Patents by Inventor Brent Alden Junge

Brent Alden Junge 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: 20250224170
    Abstract: A refrigerator appliance includes a cabinet; a liner attached to the cabinet and defining a fresh food chamber and a freezer chamber; wherein a receiving space is formed between the cabinet and the liner; an icemaker at least partially received within the fresh food chamber; a cooling system including an air supply duct positioned within the receiving space; an air return duct positioned within the receiving space; and a fan configured to motivate air through the air supply duct and the air return duct, wherein the air return duct is in planar contact with an outer surface of the liner along the fresh food chamber; and a panel positioned within the fresh food chamber and adjacent to the liner opposite the air supply duct and the air return duct, wherein a gap is formed between the liner and the panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2024
    Publication date: July 10, 2025
    Inventors: Michael Goodman Schroeder, Brent Alden Junge
  • Patent number: 12326287
    Abstract: A refrigerator appliance may include a cabinet, a liner, a conductive ice mold, a water dispenser, and a guide ramp. The conductive ice mold may be mounted within the IB compartment. The conductive ice mold may define a mold cavity. The water dispenser may be positioned below the conductive ice mold to direct an ice-building spray of water to the mold cavity. The guide ramp may be positioned below the conductive ice mold to receive an ice billet therefrom. The guide ramp may extend from a first end to a second end and comprising an upper segment and a lower segment to support the ice billet thereon. The upper segment may extend along a first pitch angle relative to a lateral direction and the lower segment extending along a second pitch angle relative to the lateral direction. The second pitch angle may be different from the first pitch angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2025
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Bart Andrew Nuss, Brent Alden Junge
  • Publication number: 20250180273
    Abstract: A refrigerator appliance includes a cabinet with a fresh food chamber and a freezer defined in the cabinet. A bridge chamber is defined in the cabinet between the fresh food chamber and the freezer chamber. The bridge chamber includes a first inlet and a first outlet in fluid communication with the fresh food chamber, as well as a second inlet and a second outlet in fluid communication with the freezer chamber. The refrigerator appliance also includes an evaporator and a fan positioned in the bridge chamber. The refrigerator appliance further includes a movable damper assembly configured to move between a first position and a second position. The second inlet and the second outlet are obstructed by the damper assembly in the first position and the first inlet and the first outlet are obstructed by the damper assembly in the second position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2023
    Publication date: June 5, 2025
    Inventors: Michael Goodman Schroeder, Brent Alden Junge
  • Patent number: 12320580
    Abstract: A refrigerator appliance may include a cabinet, a door, a camera module, a microphone, and a controller. The cabinet may define a chilled chamber. The door may be rotatably hinged to the cabinet to provide selective access to the chilled chamber. The camera module may be mounted to the cabinet. The microphone may be mounted to the cabinet within the chilled chamber. The controller may be operably coupled to the camera module. The controller may be configured to initiate an operation routine. The operation routine may include initiating a capture sequence at the camera module and the microphone, determining an internal location of a first stored item within the chilled chamber based on a two-dimensional image and a sound recording of the capture sequence, and recording the internal location of the first stored item.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2025
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Andrew May, Brent Alden Junge, Michael Goodman Schroeder
  • Publication number: 20250129983
    Abstract: A refrigerator appliance includes a cabinet defining an insulation receiving space between an outer casing and an inner liner, a dividing wall positioned within the insulation receiving space to divide the insulation receiving space into a first portion and a second portion, a first injection site for a first foam, and a second injection site for a second foam. The dividing wall includes one or more apertures therethrough.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2023
    Publication date: April 24, 2025
    Inventors: Michael Goodman Schroeder, Kenneth R. Davis, JR., Brent Alden Junge, Roger S. Nelson, Nicholas Tackett
  • Patent number: 12228119
    Abstract: A compressor includes a housing defining a sump for collecting lubricant, a pump for circulating the lubricant within the housing, the pump comprising a lubricant intake tube defining a pump inlet positioned within the sump, and a noise dissipation media positioned within the sump on a surface of the lubricant and above the pump inlet, wherein a media void is defined around the lubricant intake tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2025
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory William Hahn, Michael Goodman Schroeder, Brent Alden Junge
  • Publication number: 20250052467
    Abstract: An ice making appliance defines a vertical direction, a lateral direction, and a transverse direction. The ice making appliance includes a cabinet, an ice storage compartment, an ice mold provided above the ice storage compartment, a first reservoir provided within the cabinet, a deionization filter provided within the first reservoir, a conductivity sensor coupled to the deionization filter, and a first circulation system is provided in the first reservoir. The first circulation system includes an inlet downstream of the deionization filter whereby the first circulation system supplies filtered water to the ice mold. A second reservoir is provided within the cabinet, and the second reservoir in fluid communication with the first reservoir.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2023
    Publication date: February 13, 2025
    Inventors: Ronald Gary Foster, Brent Alden Junge
  • Patent number: 12222149
    Abstract: A refrigerator appliance or ice making assembly may include an ice mold, a heat exchanger, a lifter arm, and a cam shaft. The ice mold may define a mold cavity for receiving water. The heat exchanger may be in thermal communication with the ice mold to freeze the water and form one or more ice cubes therein. The lifter arm may be disposed below the ice mold and movable relative to the mold cavity along a channel path between a lowered position and a raised position to raise ice cubes within the mold cavity. The cam shaft may include a rotating cam lobe slidably engaged with the lifter arm to direct the lifter arm between the lowered position and the raised position. The cam shaft may be rotatable about a cam axis horizontally offset from the channel path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2025
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Brent Alden Junge, Alan Joseph Mitchell, Bart Andrew Nuss
  • Patent number: 12209786
    Abstract: A refrigerator appliance includes a cabinet, a liner attached to the cabinet, a conductive ice mold, a water dispenser, and a water basin. The liner defines an icebox (IB) compartment. The conductive ice mold is mounted within the IB compartment. The conductive ice mold defines a mold cavity. The water dispenser is positioned below the conductive ice mold to direct an ice-building spray of water to the mold cavity. The water basin is removably disposed within the IB compartment below the conductive ice mold. The water basin includes a basin wall defining a water reservoir and an electrical basin plug fixed to the basin wall to move therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Bart Andrew Nuss, Brent Alden Junge
  • Patent number: 12196473
    Abstract: A refrigerator appliance includes a cabinet, a liner, a thermodynamic assembly, an air conduit, a heat exchange (HE) sleeve, a conductive ice mold, and a water dispenser. The liner defines an icebox (IB) compartment. The air conduit disposed within the IB compartment to define a conduit path between a conduit inlet and a conduit outlet downstream from the conduit inlet. The heat exchange (HE) sleeve is disposed along the air conduit between the conduit inlet and the conduit outlet. The HE sleeve includes a conductive panel extending across the conduit path. The conductive ice mold is mounted to the HE sleeve within the IB compartment. The conductive ice mold defines a mold cavity outside of the air conduit. The water dispenser is positioned below the conductive ice mold to direct an ice-building spray of water to the mold cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Inventors: Brent Alden Junge, Bart Andrew Nuss, Alan Joseph Mitchell
  • Patent number: 12178355
    Abstract: A beverage dispensing assembly may include a dispenser body, one or more flanges, a brew module, and a water delivery system. The dispenser body may define a dispenser recess. The flanges may extend from and below an upper wall. The brew module may be selectively installed within the dispenser recess and define a brew chamber therein. The brew module may include one or more rails movably received on the one or more flanges to support the brew module within the dispenser recess. The water delivery system may be mounted to the dispenser body in selective engagement with the brew module. The water delivery system may include a delivery nozzle and a biasing spring. The delivery nozzle may be slidably attached to the upper wall and axially slidable between a lowered position and an elevated position. The biasing spring may motivate the delivery nozzle toward the lowered position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Danister Abeygunawardana, Jianwu Li, Gregory Scott Carr, Brent Alden Junge
  • Publication number: 20240369291
    Abstract: A refrigerator appliance may include a cabinet, a door, a camera module, a microphone, and a controller. The cabinet may define a chilled chamber. The door may be rotatably hinged to the cabinet to provide selective access to the chilled chamber. The camera module may be mounted to the cabinet. The microphone may be mounted to the cabinet within the chilled chamber. The controller may be operably coupled to the camera module. The controller may be configured to initiate an operation routine. The operation routine may include initiating a capture sequence at the camera module and the microphone, determining an internal location of a first stored item within the chilled chamber based on a two-dimensional image and a sound recording of the capture sequence, and recording the internal location of the first stored item.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2023
    Publication date: November 7, 2024
    Inventors: Jason Andrew May, Brent Alden Junge, Michael Goodman Schroeder
  • Publication number: 20240271847
    Abstract: An ice making appliance includes an ice mold and a refrigeration system. The refrigeration system includes a pump that is in fluid connection with a water supply and a compressor that is in fluid communication with a bypass valve. The compressor is one of a low back-pressure compressor and a medium back-pressure compressor. A condenser and an evaporator are in fluid communication with the bypass valve. The evaporator is positioned proximate the ice mold. The pump is operable to flow liquid from the water supply over the evaporator. The compressor is configured to turn off during an ice harvesting period, after the ice harvesting period, or both.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2022
    Publication date: August 15, 2024
    Inventors: Richard Devos, Brent Alden Junge, Kirk Waiz, Dong Huang
  • Publication number: 20240263862
    Abstract: A refrigerator appliance or ice making assembly may include an ice mold, a heat exchanger, a lifter arm, and a cam shaft. The ice mold may define a mold cavity for receiving water. The heat exchanger may be in thermal communication with the ice mold to freeze the water and form one or more ice cubes therein. The lifter arm may be disposed below the ice mold and movable relative to the mold cavity along a channel path between a lowered position and a raised position to raise ice cubes within the mold cavity. The cam shaft may include a rotating cam lobe slidably engaged with the lifter arm to direct the lifter arm between the lowered position and the raised position. The cam shaft may be rotatable about a cam axis horizontally offset from the channel path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2023
    Publication date: August 8, 2024
    Inventors: Brent Alden Junge, Alan Joseph Mitchell, Bart Andrew Nuss
  • Publication number: 20240263861
    Abstract: A refrigerator or ice making assembly may include a housing and a mold assembly. The housing may define a receiving chamber in fluid communication with an air duct. The housing may extend transversely from a first housing end and a second housing end. The housing may define a first mounting slot at the first housing end and a second mounting slot at the second housing end. The mold assembly may include a frame, a heat exchanger mounted to the frame, an ice mold, and a latch bar. The ice mold may be supported on the heat exchanger and define a mold cavity for receiving water. The latch bar may be movably mounted on the frame and extend transversely between the first housing end and the second housing end in selective locked engagement with the first and second mounting slots to secure the mold assembly to the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2023
    Publication date: August 8, 2024
    Inventors: Bart Andrew Nuss, Alan Joseph Mitchell, Brent Alden Junge
  • Publication number: 20240247855
    Abstract: A refrigerator appliance may include a cabinet, a liner attached to the cabinet, a conductive ice mold, a water dispenser, and a water basin. The liner may define an icebox (IB) compartment. The conductive ice mold may be mounted within the IB compartment. The conductive ice mold may define a mold cavity. The water dispenser may be positioned below the conductive ice mold to direct an ice-building spray of water to the mold cavity. The water basin may be removably disposed within the IB compartment below the conductive ice mold. The water basin may include a basin wall defining a water reservoir and an electrical basin plug fixed to the basin wall to move therewith.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2023
    Publication date: July 25, 2024
    Inventors: Bart Andrew Nuss, Brent Alden Junge
  • Publication number: 20240247853
    Abstract: A refrigerator appliance may include a cabinet, a liner, a conductive ice mold, a water dispenser, and a guide ramp. The conductive ice mold may be mounted within the IB compartment. The conductive ice mold may define a mold cavity. The water dispenser may be positioned below the conductive ice mold to direct an ice-building spray of water to the mold cavity. The guide ramp may be positioned below the conductive ice mold to receive an ice billet therefrom. The guide ramp may extend from a first end to a second end and comprising an upper segment and a lower segment to support the ice billet thereon. The upper segment may extend along a first pitch angle relative to a lateral direction and the lower segment extending along a second pitch angle relative to the lateral direction. The second pitch angle may be different from the first pitch angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2023
    Publication date: July 25, 2024
    Inventors: Bart Andrew Nuss, Brent Alden Junge
  • Publication number: 20240247852
    Abstract: A refrigerator appliance may include a cabinet, a liner, a conductive ice mold, a freezing element, a water dispenser, a water basin, a fluid pump, and a controller. The controller may be configured to direct an ice-making operation, which includes directing warm-up activation of the fluid pump to spray warming water to the conductive ice mold from the water dispenser, holding the freezing element in an inactive state while directing warm-up activation, detecting a preparation target temperature of the conductive ice mold above freezing temperature while directing warm-up activation, halting warm-up activation of the fluid pump in response to detecting the preparation target temperature, directing billet formation of an ice billet within the conductive ice mold following halting warm-up activation, and directing harvest activation of the fluid pump from an inactive state to spray warming water to the conductive ice mold from the water dispenser for a set harvesting period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2023
    Publication date: July 25, 2024
    Inventors: Bart Andrew Nuss, Brent Alden Junge, Amy Kobraei
  • Publication number: 20240230203
    Abstract: A refrigeration appliance, a controller, and method for operation are provided. The appliance includes a cabinet, a damper assembly, an evaporator, a flow device, and a return conduit. The cabinet forms a first compartment and a second compartment. The damper assembly is configured to selectively flow conditioned air to the first compartment and the second compartment. The evaporator is configured to condition air and flow the conditioned air to the damper assembly. The flow device is positioned in fluid communication with the first compartment. The return conduit extends in fluid communication between the first compartment and the evaporator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2023
    Publication date: July 11, 2024
    Inventors: Martin Busche, Brent Alden Junge
  • Patent number: 12031767
    Abstract: A free-standing appliance may include a cabinet, a water source, an icemaker, an ice bin, a cold water line, and one or more other features. The icemaker may be mounted within the cabinet downstream from the water source to receive water therefrom. The ice bin may be disposed within the cabinet downstream from the icemaker to receive ice therefrom. The cold water line may be mounted to the cabinet and define a cold water outlet downstream from the water source in fluid isolation from the icemaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory Scott Carr, Danister Abeygunawardana, Ronald Gary Foster, Jordan Andrew Waymeyer, Timothy Ray Jackson, David C. McCalpin, Brent Alden Junge, Richard Devos, Michael C. Watanabe, Jianwu Li, Trent Daniel Jacobi, Paul Haney, Gregory Sergeevich Chernov