Patents Examined by Spencer E Bell
  • Patent number: 11723511
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Sangwoo Woo, Kitae Kwon, Minchul Kim
  • Patent number: 11724670
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation, DY Auto CORP
    Inventors: Jong Min Park, Nak Kyoung Kong, Seung Sik Han, Ki Hong Lee, Jong Wook Lee
  • Patent number: 11713533
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hyun Dong Jung, Nae Young Park, Seung-Mok Lee, Young-Seong Cheon
  • Patent number: 11713530
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Eric K. Farrington, Karl David Mcallister, Brenner M. Sharp
  • Patent number: 11708655
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Jeonguk Lee, Manho Chun, Joonho Pyo, Taehee Lee
  • Patent number: 11708054
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuusuke Yamauchi, Daisuke Shirakura, Shigehisa Hamaguchi, Shouta Adachi
  • Patent number: 11693235
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Daniel Lee Revier, Benjamin Stassen Cook, David Patrick Magee, Stephen John Fedigan
  • Patent number: 11692296
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Jaehyun Choi, Yohwan Kang, Hyunjae Lee
  • Patent number: 11686030
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Khalid Jamal Mashal
  • Patent number: 11679742
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masaru Sakai, Masaaki Sato
  • Patent number: 11680348
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Inventor: Ricardo Grandt
  • Patent number: 11674256
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Jaehyun Choi, Yohwan Kang, Hyunjae Lee
  • Patent number: 11667268
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kazuki Kawamura
  • Patent number: 11668044
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Marcos L. Costa, Diogo M. Rodrigues, Rui Silva
  • Patent number: 11668039
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: HENKEL AG & CO. KGAA
    Inventors: Arnd Kessler, Anna Klemmer, Peter Schmiedel, Thomas Juckel, Christian Nitsch
  • Patent number: 11660908
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Inventor: Jorge Adrian Villasenor Navarro
  • Patent number: 11647887
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: INDUSTRIE ILPEA S.P.A.
    Inventors: Sandro Mazzaro, Paolo Cittadini
  • Patent number: 11643768
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jeong Su Han, Do Yoon Kim, Tae Gyoon Noh, Jun Hoe Choi
  • Patent number: 11643052
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignees: 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
  • Patent number: 11633082
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: BSH Hausgeräte GmbH
    Inventors: Armin Klaiber, Manfred Herb, Helmut Rössle, Johann Schabert, Dieter Hotz