Patents Examined by James O. Hansen
  • Patent number: 11160371
    Abstract: A slide rail assembly includes a first rail, a second rail, a third rail, a synchronization device and a contact feature. The second rail is displaceable relative to the first rail. The third rail is displaceable relative to the second rail. The synchronization device is arranged on one of the second rail and the third rail. The contact feature is arranged on the other of the second rail and the third rail. The third rail and the second rail can synchronously displace relative to the first rail through the collaboration between the synchronization device and the contact feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignees: KING SLIDE WORKS CO., LTD., KING SLIDE TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ken-Ching Chen, Shih-Lung Huang, Yi-Syuan Jhao, Chun-Chiang Wang
  • Patent number: 11154134
    Abstract: Sliding element guide system for furniture including a cabinet unit rail, central rail, sliding element rail, and a carriage such that the cabinet unit rail, central rail, and sliding element rail are mounted so as to be movable in relation to one another. The system also includes synchronization means including a synchronization element to synchronize movements of elements of the system. Two identical synchronization elements are present on the central rail and are rotatably disposed on the central rail. The synchronization elements are disposed so as to be mutually opposite and mutually spaced apart on both sides of the central rail. The synchronization elements are configured on mutually opposite end sides of the central rail or on mutually opposite external sides of the central rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: Grass GmbH
    Inventors: Markus Albrecht, Filip Rihtarec, Franz Reischl
  • Patent number: 11147374
    Abstract: A drawer pull-out guide includes a first guide rail, a second guide rail displaceably supported relative to one another, and a running carriage having load-transmitting rolling bodies displaceably arranged between the first guide rail and the second guide rail. The running carriage includes at least two rolling bodies rotatable about a rotational axis, and the at least two rolling bodies—in a view onto a plane perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the guide rails—are arranged so as to be laterally offset to one another. Each of the at least two rolling bodies has a cylindrical form and is rotationally supported about a horizontally extending rotational axis in a mounted position of the drawer pull-out guide, the rotational axes of the at least two rolling bodies are arranged in the same running plane, and the at least two rolling bodies have the same diameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: JULIUS BLUM GMBH
    Inventor: Marc Meusburger
  • Patent number: 11149789
    Abstract: A slide rail includes a first rail, a second rail, and a third rail. The first rail is slidably coupled to the second rail. The second rail is slidably coupled to the third rail. The first rail includes a pulling tab. The second rail includes a first resilient piece and a first clearance slot. The third rail includes a positioning slot. One end of the first resilient piece is fixed to the second rail, and another end of the first resilient piece extends into the first clearance slot. When the first rail slides out, the pulling tab drives the first resilient piece and the second rail to slide out. When the first resilient piece is moved to the positioning slot, the first resilient piece resiliently bends and inserts into the positioning slot, and the first resilient piece is separated from the pulling tab.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: HONGFUJIN PRECISION ELECTRONICS(TIANJIN)CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Chen-Sheng Tang
  • Patent number: 11143237
    Abstract: A slide rail assembly includes a rail kit. The rail kit includes a rail, a blocking member, and an operating member. The rail has an extension hole. The blocking member is movably disposed on the rail. The operating member is disposed on the rail, can be operated in order to drive the blocking member, and includes an operating portion corresponding to a portion of the extension hole of the rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignees: King Slide Works Co., Ltd., King Slide Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ken-Ching Chen, Shun-Ho Yang, Chien-Li Huang, Chun-Chiang Wang
  • Patent number: 11140985
    Abstract: An appliance includes a cabinet that has an inner surface. A frame is coupled to the inner surface of the cabinet. The frame includes a frame boss that extends from a bottom surface thereof. A panel is positioned within the frame. The frame extends along a perimeter of the panel. An inner trim member has a flange that extends therefrom. The flange defines an aperture configured to align with the frame boss. A fastener is configured to extend through the aperture and engage the frame boss to couple the inner trim member with the frame. An outer trim member is disposed over the inner trim member. The inner trim member is configured to slidably receive the outer trim member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Pratik P. Chavan, Shrawan Kumar, Pranav Karan
  • Patent number: 11140983
    Abstract: A slide rail assembly includes a first rail, a second rail displaceable with respect to the first rail, a third rail displaceable with respect to the second rail, a working member movably mounted on the second rail and switchable between two states, and a contact feature on the third rail. The third rail can be displaced from a retracted position to an extended position in a first direction, and when the third rail is displaced from the extended position to the retracted position in a second direction, the contact feature is brought into contact with the working member in one of the two states so as to drive and thereby retract the second rail with respect to the first rail in the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignees: King Slide Works Co., Ltd., King Slide Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ken-Ching Chen, Shih-Lung Huang, Chien-Hung Kuo, Chun-Chiang Wang
  • Patent number: 11134776
    Abstract: A slide rail assembly includes a first rail, a second rail, a third rail and a switch member. The second rail is movably mounted between the first rail and the third rail. The switch member is linearly movable and configured to be switched between a first state and a second state. When the switch member is in the second state, the second rail is configured to be driven by the third rail to move to a predetermined position along a retracting direction. When the third rail is moved relative to the second rail at the predetermined position along an extending direction, the switch member is configured to be switched from the second state to the first state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignees: King Slide Works Co., Ltd., King Slide Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ken-Ching Chen, Shun-Ho Yang, Tzu-Cheng Weng, Chun-Chiang Wang
  • Patent number: 11129484
    Abstract: A food shield for use in a restaurant or food service institution includes a pair of partially overlapping upper and lower transparent panels, first and second locking assemblies connected to and supporting one lateral side of each of the upper and lower transparent panels, and first and second non-locking assemblies connected to and supporting the opposite lateral side of each of the upper and lower transparent panels. Each of the first locking and non-locking assemblies, which supports the upper transparent panel, is mountable to a respective vertical support post. The food shield is transformable into three different settings. In a cafeteria setting, the upper and lower transparent panels overlap each other to provide a full length barrier in front of food product being displayed. In a self-serve setting, the lower transparent panel is pivoted inwardly such that it resides behind the upper transparent panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: Advance Tabco, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven Jamie Scott
  • Patent number: 11112167
    Abstract: A refrigerator having an improved structure to maintain the humidity in a drawer. The refrigerator includes a storage chamber, a drawer configured to be inserted to or withdrawn from the storage chamber, a cover configured to cover an upper part of the drawer, and a rail device configured to guide the drawer to slide in a front-rear direction with respect to the cover and to allow the cover to be located in the storage chamber and to be moved upward with respect to the drawer when the drawer is withdrawn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hyunnam Park, Yongman Seo, Myoungjin Jang, Jinhong Yu, Woochul Cho
  • Patent number: 11109675
    Abstract: A connector comprising a carriage, an adjustment element, and a base configured to be rigidly attached to a drawer, the carriage is slidably attached to the base, and movement of the adjustment element causes the carriage to slide relative to the base. Also, such a connector further comprising: an engagement element configured to releasably engage a drawer movement guide assembly and attached to the carriage, and/or a wedge element linearly slidable relative to the carriage and configured to cause a change in a spacing between a drawer movement guide assembly and a drawer. Also, a connector comprising an engagement element that is separate from and pivotally attached to a connector assembly, that is configured to be rigidly attached to a drawer, and that is configured to releasably engage a drawer movement guide assembly. Also, systems comprising a connector together with a drawer, a cabinet and/or a drawer guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: Grass America Inc.
    Inventors: Toni Claire Hayes, Jen-Cheng Jiang, Gabriel Auer, Tim Lucas
  • Patent number: 11103064
    Abstract: An accommodation apparatus having anti-peeping function is disclosed, and comprises: an accommodating unit, two loading boxes, and two spacing gap filling unit. The two spacing gap filling unit is disposed between the two loading boxes, and between a top inner wall of the accommodating space and one of the two loading boxes that is located upper the other one. According to particular design of the present invention, after the two loading boxes are inserted into the accommodating space through the opening, one of the two elastic members closely contacting the bottom plate of the loading box, and the other one closely contacting the top inner wall of the accommodating space, such that the accommodation apparatus has advantages of anti-peeping and electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding, and enhances structural stability thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Inventor: Tse-Min Lin
  • Patent number: 11103092
    Abstract: A cabinet for a non-reversing image mirror (“NRIM”) is provided. A pivot assembly is provided for deploying the NRIM in open and closed positions. A second front-surface mirror of the NRIM has a width greater than a first front-surface mirror thereof. The cabinet may have additional compartments and/or second-surface mirror(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Inventor: Michael D Connor
  • Patent number: 11098949
    Abstract: A refrigerator appliance having Universal Serial Bus (USB) features is provided. In one aspect, a refrigerator appliance has a cabinet defining a chamber. At least two shelf mounting tracks are disposed within chamber. A shelf having a USB port is mountable to the shelf tracks. The shelf tracks each include at least two bus bars. One bus bar is charged with a power charge, one is charged with a ground charge, one is charged with a positive data charge, and one is charged with a negative data charge. When the shelf is mounted to the tracks, the bus bars are in electrical communication with the USB port of the shelf such that data transmissions can be routed between the USB port and a controller or some other processing device. In another aspect, a refrigerator appliance includes features for enabling USB data transmissions to a bin mounted in a door thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Louis A. Wantland, Alisa Marie Stoops
  • Patent number: 11089936
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a dishwasher. The dishwasher, which is installed in a built-in manner in a system kitchen including a cabinet having a receiving space and a counter disposed on the cabinet to include an opening, includes a tub including a front opening, a front door configured to open and close the front opening, a cover frame disposed in the opening of the counter, an upper door rotatably coupled to the cover frame to open and close the opening of the counter, a trigger configured to lock or unlock the upper door, and a lift apparatus disposed to be spaced apart from the trigger and configured to open the upper door by a predetermined angle when the trigger releases the locking of the upper door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hyung Kwen Ham, Hyeon Kyu Lim, Yong Soo Kyong, Nam Soo Park, Chang Wook Lee, Jin Doo Kim
  • Patent number: 11089872
    Abstract: An interlocking slide rail set combined with a front cabinet lock includes the cabinet lock and plural interlocking slide rails. The cabinet lock is installed to a cabinet having plural drawers, and a rear end of the cabinet lock is connected to a driving portion. Each interlocking slide rail has an inner rail, a middle rail, an outer rail, plural slide assisting elements, a stopper, a pair of interlocking sliders and an interlocking rod, and the stopper is installed at a front end of the outer rail, and the two interlocking sliders are installed to the outer rails respectively, and two adjacent interlocking slide rail mechanisms are connected by the interlocking rod. During operation of using the cabinet lock or pulling any drawers, the interlocking sliders and the interlocking rods are linked to achieve an interlocking effect, thus simplifying or reducing components, facilitating installation, and lowering manufacturing costs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: MARTAS PRECISION SLIDE CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Wan-Lai Chen
  • Patent number: 11076694
    Abstract: A slide rail assembly includes a first rail, a second rail, a third rail and a switch member. The second rail is movably mounted between the first rail and the third rail. The switch member is configured to be switched between a first state and a second state. When the switch member is in the second state, the second rail is configured to be driven by the third rail to move to a predetermined position along a retracting direction. When the third rail is moved relative to the second rail at the predetermined position along an extending direction, the switch member is configured to be switched from the second state to the first state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignees: King Slide Works Co., Ltd., King Slide Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ken-Ching Chen, Shun-Ho Yang, Tzu-Cheng Weng, Chun-Chiang Wang
  • Patent number: 11079165
    Abstract: A refrigerator door body comprises a door body frame and a glass panel attached to a front side of the door body frame. The door body frame comprises sheet metal frames located on two sides, end covers located on upper and lower sides, and connecting assemblies connecting the sheet metal frames to the end covers. The end cover is provided with a side flange and a covering edge located on an outer side of the side flange. After the end covers and the sheet metal frames are assembled, the side flange is fitted to an inner side of the sheet metal frame, and the covering edge is fitted to an outer side of the sheet metal frame, thereby ensuring that an end portion of the sheet metal frame is not easily eroded by moisture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: QINGDAO HAIER CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jinqiang Dou, Shufei Ren, Meng Wang, Peng Wang
  • Patent number: 11071380
    Abstract: A guide rail of a guide system for a push-in element is proposed, wherein the guide rail comprises a rail body and a fastening element, wherein the fastening element is configured in such a way as to fasten the guide rail on a mating portion in the state of use of the guide system, wherein the fastening element is mounted on the rail body and cohesively bonded thereto, and wherein the fastening element has a flat material portion with opposite main sides and with a narrow front edge portion between the main sides. According to the invention, in the state with the fastening element connected to the rail body, the edge portion of the fastening element abuts a surface side on the rail body, which surface side is oriented upright in the state of use of the guide rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: Grass GmbH
    Inventor: Filip Rihtarec
  • Patent number: 11073328
    Abstract: A refrigerator front frame for a refrigerator appliance, including: four profiles comprising two vertical profiles each having a first width and two horizontal profiles at least one of which has a second width, where the first width and the second width are different; and four corner connecting pieces configured to join the four profiles. Each of the four corner connecting pieces includes a horizontal receiving portion configured to receive one of the two horizontal profiles thereover and a vertical receiving portion configured to receive one of the two vertical profiles thereover. The ends of the two vertical profiles abut against sides of the two horizontal profiles or vice versa, such that a joining line between each of the two vertical profiles and each of the two horizontal profiles is either horizontal or vertical, and such that each of the four corner connecting pieces is substantially covered and hidden from view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignees: BSH Home Appliances Corporation, BSH Hausgeräte GmbH
    Inventors: Yigit Akalan, Howard Cheng, Samuel Harward, Cemalettin Hasturk, Lucas Schulte Campos