Patents Examined by Joseph L. Perrin
  • Patent number: 11933320
    Abstract: A dishwasher appliance or pump assembly may include a fluid pump and a vibration damper. The fluid pump may define a center of gravity. The vibration damper may be attached to the fluid pump. The vibration damper may include first and second spring beams and first and second damper masses. The first spring beam may extend longitudinally between a fixed end and a free end and be offset from the center of gravity at a first radial side. The first damper mass may be disposed on the free end of the first spring beam. The second spring beam may extend longitudinally between a fixed and a free end and be offset from the center of gravity at a second radial side. The second damper mass may be disposed on the free end of the second spring beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Kyle Brewer, Mark Fryman, Craig Curtis, Steven Koepke, Luke Fredette, Scott Noll
  • Patent number: 11932981
    Abstract: A counterweight assembly for counteracting vibrations or other forces in an appliance or machine includes a body and a funnel coupled to the body. The body includes an outer surface and an inner surface that defines an internal cavity that is adapted to receive a heavy aggregate material to form a counterweight. The funnel extends outwardly from the body and is adapted to deliver the heavy aggregate material to the internal cavity of the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: SSW Advanced Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ralph Ronald Raber, John Patrick Driver, Brian J. Stewart
  • Patent number: 11931683
    Abstract: A scrubber system may include a scrubber housing including a vertically extended cleaning space, an inflow chamber coupled to a bottom portion of the scrubber housing, and first and second inflow portions, each of which is configured to supply a gas into the inflow chamber. The inflow chamber may include a mixing space, and the mixing space may be connected to the cleaning space. The first inflow portion may include a first connection pipe coupled to the inflow chamber to provide a first connection path and the second inflow portion may include a second connection pipe coupled to the inflow chamber to provide a second connection path. The first and second connection paths may be extended toward the mixing space in opposite directions, respectively, and may be connected to opposite portions of the mixing space, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Young Seok Roh, Suji Gim, Heesub Kim, Hee Ock Park, Jongyong Bae, Sung Chul Yoon, Sunsoo Lee, Dong Keun Jeon, Jinkyoung Joo
  • Patent number: 11926953
    Abstract: A washing machine includes a tub to receive water; a drain pump connectable to the tub and configured to discharge the water from the tub, and a filter assembly to filter the discharged water from the drain pump. The filter assembly includes a filter housing, a filter couplable to the filter housing and configured to rotate within the filter housing, the filter including a first filter structure to collect foreign substance from the discharged water from the drain pump and a second filter structure to collect other foreign substances having a size different from foreign substance collected in the first filter structure from the discharged water from the drain pump, and a filter driver to rotate the filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Dongpil Seo, Kanghyun Lee, Youngjin Cho
  • Patent number: 11926950
    Abstract: Disclosed is a laundry treatment apparatus including a drum formed of a metal material and provided to accommodate laundry therein, an induction module spaced apart from a circumferential surface of the drum and provided to heat the circumferential surface of the drum via a magnetic field that is generated when current is applied to a coil, and a lifter formed of a metal material and provided in the drum to move the laundry inside the drum when the drum rotates. The lifter is provided so as to be recessed in a direction in which a distance between the induction module and the lifter, which face each other, increases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Jae Hyuk Jang, Hyunwoo Noh, Changoh Kim, Woo Re Kim, Sangwook Hong
  • Patent number: 11926952
    Abstract: A laundry treating apparatus includes a tub, a drum, and a rotator, wherein the rotator includes a bottom portion positioned on the bottom surface, a pillar protruding from the bottom portion toward the open surface, and a blade protruding from an outer circumferential surface of the pillar, wherein the blade includes a plurality of blades disposed to be spaced apart from each other along a circumferential direction of the pillar. The blade extends from the bottom portion toward the open surface along a direction inclined with respect to a longitudinal direction of the pillar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Dongcheol Kim, Youngjong Kim
  • Patent number: 11920284
    Abstract: A door assembly of a laundry treatment device and a laundry treatment device. The door assembly includes an outer frame, an inner frame and an observation window provided between the outer frame and the inner frame, a mounting assembly being provided between the outer frame and the inner frame, the observation window being rotatably sandwiched between the outer frame and the inner frame by means of the mounting assembly. With this arrangement, the observation window can be rotated relative to the inner frame and the outer frame without deviating from the space between the inner frame and the outer frame, such that in the process of rotating the entire door assembly 180° to switch the door opening direction, the mounting requirement of the observation window can be satisfied only by separately rotating the observation window 180°, rotating same and then mounting same back to the door assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignees: QINGDAO HAIER DRUM WASHING MACHINE CO., LTD., Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Zongyuan Weng, Kai Liu, Xuekai Guo
  • Patent number: 11920283
    Abstract: A washing machine includes a casing having an input port which is formed in a front surface thereof and to which laundry is inputted; a tub which is disposed in the casing to contain fluid, and has an opening communicating with the input port; a drum which is rotatably disposed in the tub, and contains the laundry; a pump which pumps water discharged from the tub; a circulation conduit which guides the water pumped by the pump; an annular gasket which forms a channel connecting the input port and the opening of the tub, and has a plurality of nozzles for spraying water into the drum on an inner circumferential surface defining the channel; and a nozzle water supply conduit which is fixed to the gasket, and supplies the water pumped by the pump to the plurality of nozzles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Junghoon Lee, Kyungchul Woo, Jaehyun Kim, Myunghun Im, Hyundong Kim, Hwanjin Jung
  • Patent number: 11920279
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a laundry washing machine, comprising a rotatable drum (3), a suspension arrangement (29, 31) carrying the drum in relation to a base structure (7) located under the washing machine on which the washing machine rests, and a load sensing device (9), configured to sense the load of the drum (3). A first structural element (11) extends in a first plane and is connected to either of the drum and the suspension arrangement, and a second structural element (13) extends in a second plane, parallel with the first plane, and is connected to the other of the drum and the suspension arrangement. The load sensing device is attached to the second structural element on a surface thereof facing away from the first structural element and is connected to the first structural element. This allows for a compact load sensing arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Electrolux Professional AB
    Inventors: Marius Stücheli, Mattias Johansson, Lars Andersson
  • Patent number: 11920277
    Abstract: A pump mount system for a laundry treating appliance having a cabinet and a pump located within the cabinet, a pump mount secured to the pump; a base mount spaced from the pump mount; at least one vibration isolator comprising a singular body having a first portion passing through a first opening on the pump mount, a second portion extending between the pump mount and the base mount, and a pin aperture passing through the vibration isolator; a pin removably received within the pin aperture; and at least one protrusion extending from at least one of the vibration isolator or the pin; wherein the at least one protrusion is engaged with at least one of the pin, the vibration isolator, or the base mount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Alejandro Guzman, Dennis Kehl
  • Patent number: 11920285
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a door assembly for a laundry treating appliance having an inner door subassembly comprising an inner door frame, an intermediate door frame attached to the inner door frame, and an outer door screen attached to the intermediate door frame, and one or more mechanical fasteners extending from a front to a back of the inner door frame for mounting a handle or a hinge. The method including adhesively bonding a handle cover or hinge cover to the inner door frame to cover the one or more mechanical fasteners on the back of the inner door frame; affixing a user interface controller to the intermediate door frame through an aperture in the inner door subassembly, and adhering a touch film having an integrated flexible printed circuit board with touch buttons to the interior surface of the outer door screen. The touch film being communication with and configured to control the user interface controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Prabhjee Anand, Timothy E. Heater
  • Patent number: 11918167
    Abstract: An automatic dishwashing device may include a tub defining a hollow dishwashing cavity having a back, top, bottom, and two sides and is accessible via an access opening at a front of the cavity, a rack slidably disposed within the tub and moveable in a longitudinal direction between a stored position within the tub to an extended position where the rack extends outside of the tub, and a tray slidably engaged with the rack for sliding movement in the longitudinal direction, wherein the tray is configured to selectively remain partially within the tub when the rack is in the extended position or extend outside the tub when the rack is in the extended position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Damian M. Chojnacki, Mark S. Feddema
  • Patent number: 11904368
    Abstract: Cleaning arms for cleaning containers are disclosed that can be used for transportation of food, medical, and/or pharmaceutical products. In some embodiments, a container cleaning arm comprises a main body and rotatable head for cleaning a container interior surface. The main body comprises a proximate end configured for engaging with a motorized drive and a distal end rotatably coupled to the rotatable head. The rotatable head comprises a first washing nozzle or group of washing nozzles and a first air knife dryer positioned adjacent to the first group of washing nozzles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: LVP Engineering & Constructions BV
    Inventors: Erik Van Pottelbergh, Wouter Van Troos
  • Patent number: 11905640
    Abstract: A laundry treating apparatus is provided, which includes a laundry treating drum, and further includes a water supply valve, a water container member, an atomizer and a driving board. The water supply valve is connected to the atomizer by the water container member. An outlet of the atomizer is disposed toward an inner cavity of the laundry treating drum. A container structure is disposed on the water container member. The driving board is disposed in the container structure and is communicatively connected with the atomizer. The laundry treating apparatus can reduce manufacturing difficulty of a laundry treating apparatus having an atomizer, such that the laundry treating apparatus can fully utilize the atomization function of the atomizer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignees: QINGDAO HAIER DRUM WASHING MACHINE CO., LTD., Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yonghong Xu, Tao Huang, Bencai Huang, Xueli Zhao
  • Patent number: 11898292
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a drum type washing machine capable of obtaining a high-water saving effect. The drum type washing machine comprises at least one processor configured to control a drive device configured to rotate a drum, a water supplier configured to supply water to a tub, and a sprinkler configured to spray water stored in the tub toward laundry accommodated in the drum. The drum comprises a lifter and a plurality of rear through-holes. The at least one processor is configured to perform a water spray process while rotating the drum in a state in which an amount of wash water absorbable by the laundry is maintained in the tub, in a washing cycle. In the water spray process, a waiting process, in which driving a circulation pump 91 is stopped, is intermittently and repeatedly performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masahiro Uetsuhara, Tomoyuki Okuno, Katsuyuki Shimakage, Kiyonobu Yoshida, Yasushi Urai, Takehiro Nakanishi
  • Patent number: 11898294
    Abstract: A washing machine includes a tub containing water, a drum rotatably provided in the tub to accommodate laundry, and a detergent mixing device configured to mix additives supplied into the tub. The detergent mixing device includes a pair of additive cartridges containing a liquid additive and a peristaltic pump configured to selectively supply the additive discharged from the pair of additive cartridges to the tub. The peristaltic pump includes a first path switching motor, a first tub, a second tube, a first rotor and a second rotor rotated by the flow path switching motor, a first rotary bearing permitting a rotation of the first rotor in a first direction and restricting a rotation of the first rotor in a second direction, and a second rotary bearing permitting a rotation of the second rotor in the second direction and restricting a rotation of the second rotor in the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Hyemin Kim, Sooyoung Oh, Kyosoon Chae, Jinho Kim, Heeyeon Kim, Beomjun Kim, Seungwoo Park
  • Patent number: 11891745
    Abstract: Washing appliance and a determination method for locking of a drum thereof. The washing appliance includes a drum for containing washing water, a drum motor for driving the drum to rotate and a locking structure for locking the drum. The drum motor drives the drum to rotate at a set power output, the locking structure generates a locking action for locking the drum, and until an output current of the drum motor is larger than a rated current, it is determined that the drum is locked by the locking structure; by comparing the output current of the drum motor with the rated current, until the output current of the drum motor is larger than the rated current. Whether the drum is locked by the locking structure or not can be accurately determined through the above determination, and therefore the drum locking accuracy can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignees: QINGDAO HAIER LAUNDRY ELECTRIC APPLIANCES CO., LTD., HAIER SMART HOME CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Zhiqiang Zhao, Sheng Xu
  • Patent number: 11885059
    Abstract: A laundry appliance includes a cabinet frame that defines a receiving aperture. A tub is disposed within the cabinet frame. A suspension support includes an engagement portion. The engagement portion includes an ejection surface sloping in a first direction and an assembling surface sloping in a second opposing direction to a retaining notch. A suspension rod extends between the tub and the suspension support and has a hook for selectively engaging the assembling surface in an installed position and selectively engaging the ejection surface in a misaligned position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Clóvis Douglas Minchola de Assis, Afrânio Berti Chinchilha, Thiago Vianna Galavotti, Blessing Chidinma Ifekaibeya
  • Patent number: 11879200
    Abstract: A washing machine includes a gasket including a gasket body that connects a casing to a tub, and a plurality of nozzles spraying water into a drum. The gasket body has a first area and a second area corresponding to bilateral areas. The nozzles include a first nozzle and a second nozzle disposed in the first area sequentially in a bottom-to-top direction. The washing machine includes a distribution pipe for distribution circulating water to the nozzles, and the distribution pipe includes a first outlet port and a second outlet port for supplying water to first and second nozzles, and a third outlet port and a fourth outlet port for supplying water to third and fourth nozzles. The first and second outlet ports extend parallel to each other, and the third and fourth outlet ports extend parallel to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Hosung Jang, Kwanghyun Kim, Sunghoon Kim, Jaehyun Choi, Yohwan Kang, Hansol Kim, Hwanchan Ryu, Hyunjae Lee
  • Patent number: 11873596
    Abstract: A pedestal assembly for a laundry appliance configured to operably connect to a water supply and drain of the laundry appliance arranged above the pedestal, the pedestal may include a cabinet defining a cavity configured to receive items to be laundered; and a shoe holder having at least one shaft configured to maintain at least one shoe thereon, wherein the shoe holder is configured to rotate within the cavity during a pedestal wash cycle and the shoe holder is configured to maintain a fixed position within the cavity for storage when the pedestal is not operating in a wash cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Mansi Gajanan Katkar, Omkar Sunil Mithari, Shrinivas V. Pawar, Mohit Akhilesh Singh, Vivek Singh