Patents Examined by Spencer E Bell
  • Patent number: 12075955
    Abstract: A washing apparatus washes a cleaner having a mop unit formed at a lower portion thereof. The washing apparatus includes a tray configured to form a space to receive the cleaner and washing water. A washing unit is disposed at a lower portion of the inside of the tray in contact with the mop unit. The washing unit includes a first spinning mop protrusion line configured to protrude upwardly, an upper end of the first spinning mop protrusion line being inclined downwardly in a first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2024
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Jaewon Jang, Jeongseop Park, Youngkouk Song
  • Patent number: 12077894
    Abstract: Hardware detection in a laundry treatment appliance is provided. Data is received from the sensor providing data in relation to presence or absence of a removable agitator within the laundry treatment appliance. A configuration of the removable agitator with respect to the laundry treatment appliance is identified based on the data from the sensor, the configuration indicating at least the presence or absence of the removable agitator. Settings of the laundry treatment appliance are updated in accordance with the identified configuration of the laundry treatment appliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2024
    Assignee: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Andrew Adkins, Gregory R. Fulmer, Eric W. Merrow, Thomas D. Spicer
  • Patent number: 12064074
    Abstract: A dishwasher is disclosed. When the dishwasher performs a drying process, the dishwasher increases a temperature of a washing space before air inside the washing space is discharged, thereby maintaining the temperature of the washing space at an appropriate drying temperature and increasing efficiency of the drying process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventor: Dong Hwi Park
  • Patent number: 12060670
    Abstract: A washing machine appliance may include a cabinet, a tub, a wash basket, and a controller. The tub may be positioned within the cabinet. The tub may define a tub outlet and a tub inlet. The wash basket may be rotatably mounted within the tub. The wash basket may define a chamber for receipt of articles for washing. The controller may be mounted to the cabinet and configured to initiate a washing operation. The washing operation may include flowing a volume of liquid to the tub, initiating a spin phase requiring rotation of the wash basket following flowing the volume of liquid to the tub, determining an out-of-balance (OOB) state within the wash basket, determining a user OOB preference following determining the OOB state, and adjusting the spin phase according to the determined user OOB preference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2024
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey Kellow
  • Patent number: 12054876
    Abstract: A clothes treatment apparatus includes a cabinet, a door, and a steam unit. The clothes treatment apparatus further includes a heat pump unit that is located in the cycle chamber and that is configured to circulate and condition air in the treatment chamber. The clothes treatment apparatus further includes a water supply tank that is installed in the tank installation space, that is connected to the steam unit, and that is configured to supply water to the steam unit. The clothes treatment apparatus further includes a drainage tank that is separably installed in the tank installation space, that is configured to store condensed water generated in at least one of the treatment chamber or the heat pump unit. The clothes treatment apparatus further includes a water supply level sensor. The clothes treatment apparatus further includes a drainage level sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2024
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Sunghoo Park, Youngjin Doh, Hyoungsup Park
  • Patent number: 12043224
    Abstract: A vehicle cleaner system includes: a cleaner unit configured to be mounted on a vehicle and to discharge a cleaning liquid to an external sensor that acquires information outside the vehicle so as to clean the external sensor; and a cleaner control unit configured to control the cleaner unit. The cleaner control unit is configured to acquire vehicle speed information related to a traveling speed of the vehicle, and control the cleaner unit such that at least one of a discharge amount of the cleaning liquid, a discharge amount of the cleaning liquid per unit time, the number of times of discharge of the cleaning liquid, the number of times of discharge of the cleaning liquid per unit time, and a discharge time of the cleaning liquid varies according to the vehicle speed information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuki Kawamura, Akinobu Kubota, Masaru Sakai, Masaaki Sato
  • Patent number: 12029372
    Abstract: A detergent dispenser may be positioned to dispense detergent into a wash tub of a household appliance. The detergent dispenser may include a detergent cartridge. The detergent cartridge may include a detergent strip having a plurality of detergents. One or more ejection mechanisms may be used to expel the detergent from the detergent strip through an outlet of the detergent cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: MIDEA GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Bassam Fawaz, Robert M. Digman, Joel Boyer, Russell Dietrich
  • Patent number: 12023009
    Abstract: An endoscope reprocessor includes: a holding member to/from which a filtering tool is attachable and detachable; a fluid introduction conduit and a fluid discharge conduit that communicate with the filtering tool in a state in which the filtering tool is attached to the holding member; a moving member configured to, when the filtering tool is attached to the holding member and a weight of the filtering tool is less than a predetermined value, position the filtering tool in a first position and, when the filtering tool is attached to the holding member and the weight of the filtering tool is greater than or equal to the predetermined value, position the filtering tool in a second position that is different from the first position; and a hindering unit configured to, when the filtering tool is positioned in the second position, hinder removal of the filtering tool from the holding member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2024
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keigo Takahashi, Atsushi Kinoshima, Kei Kimura, Yuta Kameda
  • Patent number: 12024810
    Abstract: Provided is a washing machine including: a cabinet including a plurality of side frames, a back frame, a top frame and a bottom frame; a front frame that is disposed in front of the cabinet and includes an internal laundry port through which laundry is put into a rotating tub, and a front cover that is disposed in front of the front frame, extends from the top frame to the bottom frame, includes an external laundry port corresponding to the internal laundry port and is integrally formed. Thus, no line is formed in a front side of the washing machine so that the exterior of the washing machine can be enhanced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2024
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dong Won Kim, Jin Doo Kim, Yeong Man Kim, Seung Youp Lee
  • Patent number: 12018423
    Abstract: A laundry appliance includes a body that houses a motor that selectively operates a drum for processing laundry, wherein the body includes an aperture for selectively accessing the drum. A door panel provides selective access to the aperture. A controller is configured to operate at least the motor. A user interface is in communication with the controller for selecting a laundry-processing operation to be performed. An outer panel at least partially conceals the body from view. An outer selector is positioned proximate the outer panel, wherein the outer selector is in communication with the controller via the user interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2024
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Kevin B. Ayers, Seth E. Bixby, Donald E. Erickson, Eric A. Hill, Dennis Kehl, Andrew C. Kubasiak, Sayer J. Murphy, Trevor R. Haney
  • Patent number: 12012690
    Abstract: An autonomous system for washing and drying household laundry includes a plurality of autonomous combination washer and dryers each including a perforated drum disposed within a tub mated thereto at a drive end opposite an opening. A first air orifice is disposed through the tub. A detachable door includes a second air orifice configured to receive an air conduit such that air flows through the first and second air orifices during a drying cycle while the door seals the opening. A controller is configured to instruct a drive motor to spin the drum about a spin axis extending between the drive end and the opening. A driven carrier in operable communication with the controller slides along a raised rail disposed adjacent the plurality autonomous combination washer and dryers and retrieves, holds, and reseats a door in an opening of one of the plurality of autonomous combination washer and dryers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2024
    Assignee: Monotony.ai, Inc.
    Inventors: Madeline R. Hickman, Susan Bachrach Coney, Noa M. Rensing, Kayla M. Swiston, Benjamin Beckvold, Benjamin D. Bixby, Jesse Sielaff, Kevin M. LeBlanc, Hannah S. Siemens
  • Patent number: 12011727
    Abstract: The invention relates to a switching apparatus for high pressure tools, comprising a holding device and two or more high pressure tools for cleaning purposes, a drive device, and a rotary body that is rotatable relative to the holding device about an axis of rotation by means of said drive device, an adjusting device with which one of the high pressure tools is selectively transferable from an inoperative position into an operating position, in which operating position the high pressure tool is coupled to the rotary body in a rotationally fixed manner and is rotationally drivable about a tool axis by way of said rotary body, wherein the switching apparatus comprises or forms a supply channel for pressurized cleaning liquid and the respective high pressure tool comprises or forms a tool channel for cleaning liquid, which is in flow connection or can be brought into flow connection with the supply channel during operation, wherein the switching apparatus further comprises a valve device with which the supply ch
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2024
    Assignee: ECOCLEAN GMBH
    Inventor: Norbert Klinkhammer
  • Patent number: 12012080
    Abstract: A chassis foam sprayer comprises a bottom plate, a solvent pot and a flushing pipe arranged above the bottom plate, rollers arranged below the bottom plate, and an upper cover covering above the bottom plate, wherein one end of the flushing pipe is provided with a water inlet connector which can be externally connected with a high-pressure water gun, the other end of the flushing pipe is provided with at least one nozzle, and a connecting pipe is arranged between the solvent pot and the flushing pipe; the high-pressure water gun is fixedly connected with the water inlet connector by arranging the rollers on the bottom plate, and then the foam sprayer is pushed in at the position of the chassis of the automobile, so that the position can be conveniently moved, and all positions of the chassis can be conveniently cleaned; moreover, the solvent pot is equipped with car wash liquid, so that the chassis can be subjected to foam spraying first, and then washed with clean water for thorough cleaning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2024
    Inventor: Xuming Zhuo
  • Patent number: 12004697
    Abstract: An example soaker sink may include a sink basin that receives wash items therein and defines an inlet opening. The soaker sink may further include a manifold that defines an inlet opening, an interior that receives a fluid flow input via the inlet opening, and a plurality of outlets. The outlets may permit discharge of fluid from the interior of the manifold to the sink basin and may include at least a first outlet and may further include a common outlet dimension. The soaker sink may further include a pump fluidically coupled with the inlet opening of the sink basin and the inlet opening of the manifold to recirculate fluid from the sink basin to the manifold. A flow restrictor may be removably coupled with the first outlet and may be configured to modify a flow rate of the fluid discharged via the first outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2024
    Assignee: CHAMPION INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Andrew N. Walker, Kenneth M. Leftwich
  • Patent number: 12005868
    Abstract: A boat trailer axle rinsing system including a pipe assembly and a tank assembly is disclosed herein. The pipe assembly includes a flush pipe and a nozzle pipe, the nozzle pipe is connected to the flush pipe by a valve, the nozzle pipe includes a plurality of nozzles to rinse an underside of a boat. The tank assembly includes a tank and a dial. The tank stores a desalination chemical. The dial controls the ratio of dilution of the desalination chemical with water provided to the tank by a water hose or by a pump. The tank has an output having a manifold connected therein. The manifold is connected to the flush pipe to provide the desalination chemical to the nozzle pipe to rinse a boat. The pipe assembly is mounted to a trailer axle. The tank assembly is mounted to a front portion of the trailer axle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2024
    Inventor: Jose Navarro
  • Patent number: 12000079
    Abstract: A clothes treatment apparatus includes a cabinet, a door, and a steam unit. The clothes treatment apparatus further includes a heat pump unit that is located in the cycle chamber and that is configured to circulate and condition air in the treatment chamber. The clothes treatment apparatus further includes a water supply tank that is installed in the tank installation space, that is connected to the steam unit, and that is configured to supply water to the steam unit. The clothes treatment apparatus further includes a drainage tank that is separably installed in the tank installation space, that is configured to store condensed water generated in at least one of the treatment chamber or the heat pump unit. The clothes treatment apparatus further includes a water supply level sensor. The clothes treatment apparatus further includes a drainage level sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Sunghoo Park, Youngjin Doh, Hyoungsup Park
  • Patent number: 11993885
    Abstract: Disclosed are a washing machine capable of preventing the occurrence of an accident related to a child or pet becoming trapped inside a washing tub and a control method thereof. The washing machine according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes a sound sensor configured to sense a sound measured at a washing tub, a controller configured to control a door and the washing tub according to a safe mode based on a sound sensed by the sound sensor, and a release signal sensor configured to sense a release signal to switch the door and the washing tub, controlled according to the safe mode by the controller, back to a normal mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventor: Phal Jin Lee
  • Patent number: 11986864
    Abstract: A cleaning apparatus includes a spinner table for holding a workpiece thereon, a cleaning nozzle for supplying cleaning water to the workpiece held on the spinner table, an ultrasonic vibrator for applying ultrasonic vibrations to the cleaning water supplied from the cleaning nozzle to the workpiece, a water layer forming unit for forming a layer of the cleaning water in a clearance between the cleaning nozzle and the workpiece, the water layer forming unit having a cover surrounding the cleaning nozzle, and a drain unit for draining the cleaning water out of the cleaning apparatus, the drain unit having a flow channel for allowing the cleaning water supplied from the cleaning nozzle to the workpiece to flow therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: DISCO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yukiyasu Masuda, Hiromitsu Yoshimoto, Zentaro Kawasaki
  • Patent number: 11982035
    Abstract: A washing machine appliance includes a wash basket that is rotatably mounted within a wash tub and that defines a wash chamber for receiving a load of clothes. A basket speed sensor monitors the speed of the wash basket and a camera assembly is mounted within the wash tub for taking images of the load of clothes during and/or after a wash or rinse cycle. A controller determines the basket speed, adjusts a frame rate of the camera assembly to match the basket speed, obtains a still image from the camera assembly, analyzes the image using a machine learning image recognition process to determine a remaining moisture content (RMC) of the load of clothes, and adjusts at least one operating parameter of the washing machine appliance based on the remaining moisture content, e.g., such as ending the drain cycle when a target RMC is reached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Khalid Jamal Mashal
  • Patent number: 11980330
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a robot cleaner capable of receiving a user input setting a reference distance for detecting a surrounding environment of a space to be cleaned through an external control device, and controlling driving based on the user input, and a robot cleaner system including the same, and according to the present invention, the actuator of the robot cleaner is controlled based on the reference distance set by the user, so that the robot cleaner can be controlled not to fall into inability to drive according to a cleaning environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Young Sub Lee, Hwan Yoo, Yonggil Shin