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: 11654383
    Abstract: A filter cartridge assembly for an ice making appliance having a rectilinear filter cartridge with a plurality of partitions that are positioned within an internal chamber, form multiple sub-chambers, and create a non-linear pathway for the flow of water through the filter cartridge. Filter media positioned in the sub-chambers of the filter cartridge are configured to remove dissolved solids from water travelling through the filter cartridge and used by the appliance to create ice, including clear ice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan Joseph Mitchell, Stephanos Kyriacou, Brent Alden Junge
  • Publication number: 20230141535
    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: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2021
    Publication date: May 11, 2023
    Inventors: Brent Alden Junge, Bart Andrew Nuss, Stuart Murphy
  • Publication number: 20230138774
    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: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2021
    Publication date: May 4, 2023
    Inventors: Brent Alden Junge, Alan Joseph Mitchell
  • Publication number: 20230123955
    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: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2021
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Inventors: Danister Abeygunawardana, Brent Alden Junge, Jordan Andrew Waymeyer, Gregory Scott Carr, Timothy Ray Jackson
  • Publication number: 20230108775
    Abstract: A beverage-dispensing appliance may include a cabinet, a liquid line, a liquid level sensor, and a signal shield. The cabinet may define a mutually-orthogonal vertical direction, lateral direction, and transverse direction. The cabinet may define a dispenser recess. The liquid line may be mounted to the cabinet and define a liquid outlet above the dispenser recess. The liquid level sensor may be mounted to the cabinet and directed at the dispenser recess. The signal shield may be movably mounted to the cabinet. The signal shield may be movable between a blocking position and a permissive position. The blocking position may laterally bound at least a portion of the dispenser recess. The permissive position may be transversely spaced apart from the dispenser recess to permit lateral access thereto.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2021
    Publication date: April 6, 2023
    Inventors: Danister Abeygunawardana, Jianwu Li, Gregory Scott Carr, Brent Alden Junge, Timothy Ray Jackson, Jordan Andrew Waymeyer, Michael C. Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20230108527
    Abstract: A beverage-dispensing appliance may include a carbonation tank, a carbonator jacket, a cold water line, and an ice bin. The carbonation tank may define a tank volume, a water inlet upstream from the tank volume, a carbon dioxide inlet upstream from the tank volume, and a carbonated water outlet downstream from the tank volume. The carbonator jacket may define a jacket volume disposed about the carbonation tank. The cold water line may extend to the carbonator jacket in upstream fluid communication with the tank volume to direct a cold water flow to the tank volume. The ice bin may be spaced apart from the carbonation tank. The ice bin may define a drain aperture upstream from the cold water line to direct melt water thereto.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2021
    Publication date: April 6, 2023
    Inventors: Brent Alden Junge, Danister Abeygunawardana, Gregory Scott Carr, Jordan Andrew Waymeyer, Timothy Ray Jackson
  • Patent number: 11618665
    Abstract: A beverage-dispensing appliance may include a cabinet, a liquid line, a liquid level sensor, and a signal shield. The cabinet may define a mutually-orthogonal vertical direction, lateral direction, and transverse direction. The cabinet may define a dispenser recess. The liquid line may be mounted to the cabinet and define a liquid outlet above the dispenser recess. The liquid level sensor may be mounted to the cabinet and directed at the dispenser recess. The signal shield may be movably mounted to the cabinet. The signal shield may be movable between a blocking position and a permissive position. The blocking position may laterally bound at least a portion of the dispenser recess. The permissive position may be transversely spaced apart from the dispenser recess to permit lateral access thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Danister Abeygunawardana, Jianwu Li, Gregory Scott Carr, Brent Alden Junge, Timothy Ray Jackson, Jordan Andrew Waymeyer, Michael C. Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20230068466
    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: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2021
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Inventors: Danister Abeygunawardana, Jianwu Li, Gregory Scott Carr, Brent Alden Junge, Jordan Andrew Waymeyer, Timothy Ray Jackson, Michael C. Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20230035699
    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: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2021
    Publication date: February 2, 2023
    Inventors: Danister Abeygunawardana, Gregory Scott Carr, Brent Alden Junge
  • Patent number: 11559008
    Abstract: An indoor gardening appliance includes a liner defining a grow chamber and a grow module rotatably mounted within the grow chamber and defining a root chamber. A hydration system is fluidly coupled to the root chamber for selectively implementing a hydration cycle where the root chamber is charged with mist and an air circulation system selectively urges a flow of air through the root chamber to maintain a desired temperature. A controller is configured for stopping the flow of air during the hydration cycle, e.g., to minimize disruption of the hydration cycle. The stopping of the flow of air may be time-based, e.g., based on the start/end times of the hydration cycle, or may be based on moisture level, e.g., as measured by an optical sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Hunter, Michael Goodman Schroeder, Brent Alden Junge
  • Publication number: 20230008685
    Abstract: A method for brewing Japanese-style iced coffee with a single-serve beverage dispenser includes dispensing heated water onto coffee grounds disposed within a brew chamber of a brew module, flowing brewed coffee from the brew chamber into an ice chamber of an iced coffee module, the brewed coffee flowing over ice within the ice chamber, and flowing the iced brewed coffee from the ice chamber into a container. A related single-serve beverage dispenser is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2021
    Publication date: January 12, 2023
    Inventors: Brent Alden Junge, Danister Abeygunawardana
  • Publication number: 20230003431
    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: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2021
    Publication date: January 5, 2023
    Inventors: Brent Alden Junge, Alan Joseph Mitchell
  • Patent number: 11542148
    Abstract: A liquid supply device includes a tank, an electric heating element, a dispenser to dispense liquid from the tank, and a controller configured to initiate a user-responsive heating operation. The user-responsive heating operation includes recording data regarding dispensed liquid amount and temperature, developing an expected heating pattern for the electric heating element, detecting a user, and directing the electric heating element accordingly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy Ray Jackson, Jordan Andrew Waymeyer, Brent Alden Junge
  • Publication number: 20220412630
    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: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2021
    Publication date: December 29, 2022
    Inventors: Alan Joseph Mitchell, Brent Alden Junge
  • Publication number: 20220369852
    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: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2021
    Publication date: November 24, 2022
    Inventors: Danister Abeygunawardana, Jianwu Li, Gregory Scott Carr, Brent Alden Junge
  • Patent number: 11460232
    Abstract: An icemaker appliance includes a cabinet forming an ice storage compartment, a first reservoir provided within the ice storage compartment, a circulation system arranged within the first reservoir, an ice maker provided within the first reservoir to dispense ice into the ice storage compartment, a second reservoir connected to the ice storage compartment, a return line conduit connected to the second reservoir and the first reservoir to direct melt water from the second reservoir to the first reservoir, a second pump provided at the second reservoir to pump melt water through the return line conduit, and a cleanout line having a first end connected to the second reservoir and a second end exposed outside of the cabinet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan Joseph Mitchell, Brent Alden Junge, Stephanos Kyriacou
  • Publication number: 20220299248
    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: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2020
    Publication date: September 22, 2022
    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
  • Publication number: 20220289551
    Abstract: A liquid supply device includes a tank, an electric heating element, a dispenser to dispense liquid from the tank, and a controller configured to initiate a user-responsive heating operation. The user-responsive heating operation includes recording data regarding dispensed liquid amount and temperature, developing an expected heating pattern for the electric heating element, detecting a user, and directing the electric heating element accordingly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2021
    Publication date: September 15, 2022
    Inventors: Timothy Ray Jackson, Jordan Andrew Waymeyer, Brent Alden Junge
  • Patent number: 11414847
    Abstract: A water dispensing system includes a faucet, a sink basin mounted beneath the faucet downstream therefrom, a first storage tank mounted below the sink basin to store a first liquid volume, a second storage tank mounted below the sink basin to store a second liquid volume, and a vapor compression system including a compressor, an evaporator in fluid communication with the compressor, the evaporator being connected to the first storage tank in conductive thermal communication, a condenser in fluid communication with the compressor, the condenser being connected to the second storage tank in conductive thermal communication, and an expansion device in fluid communication with the compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Brent Alden Junge
  • Patent number: 11408661
    Abstract: An electric ice press includes a mold body having a first mold segment and a second mold segment movable relative to each other. A heated guide rail extends between the first mold segment and the second mold segment to transfer heat from the first mold segment to the second mold segment. The heated guide rail may be a heat pipe for transferring heat generated by a base heater in the first mold segment or an electrical resistance heating rod for generating heat, either of which requires only a single power cord electrically coupled to only the first mold segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Brent Alden Junge, Justin Tyler Brown