Patents Examined by Frankie L. Stinson
  • Patent number: 8196593
    Abstract: A dishwasher including at least one cutlery basket for accommodating cutlery items in a horizontal position, wherein the at least one cutlery basket is adjustable at least in sections, and wherein the at least one cutlery basket includes a first subsection having an adjustable clearance height, and a second subsection having an adjustable clearance height.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventors: Bernd Schessl, Rainer Schütz
  • Patent number: 8191560
    Abstract: An upper rack vertical adjustment system for a dishwasher, including an upper rack first portion, and an upper rack second portion rotatably attached to the first portion to selectively create an opening in the bottom of the rack to provide clearance for items placed in the lower rack. For adjusting the height of the upper rack, a slidable member has two elongated arms extending therefrom each having a wheel attached at an end of the arms is provided on each side of the rack. For each slidable member, a plate is mounted to a portion of the upper rack and the said slidable member is pivotally mounted to the plate. A locking mechanism locks the slidable member in one of several predetermined positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Brian L. Mallory, Errin Whitney Gnadinger, Rajdeep Das, Vasudev Mallur, Elizabeth Beard, Srinivasan Ramakrishnan
  • Patent number: 8181494
    Abstract: A stain treatment apparatus uses a transparent plastic bag with a recloseable opening into which a stained garment is placed. A stain treatment compound is contained within the bag, such as within an ampoule or pouch that releases upon compression or that releases upon exposure to water added to the bag. A thermochromatic indicator assists in filling with water of an appropriate temperature. A completion indicator further assists in indicating completion of the stain treatment regimen. A plurality of stain-specific treatment assemblies may be included that are optimized for a category of stains (e.g., protein, tannin, oil, dye/ink).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Inventor: Cynthia Crider
  • Patent number: 8176756
    Abstract: A drain pump including a case including a mounting bracket; a first connection member mounted to the mounting bracket to be spaced from the cabinet; a second connection member inserted in the first connection member; and a fastening member passed through the cabinet and inserted in the second connection member so that the case is mounted to the cabinet. Since the first connection member is spaced from the cabinet, the second connection member can be prevented from being damaged by vibration of the drain pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Woong Sub Yim, Jae Hyun Jang, Chan Woo Park, Sang Ho Seo, Hong Seok Ko, Seok In Hong, Jae Won Lee, Do Yeon Kim, Yong Kwon Kim, Dong Woo Shin
  • Patent number: 8176614
    Abstract: A dishwasher includes a tub having a bottom wall and a plurality of side walls that collectively define a first washing chamber. The tub is supported in an outer, modular support body having first and second opposing side walls joined by a bottom wall, as well as a pair of upper frame members. In one embodiment of the invention, first and second support bodies are mounted one atop another to establish a dual drawer-type dishwasher, with the first and second support bodies being joined, preferably at a stepped interface region, by a plurality of brackets. The first and second support bodies are preferably aligned by arranging lugs formed on upper in-turned flanges on a lower support body within recesses formed in the bottom wall of the upper support body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventor: Rodney M. Welch
  • Patent number: 8177919
    Abstract: A medical cleaning device is used to clean interior surfaces of hollow shafts of medical instruments. The device has a closed body which can be inserted into the hollow shaft of the medical instrument to be cleaned, an outer diameter of the body being smaller than a clear inner diameter of the hollow shaft such that an inner lumen remains which is reduced compared to the inner lumen of the hollow shaft. The body has a connection starting from one end, a cleaning liquid can be guided into the reduced inner lumen when the body is inserted in the hollow shaft. Furthermore, provision is made for a support by means of which the body can be supported on the medical instrument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Karl Storz GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Andreas Efinger, Horst Weiss
  • Patent number: 8177918
    Abstract: A cleaning system for an electric shaver having a body and a shaving head generally includes a cradle configured to receive the shaving head of the shaver, and a reservoir positioned beneath the cradle and configured to retain cleaning fluid therein. The cleaning system also includes a drive assembly operable to move the reservoir between a raised position and a lowered position. In the raised position, the reservoir is positioned relative to the cradle such that at least a portion of the shaving head is submerged in cleaning fluid within the reservoir. In the lowered position, the reservoir is positioned relative to the cradle such that no portion of the shaving head is submerged in cleaning fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Rovcal, LLC
    Inventor: Paul Schmitt
  • Patent number: 8176755
    Abstract: A laundry treating machine having a heating part is disclosed. A laundry treating machine includes a cabinet, a single partition wall partitioning inner space of the cabinet into a first space and a second space, and a hot air supply unit provided in the first space, the hot air supply unit supplying hot air to the second space and comprising a heating part. The heating part includes a heater heating air, a case supporting the heater to form an air path and preventing heat of the heater from transmitting in a different direction from the air path, a sensing part sensing the temperature of the heater, and a control part controlling the heater according to a temperature value measured by the sensing part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Jae Yoen Lim, Jong Chul Bang
  • Patent number: 8176926
    Abstract: A cleaning machine, in particular a batch dishwasher, comprising an individual cleaning chamber in which the items to be cleaned are accommodated, a pump which circulates washing liquid within the cleaning chamber, and a further pump which delivers fresh water, and also a boiler which stores and heats fresh water, wherein the boiler has an associated heat exchanger by means of which heat is indirectly or directly transferred from waste water which is stored in a reservoir to the fresh water which is stored in the boiler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Meiko Maschinenbau GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Bruno Gaus, Joachim Kupetz, Denis Lehmann, Thomas Naeger, Thomas Peukert, Vera Schneider
  • Patent number: 8171946
    Abstract: The invention provides probe washing cups and methods. A probe washing cup has a washing well and a waste cup. A drying section is disposed between an open end of the probe washing cup and an inlet plane of the washing well. The drying section has a channel that is aligned with the washing well. The channel has an opening for receiving the probe therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Abbott Laboratories
    Inventors: Gregory A. Blackwell, Ganesh Rajagopal
  • Patent number: 8171945
    Abstract: The invention relates to a vehicle wash system comprising a first treatment unit (2) arranged on a frame (1) so as to be height-adjustable and at least one second treatment unit (3) arranged on the frame (1) so as to be height-adjustable. In order to reduce the components required for driving and controlling the treatment units (2, 3) the latter are coupled to a common drive motor (11) via a traction mechanism drive (12, 13, 14, 15) for their mutual adjustment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Washtec Holding GmbH
    Inventors: Georg Wimmer, Rudiger Hirschmann
  • Patent number: 8166781
    Abstract: A detergent supply apparatus comprising a storage space adjacent to a washing space in which washing is performed, a detergent bottle seat provided in the storage space and adapted to receive a detergent bottle containing a liquid detergent, a detergent reservoir in fluid communication with the detergent bottle, and a connecting part adapted to fix a portion of the detergent bottle to the detergent reservoir such that the liquid detergent can flow through the connecting part and into the detergent reservoir by gravitational force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Jong Min Lee, Young Ho Kim, Jae Hyun Kim, Sang Hoon Lee
  • Patent number: 8161986
    Abstract: Dish-washing machine comprising a chamber (2) for washing articles (3), an air inlet line and an air outlet line both communicating with the chamber, air circulating means for forcing an inlet airflow sucked from the atmosphere into the chamber (2) via said air inlet line and exhausting an outlet airflow saturated with moisture after passing over said articles (3) to the atmosphere via said air outlet line; heating means are provided for heating said outlet airflow before exhausting to the atmosphere in order to reduce the relative humidity of the discharged air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Inventor: Roberto Alessandrelli
  • Patent number: 8156770
    Abstract: A drum type washing machine is provided. The drum type washing machine includes a cabinet for forming an appearance; a tub fixed to an inner side of the cabinet and for storing washing water, a drum rotatably arranged in the tub for washing and dehydrating laundry, and a driving motor positioned at a rear side of the drum for generating a driving force by which the drum is rotated. The washing machine can increase washing capacity with maintaining an entire size thereof by increasing a diameter of the drum without increasing a size of the cabinet. The washing machine may include a supporting plate to rotatably support the rotational shaft, and a supporting unit to support the supporting plate, the supporting unit comprising a plurality of supporters connected between the supporting plate and the cabinet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Jae-Won Chang
  • Patent number: 8151428
    Abstract: A method for assembling a washing machine is provided. The method includes providing a mode shifter including a solenoid, coupling a basket and an agitator to the mode shifter, and coupling a motor to the mode shifter. The solenoid selectively allows the motor to rotate at least one of the basket and the agitator. The method also includes affixing a motor controller to the motor, and electrically coupling the motor controller to each of the mode shifter and the motor. The motor controller is in operational control communication with the mode shifter and the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Donald R. Dickerson, Jr., Michael Finch, William Bicknell, Robert Hollenbeck
  • Patent number: 8151810
    Abstract: A basket assembly for holding items such as silverware and the like in a dishwashing appliance is provided. The dishwashing appliance has a rack member movable into and out of a tub portion, wherein the basket assembly is received and supported by the rack member. The basket assembly comprises a plurality of wall members cooperating to form a compartment defining a compartment opening. A lid member is coupled to the compartment about the compartment opening. The lid member defines a lid plane and is configured to be pivotable about a pivot axis, disposed medially across the lid member and extending along the lid plane, between a first position with the lid member extending across the compartment opening, and a second position with the lid member extending substantially perpendicularly to the compartment opening. An associated apparatus is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Electrolux Home Products, Inc.
    Inventors: David E. House, Kyle Taylor Perkinson
  • Patent number: 8151603
    Abstract: A door for a washing machine is disclosed. A door for a washing machine includes an inner frame having an opening with a predetermined size, an outer frame provided at a front surface of the inner frame, having an opening in communication with the opening of the inner frame, a glass member fitted between the inner and outer frames, covering the openings of the inner and outer frames, a decorative member provided at a front surface of the outer frame, having an opening in communication with the openings, and a front cover fitted between the decorative member and the outer frame, covering the openings of the inner and outer frames and the decorative member, the front cover having a positioning portion determining a position of the front cover coupled to the outer frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Min-Gu Kang, Kyu-Chul Lee, Chang-Woo Son
  • Patent number: 8151393
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a washing machine and a method of controlling a washing machine. According to the washing machine and the method of controlling the washing machine in accordance with the present invention, the drum is operated at a first speed so that laundry tumbles within the drum. A laundry amount within the drum during the first speed operation is sensed. The drum is driven at a second speed so that part of the laundry tumbles within the drum and another part of the laundry adheres to the drum. Operation commands for driving the drum subsequent to the first speed operation are changed based on the sensed laundry amount. Accordingly, at the time of a dehydration cycle, stability of the washing machine and laundry balancing can be ensured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Sun Cheol Bae, Kyung Hoon Kim, Han Su Jung, Jae Hyeok Choi, Ja In Koo
  • Patent number: 8146609
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a multi-dosing detergent delivery device including a status indicator for providing an external indication of the internal status of the device. The indicator comprises a first element (140) internal to a main housing part (100) of the device and whose position is directly related to the status of the device and a second element (120) external of the main housing. The second element (120) and the first element (140) are linked together by means of magnetic attraction. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the first element (140) comprises a magnet and the second element (120) comprises a ferro-magnetic sphere, held within a transparent dome (110). The sphere (120) and dome (110) are mounted to the exterior of a main housing of the device and form an isolated sub-housing, while the magnet (140) is provided internally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Reckitt Benckiser N.V.
    Inventors: Karl-Ludwig Gibis, Chris Efstathios Housmekerides
  • Patent number: 8147620
    Abstract: The support removal apparatus comprising in combination a retention tank having a manifold assembly comprising a plurality of nozzle heads, articulating arms or a combination of both in hydraulic communication with the discharge side of a pump, collectively configured for agitating an aqueous cleaning solution; a heating element mounted within the retention tank for heating the aqueous cleaning solution to a predetermined temperature set point; a basket strainer mounted within the retention tank in hydraulic communication with the intake side of the pump to mitigate passage of small rapid prototype parts and residual support material therethrough and into the pump and manifold assembly; a thermocouple for maintaining the temperature within a tolerable range for optimum removal of support material; a level indicator to ensure adequate solution level in the retention tank for operability of the pump and heating element; a cabinet having an interface controller mounted on an exterior panel thereof for setting ti
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Inventor: David Jonathan Tafoya