Patents by Inventor Christopher D. Esterle

Christopher D. Esterle 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: 10829953
    Abstract: A damped closure assembly for a microwave oven includes a catch element mounted to a cabinet of the microwave oven. A striker defined on a door of the microwave oven engages the catch element which is rotatable between an open position and a closed position. A spring mechanism and a damping element are operably coupled to the catch element to slowly urge the catch element and the door toward the closed position to prevent slamming, loud noises, and potential wear on one or more components of the microwave oven when the door is closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher D. Esterle, Mark Aaron Weaver
  • Patent number: 10433702
    Abstract: A damped closure assembly for a door of a dishwasher appliance includes a striker mounted to the door and a latch assembly mounted to a tub of the dishwasher appliance. The latch assembly includes a latch body that defines a guide slot and a slide member including guide pins that are received within the guide slot to slidably and rotatably position the slide member within the latch body. A spring element is attached to the slide member for urging the slide member toward a retracted position and a damping element is operably coupled to the slide member for damping the movement of the slide member toward the retracted position. The slide member is latched in an extended position when the door is open, but when the door is closed, the striker unlatches the slide member and allows the spring/damper combination to slowly move the door to the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher D. Esterle, Mark Weaver
  • Publication number: 20190178001
    Abstract: A damped closure assembly for a microwave oven includes a catch element mounted to a cabinet of the microwave oven. A striker defined on a door of the microwave oven engages the catch element which is rotatable between an open position and a closed position. A spring mechanism and a damping element are operably coupled to the catch element to slowly urge the catch element and the door toward the closed position to prevent slamming, loud noises, and potential wear on one or more components of the microwave oven when the door is closed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2017
    Publication date: June 13, 2019
    Inventors: Christopher D. Esterle, Mark Aaron Weaver
  • Publication number: 20190021573
    Abstract: A damped closure assembly for a door of a dishwasher appliance includes a striker mounted to the door and a latch assembly mounted to a tub of the dishwasher appliance. The latch assembly includes a latch body that defines a guide slot and a slide member including guide pins that are received within the guide slot to slidably and rotatably position the slide member within the latch body. A spring element is attached to the slide member for urging the slide member toward a retracted position and a damping element is operably coupled to the slide member for damping the movement of the slide member toward the retracted position. The slide member is latched in an extended position when the door is open, but when the door is closed, the striker unlatches the slide member and allows the spring/damper combination to slowly move the door to the closed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2017
    Publication date: January 24, 2019
    Inventors: Christopher D. Esterle, Mark Weaver