Patents Examined by Jason Ko
  • Patent number: 9850455
    Abstract: The invention provides a method for the cleaning of a soiled substrate, the method comprising treating the substrate with a solid particulate cleaning material and wash water, the treatment being carried out in an apparatus comprising a drum comprising perforated side walls and having a capacity of between 5 and 50 liters for each kg of fabric in the washload, wherein said solid particulate cleaning material comprises a multiplicity of polymeric particles at a particle to fabric addition level of 0.1:1-10:1 by mass, each particle being substantially cylindrical or spherical in shape and having an average density in the range of 0.5-2.5 g/cm3 and an average volume in the range of 5-275 mm3, and wherein said drum comprising perforated side walls is rotated at a speed which generates G forces in the range of from 0.05 to 900 G. The polymeric particles may comprise foamed or unfoamed polymeric materials which may comprise either linear or crosslinked polymers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: XEROS LIMITED
    Inventors: Stephen Derek Jenkins, Frazer John Kennedy
  • Patent number: 9850617
    Abstract: Provided is a front-loading washing machine including a cabinet having a front panel, in which the front panel is provided with an opening; a tub having an access port for loading and unloading laundry, in which the tub is disposed in the cabinet and configured in such a manner that the access port is capable of being moved up and down in the opening; a rotatable drum, disposed in the tub; a door unit, mounted to the tub, and configured to cover the access port; and a driving mechanism configured to drive the tub to rotate, in which the driving mechanism is provided in the cabinet and coupled to the tub. The front-loading washing machine according to embodiments of the present disclosure has advantages of user-friendliness, little abrasion clothes and water conservation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: WUXI LITTLE SWAN CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Mingde Huang, Yusheng Tang, Kyunghag Kim
  • Patent number: 9845564
    Abstract: Various embodiments of apparatuses and methods relating to appliances are provided. In one embodiment, an appliance having a housing, one or more moveable components inside the housing, a drive assembly, and a dampening portion is provided. The housing includes, for example, at least one side wall and the dampening member is disposed at least partially between the drive assembly and the at least one side wall. The dampening portion includes, for example, a resilient material having at least one surface extending at least partially along the side wall and the drive assembly. The dampening member is configured to limit movement of the drive assembly during shipping and handling to prevent damage to the appliance. The dampening member stays with the appliance after shipping and handling to enhance performance of the appliance, protect the moveable component, or both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: Owens Corning Intellectual Capital, LLC
    Inventors: Jason K. Maderic, Weigang Qi, Anthony L. Rockwell, Andrew J. Siwicki
  • Patent number: 9845562
    Abstract: A laundry system for treating fabric items according to the invention includes a front-loading washing machine for washing a first load of fabric items and a horizontal laundry module for washing a second load of fabric items stacked vertically adjacent to the front-loading washing machine and having a low capacity relative to a capacity of the front-load washing machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Colleen Doyle, James Kendall, Lorraine L. Achterberg, Ameresh Viswanathan, Kristina Underly, Donald Tomasi, Daniel Conrad, Richard Sunshine
  • Patent number: 9845561
    Abstract: A laundry module performs a washing function to wash a load of fabric items and has a drawer supporting a tub and wash basket, and a control panel mounted on the drawer to enable a user to select a wash cycle from among a plurality of wash cycles. The laundry module can be part of a modular laundry system including a laundry appliance. The laundry module can be vertically arranged with a laundry appliance, such as by supporting the laundry appliance thereupon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Colleen Doyle, James Kendall, Lorraine L. Achterberg, Ameresh Viswanathan, Kristina Underly, Donald Tomasi, Daniel Conrad, Richard Sunshine
  • Patent number: 9840802
    Abstract: This disclosure is directed to a washer that will not start the wash sequence until each door is securely fastened shut. In exemplary embodiment, the washer may include at least one door having a locking mechanism that has at least one locking pin. The locking pin may be moved from an unlocked position to a locked position. When the door is shut, the locking pin may be received in a locking pin slot that is disposed in the body of the washer. The locking mechanism may also include a locking bracket that may be engaged with a locking hasp only when the locking pin is in the locked position. The washer may also include a sensor in communication with the controller. The controller only permits the operation of the washer when the sensor detects the locking bracket is engaged with the locking hasp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: G.A. Braun, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark W. Zimmerman, Matthew D. Fenn, Ryan J. Blair, Diedrich D. Willers
  • Patent number: 9840400
    Abstract: A sterilization and cleaning system of an escalator including a first body, a counting wheel, a controller, a second body and a cloud sever is provided. The first body includes a first tank and a first atomizer connected to the first tank. The first atomizer is adapted to atomize a first sterilization and cleaning liquid and spray the atomized first sterilization and cleaning liquid to a handrail of an escalator. The counting wheel is pivoted to the first body. The controller is electrically coupled to the first atomizer. The second body is disposed side by side with the first body, wherein the second body includes a projector, a sensor and a wireless transmission module. The projector and the sensor are electrically coupled to the controller. The wireless transmission module is electrically coupled to the controller and the sensor. The cloud sever is adapted to communicate with the wireless transmission module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Inventor: Ling-Chen Lee
  • Patent number: 9833525
    Abstract: An apparatus for sanitizing a point-of-contact surface may include a housing configured to be affixed about at least a portion of said point of contact. The housing may have an interior in or through which the point of contact may be accessed and an anterior opening for access to the interior. The apparatus may further include one or more sources of a sanitizing agent, such as germicidal light, configured to direct the sanitizing agent toward a location where at least a portion of the point-of-contact surface may be disposed. One or more of an anterior dome, an inner surface, and a posterior surface may also be configured to reflect the sanitizing agent toward the location where at least a portion of the point-of-contact surface may be disposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Inventor: Dean Schumacher
  • Patent number: 9835048
    Abstract: A turbine engine fleet wash management system is configured to electronically communicate with a turbine engine system, a fleet management service, and a cleaning management service. The turbine engine fleet wash system causes a cleaning of a turbine engine to occur based on information received from the turbine engine system and other sources. The turbine engine fleet wash management system includes a cleaning schedule optimizer that generates a cleaning schedule based on engine health monitoring data, engine operation data, maintenance schedules for the turbine engine, and cleaning regimen data. The cleaning schedule optimizer estimates turbine engine performance improvements based on the selected cleaning regimen, and calculating an estimate of carbon credits earned based on the predicted improvement in turbine engine performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: George F. Griffiths, Prahlad R. D. Heggere, Jeffrey A. Green
  • Patent number: 9828717
    Abstract: A laundry appliance for treating a load of laundry according to a cycle of operation comprises a cabinet and a tub assembly housed within the cabinet and comprising a front tub section, a rear tub section and at least one middle tub section provided between the front and rear tub sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph P. Bigelow, Gregory M. Garstecki, George W. Malheiros, Richard V. Oney
  • Patent number: 9830934
    Abstract: Methods, systems and apparatus for cleaning phonograph records are disclosed. In some embodiments, a phonograph record can be cleaned in a liquid basin using ultrasonic transducers, wherein the liquid basin has a dampening structure. Also, the ultrasonic transducers are disposed on a flexible wall for reducing vibrations of the cleaner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Koolance, Inc.
    Inventors: Kioan Cheon, AnKuk Song
  • Patent number: 9822478
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a washing machine including: a tub main body which holds water, a tub cover which coupled to the tub main body which covers the front of the tub main body, a front panel on a surface of the front of the tub cover configured to cover the tub cover, a detergent container, dispenser, or case detachably coupled to the tub cover which extends through the front panel and the tub main body tub cover, and a first seal positioned between the detergent container, dispenser, or case and the tub cover configured to seal the tub main body. According to embodiments of the present disclosure, the tub main body may be more perfectly sealed by the first seal, thereby preventing water from leaking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Dongbu Daewoo Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Man Ki Kim
  • Patent number: 9822480
    Abstract: A garment treatment system includes a base, a water tank mounted to the base and having water contained therein, a steam generator in fluid communication with the water tank and adapted to convert the water from the water tank into steam, a steam nozzle having a steam reservoir and a steam outlet for distributing the steam to a garment, a first lumen in fluid communication with the steam generator and the steam nozzle for delivering steam to the steam reservoir of the steam nozzle and a second lumen in fluid communication with the steam reservoir of the steam nozzle and the water tank for returning condensed water to the water tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: CONAIR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kam Fai Fung, Kin Man Lai
  • Patent number: 9809915
    Abstract: A washing machine for washing laundry may include a drum type washing machine having a tub, a drum, a water pressure and/or level sensor, an air flow path, a bubble detecting sensor, and a controller. The bubble detecting sensor may be along the air flow path of the tub in order to detect whether bubbles, suds or foam are generated within the tub and/or whether the bubbles, suds or foam exceed an acceptable amount. When the bubbles within the tub are detected and/or exceed the acceptable amount, the washing machine (e.g., the controller) may perform a preset or predetermined bubble removing course or procedure to remove or reduce the bubbles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Dongbu Daewoo Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Joon Gil Lee
  • Patent number: 9809919
    Abstract: A laundry treatment apparatus includes a casing, an outer tub suspended in the casing, and a pair of horizontal vibration buffering devices arranged to form opposite angles relative each other in the casing, the horizontal vibration buffering devices each coupling a predetermined support disposed outside the outer tub with the outer tub and each having a portion connected with the outer tub to be displaced relative a portion connected with the predetermined support as the outer tub vibrates, where the pair of horizontal vibration buffering devices each provide an attenuation force according to the displacement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Insik Yu, Youngjun Kim, Youngjong Kim
  • Patent number: 9809914
    Abstract: Disclosed is a clothes treatment apparatus including a washing apparatus including a cabinet having an opening formed at an upper side thereof and a door configured to open and close the opening to perform a washing process, and a drying apparatus including a drying chamber provided on at least one side surface of the cabinet to dry laundry, and a heated air generating part to introduce heated air to the drying chamber, so that a washing process and a drying process are simultaneously or separately controlled, thereby enhancing the clothes treatment efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hyun Mook Kim, Amitoj Singh, Sung Ah Kim
  • Patent number: 9802579
    Abstract: A vehicle wash system includes a track system positioned above a wash area and a movable body coupled to the track system. The movable body is movable along at least two axes and includes a gripping mechanism to selectively hold and release one or more wash tools.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Inventor: Peter J. Anderson
  • Patent number: 9803307
    Abstract: The invention provides a method for the cleaning of a soiled substrate, the method comprising treating the substrate with a non-polymeric solid particulate cleaning material and wash water, the treatment being carried out in an apparatus comprising a drum comprising perforated side walls and having a capacity of between 5 and 50 liters for each kg of fabric in the washload, wherein the solid particulate cleaning material comprises a multiplicity of non-polymeric particles at a particle to fabric addition level of 0.1:1-10:1 by mass, each of the particles being substantially cylindrical or spherical in shape, and wherein the drum comprising perforated side walls is rotated at a speed which generates G forces in the range of from 0.05 to 900 G. The non-polymeric particles may comprise particles of glass, silica, stone, wood, or any of a variety of metals or ceramic materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: Xeros Limited
    Inventors: Stephen Derek Jenkins, Frazer John Kennedy
  • Patent number: 9803545
    Abstract: An apparatus and method used to maintain an engine coolant system and related components, which may be easily and quickly connected to multiple configurations and sizes, whereby an engine forward flushing can be accomplished.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Inventor: David Coleman Whitmer
  • Patent number: 9797083
    Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a front-loading washing machine including a cabinet having a front panel, in which the front panel is provided with an opening; a tub having an access port for loading and unloading clothes, in which the tub is disposed in the cabinet and configured in such a manner that the access port is capable of being moved up and down in the opening; a rotatable drum disposed in the tub; a door unit mounted to the tub and configured to cover the access port; and a driving mechanism configured to drive the tub to rotate, in which the driving mechanism is provided in the cabinet and coupled with the tub. The front-loading washing machine according to embodiments of the present disclosure has advantages of user-friendliness, low clothes abrasion, water saving and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: WUXI LITTLE SWAN CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jun Bao, Yusheng Tang, Kyunghag Kim