Patents by Inventor Bradley Nicholas Gilkey

Bradley Nicholas Gilkey has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20240027127
    Abstract: A refrigerator appliance includes a cabinet defining a chilled chamber; a dispenser provided on the cabinet, the dispenser defining a dispenser recess, the dispenser including a nozzle for dispensing liquid water or ice; a user input provided on the dispenser; and one or more controllers operably connected with the dispenser, the one or more controllers configured to perform an operation. The operation includes receiving a first input signal apart from the appliance, the first input signal including a first requested volume of liquid; storing the first requested volume of liquid within the dispenser; directing an emission of a notification via the user input in response to storing the first requested volume of liquid; and initiating a dispensing action from the nozzle after directing the emission of the notification.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2022
    Publication date: January 25, 2024
    Inventors: Bradley Nicholas Gilkey, Stephanos Kyriacou
  • Patent number: 11629902
    Abstract: A refrigerator appliance, as disclosed herein, may include a cabinet, a door, a dispensing assembly, an ice-making assembly, and an ice storage bin. The door may define a dispenser recess having a transverse opening extending vertically from a top recess end to a bottom recess end and laterally from a first recess side to a second recess side. The dispensing assembly may be positioned within the dispenser recess and define an ice delivery passage. The ice-making assembly may be attached to the cabinet. The ice storage bin may include a bin body defining a storage cavity. The bin body may be selectively mounted to the door within the dispenser recess to receive ice from the dispensing assembly. The bin body may extend vertically from the top recess end to the bottom recess end and laterally from the first recess side to the second recess side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles Benjamin Miller, Lauren Nicole Platts, Louis A. Wantland, Jarvis Ward, Bradley Nicholas Gilkey, Michael C. Watanabe
  • Patent number: 11480378
    Abstract: A refrigerator appliance includes a cabinet, a door, and an ice bin. The ice bin may be removably received within a chilled chamber and include a bin body and a non-vertical auger. The bin body may define a storage volume to receive ice therein and a dispenser opening in fluid communication with the storage volume. The non-vertical auger may include a rotation shaft extending along a rotation axis and a cam disposed on the rotation shaft. The ice bin may include a kick plate within the storage volume. The cam on the non-vertical auger may actuate the kick plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Louis A. Wantland, Bradley Nicholas Gilkey, Charles Benjamin Miller
  • Patent number: 11465081
    Abstract: A water filter assembly may include a filter body having vertical side walls that defines a cavity within which one or more filter layers may be housed, the filter body further including a plurality of vertical barriers that define a plurality of flow paths that converge on an outlet hole, the vertical barriers further including a plurality of cutouts defining alternative overflow paths permitting water therethrough, and each filter layer including a plurality of vertical barriers that define a plurality of flow paths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Danister Abeygunawardana, Andrew Reinhard Krause, Bradley Nicholas Gilkey, Gregory Sergeevich Chernov, Charles Benjamin Miller
  • Patent number: 11262116
    Abstract: A refrigerator appliance is provided, as provided herein, include a cabinet, a door, and an ice bin. The ice bin may be removably received within a chilled chamber and include a bin body and a non-vertical auger. The bin body may define a storage volume to receive ice therein and a dispenser opening in fluid communication with the storage volume. The non-vertical auger may include a rotation shaft extending along a rotation axis and an auger blade coiled about the rotation shaft. The auger blade may define an expanding radius along the rotation axis from a first blade end to a second blade end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Louis A. Wantland, Charles Benjamin Miller, Bradley Nicholas Gilkey
  • Patent number: 11243017
    Abstract: A plumbing system for an ice maker may include a supply line extending to a dispense point and a dispense valve coupled to the supply line. An ice maker is coupled to the recirculation line, and a pump is also coupled to the recirculation line. The pump is operable to recirculate liquid through the ice maker via the recirculation line. The plumbing system also include features for draining water from the recirculation line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory Sergeevich Chernov, Bradley Nicholas Gilkey
  • Publication number: 20210239379
    Abstract: A refrigerator appliance includes a cabinet, a door, and an ice bin. The ice bin may be removably received within a chilled chamber and include a bin body and a non-vertical auger. The bin body may define a storage volume to receive ice therein and a dispenser opening in fluid communication with the storage volume. The non-vertical auger may include a rotation shaft extending along a rotation axis and a cam disposed on the rotation shaft. The ice bin may include a kick plate within the storage volume. The cam on the non-vertical auger may actuate the kick plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2020
    Publication date: August 5, 2021
    Inventors: Louis A. Wantland, Bradley Nicholas Gilkey, Charles Benjamin Miller
  • Publication number: 20210131714
    Abstract: A control method for a nugget ice maker includes setting the nugget ice maker to an ice formation operating state, monitoring a speed of a motor in the ice formation operating state, and switching the nugget ice maker from the ice formation operating state to an ice production operating state in response to the monitored speed of the motor in the ice formation operating state dropping below an ice formation speed threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2019
    Publication date: May 6, 2021
    Inventors: Charles Benjamin Miller, Bradley Nicholas Gilkey
  • Publication number: 20210071928
    Abstract: A plumbing system for an ice maker may include a supply line extending to a dispense point and a dispense valve coupled to the supply line. An ice maker is coupled to the recirculation line, and a pump is also coupled to the recirculation line. The pump is operable to recirculate liquid through the ice maker via the recirculation line. The plumbing system also include features for draining water from the recirculation line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2019
    Publication date: March 11, 2021
    Inventors: Gregory Sergeevich Chernov, Bradley Nicholas Gilkey
  • Publication number: 20200406172
    Abstract: A water filter assembly may include a filter body having vertical side walls that defines a cavity within which one or more filter layers may be housed, the filter body further including a plurality of vertical barriers that define a plurality of flow paths that converge on an outlet hole, the vertical barriers further including a plurality of cutouts defining alternative overflow paths permitting water therethrough, and each filter layer including a plurality of vertical barriers that define a plurality of flow paths.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2019
    Publication date: December 31, 2020
    Inventors: Danister Abeygunawardana, Andrew Reinhard Krause, Bradley Nicholas Gilkey, Gregory Sergeevich Chernov, Charles Benjamin Miller
  • Publication number: 20200370813
    Abstract: A refrigerator appliance, as disclosed herein, may include a cabinet, a door, a dispensing assembly, an ice-making assembly, and an ice storage bin. The door may define a dispenser recess having a transverse opening extending vertically from a top recess end to a bottom recess end and laterally from a first recess side to a second recess side. The dispensing assembly may be positioned within the dispenser recess and define an ice delivery passage. The ice-making assembly may be attached to the cabinet. The ice storage bin may include a bin body defining a storage cavity. The bin body may be selectively mounted to the door within the dispenser recess to receive ice from the dispensing assembly. The bin body may extend vertically from the top recess end to the bottom recess end and laterally from the first recess side to the second recess side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2019
    Publication date: November 26, 2020
    Inventors: Charles Benjamin Miller, Lauren Nicole Platts, Louis A. Wantland, Jarvis Ward, Bradley Nicholas Gilkey, Michael C. Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20200348070
    Abstract: A refrigerator appliance is provided, as provided herein, include a cabinet, a door, and an ice bin. The ice bin may be removably received within a chilled chamber and include a bin body and a non-vertical auger. The bin body may define a storage volume to receive ice therein and a dispenser opening in fluid communication with the storage volume. The non-vertical auger may include a rotation shaft extending along a rotation axis and an auger blade coiled about the rotation shaft. The auger blade may define an expanding radius along the rotation axis from a first blade end to a second blade end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2019
    Publication date: November 5, 2020
    Inventors: Louis A. Wantland, Charles Benjamin Miller, Bradley Nicholas Gilkey
  • Patent number: 10760846
    Abstract: A refrigerator appliance having an ice making assembly is provided herein. The refrigerator appliance may include a cabinet, an icemaker attached to the cabinet, an ice bin, a support tray, a fluid filter, a liquid storage volume, and a fluid pump. The ice bin may define a bin outlet at a bottom end. The support tray may be positioned below the bin outlet to receive water therefrom. The support tray may define an inclined groove extending downward toward a tray outlet. The fluid filter may be positioned below the support tray. A filter inlet may be positioned downstream from the tray outlet. A filter outlet may be positioned below the filter inlet along the vertical direction. The liquid storage volume may be positioned below the filter outlet and downstream therefrom. The fluid pump may be positioned in fluid communication between the liquid storage volume and the icemaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Santhosh Kandi, Charles Benjamin Miller, Bradley Nicholas Gilkey, Gregory Sergeevich Chernov
  • Publication number: 20200224949
    Abstract: A refrigerator appliance having an ice making assembly is provided herein. The refrigerator appliance may include a cabinet, an icemaker attached to the cabinet, an ice bin, a support tray, a fluid filter, a liquid storage volume, and a fluid pump. The ice bin may define a bin outlet at a bottom end. The support tray may be positioned below the bin outlet to receive water therefrom. The support tray may define an inclined groove extending downward toward a tray outlet. The fluid filter may be positioned below the support tray. A filter inlet may be positioned downstream from the tray outlet. A filter outlet may be positioned below the filter inlet along the vertical direction. The liquid storage volume may be positioned below the filter outlet and downstream therefrom. The fluid pump may be positioned in fluid communication between the liquid storage volume and the icemaker.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2019
    Publication date: July 16, 2020
    Inventors: Santhosh Kandi, Charles Benjamin Miller, Bradley Nicholas Gilkey, Gregory Sergeevich Chernov
  • Patent number: 10641536
    Abstract: A refrigerator appliance and ice bin assembly therefor are provided herein. The ice bin may include a bin body, an ice sweep, a sweep gear, and a drive gear. The bin body may define a storage volume to receive ice therein. The ice sweep may be positioned below the storage volume. The sweep gear may be rotatable about a sweep axis. The drive gear may be positioned in mechanical communication with the sweep gear. The drive gear may be rotatable about a drive axis, the drive axis extending along a non-parallel angle relative to the sweep axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Louis A. Wantland, Bradley Nicholas Gilkey, Charles Benjamin Miller, Sateesh Kumar Kudikala
  • Patent number: 10578347
    Abstract: An ice dispensing assembly is provided that can be mounted within an appliance, such as a refrigerator appliance. The ice dispensing assembly includes an ice dispenser crusher mechanism having features that facilitate dispensing and crushing of ice. The construction of dispenser crusher mechanism provides a horizontal axis motor coupling with a vertical axis agitator and crusher for dispensing and crushing ice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles Benjamin Miller, Bradley Nicholas Gilkey, Ansuraj Seenivasan, Bart Andrew Nuss, Alan Joseph Mitchell
  • Publication number: 20200064044
    Abstract: A refrigerator appliance and ice bin assembly therefor are provided herein. The ice bin may include a bin body, an ice sweep, a sweep gear, and a drive gear. The bin body may define a storage volume to receive ice therein. The ice sweep may be positioned below the storage volume. The sweep gear may be rotatable about a sweep axis. The drive gear may be positioned in mechanical communication with the sweep gear. The drive gear may be rotatable about a drive axis, the drive axis extending along a non-parallel angle relative to the sweep axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2018
    Publication date: February 27, 2020
    Inventors: Louis A. Wantland, Bradley Nicholas Gilkey, Charles Benjamin Miller, Sateesh Kumar Kudikala
  • Publication number: 20190368798
    Abstract: An ice dispensing assembly is provided that can be mounted within an appliance, such as a refrigerator appliance. The ice dispensing assembly includes an ice dispenser crusher mechanism having features that facilitate dispensing and crushing of ice. The construction of dispenser crusher mechanism provides a horizontal axis motor coupling with a vertical axis agitator and crusher for dispensing and crushing ice.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2018
    Publication date: December 5, 2019
    Inventors: Charles Benjamin Miller, Bradley Nicholas Gilkey, Ansuraj Seenivasan, Bart Andrew Nuss, Alan Joseph Mitchell
  • Patent number: 10352610
    Abstract: A refrigerator appliance is generally provided herein. The refrigerator appliance may include a cabinet, an icebox liner, an icemaker, an ice bin, and a circulation duct. The cabinet may define a one or more chilled chambers. The icebox liner may be attached to the cabinet. The icebox liner may define a sub-compartment in which the icemaker may be mounted. The ice bin may define a storage volume within the sub-compartment to receive ice from the icemaker. The circulation duct may extend within the sub-compartment in conductive thermal communication with the icemaker. The circulation duct may define an air passage in fluid communication with one of the chilled chambers and fluid isolation from the storage volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles Benjamin Miller, Bradley Nicholas Gilkey
  • Publication number: 20190093938
    Abstract: A refrigerator appliance is generally provided herein. The refrigerator appliance may include a cabinet, an icebox liner, an icemaker, an ice bin, and a circulation duct. The cabinet may define a one or more chilled chambers. The icebox liner may be attached to the cabinet. The icebox liner may define a sub-compartment in which the icemaker may be mounted. The ice bin may define a storage volume within the sub-compartment to receive ice from the icemaker. The circulation duct may extend within the sub-compartment in conductive thermal communication with the icemaker. The circulation duct may define an air passage in fluid communication with one of the chilled chambers and fluid isolation from the storage volume.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2017
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Inventors: Charles Benjamin Miller, Bradley Nicholas Gilkey