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).

  • Patent number: 11920847
    Abstract: An icemaker appliance includes a cabinet forming an ice storage compartment, an ice maker provided in the ice storage compartment, a first reservoir storing liquid, a filter nested within the first reservoir, and a circulation system to deliver the liquid from the first reservoir to the ice maker. The liquid not frozen on the ice maker is filtered through the filter and resupplied to the circulation system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan Joseph Mitchell, Brent Alden Junge
  • Patent number: 11920845
    Abstract: An ice making assembly includes an ice mold and a pump assembly for urging an ice-building spray into the ice mold to form an ice billet. A controller operates the pump assembly to provide the ice-building spray at a first flow rate until the ice billet reaches a predetermined thickness and then operates the pump assembly to provide the ice-building spray at a second flow rate that is less than the first flow rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Schiller, Adam Pusateri, Justin Tyler Brown, Brent Alden Junge, Jin Wu, Bo Yan, Yayu Song, Michael Zhou, Roy Teng, Eddy Zhou, Jason Jiang
  • Patent number: 11920848
    Abstract: An icemaking appliance includes an ice storage chamber and a water jacket at least partially surrounding the ice storage chamber. A sensor assembly includes a sleeve, a conductive plug inserted into a first portion of the sleeve, and a temperature sensor inserted into a second portion of the sleeve. The first portion of the sleeve and the conductive plug are at least partially disposed within the ice storage chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Danister Abeygunawardana, Brent Alden Junge, Jordan Andrew Waymeyer, Gregory Scott Carr, Timothy Ray Jackson
  • Publication number: 20240011698
    Abstract: A refrigerator appliance having an articulating mullion includes features for reducing localized condensation on the mullion of the refrigerator appliance. The door and the articulated mullion of the refrigerator appliance include features that can reduce the formation of condensation by providing heat to specific areas of the door or mullion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2022
    Publication date: January 11, 2024
    Inventor: Brent Alden Junge
  • Publication number: 20240011703
    Abstract: A refrigeration appliance and method for operation are provided. The refrigeration appliance includes a cabinet forming a refrigeration chamber. One or more of a shelf or a drawer is mounted within the refrigeration chamber and configured to retain a foodstuff. A sensor is positioned in the refrigeration chamber, the sensor configured with a field of view toward the shelf or the drawer. The sensor is configured to obtain a temperature measurement at the field of view. A controller is configured in operable communication with the sensor. The controller is configured to determine thermal mass of the foodstuff over a period of time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2022
    Publication date: January 11, 2024
    Inventors: Michael Goodman Schroeder, Brent Alden Junge
  • Patent number: 11867444
    Abstract: An icemaker appliance includes a first reservoir, a second reservoir, a first circulation system associated with the first reservoir, and a second circulation system associated with the second reservoir. Liquid in the first reservoir is directed toward a first set of ice molds and liquid from the second reservoir is directed toward a second set of ice molds. Liquid in the first reservoir is selectively supplied to the second reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Brent Alden Junge, Alan Joseph Mitchell
  • Publication number: 20230399222
    Abstract: A method of operating a dispenser system of a refrigerator appliance includes storing a custom dispenser setting for the dispenser system. The method may also include recognizing a user at the refrigerator appliance or receiving an input with the dispenser system and determining a time when the input is received. The method then includes applying the custom dispenser setting. The custom dispenser setting may be applied based on the recognized user and/or the determined time. The method further includes dispensing one or more objects from the dispenser system according to the applied custom dispenser setting.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2022
    Publication date: December 14, 2023
    Inventors: Matthew R. Hunter, Megan Etgen, Gregory Sergeevich Chernov, Brent Alden Junge
  • Patent number: 11825981
    Abstract: A beverage dispensing assembly may include a brewing body and a lid, as well as a contact pin or dispersion head. The brewing body may define a brew chamber to receive a brew pod. The brewing body may extend along the rotation axis between an upper end and a lower end. The brewing body may define an outlet at the lower end. The lid may be rotatably attached to the brewing body at the upper end to rotate about the rotation axis between a first position and a second position. The first position may secure the lid to the brewing body and restrict access to the brew chamber. The second position may release the lid from the brewing body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Danister Abeygunawardana, Jianwu Li, Gregory Scott Carr, Brent Alden Junge, Michael C. Watanabe, Richard Devos
  • Publication number: 20230341163
    Abstract: A refrigerator appliance may include a cabinet, a liner, a thermodynamic assembly, an air conduit, a heat pipe, a conductive ice mold, and a water dispenser. The liner may define an icebox (IB) compartment. air conduit may be disposed within the IB compartment. The air conduit may define a conduit path between a conduit inlet and a conduit outlet downstream from the conduit inlet. The heat pipe may be mounted to the air conduit and extend therefrom outside of the conduit path. The conductive ice mold may be mounted to the heat pipe within the IB compartment. The conductive ice mold may define a mold cavity outside of the air conduit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2022
    Publication date: October 26, 2023
    Inventors: Brent Alden Junge, Jason Andrew May
  • Patent number: 11795673
    Abstract: A composting machine that is positioned within a cabinet under a kitchen sink includes a macerator assembly comprising a plurality of macerator blades for shredding food waste. An extrusion assembly is positioned below the macerator assembly and includes a grinding barrel for receiving the food waste from the macerator assembly and an auger for extruding the food waste through an extrusion plate into a dryer assembly. The dryer assembly includes a compost chamber containing a mixing blade, a fan, and a heating element for generating compost from the food waste.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Danister Abeygunawardana, Gregory Scott Carr, Brent Alden Junge
  • Publication number: 20230332816
    Abstract: A refrigerator appliance may include 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 may define an icebox (IB) compartment. The air conduit may be 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 may be disposed along the air conduit between the conduit inlet and the conduit outlet. The HE sleeve may include a conductive panel extending across the conduit path. The conductive ice mold may be mounted to the HE sleeve within the IB compartment. The conductive ice mold may define a mold cavity outside of the air conduit. The water dispenser may be positioned below the conductive ice mold to direct an ice-building spray of water to the mold cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2022
    Publication date: October 19, 2023
    Inventors: Brent Alden Junge, Bart Andrew Nuss, Alan Joseph Mitchell
  • Patent number: 11771027
    Abstract: A gardening appliance includes a grow tower rotatably mounted within a liner and defining a root chamber. A mixing tank defines a water inlet, a nutrient inlet, and a mixture outlet. An overflow protection system is operably coupled to the mixing tank and includes a wastewater reservoir, an overflow port fluidly coupled to the mixing tank, an overflow conduit providing fluid communication between the overflow port and the wastewater reservoir, and a one-way overflow valve fluidly coupled to the overflow conduit to prevent liquid flow back into the mixing tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Danister Abeygunawardana, Jianwu Li, Eric Meyerholtz, Brent Alden Junge, Venkata Ratna Ganesh Kallakuri, Matthew R. Hunter
  • Publication number: 20230243564
    Abstract: An ice making assembly includes a mold assembly with a mold cavity defined in the mold assembly. The ice making assembly also includes a reservoir in fluid communication with the mold assembly to provide a flow of liquid water to the mold cavity defined in the mold assembly. The ice making assembly further includes a thermally conductive element positioned at least partially in the reservoir. The thermally conductive element receives a flow of chilled air from the sealed system, such that the liquid water in the reservoir is chilled by the chilled air via the thermally conductive element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2022
    Publication date: August 3, 2023
    Inventors: Brent Alden Junge, Bart Andrew Nuss, Stuart Murphy
  • Patent number: 11713913
    Abstract: A refrigerator appliance includes an ice maker provided within a cabinet of the appliance, the ice maker including a plurality of walls forming a receiving space, a conductive ice mold provided within the receiving space, the conductive ice mold defining an internal cavity and an exterior surface, a primary water supply positioned below the conductive ice mold to direct an ice-building spray of water to the conductive ice mold, a heat exchanger disposed on the conductive ice mold to draw heat therefrom, and a secondary water supply provided adjacent the exterior surface of the conductive ice mold. The secondary water supply dispenses ice-melting water over the exterior surface of the conductive ice mold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Brent Alden Junge, Bart Andrew Nuss, Stuart Murphy
  • Publication number: 20230228465
    Abstract: A refrigeration appliance is provided, including a cabinet having a surface operably coupled to a thermoelectric cooler. The refrigeration appliance is configured to apply a voltage to generate an electrical current to move thermal energy from a first side to a second side of the surface. A container includes an upper chamber and a lower chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2022
    Publication date: July 20, 2023
    Inventors: Brent Alden Junge, Matthew R. Hunter, Ronald Gary Foster
  • Publication number: 20230210070
    Abstract: A gardening appliance includes a grow tower rotatably mounted within a liner and defining a root chamber. A mixing tank defines a water inlet, a nutrient inlet, and a mixture outlet. An overflow protection system is operably coupled to the mixing tank and includes a wastewater reservoir, an overflow port fluidly coupled to the mixing tank, an overflow conduit providing fluid communication between the overflow port and the wastewater reservoir, and a one-way overflow valve fluidly coupled to the overflow conduit to prevent liquid flow back into the mixing tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2022
    Publication date: July 6, 2023
    Inventors: Danister Abeygunawardana, Jianwu Li, Eric Meyerholtz, Brent Alden Junge, Venkata Ratna Ganesh Kallakuri, Matthew R. Hunter
  • Publication number: 20230175761
    Abstract: A refrigerator appliance includes a cabinet that cabinet defines a food storage chamber therein. The refrigerator appliance also includes a shelf having an upper surface and a lower surface opposite the upper surface along the vertical direction. A flexible telescopic storage container mounted to the shelf. A top flange of the flexible storage container may be flush with the upper surface of the shelf. The shelf may include an aperture extending through the shelf from the upper surface to the lower surface and the flexible telescopic storage container may be mounted to the shelf through the aperture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2021
    Publication date: June 8, 2023
    Inventors: Alexander B. Leibman, Venkata Chakradhar Rangu, Brent Alden Junge, Veera Venkata Anil Bhaskar Prasad Seereddy
  • Patent number: 11667508
    Abstract: A beverage dispenser includes a casing defining a dispensing recess and a plurality of mounting pockets. The plurality of mounting pockets are distributed along a vertical direction at the dispensing recess. A fluid conduit is disposed within the casing. An outlet of the fluid conduit is disposed above the dispensing recess of the casing. A drip tray is mountable to the casing at each of the plurality of mounting pockets. A plurality of sensors is disposed within the casing. Each of the plurality of sensors is positioned at a respective one of the plurality of mounting pockets. Each of the plurality of sensors configured to detect when the drip tray is mounted at the respective one of the plurality of mounting pockets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Danister Abeygunawardana, Jianwu Li, Gregory Scott Carr, Brent Alden Junge, Jordan Andrew Waymeyer, Timothy Ray Jackson, Michael C. Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20230168021
    Abstract: An icemaker appliance includes a cabinet forming an ice storage compartment; an ice maker provided within the cabinet; a first reservoir provided below the ice maker; a second reservoir provided below the ice storage compartment; and a circulation system in fluid communication with the first reservoir and the second reservoir. The circulation system includes a return line conduit; a first pump connected to the return line conduit to pump the liquid from the second reservoir to the first reservoir; and a cleanout line conduit in fluid communication with the first pump, wherein the first pump selectively pumps the liquid from the second reservoir through the cleanout line conduit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2021
    Publication date: June 1, 2023
    Inventors: Alan Joseph Mitchell, Brent Alden Junge, Stephanos Kyriacou
  • Patent number: 11662129
    Abstract: An icemaker appliance and a method for making clear ice are provided. The icemaking apparatus includes a cabinet forming an ice storage compartment. A reservoir is provided within the ice storage compartment. A liquid supply conduit is configured to supply liquid to the reservoir. An ice mold is configured to freeze liquid at the ice mold. A nozzle is configured to dispense the liquid from the reservoir to the ice mold. A controller is configured to execute instructions that perform operations. The operations include dispensing, from a body of liquid at the reservoir, a flow of liquid toward the ice mold; freezing, at the ice mold, a first portion of the flow of liquid received from dispensing the flow of liquid to the ice mold; providing, to the reservoir, a second portion of the flow of liquid dispensed toward the ice mold; and providing, from the liquid supply conduit to the reservoir, a supply of liquid after dispensing the flow of liquid toward the ice mold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Brent Alden Junge, Alan Joseph Mitchell