Patents Examined by Samuel A Waldbaum
  • Patent number: 7748067
    Abstract: Provided is a method of minimizing an unbalanced load of laundry within a clothes laundering machine before a high-speed spinning phase. The method includes rotating a drum of the clothes laundering machine at a suitable rotational speed to initially retain at least a portion of the laundry within the drum against an inner surface of the drum; and determining that an unbalanced distribution of the laundry exists within the drum. In response to determining that the unbalanced distribution of laundry exists within the drum, initiating a laundry distribution phase to redistribute the laundry within the drum to reduce at least one of the unbalance mass to a level that is less than or equal to a maximum allowable mass value, and the elevation torque to a level that is less than or equal to a maximum allowable elevation torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: Electrolux Home Products Corporation N.V.
    Inventors: Fabio Altinier, Stefano Galassi, Marco Giovagnoni
  • Patent number: 7743633
    Abstract: A washing machine is provided that has at least one balancer that increases durability by reinforcing the strength of the balancer and is installed on a rotating tub in a rapid and convenient way. The balancer includes first and second housings that have an annular shape and are fused to form a closed internal space, and the first housing including at least one support for reinforcing the strength of the balancer. A spin tub includes an annular recess corresponding to the balancer so as to be coupled with the balancer. The support protrudes from the first housing and comes into contact with a wall of the recess and guides the balancer to be maintained in the recess in place. The supports are continuously formed along and perpendicular to the opposite walls of the first housing, or are disposed parallel to the opposite walls of the first housing at regular intervals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Doo Young Ryu, Ja Young Kim, Ito Michiaki, Myung Sun Kang
  • Patent number: 7740712
    Abstract: A unit for washing containers comprises a conveying device for supporting and advancing in an orderly manner said containers to a grasping, moving and washing device; the grasping, moving and washing device comprises at least a conveyor provided with a grasping arrangement for grasping in succession groups of said containers from said conveying device at a first operating position and at least a bank of nozzles for dispensing and diffusing washing liquid substances inside the containers; the unit further comprises a moving actuating arrangement for moving with reciprocating motion in relation to each other said conveyor and the bank of nozzles for causing the insertion of the nozzles inside the groups of said containers at a second operating position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Inventor: Claudio Bechini
  • Patent number: 7739891
    Abstract: A non-aqueous laundering machine for laundering fabric with a non-aqueous wash liquor and a select rinse fluid. The non-aqueous laundering machine includes a container for a fabric load and means for the controlled application of a non-aqueous wash liquor to the fabric load, the removal of part of the non-aqueous wash liquor from the fabric load, and application of a select rinse fluid to the fabric load as well as means for applying mechanical energy to the fabric load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Joel A. Luckman, Andrew Leitert, Richard A. Sunshine, Tremitchell L. Wright
  • Patent number: 7736443
    Abstract: In an endoscope washer disinfector, a bath comprises a mounting plane on which an endoscope with a duct is mounted and a wall member. A connector has two ends consisting of one end located to penetrate through the wall member and to be secured watertightly to the wall member. The one end faces an opening of the duct of the endoscope mounted in the bath. The other end is connected to a fluid source storing fluid for washing and disinfecting the endoscope. A nozzle is movable in the connector along an inner passage thereof and moved toward the one end of the connector to protrude from the one end to realize a watertight and detachable connection with the opening of the duct. The fluid is supplied to the duct when the fluid is supplied from the fluid source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Olympus Medical Systems Corp.
    Inventor: Hideto Onishi
  • Patent number: 7726324
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a dishwasher. In more detail, the present invention provides a dishwasher including a sump housing for holding washing water, a washing water pumping unit for pumping the washing water, a drain chamber for receiving the washing water pumped thus, a soil chamber for receiving the washing water through the drain chamber, a guide assembly for guiding the washing water pumped thus to be provided to the soil chamber via the drain chamber, and a sump cover covered on an upper surface of the sump housing for filtering the washing water overflowed from the soil chamber, thereby filtering the washing water effectively, and improving recovery ratio of the washing water to reduce consumption of the washing water and power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Seung Bong Choi, Sangheon Yoon, Nungseo Park, Hung Myong Cho, Dae Yeong Han, Byung Hwan Ahn, Hyeokdeok Kim
  • Patent number: 7721744
    Abstract: The process comprises the creation of a surface moistened on one of the faces of the paper by natural condensation droplets created by refrigerating said laminar support on the opposite face, adapting the continuous web of printed paper on said surface in a zone of variable tangency to achieve regular and uniform remoistening of the web of paper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: Digital Internet Transport System, S.L.
    Inventor: Jordi Sabater Vilella
  • Patent number: 7722725
    Abstract: The present invention provides a sump assembly of a dishwasher, by which water can be purified. The present invention includes a sump housing storing water therein, a pump coupled with the sump housing to pump the water, a guide assembly provided within the sump housing to guide the pumped water to a sprayer, and a drain chamber configured to filter contaminant from the water drained from the guide assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Nung Seo Park, Sang Heon Yoon, Byung Hwan Ahn, Dae Yeong Han
  • Patent number: 7712338
    Abstract: An inventive electric washing machine is configured so that a gas to be used for performing a specific process (decontamination process) on laundry is prevented from leaking to the outside. In the electric washing machine, a packing (120) to be brought into intimate contact with a door (12) for sealing a gap defined between the door (12) and a peripheral edge of an outer tub opening (118) when the door (12) is closed is opposed to a housing opening (14) with a space (129) defined between a lower edge portion of the housing opening (14) and the packing (120). If the door (12) is closed with laundry protruding through the lower edge portion of the housing opening (14), the protruding laundry is caught between the door (12) and the packing (120), so that the packing (120) is not brought into intimate contact with the door (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Tanaka, Yoshikazu Banba
  • Patent number: 7703306
    Abstract: A washing machine is provided that includes a tub and a perforated basket rotationally mounted within the tub for relative rotation therewith. A recirculation system is coupled between the tub and the basket and is configured to remove wash liquid from the tub and return wash liquid to the basket. A controller is operatively coupled to the washing machine. The controller is configured to begin recirculation of concentrated wash liquid after an initial fill during a basket slow spin and continue the recirculation of concentrated wash liquid for a predetermined time period prior to a complete fill.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Timothy Scott Shaffer
  • Patent number: 7699064
    Abstract: The invention relates to a dishwasher having a rinsing container (1) which is sealable on its front side by an appliance door that is pivotable on its bottom section about a horizontal axis, whereby a base area (3) that extends beneath the rinsing container (1) is bordered at the bottom by collecting dish (32), at the rear by a cover (2) and at the front by a connecting strip (10), having appliance feet (13, 14) that are adjustable in height and having an adjustment device for varying the closing behavior of the appliance door. To design the entire base area (3) so that it is easy to assembly and nevertheless is readily accessible, it is proposed that the lateral borders of the base area (3) shall be formed by two base parts (11, 12), each of which is attached as a narrow receptacle housing for the appliance feet (13, 14), their height adjustment and the adjustment device and each of which is attached to the cover (2) and to the connecting strip (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Miele & Cie. KG
    Inventors: Martin Schlief, Volker Stank, Markus Thulig
  • Patent number: 7686893
    Abstract: A tank washer comprising a housing which supports reciprocating spray nozzles for spaying the walls of a tank which is to be cleaned with a cleaning liquid. The reciprocation of the spray nozzles is controlled by a piston that reciprocates in the housing under the force of the cleaning liquid. A piston assembly for use in a tank washer comprising a piston head and a connecting rod having one end connected to said piston head. The piston is mounted in a piston chamber for reciprocation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Sun HydroCorps Company, LLC
    Inventor: Michael Robinson
  • Patent number: 7681581
    Abstract: Apparatuses, and related methods, for processing a workpiece that include particular baffle members or duct structures having an inlet proximal to an outer periphery of a workpiece and/or workpiece support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: FSI International, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan D. Rose, Darian D. Carr, James M. Eppes, Stephen G. Hanson
  • Patent number: 7681580
    Abstract: A water recirculator in a dishwasher supplies water to spray arms for washing dishes and also purifies contaminated water after washing the dishes. The water recirculator includes a sump for holding water, a water supply pump connected to the sump, a guide passage for guiding a portion of the water pumped by the water supply pump to a spray arm in a washing chamber, a pre-filtering unit for purifying a rest of the water pumped by the water pumped by the water supply pump by means of precipitating contaminants included in the water therein, and a main filtering unit for purifying the rest of the water passed through the pre-filtering unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Sang Heon Yoon, Nung Seo Park, Dae Yeong Han, Si Moon Jeon
  • Patent number: 7677258
    Abstract: A wheel washing assembly contains a machine frame, a pendulum assembly pivotably supported on the machine frame, and two washing manifolds, including a first washing manifold and a second washing manifold, attached to the pendulum assembly. Each of the washing manifolds has a nozzle assembly for ejecting water at a wheel to be washed. The washing manifolds are pivotable between a start washing position and an end washing position by an automatic motion of the pendulum assembly. The washing manifolds further automatically track the wheels to be washes by a motion of one of the wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: Sonny's Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Hodge, Anthony Analetto, Salvatore Fazio
  • Patent number: 7673639
    Abstract: A washing arm and a dishwasher having the washing nozzle are provided. The washing arm includes a first arm capable of rotating by wash liquid flowing therethrough, and a second arm rotating with respect to the first arm through wash liquid supplied from the first arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Gap Su Shin
  • Patent number: 7665475
    Abstract: A utility shelf includes a retaining frame pivotally connected to a support frame. The support frame is pivotally connected to a side portion of a dish rack through a plurality of hinge elements. Similarly, the retaining frame is pivotally connected to the support frame through a corresponding plurality of hinge members. The hinge members on the retaining frame are adapted to abut a stop member that positions the retaining frame at an angle relative to the support frame. With this arrangement, the retaining frame can be extended from the support frame to support objects during a washing operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: Maytag Corporation
    Inventors: Kristen K. Hedstrom, Mark E. Palm
  • Patent number: 7650659
    Abstract: It is intended to provide a washing method for reliably cleaning water-soluble contaminations such as sweat without damaging fabrics. A frame body 18 is disposed horizontally in a casing. The frame body 18 is rotated by a drive motor 23 in the casing. The casing and the frame body 18 are filled with water, and then clothes are placed in the frame body 18. A plurality of protrusions 40 are formed in order that an inner periphery 39 of the frame body 18 has a wavy pattern. A height of the protruding parts is set to from 3.0 to 6.0% of the inner diameter of the frame body 18. A surfant contained in cleaning liquid permeates deep into the clothes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Kyotosangyo
    Inventor: Hideo Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 7650765
    Abstract: Clothes washing machine comprising: a common water-distribution manifold (2), a plurality of electromagnetic (3B, 4B, 5B) valves provided downstream of said water-distribution manifold and connected on a respective inlet side thereof to said common water-distribution manifold, a plurality of outlet conduits (3, 4, 5) provided at the delivery orifices of said electromagnetic valves, a respective plurality of chambers (3A, 4A, 5A) supplied via a respective one of said outlet conduits (6), in which a cold-water inlet conduit (7) directly connects the low-temperature water delivery system to said water-distribution manifold, a hot-water inlet conduit (7) connects the high-temperature water delivery system to a pre-determined one of said outlet conduits downstream of the respective electromagnetic valve, and a further electromagnetic valve (7B) is provided in said hot-water inlet conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: Electrolux Home Products Corporation N.V.
    Inventor: Pietro Rizzetto
  • Patent number: 7637127
    Abstract: A dual particulate filter assembly includes a filter frame and a first filter element and a second filter element mounted in the filter frame. The first filter element is configured to remove particulates from a first medium, and the second filter element is configured to remove particulates from a second medium different from the first medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Robert Thomas Mills, Venkataraman Rachakonda, Timothy Dale Worthington