Patents by Inventor Christopher G. Hoppe

Christopher G. Hoppe 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).

  • Publication number: 20200002866
    Abstract: A laundry treatment appliance, program product and method utilize a slider-based user interface to facilitate user selection of settings for a laundry treatment cycle. A slider-based user interface, for example, may include a fabric slider control that receives user input that selects from among a plurality of fabric selections and a cycle modifier slider control that receives user input that selects from among a plurality of cycle modifier selections capable of increasing and/or decreasing various default settings associated with various fabric selections.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2018
    Publication date: January 2, 2020
    Inventors: Christopher G. Hoppe, Bryan T. Snook
  • Patent number: 10487441
    Abstract: An adjustable baffle and method of adjusting the baffle for a laundry machine. A dryer drum may include one or more adjustable baffles that may adjust tumbling characteristics of the clothes within the dryer drum. The adjustable baffles may include one or more flexible members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: MIDEA GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Bryan T. Snook, Christopher G. Hoppe
  • Patent number: 10487435
    Abstract: A wash tub apparatus and method of manufacturing the wash tub for a laundry washing machine. The wash tub may include an interior rear wall and an exterior rear wall. The exterior rear wall may be molded with a portion of a side wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: MIDEA GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Bryan T. Snook, Christopher G. Hoppe
  • Publication number: 20190345659
    Abstract: A laundry washing machine and method utilize a fluid property sensor to dynamically select between different types of rinse operations, e.g., fill rinse operations or spin rinse operations, performed during a wash cycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2019
    Publication date: November 14, 2019
    Inventors: Phillip C. Hombroek, Christopher G. Hoppe
  • Patent number: 10358760
    Abstract: A laundry washing machine and method utilize a fluid property sensor to dynamically select between different types of rinse operations, e.g., fill rinse operations or spin rinse operations, performed during a wash cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: MIDEA GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Phillip C. Hombroek, Christopher G. Hoppe
  • Publication number: 20190211491
    Abstract: A laundry washing machine and method implement dynamic damping force optimization during a wash cycle to optimize a force-generating operation such as a spin operation performed during the wash cycle. The dynamic damping force optimization may utilize inputs from a suspension force sensor in combination with an accelerometer to dynamically determine a damping capability for a suspension of a laundry washing machine such that damping in the suspension system may be maintained within the damping capability of the suspension system to balance operation performance against the generation of undesirable forces and vibrations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2019
    Publication date: July 11, 2019
    Inventors: Christopher G. Hoppe, Phillip C. Hombroek
  • Publication number: 20190211492
    Abstract: A laundry washing machine and method automate the selection of a load type for a laundry washing machine during an initial fill phase of a wash cycle and based in part on weight and fluid level sensed by weight and fluid level sensors operatively coupled to a wash tub and after a selected amount of water has been dispensed into the wash tub.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2019
    Publication date: July 11, 2019
    Inventors: Phillip C. Hombroek, Christopher G. Hoppe
  • Publication number: 20190211493
    Abstract: A laundry washing machine and method may use a distance sensor to determine dry and wet distance values associated with a load disposed in a wash tub, and dynamically configure a wash cycle based upon the determined values. In some instances, the distance sensor may also be used to detect an excessive fluid level, excessive foaming, or a floating item in the wash tub.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2019
    Publication date: July 11, 2019
    Inventors: Christopher G. Hoppe, Phillip C. Hombroek
  • Patent number: 10342409
    Abstract: A dishwasher includes a drinkware spray container capable of directing a spray of fluid against one or more drinkware articles retained by the spray container. The drinkware spray container may be configured as a cup tree including a vertical member or trunk and a plurality of branches that extend from the trunk and support a drinkware article, with nozzles disposed on the branches to direct a spray of fluid into the supported drinkware articles. The drinkware spray container may also be configured as a drinkware basket including a container body defining one or more compartments along with one or more spray members capable of directing a spray of fluid onto interior surfaces of drinkware article retained within the container body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: MIDEA GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Mark W. Wilson, Timothy Martin Wetzel, Christopher G. Hoppe
  • Patent number: 10273622
    Abstract: A laundry washing machine and method automate the selection of a load type for a laundry washing machine during an initial fill phase of a wash cycle and based in part on weight and fluid level sensed by weight and fluid level sensors operatively coupled to a wash tub and after a selected amount of water has been dispensed into the wash tub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: Midea Group Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Phillip C. Hombroek, Christopher G. Hoppe
  • Patent number: 10273623
    Abstract: A laundry washing machine and method may use a distance sensor to determine dry and wet distance values associated with a load disposed in a wash tub, and dynamically configure a wash cycle based upon the determined values. In some instances, the distance sensor may also be used to detect an excessive fluid level, excessive foaming, or a floating item in the wash tub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: Midea Group Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Christopher G. Hoppe, Phillip C Hombroek
  • Patent number: 10266982
    Abstract: A laundry washing machine and method implement dynamic damping force optimization during a wash cycle to optimize a force-generating operation such as a spin operation performed during the wash cycle. The dynamic damping force optimization may utilize inputs from a suspension force sensor in combination with an accelerometer to dynamically determine a damping capability for a suspension of a laundry washing machine such that damping in the suspension system may be maintained within the damping capability of the suspension system to balance operation performance against the generation of undesirable forces and vibrations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: MIDEA GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Christopher G. Hoppe, Phillip C Hombroek
  • Publication number: 20190112747
    Abstract: A laundry washing machine and method utilize weight, fluid level and fluid property sensors to dynamically select a load type, control a wash cycle and control an amount of detergent dispensed during a wash cycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Publication date: April 18, 2019
    Inventors: Phillip C. Hombroek, Christopher G. Hoppe
  • Publication number: 20190093278
    Abstract: An adjustable baffle and method of adjusting the baffle for a laundry machine. A dryer drum may include one or more adjustable baffles that may adjust tumbling characteristics of the clothes within the dryer drum. The adjustable baffles may include one or more flexible members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2017
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Inventors: Bryan T. Snook, Christopher G. Hoppe
  • Patent number: 10161075
    Abstract: A laundry washing machine and method utilize a fluid property sensor to determine a detergent deficit subsequent to manual addition of detergent by a user, such that additional detergent may be automatically dispensed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: Midea Group Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Phillip C. Hombroek, Christopher G. Hoppe
  • Patent number: 10161074
    Abstract: A laundry washing machine and method utilize weight, fluid level and fluid property sensors to dynamically select a load type, control a wash cycle and control an amount of detergent dispensed during a wash cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: Midea Group Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Phillip C. Hombroek, Christopher G. Hoppe
  • Publication number: 20180274162
    Abstract: A wash tub apparatus and method of manufacturing the wash tub for a laundry washing machine. The wash tub may include an interior rear wall and an exterior rear wall. The exterior rear wall may be molded with a portion of a side wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2017
    Publication date: September 27, 2018
    Inventors: Bryan T. Snook, Christopher G. Hoppe
  • Patent number: D848091
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignees: MIDEA GROUP CO., LTD., MIDEA AMERICAN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Donghwan Yang, Zhe Zhang, Su Qin, Jing Pan, Christopher G. Hoppe
  • Patent number: D853667
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignees: MIDEA GROUP CO., LTD., MIDEA AMERICA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Donghwan Yang, Zhe Zhang, Su Qin, Jing Pan, Christopher G. Hoppe
  • Patent number: D859759
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignees: MIDEA GROUP CO., LTD., MIDEA AMERICA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Zhe Zhang, Donghwan Yang, Jing Pan, Su Qin, Christopher G. Hoppe