Patents by Inventor Albert Dirnberger

Albert Dirnberger has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20160252287
    Abstract: An ice-making assembly for installation in a domestic refrigerator or freezer is provided. The ice-making assembly comprises: a frame structure; and first and second ice-making trays supported for rotation about a rotational axis with respect to the frame structure between an ice production position and an ice discharge position, wherein the first and second ice-making trays are disposed behind one another in a direction of the rotational axis and each have a tray longitudinal dimension in the direction of the rotational axis that is larger than a tray width direction in a direction transverse to the rotational axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2016
    Publication date: September 1, 2016
    Inventors: Albert Dirnberger, Roland Schroedel, Josef Bauriedl
  • Publication number: 20160251881
    Abstract: A door latch for an electrical household appliance includes a latch housing in which a gripping unit is received. The door latch further includes a first arresting element which is received in the latch housing such that it is movable between a release position and an arresting position. In the arresting position, the first arresting element blocks the gripping unit to prevent rotation into the open rotational position and, in the release position, permits a rotation of the gripping unit into the open rotational position. A second arresting element is received in the latch housing such that it is movable between an unlocking position and a locking position. In the locking position, the second arresting element effects a blocking of the first arresting element to prevent rotation into the release position, in the unlocking position, the second arresting element permits such a movement of the first arresting element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2016
    Publication date: September 1, 2016
    Inventors: Albert Dirnberger, Dominik Walz
  • Patent number: 9380924
    Abstract: A dish washer comprises a carcass having a washing compartment accessible through an access opening, and a door attached to the carcass for closing the access opening. The door is bounded on its door side facing the washing compartment by a door inner wall, which provides sealing contact surfaces for a sealing arrangement attached to the carcass. A door latch comprises a latch head attached to the door and fixed relative to the latter, and a latch unit arranged on the carcass and having two latch arms which are movable relative to one another and embrace the latch head on both sides when the door is closed. On closing the door the latch head runs against the latch arms and pushes apart the latter from a relative rest position against spring force. The latch head rises preferably completely above the surface contour of the door inner wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: emz-Hanauer GmbH & Co. KGaA
    Inventors: Albert Dirnberger, Georg Spiessl, Peter Nitsche, Markus Lang
  • Publication number: 20150338147
    Abstract: An ice dispensing arrangement is particularly suited for a household refrigeration appliance. A flap can rotate between a first and a second distribution position. A motor actuates the flap via a transfer device. The transfer device has a rotating transfer element and a flap actuating device. The rotating transfer element is rotated between a first and a second position, in order to rotate the flap, by way of the flap actuation device, between the first and second distribution positions. The rotating transfer element is coupled to the flap actuation device so that the flap, in the first position of the rotating transfer element, is arranged in the first distribution position and, in the second position of the rotating transfer element, the flap is arranged in the second distribution position. A blocking device maintains the flap in the first distribution position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2013
    Publication date: November 26, 2015
    Applicant: EMZ-HANAUER GMBH & CO. KGAA
    Inventors: JOSEF BAURIEDL, ALBERT DIRNBERGER
  • Publication number: 20150308725
    Abstract: An ice-making device for a refrigerator or freezer comprises: an ice-making tray having an upper side, a lower side, a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction of said tray, wherein said ice-making tray is mounted so as to be rotatable about a first axis of rotation which is parallel to the longitudinal direction of the tray; a collecting container arranged underneath the ice-making tray for catching ice which falls out of said ice-making tray when the latter is in an emptying rotational position; a wall structure which, when the ice-making tray is in an ice-making rotational position, delimits a first air duct which runs underneath said ice-making tray and is open towards the underside of said tray, wherein said first air duct runs in the longitudinal direction of the tray and extends over substantially the entire length of the ice-making tray, wherein the wall structure has at least one wall element which, when the ice-making tray is in the ice-making rotational position, projects into a falling tr
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2015
    Publication date: October 29, 2015
    Inventors: Volker Friedmann, Holger Jendrusch, Stefan Rapp, Matthias Wiest, Bernd Brabenec, Mario Kaiser, Hans Gerd Keller, Karl-Friedrich Laible, Peter Lienhart, Ulrich Demi, Albert Dirnberger, Josef Bauriedl, Georg Spiessl, Manfredi Signorino
  • Publication number: 20150300718
    Abstract: An ice dispensing arrangement, particularly for a household refrigeration appliance, has a flap that is rotatable between a first and a second distribution position and a motor which actuates the flap via a transfer device. The transfer device has a rotational disk to be connected to a motor shaft, a piston rod and a rotating transfer element. The latter is rotatable a first and second position such that the flap in the first position of the rotating transfer element, is in the first distribution position and in the second position of the rotating transfer element, the flap is in the second distribution position. The rotating transfer element has a coupling element. The piston rod couples a motor shaft-eccentric point of the rotating disk to the coupling element of the rotating transfer element to rotate the transfer element between the first and second positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2013
    Publication date: October 22, 2015
    Inventors: JOSEF BAURIEDL, ALBERT DIRNBERGER
  • Patent number: 9101259
    Abstract: A door lock for a dishwashing machine includes a lock housing, a pair of closing arms being held in and projecting from the lock housing and having free arm portions projecting from the lock housing that are deflectable relative to one another from a relative normal position in a first deflection direction counter to the action of a resetting spring arrangement, and a closing mouth, into which the free arm portions engage during closing of the door, having deflection surfaces encountered by the free arm portions during engagement into the closing mouth and which bring about a relative deflection of the free arm portions counter to the resetting action of the resetting spring arrangement, where the free arm portions during further engagement is move past the deflection surfaces and in so doing experience an at least partial resetting in the direction of their relative normal position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: emz-Hanauer GmbH & Co. KGaA
    Inventors: Albert Dirnberger, Georg Spiessl, Peter Nitsche, Markus Lang
  • Publication number: 20140077671
    Abstract: A dish washer comprises a carcass having a washing compartment accessible through an access opening, and a door attached to the carcass for closing the access opening. The door is bounded on its door side facing the washing compartment by a door inner wall, which provides sealing contact surfaces for a sealing arrangement attached to the carcass. A door latch comprises a latch head attached to the door and fixed relative to the latter, and a latch unit arranged on the carcass and having two latch arms which are movable relative to one another and embrace the latch head on both sides when the door is closed. On closing the door the latch head runs against the latch arms and pushes apart the latter from a relative rest position against spring force. The latch head rises preferably completely above the surface contour of the door inner wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2013
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: emz-Hanauer GmbH & Co. KGaA
    Inventors: Albert Dirnberger, Georg Spiessl, Peter Nitsche, Markus Lang
  • Patent number: 8491363
    Abstract: An air flap device (10) for a cooling or/and freezing appliance of kitchen equipment comprises an air flap (18) which is mounted so that it can pivot about a first axis of rotation (20) between an open position and a closed position, uncovers an air passage opening for the passage of air in the open position and at least substantially blocks the air passage opening against the passage of air in the closed position, and a motor-driven flap operating mechanism for pivoting the air flap. According to the invention, the flap operating mechanism comprises a rotary member (26) which is disposed so as to be driven about a second axis of rotation (28) as well as a separate force transmission member (32) which serves to transmit force between the rotary member and the air flap, is coupled to the rotary member at a point lying eccentrically to the second axis of rotation and is coupled to the air flap (18) at a point lying at a distance from the first axis of rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: emz-Hanauer GmbH & Co. KGaA
    Inventors: Albert Dirnberger, Thomas Neumann
  • Publication number: 20130098949
    Abstract: An ice chute arrangement that includes a fixed frame adjacent to an ice passageway. A flap is pivotal upon the frame between a first flap position and a second flap position. The flap blocks the ice passageway when the flap is in the first position, reveals the passageway when the flap is in the second position and transitions through an intermediate position. The arrangement includes a paddle pivotal upon the frame between a first position and a second position. The paddle causes the flap to pivot from the first position to the second position as the paddle pivots from the first position to the second position. The arrangement includes a first spring that biases the flap toward the first flap position while the flap is in the first flap position and biases the flap toward the second flap position while the flap is in the second flap position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2011
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Applicant: EMZ-HANAUER GMBH & CO. KGAA
    Inventors: Albert Dirnberger, Matthias Bauer, Christian Rittner
  • Publication number: 20130055741
    Abstract: A refrigeration appliance includes a carcass having a coolable freezer compartment. A door leaf is hinged to the carcass and provided for opening and closing the freezer compartment. Disposed in the freezer compartment is an ice maker, which includes an ice production apparatus for producing ice cubes, an ice storage container for storing the ice cubes, an insulating housing, in which the ice production apparatus and the ice storage container are disposed, and which has a dispenser for dispensing ice cubes stored in the ice storage container, and a sealing apparatus for opening and closing the dispenser.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2011
    Publication date: March 7, 2013
    Applicant: BSH BOSCH UND SIEMENS HAUSGERÄTE GMBH
    Inventors: Albert Dirnberger, Gerhard Eckl, Norman Koch, Jose Manuel Lamuela Rosano, Gerald Schmidt, Georg Spiessl, Hans Peter Werner
  • Publication number: 20130049376
    Abstract: A door lock for a dishwashing machine includes a lock housing, a pair of closing arms being held in and projecting from the lock housing and having free arm portions projecting from the lock housing that are deflectable relative to one another from a relative normal position in a first deflection direction counter to the action of a resetting spring arrangement, and a closing mouth, into which the free arm portions engage during closing of the door, having deflection surfaces encountered by the free arm portions during engagement into the closing mouth and which bring about a relative deflection of the free arm portions counter to the resetting action of the resetting spring arrangement, where the free arm portions during further engagement is move past the deflection surfaces and in so doing experience an at least partial resetting in the direction of their relative normal position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2012
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Applicant: EMZ-HANAUER GMBH & CO. KGAA
    Inventors: Albert Dirnberger, Georg Spiessl, Peter Nitsche, Markus Lang
  • Patent number: 8336325
    Abstract: The invention relates to an ice dispenser (10) for a refrigerator that includes a flap unit (24) which is arranged in an ice dispenser shaft and which can be adjusted between a release position which releases the ice dispenser shaft for dispensing ice and a locking position which blocks the ice dispenser shaft against dispensing ice, a pulse-controlled actuating magnet arrangement (58) for actuating the flap unit (24), and mechanical retention means (36, 64, 66) which releasably retain the flap unit (24) in the release position and in the locking position thereof, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: emz-Hanauer GmbH & Co. KGaA
    Inventors: Albert Dirnberger, Georg Spiessl
  • Patent number: 8276951
    Abstract: A door-closing device for a domestic electrical appliance comprises a frame with an aperture for the introduction of a keeper. A closing unit is arranged on the frame such that when in a closing position, the closing unit holds the keeper for the purposed of keeping the door closed and, in an open position, releases said keeper for the purposed of opening the door, said closing unit, in the course of its transfer from the open position into the closing position, draws the keeper along with it. A closing spring arrangement acts upon the closing unit to draw the keeper along with said unit. A blocking element that is movable relative to the frame to block and unblock the movement of the closing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: emz-Hanauer GmbH & Co. KGaA
    Inventors: Albert Dirnberger, Georg Spiessl, Josef Bauriedl, Peter Nitsche
  • Patent number: 8069887
    Abstract: An ice flap device (10) for a refrigerator comprises a flap unit (14) movable between an open position and a closed position, which unit releases a dispenser aperture for dispensing ice in its open position and blocks the dispenser aperture against dispensing ice in its closed position, as well as a motorized drive mechanism for driving the flap unit (14) between its open and closed position. According to the invention the drive mechanism comprises an a.c. motor (12) as well as a first electrical switch (26), which lies in the supply circuit of the a.c. motor and switches depending on the introduction of a receptacle into an ice dispenser compartment of the refrigerator, and by means of which the a.c. motor (12) can be turned on when the receptacle is introduced into the ice dispenser compartment for a movement of the flap unit (14) from the closed position in the direction of the open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: emz-Hanauer GmbH & Co. KGaA
    Inventors: Albert Dirnberger, Georg Spiessl
  • Publication number: 20100089492
    Abstract: An ice flap device (10) for a refrigerator comprises a flap unit (14) movable between an open position and a closed position, which unit releases a dispenser aperture for dispensing ice in its open position and blocks the dispenser aperture against dispensing ice in its closed position, as well as a motorized drive mechanism for driving the flap unit (14) between its open and closed position. According to the invention the drive mechanism comprises an a.c. motor (12) as well as a first electrical switch (26), which lies in the supply circuit of the a.c. motor and switches depending on the introduction of a receptacle into an ice dispenser compartment of the refrigerator, and by means of which the a.c. motor (12) can be turned on when the receptacle is introduced into the ice dispenser compartment for a movement of the flap unit (14) from the closed position in the direction of the open position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2009
    Publication date: April 15, 2010
    Applicant: emz-Hanauer GmbH & Co. KGaA
    Inventors: Albert Dirnberger, Georg Spiessl
  • Publication number: 20090188273
    Abstract: An air flap device (10) for a cooling or/and freezing appliance of kitchen equipment comprises an air flap (18) which is mounted so that it can pivot about a first axis of rotation (20) between an open position and a closed position, uncovers an air passage opening for the passage of air in the open position and at least substantially blocks the air passage opening against the passage of air in the closed position, and a motor-driven flap operating mechanism for pivoting the air flap. According to the invention, the flap operating mechanism comprises a rotary member (26) which is disposed so as to be driven about a second axis of rotation (28) as well as a separate force transmission member (32) which serves to transmit force between the rotary member and the air flap, is coupled to the rotary member at a point lying eccentrically to the second axis of rotation and is coupled to the air flap (18) at a point lying at a distance from the first axis of rotation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2009
    Publication date: July 30, 2009
    Applicant: EMZ-HANAUER GMBH & CO. KGAA
    Inventors: Albert Dirnberger, Thomas Neumann
  • Publication number: 20090072547
    Abstract: A door-closing device for a domestic electrical appliance comprises a frame (12) with an aperture (14) for the introduction of a keeper (16). Arranged on the frame so as to be movable, relative to the latter, is a closing unit (22) which, in a closing position, holds the keeper fast for the purpose of keeping the door closed and, in an open position, releases said keeper for the purpose of opening the door, said closing unit, in the course of its transfer from the open position into the closing position, drawing the keeper along with it along part of said keeper's path of movement. A closing spring arrangement which acts upon the closing unit supplies the force necessary for drawing the keeper along with said unit. The closing unit can be blocked by a blocking system (30) from moving out of the open position and into the closing position, it being possible to set aside the blocking of the closing unit by relative movement of said blocking system and closing unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2008
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Applicant: emz-Hanauer GmbH & Co. KGaA
    Inventors: Albert Dirnberger, Georg Spiessl, Josef Bauriedl, Peter Nitsche
  • Publication number: 20090045213
    Abstract: The invention relates to an ice dispenser (10) for a refrigerator that includes a flap unit (24) which is arranged in an ice dispenser shaft and which can be adjusted between a release position which releases the ice dispenser shaft for dispensing ice and a locking position which blocks the ice dispenser shaft against dispensing ice, a pulse-controlled actuating magnet arrangement (58) for actuating the flap unit (24), and mechanical retention means (36, 64, 66) which releasably retain the flap unit (24) in the release position and in the locking position thereof, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2008
    Publication date: February 19, 2009
    Applicant: EMZ-HANAUER GMBH & CO. KGAA
    Inventors: Albert Dirnberger, Georg Spiessl
  • Patent number: 7395825
    Abstract: A simple and cost-effective method is provided, according to which a positive temperature component (PTC) element directly controls the element made of a shape memory alloy. A simple and cost effective device for performing the method has a PTC element series-connected upstream from the element made of a shape memory alloy, in the electric circuit for the element made of a shape memory alloy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventors: Albert Dirnberger, Rüdiger Eiermann, Helmut Jerg, Stefan Kautz