Patents Examined by Thomas Y. Ho
  • Patent number: 8359880
    Abstract: A fan motor assembly and a refrigerator having the same are provided. The fan motor assembly may include a cover plate having a cool air suction opening formed therein, and at least one cool air duct flow path formed at an inner side wall of the refrigerator. A blower may be provided at an interior side of the cover plate to direct cool air into the at least one cool air duct flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Dong-Il Lee, Jun-Ho Bae, Hyoun-Jeong Shin
  • Patent number: 8267162
    Abstract: A bi-directional pressure relief valve for a plate fin heat exchanger including an elongated heat exchanger tube having ends and a channel for the flow of a fluid from one end of the tube to the opposite end and a bi-directional reed valve positioned within the channel. The reed valve allows fluid to flow within the channel in either direction when a pressure differential across the reed valve is sufficient to urge the reed valve to an open position, thereby enabling the heat exchanger to be used independent of the direction of fluid flow through the heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Standard Motor Products
    Inventor: Archibald E Pinto
  • Patent number: 8245527
    Abstract: An ice making device may include an ice tray, a drive mechanism for moving the ice tray to a water-supply position and to an ice making position, a guide plate formed with a guide groove for guiding the ice tray to the water-supply position and to the ice making position, an engaging projection provided on the ice tray and engaged with the guide groove, a crank which is formed with a drive groove with which the engaging projection is engaged and which is connected with the drive mechanism for moving the ice tray, a heater which is mounted on the ice tray, and a connecting wire which is connected to the heater. The engaging projection is an engaging tube and is structured of two engaging tube pieces which are divided by a plane in an axial direction, and the connecting wire is drawn out by passing through an inner side of the engaging tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Inventors: David R. Ducharme, Russell E. Watts, Hiroki Kuratani
  • Patent number: 8141621
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for cooling electronic components housed in a computer rack while performing maintenance operations is provided. The apparatus, in one embodiment, includes a heat exchange assembly disposed within an outlet door cover of the computer rack, having one or more perforations. One or more air moving device(s) are also disposed on the outlet door and activated by an activator when the door is opened such that the devices when activated force hot air into the heat exchanger. Cool air is then exhausted through a planar containment plate having a plurality of edges. The plate is secured to top of the outlet door along one of its edges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Levi A. Campbell, Richard C. Chu, Michael J. Ellsworth, Jr., Madhusudan K. Iyengar, Robert E. Simons
  • Patent number: 8104532
    Abstract: A heat exchanger placed underneath an elevated tub or shower stall or under the bathroom floor includes a flat top heat conductive plate. The top plate is fastened to a flat lower plate, having a serpentine pattern with a shallow depth embedded into the top surface. When the top plate is fastened and sealed to the lower plate, the flow of the incoming cold water is contained within the confines of the serpentine lower plate of the heat exchanger. Heat is transferred from the grey waste water falling onto the top plate to preheat the incoming cold water flowing underneath the top plate in the serpentine conduit chamber of the lower plate in contact with a bottom surface of the top plate. The cold water is thereby preheated and used as a substitute for the incoming cold water that would be normally plumbed to the discharge shower head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Inventor: Jeremiah Cardone
  • Patent number: 6961977
    Abstract: A magnetic hinge defining a hinge axis includes first and second hinge plates of non-magnetic material and first and second magnets disposed therein, respectively, for movement therewith. The plates are generally parallel and independently pivotable about the hinge axis between a closed orientation, wherein the plates are essentially superposed, and an open orientation, wherein the plates are essentially not superposed. The first and second magnets are essentially superposed, generally coaxial with the hinge axis, and in the same magnetic orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2005
    Assignee: Concept Workshop Worldwide, LLC
    Inventor: David Seidler
  • Patent number: 6805386
    Abstract: A door lock (12) which is conceived in particular for use in motor vehicle doors has a rotary latch (14) and a closing aid (10) which acts on the latter and, with the aid of a drive, carries along the door to be closed in to the closed position. Known door locks having a closing aid have an increased space requirement and cannot readily be accommodated in structurally predetermined constructional spaces. The invention provides the drive of the closing aid such that it is separated structurally from the door lock (12) and provides a flexible drive element for transmitting force from the drive to the rotary latch (14). If appropriate, a deflection roller (26) may be provided and may be designed such that it is movable in order to bring about an auxiliary opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2004
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Jürgen Ehret, Michael Helmer
  • Patent number: 6736432
    Abstract: A combination structure of the assembly plates and the cylinder of a lock latch includes a cylinder, a first assembly plate, and a second assembly plate. The cylinder is formed with a slot which has a top end and a bottom end each formed with a locking recess, and has a first side and a second side each formed with at least one side recess. The first assembly plate is provided with at least one locking groove locked with the side recess of the first side of the slot, and is provided with a reinforcement plate locked in the locking recess of the slot of the cylinder. The second assembly plate is provided with multiple hooks locked in the side recess of the second side of the slot, and at least one recess for locking the side plate of the first assembly plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: Taiwan Fu Hsing Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chih-Cheng Huang, Chao-Ming Huang