Patents Examined by James O. Hansen
  • Rolling body cage for a telescopic rail or a linear guide
    Patent number: 11067122
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a rolling body cage for a linear guide or telescopic rail having rail elements which are displaceable relative to each other, wherein the rolling body cage has at least one bottom portion extending in a longitudinal direction of the rolling body cage, side wall portions which are arranged parallel and which extend on mutually opposite sides of the bottom portion substantially perpendicularly therefrom and in which there are provided rolling body holding recesses for receiving and holding rolling bodies between the raceways of rail elements and at at least a first end of the rolling body cage a connecting bridge which extends between the side wall portions substantially perpendicularly thereto, wherein the bottom portion, the side wall portions and the connecting bridge are produced in one piece from a first plastic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: ACCURIDE INTERNATIONAL GMBH
    Inventors: Christoph Neuhaus, Thomas Quirein
  • Slide rail assembly and operation method thereof
    Patent number: 11060558
    Abstract: A slide rail assembly includes a first rail, a second rail, a third rail, and a switching member. The second rail can be displaced with respect to the first rail and is provided with a working feature. The third rail can be displaced with respect to the second rail. The switching member is disposed on the third rail and is configured to contact the working feature when the third rail reaches a predetermined retracted position after being displaced from an extended position in a retracting direction, in order for the third rail to displace the second rail to a predetermined position in the retracting direction via the switching member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 13, 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
  • Cooking appliance
    Patent number: 11054143
    Abstract: In one aspect, a cooking appliance includes a cabinet forming a cavity configured to provide a food accommodation space; at least one door covering the cavity; a handle rotatably coupled to the door; and a handle supporter disposed inside the door and configured to rotatably support the handle relative to the door. In another aspect, a cooking appliance includes a drawer configured to be withdrawn from or inserted into the cooking appliance; a first rail disposed on the drawer; a second rail disposed on a frame of the cooking appliance and configured to accommodate a sliding motion of the first rail; a link component disposed at the first rail; a sliding control assembly disposed at the second rail and configured to accommodate the link component to automatically insert the drawer into the frame and to mitigate an impact of the drawer being fully inserted into the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Euisu Jung, Hwichang Son, Moonho Choi
  • Refrigerator
    Patent number: 11047611
    Abstract: A refrigerator capable of allowing a storage guard to be automatically pulled out when a door is opened. The refrigerator includes a body, a first door arranged in front of the body including an opening, and a second door arranged in front of the first door, configured to open and close the opening of the first door. The refrigerator includes a storage guard configured to be pulled out in front of the first door and inserted into the rear of the first door, and mounted to the first door, and a storage guard mover configured to pull out the storage guard to the front of the first door in response to opening of the second door at a predetermined angle or more, and to insert the storage guard into the rear of the first door in response to opening of the second door less than the predetermined angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tae-In Eom, Hyun Uk Park
  • Door closure assembly
    Patent number: 11041334
    Abstract: A door closure assembly and a method of moving a door is disclosed. The door closure assembly includes a cabinet attachment member attachable to a cabinet, a door attachment member attachable to a door, and first and second arms hingedly attached to the cabinet attachment member and the door attachment member. In some embodiments, the cabinet attachment member is attached to a central portion of the door and the door attachment member is attached to an end portion of the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: Art Design Works LLC
    Inventor: Henry Fox
  • Movable front panel for home appliance
    Patent number: 11035163
    Abstract: A domestic appliance may include: a shell; a door coupled to the shell; a treatment compartment defined at least in part by the shell and the door; a panel configured to enclose at least a portion of a cavity below the treatment compartment; an articulation arrangement coupled to the shell and configured to allow the panel to move from a closed and locked vertical position to an unlocked and open non-vertical position whilst being coupled to the shell; and a locking mechanism configured to selectively lock the panel in the vertical position. The articulation arrangement may include a first linear slot and a second slot including a linear portion and a curved portion extending from one end of the linear portion, the first linear slot engaging a first pin and the second slot engaging a second pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignees: BSH Home Appliances Corporation, BSH Hausgeräte GmbH
    Inventors: Ben Braden, Josiah Fronckowiak, Ian McIver, Shaun Phillips
  • Home appliance
    Patent number: 11026558
    Abstract: Provided is a home appliance including: a main body having a cavity; a door rotatably coupled to a front side of the main body to open and close the cavity; a holder moveably mounted to the door; a decorative plate mounted to the holder to be disposed on a front surface of the door; and a wire connected to the holder and the main body to vary a tension depending rotation of the door, and configured to move the holder by the tension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jin Doo Kim, Ki Tae Park, Hyun-Woo Yu
  • Cabinet
    Patent number: 11026507
    Abstract: A cabinet including a housing having a cavity, a door that close as front opening of the cavity, and a storage device. The storage device may include a movable storage member that is movable relative to the housing between a first position within the cavity and a second position outside of the cavity. The movable storage member may be configured to be coupled to the housing at a plurality of different locations. The storage device may be coupled directly to an inner surface of a sidewall of the housing that defines the cavity. The storage device may also include a fixed storage member that is non-movably coupled to the housing such that the movable storage member is pivotable relative to the housing and relative to the fixed storage member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Inventors: Devon George, Jason Mort, George Wahlgren, Linda Yang
  • Framed full access cabinet
    Patent number: 11013323
    Abstract: A full access frame can be designed with a thin frame with stiles that are about half the width of conventional stiles, such that inner sides of the stiles and rails include hidden/blind connection points to facilitate hidden or blind mounting of the full access frame to cabinet sides with mounted dowel connectors that attach to the hidden/blind connection points. A framed full access cabinet includes a full access frame mounted on front of a cabinet box, such that drawer rails and door hinges can be mounted on inner cabinet sides of the cabinet box. The dowel connectors and the hidden/blind connection points can be respectively slide-in dowels and slide-in inserts or alternatively snap-in dowels and snap-in inserts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: David O. Boone Revocable Trust
    Inventor: David Oliver Boone
  • Refrigerator comprising vacuum space
    Patent number: 11015861
    Abstract: The refrigerator includes a body having a storage space for storing a predetermined storage object, wherein the body includes an inner case having the storage space, an outer case having an inside surface spaced a predetermined gap from an inside surface of the inner case to house the inner case, a vacuum space provided between the inner case and the outer case enclosed to maintain a vacuum state for heat insulating between the inner case and the outer case, and a sealing unit for sealing a front of the vacuum space formed between a front of the inner case and a front of the outer case and reducing a heat transfer rate between the inner case and the outer case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Wonyeong Jung, Myungryul Lee, Sung Jhee
  • Insulation structure for an appliance having a uniformly mixed multi-component insulation material, and a method for even distribution of material combinations therein
    Patent number: 11009288
    Abstract: An insulation structure for an appliance includes a cabinet having an outer wrapper and an inner liner, with an insulating cavity defined therebetween. Insulating powder material is disposed substantially throughout the insulating cavity. An insulating gas is disposed within the insulating cavity, wherein the insulating powder material is combined with the insulating gas and cooperatively defines a suspended state and a precipitated state. The suspended state is defined by the insulating gas in motion and the insulating powder being in an aeolian suspension within the insulating gas while in motion. The precipitated state is defined by the insulating gas being in a deposition state and the insulating powder being precipitated from the insulating gas and deposited within the insulating cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Lakshya J. Deka, Rameet Singh Grewal, Diptesh Mukherjee, Abhay Naik
  • Furniture drive system
    Patent number: 10988966
    Abstract: A furniture drive system for a furniture part that is moveably mounted on a furniture body, includes a mechanical control unit having a pivotally mounted control arm for moving the moveable furniture part and at least one energy store for applying force to the control arm; an electric drive unit configured as a component designed to be separate from the mechanical control unit, and which has an electric motor for the electric motor-powered support of the movement of the moveable furniture part and a driver that can be driven by the electric motor for transmitting a torque of the electric motor to the mechanical control unit; and a damping device for damping the movement of the moveable furniture part. The damping device is arranged in the component of the electric drive unit for damping the movement of the moveable furniture part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: Julius Blum GmbH
    Inventors: Kurt Haemmerle, Matthias Grimm
  • Locking shelf insert for use with a refrigerator or freezer
    Patent number: 10976099
    Abstract: The locking shelf insert for use with a refrigerator or freezer is configured for use with a storage device selected from the group consisting of a refrigerator and a freezer. The selected storage device further comprises a storage shelf. The locking shelf insert for use with a refrigerator or freezer is a barrier structure that attaches to the storage shelf. The locking shelf insert for use with a refrigerator or freezer forms a barricade that controls access into the storage space provided by the storage shelf. The locking shelf insert for use with a refrigerator or freezer comprises a first shell, a second shell, and a door structure. The first shell, the second shell, and the third shell combine to form the barricade such that the form factor of the barricade is adjustable. The door structure provides access into the protected storage space formed by the barricade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Inventor: Eric Weaver
  • Flexibly partitioned drawer and refrigerator having flexibly partitioned drawer
    Patent number: 10966524
    Abstract: A flexibly partitioned drawer comprises a drawer body formed with an accommodating cavity and at least one partitioning member that moves left and right and is disposed in the accommodating cavity for use in partitioning the accommodating cavity. Leading and trailing ends of the dividing member respectively protrude in the direction of front and rear walls of the drawer body to form protruding portions. The front and rear walls of the drawer body are respectively formed thereon with sliding grooves that cooperate with corresponding side protruding portions so as to provide the dividing member with movement along the left and right directions. The sliding grooves penetrate side walls of the drawer body such that the accommodating cavity communicates with an outer part of the drawer body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: QINGDAO HAIER CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ning Wang, Dong Wei, Jian Zhang, Guangrui Wu, Bin Fei
  • Drawer latching assembly
    Patent number: 10966522
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a coupling rod having a longitudinal axis and disposed within one or more bearing elements that laterally constrain the coupling rod while enabling axial rotation, multiple latching barbs coupled to the coupling rod, rotational force elements that apply a rotational force to the latching barbs in a latching direction and resist rotation of the latching barbs in an unlatching direction. The apparatus may be deployed in a rack system having a rack drawer. The apparatus may also include barb engagement elements for engaging and latching the latching barbs when the rack drawer is moved from an open position to a closed position. Rotation of the coupling rod in the unlatching direction unlatches the latching barbs when the rack drawer is in the closed position and enables a user to open the rack drawer. A method that uses the apparatus is also disclosed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Camillo Sassano, William Risk, Benjamin Gordon Shaw, Kevin L. Schultz, Michael Vincent DeBole
  • Refrigerator
    Patent number: 10962281
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a refrigerator having a storage box by which the humidity in a storage compartment is controllable. The refrigerator includes a body having a storage compartment, a storage box installed to be drawable in the storage compartment, a cover located above the storage box and provided to be rotatable, a cover frame configured to support the cover, and a knob configured to rotate the cover to adjust humidity inside the storage box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jae Bok Lee, Myoung Jin Jang, Yong Bo Shim
  • Refrigerator
    Patent number: 10962280
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes a main body, a storage chamber formed in the main body, a shelf support portion provided at a rear side of the storage chamber, a plurality of shelves coupled to the shelf support portion so that the shelves are arranged next to each other, and an adjustment member coupled to the shelves so as to remove a height difference between the plurality of shelves. Coupling grooves are respectively formed in the shelves. The adjustment member is inserted into the coupling holes of the shelves and then rotates by a predetermined angle such that the adjustment member is fixed to the shelves. The adjustment member maintains a constant interval between the shelves and prevents the shelves from moving relative to each other. The adjustment member is easily coupled to and separated from others.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Myoung Jin Jang, Yong Man Seo, Jae Bok Lee, Sang Gyu Jung
  • Refrigerator
    Patent number: 10955183
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a refrigerator having an improved configuration of an inner wall forming a storage compartment and capable of improving an appearance of the storage compartment. The refrigerator includes a main body having a storage compartment, an inner case forming an inner space of the main body, and a cover plate installed inside the inner case to form an exterior of the storage compartment and formed of a ceramic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Moon Gyo Jung
  • Telescopic plate
    Patent number: 10947068
    Abstract: A telescopic plate includes a sliding rail structure (10), a rotation structure (20), a drive structure (30) including a motor (31), a circulation structure (40) including an upper connection member (41) and a lower connection member (42), and a support frame (50) mounted on the telescopic sliding rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: SHENZHEN FULONG INTELLIGENT TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Fulai Lv, Wenlong Lv
  • Refrigerator
    Patent number: 10941973
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes an opening unit such that, when a second door rotates to open a second storing chamber, the second door is separated from a first door. The opening unit includes: a latch hook to be selectively inserted into a latch slot on the front surface of the first door; a pressing portion provided on a door handle of the second door, the pressing portion comprising a guide protrusion having a sloping surface; and a link portion having a contact portion on one end to contact the sloping surface and move upward/downward along the sloping surface, the other end of the link portion contacting the latch hook. When the pressing portion is pressed, the contact portion moves upward along the sloping surface, and the other end of the link portion pushes the latch hook upward with the contact portion to separate the latch hook from the latch slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Jaeyoung Kim, Seonil Yu