Patents by Inventor Michael Andrew Funk

Michael Andrew Funk 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).

  • Patent number: 10845246
    Abstract: A cooking engagement system and methods therefore are provided. The system includes a cooktop appliance and an interactive assembly positioned above the cooktop appliance. The interactive assembly includes an image monitor that presents various images and information to a user, e.g., recipes. The system includes an infrared sensor for detecting operation of the cooktop appliance. When the infrared sensor senses a temperature level that exceeds a threshold, a controller communicatively coupled thereto activates an air handler to move or motivate an airflow across or about the image monitor. In this way, the image monitor may be cooled and condensation is prevented from forming on the imaging surface of the image monitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Andrew Funk, James Lee Armstrong
  • Patent number: 10830453
    Abstract: An exhaust system for a cooking or cooktop appliance is provided herein. The exhaust system may include a casing, an image monitor, an air handler, and a diverter plate. The casing may define an air inlet and an air outlet above a cooktop appliance. The image monitor may be supported on the casing rearward from the air outlet. The image monitor may include an imagining surface extending in a vertical direction between a top edge and a bottom edge. The air handler may be mounted within the casing in fluid communication between the air inlet and outlet. The diverter plate may be attached to the casing below the imaging surface. The air outlet may be defined proximal to the top edge and may define a coolant airflow path. The diverter plate may define an airflow curtain path extending outward from the coolant airflow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: James Lee Armstrong, Michael Andrew Funk
  • Patent number: 10788222
    Abstract: An exhaust system for a cooking or cooktop appliance is provided herein. The exhaust system may include a casing, an image monitor, and an air handler. The casing may define an air inlet and an air outlet above the cooktop appliance. The image monitor may be supported on the casing above a cooktop surface. The image monitor may include an imagining surface extending in a lateral direction between a first edge and a second edge. The air handler may be mounted within the casing in fluid communication between the air inlet and the air outlet to motivate an airflow therethrough. The air outlet may be defined proximal to the first edge and defines a coolant airflow path extending along the lateral direction across the imaging surface from the first edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Bernard Froelicher, James Lee Armstrong, Michael Andrew Funk
  • Patent number: 10627118
    Abstract: A cooking engagement system and methods therefore are provided. The system includes a cooktop appliance and an interactive assembly positioned above the cooktop appliance. The interactive assembly includes an image monitor that presents various images and information to a user, e.g., recipes. The system includes a humidity sensor for detecting operation of the cooktop appliance. When the humidity sensor senses a humidity level that exceeds a threshold, a controller communicatively coupled thereto activates an air handler to move or motivate an airflow across or about the image monitor. In this way, the image monitor may be cooled and condensation is prevented from forming on the imaging surface of the image monitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Andrew Funk, James Lee Armstrong, Stephen Bernard Froelicher
  • Patent number: 10619863
    Abstract: A cooking engagement system and methods therefore are provided. The system includes a cooktop appliance and an interactive assembly positioned above the cooktop appliance. The interactive assembly includes an image monitor that presents various images and information to a user, e.g., recipes. The system includes a thermistor for detecting operation of the cooktop appliance. When the thermistor senses a temperature level that exceeds a threshold, a controller communicatively coupled thereto activates an air handler to move or motivate an airflow across or about the image monitor. In this way, the image monitor may be cooled and condensation is prevented from forming on the imaging surface of the image monitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Andrew Funk, James Lee Armstrong
  • Publication number: 20200041143
    Abstract: An exhaust system for a cooking or cooktop appliance is provided herein. The exhaust system may include a casing, an image monitor, and an air handler. The casing may define an air inlet and an air outlet above the cooktop appliance. The image monitor may be supported on the casing above a cooktop surface. The image monitor may include an imagining surface extending in a lateral direction between a first edge and a second edge. The air handler may be mounted within the casing in fluid communication between the air inlet and the air outlet to motivate an airflow therethrough. The air outlet may be defined proximal to the first edge and defines a coolant airflow path extending along the lateral direction across the imaging surface from the first edge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2018
    Publication date: February 6, 2020
    Inventors: Stephen Bernard Froelicher, James Lee Armstrong, Michael Andrew Funk
  • Publication number: 20200041139
    Abstract: An exhaust system for a cooking or cooktop appliance is provided herein. The exhaust system may include a casing, an image monitor, an air handler, and a diverter plate. The casing may define an air inlet and an air outlet above a cooktop appliance. The image monitor may be supported on the casing rearward from the air outlet. The image monitor may include an imagining surface extending in a vertical direction between a top edge and a bottom edge. The air handler may be mounted within the casing in fluid communication between the air inlet and outlet. The diverter plate may be attached to the casing below the imaging surface. The air outlet may be defined proximal to the top edge and may define a coolant airflow path. The diverter plate may define an airflow curtain path extending outward from the coolant airflow path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2018
    Publication date: February 6, 2020
    Inventors: James Lee Armstrong, Michael Andrew Funk
  • Publication number: 20200041141
    Abstract: A cooking engagement system and methods therefore are provided. The system includes a cooktop appliance and an interactive assembly positioned above the cooktop appliance. The interactive assembly includes an image monitor that presents various images and information to a user, e.g., recipes. The system includes a thermistor for detecting operation of the cooktop appliance. When the thermistor senses a temperature level that exceeds a threshold, a controller communicatively coupled thereto activates an air handler to move or motivate an airflow across or about the image monitor. In this way, the image monitor may be cooled and condensation is prevented from forming on the imaging surface of the image monitor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2018
    Publication date: February 6, 2020
    Inventors: Michael Andrew Funk, James Lee Armstrong
  • Publication number: 20200041346
    Abstract: A cooking engagement system and methods therefore are provided. The system includes a cooktop appliance and an interactive assembly positioned above the cooktop appliance. The interactive assembly includes an image monitor that presents various images and information to a user, e.g., recipes. The system includes an infrared sensor for detecting operation of the cooktop appliance. When the infrared sensor senses a temperature level that exceeds a threshold, a controller communicatively coupled thereto activates an air handler to move or motivate an airflow across or about the image monitor. In this way, the image monitor may be cooled and condensation is prevented from forming on the imaging surface of the image monitor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2018
    Publication date: February 6, 2020
    Inventors: Michael Andrew Funk, James Lee Armstrong
  • Publication number: 20200041142
    Abstract: A cooking engagement system and methods therefore are provided. The system includes a cooktop appliance and an interactive assembly positioned above the cooktop appliance. The interactive assembly includes an image monitor that presents various images and information to a user, e.g., recipes. The system includes a humidity sensor for detecting operation of the cooktop appliance. When the humidity sensor senses a humidity level that exceeds a threshold, a controller communicatively coupled thereto activates an air handler to move or motivate an airflow across or about the image monitor. In this way, the image monitor may be cooled and condensation is prevented from forming on the imaging surface of the image monitor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2018
    Publication date: February 6, 2020
    Inventors: Michael Andrew Funk, James Lee Armstrong, Stephen Bernard Froelicher