Patents Examined by Cassey D Bauer
-
Patent number: 11719478Abstract: An ice maker, according to the present invention, comprises: a first tray forming a part of an ice-making cell; a second tray forming another part 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 turns on during a period when cold air is being supplied to the ice-making cell, and the output of the on heater can vary.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 2019Date of Patent: August 8, 2023Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.Inventors: Donghoon Lee, Wookyong Lee, Seungseob Yeom, Sunggyun Son, Donghoon Lee, Chongyoung Park
-
Patent number: 11719486Abstract: A machine compartment assembly for an appliance cabinet includes a fascia that is configured to engage said appliance cabinet. The fascia includes an upper portion that defines a plurality of slots along a length of the upper portion. The fascia also includes a first side flange that is operably coupled to the upper portion and a second side flange that is operably coupled to the upper portion. The first side flange and the second side flange each define a slit. A divider wall is proximate to the fascia. The divider wall includes a wall body that has an outer edge and defines a warm air zone and a cool air zone. The divider wall also includes a gasket is operably coupled to the outer edge of the wall body.Type: GrantFiled: December 31, 2020Date of Patent: August 8, 2023Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Rahul Chhajed, Mansi Katkar, Manjunathraddi Navalgund, Sanjesh Kumar Pathak
-
Patent number: 11713913Abstract: A refrigerator appliance includes an ice maker provided within a cabinet of the appliance, the ice maker including a plurality of walls forming a receiving space, a conductive ice mold provided within the receiving space, the conductive ice mold defining an internal cavity and an exterior surface, a primary water supply positioned below the conductive ice mold to direct an ice-building spray of water to the conductive ice mold, a heat exchanger disposed on the conductive ice mold to draw heat therefrom, and a secondary water supply provided adjacent the exterior surface of the conductive ice mold. The secondary water supply dispenses ice-melting water over the exterior surface of the conductive ice mold.Type: GrantFiled: November 11, 2021Date of Patent: August 1, 2023Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.Inventors: Brent Alden Junge, Bart Andrew Nuss, Stuart Murphy
-
Patent number: 11709014Abstract: A refrigerator includes a cabinet defining an upper storage space, a lower storage space and a machine room provided at a lower end of the cabinet. A dispenser is provided in an upper door of the upper storage space to dispense water or liquid, and an ice maker is provided inside the upper door to make ice. A pump assembly is provided inside the machine room to pump water through a water supply passage from a water tank to the dispenser and the ice maker. The water supply passage extends downward from the water tank after passing through a rear surface of the cabinet to connect to the pump assembly inside the machine room and extends upward from the pump assembly and passes through an upper surface of the cabinet to connect to the dispenser and the ice maker.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 2021Date of Patent: July 25, 2023Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.Inventor: Jimin You
-
Patent number: 11700892Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a precise temperature control device and method for a fluid circulation unit. The device includes a temperature controller, a cold source container, and a liquid cooling vest. The temperature controller includes a shell. a water tank, a first water pump, a second water pump, and a main control panel. The first water pump is connected to the cold source container and the water tank. The second water pump is connected to the water tank and the liquid cooling vest. The liquid cooling vest is connected to the cold source container and the water tank. The water tank is provided with a temperature sensor. The main control panel is electrically connected to an operation apparatus.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2022Date of Patent: July 18, 2023Assignee: Shenzhen Compcooler Technology Development Co., Ltd.Inventors: Zhengjun Sun, Qiumao Zhuang, Zhou Sun
-
Patent number: 11701250Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for manipulating the temperature of a surface are provided. Devices of the present disclosure may include a thermal adjustment apparatus, such as a controller in electrical communication with one or more thermoelectric materials, placed adjacent to the surface of skin. The device may generate a series of thermal pulses at the surface, for providing an enhanced thermal sensation for a user. The thermal pulses may be characterized by temperature reversibility, where each pulse includes an initial temperature adjustment, followed by a return temperature adjustment, over a short period of time (e.g., less than 120 seconds). The average rate of temperature change upon initiation and upon return may be between about 0.1° C./sec and about 10.0° C./sec. In some cases, the average rate of the initial temperature adjustment is greater in magnitude than the average rate of the return temperature adjustment.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2018Date of Patent: July 18, 2023Assignee: EMBR Labs Inc.Inventors: Matthew J. Smith, Samuel Shames, Michael Gibson, David Cohen-Tanugi
-
Patent number: 11698222Abstract: A food preservation system including a refrigerator and a freezer, wherein the refrigerator and freezer are independent from each other; the refrigerator comprising a fresh food compartment; the freezer including an icemaker and means for receiving filtered water; a water filter located in the fresh food compartment; a water supply line leading into an inflow side of the water filter; a refrigerator inlet valve connected to an inlet side of the water filter and a water distribution valve, wherein the water distribution valve comprises an auxiliary icemaker water valve, the distribution valve connected to an outflow side of the water filter; tubing connecting an outflow side of the auxiliary icemaker water valve to the icemaker; and a refrigerator main controller, wherein the refrigerator main controller is in operable communication with the refrigerator inlet valve and the auxiliary icemaker water valve is provided, Methods to make ice with filtered water are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: January 6, 2021Date of Patent: July 11, 2023Assignee: Electrolux Home Products, Inc.Inventors: Matthew Edge, Marcello Machado, Thomas McCollough, James T. McHan, Jose Macias, Raony Barrios, Mark Holle
-
Patent number: 11698223Abstract: A method for controlling an operation of a refrigeration appliance includes controlling a first cooling routine for a first compartment via a flow of a thermal exchange media to a first evaporator. The method further includes controlling a heating routine in response to a setpoint temperature being greater than the temperature of the first compartment. The heating routine includes activating a heating element and a fan in the first compartment over a first interval and deactivating the heating element and the fan over a second interval. The heating routine continues by activating the first interval and the second interval over alternating time periods. In response to the temperature of the first compartment being greater than or equal to a target temperature associated with the setpoint, the method may control the operation of the appliance by returning to the cooling routine.Type: GrantFiled: January 21, 2020Date of Patent: July 11, 2023Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Rishikesh Vinayak Kulkarni, Mahendra Patil, E. C. Pickles, Daniel N. Maas, Murthy Raju V.S.N. Jaina
-
Patent number: 11692754Abstract: An ice maker includes an ice mold having an inner surface and an outer surface. The inner surface of the ice mold is configured to retain water for forming ice cubes in the ice mold. The ice mold includes a plurality of ice lobes each shaped to form a respective ice cube in the ice mold. A heater assembly is positioned on the outer surface of the ice mold. In some embodiments, each of a plurality of heating elements of the heater assembly is aligned with a corresponding lobe of the plurality of lobes for supplying heat to ice cubes formed in the lobes for releasing the ice cubes from the ice mold. In some embodiments, the heater assembly includes a heater having a ceramic substrate and one or more electrically resistive traces and electrically conductive traces thick film printed on the ceramic substrate.Type: GrantFiled: January 19, 2021Date of Patent: July 4, 2023Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.Inventors: Jerry Wayne Smith, Russell Edward Lucas, Calvin Dale Murphy, Peter Alden Bayerle
-
Patent number: 11686519Abstract: A batch ice maker can execute a pulsed fill routine in which a control system pulses water from a water supply into the sump until the sump reaches a predefined freeze routine starting level. Pulsing may begin after continuously filling the sump to a fill-approach level. A batch ice maker can execute a differential freeze routine in which the control system circulates water from a sump to an ice formation device until water level decreases by a predefined differential amount from a high control water level based on the water level in the sump at a point in time after the sump was filled to a freeze routine starting level. The high control water level can be set based on water level in the sump when sump water temperature reaches a predefined pre-chill temperature. The predefined pre-chill temperature can be associated with a switchover from sensible cooling to latent cooling.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 2021Date of Patent: June 27, 2023Assignee: TRUE MANUFACTURING CO., INC.Inventor: Kevin Knatt
-
Patent number: 11674737Abstract: A refrigerator to be installed in a storage space defined by a wall of an object includes a contact mechanism so that the refrigerator makes contact with the wall, and thus the refrigerator can be installed.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 2021Date of Patent: June 13, 2023Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.Inventors: Yongnam Kim, Minkyu Oh, Yanghwan No, Seongwoo An
-
Patent number: 11674741Abstract: A heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) unit includes a drain pan configured to collect condensate generated by the HVAC unit. The HVAC unit also includes a drain spout having a rigid outlet port coupled to the drain pan and a flexible conduit coupled to the rigid outlet port. The drain spout is adjustable between a first configuration configured to discharge the condensate from the HVAC unit via a first opening of the HVAC unit and a second configuration configured to discharge the condensate from the HVAC unit via a second opening of the HVAC unit.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2019Date of Patent: June 13, 2023Assignee: Johnson Controls Tyco IP Holdings LLPInventors: Curtis A. Trammell, John L. McElvany
-
Patent number: 11674747Abstract: A refrigerator including a main body having a storeroom, an inner door rotatably coupled to the main body and having a door opening, an outer door rotatably arranged in front of the inner door to open or close the door opening, a dispenser including a water-intake space and an operation lever and configured to supply water to the water-intake space by manipulation of the operation lever, and an automatic water supplier including a water container installation space formed to have a water container mounted and a water level sensor configured to detect a water level of the water container, and configured to supply water into the water container to fill the water container with a certain amount of water. The water-intake space and the water container installation space may be arranged in the door opening of the inner door to be accessed while the inner door is closed.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 2022Date of Patent: June 13, 2023Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.Inventors: Juno Kwon, Jin Jeong, Gahyeong Kim, Hocheol Cho
-
Patent number: 11662138Abstract: A water circuit assembly for a refrigerator that delivers water from a source to a first destination and a second destination spaced apart from the first destination. The water circuit assembly includes an inlet valve positioned outside a compartment of the refrigerator and a water filter assembly positioned adjacent a top wall and a first side wall of a liner that defines the compartment. The water circuit further includes a bracket secured to a rear wall of the liner, a water tank supported by the bracket along the rear wall of the liner, and a diverter valve attached to the bracket and fluidly connected to the inlet valve to thereby divert the flow of water from the inlet valve to a selected one of the first destination or the second destination.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2018Date of Patent: May 30, 2023Assignee: Electrolux do Brasil S.A.Inventors: Israel Mercer, Victor Batista, Rafael Leidens, Alcione Colecha, Guilherme Picanço
-
Patent number: 11662129Abstract: An icemaker appliance and a method for making clear ice are provided. The icemaking apparatus includes a cabinet forming an ice storage compartment. A reservoir is provided within the ice storage compartment. A liquid supply conduit is configured to supply liquid to the reservoir. An ice mold is configured to freeze liquid at the ice mold. A nozzle is configured to dispense the liquid from the reservoir to the ice mold. A controller is configured to execute instructions that perform operations. The operations include dispensing, from a body of liquid at the reservoir, a flow of liquid toward the ice mold; freezing, at the ice mold, a first portion of the flow of liquid received from dispensing the flow of liquid to the ice mold; providing, to the reservoir, a second portion of the flow of liquid dispensed toward the ice mold; and providing, from the liquid supply conduit to the reservoir, a supply of liquid after dispensing the flow of liquid toward the ice mold.Type: GrantFiled: November 3, 2021Date of Patent: May 30, 2023Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.Inventors: Brent Alden Junge, Alan Joseph Mitchell
-
Patent number: 11656018Abstract: The present application relates to the field of ice making, and provides an ice making system and a refrigeration apparatus. The ice making system includes an ice making assembly, a water collecting tank located below the ice making assembly, and a water diversion ice rake structure. The water diversion ice rake structure includes: a pair of water receiving lateral wings, each of which is constructed with a rotary end and a free end; the pair of water receiving lateral wings are rotatably disposed on opposite sides of the ice making assembly through the respective rotary ends to rotate between an ice making position and an ice falling position. At the ice making position, the free ends of the pair of water receiving lateral wings are butted in a space between the ice making assembly and the water collecting tank to form a closure space with an opening facing the ice making assembly, and a water outlet communicating with the water collecting tank is constructed on one side of the closure space.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2019Date of Patent: May 23, 2023Assignee: MIDEA GROUP CO., LTD.Inventors: Xing Chen, Yang Shao, Zanxi Liu, Jincai Wang, Zengqiang Si, Mingxing Sun, Cunyu Liu, Gang Cui
-
Patent number: 11655989Abstract: An outdoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus includes: a housing; and a partition plate, a device accommodated in a machine chamber, a fan accommodated in a fan chamber, the partition plate having a wiring passage, wherein the outdoor unit includes a water receiving part provided to the machine chamber, the water receiving part having a box shape, a side wall portion of the water receiving part has a first opening port, and an upper surface portion of the water receiving part has a second opening port, the water receiving part is attached to the partition plate such that an edge of the first opening port is in contact with the partition plate, a gap, through which water discharged by the water receiving part passes, is formed between a bottom portion of the water receiving part and the partition plate, the bottom portion being inclined toward the gap.Type: GrantFiled: April 9, 2019Date of Patent: May 23, 2023Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric CorporationInventors: Kyonosuke Oikawa, Yo Kitabatake
-
Patent number: 11648178Abstract: A medical fluid storage and transportation enclosure can include a housing, a chamber, an exhaust duct, an inlet duct, and a valve. The housing can include walls defining a cavity, where the cavity can be configured to receive a medical product therein. The chamber can be adjacent to the cavity and can be configured to exchange heat with the cavity. The valve can be located in the inlet duct, where the valve can be movable in response to an air.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2019Date of Patent: May 16, 2023Assignee: Thaddeus Medical Systems, Inc.Inventor: Andreas Vlahinos
-
Patent number: 11629903Abstract: A refrigerator include: an inner case having a storage chamber; a thermoelectric module including a thermoelectric element and a cooling sink; a fan configured to circulate air, to the storage chamber; a fan cover configured to cover the fan and having an upper discharge hole, a lower discharge hole, and an inner suction hole formed between the upper discharge hole and the lower discharge hole; a first receiving member disposed in the storage chamber; and a second receiving member disposed over the first receiving member to be spaced apart from the first receiving member. At least a portion of each of the inner suction hole and the lower discharge hole faces a portion between the first receiving member and the second receiving member, and at least a portion of the upper discharge hole faces a portion between a top surface of the storage chamber and the second receiving member.Type: GrantFiled: July 7, 2022Date of Patent: April 18, 2023Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.Inventors: Minkyu Oh, Heayoun Sul, Hyoungkeun Lim, Jeehoon Choi
-
Patent number: 11629899Abstract: A heat pump system and a control method therefor. The heat pump system includes a compressor; an indoor heal exchanger; an outdoor heat exchanger, including a first heat exchange portion and a second heat exchange portion, wherein a flow path switching device is provided between the first heat exchange portion and the second heat exchange portion to disconnect or communicate the first heat exchange portion and the second heat exchange portion; a first four-way valve; and a second four-way valve, configured to enable a high-temperature refrigerant to be input into the first heat exchange portion in a heating mode, so as to enable the heat pump system to operate in a heating and deicing mode.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2018Date of Patent: April 18, 2023Assignee: Gree Electric Appliances, Inc. of ZhuhaiInventors: Tao Feng, Limin Li, Huajie Li, Wenhao Huang, Peng Cao, Mengmeng Jin, Chao Zhou, Shiqiang Zhu