Means Producing Shaped Or Modified Congealed Product Patents (Class 62/340)
  • Patent number: 11976867
    Abstract: A method of operating an ice maker appliance includes directing liquid water to a mold body of the ice maker appliance. The method also includes determining that at least a portion of the liquid water escaped based on at least one of an ice making time, a harvest motor torque, or a temperature change rate. The method further includes providing a user notification in response to determining that at least the portion of the liquid water escaped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Choon Jae Ryu, Stephanos Kyriacou
  • Patent number: 11920846
    Abstract: A refrigerator of the present invention may comprise: a first tray assembly forming a part of an ice making cell; and a second tray assembly forming the other part of the ice making cell. The first tray assembly includes a first tray, and the second tray assembly includes a second tray. The second tray includes a first portion forming at least a portion of the ice making cell, and a second portion extending from a predetermined point of the first portion. The second portion includes a first extension part extending from a first point of the first portion and a second extension part extending from a second point of the first portion, wherein the length of the second extension part in the horizontal direction is formed longer than the length of the first extension part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Donghoon Lee, Wookyong Lee, Chongyoung Park, Donghoon Lee, Seungseob Yeom, Yongjun Bae, Sunggyun Son
  • Patent number: 11912588
    Abstract: A gas hydrate desalination system that includes a reactor with a detachable water jacket and thermocouples. The reactor has a detachable lid having a liquid inlet, a gas inlet, sapphire glass lenses, and lid cameras. An exit concentrate channel is provided at a bottom of the reactor. A mixing unit of the system includes a liquid storage tank connected to the reactor through the liquid inlet, and a gas feed cylinder connected the reactor through the gas inlet. A resolving unit of the system includes a sieve filter column for filtering brine from gas hydrate. The sieve filter column is connected to the exit concentrate channel and a first fraction column, which is connected to a brine column. The channel is further connected to a second fraction column, which is connected to the brine column for separating freshwater from the gas hydrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: King Abdulaziz University
    Inventors: Hani Abulkhair, Iqbal Rajput, Omar Ahmed Bamaga, Eydhah Almatrafi, Abdulmohsen Omar Alsaiari, Muhammad Albeirutty, Muhammad Khan, Bhajan Lal, Hussam Organgi, Amer Shaiban, Azmi Sharif, Sirisha Nallakukkala
  • Patent number: 11906230
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes a first tray assembly defining a portion of an ice making cell, a second tray assembly defining another portion of the ice making cell, a heater disposed adjacent to at least one of the first and second tray assemblies, and a controller configured to control the heater. The refrigerator further includes a pusher having a first edge pressing the ice or at least one of the first and second tray assemblies to separate the ice from the tray assemblies, a bar extending from the first edge, and a second edge disposed at the end of the bar. The second tray assembly includes a first coupling part connected to the pusher and a second coupling part connected to the driver. The controller moves at least one of the pusher and the second tray assembly to change a relative position between the pusher and the second tray assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Donghoon Lee, Donghoon Lee, Wookyong Lee, Seungseob Yeom, Yongjun Bae, Sunggyun Son, Chongyoung Park
  • Patent number: 11874049
    Abstract: Provided is a refrigerator. The refrigerator may include a first tray assembly defining a portion of an ice making cell and a second tray assembly defining another portion of the ice making cell. The refrigerator may further include a pusher provided with a first edge on which a surface configured to press one or more of the first and second tray assemblies is disposed to easily separate the ice from the tray assemblies, a bar extending from the first edge, and a second edge disposed at an end of the bar. At least one of the pusher or the second tray assembly may move so as to change a relative position between the pusher and the second tray assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Donghoon Lee, Donghoon Lee, Wookyong Lee, Seungseob Yeom, Yongjun Bae, Sunggyun Son, Chongyoung Park
  • Patent number: 11874043
    Abstract: A refrigerator may include: a storage chamber, a first ice-maker, a second ice-maker, a cooler for supplying the cold to the storage chamber and the ice-making chamber, an ice bin for storing ice generated by the second ice-maker, a water supply unit for supplying water to the ice-making cell, a heater for supplying heat to the ice-making cell, and a controller for controlling the heater. The controller may increase the heating amount of the heater when the heat transfer amount between the cold in the storage chamber and the water in the ice-making cell is increased, and decreases the heating amount of the heater when the heat transfer amount between the cold in the storage chamber and the water in the ice-making cell is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Donghoon Lee, Wookyong Lee, Seungseob Yeom, Donghoon Lee, Yongjun Bae, Sunggyun Son, Chongyoung Park
  • Patent number: 11874044
    Abstract: An ice maker comprises: a first tray forming a part of an ice-making cell; a second tray forming another part of the ice-making cell; and a heater which is disposed so as to be adjacent to the first or the second tray, wherein the heater operates during a period when cold air is supplied to the first tray and the second tray and ice making takes place, and supplies heat to the first tray and/or the second tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Donghoon Lee, Wookyong Lee, Seungseob Yeom, Sunggyun Son, Donghoon Lee
  • Patent number: 11867550
    Abstract: An ice maker includes a refrigeration system, a water system, and a control system. The control system includes an air fitting disposed above the sump of the water system, a pneumatic tube, and a controller including a processor and an air pressure sensor. The air fitting defines a chamber in which air may be trapped and includes one or more openings through which water in the sump is in fluid communication with the air in the chamber. The pneumatic tube is in fluid communication with the air pressure sensor and the air fitting. The air pressure sensor is adapted to sense a pressure corresponding to a sump water level. The controller is adapted to control the operation of the refrigeration system and the operation of the water system based upon the sump water level. To avoid errors in water level measurements due to temperature changes, the system uses the pressure sensor data's noise level to detect when the water level reaches the bottom of the air fitting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: MANITOWOC FOODSERVICE COMPANIES, LLC
    Inventor: John A. Broadbent
  • Patent number: 11859890
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes a cabinet defining a storage space, a door configured to open and close at least a portion of the storage space, and an ice maker assembly provided in the storage space. The ice maker assembly includes an ice maker provided forward of a cold air discharge port that is provided at a rear portion of the storage space, where the cold air discharge port is configured to deliver cold air, a front cover that covers a front side of the ice maker and that is configured to be exposed to an outside of the cabinet based on the door being opened, and a heat insulating material provided at a rear surface of the front cover and configured to at least partially block the cold air passing through the ice maker from being delivered past a front surface of the front cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Jinil Hong, Nayoung Kim, Ayoung Choo
  • Patent number: 11852403
    Abstract: Provided are a refrigerator and a control method thereof. The refrigerator is characterized by enabling at least a part of a refrigerator door to be selectively transparent by a user's operation, such that the user sees through an inside of the refrigerator while the refrigerator door is closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Hyungkyu Park, Jongpil Kim, Cheoljun Park
  • Patent number: 11835281
    Abstract: An ice maker, according to the present invention, comprises: a first tray for defining one portion of the ice-making cell, which is a space for creating ice; a second tray for defining the other portion of the ice-making cell; a heater for providing heat to the second tray; and a heater case having the heater coupled thereto, wherein in an ice-making process, at least one portion of the heater case may move along with the second tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Sunggyun Son, Donghoon Lee, Wookyong Lee, Donghoon Lee
  • Patent number: 11835282
    Abstract: A refrigerator according to the present invention may comprise a first tray assembly forming one part of ice-making cells, and a second tray assembly forming the other part of same. Any one tray assembly, from among the first and second tray assemblies, comprises a first part forming at least a part of the ice-making cells, and a second part extending from a set point on the first part so as to reduce water supplied to the ice-making cells from leaking through a space between the first and second tray assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Donghoon Lee, Wookyong Lee, Sunggyun Son, Donghoon Lee, Seungseob Yeom, Yongjun Bae, Chongyoung Park
  • Patent number: 11835283
    Abstract: A method for controlling a refrigerator of the present invention includes turning on the heater when ice making is completed; moving the second tray to a standby position in a forward direction when the movement condition of the second tray is satisfied; turning off the heater when a turn-off condition of the heater is satisfied after the second tray moves to the standby position in the forward direction; determining whether the heater is turned off and a predetermined time has elapsed; and moving the second tray to the ice separation position in the forward direction when it is determined that the predetermined time has elapsed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Donghoon Lee, Wookyong Lee, Seungseob Yeom, Donghoon Lee, Yongjun Bae, Sunggyun Son, Chongyoung Park
  • Patent number: 11828518
    Abstract: A refrigeration appliance includes a freezer compartment fluidly coupled to an ice maker compartment via an ice maker return duct. An internal sensor is positioned within the freezer compartment and configured to sense a first condition within the freezer compartment. An external sensor is coupled to said refrigeration appliance and configured to sense a second condition external to said refrigeration appliance. A return fan is positioned within the ice maker return duct. A controller is operably coupled to the internal and external sensors to receive sensed first and second conditions. The controller is configured to determine a differential between the sensed first condition within the freezer compartment and the sensed second condition external to said refrigeration appliance. The controller activates the return fan to blow air from the ice maker compartment into the freezer compartment in response to the differential.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Adam Gary, Keeley Kabala, Raghu Muddasani, Jeremiah S. Papke, Kyle Van Meter, Scott M. Wesbrook
  • Patent number: 11815296
    Abstract: A thermoelectric assembly includes a thermoelectric module having a hot side and a cold side, where a heat sink is coupled with the hot side of the thermoelectric module and a cold sink is coupled with the cold side of the thermoelectric module. A metalized gasket is disposed between the heat sink and the cold sink and extends around a portion of the thermoelectric module. A vapor barrier may be attached to and cover an outer surface of the metalized gasket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: TE Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Nagy, Zakary S. McLennan, Paul G. Lau
  • Patent number: 11788785
    Abstract: Provided is a vacuum adiabatic body. The vacuum adiabatic body includes a mullion configured to divide a space within the refrigerator into a refrigerating compartment and a freezing compartment, an ice maker placed in the freezing compartment, and an ice-making cool air passage passing through the mullion to connect the freezing compartment to the ice maker. Therefore, cool air may be supplied in an adiabatic state to the ice maker disposed in the refrigerating compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Bongjin Kim, Hyeunsik Nam, Deokhyun Youn, Jaehyun Bae, Jangseok Lee
  • Patent number: 11788782
    Abstract: In a refrigerator, a cam of a cam gear rotating by a driving motor is provided with a structure protruding from an edge portion of a cam gear to a center, thereby increasing the thickness of a cam surface. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the magnitude of force directly transferred from the cam gear to a magnet lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Sangjun Kang, Yonghyun Kim, Jinil Hong
  • Patent number: 11774158
    Abstract: An ice making assembly includes: an ice maker configured to make ice, an ice bin that has a portion disposed below the ice maker and that is configured to receive the ice from the ice maker, a detection lever that is disposed below the ice maker and that is configured to rotate to thereby detect a volume of the ice in the ice bin, and a driver configured to rotate the ice maker along a moving path between (i) an ice making position at which ice making is performed and (ii) an ice separating position at which ice separation is performed. The detection lever is configured to detect the volume of the ice in the ice bin being full before and after the ice is separated from the ice maker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Sangjun Kang, Seunggeun Lee
  • Patent number: 11768017
    Abstract: A thermoelectric assembly includes a thermoelectric module having a hot side and a cold side, where a heat sink is coupled with the hot side of the thermoelectric module and a cold sink is coupled with the cold side of the thermoelectric module. A gasket is disposed between the heat sink and the cold sink and extends around a portion of the thermoelectric module. A vapor barrier is attached to and covers an outer surface of the gasket to prevent water vapor from penetrating the outer surface of the gasket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: TE TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Michael J. Nagy, Zakary S. McLennan, Paul G. Lau
  • Patent number: 11740001
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a refrigerator. A refrigerator of the present invention may comprise: a first tray assembly forming a part of an ice making cell; and a second tray assembly forming another part of the ice making cell. The first tray assembly includes a first tray defining a part of the ice making cell and a first tray case supporting the first tray, and the second tray assembly includes a second tray defining another part of the ice making cell and a second tray case supporting the second tray. One of the first and second tray cases includes a first region having a through-hole and a second region having a shape corresponding to the ice making cell to support one of the first and second trays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Donghoon Lee, Wookyong Lee, Chongyoung Park, Donghoon Lee, Seungseob Yeom, Yongjun Bae, Sunggyun Son
  • Patent number: 11692770
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes a cabinet formed with a chamber, a partition wall configured to partition the chamber into a storage space and an air flow path and including a discharge port and a suction port, and a heat exchanger provided in the air flow path, in which the air flow path includes a discharge flow path to guide air discharged to the discharge port, the discharge flow path has an inlet closer to a first side edge of the partition wall, and the suction port is formed closer to a vertical centerline of the partition wall than either of a first or second side edge of the partition wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Jeongwon Park, Giseok Seong, Myungjin Chung, Kyungseok Kim, Jinho Kim, Tackwon Han
  • Patent number: 11662130
    Abstract: A refrigeration appliance includes a cabinet that defines a cabinet outlet and a cabinet inlet in fluid communication with a freezer compartment. A door is pivotally coupled to the cabinet. The door defines a door inlet in fluid communication with the cabinet outlet and a door outlet in fluid communication with the cabinet inlet when the door is in a closed position. An icemaker compartment is disposed in the door. The icemaker compartment is fluidly coupled with the freezer compartment. A retainer is at least partially disposed in each of the door inlet and the door outlet. Each retainer includes a rim that defines ribs. Each rib is spaced apart from adjacent ribs. A gasket is coupled to each retainer. Each gasket includes an abutment surface that abuts a cabinet surface when the door is in the closed position to seal airflow passages between the freezer compartment and the icemaker compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventor: Chethan Shivappa Thenehalli
  • Patent number: 11624541
    Abstract: An ice maker assembly includes an ice maker that has a mounting plate that includes an engagement feature with an engagement surface. An ice storage bin is configured for insertion into an ice maker receiving space of the ice maker. The ice storage bin includes a retention surface configured to engage with the mounting plate when the ice storage bin is inserted into the ice maker receiving space and an ice bin base that defines a track system configured to move the ice storage bin both vertically and horizontally. The track system includes an elongate portion configured to move the ice storage bin horizontally and a widened portion configured to facilitate vertical movement of the ice storage bin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Marcus Fischer, Christopher R. McElvain, Ryan D. Schuchart
  • Patent number: 11592226
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes a cabinet that defines a refrigerating compartment and a freezing compartment, a door configured to open and close at least a portion of the freezing compartment, an ice maker located adjacent to a rear surface of the door and configured to supply water to make ice automatically, to provide ice to an ice tray, and to transfer ice automatically, a cabinet duct located above the freezing compartment and configured to supply cold air to the freezing compartment or to the ice maker, an ice cover that is located above the ice maker and that includes a cover inflow hole configured to receive cold air located at a position that faces an outlet of the cabinet duct, and a supply duct that connects the cover inflow hole to the ice maker and that defines a cold air supply passage to an interior area of the ice maker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventor: Yonghyun Kim
  • Patent number: 11573040
    Abstract: A water pocket with an open top side is filled with water, mounted in a regular position on a supporting frame, and tilts to supply the water stored in the water pocket to an ice making tray, thereby easily supplying a required amount of water to the ice making tray. A refrigerator includes an ice making tray provided to linearly move with rotation when ice of the ice making tray is separated, or includes a holding preventing member which prevents the ice from being caught by a lower ice making tray, thereby improving a forward-and-backward width of an ice maker. It is possible to easily withdraw ice stored in an ice bucket by pushing an ice discharge button in a state in which the ice bucket is not separated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jin Jeong, Bong Su Son, Do Yun Jang, Yoon Young Kim, Yong Jong Park, Moon Gyo Jung, Kook Jeong Seo
  • Patent number: 11566835
    Abstract: A blast cell system is provided with simple and scalable designs that prevent short cycling of air flow through any pallets in blast cells. The blast cell includes a plurality of suction channels that provide independent fluid pathways for directing the air drawn from different rows in the blast cell into the fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: Lineage Logistics, LLC
    Inventor: Alexander Ming Zhang
  • Patent number: 11530860
    Abstract: A refrigerator and a control method of the same are disclosed, wherein the refrigerator comprises an ice tray for receiving water to generate ices; a motor capable of being rotated in a forward or reverse direction; an ejector including a rotary shaft rotating the ices made in the ice tray to discharge the ices from the ice tray, rotated by being axially connected to the motor, and a protrusion pin protruded in a radius direction of the rotary shaft to adjoin the ices; a heater for selectively supplying heat to the ice tray; a door switching sensor for sensing a storage compartment door's opening or closing, the storage compartment door being provided with the ejector; and a controller for turning the heater on or off in accordance with a rotation position of the ejector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Seungseob Yeom, Donghoon Lee, Donghoon Lee, Wookyong Lee
  • Patent number: 11525614
    Abstract: A control method of a refrigerator includes: determining whether a first temperature of a refrigerating compartment satisfies a first temperature condition; based the first temperature satisfying the first temperature condition, determining whether a second temperature of a freezing compartment satisfies a second temperature condition; based on the second temperature satisfying the second temperature condition, determining (i) whether a third temperature of an ice making compartment satisfies a third temperature condition and (ii) whether a driving time for ice making has passed; maintaining operation of a compressor while determining (i) whether the second temperature satisfies the second temperature condition, (ii) whether the third temperature satisfies the third temperature condition, and (iii) whether the driving time has passed; and stopping operation of the compressor based on at least one of (i) a determination that the third temperature satisfies the third temperature condition or (ii) a determinatio
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Seungseob Yeom, Donghoon Lee, Donghoon Lee, Wookyong Lee
  • Patent number: 11512886
    Abstract: A refrigerator including a main body, a door, and an ice making chamber provided in the door and including an ice maker to make ice and an ice bucket to store the ice produced. The ice maker includes an ice making tray having a plurality of ice making cells for receiving water, an ice separation heater to heat the ice making tray so that ice is separated from the ice making tray, an ejector rotatably provided to transfer the ice separated to the outside of the ice making tray, and a water channel formed on partitions partitioning the plurality of ice making cells to allow water to flow between the partitions and configured such that at least one of surfaces in contact with ice has a tapered shape in which a thickness thereof gradually decreases in a direction of directing to the ice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jin Jeong, Young Il Song, Do Yun Jang, Kook Jeong Seo
  • Patent number: 11486623
    Abstract: An ice maker for a refrigerator appliance includes an ice making assembly defining a receiving chamber in fluid communication with an air duct and a mold assembly removably mounted to the ice making assembly. The mold assembly includes a frame configured for receipt within the receiving chamber of the ice making assembly, a heat exchanger mounted to the frame and defining a mold support surface, and a flexible mold positioned on the mold support surface that is supported by the heat exchanger such that the flexible mold is in thermal communication with the heat exchanger and defines a mold cavity configured to receive a liquid. The mold assembly is replaceable with alternate mold assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Alan Joseph Mitchell
  • Patent number: 11480375
    Abstract: Provided is an ice maker including an upper tray and a lower tray made of an elastic material, wherein a plurality of upper chambers defined in the upper tray and a plurality of lower chambers defined in the lower tray are in contact with each other to define a plurality of spherical ice chambers, respectively, each ejector-receiving opening opened to each of the plurality of upper chambers, each opening-defining wall extending upward along a circumference of each ejector-receiving opening, an upper ejector configured to pass through the ejector-defining wall and vertically move to remove each ice from each ice chamber, and a driver for pivoting the lower tray to open and close the upper tray and the lower tray, wherein the upper tray includes a horizontal extension forming a top face of the upper tray, wherein the upper chamber is positioned below the horizontal extension such that the opening-defining wall is formed at a vertical level equal to or lower than a vertical level of the opening-defining wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Yonghyun Kim, Jinil Hong, Hyunji Park
  • Patent number: 11471401
    Abstract: A method for treating vascular diseases is provided. The method includes fabricating a sterile ice slurry including water and ice particles, cooling the sterile ice slurry to a predetermined temperature, and injecting the sterile ice slurry into a desired tissue region. The desired tissue region includes perivascular adipose tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: The General Hospital Corporation
    Inventors: Lilit Garibyan, William A. Farinelli, Richard Rox Anderson, Emilia Javorsky
  • Patent number: 11384973
    Abstract: A refrigerator that includes a main body, a wall and a storage compartment. The refrigerator further includes a door rotatably coupled to the main body configured to open and close the storage compartment. The door includes an ice-making chamber formed in a front surface of the door. The refrigerator also includes a cooling chamber that includes a cooler is provided inside the wall and configured to generate cooling air. The refrigerator also includes a cooling air duct configured to connect the ice-making chamber and the cooling chamber to supply the cooling air generated by the cooler to the ice-making chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jin Jeong, Bong Su Son, Do Yun Jang, Kook Jeong Seo, Moo Hyung Lee
  • Patent number: 11378321
    Abstract: An ice making machine is provided and includes: an ice tray, having a water storage recessed part; a drive part for reversing the ice tray around an axial line passing the ice tray between a water storage position and an ice separation position; and a frame, supporting the ice tray and the drive part. The ice tray includes a water receiving part protruded to an outer side in a portion which is moved to a lower side when the ice tray starts to turn to a CCW direction directing from the water storage position to the ice separation position. The frame includes a projected portion located on an upper side with respect to the water receiving part. The projected portion includes a water passage port for passing the water at a position overlapping with the water receiving part when being viewed in a Z-direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: NIDEC SANKYO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akio Ishimizu, Shunji Saito, Katsuhiko Hayashi
  • Patent number: 11333422
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes a fresh food compartment and a mullion adjacent the fresh food compartment. The refrigerator further includes an evaporator compartment defining an exterior and an interior and containing an evaporator. The refrigerator also includes a duct in fluid communication with the evaporator compartment at a first end thereof and in communication with a second end adjacent an opening of the fresh food compartment. The duct has a first portion thereof that extends downwardly from the first end and a second portion extending through the mullion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Murilo P. Almeida, Bruno Boehringer, Darci Cavali, Taylor Clark, Marcos Heinzle, Benjamin Jimenez, Dakota Kosek, Mahalingappa Mulimani, Omid Madani, Navya Mastanaiah
  • Patent number: 11268748
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes a cabinet defining a storage compartment therein, a door that provides selective access to the storage compartment, and an ice maker provided in the door. An air duct directs a flow of air from an insulated chamber to the ice maker. An air cooling system cools air inside the insulated chamber and comprises a first non-evaporative heat exchanger positioned independent of and adjacent to an evaporator, a second non-evaporative heat exchanger provided within the insulated chamber, and a fluid line that directs a circulation of fluid between the first and second non-evaporative heat exchangers. The first non-evaporative heat exchanger is provided in heat exchanging relationship with the evaporator to cool the fluid positioned in the first non-evaporative heat exchanger, and the second non-evaporative heat exchanger is provided in heat exchanging relationship with the air inside the insulated chamber to cool the air therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: Electrolux Home Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas McCollough, Keith Phelan
  • Patent number: 11255589
    Abstract: An ice maker includes an evaporator configured to freeze water into ice as it flows vertically down a freeze plate. A distributor distributes the water along the top of the freeze plate to form ice across the width of the freeze plate as the water flows downward along the freeze plate. The distributor can be integrated into the evaporator. For example, the distributor and evaporator can have a part in common. The distributor can be formed from two pieces that come together to form the freeze plate. The distributor can have various features that aid in providing a desirable distribution of water along the width of the freeze plate. The freeze plate can be mounted in an ice maker enclosure in thermal communication with the evaporator and to slant forward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: True Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Kevin Knatt
  • Patent number: 11137188
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an ice maker and a refrigerator having the same. The refrigerator includes a main body having a storage room therein; a door on the main body, configured to open and close the storage room; and an ice maker in the storage room, wherein the ice maker includes an ice tray configured to contain water; a guide unit under the ice tray, forming a path for flowing cold air; an ice bucket under the guide unit, including a container having a concave center portion; a rotation unit configured to move the ice in the ice tray to the ice bucket; and a cover unit configured to cover the ice tray and having a water supply unit configured to supply water to the ice tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: Daewoo Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Sung Jin Yang
  • Patent number: 11131490
    Abstract: The refrigerant device includes a refrigerant circuit, an injection circuit, an inlet temperature sensor, an outlet temperature sensor, and a controller configured to control the operation of the refrigerant circuit. The controller includes an evaluation value calculation unit and a refrigerant amount detection unit. The evaluation value calculation unit calculates an evaluation value indicating a capability of a subcooling heat exchanger in accordance with an inlet temperature detected by the inlet temperature sensor and an outlet temperature detected by the outlet temperature sensor. The refrigerant amount detection unit determines whether there is a shortage of refrigerant in accordance with the evaluation value calculated by the evaluation value calculation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Kohei Ueda, Abastari, Hiroshi Sata
  • Patent number: 11118826
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a refrigerator. The refrigerator includes a main body including a storage compartment. The refrigerator also includes a door configured to open and close the storage compartment. The refrigerator further includes an ice-making compartment disposed in the storage compartment. The refrigerator also includes and a sealing member disposed at the door to apply a sealing force to the ice-making compartment when the door is closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chang Uo Hong, Jae Koog An, Min Seob Yook, Moon Gyo Jung
  • Patent number: 11029070
    Abstract: An ice maker includes an ice tray, an ejector configured to rotate with respect to the ice tray and cause rotation of ice pieces, and a motor configured to drive the ejector to rotate relative to the ice tray. The ice tray includes a first guide rib located at a lower portion of the ice tray and configured to exchange heat with cool air supplied from a cool air inlet, and a second guide rib located at the lower portion of the ice tray and arranged at a center region of the lower portion of the ice tray. The ice tray defines a first area including the first guide rib, and a second area including both of the first and second guide ribs, where the first area of the ice tray is located closer to the cool air inlet than the second area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Donghoon Lee, Seungseob Yeom, Donghoon Lee, Wookyong Lee
  • Patent number: 10919038
    Abstract: Compositions, devices, and methods are disclosed for the modification of polymer surfaces with coatings having a dispersion of silicone polymer and hydrophobic silica. The surface coatings provide the polymer surface with high hydrophobicity, as well as increased resistance to biofouling with proteinaceous material. The polymer surfaces can be particularly useful in microfluidic devices and methods that involve the contacting of the covalently modified polymer surfaces with emulsions of aqueous droplets containing biological macromolecules within an oil carrier phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Joshua Ritchey, Yi Xue, Robert Meltzer
  • Patent number: 10914500
    Abstract: An icemaker for a refrigerated appliance is provided. The icemaker includes an ice tray having a plurality of ice-forming compartments and a duct for directing chilled air operably coupled with a diverter. The diverter includes a base having first and second sides and defining a plurality of variously sized slots. A centerline of the base is aligned with a centerline of the ice tray. At least one spacing portion extends between two of the plurality of variously sized slots. A plurality of fins extend away from a top surface of the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Jose R. Aranda, Darci Cavali, Chao-Yi Chen, Milind Devle, Dewei Guan, Benjamin G. Jimenez, Varun Deepak Kotecha, Rishikesh Vinayak Kulkarni, Mahalingappa Mulimani, N S Ayodhya Ram, Rogerio Rodrigues, Jr., Anuj Sharma, Richard A. Spletzer, Shailesh Wani
  • Patent number: 10850047
    Abstract: A storage system that includes a contents container and a thermal battery, each in thermal communication with a thermal moderator that is constructed and arranged to balance the thermal energy flow between the contents container and the environment with the thermal energy flow between the contents container and the thermal battery. The thermal moderator can include a super-insulating material, a phase change material and/or a heat pipe. The storage system may help to maintain stored contents within a desired temperature range for an extended period of time, while minimizing the likelihood of damage to the contents due to an initial temperature of the thermal battery being outside of the desired temperature range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: SAVSU TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventor: Bruce McCormick
  • Patent number: 10852050
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes a cabinet that defines a first storage compartment and an opening at a front side of the first storage compartment, an inner door that is configured to open and close at least a portion of the first storage compartment and that defines a second storage compartment configured to store one or more items, an outer door configured to open and close at least a portion of the second storage compartment, a cold air supply unit configured to supply cold air to each of the first storage compartment and the second storage compartment, and a cold air duct located in the first storage compartment and configured to, based on the inner door being oriented in an open position or a closed position, selectively communicate with the cold air supply unit and the second storage compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Jihyun Im, Dongjeong Kim, Hyunbum Kim, Jaehoon Shin
  • Patent number: 10823481
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes a refrigerator compartment and a refrigerator evaporator disposed within an evaporator housing within the refrigerator compartment. A door is coupled to the refrigerator compartment and includes an ice maker. A duct assembly is disposed within the refrigerator compartment and includes an ice maker feed duct interconnecting the evaporator housing with the ice maker. The duct assembly further includes an ice maker return duct interconnecting the evaporator housing with the ice maker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Alberto R. Gomes, Giulia Marinello, Vikas C. Mruthyunjaya
  • Patent number: 10816253
    Abstract: An ice-making apparatus for an appliance having a housing with an interior volume and an ice tray horizontally suspended in the interior volume. The ice tray has a cold plate with a top surface and a bottom surface and a containment wall surrounding an edge portion of the cold plate to retain water. A cooling source is thermally coupled to the bottom surface of the cold plate. An intake conduit extends into the interior volume over the ice tray and is configured to draw ambient air into the interior volume over the ice tray, and the ambient air is above freezing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick J. Boarman, Brian K. Culley
  • Patent number: 10506820
    Abstract: Systems and methods of producing a frozen food product include mixing ingredients with a liquefied gas, e.g. liquid nitrogen. The texture and quality of the food product may be determined by sensing temperature or viscosity, and controlling the rate at which the liquefied gas flows into the mixture, i.e. dosing. This functionality may be achieved using one or more scoops, the position of which may be controlled by actuators. The dosing may be controlled by a program that receives input from one or more sensors, and the program may be responsive to input of the type or amount of ingredients being mixed. In addition, the dosing may be controlled by a human being through a user interface, e.g. by pushing a ‘dose’ button.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: Smitten Ventures, Inc.
    Inventors: Robyn Sue Fisher, Whitfield Janes Fowler, Zachary Stephen Radding, Brandon Clyde Onstott
  • Patent number: 10458693
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes a main body, a door rotatably coupled to the main body, a first ice making compartment configured to generate and store ice and provided in the main body, a second ice making compartment configured to crush ice and provided in the door, and a transfer device provided to transfer the ice in the first ice making compartment to the second ice making compartment. Therefore, a structure of an ice bucket storing ice is simplified, and an ice making system is easily constructed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jin Jeong, Jae Jin Lee, Seok Jun Yoon
  • Patent number: 10422574
    Abstract: The invention described herein relates to reservoirs within appliances. The present invention includes a reservoir having one or more tanks having adaptors and tubing which may be thermally welded, crosslinked, and/or overmolded. Particular embodiments of the present invention include reservoirs, reservoir systems including a reservoir, processes for forming a reservoir, and processes for forming the aforementioned reservoir systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: Mercury Plastics LLC
    Inventors: Scott R. Gardner, Donald Currey, Grandin Rushlander