Patents Examined by Cristi Tate-Sims
  • Patent number: 10316452
    Abstract: A laundry treatment apparatus includes a drawer. The laundry treatment apparatus further includes a cabinet that is configured to receive the drawer. The laundry treatment apparatus further includes a tub that is located in the drawer and that defines a space that is configured to receive water. The laundry treatment apparatus further includes a drum that is located in the tub, that is configured to rotate, and that defines a space configured to receive laundry. The laundry treatment apparatus further includes a spacer that is configured to maintain separation between the drawer and the cabinet, that is configured to prevent the drawer from discharging from the cabinet, and that is removable by a user from outside the cabinet while the drawer is in the cabinet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Sangyong Lee
  • Patent number: 9991841
    Abstract: A photovoltaic (PV) module cleaning system can include a robotic cleaning device and a support system. The support system can be configured to provide a metered fill to the robotic cleaning device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: SunPower Corporation
    Inventors: Devin Cameron Castellucci, Marc Grossman, Erik Cummins, Juan Sanchez-Garcia, Cedric Jeanty, Benjamin Allen Meeder
  • Patent number: 9988754
    Abstract: A laundry treating appliance comprising a dispensing assembly which can identify laundry treating chemistry filled in a loading cup by way of a material sensor, and supplying said laundry treating chemistry to a proper corresponding bulk reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventor: Venkataprabhath Kakaraparthi
  • Patent number: 9973131
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a motor driving device and a laundry treatment apparatus. The motor driving device may include an inverter to convert DC power into AC power according to a switching operation and to output the converted AC power to a motor, an output current detector to detect an output current flowing through the motor, and a controller to control the inverter based on the detected output current. The controller changes a carrier frequency, changes a voltage command based on the changed carrier frequency and outputs an inverter switching control signal to the inverter based on the changed carrier frequency and the changed voltage command. Accordingly, noise may be reduced during operation of the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Junho Lee, Chungill Lee, Jungmoon Je
  • Patent number: 9964311
    Abstract: A cleaning system for cleaning a cavity of food or beverage preparation device. The cavity is connected with a pipe system. The pipe system supplies a fluid through the pipe system to the cavity. When the fluid flow stops, any remainder of the fluid in the pipe system is removed by passing a gas (for example, air) through the pipe system or by a valve disposed at a high location of the pipe system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: CONVOTHERM ELEKTROGERAETE GMBH
    Inventors: Martin Behle, Lutz Riefenstein, Hannes Wild, Guenter Wurdinger
  • Patent number: 9962746
    Abstract: A device for the cleaning of pipes, such as household waste and sewer pipes is proposed, the device includes a nozzle movable in at least three axes within a pipe for providing a jet of cleaning fluid directed to soilage in pipes; a cleaning hose for supply of cleaning fluid is connected to the nozzle and a swivel mechanism for deflecting the nozzle at an angle relative to a longitudinal axis, a front end portion of the hose is bent in a bending direction in a bending plane; at least one drive for deflecting the nozzle around the longitudinal axis by changing the direction of bending and the bending plane without torsion to the cleaning hose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: IMS Robotics GmbH
    Inventors: Jens Bauer, Thomas Hache
  • Patent number: 9945063
    Abstract: A washing machine comprises a drum and a heat pump system for heating water to be fed to the drum in a washing program. The heat pump system has an evaporator in heat exchange relationship with a room air flow and a condenser in heat exchange relationship with water to be heated, an air deflector being configured to divert said room air flow downstream the evaporator away from the condenser in a water heating configuration and to convey said air towards the condenser in a room air dehumidifying configuration of the washing machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Claudio Civanelli, Daniele Martinello
  • Patent number: 9931677
    Abstract: To provide a cleaning apparatus which is flexibly adaptable to a wide variety of workpieces so as to improve productivity while being suitably adaptable to high-pressure cleaning so as to improve cleaning work efficiency. The cleaning apparatus 10 for cleaning a workpiece W by jetting cleaning liquid from nozzles 22 disposed in a cleaning region E includes: a moving device 70; a feeding device 40 that is disposed facing the cleaning region E to hold and move the workpiece W; a holding device 17 that is disposed on the feeding device 40 to hold the workpiece W; a moving device 70 that movably supports the feeding device 40; and a cover device 14 that shields the moving device 70 from the cleaning region E and allows the feeding device 40 to pass therethrough. The feeding device 40 moves the workpiece W to the cleaning region E for cleaning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: SUGINO MACHINE LIMITED
    Inventors: Toyoaki Mitsue, Yoshiteru Kawamori, Toru Sumiyoshi
  • Patent number: 9931016
    Abstract: A dishwasher includes a tub with a sidewall. A vent is attached to the sidewall of the tub. An inlet line is disposed outside the sidewall and is attached to the vent. The inlet line provides water to the tub through the sidewall. An insulation blanket is disposed over the tub sidewall and the vent. A water vapor path extends from the vent to at least an edge of the insulation blanket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: Owens Corning Intellectual Capital, LLC
    Inventor: Anthony L. Rockwell
  • Patent number: 9922861
    Abstract: A rotary table; a drive motor M configured to rotate the rotary table; a pin base supported by the rotary table; a pin fixing member configured to move closer to or away from C1 upon the pin base revolving; first chuck pins and second chuck pins provided on the pin fixing member and configured to be into contact with an outer edge of the substrate W; a substrate gripping force generation mechanism including a spring member; a chuck pin switching mechanism including an inertia member configured to be rotated coaxially with the rotary table and a protruded member provided on an outer peripheral part of the inertia member; and a cam member provided on the pin fixing member and configured to engage with protruded member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: SHIBAURA MECHATRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masaaki Furuya, Koichi Higuchi
  • Patent number: 9913567
    Abstract: Tubs for dishwasher appliances, as well as associated dishwasher appliances, are provided. A tub includes a plurality of walls defining a wash chamber. At least one of the plurality of walls includes a non-porous outer barrier, a non-porous inner barrier, and a porous media disposed between the outer barrier and the inner barrier. The porous media includes a matrix and one or more voids defined in the matrix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: John Edward Dries, Gregory Owen Miller
  • Patent number: 9908068
    Abstract: The present system relates to a water and debris recovery system for a water blasting device suitable for mounting upon the frame of a mobile vehicle for easy transport and use. The system includes a liquid reservoir connected to a high pressure fluid pump for directing ultra-high pressure water through a blast head to remove the coatings or markings from a surface. The blast head includes a shroud which surrounds the blasting area to at least partially contain the water and debris dislodged from the surface. A vacuum pump is secured to the shroud with the vacuum passing through a cyclone type separator, allowing the water and debris to settle to the bottom portion of the cyclone. The tank includes a floating floor and bladder assembly that allows the same space to be utilized for clean as well as dirty water while maintaining separation of the two.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Waterblasting, LLC
    Inventor: James P. Crocker
  • Patent number: 9861247
    Abstract: The present patent document provides embodiments of a filter and a system for use with the filter for separating dirt and other contaminates from wash liquids. In a preferred embodiment the filter comprises: a plurality of passages all oriented parallel to each other wherein the passages have a circular top with a first diameter and a circular bottom with a second smaller diameter and a portion in between the top and the bottom that is funnel shaped; a body that couples each of the plurality of passages together; wherein the passages are arranged in concentric circles radiating out from the center of the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: SMART, INC.
    Inventor: Paul Schneider
  • Patent number: 9840799
    Abstract: A laundry treatment apparatus includes a cabinet having an upper surface, the upper surface being configured to receive an object thereon, a drawer adapted to be drawn from the cabinet, a drum disposed in the drawer and defining a space for receiving laundry, a driving unit configured to rotate the drum, a control unit configured to control the driving unit, and a connector unit configured to impact an ability of the control unit to control operation of the driving unit based on whether or not the object is placed on the upper surface of the cabinet by preventing the control unit from controlling operation of the driving unit based on the object being absent from the upper surface of the cabinet and by allowing the control unit to control operation of the driving unit based on the object being placed on the upper surface of the cabinet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Minkyu Sang, Kwangchul Heo
  • Patent number: 9839341
    Abstract: A food waste collector system has a tank, a pump that recirculates water by pumping it from the tank through a spout that discharges into the top of the tank, and an overhead sprayer. The overhead sprayer has a nozzle fluidly coupled by a fresh water valve to a fresh water passage of a water line and by a recirculating water valve to a recirculating water passage of the water line. The overhead sprayer also has a valve handle disposed at the nozzle and coupled to the fresh water valve and the recirculating water valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: Emerson Electric Co.
    Inventor: Robert A. Greco
  • Patent number: 9840800
    Abstract: A laundry treating apparatus including a drum holding a washing object, a drive unit rotating the drum, a drive controller, a display unit with an input unit accepting drive unit control orders, and a display communicating treating progress of the washing object. The display unit having a controller with an input data processing unit, an output data processing unit, and a processing unit control program for running the input and output data processing units. The laundry treating apparatus further including a system managing unit enabling the drive controller and display unit to exchange data with the display unit controller, ordering operation of the display unit, and running the processing unit control program, a list storage unit storing a program list the display unit controller runs, and a monitoring unit for initializing the system managing unit if the processing unit control program is not at the list storage unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Hyosang Shin, Hyunsang Kim, Minkyu Park
  • Patent number: 9814367
    Abstract: A dishwasher includes a cabinet, a tub providing a washing space, a sump located below the tub and providing a space in which the washing water is stored, racks provided inside the tub and providing a space in which washing targets are received, spray arms for spraying the washing water to the racks, a pump for supplying the washing water stored in the sump to the spray arms, and at least two insulating units for connecting the pump with the sump to allow the pump to be spaced apart from a bottom of the cabinet at a predetermined distance and attenuating transfer of vibration generated in the pump to the sump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Gapsu Shin, Sangheon Yoon
  • Patent number: 9808324
    Abstract: A cleaning fixture for cleaning a medical device comprising a shaft receiving portion configured to receive a shaft and end effector assembly of the medical device, the shaft receiving portion including at least one nozzle disposed towards a distal end of the shaft receiving portion such that the at least one nozzle is positioned adjacent the end effector assembly of the medical device upon receipt of the shaft and end effector assembly of the medical device within the shaft receiving portion, and a handle receiving portion configured to receive the housing and handle of the medical device, the handle receiving portion releasably securable with the shaft receiving portion to enclose the medical device therein, the handle receiving portion including at least one lever activation assembly positioned adjacent the handle and operable to selectively actuate the handle to manipulate the end effector assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: COVIDIEN LP
    Inventors: Lance Fagan, Steven Bragg, Seth Masek, Jean-Paul Deeb
  • Patent number: 9802210
    Abstract: A de-ice apparatus is configured to remove ice buildup in containers or other locations by melting the ice using a de-ice component and to remove waste fluid using a vacuum component. The de-ice component causes discharge of pressurized fluid to melt ice. The de-ice component may include a base with guide features configured to engage an opening of the container. The de-ice component may direct a spray of the pressurized fluid into the container to melt the ice. The de-ice component may include a pressure regulator valve to selectively regulate a resulting force of the fluid sprayed into the container, which may enable a user to avoid damaging internal components located within the container. The vacuum component may cause the pressurized fluid to flow through a high pressure nozzle to create a vacuum effect at a suction inlet, which can extract waste fluid and/or other debris from the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Inventor: Cameron E. Gackstetter
  • Patent number: 9797084
    Abstract: A washing machine is disclosed. The washing machine includes a tub, an air supply unit, which is disposed over the tub so as to heat and circulate air in the tub, a detergent dispenser, which is disposed over the tub, a dispenser cover for opening the detergent dispenser, and a thermal shield member for preventing heat generated from the air supply unit from being directly transferred to the dispenser cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventor: Hyunseok Kim