Patents Examined by Spencer E Bell
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Patent number: 11723511Abstract: A method for controlling a dishwasher includes: supplying washing water to a sump; rotating an impeller disposed in a washing pump by a washing motor so that the washing water flows into the washing pump from the sump; operating a heater disposed in the washing pump so as to heat the washing water existing in the washing pump and generate steam to supply to a steam nozzle; and supplying the washing water or steam in the washing pump to the steam nozzle by rotating the impeller at a second set rotational speed lower than a first set rotational speed by the washing motor. The method further includes closing a selector valve, configured to open and close a path between the washing pump and the steam nozzle, when the impeller rotates at the first set rotational speed or higher.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2019Date of Patent: August 15, 2023Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.Inventors: Sangwoo Woo, Kitae Kwon, Minchul Kim
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Patent number: 11724670Abstract: A device for distributing washer fluid includes a cover portion into which a washer fluid is introduced, a moving shaft assembly located inside the cover portion, a motor assembly located at one end of the moving shaft assembly and configured to rotate the moving shaft assembly, one or more flow holes located in the moving shaft assembly, a plurality of distribution units located to correspond to the one or more flow holes, and a controller configured to control a rotation amount of the motor assembly which is configured to selectively discharge an washer fluid introduced into the one or more flow holes to the plurality of distribution units.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2020Date of Patent: August 15, 2023Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation, DY Auto CORPInventors: Jong Min Park, Nak Kyoung Kong, Seung Sik Han, Ki Hong Lee, Jong Wook Lee
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Patent number: 11713533Abstract: A washing machine is disclosed. The washing machine include a first housing, a second housing arranged above the first housing, a first tub covered by the first housing, a second tub covered by the second housing, and a first detergent supplier arranged to supply a detergent to the first tub, a second detergent supplier having a first supply assembly arranged to supply a detergent to the second tub by siphonage when water for laundry is being supplied, wherein the first supply assembly comprises a first valve device arranged in a detergent supply path, in which a detergent is moved to the second tub, for preventing water for laundry from flowing backwards by buoyancy.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 2017Date of Patent: August 1, 2023Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.Inventors: Hyun Dong Jung, Nae Young Park, Seung-Mok Lee, Young-Seong Cheon
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Patent number: 11713530Abstract: A laundry treating appliance having a rotatable basket that defines a treating chamber, a tub for mounting the rotatable basket, a drive assembly mounted to the tub for rotating the basket and a drive motor mounted to the tub for driving the drive assembly. The tub has a lower region comprising a central cavity and a second cavity. The drive assembly is nested in the central cavity and the drive motor is nested in the second cavity for reducing the vertical stack of tub and the motor.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2021Date of Patent: August 1, 2023Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Eric K. Farrington, Karl David Mcallister, Brenner M. Sharp
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Patent number: 11708655Abstract: A washing machine includes a dewatering shaft for rotating a washing tub, a drive shaft for rotating a pulsator in the washing tub, a coupler that is configured to move up and down along the dewatering shaft, a solenoid module that moves the coupler upward, a coupler guide configured to be rotated by contact with the coupler when the coupler moves upward, and to maintain a position of the coupler or guide the coupler to another position when the coupler moves downward, and a controller that controls operation of the solenoid module based on applying one or more pulse signals to the solenoid module.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 2020Date of Patent: July 25, 2023Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.Inventors: Jeonguk Lee, Manho Chun, Joonho Pyo, Taehee Lee
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Patent number: 11708054Abstract: A cleaning target provided to a vehicle is automatically cleaned in an appropriate manner. A vehicle cleaning system includes a cleaning section configured to clean a cleaning target provided to a vehicle, and a control section configured to control cleaning of the cleaning target by the cleaning section according to at least one out of a travel situation of the vehicle, an environmental situation of the vehicle, or an indicator relating to adhesion of adhered material to the cleaning target of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2018Date of Patent: July 25, 2023Assignee: DENSO CORPORATIONInventors: Yuusuke Yamauchi, Daisuke Shirakura, Shigehisa Hamaguchi, Shouta Adachi
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Patent number: 11693235Abstract: An apparatus includes a mass detection circuit coupled to a surface covered with a plurality of electrodes. The mass detection circuit is configured to detect a mass of a first droplet present on the surface. The apparatus further includes a transducer circuit coupled to a transducer, which is coupled to the surface and form a lens unit. The transducer circuit configured to excite a first vibration of the surface at a resonant frequency to form a high displacement region on the surface. The apparatus also includes a voltage excitation circuit coupled to the plurality of electrodes. In response to the detection of the mass of the first droplet, the voltage excitation circuit is configured to apply a sequence of differential voltages on one or more consecutive electrodes which moves the first droplet to the high displacement region.Type: GrantFiled: February 2, 2021Date of Patent: July 4, 2023Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATEDInventors: Daniel Lee Revier, Benjamin Stassen Cook, David Patrick Magee, Stephen John Fedigan
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Patent number: 11692296Abstract: A washing machine includes a casing, a tub, a drum, a pump for circulating water from the tub, a gasket connecting an entry hole of the casing to an entrance hole of the tub and including nozzles for spraying water to the drum, and outlet ports for supplying water to the nozzles. The nozzles are arranged at an inner surface of the gasket at both lateral sides of the gasket in a vertical direction. The gasket includes port receiving pipes that receive the outlet ports, respectively, that are arranged in the vertical direction at an outer surface of the gasket, and that extend parallel to each other.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2019Date of Patent: July 4, 2023Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.Inventors: Jaehyun Choi, Yohwan Kang, Hyunjae Lee
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Patent number: 11686030Abstract: A method of operating a washing appliance includes obtaining images of a wash chamber using a camera assembly operating at a frame rate equivalent to the basket speed. The one or more images are analyzed, e.g., using a machine learning image recognition process, to determine a cloth coverage ratio of the load of clothes in the wash basket. The cloth coverage ratio is compared to a predetermined coverage threshold for reducing out of balance conditions. Specifically, if the cloth coverage area is greater than the threshold, the wash basket may be ramped up to a hold or plaster speed. By contrast, if the cloth coverage area is less than the threshold, the basket speed may be maintained or lowered to permit the clothes to redistribute before ramping to the hold or plaster speed.Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 2021Date of Patent: June 27, 2023Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.Inventor: Khalid Jamal Mashal
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Patent number: 11679742Abstract: A vehicular system includes a first in-vehicle sensor having a first cleaning target surface which is provided on a design part forming an appearance of a vehicle and arranged so as to face an exterior of the vehicle. The first cleaning target surface is arranged at an inner side of the vehicle than an immediate upper portion of the first cleaning target surface. The immediate upper portion is constituted by a protrusion provided in a rear bumper.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2019Date of Patent: June 20, 2023Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventors: Masaru Sakai, Masaaki Sato
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Patent number: 11680348Abstract: The clothes washing and drying machine comprises a washing machine, a drying machine, a chute structure, and a control circuit. The washing machine, the drying machine, and the chute structure are interconnected to form a composite prism structure. The control circuit controls the operation of the clothes washing, the drying machine, and the chute structure. The washing machine is in a superior position relative to the chute structure and the drying machine. The drying machine is in an inferior position relative to the chute structure and the washing machine. The chute structure is in an intermediate position relative to the washing machine and the drying machine. The chute structure forms a channel that allows clothes to fall from the washing machine to the drying machine when: a) the washing machine has completed its operating cycle; while simultaneously, b) the drying machine does not contain clothing.Type: GrantFiled: February 9, 2021Date of Patent: June 20, 2023Inventor: Ricardo Grandt
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Patent number: 11674256Abstract: A washing machine includes a casing, a tub, a drum, a pump for circulating water from the tub, a gasket connecting an entry hole of the casing to an entrance hole of the tub and including nozzles for spraying water to the drum, and outlet ports for supplying water to the nozzles. The nozzles are arranged at an inner surface of the gasket at both lateral sides of the gasket in a vertical direction. The gasket includes port receiving pipes that receive the outlet ports, respectively, that are arranged in the vertical direction at an outer surface of the gasket, and that extend parallel to each other.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2019Date of Patent: June 13, 2023Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.Inventors: Jaehyun Choi, Yohwan Kang, Hyunjae Lee
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Patent number: 11667268Abstract: A vehicle cleaner system includes: a cleaner unit configured to be mounted on a vehicle and to discharge a cleaning medium to an external sensor that acquires information outside the vehicle so as to clean the external sensor; and a cleaner control unit configured to control the cleaner unit. The cleaner control unit is configured to acquire weather information, and control the cleaner unit such that at least one of a type of the cleaning medium, a discharge amount of the cleaning medium, the number of times of discharge of the cleaning medium, the number of times of discharge of the cleaning medium per unit time, and a discharge time of the cleaning medium varies according to the weather information.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 2019Date of Patent: June 6, 2023Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventor: Kazuki Kawamura
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Patent number: 11668044Abstract: A method of dispensing at least two treating chemistries during a cycle of operation in a laundry treating appliance. The method comprises non-centrifugally dispensing a first treating chemistry into a treating chamber from a first dispenser compartment located within the clothes mover and centrifugally dispensing a second treating chemistry into the treating chamber from a second dispenser located within the clothes mover.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2020Date of Patent: June 6, 2023Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Marcos L. Costa, Diogo M. Rodrigues, Rui Silva
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Patent number: 11668039Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for washing laundry of a laundry load, in particular in a washing drum (B2), carried out by at least one device (100, 200). In one example, the method includes generating steam and applying the steam to the laundry of the laundry load; producing a microemulsion by employing a detergent composition; and washing the laundry of the laundry load using a first wash liquor based on the microemulsion.Type: GrantFiled: August 14, 2018Date of Patent: June 6, 2023Assignee: HENKEL AG & CO. KGAAInventors: Arnd Kessler, Anna Klemmer, Peter Schmiedel, Thomas Juckel, Christian Nitsch
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Patent number: 11660908Abstract: A roller-type applicator cleaning apparatus includes a lid, a housing, a water inlet valve, a base, a plurality of radial openings, and a central axis. The base includes a platform and an applicator holder. The lid, the housing, and the base are concentrically positioned along the central axis. The applicator holder is adjacently connected onto the platform and function as a storage space for the roller-type applicator. The plurality of radial openings laterally traverses through the applicator holder so that a flow of water can discharge into the applicator holder as the flow of water is entered into the housing through the water inlet. The lid and the base are oppositely positioned of each other about the housing and threadedly attached to the housing. The applicator holder is encircled by the housing so that the flow of water can fully engaged with the inserted applicator that needs to be cleaned.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 2020Date of Patent: May 30, 2023Inventor: Jorge Adrian Villasenor Navarro
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Patent number: 11647887Abstract: The invention relates to a seal for a dishwasher adapted to be interposed between a peripheral edge of an opening of a tub for cookware and a door for closing said opening. The seal comprises a metal part adapted to be connected to the peripheral edge of the opening, a first part, made of polymeric material, integrally connected to the metal part and a second part, made of polymeric material, associated with the first part and adapted to be contacted by the door when the door is arranged in a position for closing the opening.Type: GrantFiled: February 11, 2020Date of Patent: May 16, 2023Assignee: INDUSTRIE ILPEA S.P.A.Inventors: Sandro Mazzaro, Paolo Cittadini
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Patent number: 11643768Abstract: A wireless sensing device disposed a drum along with laundry to measure humidity in the drum, thereby increasing accuracy in estimation of a degree of dryness, a dryer for determining a degree of dryness of the laundry using the wireless sensing device, and a method of controlling the dryer. The wireless sensing device includes a sensing module including a humidity sensor for measuring humidity in a drum of a dryer into which the wireless sensing module is thrown; a sensor communication module transmitting or receiving data with a main communication module of the dryer through wireless communication; a sensor controller configured to control the sensor communication module to transmit a humidity value corresponding to an output of the sensing module to the main communication module; and a sensor power supplier supplying power to the sensing module, the sensor communication module, and the sensor controller.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 2020Date of Patent: May 9, 2023Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Jeong Su Han, Do Yoon Kim, Tae Gyoon Noh, Jun Hoe Choi
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Patent number: 11643052Abstract: A sensor-cleaning apparatus includes an upper piece, a lower piece fixed to the upper piece, a plurality of inserts inserted into the upper piece, and a plurality of nozzles. The upper piece and the lower piece form a tubular segment that is elongated along an arc of a circle and encloses a chamber. Each nozzle is formed of the upper piece and one of the inserts. Each nozzle includes a deflection surface and a tunnel from the chamber to the deflection surface, and each tunnel is partially formed of the upper piece and partially formed of the respective insert.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2020Date of Patent: May 9, 2023Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC, Valeo North America, Inc.Inventors: Andre Sykula, Kunal Singh, Venkatesh Krishnan, Raghuraman Surineedi, Yoann Dolle, William Terrasse, Denis Thebault, Veeramanikandan Gopal, Gowtham Ilanthirayan, Michael Whitney
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Patent number: 11633082Abstract: A rinsing container for a household dishwashing machine includes a bottom plate, a rear wall, and a U-shaped rinsing container jacket which is arranged on the bottom plate and fixedly connected thereto via a folded joint. Integrally formed on the bottom plate and on the rinsing container jacket is a fastening flange for fastening the rear wall to the bottom plate and to the rinsing container jacket, with the fastening flange configured to form a part of the folded joint. A folding sealing means is provided in the folded joint and formed as a sealing bead, with the sealing bead having in the folding-joint-forming part of the fastening flange a first cross-sectional surface which is greater than a cross-sectional surface in a central region of the folded joint.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2018Date of Patent: April 25, 2023Assignee: BSH Hausgeräte GmbHInventors: Armin Klaiber, Manfred Herb, Helmut Rössle, Johann Schabert, Dieter Hotz