Patents by Inventor Kenneth G. Rudolph

Kenneth G. Rudolph 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: 11851802
    Abstract: A laundry treatment appliance includes a cabinet forming a receiving space therein, a tub provided within the receiving space, and a dispenser assembly provided within the receiving space, the dispenser assembly being in fluid communication with the tub. The dispenser assembly includes a dispenser body coupled to the cabinet and provided adjacent to the tub, a first drawer slidably inserted into the dispenser body along the transverse direction, and a second drawer slidably inserted into the dispenser body along the transverse direction, the second drawer being provided beneath the first drawer along the vertical direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: David Scott Dunn, Alexander Daniel James, Kenneth G. Rudolph, Rainer Schuster
  • Publication number: 20230323589
    Abstract: A dryer appliance for quickly sanitizing articles of laundry includes a cabinet containing a rotatable drum defining a chamber. A drawer on the front side of the cabinet may slide between a closed position within the cabinet and an open position extended from the front side of the cabinet. The drawer may include one or more compartments for storing treatment materials, such as sanitizing agents. One or more pumps may be in fluid communication with the one or more compartments and a fluid distribution element that extends through the drum. One or more valves may be disposed between the one or more compartments and the one or more pumps to control the flow of treatment materials. Activation of the pump and opening of the one or more valves causes treatment fluid to be discharged through the fluid distribution element and into the chamber, treating articles of laundry therein. Water from a domestic water supply may also be introduced to the one or more pumps to dilute the treatment materials being used.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2022
    Publication date: October 12, 2023
    Inventors: Alexander B. Leibman, Kenneth G. Rudolph, Nemetalla Salameh
  • Publication number: 20230295865
    Abstract: A dryer appliance including a drum, a heater assembly, a reservoir, and a controller is provided. The drum defines a chamber for receipt of articles for drying. The heater assembly is in fluid communication with the chamber to flow air thereto. The reservoir is configured to receive a fluid, such as a cleaning solution, a disinfecting solution, or a perfume solution. The reservoir is in selective fluid communication with the chamber to provide the fluid to the chamber. The controller is configured to perform operations that, when executed by the controller, causes the dryer appliance to perform operations. The operations include flowing fluid to the chamber from the reservoir.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2022
    Publication date: September 21, 2023
    Inventors: Alexander B. Leibman, Venkata Chakradhar Rangu, Kenneth G. Rudolph, Nemetalla Salameh
  • Publication number: 20230104087
    Abstract: Washing machine appliances and methods of operating the same are provided. Such methods may include, and/or appliances may be configured for, performing a wash operation on laundry articles received in the wash chamber of the wash basket. After the wash operation, it may be determined that the load of articles is still wet, e.g., that a remaining moisture content of the laundry articles is above a threshold. Based on and in response to determining that the load is still wet, a spin cycle is performed before a beginning of a subsequent wash operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2021
    Publication date: April 6, 2023
    Inventors: Ryan James Scheckelhoff, Aaron Lee Welch, Kenneth G. Rudolph
  • Publication number: 20230084319
    Abstract: A laundry treatment appliance includes a cabinet forming a receiving space therein, a tub provided within the receiving space, and a dispenser assembly provided within the receiving space, the dispenser assembly being in fluid communication with the tub. The dispenser assembly includes a dispenser body coupled to the cabinet and provided adjacent to the tub, a first drawer slidably inserted into the dispenser body along the transverse direction, and a second drawer slidably inserted into the dispenser body along the transverse direction, the second drawer being provided beneath the first drawer along the vertical direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2021
    Publication date: March 16, 2023
    Inventors: David Scott Dunn, Alexander Daniel James, Kenneth G. Rudolph, Rainer Schuster
  • Patent number: 11319654
    Abstract: A washing machine appliance, as provided herein, may include a cabinet, a tub, a wash basket, a ventilation line, and an antimicrobial body. The cabinet may include a front panel defining an opening. The tub may be positioned within the cabinet. The wash basket may be rotatably mounted within the tub. The wash basket may define a wash chamber for receiving articles for washing. The ventilation line may be in fluid communication with the tub. The ventilation line may define an air path from a ventilation inlet within the cabinet. The air path may extend to a ventilation outlet in fluid communication with an ambient environment outside of the cabinet. The antimicrobial body may be positioned along the ventilation line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: S. Neil Malone, Kenneth G. Rudolph
  • Patent number: 11085137
    Abstract: A washing machine appliance includes a wash tub defining a wash chamber and an intake and exhaust duct that are fluidly coupled to the wash chamber. A vent door is positioned within the intake duct for regulating a flow of air into the wash chamber and a drive motor selectively rotates a wash basket within the wash tub. When a command to reduce humidity is received, a controller may open the vent door and rotate the wash basket in a periodic cycle to urge the flow of air through the wash chamber and out the exhaust duct to lower a humidity within the wash chamber and the gasket, e.g., to reduce mold and mildew growth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Rushikesh Salvi, Kenneth G. Rudolph
  • Publication number: 20210140086
    Abstract: A washing machine appliance includes a wash tub defining a wash chamber and an intake and exhaust duct that are fluidly coupled to the wash chamber. A vent door is positioned within the intake duct for regulating a flow of air into the wash chamber and a drive motor selectively rotates a wash basket within the wash tub. When a command to reduce humidity is received, a controller may open the vent door and rotate the wash basket in a periodic cycle to urge the flow of air through the wash chamber and out the exhaust duct to lower a humidity within the wash chamber and the gasket, e.g., to reduce mold and mildew growth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2019
    Publication date: May 13, 2021
    Inventors: Rushikesh Salvi, Kenneth G. Rudolph
  • Publication number: 20200332451
    Abstract: A washing machine appliance, as provided herein, may include a cabinet, a tub, a wash basket, a ventilation line, and an antimicrobial body. The cabinet may include a front panel defining an opening. The tub may be positioned within the cabinet. The wash basket may be rotatably mounted within the tub. The wash basket may define a wash chamber for receiving articles for washing. The ventilation line may be in fluid communication with the tub. The ventilation line may define an air path from a ventilation inlet within the cabinet. The air path may extend to a ventilation outlet in fluid communication with an ambient environment outside of the cabinet. The antimicrobial body may be positioned along the ventilation line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2019
    Publication date: October 22, 2020
    Inventors: S. Neil Malone, Kenneth G. Rudolph
  • Patent number: 5586675
    Abstract: A material handling container (10) of the type for packaging, shipping and inventorying goods and of the type for stacking one upon the other when not in use, made of molded thermoplastic and having a plurality of plastic reinforcement members (86) arranged in predetermined positions about the plastic planer expanses (84) of the container (10) for adding strength and stiffness. The reinforcement members (86) define a plurality of hollow channels (88) disposed adjacent to the planer expanses (84) of the container (10) and including at least one rib (90) extending upwardly from the channel (88) defined by the reinforcement member (80) for adding strength and stiffness to the planer expanse (84) of the container (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1996
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Antonius H. Borsboom, Anthony A. Gennari, Kenneth G. Rudolph, Peter J. Zuber