    Inventors: Todd A. Shawver, Jamie A. Forrest
  • Patent number: 11793899
    Abstract: An instrument reprocessor for cleaning, disinfecting, and/or sterilizing a medical instrument is disclosed. To reprocess instruments having one or more channels defined therein, the reprocessor can include one or more flow control systems configured to control a flow of fluid through each channel. In various embodiments, a flow control system can include a differential pressure sensor and a proportional valve for controlling the fluid flow in a channel. The reprocessor can also include, one, a fluid circulation pump which can be configured to supply the flow control systems with fluid and, two, a system for controlling the pressure of the fluid supplied to the flow control systems. The reprocessor can also include a system for supplying a metered amount of fluid to the fluid circulation system. The system can include a reservoir having a fluid height sensor to monitor the amount of fluid therein and a pump configured to supply the reservoir with fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Inventors: Nick N. Nguyen, Ujjal Bhaumik
  • Patent number: 11795047
    Abstract: A probe assembly configured to selectively restrict fluid flow through an outlet of a closed transfer system. The probe assembly has an elongate probe body with a top end portion, a bottom end portion, an outer wall, and an internal structure defining a fluid chamber extending from the bottom end portion to the top end portion. The fluid chamber has a fluid chamber inlet at the bottom end portion extending through the outer wall into the fluid chamber and a fluid chamber outlet at the top end portion extending from the fluid chamber through the outer wall. A probe tip with a cylindrical bore is configured to engage the top end portion of the elongate probe body and a probe tip outlet is configured to be in fluid communication with the fluid chamber outlet. A rotating head located circumjacent to the probe tip and adjacent to the probe tip outlet is configured to rotate about the probe tip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Pentair Flow Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Roger James, Ben Freeston, Claire Potter, Richard Garnett, Sam Pullen
  • Patent number: 11786101
    Abstract: A dishwasher includes: a washing container having a washing compartment and a loading opening for loading items to be washed; a washing compartment door by which the loading opening is closeable in a fluid-tight manner; and a camera unit for visually sensing the washing compartment. The camera unit is integrated into a dispenser provided by the washing compartment door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: MIELE & CIE. KG
    Inventors: Seyfettin Kara, Eckard Riedenklau
  • Patent number: 11786093
    Abstract: A nozzle for a cleaner has a nozzle housing, and first and second rotation cleaning units arranged on a lower side of the nozzle housing and spaced apart from each other. Each of the first and second rotation cleaning units includes a rotation plate coupled to a mop. The nozzle includes a first driving device having a first driving motor to drive the first rotation cleaning unit and a second driving device having a second driving motor to drive the second rotation cleaning unit. Further, the nozzle has a water tank mounted on the nozzle housing to store water. The nozzle housing includes driving unit covers arranged to surround each of the driving devices. At least one of the driving unit covers includes a first protruding surface, and a second protruding surface positioned higher than the first protruding surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Ingyu Yang, Hyeri Kwon, Sungjun Kim, Jinho Kim, Kyoungho Ryou, Jungwan Ryu, Jinhyouk Shin, Youngsoo Kim
  • Patent number: 11761135
    Abstract: A laundry treating apparatus having a tub, a drum rotatably disposed inside the tub and configured to store laundry therein, and a connector connecting the drum to a rotary shaft of a motor for transferring a rotation power to the drum. The connector includes a first body having a first body hub and a first body arm, a second body having a second body hub and a second body arm extending along the first body arm, connecting portions spaced apart from each other and connecting the first body and the second body in a manner that the first body is spaced apart from the second body, and a rib disposed between a pair of the connecting portions. The rib protrudes from one of the first body arm and the second body arm and is spaced apart from the other of the first body arm and the second body arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventor: Yongdeok Kwon
  • Patent number: 11752976
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to detecting and clearing debris from a sensor window. For instance, a system may include the sensor window and one or more processors. The sensor window may include a transparent thin film conductor. The one or more processors may be configured to identify a change in capacitance using the transparent thin film conductor, detect debris on the sensor window using the change in capacitance, and activate a cleaning system in order to clear the detected debris from the sensor window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Felix Jose Alvarez Rivera, Ralph Hamilton Shepard
  • Patent number: 11752979
    Abstract: A method of assembling a vehicle cleaner nozzle provided in a vicinity of a leading end of a piston accommodated to be movable forward and backward with respect to a cylinder so as to inject a cleaning medium on an object to be cleaned which is mounted on a vehicle includes: assembling a nozzle chip to a housing along a first direction so as to form a feedback flow path for swinging and injecting the cleaning medium by accommodating the nozzle chip in an interior of the housing; and assembling the housing in a state where the housing accommodates the nozzle chip to a holder supported by the piston along the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Masaru Sakai
  • Patent number: 11751749
    Abstract: A dishwasher or silverware basket, as provided herein, may include a unitary first base wall, first sidewall, second base wall, second sidewall, transverse rail, and handle. The first base wall may be disposed at a bottom container end. The first sidewall may extend vertically from the first base wall and define a first container volume with the first base wall. The second base wall may be disposed at the bottom container end and transversely spaced apart from the first base wall. The second sidewall may extend vertically from the second base wall and define a second container volume with the second base wall. The transverse rail may extend from the first sidewall to the second sidewall The handle may extend between the container volumes and have a first transverse edge proximal to the first container volume and a second transverse edge proximal to the second container volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Allen Rowe, Andrew Garstkiewicz, Jeffrey Charles Souder
  • Patent number: 11751747
    Abstract: A warewash machine includes a housing defining a ware inlet, a ware outlet and an internal chamber including a plurality of sequential spray zones including at least one wash zone and a rinse zone downstream of the wash zone in a ware conveyance direction. A vent path leads from the chamber leading to a vent outlet for connecting to a building ventilation system. A damper is provided for controlling a flow area at a location along the vent path. A controller is connected to control a position of the damper, the controller configured to adjust a position of the damper based upon input from at least a first temperature sensor, wherein the first temperature sensor is located at one of (i) the ware inlet, (ii) the ware outlet or (iii) along the vent path. Methods of operating a warewash machine are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Alexander R. Anim-Mensah, Mary E. Paulus
  • Patent number: 11751748
    Abstract: A detergent dispensing apparatus 3 used for a dish washer and a dish washer comprising the detergent dispensing apparatus 3. The detergent dispensing apparatus 3 comprises a liquid storage box, a liquid outlet pump 32 and a pipeline module. The liquid storage box comprises a first half housing and a second half housing, and the first half housing and the second half housing fixedly connect each other in a first direction so as to define a liquid storage cavity used for storing detergent. The liquid outlet pump 32 is configured to suction the detergent from the liquid storage cavity and dispense the detergent to the exterior of the detergent dispensing apparatus 3. The pipeline module comprises a liquid adding channel used for adding the detergent to the liquid storage cavity, a liquid inlet channel used by the liquid outlet pump 32 for extracting the detergent from the liquid storage cavity, and a liquid outlet channel used by the liquid outlet pump 32 for dispensing the detergent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: JIANGSU LEILI MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Xiaoqiang Wang, Kaiyong Yuan, Liwei Yin