Patents Examined by Ryan A Doyle
  • Patent number: 10415870
    Abstract: A pressure relief facility for a refrigeration appliance with a body defining a chamber and having a peripheral rim, the appliance having a door with a peripheral gasket operable between an open position in which the gasket is away from the rim and a closed position in which the gasket sealably contacts the rim. The relief facility includes a planar body having opposed major faces and having opposed first and second peripheral edges. The body has a number of passages adjacent to each other, each passage having a first opening at the first peripheral edge, and a second opening at the second peripheral edge. An adhesive element is attached on one of the major faces adapted to secure the body to the rim of the appliance body in registration with to the gasket with the first openings in communication with the chamber, and the second openings in communication with ambient air. The planar body may be an elongated rectangular piece of corrugated plastic, with the passages running transverse to the length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Inventor: Bennett Karl Langlotz
  • Patent number: 10398228
    Abstract: A slide rail assembly includes a rail, a moving rail, and a damping device. When the moving rail is moved relative to the rail, the damping device is pushed by the moving rail to provide damping effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignees: KING SLIDE WORKS CO., LTD., KING SLIDE TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ken-Ching Chen, Shun-Ho Yang, Kai-Wen Yu, Chun-Chiang Wang
  • Patent number: 10330372
    Abstract: A storage system and a refrigeration appliance includes the storage system for storing food items in a temperature-controlled environment. The storage system includes a rail attached to a liner panel. The rail includes at least one mounting structure that is partially embedded within the liner panel. The storage system further includes an accessory. The accessory has an arm extending from a rear surface of the accessory. The accessory is placed in a storage position. The arm is placed between the rail and the liner panel when the accessory is placed in the storage position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: Electrolux Home Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Chris A. Baker, David House
  • Patent number: 10231541
    Abstract: A drawer side wall having an inner wall and an outer wall which can be connected to the inner wall. A container rail is provided, and the drawer side wall can be connected to the container rail. An upwardly protruding front projection with a device for attachment of a drawer front panel is arranged on the container rail, and the inner wall is directly firmly connected to the container rail in a lower region. The front projection is directly firmly connected, preferably by welding, to the inner wall in an upper region of the inner wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: Julius Blum GmbH
    Inventor: Ingo Gasser
  • Patent number: 10145605
    Abstract: The refrigerator includes item storage units arranged in multiple layers in a storage compartment, horizontal frames arranged in multiple layers, the horizontal frames respectively supporting the item storage units, a vertical frame coupled to each of the horizontal frames, the vertical frame extending vertically, first rail units arranged in multiple layers, the first rail units respectively supporting the horizontal frames so that the horizontal frames is movable in a front-to-back direction relative to the storage compartment, a link to connect any one of the horizontal frames arranged and the door to each other so as to move the horizontal frames in the front-to-back direction in response to rotation of the door, and a second rail unit located between the item storage unit and the horizontal frame arranged in the same layer so as to movably support the item storage unit in the front-to-back direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Changwoan Yang, Seungjin Choi, Hanhyo Kim, Yoomin Park
  • Patent number: 9763352
    Abstract: An apparatus comprising at least one extendable hard drive drawer for replacement and maintenance of at least one hard drive. The apparatus comprises a chassis comprising a front side and a rear side, and a first hard drive carrier and a second hard drive carrier housed within the chassis. The first hard drive carrier can be housed at the front side of the chassis, and the second hard drive carrier can be located behind the first hard drive carrier. The first hard drive carrier and the second hard drive carrier can each be adapted to house at least one hard drive. The first hard drive carrier can be adapted to slide from a closed position to a first open position, and from the first open position to a second open position, such that the second hard drive carrier can be accessed in the second open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: QUANTA COMPUTER INC.
    Inventors: Maw-Zan Jau, Chao-Jung Chen, Yaw-Tzorng Tsorng, I-Lang Cheng
  • Patent number: 9750347
    Abstract: A pressure release slide latch mechanism for a drawer slide assembly comprises an outer slide, an intermediate slide mounted in the outer slide, and an inner slide mounted in the intermediate slide, a channel plate having a track portion and a guide block attached to the outer slide and a carriage slidingly engaged and biased along the track portion. A pin of a follower pivotally attached to the inner slide engages the guide block to releasably maintain the drawer slide assembly in a closed position and releases upon an inward force applied to the drawer slide assembly. A set of chamfers is formed on the pressure release slide latch mechanism to prevent binding of the drawer slide assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: HARDWARE RESOURCES, INC.
    Inventor: Grant Nuckolls
  • Patent number: 9709316
    Abstract: A refrigerator having French-style doors is sealed between the doors by a first sealing pad linearly biased from a base fixed within a recess provided in an inner side portion of one door, and a second sealing pad carried by a mounting arm which is pivotally mounted and angularly biased from an inner side portion of the second door. When either door is closed against the other, the first and second sealing pads deflect and conform to each other to provide an effective seal. In one preferred embodiment of the invention, the first and second sealing pads take complementary concave and convex shapes which provide a larger cross-section for the overall sealing area and establish a high insulation value, while avoiding the need for an internal heater commonly employed in refrigerator doors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Roger C. Miersen, Thomas E. Gose, James H. Jenkins
  • Patent number: 9681576
    Abstract: A drawer slide system for a chassis is provided. The drawer slide system includes a first slide affixed to a drawer. The drawer slide system allows the drawer to extend from the chassis. The drawer slide system also includes a slide assembly slidingly coupled to the first slide. The slide assembly includes a second slide and a first damped stop assembly, which includes a first stop tray and a first elastomer, arranged within the first stop tray. The first elastomer reduces shock to the chassis when the drawer is fully seated within the chassis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Ellis Schroeder, David Michael Keffeler, Andrew Rudolph Heyd, Michael Joseph Russell
  • Patent number: 9681573
    Abstract: A slide rail assembly includes first and second rails, a retaining member, and a bracket. The second rail is movable to a retracted position relative to the first rail. The retaining member is connected to the second rail. The bracket includes a side plate connected to the first rail, an end plate bent from the side plate, and a movable member movably connected to the side plate. The movable member has at least one retaining portion corresponding to the end plate. When the second rail is in the retracted position, at least a portion of the retaining member faces the movable member so that the second rail can, via the retaining member, restrict displacement of the movable member relative to the retaining member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignees: King Slide Works Co., Ltd., King Slide Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ken-Ching Chen, Shun-Ho Yang, Chun-Yi Ho, Chun-Chiang Wang
  • Patent number: 9649957
    Abstract: A seat assembly for a vehicle including a base presenting a pair of opposing angular surfaces spaced from one another and a cushion slidably engaging the opposing angular surfaces for tilting relative to the base into alternate orientations. The seat also includes a resistance element for maintaining the cushion in a desired orientation relative to the base. The cushion includes a sliding element which is movable between a disengaged position for adjusting the orientation of the cushion within predetermined limits established by the angular surfaces and an engaged position where the sliding element interfaces with the resistance element to restrict movement of the cushion relative to the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Kurt A. Seibold, Duane Potes, Jr., John Gomez, Joseph A. Gasko, Jeffrey David Laho
  • Patent number: 9648952
    Abstract: A pressure release slide latch mechanism for a drawer slide assembly comprises an outer slide, an intermediate slide mounted in the outer slide, and an inner slide mounted in the intermediate slide, a channel plate having a track portion and a guide block attached to the outer slide and a carriage slidingly engaged and biased along the track portion. A pin of a follower pivotally attached to the inner slide engages the guide block to releasably maintain the drawer slide assembly in a closed position and releases upon an inward force applied to the drawer slide assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: Hardware Resources, Inc.
    Inventor: Grant Nuckolls
  • Patent number: 9642460
    Abstract: A self-closing slide rail assembly includes a first rail, a second rail, and a self-closing mechanism. The second rail is longitudinally displaceable relative to the first rail. The self-closing mechanism includes a housing, an elastic member, and a movable member. The housing is mounted on the first rail. The movable member is movable within the housing in response to the elastic energy released by the elastic member. The second rail is retracted relative to the first rail by the movable member upon engagement therewith when moving from an extended position toward a retracted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignees: King Slide Works Co., Ltd., King Slide Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ken-Ching Chen, Shih-Lung Huang, Yi-Syuan Jhao, Chun-Chiang Wang
  • Patent number: 9629278
    Abstract: A panel structure is removably connected with a main housing of an electronic device. The panel structure comprises a panel body, two movable members and at least two elastic members. The panel body comprises two fixing parts; each movable member is movably connected with the panel body, and each movable member comprises a pivoting part and a corresponding fixing part, wherein the two movable members are movably apart from each other in a first axial direction such that each movable member is fixed with each fixing part with each corresponding fixing part, making each pivoting part which moves along with each movable member pivotally connected to the main housing. Each elastic member has two ends respectively connected to the movable members and the panel body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Wistron Corporation
    Inventors: Yong-Liang Zheng, Qi-Qiong Li, Chuan-Chi Wang
  • Patent number: 9622575
    Abstract: A storage propane tank storage cabinet including a frame, a door operably attached to the frame, and a locking bar operably attached to the frame, the locking bar configured to move from a first position to a second position, wherein, when in the second position, the locking bar covers a portion of the door proximate a top corner of the door and proximate a bottom corner of the door to prevent unauthorized access to an interior of the frame is provided. Furthermore, an associated method is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: AMERICAN STANDARD MANUFACTURING, INC.
    Inventor: C. Dominic E. Vickary
  • Patent number: 9578963
    Abstract: A furniture apparatus includes a rectangular shaped housing having an open side, a washing vessel, including a faucet, located within the housing, a plurality of drawers located under the washing vessel and within the housing, an electrical socket located above the washing vessel and within the housing, double doors hingedly coupled to the housing and configured to move between an open position, wherein the open side is unobstructed by the double doors, and a closed position, wherein the double doors completely occlude the open side, at least one storage shelf located within an interior of each of the double doors, and at least one storage container located within an interior of at least one of the double doors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Inventor: Robert Mayer
  • Patent number: 9557096
    Abstract: In a refrigerator including a sliding door configured to open and close a storage chamber, a storage basket provided on a rear portion of the sliding door, and a support frame configured to support the sliding door and the storage basket, sidewalls of the storage basket may be formed so as to protrude outwardly except a lower portion in which the support frame is disposed between an inner case and the sidewalls, thereby increasing a storage space of the storage basket. In addition, a front protrusion, an auxiliary protrusion, and a rear protrusion are formed in an upper portion of the storage basket, and therefore a relative position of an auxiliary basket to the storage basket may be limited, and the auxiliary basket may be drawn into and out in conjunction with drawn-in and-out movements of the storage basket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Young Bae Hong, Sung Cheul Park, Youn Tae Shin, Oun Gu Lee
  • Patent number: 9554651
    Abstract: A storage assembly can include a first storage unit and at least one support member. The at least one support member can include a support member first end and a support member second end. The at least one support member also can include a support member first portion that extends between the support member first end and the support member second end and is releasably attached to the first storage unit. The at least one support member can further include a support member second portion that extends between the support member first end and the support member second end and is joined to the support member first portion beneath the support member first portion. The storage assembly also can include a second storage unit that is secured to the support member second portion. The support member can be employed with storage units having a variety of constructs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: ELECTROLUX HOME PRODUCTS, INC.
    Inventor: Glenn Leroy Johnson
  • Patent number: 9534828
    Abstract: A refrigerator preventing a door thereof from drooping downward and allow the door to be automatically closed. The refrigerator includes a body, a storage compartment provided in the body, a front thereof being open, a door rotatably coupled to the body to open and close the storage compartment, a support unit coupled to a center of a lower portion of the body, the support unit including at least one rotating member arranged to protrude from a front of the body to correspond to a position of the lower portion of the door, and at least one droop prevention unit coupled to the lower portion of the door at a position corresponding to the rotating member, and supported by the rotating member to prevent the door from drooping downward, the droop prevention unit cooperating with the rotating member to support the door in an upward direction when the door is closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Byoung Mok Kim, Seong Woo Kim, Yong Bum Seo, Seung Yong Yang
  • Patent number: 9534835
    Abstract: A refrigerating device is provided that includes a body, a door and a carrier for refrigerated products, the carrier being supported on adapters anchored on movable rails of telescopic extensions and displaceable between an inserted and a pulled-out position. The movable rails of the telescopic extensions are hidden under a tray and the tray of each telescopic extension is clamped between the movable rail thereof and the adapter anchored thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: BSH Hausgeräte GmbH
    Inventors: Karl-Friedrich Laible, Frank Placke, Claudia Rupp, Matthias Stahl, Helmut Steichele, Ulrich van Pels