Patents Examined by Cristi J Tate-Sims
  • Patent number: 11976412
    Abstract: A clothes treatment apparatus includes a first chamber for accommodating clothes, a second chamber under the first chamber, a blowing fan for suctioning air from the first chamber, a heat pump for compressing a refrigerant for heat exchange with the air suctioned by the blowing fan and discharging the heat-exchanged air to the first chamber, a steamer for generating and supplying steam, a water supply tank for supplying water to the steamer, a water drain tank for storing condensed water generated in the first chamber and the heat pump, a hanger bar positioned in the first chamber and configured to hold the clothes in the first chamber. The apparatus further includes a motor, a vibrating body for vibrating alternately in opposite rotation directions, and a motion converter for rotating together with the vibrating body and converting the vibration of the vibrating body to allow the hanger bar to reciprocate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Semin Jang, Minji Kim, Jaehyung Kim, Joosik Jung
  • Patent number: 11970811
    Abstract: A hub for an overmolded basket base assembly of a laundry appliance is provided. The hub includes a central core defining an opening along an axis configured to receive a drive shaft. The hub further includes a disc, extending radially outwardly from the core about the axis, the disc configured to be overmolded in polymeric material that forms an overmolded plastic base, the disc including a plurality of posts arranged around the core and extending upward from a top surface of the disc to form a circumferentially-extending array to align the hub when applying torque to the hub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jesse de Freitas Goncalves, Kenneth McConnell, Steven Fricke, Marcos H. Herrmann, Bradley D. Morrow, Eric J. Walsh, Christine L. Strain, Peter A. Wagoner
  • Patent number: 11970813
    Abstract: A laundry appliance including an appliance housing, a wash unit tub disposed inside the appliance housing, a drum rotatably supported within the wash unit tub, and a wash water dispenser assembly. A laundry compartment is provided inside the drum and the drum is rotatable about a drum axis. The wash water dispenser assembly includes a dispenser hose and a mating interface assembly. The dispenser hose includes a dispenser hose inlet and a dispenser hose outlet. The mating interface assembly connects the dispenser hose outlet to the wash unit tub. The mating interface assembly includes a tub port adapter on the tub sidewall that extends outwardly away from the drum axis to provide a mechanical connection with the dispenser hose outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Rajwardhan Deshmukh, Mohsin M. Attar, Arun Rajendran, Kurt L. Masciovecchio, Jason R. Spears, Michael Vriezema, Kristian N. Engelsen
  • Patent number: 11967491
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for cleaning parts used in substrate processing. In a method for cleaning parts of a substrate processing, plasma generated from cleaning gas is supplied together with a cooling medium to clean the parts, but the cooling medium may be provided at a lower temperature than the plasma.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: SEMES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Soon-Cheon Cho, Su Hyung Lee, Youngran Ko, Juyong Jang
  • Patent number: 11965277
    Abstract: Disclosed is a detergent additive box. The detergent additive box is a closed box structure having a cavity inside. The detergent additive box is provided with a one-way ventilation valve and a liquid outlet. An on-off valve is arranged on the liquid outlet. A suction device is arranged in the detergent additive box. An inlet of the suction device is communicated with the cavity, and an outlet of the suction device is communicated with an inlet of the on-off valve. The detergent additive box of the present disclosure cooperates with a switching mechanism of a washing machine and a feeding pipeline of the washing machine to realize automatic drainage and multi-time drainage, so that the detergent additive box does not need to be mounted at each time of washing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignees: CHONGQING HAIER DRUM WASHING MACHINE CO., LTD., HAIER SMART HOME CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Peishi Lv, Baozhen Cheng, Tao Huang
  • Patent number: 11963838
    Abstract: A method for preparing and/or caring for a medical or dental instrument is defined in that the instrument jointly with a connection adapter is first connected to a first preparation and/or care device and subsequently to a second preparation and/or care device. Furthermore, a coupling device is described which is configured to connect a preparation and/or care device for a medical or dental instrument to a connection adapter. A plug-in coupling arrangement and a system are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: W&H Dentalwerk Bürmoos GmbH
    Inventors: Florian Galluseder, Michael Reiter
  • Patent number: 11965278
    Abstract: Disclosed is a detergent additive box. The detergent additive box is a closed box structure having a cavity inside. The detergent additive box is provided with a one-way ventilation valve and a liquid outlet. An on-off valve is arranged on the liquid outlet. A suction device is arranged in the detergent additive box. An inlet of the suction device is communicated with the cavity, and an outlet of the suction device is communicated with an inlet of the on-off valve. The detergent additive box of the present disclosure cooperates with a switching mechanism of a washing machine and a feeding pipeline of the washing machine to realize automatic drainage and multi-time drainage, so that the detergent additive box does not need to be mounted at each time of washing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignees: CHONGQING HAIER DRUM WASHING MACHINE CO., LTD., HAIER SMART HOME CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Peishi Lv, Baozhen Cheng, Tao Huang
  • Patent number: 11959222
    Abstract: A clothes treatment apparatus includes a cabinet including an inlet, a first chamber positioned inside the cabinet and defining a space for accommodating clothes through the inlet, and a hanger bar positioned in the first chamber and configured to hold clothes accommodated in the first chamber. The apparatus further includes a driver including: a motor configured to generate torque; a vibrating body configured to support the motor and vibrate alternately in opposite rotation directions by rotation of the motor; and a motion converter configured to rotate together with the vibrating body and convert the vibration of the vibrating body in connection with the hanger bar such that the hanger bar reciprocates along a predetermined movement direction. The hanger bar is configured to reciprocate with different amplitudes and periods depending on a number of times that the motor rotates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Semin Jang, Jaehyung Kim, Minji Kim
  • Patent number: 11959215
    Abstract: A method for detecting entrapment of an article within a laundry washing machine. The method includes rotating the drum to a target rotation speed, determining a respective drum motor torque value for each rotation, determining a distribution characteristic value of the drum motor torque values, comparing the distribution characteristic value to a predetermined threshold value, performing a correction operation to address an entrapment condition upon determining that the distribution characteristic value is above the predetermined threshold value, and proceeding with the laundry washing cycle upon determining that the distribution characteristic value is below the predetermined threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Electrolux Home Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Alberto Moro, Andrea Franceschetti, Fabio Altinier, Daniele Beninato
  • Patent number: 11958084
    Abstract: A cleaning device, and method of using the same, for cleaning a probe. The device includes a body defining an inner chamber. An air intake is connected to at least one air channel through the body, the at least one air channel configured to allow air from the air intake to flow into the inner chamber and towards the inner chamber. A liquid intake is connected to at least one liquid channel through the body, the at least one liquid channel configured to allow liquid from the liquid intake to flow into the inner chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: INSTRUMENTATION LABORATORY COMPANY
    Inventors: Jo-Ann Loh, Joshua Shreve, Chison Liu
  • Patent number: 11951517
    Abstract: Apparatus for cleaning a tank's inner side includes a tank-mountable frame, a frame-mounted support drivable with respect to the frame about a first rotation axis, a support-mounted nozzle drivable with respect to the support about a second rotation axis transverse to the first axis. The nozzle's spraying direction faces away from the second axis. A controller of the apparatus drives the support and the nozzle, such that the nozzle is rotated about the second axis alternatingly from a start position to a stop position by a predefined cleaning angle smaller than one revolution and from the stop position to the start position. The nozzle angular velocity with respect to the support is smaller than the support angular velocity with respect to the frame within the cleaning angle and smaller than the nozzle angular velocity with respect to the support during movement from the stop position to the leaning start position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Inventor: Johnny Martin Wijnveldt
  • Patent number: 11946193
    Abstract: A laundry treating apparatus includes a cabinet; a laundry receiving space defined in the cabinet and configured for receiving laundry therein; an insertion opening defined in a front face of the cabinet and in fluid communication with the laundry receiving space; a door rotatably fixed to the cabinet to open and close the insertion opening; a supply unit configured to supply at least one of air or water vapor to the laundry receiving space; a support assembly provided in the laundry receiving space and configured to support the laundry; and a conveying part configured to move the support assembly toward the insertion opening when the door opens the insertion opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Donghwan Lee, Myungshik Kim, Jeaseok Seong, Sungkyong Han, Junyi Heo
  • Patent number: 11946191
    Abstract: A washing machine appliance may include a cabinet, a tub, a wash basket, a drawer, an air inlet, and an air outlet. The cabinet defining an opening to receive articles therethrough. The tub being positioned within the cabinet. The wash basket being rotatably mounted within the tub. The wash basket defining a wash chamber for receiving articles for washing. The drawer mounted to the cabinet. The drawer defining a compartment to receive a scent additive therein. The air inlet line extending from the compartment in downstream fluid communication with the wash chamber to direct air therefrom. The air outlet line extending to the compartment in upstream fluid communication with the wash chamber to direct air thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander B. Leibman, Venkata Chakradhar Rangu, Jay Pareshbhai Shinde, FikreAdam Abebe Damtew
  • Patent number: 11946183
    Abstract: A method performed by one or more devices includes determining an information item indicative of at least one parameter affecting the treatment of a textile with the information item being detected by an information carrier of the textile (220) and/or a cleaning device (230), or a cleaning agent (210) and the textile (220), or the cleaning agent (210) and the cleaning device, or the cleaning agent (210) and the textile (220) and the cleaning device and the information carrier comprises a package, a label, an NFC chip or a combination thereof, determining at least one treatment parameter of the textile based at least in part on the determined information item, and outputting or triggering the outputting of the at least one determined treatment parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: HENKEL AG & CO. KGAA
    Inventors: Arnd Kessler, Christian Nitsch, Lars Zuechner, Georg Wawer, Alexander Mueller, Clemens Arth
  • Patent number: 11939718
    Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning a fabric article includes an emitting header that emits fluid towards the fabric article and a suction header that suctions the fluid emitted by the emitting header. The suction header and the emitting header are parallel to each other and separated from each other by a space. The space is configured for positioning the fabric article in the space so that fluid emitted by the emitting header flows through the fabric article towards the suction header. A washing appliance for cleaning a fabric article includes a detergent compartment, a control system monitor, a pump, a water compartment, an emitting header that emits fluid towards the fabric article, a suction header that suctions the fluid emitted by the emitting header, a screen disposed between the emitting header and the suction header, and a servo motor in communication with at least one of the emitting header and the suction header.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Inventors: Ali Rabbani, Pedram Rabanne
  • Patent number: 11930969
    Abstract: The shower-cleaning apparatus is configured for use with a supply side source. The supply side source further comprises a source pipe and a third exterior screw thread. The shower-cleaning apparatus removably attaches to the third exterior screw thread. The shower-cleaning apparatus forms a fluidic connection that allows for the water flowing through the source pipe to be targeted at specific locations for cleaning purposes. The shower-cleaning apparatus incorporates a hose, a nozzle apparatus, and a source apparatus. The nozzle apparatus attaches to the hose. The source apparatus attaches to the hose. The source apparatus forms a detachable fluidic connection to the source pipe. The hose transports water from the source apparatus to the nozzle apparatus. The nozzle apparatus discharges the water received from the source pipe into the shower. In the first potential embodiment of the disclosure, the supply side source is a shower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Inventor: Donald Staton
  • Patent number: 11926017
    Abstract: A cleaning process monitoring system, comprising: a cleaning container comprising an inlet for receiving a cleaning solution and an outlet for draining a waste solution; a particle detector coupled to the outlet and configured to measure a plurality of particle parameters associated with the waste solution so as to provide a real-time monitoring of the cleaning process; a pump coupled to the cleaning container and configured to provide suction force to draw solution through the cleaning system; a controller coupled to the pump and the particle detector and configured to receive the plurality of particle parameters from the particle detector and to provide control to the cleaning system; and a host computer coupled to the controller and configured to provide at least one control parameter to the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Charlie Wang, Yu-Ping Tseng, Y. J. Chen, Wai-Ming Yeung, Chien-Shen Chen, Danny Kuo, Yu-Hsuan Hsieh, Hsuan Lo
  • Patent number: 11920281
    Abstract: A washing machine includes a cabinet, a tub positioned in the cabinet, a basket assembly mounted in the tub, a manifold mounted in the cabinet, and a dispenser box slidably mounted to the manifold. The dispenser box is configured to provide selective access to an interior of the dispenser box, and a powder detergent chamber is configured for receiving powder detergent. A drawer is slidably mounted to the dispenser box within the interior of the dispenser box. The drawer defines a liquid detergent chamber. Liquid detergent chamber nests within the powder detergent chamber in the interior of the dispenser box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: FikreAdam Abebe Damtew
  • Patent number: 11920271
    Abstract: A laundry treatment appliance having at least one compartment adapted to contain multiple doses of a treatment agent; at least one metering device adapted to draw up from the compartment at least one treatment agent dose to be delivered to a laundry load to be treated during a laundry treatment cycle; a user interface having at least one input selector for user selection of at least one treatment agent management function that affects the drawing up of the at least one treatment agent dose by the at least one metering device, and a communication interface for allowing a communication relationship between the laundry treatment appliance and an external user device, the communication interface being configured to receive from the external device enablement commands enabling the at least one input selector to allow the user selection of the at least one treatment agent management function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Electrolux Appliances Aktiebolag
    Inventors: Hugo Gnadeberg, Paolo Quattrin, Luca Da Re
  • Patent number: 11920280
    Abstract: A washing machine appliance may include a cabinet, a tub, a wash basket, a plurality of rotatable blades, and an infuser basket. The cabinet may define an opening. The tub may be disposed within the cabinet. The wash basket may be rotatably mounted within the tub to rotate about a rotation axis. The plurality of rotatable blades may be attached to the wash basket to generate a vortex airflow within the cabinet. The infuser basket may define an infuser compartment to hold a scent additive therein. The infuser basket may further defining a plurality of slots to permit the vortex airflow to flow through the infuser compartment within the cabinet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander B. Leibman, Anburaj Ravikumar