Patents by Inventor Krzysztof Struminski

Krzysztof Struminski 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: 8464549
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes a body portion having an air supply and an air return, a door hinged to the body portion, and an icemaking unit located on the door and having an air inlet and an air outlet. The air inlet and air outlet are adjacent the air supply and air return, respectively, when the door is closed, to receive and return chilled air therefrom and thereto. At least a first sealing member is located at the air supply, the air return, the air inlet, and/or the air outlet. The at least first sealing member includes a first membrane with a slit formed therein, and a first projecting member. The slit and the first projecting member are configured and dimensioned such that the slit is closed when the door is in an open position and that the slit is opened when the door is in a closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Matthew William Davis, Wayne Edward Lawson, Krzysztof Struminski
  • Patent number: 8371136
    Abstract: A method of forming ice in a refrigerator is disclosed. The method includes cooling a first storage compartment to a first temperature, cooling a second storage compartment to a second temperature, cooling an interior volume defined in a door to a third temperature, wherein the door permits and impedes access to the second storage compartment, operating a fan disposed in the interior volume to circulate cool air through the interior volume, and cooling water to form ice in the interior volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Natarajan Venkatakrishnan, Matthew William Davis, Krzysztof Struminski, Wayne Lawson
  • Publication number: 20120085120
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes a body portion having an air supply and an air return, a door hinged to the body portion, and an icemaking unit located on the door and having an air inlet and an air outlet. The air inlet and air outlet are adjacent the air supply and air return, respectively, when the door is closed, to receive and return chilled air therefrom and thereto. At least a first sealing member is located at the air supply, the air return, the air inlet, and/or the air outlet. The at least first sealing member includes a first membrane with a slit formed therein, and a first projecting member. The slit and the first projecting member are configured and dimensioned such that the slit is closed when the door is in an open position and that the slit is opened when the door is in a closed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2010
    Publication date: April 12, 2012
    Inventors: Matthew William DAVIS, Wayne Edward Lawson, Krzysztof Struminski
  • Patent number: 8099975
    Abstract: An icemaker having a mold comprising at least one cavity and a cooling system. The cooling system has a first heat exchanger configured to have a medium flow there through. The first heat exchanger is in thermal communication with the mold to reduce the temperature of the mold below a predetermined temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Alexander Pinkus Rafalovich, Omar Haidar, Matthew William Davis, Krzysztof Struminski, Solomon Muthumani, Ronald Scott Tarr, Stephen Bischoff, Alvaro Delgado
  • Patent number: 8074464
    Abstract: An ice producing apparatus for a refrigerator is disclosed. The apparatus includes a door configured to permit and prohibit access to an interior volume of a storage compartment of the refrigerator, the door defining therein a door interior volume; a fan disposed in the door interior volume; and a mold disposed in the door interior volume and configured to receive water and to retain the water during freezing of the water into ice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Natarajan Venkatakrishnan, Matthew William Davis, Krzysztof Struminski, Wayne Lawson
  • Publication number: 20100050663
    Abstract: A method of forming ice in a refrigerator is disclosed. The method includes cooling a first storage compartment to a first temperature, cooling a second storage compartment to a second temperature, cooling an interior volume defined in a door to a third temperature, wherein the door permits and impedes access to the second storage compartment, operating a fan disposed in the interior volume to circulate cool air through the interior volume, and cooling water to form ice in the interior volume.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2009
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Inventors: Natarajan Venkatakrishnan, Matthew William Davis, Krzysztof Struminski, Wayne Lawson
  • Publication number: 20100050680
    Abstract: An ice producing apparatus for a refrigerator is disclosed. The apparatus includes a door configured to permit and prohibit access to an interior volume of a storage compartment of the refrigerator, the door defining therein a door interior volume; a fan disposed in the door interior volume; and a mold disposed in the door interior volume and configured to receive water and to retain the water during freezing of the water into ice.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2009
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Inventors: Natarajan Venkatakrishnan, Matthew William Davis, Krzysztof Struminski, Wayne Lawson
  • Patent number: 7614244
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes a first storage compartment defining a first interior volume. A first evaporator is disposed in a first evaporator compartment and is configured to provide cool air to the first interior volume. A second storage compartment defines a second interior volume, the second interior volume configured to be cooled by cool air received from the first interior volume. A door is positionable to permit and prohibit access to the second interior volume through a front of the second interior volume. A third interior volume is defined in an interior of the door. A second evaporator is disposed in a second evaporator compartment and is configured to provide cool air to the third interior volume. An air flow channel extends from the second evaporator compartment to the third interior volume. A fan is disposed in the third interior volume. A mold is disposed in the third interior volume and is configured to receive water and to retain the water during cooling of the water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Natarajan Venkatakrishnan, Matthew William Davis, Krzysztof Struminski, Wayne Lawson
  • Publication number: 20090127425
    Abstract: A display device of an appliance having a graphic user interface and a structure for positioning the display device within a recess of a surface of the appliance between a substantially flush position with respect to the surface and a tilted position in which the display device has been moved away from the surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2007
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Inventors: Daniel S. FRAZER, Anthony A. Cooper, Joshua Paul Kopecky, Eric Scalf, Krzysztof Struminski, Joseph A. Tobbe, Mary Wayne Wilson
  • Publication number: 20080148761
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes a first storage compartment defining a first interior volume. A first evaporator is disposed in a first evaporator compartment and is configured to provide cool air to the first interior volume. A second storage compartment defines a second interior volume, the second interior volume configured to be cooled by cool air received from the first interior volume. A door is positionable to permit and prohibit access to the second interior volume through a front of the second interior volume. A third interior volume is defined in an interior of the door. A second evaporator is disposed in a second evaporator compartment and is configured to provide cool air to the third interior volume. An air flow channel extends from the second evaporator compartment to the third interior volume. A fan is disposed in the third interior volume. A mold is disposed in the third interior volume and is configured to receive water and to retain the water during cooling of the water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2006
    Publication date: June 26, 2008
    Inventors: Natarajan Venkatakrishnan, Matthew William Davis, Krzysztof Struminski, Wayne Lawson
  • Patent number: 7370491
    Abstract: A fluid storage tank includes a wall defining a cavity therewithin. An inlet opening is formed through the wall and provides communication between a fluid source and the cavity. A projection and at least one obstruction are positioned within the cavity. The projection directs a flow of a fluid entering the cavity through the inlet opening towards the obstruction. The obstruction interferes with and disperses the flow within the cavity. An outlet opening is formed through the wall and provides communication between the cavity and a fluid dispenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Natarajan Venkatakrishnan, Krzysztof Struminski, Ramesh Janardhanam, Balaji Parthasarathy, Pravin Naphade
  • Publication number: 20070068190
    Abstract: A fluid storage tank includes a wall defining a cavity therewithin. An inlet opening is formed through the wall and provides communication between a fluid source and the cavity. A projection and at least one obstruction are positioned within the cavity. The projection directs a flow of a fluid entering the cavity through the inlet opening towards the obstruction. The obstruction interferes with and disperses the flow within the cavity. An outlet opening is formed through the wall and provides communication between the cavity and a fluid dispenser.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2005
    Publication date: March 29, 2007
    Inventors: Natarajan Venkatakrishnan, Krzysztof Struminski, Ramesh Janardhanam, Balaji Parthasarathy, Pravin Naphade
  • Patent number: 6202894
    Abstract: The pre-mix beverage dispensing apparatus (10) includes an ice bank assembly (12) connected to a remote system of potable water at line pressure for the chilling of the potable water. The chilled water is carried at a regulated line pressure from the ice bank assembly (12) to a mixing valve/dispensing assembly (18) where the chilled water is metered into a prescribed amount and mixed with a proportionate amount of syrup metered from a syrup holding tank (64). The syrup tank (64) is provided with an agitating element (66) that periodicially agitates the syrup to prevent syrup constituents from precipitating out of solution or stratification of the syrup into various concentration levels. In one embodiment, the apparatus is provided with a hopper assembly (14) that stores and meters a powder flavorant to the syrup tank and components that deliver chilled water to the tank proportional to the powder flavorant metered into the tank (64).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Assignee: GrindMaster Corporation
    Inventors: Krzysztof Struminski, Charles M. Fisher
  • Patent number: 5931343
    Abstract: The apparatus of the present invention pertains to a post mix multi-station dispensing apparatus which is isolated from the fluctuations experienced in using outside supplies of water. The apparatus is provided with a single reservoir of water and, associated with each serving station, a hopper storing powder flavorant, a metering device for metering the flavorant, a holding tank for holding a beverage to be dispensed at a predetermined rate at the associated serving station, and a water delivery system. While a beverage is being dispensed from the holding tank, the water delivery system delivers water from said reservoir at a rate essentially the same as the predetermined rate to a mixing area where the water and powder flavorant is mixed in a predetermined ration of powder flavorant-to-water ratio. This newly mixed beverage is added to the holding tank at the same rate as the beverage is being dispensed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1999
    Assignee: Grindmaster Corporation
    Inventors: William M. Topar, Charles M. Fisher, Thomas J. Pfeifer, Krzysztof Struminski