Patents Examined by Benjamin Osterhout
  • Patent number: 7930908
    Abstract: The machine provides a path (3) for feed of the fabric with a transfer system, for example a pneumatic system. Along the aforesaid path the fabric can be treated in rope form or in open width according to the machine settings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Coramtex S.R.L.
    Inventor: Alberto Ciabattini
  • Patent number: 7921494
    Abstract: An internal unit of a washing machine or spin-dryer normally includes a washing container, which has a laundry drum mounted in the container such that it can rotate, and an electric motor for driving the laundry drum via a reduction gear, a transmission, or direct drive. The internal unit is suspended in a machine housing such that it can vibrate and constitutes an overall system which can vibrate in a damped manner and which is subject to unbalance-dependent resonance phenomena in specific regions of the rotational speed of the laundry drum. The causes of these resonance phenomena are vibratory movements due to momentary unbalances in the load in the laundry drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: DIEHL AKO Stiftung & Co. KG
    Inventors: Martin Weinmann, Roman-Hartmut Wauer, Alexander Müller
  • Patent number: 7900305
    Abstract: An automatic washing machine includes a wash basin having a plurality of apertures and an annular liquid reservoir formed at an upper portion of the basin. A plurality of flow channels are arranged around the exterior surface of the wash basin. The plurality of flow channels includes upward flow channels, configured for directing wash liquid extracted from the wash basin into the reservoir under centrifugal force generated in a spin cycle. The plurality of flow channels also includes downward flow channels configured for directing wash liquid from the reservoir to a central drain following the spin cycle. The arrangement avoids the need for an outer wash tub, and at the same time provides stabilization to the wash basin during high speed spins. In another aspect, the wash basin may include wash action ramps provided on a bottom surface of the wash basin and at an upper sidewall of the wash basin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Electrolux Home Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Leidig, Ellingson David Irwin
  • Patent number: 7896976
    Abstract: A ventilation device for the discharge pipe for removing a flow medium pumped to a household appliance. A pipe ventilation valve is connected to the discharge pipe by a channel and comprises a valve body disposed in a float chamber filled with a working medium which is separated from the flow medium and actuates the valve body. The valve body is actuated by transmitting a pneumatic force between the flowing medium and the working medium of the float chamber or between the flowing medium and a sealing surface adjacent to the valve body by means of a pressure medium which is separated from the flowing medium and is enclosed in the channel. The inventive pipe ventilation device makes it possible to avoid a direct contact between the valve body of the pipe ventilation valve and the flowing medium, thereby preventing the valve body from being soiled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: BSH Bosch und Seimens Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventors: Gerhard Graf, Bernd Hesterberg
  • Patent number: 7886391
    Abstract: The drum type washing machine includes a tub of plastic having a wall portion for holding washing water and securing a driving unit thereto, and a front side sloped upward at a predetermined angle from ground, a drum rotatably mounted in the tub, a hollow drum shaft passed through the tub, and connected to the drum inside of the tub for transmission of driving power from a motor to the drum, at least one bearing for supporting the hollow drum shaft, a stator fixedly secured to the rear wall portion of the tub, a rotor connected to a rear end of the drum shaft to constitute a motor together with the stator, a pulsator rotatably mounted in the drum, a pulsator shaft mounted to pass through the hollow of the drum shaft, having a fore end connected to the pulsator, and pulsator control means for braking/releasing rotation the pulsator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Tamotsu Shikamori, Dong Beom Lee, Jong Seog Kim
  • Patent number: 7874186
    Abstract: A washing machine has an abnormal vibration sensing apparatus. The abnormal vibration sensing apparatus includes a limiter having at least one opened side and connected to one of a vibrating body and a fixing body, a sensing rod having one end that is received in the limiter and separated from an inner wall of the limiter, and the other end that is connected to another of the vibrating body and the fixing body, and a contact sensing unit sensing whether the limiter and the sensing rod are in contact with each other so as to sense abnormal vibration of the vibrating body. According to this construction, it is possible to easily detect abnormal vibration in a plurality of directions without increasing the number of installing abnormal vibration sensing apparatuses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Sang-Hoon Lee, Tea-Hee Lee
  • Patent number: 7871472
    Abstract: A household washing appliance having a wash chamber with a sump region at the bottom is disclosed. The sump region is in communication with a filter housed in a filter chamber is disclosed. The appliance further includes a biocide element in communication with the wash chamber. The wash chamber operatively receives wash liquid from a wash pump downstream of the filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventor: Josef Arnold Buser
  • Patent number: 7861561
    Abstract: A portable wringer includes a housing having upper and lower ends and defining an open interior area therebetween. The portable wringer also includes first and second rollers positioned inside the open interior area, the first and second rollers being accessible through the housing and movable relative to one another so as to cooperatively pass an item therebetween. A crank handle is operatively connected to the rollers for causing at least one of the rollers to rotate. A plurality of legs are coupled to the housing adjacent the lower end of the housing with each leg being pivotable between a storage configuration and a deployed configuration. The legs may be telescopic for length adjustment thereof. The portable wringer includes a removable tray positionable in the housing beneath the first and second rollers for collecting a liquid initially associated with the item passed between the rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Inventors: Ronnie L. Briscoe, Trish J. Briscoe
  • Patent number: 7845037
    Abstract: A triple pass tunnel finisher for finishing fabric. The finisher includes a side module, a front module, and a rear module. The side module includes an entrance for receiving a fabric piece to be conveyed through the apparatus, and a steam injection chamber downstream of the entrance for treating the fabric piece with steam. The front module communicates with the side module to receive the fabric piece conveyed therefrom, and includes first and second hot air chambers, and an exit downstream of the second hot air chamber. The rear module communicates with the front module to receive the fabric piece therefrom, and includes a heating apparatus for heating the fabric piece, and a U-shaped intermediate hot air chamber downstream from the first hot air chamber and upstream from the second hot air chamber for receiving the fabric piece from the first hot air chamber and for delivering the fabric piece to the second hot air chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Leonard Automatics, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey Neal Frushtick
  • Patent number: 7845197
    Abstract: A high efficiency triple pass tunnel finisher includes an articulated spraying function for allowing steam to effectively penetrate a garment. The tunnel finisher can be used for the laundering of shirts, pants, and jackets. The tunnel finisher includes hot air chambers and a steam chamber that can include two rows of steam injectors located at a 45° angle in relation to the walls of the module. The steam chamber has a lower pressure than the hot air chambers, creating an air pressure differential. The hot air chambers are positively pressurized, preventing the relatively cooler air of the steam chamber from entering the chamber. The pressurization prevents heat loss, allowing the finisher to be more efficient, while increasing the temperature at which the garments exit the steam chamber. This leads to faster drying times, less garment wrinkling, and reduced dwell time for a garment with a high quality appearance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Leonard Automatics, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey Neal Frushtick
  • Patent number: 7846263
    Abstract: A vehicle mountable system for cleaning trash receptacles with wash-water. The system includes an enclosure with an access opening, supported on the vehicle, and a carriage disposed within the enclosure. A spray head is aligned to impinge wash-water against the trash receptacle while it is engaged with the carriage. A basin is aligned to accumulate wash-water drainage from the spraying operation. A spray shield is operated to a closed position that reduces wash-water effluence from the enclosure. The system may include a filter and means for sanitizing wash-water that is accumulated by the basin and recirculated through a holding tank. An automated arm engages a trash receptacle to engage and disengage the trash receptacle with the carriage through the access opening in the enclosure. Plural trash receptacles can be engaged with the carriage and advanced through plural positions within the enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Inventor: Gregory P. Marcantel
  • Patent number: 7832418
    Abstract: In the dishwasher, a washing water distribution pipe on which washing nozzles are installed is arranged within a washing chamber, and is connected removably to a first connecting pipe that communicates with the outlet side of a washing pump. In the same way, a rinsing water distribution pipe on which rinsing nozzles are installed is arranged within the washing chamber, and is connected removably to a second connecting pipe that communicates with the outlet side of a rinsing pump. These connections are made within a washing water tank in the bottom of the washing chamber, therefore the washing water distribution pipe and the rinsing water distribution pipe can be easily installed and removed from the washing chamber. Moreover, the washing water distribution pipe and the rinsing water distribution pipe are unitized, so handling is extremely easy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Hoshizaki Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshimasa Tameishi, Tomio Suyama, Kouji Suyama, Masumi Notsu, Keiichi Toga, Tadaharu Hosogi
  • Patent number: 7832237
    Abstract: An automatic washing machine comprises a spin tube coupled to the basket and an agitator shaft coupled to an agitator mounted in the basket. A motor coupled to the agitator shaft applies a torque the agitator shaft and thereby the agitator in first and second torque directions. A clutch couples the spin tube to the agitator shaft for cooperative rotation of the basket and the agitator regardless of the rotational direction of the agitator shaft. Because of the dual directionality of the clutch, reversing the motor simultaneously dynamically brakes the basket and the agitator, thereby eliminating the need for a separate friction brake for the basket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Eric E. Chang, William K. Kangas, Kurt Werner, Scott D. Slabbekoorn, James R. Sawyer
  • Patent number: 7806126
    Abstract: A substrate support for holding a substrate during fluid preparation is provided. The substrate support includes a support member defined from a resistive material. The support member is coupled to a first electrode and a second electrode to enable current heating of the resistive material of the support member. The support member is configured to support the substrate at a point. The current heating assists in evaporating fluid at the point during fluid preparation of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Katrina Mikhaylichenko, Kenneth C. Dodge, Mikhail Korolik, Michael Ravkin, John M. de Larios, Fritz C. Redeker
  • Patent number: 7788753
    Abstract: Disclosed are a structure of a washing machine having a steam generator (400), which drains remaining steam water, and a method for controlling the same. The washing machine includes a steam generator (400) including a case forming a space for storing water to generate steam, and a drain pipe (450) connected to the case (410) for draining the stored water; a valve (451) installed on the drain pipe (450); and a controller for controlling the steam generator and the drain opening/closing part valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Seog Kyu Park
  • Patent number: 7754026
    Abstract: A household dishwasher having a sonic cleaner that propagates sonic waves via a stream of liquid to clean off a utensil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventor: Dennis L. Kehl
  • Patent number: 7753060
    Abstract: An aqueous tube cleaning system as described herein can be utilized to clean a plurality of tubes having different lengths. The system includes a tower assembly having a wash chamber that houses the tubes during the cleaning cycle. The tower assembly is held in a horizontal load/unload position for loading and unloading of the tubes. The system rotates the tower assembly into a vertical cleaning orientation to accommodate cleaning with cleaning and rinse solutions, which flow through and around the tubes using the force of gravity. After rinsing and draining, the tower assembly is rotated back to the horizontal position for unloading.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: David M. Kozy, Daniel L. Nydegger, Kin Y. Wong, William R. Schell, David L. Wagner
  • Patent number: 7748524
    Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning a paint brush and preventing a discharge of harmful and flammable vapors. In a first embodiment, a housing has vertical front, side and rear walls that have upper edge portions in a common horizontal plane for providing a seat for a seal. The common upper of the housing are sealed by a soft resilient cellular seal and a cover that engages the housing. The cover and resilient cellular seal have aligned apertures for receiving in a pass through sealing relationship a handle of a paint brush. In a second embodiment, a cylindrical housing has an open top portion which is sealed by threadably engaging a cover with a resilient cellular seal therebetween. The cover and resilient cellular seal cover have aligned apertures for receiving in a pass through sealing relationship a handle of a paint brush.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Inventor: Edward Ruzumna
  • Patent number: 7743777
    Abstract: A water vapor cleaning system includes a vapor-producing chamber in communication with a water source, e.g. a hot water line, of an existing plumbing system. The vapor-producing device includes a vapor exit. The cleaning system includes a nozzle having an inlet, an outlet, and a valve selectively allowing or denying fluid communication between the inlet and outlet. The nozzle includes an actuator for selection between allowing or denying fluid communication. The nozzle is connected to the vapor-producing chamber with tubing. The nozzle also includes a vacuum device for suctioning items or blowing air through the tubing. A selector switch on the nozzle facilitates selection between steaming, vacuuming, blowing, soaping, and rinsing modes. A set of nozzle accessories are included for cleaning various types of surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Inventors: Vicki L. Gilman, Brett D. Gilman
  • Patent number: 7740711
    Abstract: A parts washer including magnets located near a pump inlet to collect metallic particles suspended in the cleaning fluid; a casing to protect the pump mechanism from impact during handling; the pump oriented horizontally to take advantage of the separation of the cleaning fluid in successive vertical layers; two liquid level sensors to measure the level of the cleaning fluid in the reservoir; an evaporation control plate located at the interface between the reservoir and the receptacle of the reservoir to confine the vapor portion of the cleaning solution; protective handlebars placed next to the controls of a control module to protect the device from impact; and a pump motor control to provide a low flow rate of cleaning fluid using a pump without a variable regulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: Safety-Kleen Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian E. Porter, Michael Endres, Scott Biba, Larry Gunseor, Charles Younger