Patents by Inventor Brian Schork

Brian Schork 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: 9068752
    Abstract: An ignition control system for an appliance is disclosed. The appliance includes a gas burner, a user actuable valve for controlling a flow of fuel to the burner and an electrical resistance igniter for igniting fuel at the burner. The system includes a user actuable control interface having an off state and an on state, coupled to the valve operative to control the valve and provide a control signal indicative of the state of the control interface. The system also includes a controller having a timer circuit responsive to the control signal and a boost circuit coupled to the timer circuit. The timer circuit selectively activates the boost circuit for a predetermined period of time. A first DC power supply is selectively coupled to the igniter to provide power to the igniter through the boost circuit. A second DC power supply is coupled to the igniter and control interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Timothy Scott Shaffer, Nicholas Okruch, Jr., Daniel Trice, Brian Schork, Mark Johnson, Daniel Ernst, Daniel Brosnan
  • Publication number: 20120138590
    Abstract: A lighting system for a cooktop appliance having a plate and a burner assembly positioned beneath the plate. The lighting system includes at least one light source positioned adjacent a light entry portal of the plate. The at least one light source is configured to direct light through the plate via the light entry portal and emit the light from a top surface of the plate adjacent the burner assembly. A controller is communicatively coupled to the burner assembly and the at least one light source. The controller is configured to activate the at least one light source when at least one of the burner assembly is activated and a utensil on the burner assembly is heated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2010
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Inventors: Daniel V. BROSNAN, Brian Schork, Brvan Beckley, Mariano Filippa, Ryan Turner, Timothy Shaffer
  • Publication number: 20110207065
    Abstract: An ignition control system for an appliance is disclosed. The appliance includes a gas burner, a user actuable valve for controlling a flow of fuel to the burner and an electrical resistance igniter for igniting fuel at the burner. The system includes a user actuable control interface having an off state and an on state, coupled to the valve operative to control the valve and provide a control signal indicative of the state of the control interface. The system also includes a controller having a timer circuit responsive to the control signal and a boost circuit coupled to the timer circuit. The timer circuit selectively activates the boost circuit for a predetermined period of time. A first DC power supply is selectively coupled to the igniter to provide power to the igniter through the boost circuit. A second DC power supply is coupled to the igniter and control interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2010
    Publication date: August 25, 2011
    Inventors: Timothy Scott SHAFFER, Nicholas Okruch, JR., Daniel Trice, Brian Schork, Mark Johnson, Daniel Ernst, Daniel Brosnan
  • Publication number: 20090133430
    Abstract: A dispensing system and method for storing and dispensing a temperature controlled fluid from an appliance includes a tank for storing the temperature controlled fluid and a dispenser outlet for dispensing the temperature controlled fluid. A dispenser fluid line fluidly couples the tank and the dispenser outlet. A pump dispenses the temperature controlled fluid from the tank through the dispenser outlet upon receipt of a dispense signal and subsequently withdraws any residual temperature controlled fluid from the dispenser fluid line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2007
    Publication date: May 28, 2009
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: John J. Roetker, Natarajan Venkatakrishnan, Darko Ilickovic, Brian Schork