Patents by Inventor Brian C. Donnelly
Brian C. Donnelly 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).
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Patent number: 11371712Abstract: Pellet grills and associated methods of operation are disclosed. An example pellet grill includes a burn pot configured to combust pellet fuel received within the burn pot. The pellet grill further includes an auger configured to deliver the pellet fuel to the burn pot. The pellet grill further includes an auger motor operatively coupled to the auger. The pellet grill further includes one or more processors configured to determine whether a shutdown sequence of the pellet grill has been initiated. The one or more processors are further configured, in response to determining that the shutdown sequence has been initiated, to command the auger motor to reverse a direction of rotation of the auger. The reversal is to cause pellet fuel which the auger has not yet delivered to the burn pot to be purged in a direction away from the burn pot.Type: GrantFiled: November 8, 2019Date of Patent: June 28, 2022Assignee: WEBER-STEPHEN PRODUCTS LLCInventors: Brian C. Donnelly, Ryan P. Lundberg, David Eckhardt
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Patent number: 11359817Abstract: Pellet grills and associated methods of operation are disclosed. An example pellet grill includes a one or more processors configured to detect an improper shutdown of a control system of the pellet grill. The one or more processors are further configured to generate a notification in response to the control system regaining power following detection of the improper shutdown, the notification indicating that the control system was improperly shutdown. The one or more processors are further configured to cause the notification to be presented at a user interface of the pellet grill.Type: GrantFiled: November 8, 2019Date of Patent: June 14, 2022Assignee: WEBER-STEPHEN PRODUCTS LLCInventors: Brian C. Donnelly, Ryan P. Lundberg, David Eckhardt
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Publication number: 20220167793Abstract: Example inset frames configured to interchangeably support cooking accessories of various shapes and sizes within a cookbox of a grill are described. An example inset frame is configured to be positioned within a cookbox of a grill. The inset frame comprises a support lattice configured to interchangeably support a rectangular cooking accessory and a circular cooking accessory within the cookbox of the grill.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 10, 2021Publication date: June 2, 2022Inventors: Brian C. Donnelly, Shannon Ella Cerny, Christian Hyde, Cassandra A.S. McVey, William Alexander Mecker, Michelle Stohl
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Patent number: 11248799Abstract: Pellet grills and associated methods of operation are disclosed. An example pellet grill includes a main body defining a cooking chamber. The example pellet grill further includes a burn pot located within the main body. The burn pot includes an upper end, a lower end located opposite the upper end, and a sidewall extending between the upper end and the lower end. The sidewall has an opening. The example pellet grill further includes an ignitor extending into the burn pot through the opening of the sidewall. The example pellet grill further includes an ignitor carrier removably coupled to the ignitor. The ignitor carrier extends away from the burn pot and is accessible from outside the main body.Type: GrantFiled: November 8, 2019Date of Patent: February 15, 2022Assignee: WEBER-STEPHEN PRODUCTS LLCInventors: Brian C. Donnelly, Ryan P. Lundberg, Ethan Albrecht, David Eckhardt, David A. Larson
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Patent number: 11248798Abstract: Pellet grills and associated methods of operation are disclosed. An example pellet grill includes a burn pot including an upper end having a first opening, a lower end located opposite the upper end and having a second opening, and a sidewall extending between the upper and lower ends. The example pellet grill further includes a fuel grate positioned within the burn pot between the upper and lower ends. The fuel grate is configured to support pellet fuel within the burn pot. The fuel grate includes a plurality of ash openings dimensioned to enable ash produced from combustion of the pellet fuel to pass downwardly through the fuel grate toward the second opening.Type: GrantFiled: November 8, 2019Date of Patent: February 15, 2022Assignee: WEBER-STEPHEN PRODUCTS LLCInventors: Brian C. Donnelly, Ryan P. Lundberg, David A. Larson
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Patent number: 11248800Abstract: Pellet grills and associated methods of operation are disclosed. An example pellet grill includes a main body defining a cooking chamber. The main body includes a first end, a second end located opposite the first end, and an outer wall extending between the first and second ends. The main body has a lateral extent defined by the first and second ends. The example pellet grill further includes a hopper mounted to a rear portion of the outer wall of the main body. The hopper includes a fuel intake opening extending from a first location within the lateral extent of the main body to a second location outside of the lateral extent of the main body.Type: GrantFiled: November 8, 2019Date of Patent: February 15, 2022Assignee: WEBER-STEPHEN PRODUCTS LLCInventors: Brian C. Donnelly, Ryan P. Lundberg, Ethan Albrecht, David A. Larson
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Patent number: 11248801Abstract: Pellet grills and associated methods of operation are disclosed. An example pellet grill includes an ignitor configured to be activated. The ignitor has a duty cycle associated with a number of activations of the ignitor. The example pellet grill further includes one or more processors configured to determine whether the duty cycle has violated a threshold. The one or more processors are further configured, in response to determining that the duty cycle has violated the threshold, to generate a notification indicating that the threshold has been violated. The one or more processors are further configured to cause the notification to be presented at a user interface of the pellet grill.Type: GrantFiled: November 8, 2019Date of Patent: February 15, 2022Assignee: WEBER-STEPHEN PRODUCTS LLCInventors: Brian C. Donnelly, Ryan P. Lundberg, David Eckhardt
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Patent number: 11181277Abstract: Pellet grills and associated methods of operation are disclosed. An example pellet grill includes a main body defining a cooking chamber. The main body includes a first opening extending through a bottom portion of an outer wall of the main body. The main body further including a grease channel formed along the bottom portion of the outer wall and extending to the first opening. The example pellet grill further includes a burn pot located within the main body. The burn pot includes a lower end having a second opening aligned with the first opening. The second opening is configured to enable pellet fuel ash to pass downwardly from the burn pot onto an ash slide positioned below the second opening. The example pellet grill further includes a waste collection drawer located below the main body. The waste collection drawer is movable relative to the main body between a closed position and an open position.Type: GrantFiled: November 8, 2019Date of Patent: November 23, 2021Assignee: WEBER-STEPHEN PRODUCTS LLCInventors: Brian C. Donnelly, Ryan P. Lundberg, Ethan Albrecht, David A. Larson
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Publication number: 20210293413Abstract: Pellet grills including a control system that implements, manages, and/or controls various ignition-based protocols and/or processes are disclosed. An example pellet grill includes a cooking chamber, a burn pot, an ignitor, and a controller. The ignitor extends into the burn pot and is configured to ignite pellet fuel located within the burn pot. The controller is configured to command the ignitor to activate during a first duration. The controller is further configured to determine, following expiration of the first duration, whether a temperature of the cooking chamber has reached a threshold temperature. The controller is further configured, in response to determining that the temperature has not reached the threshold temperature, to command the ignitor to activate during a second duration.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 10, 2020Publication date: September 23, 2021Inventors: Brian C. Donnelly, Ryan P. Lundberg, Ethan Albrecht, David Eckhardt, Laasya P. Vadlamani
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Publication number: 20210244147Abstract: Dry bags for storing solid cooking fuels are disclosed. An example dry bag includes a closed base, a sealable opening located opposite the closed base, a closed sidewall extending between the closed base and the sealable opening, and a handle coupled to the closed base.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 10, 2020Publication date: August 12, 2021Inventors: Qian Hamel, Brian C. Donnelly
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Publication number: 20200237145Abstract: Pellet grills and associated methods of operation are disclosed. An example pellet grill includes a burn pot including an upper end having a first opening, a lower end located opposite the upper end and having a second opening, and a sidewall extending between the upper and lower ends. The example pellet grill further includes a fuel grate positioned within the burn pot between the upper and lower ends. The fuel grate is configured to support pellet fuel within the burn pot. The fuel grate includes a plurality of ash openings dimensioned to enable ash produced from combustion of the pellet fuel to pass downwardly through the fuel grate toward the second opening.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 8, 2019Publication date: July 30, 2020Inventors: Brian C. Donnelly, Ryan P. Lundberg, David A. Larson
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Publication number: 20200237153Abstract: Pellet grills and associated methods of operation are disclosed. An example pellet grill includes a burn pot configured to combust pellet fuel received within the burn pot. The pellet grill further includes an auger configured to deliver the pellet fuel to the burn pot. The pellet grill further includes an auger motor operatively coupled to the auger. The pellet grill further includes one or more processors configured to determine whether a shutdown sequence of the pellet grill has been initiated. The one or more processors are further configured, in response to determining that the shutdown sequence has been initiated, to command the auger motor to reverse a direction of rotation of the auger. The reversal is to cause pellet fuel which the auger has not yet delivered to the burn pot to be purged in a direction away from the burn pot.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 8, 2019Publication date: July 30, 2020Inventors: Brian C. Donnelly, Ryan P. Lundberg, David Eckhardt
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Publication number: 20200237146Abstract: Pellet grills and associated methods of operation are disclosed. An example pellet grill includes a main body defining a cooking chamber. The example pellet grill further includes a grease deflection bar assembly located within the main body. the grease deflection bar assembly includes a first rack removably positioned on first tabs of the main body, a second rack removably positioned on second tabs of the main body, and a grease deflection bar extending between and removably positioned on the first and second racks.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 8, 2019Publication date: July 30, 2020Inventors: Brian C. Donnelly, Ryan P. Lundberg, Ethan Albrecht
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Publication number: 20200237154Abstract: Pellet grills and associated methods of operation are disclosed. An example pellet grill includes a one or more processors configured to detect an improper shutdown of a control system of the pellet grill. The one or more processors are further configured to generate a notification in response to the control system regaining power following detection of the improper shutdown, the notification indicating that the control system was improperly shutdown. The one or more processors are further configured to cause the notification to be presented at a user interface of the pellet grill.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 8, 2019Publication date: July 30, 2020Inventors: Brian C. Donnelly, Ryan P. Lundberg, David Eckhardt
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Publication number: 20200240643Abstract: Pellet grills and associated methods of operation are disclosed. An example pellet grill includes a main body defining a cooking chamber. The main body includes a first end, a second end located opposite the first end, and an outer wall extending between the first and second ends. The main body has a lateral extent defined by the first and second ends. The example pellet grill further includes a hopper mounted to a rear portion of the outer wall of the main body. The hopper includes a fuel intake opening extending from a first location within the lateral extent of the main body to a second location outside of the lateral extent of the main body.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 8, 2019Publication date: July 30, 2020Inventors: Brian C. Donnelly, Ryan P. Lundberg, Ethan Albrecht, David A. Larson
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Patent number: D902515Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 2019Date of Patent: November 17, 2020Assignee: Weber-Stephen Products LLCInventors: Aman Sharma, Brian C. Donnelly, Derek W. Bennion
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Patent number: D926408Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2020Date of Patent: July 27, 2021Assignee: WEBER-STEPHEN PRODUCTS LLCInventors: Aman Sharma, Brian C. Donnelly, Derek W. Bennion
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Patent number: D959779Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2021Date of Patent: August 2, 2022Assignee: WEBER-STEPHEN PRODUCTS LLCInventors: Aman Sharma, Brian C. Donnelly, Derek W. Bennion
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Patent number: D959904Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 2020Date of Patent: August 9, 2022Assignee: WEBER-STEPHEN PRODUCTS LLCInventors: Derek Bennion, Shannon Ella Cerny, William Alexander Mecker, Romualdo Sonny Siazon, Brian C. Donnelly
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Patent number: D959905Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 2020Date of Patent: August 9, 2022Assignee: WEBER-STEPHEN PRODUCTS LLCInventors: Derek Bennion, Shannon Ella Cerny, William Alexander Mecker, Romualdo Sonny Siazon, Brian C. Donnelly