Patents Examined by Kevin G Lee
  • Patent number: 11162203
    Abstract: A control module of an appliance is provided. The control module includes a housing having a film integrally molded onto an outer surface of the housing. The film includes conductive ink embedded in the film. A header on the film is in electrical communication with the conductive ink embedded in the film. The control module also includes a printed circuit board mounted within the housing proximate an inner surface of the housing. The film is connected to the printed circuit board via the header. With this connection, the printed circuit board is in operative communication with the conductive ink embedded in the film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald James Leisl, III, Richard Gary Woodham, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11162204
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a laundry treating apparatus. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a tub for receiving washing-water therein; a first drum rotatably disposed within the tub; a second drum disposed in the first drum so as to be attachable or detachable to or from the first drum, wherein washing of a laundry by the second drum is performed separately from washing of a laundry by the first drum; and a guide rib projected from an upper portion of a inner circumferential face of the second drum toward a center of the second drum, wherein the guide rib is constructed to guide wash-water rising up via a rotational force of the second drum to flow toward a center of the second drum and then to fall down.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Jaeyong Jeong, Keunjoo Kim, Oshin Kwon
  • Patent number: 11098429
    Abstract: Techniques are described for communicating with and controlling a laundry machine. In some cases, the laundry machine emits, using at least one wireless network interface, a beacon signal that identifies a laundry machine. The beacon signal may be detectable by a mobile device and, based on the signal, the mobile device may determine that it is in proximity to the laundry machine. In some implementations, the determination that the mobile device is in proximity to the laundry machine may be based on receiving, from the mobile device, a request that includes a code associated with the laundry machine. A network interface of the laundry machine may receive a control signal to alter an operational state of the laundry machine to enable its use. In some cases, the sending of the control signal is caused by the determination that the mobile device is in proximity to the laundry machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: Washlava, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin Todd Belveal, Dexter S. Weiss, William Justin Barbino, Charles Walden
  • Patent number: 11091866
    Abstract: Provided is a method for controlling a laundry treating apparatus. The method includes applying power to the laundry treating apparatus and inputting an installation inspection command through an input part and performing an installation inspection for inspecting whether the laundry treating apparatus is normally installed when the installation inspection command is inputted. A control part determines whether the inputted installation inspection command is an initial installation inspection command, and wherein, when it is determined that the inputted installation inspection command is not the initial installation inspection command, the control part is configured to determine whether the previous installation and inspection has been properly performed according to an unbalance value stored in a memory, and configured to display the determined result a display part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Byunghoon Na, Daewook Kwak
  • Patent number: 11076740
    Abstract: Provided herein are an appliance and method for washing and rinsing goods. The appliance may include a circulation pump, a sensing arrangement arranged to measure an indication of circulation pump pressure or process water flow rate through the circulation pump, and a controller arranged to control operating speed of the circulation pump. The controller may be further arranged to detect that the indicated circulation pump pressure or process water flow rate through the circulation pump is insufficient, and gradually reduce operating speed of the circulation pump until the circulation pump pressure or the process water flow rate through the circulation pump is at a sufficient operational level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Inventor: David Persson
  • Patent number: 11065655
    Abstract: A cleaning apparatus includes a nozzle assembly and an arm supporting the nozzle assembly. In some embodiments, the arm includes a first rotatable arm member defining a first axis and a second rotatable arm member defining a second axis and connected to the first rotatable member. In certain examples, the first rotatable arm is rotatable about the first axis and the second rotatable arm is rotatable about the second axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: ECOSERV TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventor: Kenny DesOrmeaux
  • Patent number: 11065651
    Abstract: The speed, effectiveness, and convenience with which pallets and other objects are cleaned can be increased by using a vehicle-towed portable pressure power-washing apparatus. The apparatus includes a platform that can be towed. On the platform is positioned at least one pressure-washer that pumps liquid from a tank into rotary arms within a cleaning chamber positioned on the platform, causing the rotation of the arms as the arms eject streams of the liquid pumped under a high pressure from angled nozzles. Belt conveyors carry an object in need of cleaning into the cleaning chamber, first exposing the object to the streams of the liquid, and then to a drying chamber. Guide rails positioned on the platform guide the object during cleaning, with the shape of one of the guide rails causing the object to fall off the platform following the drying to remove excess liquid left on the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Inventor: Julien Awad
  • Patent number: 11053636
    Abstract: A clothes treating apparatus includes a case with a treatment chamber for holding clothes, a steam unit supplying steam to the treatment chamber, a blowing unit drawing in air from the inside of the treatment chamber, a heat pump unit heating the air drawn in by the blowing unit and discharging the heated air to the inside of the treatment camber, and a control unit controlling the steam unit, the blowing unit, and the heat pump unit, wherein when the heat pump unit is driven after the steam unit is driven, the control unit supplies water to the steam unit after the driving of the heat pump unit terminates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Wansik Nam, Donghyun Kim, Jinseong Lee
  • Patent number: 11051675
    Abstract: A dish rack for use in a dishwasher is provided. The dishwasher includes a tub defining a washing chamber for cleaning kitchenware and the like. The dish rack includes a wall bounding a space. A dispenser unit is mounted to the dish rack and is configured to hold an additive. A hydraulic circuit is disposed within the walls of the dish rack and is placed in fluid communication with the dispenser. Fluid pressure from the hydraulic circuit is operable to eject the additive from the dispenser unit into the washing chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Mark W. Baldwin, Paul E. Beshears, Jr., Scott D. Slabbekoorn, Elliott V. Stowe, Barry E. Tuller, Ameresh B. Viswanathan
  • Patent number: 11051673
    Abstract: A dishwasher appliance includes a tub that defines a wash chamber for receipt of articles for washing. A sump is positioned at a bottom of the wash chamber for receiving fluid from the wash chamber. A fluid circulation assembly is at least partially disposed within the sump. The fluid circulation assembly is mounted in the sump with a resilient mounting post, whereby the fluid circulation assembly is vibrationally isolated from the sump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: John Edward Dries
  • Patent number: 11035064
    Abstract: A washing and drying machine includes: a washing drum for accommodating the washings and rotating under a driving force of a motor; an air supply portion for supplying air into the washing drum; a heating portion configured to heat the air to be supplied into the washing drum when turned on and stop heating when turned off; and a control portion for controlling the motor, the air supply portion and the heating portion to execute a washing and drying operation. A drying procedure in the washing and drying operation includes main drying treatment repeated for multiple times. During each time of the main drying treatment, the control portion is configured to keep the heating portion being on within a first period, and keep the heating portion being off within a second period different from the first period, and the second period is longer than the first period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Inventors: Yuka Yoshida, Shingo Hayashi
  • Patent number: 11024518
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus includes a stationary cup body 51 provided to surround a substrate holding unit 31 and configured to receive a processing liquid or mist of the processing liquid discharged onto a substrate, the stationary cup body not being moved relatively with respect to a processing vessel; a mist guard 80; and a guard elevating mechanism 84 configured to elevate the mist guard. Here, the mist guard is provided at an outside of the stationary cup body to surround the stationary cup body and configured to block a liquid scattered outwards beyond a space above the stationary cup body. Further, the mist guard includes a cylindrical portion 81 of a cylindrical shape and a protruding portion 82 protruded from an upper portion of the cylindrical portion toward an inside of the cylindrical portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Norihiro Ito, Jiro Higashijima, Nobuhiro Ogata, Takahisa Otsuka, Yuichi Douki, Yusuke Hashimoto, Kazuhiro Aiura, Daisuke Goto
  • Patent number: 11021825
    Abstract: A washing machine appliance configured to detect a location of an imbalanced load is provided. The washing machine appliance utilizes the displacement or a component of the displacement of a tub of the washing machine appliance to determine the location of an out-of-balance load. In particular, the washing machine compares the displacement or component of the displacement of the tub at a first point with the displacement of the tub at a second point that is positioned forward of the first point. By comparing the displacement or components of the displacement of the tub at these two points, the location of the imbalanced load may be determined. Methods for determining imbalanced loads are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory Allen Dedow, Paul Owen Davis
  • Patent number: 11019982
    Abstract: A detergent dispenser may be positioned to dispense detergent into a wash tub of a household appliance, and may include: a detergent carrier with a plurality of detergent units, each of the detergent units including one or more walls defining a cavity with a dispensing opening, and a door movable between an open and closed position; a housing for receiving the detergent carrier, the housing including a dispensing outlet; a carrier driver for moving the detergent carrier between a plurality of positions, each position orienting one of the dispensing units proximate the dispensing outlet, where when one of the dispensing units is proximate the dispensing outlet the door of the one of the plurality of dispensing units is open, otherwise the door is closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: MIDEA GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Joel Boyer, Greg Buth, Bassam Fawaz
  • Patent number: 11024520
    Abstract: The substrate processing apparatus includes a processing chamber including an outer chamber configured to hold a processing liquid and an inner chamber capable of surrounding the substrate held by the substrate holder; a liquid delivery pipe having one end coupled to a bottom of the inner chamber and other end coupled to the outer chamber; a pump configured to suck the processing liquid from the inner chamber through the liquid delivery pipe and to deliver the processing liquid to the outer chamber through the liquid delivery pipe; and a guide cover having a through-hole in which the substrate holder can be inserted. The guide cover is located below an upper end of the outer chamber and above the inner chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: EBARA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keiichi Kurashina, Toshio Yokoyama
  • Patent number: 11021833
    Abstract: A system, method, and apparatus for controlling a plurality of washers and the mixture and deliver of laundry product solutions to the plurality of washers. Generally, a GUI allows for a user to select one or more washers and one or more laundry products. A computing device receives the user input and controls the system hardware to further execute the input. The system uses a combination of solenoids and peristaltic pumps to direct water flow to be mixed with the selected solid and/or liquid laundry products. The water and laundry product solution is further directed to the one or more appropriate washer. A third-party payment terminal allows for the user to pay before using the system. The system, method, and apparatus generally allow for a resource efficient and cost effective solution to laundry needs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: Greenfill LLC
    Inventors: Lorna G. Ray, David N. Ray
  • Patent number: 11008692
    Abstract: Method of determining a laundry load size in a laundry treating appliance comprising a rotatable drum at least partially defining a treating chamber for receiving laundry for treatment in accordance with a treating cycle of operation, an imaging device, and a controller having a processor, the method includes generating an image, detecting markings in the generated image, and determining, by the controller, a load size based thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew Leitert, Karl David McAllister
  • Patent number: 10987704
    Abstract: An electric fan with a self-cleaning mode to energise rotating fan blades in alternate forward and reverse directions to create a vibration in order to shake built-up dust or dirt particles from the blades in a frequency at which the rotational direction is alternated set to a known or detected resonant frequency of the blades thereby excite resonant modes and maximise the amplitude of vibrations. The self-cleaning operation may be triggered by detection of excessive/abnormal loading on the motor. The fan may be operated in a vibration detecting mode over a range of rotational speeds to locate speeds that produce resonance, or to detect a fault with the fan. Motor reversal frequencies corresponding to resonance-inducing speeds may be used in the self-cleaning mode. The vibration detecting mode may be carried out while the at least one blade is rotated in a direction opposite to its normal operational rotational direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Inventors: Mervyn John Davies, David James Hammond, Zhuang Tian
  • Patent number: 10945808
    Abstract: A cleaning fixture for a surgical instrument includes a handle receiving portion configured to receive a housing of a surgical instrument, a shaft receiving portion configured to receive a shaft and an end effector assembly of the surgical instrument, and a knife actuation assembly movably coupled to the handle receiving portion or the shaft receiving portion. The shaft receiving portion extends distally of the handle receiving portion. The knife actuation assembly is configured to selectively actuate a knife trigger assembly of the surgical instrument to advance a knife of the surgical instrument between jaw members of the end effector assembly thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: COVIDIEN LP
    Inventors: Jessica E. C. Olson, James D. Allen, IV, Stephen J. Stamm, Purvishkumar H. Soni, Alyssa M. Sawyer
  • Patent number: 10939797
    Abstract: The dishwasher includes a cabinet provided with a washing space inside thereof, and a nozzle unit for spraying washing water into the washing space. The nozzle unit includes a first unit body and a second unit body. Any one of the first and second unit bodies includes a first coupling rib formed along at least a portion of the periphery and a second coupling rib spaced apart from the first coupling rib by a predetermined distance. The other of the first and second unit bodies includes a third coupling rib inserted between the first and second coupling ribs and a second coupling rib located inside the third coupling rib, and stepped ribs configured to face each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Seung Wan Yoo, Buesing Johannes