Patents Represented by Attorney Bruce A. Yungman
  • Patent number: 4293602
    Abstract: A fragrant ornament, such as a jewelry piece, is disclosed which consists of a mixture of a major amount of a natural botanical plant material, essential oils, and a minor amount of a fluorocarbon resin binder. A method for formulating and molding the ornament is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1979
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1981
    Inventors: James P. Coffey, Bettie L. Coffey
  • Patent number: 4224530
    Abstract: An electronic sequence type controller for appliances or the like which provides numerical indications of how much time will be required to execute a program cycle which a user has selected, and how much time is remaining as an operating cycle proceeds. Additionally, means are provided for a service technician to rapidly set the controller to a particular program step for diagnostic purposes. More specifically, after user cycle options have been inputted, control logic initially enables a counting and display means to count up and rapidly executes the entire selected program a first time, the rapid first execution appearing essentially instantaneous to the user. This presets the counting and display means with a representation of the total number of program advancing operations required to execute the selected program.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1978
    Date of Patent: September 23, 1980
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Robert J. Simcoe, Robert C. Helfrich
  • Patent number: 4223379
    Abstract: An electronic sequence type controller structure having a high degree of flexibility in programming the time durations of particular steps in the program. The controller which includes a digital program sequence counter capable of stepping from one state to the next in response to inputted clock pulses, each state representing a particular program step. A programmable digital counter, programmed by a timer setting control, is operable to count inputted clock pulses and to output a signal when the number of clock pulses corresponding to a programmed time duration have been inputted. A program memory is responsive to the state of the program sequence counter for directing the timer setting control to program a time duration desired for any particular program step into the programmable timer. To direct the overall operation to effect periodic program advancing operations there is provided a control logic means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1978
    Date of Patent: September 16, 1980
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Robert J. Simcoe
  • Patent number: 4213338
    Abstract: An indicator providing a visual indication of the level within a rinse aid dispenser tank for dishwashers, consisting of a U-tube containing an indicator liquid having one leg in communication with the lowermost region of the tank and with the other disposed adjacent a viewing window. Air pressure generated in the connecting tubing by the relative liquid level in the tank acts to control the position of the liquid in the U-tube to provide a level indication at the viewing window. The air column intermediate the tank and the U-tube section is vented each time the door is opened to avoid variations in indication occurring with temperature and atmospheric pressure changes. The indicator liquid is introduced through a fill and drain tube extending from the upper end of the leg into the dispenser tank, such that a calibrated volume of liquid is introduced by flow into the U-tube from the tank and drain back of the excess over the calibrated volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1979
    Date of Patent: July 22, 1980
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Albert L. Hardy
  • Patent number: 4213250
    Abstract: An ambient temperature compensation arrangement for clothes dryer cycle timers in which the timer dial reference for a particular operational cycle is shifted in correspondence with changes in ambient temperature. This compensates for changes in dryer run time required for proper drying with changes in ambient temperatures by causing a given timer dial to be set so as to be advanced or to retard the selected dryer cycle time. Specific arrangements disclosed include a movable reference pointer mounted on a spirally-wound bimetal, a thermometer related dial scale and a liquid crystal band marking on the timer dial scale.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1978
    Date of Patent: July 22, 1980
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Larry L. Hawkins
  • Patent number: 4210285
    Abstract: A hollow elongated spray arm for transmitting washing liquid from a conduit leading from the pump, the arm having one or more radially extending projections having a plurality of spray orifices therein. The projections include a guide disposed adjacent at least one of the orifices for orienting relatively long slender foreign objects suspended in the washing liquid to insure that such objects can pass through the orifice for later automatic or manual removal from the machine. The orifice is preferably located at the terminus of at least one of the radial projections such that it intersects the end portion thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1977
    Date of Patent: July 1, 1980
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: John A. Dicken, Jr., David B. Ash
  • Patent number: 4201345
    Abstract: A food cutter is driven by a dishwasher pump located at the pump inlet to reduce the size of food particles rinsed from the dishware items washed. The food cutter includes a wire element having a wound section encircling a thread formed on a rotary driven shaft with a cutter arm portion extending radially outwardly. The wound section is frictionally restrained at its opposite end, while the direction of wind of the wound section relative to the direction of pump rotation is such as to tend to result in radial expansion of the windings causing the cutter element to be loosened in its engagement with the thread and thereby allowing a slip clutch action to prevent jamming or breakage of the cutter element. The frictional restraint of the end of the wound section is provided by a radially extending tab engaging a shoulder formed on the shaft to insure proper releasing action at a predetermined torque level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1978
    Date of Patent: May 6, 1980
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: William D. Ziegler
  • Patent number: 4193275
    Abstract: An agitator for a clothes washing machine including a center post extending into the clothes receiving receptacle and upon which is mounted a vertically reciprocable agitator member including an agitator element extending radially outward from the center post. The agitator element is mounted on a nut member which mates with a thread formed on the center post, such that upon relative rotation between the agitator element and the center post, vertical reciprocation of the agitator element takes place to induce turnover motion of the clothes. The center post is oscillated to cause the reciprocation by engagement of the agitator element with clothes disposed in the machine during the wash cycle. The agitator element is configured with a downwardly extending flared skirt portion having scalloped edges to increase the interengagement with the clothes. The flared shape of the agitator element causes a net downward force on the clothes drawing them downwardly along the center post.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1978
    Date of Patent: March 18, 1980
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: John Bochan
  • Patent number: 4193488
    Abstract: An arrangement for shortening the cycle time of coin-operated washing machines by modifying a timer setting action produced by reciprocation of a coin-operating mechanism slide. The arrangement includes a shim element assembled to the actuation arm of a clutch mechanism driven by the coin slide assembly to advance the initial setting of a timer controlling the duration of the washing machine cycles. The shim is configured to be snap-fitted to the actuation arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1978
    Date of Patent: March 18, 1980
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: John W. Baum
  • Patent number: 4175409
    Abstract: An improved vertical axis clothes washing machine and method having wash, rinse, and spin extraction operations including a tub, an agitator, a first basket within the tub, a second basket disposed within the first basket and positioned on the agitator for movement therewith. There is also a water supply for feeding hot and cold water into the machine, electrically powered drive for operating the agitator to effect washing of the fabrics and for rotating the baskets to centrifugally extract water from the fabrics. Water is allowed to flow from the baskets into the tub and may be recirculated from the tub into the baskets during the wash and rinse operations. The improvement is a separate cycle of a continuous wash and rinse operation followed by a spin extraction operation for washing clothes in only the second basket while fresh water is introduced continuously into the second basket during the combined wash and rinse operation and directed to drain and not recirculated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1977
    Date of Patent: November 27, 1979
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Everett D. Morey
  • Patent number: 4168615
    Abstract: A clothes washing machine which recirculates wash or rinse water from a surrounding tub into a clothes holding basket to reduce the quantity of water required for wash and rinse cycles. The fill level is controlled by an adjustable pressure-sensitive switch which senses the pressure level at the drain outlet located in the bottom of the tub in order to control water fill levels at the beginning of each wash and rinse cycle. The pressure-sensitive switch is reset preparatory to the initiation of each wash or rinse cycle of the tub by the low pressure existing in the tub bottom after the tub has been drained at the end of each wash and rinse cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1978
    Date of Patent: September 25, 1979
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Robert E. Condit
  • Patent number: 4164197
    Abstract: A liquid level indicator for providing a visual indication when the level of liquid contained in a movably mounted tank is at or above a predetermined level, disclosed in conjunction with door-mounted rinse aid dispenser tanks for dishwashers, and includes an indicator knob having a stem portion acting as a closure for the tank filler opening accessible from the inside of the dishwasher door. A viewing chamber having a sight window is located in the end of the indicator knob with a feed reservoir arrangement causing liquid within the tank to flow by gravity into the viewing chamber when the door is closed, and a portion of the liquid being retained there upon opening of the dishwasher door, providing a visual indication that the level within the tank is at or above the predetermined level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1977
    Date of Patent: August 14, 1979
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Thomas E. Nelson
  • Patent number: 4162621
    Abstract: A clothes washing machine having water recirculation from the tub into the clothes holding basket, with a series of overflow openings located about the periphery of the upper region of the basket at a point below the basket balancing ring. The maximum water level is established above the overflow openings even with the balancing ring by a gutter ring secured to the exterior of the basket defining a trough accepting the water from the overflow openings. The outer wall of the gutter ring extends upwardly from the level of the overflow openings and has an upper edge at the level at which the basket water level is established.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1978
    Date of Patent: July 31, 1979
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Aidan M. Stone
  • Patent number: 4157042
    Abstract: A pulley drive system including a centrifugally governed two speed drive pulley assembly and a driven pulley assembly coactively connected by a belt. There is a speed selection mechanism which includes an auxiliary weight movable from a radially inward position to a radially outward position which in one position prevents the centrifugally governed two speed drive assembly from shifting and the auxiliary weight operation is actuated by a pivotal trigger which in turn is actuated by a control member movable in response to a control mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 1977
    Date of Patent: June 5, 1979
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Stephen L. McMillan
  • Patent number: 4150679
    Abstract: An automatic dishwashing machine is provided with bypass soil-collecting and filter means disposed independent of the sump whereby food soil suspended in the recirculating washing liquid is filtered and collected in a receptacle during the washing/rinsing operation. It includes supplemental liquid collecting means disposed in a flow path separate and upstream of the soil-collecting means and operative to channel an additional quantity of recirculating washing liquid to the soil-collecting means. Drain means removes the washing liquid and the filtered food soil from the receptacle during the drain cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1977
    Date of Patent: April 24, 1979
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Donald S. Cushing, Thomas E. Jenkins
  • Patent number: 4150688
    Abstract: A fluid coupling for connecting a portable washing machine to a domestic water faucet comprises a housing defining an unobstructed fluid passage having a lateral discharge port normally closed by a tilt type valve. A sliding detent plate latches the coupling to the faucet and includes an actuating arm for opening the discharge valve at least momentarily in its traverse between latched and unlatched positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 1977
    Date of Patent: April 24, 1979
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: John G. Crawford
  • Patent number: 4149654
    Abstract: A dishwashing apparatus having two dispensers operable at preselected times in a dishwashing cycle for dispensing treating additives such as detergent and a rinse aid additive. The dispensers are arranged so that in response to a programmer-timer controlled cam an interlock device to which the detergent dispenser cover is mounted is released and the cover swings away from the dispenser container opening. The interlock includes a shaft integral with a handle used to close the dispenser cover, the other end of the shaft having a unitary detent member secured for rotation with said shaft, said detent including a plurality of latching extensions for operative engagment with the timer controlled cam. Mounted adjacent the detergent dispensing mechanism is the rinse aid dispenser which is also activated by the interlock device. One of the latching members holds the shaft from rotation until the detergent is required, and another of the latching members holds the shaft from rotation until the rinse aid is required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1977
    Date of Patent: April 17, 1979
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Thomas E. Nelson, Thomas E. Jenkins, Donald S. Cushing
  • Patent number: 4149657
    Abstract: A dishwashing apparatus having a dispenser operable at a preselected time in the dishwashing cycle for dispensing a treating additive such as detergent. The dispenser is arranged so that in response to a timer controlled cam a spring biased shaft to which the dispenser cover is mounted is released and the cover swings away from the dispenser container opening. The shaft is integral with a handle used to close the dispenser cover, and the handle and cover are interconnected by a camming device so that the cover is drawn into sealing engagement with the perimeter of the detergent container by the operator. The camming device further serves to break the seal by moving the cover in an axial direction away from the detergent cup in response to the timer controlled cam. The detergent cup cover utilizes a highly effective rubber seal to compensate various tolerance conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1977
    Date of Patent: April 17, 1979
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Thomas E. Nelson, Thomas E. Jenkins
  • Patent number: 4149655
    Abstract: A dishwashing apparatus having a dispenser operable at a preselected time in the dishwashing cycle for dispensing a treating additive such as detergent. The dispenser is arranged so that in response to a timer controlled cam a spring biased shaft to which the dispenser cover is mounted is released and the cover swings away from the dispenser container opening. The shaft is integral with the cover handle and a detent member. A cam follower operatively interconnects the timer controlled cam and the detent member and holds the detent member from rotating when the cover has properly sealed the dispenser container. The cam follower is slotted at one end and has a spring member attached thereto enabling it to pivot about its point of contact with the timer-controlled cam, said spring providing the engaging force necessary to hold the detent member and also serving to hold the cam follower into engagement with the timer controlled cam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1977
    Date of Patent: April 17, 1979
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Thomas E. Nelson, Thomas E. Jenkins
  • Patent number: D284342
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1983
    Date of Patent: June 24, 1986
    Assignee: Progressive International Corporation
    Inventor: Philip T. Campbell