Patents by Inventor Gary Elder

Gary Elder 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: 12535245
    Abstract: The gas fueled water heater appliance may include a tank, a chamber wall, a gas burner, a chamber sensor, and a controller. The chamber sensor may be configured to detect temperature within the combustion chamber. The controller may be mounted to the gas fueled water heater appliance in operable communication with the gas burner and the chamber sensor. The controller may be configured to direct a water heating operation. The water heating operation may include detecting an ambient temperature (AT) value during a contemporaneous cycle of the gas burner, selecting, based on the detected AT value, a set temperature threshold from a plurality of temperature thresholds, detecting a combustion chamber temperature (CCT) value at the chamber sensor during the contemporaneous cycle, comparing the detected CCT value to the set temperature threshold, and directing heating at the gas burner based on comparing the detected CCT value to the set temperature threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2026
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Corey Sweatt, Michael Champion, Gary Elder, Jacob Strader, Subbu Thenappan
  • Publication number: 20250310481
    Abstract: The disclosed system provides a multi-functional legal services space in Virtual Reality (VR) that includes a law office, courtroom, conference room, and law library. The VR program enables privileged and confidential attorney-client communications, visitation between attorneys and clients, and provides clients with tools and access to work on their legal matters. The program facilitates the electronic signing of legal documents, secure legal document case file storage, legal research, document drafting, and hearing and trial preparation. Meetings and depositions can be conducted with multiple parties through VR headset access and/or video conferencing participation. The VR courtroom can be utilized by judges, magistrates, and mediators for legal proceedings. For incarcerated individuals, a VR headset combines identity verification technology with secure internet connectivity, allowing access to a database containing their personal legal information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2025
    Publication date: October 2, 2025
    Applicant: PROMISING PEOPLE, LLC
    Inventors: Jim McManus, Claudia Pastorius, Alberto Echeverri, Fred Clark, Cristal Clark, Kathy Kozak, Jamori Montgomery, Gary Elder, Jose Pelayo, John L. Evans, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20250224144
    Abstract: A power circuit configuration for a water heater appliance is provided. The water heater appliance includes a tank, a gas valve, a blower, and a power circuit. The power circuit includes a gas valve controller on a gas valve control printed circuit board. The power circuit includes a first power conductor that is coupled to a blower motor of the water heater appliance. The power circuit also includes a second power conductor that is coupled to the blower motor of the water heater appliance through a relay such that the power circuit for the blower motor bypasses the gas valve control printed circuit board.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2024
    Publication date: July 10, 2025
    Inventors: David Sheldon, Gary Elder, Subbu Thenappan
  • Publication number: 20250102187
    Abstract: A gas fueled water heater appliance may include a tank, a chamber wall, a gas burner, a chamber sensor, and a controller. The gas burner may be positioned adjacent to the tank and within a combustion chamber to heat water in the tank. The chamber sensor may be attached to the chamber wall. The chamber sensor may be configured to detect a temperature within the combustion chamber. The controller may be configured to direct a water heating operation that includes detecting a combustion chamber temperature (CCT) value during a contemporaneous cycle of the gas burner, determining a contemporary temperature-change rate based on the detected CCT value, comparing the determined contemporary temperature-change rate to a set rate, and directing heating at the gas burner based on comparing the determined contemporary temperature-change rate to the set rate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2023
    Publication date: March 27, 2025
    Inventors: Subbu Thenappan, Corey Sweatt, Michael Champion, Gary Elder, Jacob Strader
  • Publication number: 20250085021
    Abstract: The gas fueled water heater appliance may include a tank, a chamber wall, a gas burner, a chamber sensor, and a controller. The chamber sensor may be configured to detect temperature within the combustion chamber. The controller may be mounted to the gas fueled water heater appliance in operable communication with the gas burner and the chamber sensor. The controller may be configured to direct a water heating operation. The water heating operation may include detecting an ambient temperature (AT) value during a contemporaneous cycle of the gas burner, selecting, based on the detected AT value, a set temperature threshold from a plurality of temperature thresholds, detecting a combustion chamber temperature (CCT) value at the chamber sensor during the contemporaneous cycle, comparing the detected CCT value to the set temperature threshold, and directing heating at the gas burner based on comparing the detected CCT value to the set temperature threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2023
    Publication date: March 13, 2025
    Inventors: Corey Sweatt, Michael Champion, Gary Elder, Jacob Strader, Subbu Thenappan
  • Publication number: 20070039568
    Abstract: A fuel-fired water heater has main and pilot burners disposed in its combustion chamber. All of the primary combustion air utilized by the main and pilot burners during firing thereof is supplied thereto via an enclosed path extending to the burners from outside of the combustion chamber. A burner clogging detection system is operative to shut down further combustion, upon sensing a condition of the pilot burner flame indicative of a predetermined degree of pilot burner clogging, prior to the main burner being clogged to an unacceptable degree by particulate matter entrained in incoming combustion air being delivered to the main burner. The pilot burner may be mounted on the main burner in a variety of locations thereon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2006
    Publication date: February 22, 2007
    Applicant: RHEEM MANUFACTURING COMPANY
    Inventors: William Hall, Gary Elder, Jacob Peart, Thomas Hawkins
  • Publication number: 20050053879
    Abstract: A gas-fired water heater is provided with a combustion shutoff system which precludes further combustion within the water heater's combustion chamber in response to a combustion temperature therein reaching a predetermined level correlated to and indicative of a predetermined, undesirably high concentration of carbon monoxide present in the combustion chamber. In various illustrated embodiments thereof, the combustion shutoff system is operative to terminate further combustion air inflow to the combustion chamber, or terminate further fuel flow to the burner portion of the water heater.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2004
    Publication date: March 10, 2005
    Inventors: Gordon Stretch, Bruce Hotton, John Scanlon, Gary Elder, James Campbell, Larry Kidd, Eric Lannes, Garrett Doss, Michael Gordon, James Martin, James Mears, Thomas Archibald
  • Publication number: 20050042560
    Abstract: A gas-fired water heater is provided with a combustion shutoff system which precludes further combustion within the water heater's combustion chamber in response to a combustion temperature therein reaching a predetermined level correlated to and indicative of a predetermined, undesirably high concentration of carbon monoxide present in the combustion chamber. In various illustrated embodiments thereof, the combustion shutoff system is operative to terminate further combustion air inflow to the combustion chamber, or terminate further fuel flow to the burner portion of the water heater.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2004
    Publication date: February 24, 2005
    Inventors: Gordon Stretch, Bruce Hotton, John Scanlon, Gary Elder, James Campbell, Larry Kidd, Eric Lannes, Garrett Doss, Michael Gordon, James Martin, James Mears, Thomas Archibald
  • Patent number: 6765221
    Abstract: Substantially pure uranium hexafluoride is shipped in a conventional overpack. A cylinder includes a vessel with a cylindrical sidewall A head permanently affixed to the sidewall closes one end of the vessel. A valve controls the flow of matter into and out of the vessel. A sealing surface connected to the vessel surrounds the valve. A cap covers the valve and a pair of seals is located between the sealing surface and the cap. The volume between the two seals, the cap and the sealing surface defines a test volume. A test port connects the test volume and an exterior surface of the vessel, and fasteners press the cap against the sealing surface. A maximum rate of leakage from within the cap to the atmosphere outside the cap is determined by measuring the leakage rate into the test volume with a leak testing apparatus connected to the test port. Thereafter the cylinder is placed in a conventional overpack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Company, LLC
    Inventors: Gary Elder, Thomas F. Dougherty, Trevor M. Rummel
  • Publication number: 20030173528
    Abstract: Substantially pure uranium hexafluoride is shipped in a conventional overpack. A cylinder includes a vessel with a cylindrical sidewall A head permanently affixed to the sidewall closes one end of the vessel. A valve controls the flow of matter into and out of the vessel. A sealing surface connected to the vessel surrounds the valve. A cap covers the valve and a pair of seals is located between the sealing surface and the cap. The volume between the two seals, the cap and the sealing surface defines a test volume. A test port connects the test volume and an exterior surface of the vessel, and fasteners press the cap against the sealing surface. A maximum rate of leakage from within the cap to the atmosphere outside the cap is determined by measuring the leakage rate into the test volume with a leak testing apparatus connected to the test port. Thereafter the cylinder is placed in a conventional overpack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2003
    Publication date: September 18, 2003
    Inventors: Gary Elder, Thomas F. Dougherty, Trevor M. Rummel
  • Patent number: D587283
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Inventor: Gary Elder