Patents by Inventor Michael C. Watanabe

Michael C. Watanabe 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: 11825981
    Abstract: A beverage dispensing assembly may include a brewing body and a lid, as well as a contact pin or dispersion head. The brewing body may define a brew chamber to receive a brew pod. The brewing body may extend along the rotation axis between an upper end and a lower end. The brewing body may define an outlet at the lower end. The lid may be rotatably attached to the brewing body at the upper end to rotate about the rotation axis between a first position and a second position. The first position may secure the lid to the brewing body and restrict access to the brew chamber. The second position may release the lid from the brewing body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Danister Abeygunawardana, Jianwu Li, Gregory Scott Carr, Brent Alden Junge, Michael C. Watanabe, Richard Devos
  • Patent number: 11667508
    Abstract: A beverage dispenser includes a casing defining a dispensing recess and a plurality of mounting pockets. The plurality of mounting pockets are distributed along a vertical direction at the dispensing recess. A fluid conduit is disposed within the casing. An outlet of the fluid conduit is disposed above the dispensing recess of the casing. A drip tray is mountable to the casing at each of the plurality of mounting pockets. A plurality of sensors is disposed within the casing. Each of the plurality of sensors is positioned at a respective one of the plurality of mounting pockets. Each of the plurality of sensors configured to detect when the drip tray is mounted at the respective one of the plurality of mounting pockets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Danister Abeygunawardana, Jianwu Li, Gregory Scott Carr, Brent Alden Junge, Jordan Andrew Waymeyer, Timothy Ray Jackson, Michael C. Watanabe
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20230108775
    Abstract: A beverage-dispensing appliance may include a cabinet, a liquid line, a liquid level sensor, and a signal shield. The cabinet may define a mutually-orthogonal vertical direction, lateral direction, and transverse direction. The cabinet may define a dispenser recess. The liquid line may be mounted to the cabinet and define a liquid outlet above the dispenser recess. The liquid level sensor may be mounted to the cabinet and directed at the dispenser recess. The signal shield may be movably mounted to the cabinet. The signal shield may be movable between a blocking position and a permissive position. The blocking position may laterally bound at least a portion of the dispenser recess. The permissive position may be transversely spaced apart from the dispenser recess to permit lateral access thereto.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2021
    Publication date: April 6, 2023
    Inventors: Danister Abeygunawardana, Jianwu Li, Gregory Scott Carr, Brent Alden Junge, Timothy Ray Jackson, Jordan Andrew Waymeyer, Michael C. Watanabe
  • Patent number: 11618665
    Abstract: A beverage-dispensing appliance may include a cabinet, a liquid line, a liquid level sensor, and a signal shield. The cabinet may define a mutually-orthogonal vertical direction, lateral direction, and transverse direction. The cabinet may define a dispenser recess. The liquid line may be mounted to the cabinet and define a liquid outlet above the dispenser recess. The liquid level sensor may be mounted to the cabinet and directed at the dispenser recess. The signal shield may be movably mounted to the cabinet. The signal shield may be movable between a blocking position and a permissive position. The blocking position may laterally bound at least a portion of the dispenser recess. The permissive position may be transversely spaced apart from the dispenser recess to permit lateral access thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Danister Abeygunawardana, Jianwu Li, Gregory Scott Carr, Brent Alden Junge, Timothy Ray Jackson, Jordan Andrew Waymeyer, Michael C. Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20230068466
    Abstract: A beverage dispenser includes a casing defining a dispensing recess and a plurality of mounting pockets. The plurality of mounting pockets are distributed along a vertical direction at the dispensing recess. A fluid conduit is disposed within the casing. An outlet of the fluid conduit is disposed above the dispensing recess of the casing. A drip tray is mountable to the casing at each of the plurality of mounting pockets. A plurality of sensors is disposed within the casing. Each of the plurality of sensors is positioned at a respective one of the plurality of mounting pockets. Each of the plurality of sensors configured to detect when the drip tray is mounted at the respective one of the plurality of mounting pockets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2021
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Inventors: Danister Abeygunawardana, Jianwu Li, Gregory Scott Carr, Brent Alden Junge, Jordan Andrew Waymeyer, Timothy Ray Jackson, Michael C. Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20220221212
    Abstract: A free-standing appliance may include a cabinet, a water source, an icemaker, an ice bin, a cold water line, and one or more other features. The icemaker may be mounted within the cabinet downstream from the water source to receive water therefrom. The ice bin may be disposed within the cabinet downstream from the icemaker to receive ice therefrom. The cold water line may be mounted to the cabinet and define a cold water outlet downstream from the water source in fluid isolation from the icemaker.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2021
    Publication date: July 14, 2022
    Inventors: Gregory Scott Carr, Danister Abeygunawardana, Ronald Gary Foster, Jordan Andrew Waymeyer, Timothy Ray Jackson, David C. McCalpin, Brent Alden Junge, Richard Devos, Michael C. Watanabe, Jianwu Li, Trent Daniel Jacobi, Paul Haney, Gregory Sergeevich Chernov
  • Publication number: 20220087468
    Abstract: A beverage dispensing assembly may include a brewing body and a lid, as well as a contact pin or dispersion head. The brewing body may define a brew chamber to receive a brew pod. The brewing body may extend along the rotation axis between an upper end and a lower end. The brewing body may define an outlet at the lower end. The lid may be rotatably attached to the brewing body at the upper end to rotate about the rotation axis between a first position and a second position. The first position may secure the lid to the brewing body and restrict access to the brew chamber. The second position may release the lid from the brewing body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2020
    Publication date: March 24, 2022
    Inventors: Danister Abeygunawardana, Jianwu Li, Gregory Scott Carr, Brent Alden Junge, Michael C. Watanabe, Richard Devos
  • Patent number: 10935310
    Abstract: An inventory system for a refrigerator appliance includes an inventory plate which is operably coupled to a load cell and positioned within a chilled chamber. The inventory plate may be a fixed shelf or a portable coaster on which food items may be placed. A controller is configured for monitoring a weight of the food items over time using the load cell and/or a moisture content using a moisture sensor and providing an indication of food quality based at least in part on the weight and/or moisture content of the food items.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Brent Alden Junge, John Keith Besore, Michael C. Watanabe
  • 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: 20190360741
    Abstract: A refrigerator appliance includes a cabinet that defines a chilled chamber. A door is rotatably mounted to the cabinet at a front portion of the chilled chamber. The door rotates between a closed position and an open position. The door also includes an outer casing comprising a thermally insulated wall and a mullion positioned within the outer casing. A first flexible chamber and a second flexible chamber are defined by the outer casing and the mullion. A front panel is rotatably mounted to the outer casing of the door such that the front panel of the door permits access to the first flexible chamber and the second flexible chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2018
    Publication date: November 28, 2019
    Inventors: Stephanos Kyriacou, Michael C. Watanabe, Lauren Nicole Platts
  • Publication number: 20190353421
    Abstract: An inventory system for a refrigerator appliance includes an inventory plate which is operably coupled to a load cell and positioned within a chilled chamber. The inventory plate may be a fixed shelf or a portable coaster on which food items may be placed. A controller is configured for monitoring a weight of the food items over time using the load cell and/or a moisture content using a moisture sensor and providing an indication of food quality based at least in part on the weight and/or moisture content of the food items.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2018
    Publication date: November 21, 2019
    Inventors: Brent Alden Junge, John Keith Besore, Michael C. Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20190316826
    Abstract: A refrigerator appliance includes a cabinet that defines a chilled chamber including a fresh food portion a freezer portion. A door is rotatably mounted to the cabinet at a front portion of the chilled chamber. The door rotates between a closed position where the door sealingly encloses the fresh food portion and the freezer portion of the chilled chamber and an open position to permit access to the fresh food portion and the freezer portion of the chilled chamber. The door also includes an outer casing comprising a thermally insulated wall that defines a freezer chamber and a front panel rotatably mounted to the outer casing of the door such that the front panel of the door permits access to the freezer chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2018
    Publication date: October 17, 2019
    Inventors: Lauren Nicole Platts, Stephanos Kyriacou, Alan Joseph Mitchell, John Keith Besore, Brent Alden Junge, Michael C. Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20190310010
    Abstract: A refrigerator appliance includes a cabinet defining a primary chilled chamber and a compartment liner dividing the primary chilled chamber into a freezer chamber and a convertible chamber. The compartment liner is rotatable for accessing the freezer chamber and a door is rotatably mounted to the compartment liner for accessing the convertible chamber. The freezer chamber and the convertible chamber have approximately the same storage volume and are cooled using a single sealed system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2018
    Publication date: October 10, 2019
    Inventors: Lauren Nicole Platts, Michael C. Watanabe