Patents Assigned to emz-Hanauer GmbH & Co. KgaA
  • Patent number: 9920920
    Abstract: An electrical household appliance includes an appliance body having a body interior, into which a shelf for storing objects is inserted, and an illumination device having a light source, and a light-directing structure which couples one portion of the light generated by the light source into a narrow side of the shelf, and directs another portion of the light generated by the light source into the body interior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: emz-Hanauer GmbH & Co. KGaA
    Inventors: Manfredi Signorino, Johann Schenkl, Martin Brabec
  • Patent number: 9890987
    Abstract: An ice-making assembly for installation in a domestic refrigerator or freezer is provided. The ice-making assembly comprises: a frame structure; and first and second ice-making trays supported for rotation about a rotational axis with respect to the frame structure between an ice production position and an ice discharge position, wherein the first and second ice-making trays are disposed behind one another in a direction of the rotational axis and each have a tray longitudinal dimension in the direction of the rotational axis that is larger than a tray width direction in a direction transverse to the rotational axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: emz-Hanauer GmbH & Co. KGaA
    Inventors: Albert Dirnberger, Roland Schroedel, Josef Bauriedl
  • Patent number: 9885463
    Abstract: A refrigerating or freezing apparatus comprising an interior and a lighting device for illuminating the interior is presented. The lighting device includes in one embodiment a light-emitting element and a reflecting surface, in the direction of which the light-emitting element emits a light beam and by which the light beam is reflected in the direction of the interior. The lighting device further includes a drive device controlled by a control unit to adjust the light-emitting element with respect to the reflecting surface and thereby vary at least one of the radiating position and radiating direction of the light beam emitted by the light-emitting element relative to the reflecting surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: emz-Hanauer GmbH & Co. KGaA
    Inventors: Johann Sckenkl, Manfredi Signorino
  • Patent number: 9861248
    Abstract: A sensor and a method of manufacture of a sensor includes a light interface portion comprising first and second walls, where a cavity is provided between the first and second walls, and where the first wall is configured such that at least a portion of light is totally reflected at the first wall when the sensor-external medium is water, and at least a portion of light is coupled out when the sensor-external medium is air, and a portion of light is coupled out and a further portion of light is totally reflected by the first wall when the sensor-external medium comprises foam. Light that is reflected by the first wall is directed toward a second wall, and reflected at the second wall to be directed to a light receiving element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: emz-Hanauer GmbH & Co. KGaA
    Inventors: Johann Schenkl, Manfredi Signorino, Johannes Baumer, Georg Wilhelm
  • Patent number: 9840804
    Abstract: A washing machine includes a machine housing, a tub that is suspended on a plurality of support arms in the machine housing, and a washing drum that is rotatably mounted in the tub, at least one of the support arms being equipped with a force sensor, which generates a force measurement signal that is representative of the force acting upon the respective support arm. Moreover, the washing machine is equipped with a level sensor, which generates a level signal that is representative of the water level in the washing drum, and an electronic control unit that processes the force measurement signal and the level signal, and which is configured to control the sequence of a washing program of the washing machine in dependence on the force measurement signal and the level signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: emz-Hanauer GmbH & Co. KGaA
    Inventor: Johann Schenkl
  • Patent number: 9677803
    Abstract: An ice dispensing arrangement is particularly suited for a household refrigeration appliance. A flap can rotate between a first and a second distribution position. A motor actuates the flap via a transfer device. The transfer device has a rotating transfer element and a flap actuating device. The rotating transfer element is rotated between a first and a second position, in order to rotate the flap, by way of the flap actuation device, between the first and second distribution positions. The rotating transfer element is coupled to the flap actuation device so that the flap, in the first position of the rotating transfer element, is arranged in the first distribution position and, in the second position of the rotating transfer element, the flap is arranged in the second distribution position. A blocking device maintains the flap in the first distribution position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignees: BSH Hausgeraete GmbH, EMZ-Hanauer GmbH & Co. KGAA
    Inventors: Josef Bauriedl, Albert Dirnberger
  • Patent number: 9557088
    Abstract: An ice dispensing arrangement, particularly for a household refrigeration appliance, has a flap that is rotatable between a first and a second distribution position and a motor which actuates the flap via a transfer device. The transfer device has a rotational disk to be connected to a motor shaft, a piston rod and a rotating transfer element. The latter is rotatable a first and second position such that the flap in the first position of the rotating transfer element, is in the first distribution position and in the second position of the rotating transfer element, the flap is in the second distribution position. The rotating transfer element has a coupling element. The piston rod couples a motor shaft-eccentric point of the rotating disk to the coupling element of the rotating transfer element to rotate the transfer element between the first and second positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignees: BSH Hausgeraete GmbH, EMZ-Hanauer GmbH & Co. KGAA
    Inventors: Josef Bauriedl, Albert Dirnberger
  • Patent number: 9380924
    Abstract: A dish washer comprises a carcass having a washing compartment accessible through an access opening, and a door attached to the carcass for closing the access opening. The door is bounded on its door side facing the washing compartment by a door inner wall, which provides sealing contact surfaces for a sealing arrangement attached to the carcass. A door latch comprises a latch head attached to the door and fixed relative to the latter, and a latch unit arranged on the carcass and having two latch arms which are movable relative to one another and embrace the latch head on both sides when the door is closed. On closing the door the latch head runs against the latch arms and pushes apart the latter from a relative rest position against spring force. The latch head rises preferably completely above the surface contour of the door inner wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: emz-Hanauer GmbH & Co. KGaA
    Inventors: Albert Dirnberger, Georg Spiessl, Peter Nitsche, Markus Lang
  • Patent number: 9274012
    Abstract: A sensor device to measure a force or pressure in a washing handling apparatus includes a light source, a light receiver, a light-reflecting surface that reflects light emitted by the light source toward the light receiver, and one or more spring elements that biases the light-reflecting surface into a predefined initial position with respect to the light source and the light receiver where the light-reflecting surface is disposed to be displaceable with respect to the light source and the light receiver in response to application of an external force or pressure against a resetting force of the one or more spring elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: emz-Hanauer GmbH & Co. KGaA
    Inventors: Johann Schenkl, Johannes Baumer, Michael Sorgenfrei, Manfredi Signorino
  • Publication number: 20160047966
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electrical household appliance, namely a refrigeration and/or freezer device or a stove, comprising at least one luminous plate (24) illuminating an interior of the appliance, and a light source device (30) feeding light into at least one narrow side of the luminous plate. According to the invention, the light source device includes at least one light-emitting diode (32) and a lens optics, which collects at least a major portion of the light emitted by the light-emitting diode, directing the light to at least one narrow side of the luminous plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2014
    Publication date: February 18, 2016
    Applicant: EMZ-HANAUER GMBH & CO. KGAA
    Inventors: Johann Schenkl, Manfredi Signorino, Martin Brabec
  • Publication number: 20150338147
    Abstract: An ice dispensing arrangement is particularly suited for a household refrigeration appliance. A flap can rotate between a first and a second distribution position. A motor actuates the flap via a transfer device. The transfer device has a rotating transfer element and a flap actuating device. The rotating transfer element is rotated between a first and a second position, in order to rotate the flap, by way of the flap actuation device, between the first and second distribution positions. The rotating transfer element is coupled to the flap actuation device so that the flap, in the first position of the rotating transfer element, is arranged in the first distribution position and, in the second position of the rotating transfer element, the flap is arranged in the second distribution position. A blocking device maintains the flap in the first distribution position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2013
    Publication date: November 26, 2015
    Applicant: EMZ-HANAUER GMBH & CO. KGAA
    Inventors: JOSEF BAURIEDL, ALBERT DIRNBERGER
  • Patent number: 9170001
    Abstract: A household appliance light emitting device has a light diode that emits a light beam having a cross-section area and a light deflection device through which the light beam travels and that deflects the entering light beam such that the light beam exits asymmetrically to the optical axis of the household appliance light emitting device from the light deflection device. The light deflection device is designed integrally with a housing where the light diode is arranged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: emz-Hanauer GmbH & Co. KGaA
    Inventor: Johann Schenkl
  • Patent number: 9107560
    Abstract: A door latch for an electrical household appliance includes a closing spring arrangement which is tensioned in an open position of the door latch and relaxes upon closing of the door, and a gripping unit which grips a closing element upon closing of the door and releases it again upon opening of the door. The gripping unit in the open position of the door latch is in blocking engagement with a blocking element. The closing element upon the closing of the door causes a rotary movement of the gripping unit about an axis of rotation where the gripping unit comes out of blocking engagement with the blocking element. The gripping unit has a base body bearing at least one supporting projection, projecting coaxially with respect to the axis of rotation, for supporting the gripping unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: emz-Hanauer GmbH & Co. KGaA
    Inventor: Josef Bauriedl
  • Patent number: 9101259
    Abstract: A door lock for a dishwashing machine includes a lock housing, a pair of closing arms being held in and projecting from the lock housing and having free arm portions projecting from the lock housing that are deflectable relative to one another from a relative normal position in a first deflection direction counter to the action of a resetting spring arrangement, and a closing mouth, into which the free arm portions engage during closing of the door, having deflection surfaces encountered by the free arm portions during engagement into the closing mouth and which bring about a relative deflection of the free arm portions counter to the resetting action of the resetting spring arrangement, where the free arm portions during further engagement is move past the deflection surfaces and in so doing experience an at least partial resetting in the direction of their relative normal position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: emz-Hanauer GmbH & Co. KGaA
    Inventors: Albert Dirnberger, Georg Spiessl, Peter Nitsche, Markus Lang
  • Patent number: 8991877
    Abstract: Door lock for a door of a household appliance with a first device for detecting a closed state of the door, and a second device for locking the door, wherein the first and second devices are electrically connected in series.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: emz-Hanauer GmbH & Co. KGaA
    Inventor: Georg Spiessl
  • Patent number: 8888929
    Abstract: A device to capture the relative position of a component (14) of which the position can change relative to a reference component (12) of a washing handling device (10), in particular a washing machine or drier, includes at least one light source (34, 38, 42), at least one light receiver (36, 40, 44), a light-reflecting surface (50, 52), which reflects light which the light source (34, 38, 42) emits to the light receiver (36, 40, 44). The device is designed to capture the present relative position of the changeable-position component (14) relative to the reference component (12), according to the reflected light which the light receiver (36, 40, 44) captures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: emz-Hanauer GmbH & Co. KgaA
    Inventors: Johann Schenkl, Johannes Baumer, Michael Sorgenfrei, Manfredi Signorino
  • Patent number: 8733189
    Abstract: A combination module for an appliance includes a transmission selector mechanism adapted to selectively operate transmission shift structure of the appliance, and a speed sensor mechanism adapted to sense the operative speed of a motive element of the appliance. In one example, the combination module further includes a single electrical connector adapted to electrically couple the transmission selector mechanism and the speed sensor mechanism to control circuitry of the appliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: EMZ-Hanauer GmbH & Co KGAA
    Inventor: Anthony Lewis Durfee
  • Publication number: 20140077671
    Abstract: A dish washer comprises a carcass having a washing compartment accessible through an access opening, and a door attached to the carcass for closing the access opening. The door is bounded on its door side facing the washing compartment by a door inner wall, which provides sealing contact surfaces for a sealing arrangement attached to the carcass. A door latch comprises a latch head attached to the door and fixed relative to the latter, and a latch unit arranged on the carcass and having two latch arms which are movable relative to one another and embrace the latch head on both sides when the door is closed. On closing the door the latch head runs against the latch arms and pushes apart the latter from a relative rest position against spring force. The latch head rises preferably completely above the surface contour of the door inner wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2013
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: emz-Hanauer GmbH & Co. KGaA
    Inventors: Albert Dirnberger, Georg Spiessl, Peter Nitsche, Markus Lang
  • Patent number: 8648321
    Abstract: An optical sensor for use in a washing machine or dishwasher comprises a housing, a light-emitting element, a light-receiving element and a light-conducting structure, which is made from a transparent material, having a light entry point, a first reflection surface, a second reflection surface and a light exit point. A light measurement path runs from the light-emitting element, via the light entry point, the first reflection surface, the second reflection surface and the light exit point, to the light-receiving element wherein the light undergoes total reflection on the first reflection surface and on the second reflection surface and where a light beam that runs from the first reflection surface to the second reflection surface has a cross-sectional area of not less than 0.9 mm2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: emz-Hanauer GmbH & Co. KGaA
    Inventors: Johann Schenkel, Martin Brabec, Manfredi Signorino
  • Patent number: 8545297
    Abstract: An air-flap device for a refrigerator and/or freezer for equipping a kitchen comprises an air flap (18) which is mounted so as to be pivotable about a first axis of rotation (20) between an open position and a closing position and which, in the open position, unblocks an air-passage aperture (16) for the passage of air and, in the closing position, blocks said air-passage aperture, at least substantially, against the passage of air, and said air-flap device also comprises a motorized flap-actuating mechanism for displacing the air flap in a pivoting manner. According to the invention, the flap-actuating mechanism comprises a movably disposed flap-actuating element (26) having a flap-engaging section (32) which can be moved, as a result of movement of said flap-actuating element, from outside the pivoting space of the air flap into said pivoting space in order, in doing so, to pass into engagement with the air flap and lift the latter out of one of the two flap positions towards the other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: emz-Hanauer GmbH & Co. KGaA
    Inventors: Georg Spiessl, Anthony Durfee