Patents by Inventor David Jonathan Eckhardt

David Jonathan Eckhardt 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: 20230358408
    Abstract: Pellet grills and associated methods of operation are disclosed. An example pellet grill includes a lid, a cooking chamber, an engine, and one or more processors. The lid is movable between a closed position and an open position. The engine is configured to output heat to the cooking chamber. The one or more processors are configured to detect a closing movement of the lid. In response to detecting the closing movement, the one or more processors are configured to command the engine to operate in an increased output mode that increases the heat output of the engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2023
    Publication date: November 9, 2023
    Inventors: Brian Donnelly, Ryan P. Lundberg, David Jonathan Eckhardt
  • Publication number: 20230258338
    Abstract: Example methods and apparatus for communicating control signals in a gas grill are disclosed herein. An example user-interface assembly for use in a grill includes control knob, knob sensor to detect a user interaction with the control knob, lighting circuitry including a plurality of light emitting diodes, and user-interface controller circuitry to identify an addressing block connected via an input wiring harness, the knob controller to select an address to be used to communicate with a central controller of the gas grill.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2023
    Publication date: August 17, 2023
    Inventors: Anthony Zaprzalka, Jose Angel Martinez, Victor Mercado, JR., David Jonathan Eckhardt
  • Patent number: 11624508
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus to indicate presence of a flame are disclosed. An example gas grill includes a burner tube having apertures to emit a fuel for combustion, an ignition element to cause ignition of the fuel emitted from the apertures of the burner tube, a flame sensor to detect the presence of a flame associated with the combustion of the fuel emitted from the apertures of the burner tube, and flame sense circuitry including a flame signal accessor to access a flame sense signal from the flame sensor, and a terminal to output an indication of the presence of the flame, the indication of the presence of the flame output without respect to an open or closed state of a lid of the grill.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: WEBER-STEPHEN PRODUCTS LLC
    Inventors: David Jonathan Eckhardt, José Ángel Martinez, Kevin James Glennon, Victor Mercado, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20210215344
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus to indicate presence of a flame are disclosed. An example gas grill includes a burner tube having apertures to emit a fuel for combustion, an ignition element to cause ignition of the fuel emitted from the apertures of the burner tube, a flame sensor to detect the presence of a flame associated with the combustion of the fuel emitted from the apertures of the burner tube, and flame sense circuitry including a flame signal accessor to access a flame sense signal from the flame sensor, and a terminal to output an indication of the presence of the flame, the indication of the presence of the flame output without respect to an open or closed state of a lid of the grill.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2021
    Publication date: July 15, 2021
    Inventors: David Jonathan Eckhardt, José Ángel Martinez, Kevin James Glennon, Victor Mercado, JR.