Patents by Inventor Leo Edward HODAPP, JR.

Leo Edward HODAPP, JR. 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: 11839340
    Abstract: A dishwashing appliance includes a tub defining a wash chamber therein for receipt of articles for washing, a heating element, a sump positioned at a bottom of the wash chamber for receiving fluid from the wash chamber, a drain pump in communication with the sump, and a temperature sensor. Methods of operating the dishwashing appliance may include filling the sump with a liquid and heating the liquid by activating the heating element. Such methods also may include measuring a temperature of a liquid in the sump with the temperature sensor and comparing the measured temperature of the liquid to a minimum drain temperature threshold. Such methods may include draining the liquid from the sump after the measured temperature is equal to or greater than the minimum drain temperature threshold, such as immediately after heating the liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Leo Edward Hodapp, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20230254179
    Abstract: A method for recording data in an appliance includes identifying a data storage condition that corresponds to a particular data storage capacity or protocol. Based on the identification of the data storage condition, a data storage protocol may be determined, which includes at least one of a cycle count for which prior operating cycle data is stored in the system memory and a data density of the diagnostics data stored in the system memory (e.g., such as the recorded parameters or a sample rate of such parameters), and obtaining and storing diagnostics data in the system memory of the controller in accordance with the data storage protocol.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2022
    Publication date: August 10, 2023
    Inventors: Leo Edward Hodapp, JR., Brian Timberlake
  • Publication number: 20230042630
    Abstract: A dishwashing appliance includes a tub defining a wash chamber therein for receipt of articles for washing, a heating element, a sump positioned at a bottom of the wash chamber for receiving fluid from the wash chamber, a drain pump in communication with the sump, and a temperature sensor. Methods of operating the dishwashing appliance may include filling the sump with a liquid and heating the liquid by activating the heating element. Such methods also may include measuring a temperature of a liquid in the sump with the temperature sensor and comparing the measured temperature of the liquid to a minimum drain temperature threshold. Such methods may include draining the liquid from the sump after the measured temperature is equal to or greater than the minimum drain temperature threshold, such as immediately after heating the liquid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2021
    Publication date: February 9, 2023
    Inventor: Leo Edward Hodapp, JR.
  • Patent number: 11344176
    Abstract: A method of operating a dishwasher appliance, as provided herein, may include detecting a door of the dishwasher appliance in an open position and determining the door is maintained in the open position for a preset minimum continuous period. The method may further include detecting the door in a closed position following the preset minimum continuous period. The method may still further include measuring an additive volume of a wash additive in an additive compartment on the door while the door is in the closed position following the preset minimum continuous period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Leo Edward Hodapp, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20210113051
    Abstract: A method of operating a dishwasher appliance, as provided herein, may include detecting a door of the dishwasher appliance in an open position and determining the door is maintained in the open position for a preset minimum continuous period. The method may further include detecting the door in a closed position following the preset minimum continuous period. The method may still further include measuring an additive volume of a wash additive in an additive compartment on the door while the door is in the closed position following the preset minimum continuous period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2019
    Publication date: April 22, 2021
    Inventor: Leo Edward Hodapp, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9585540
    Abstract: A dishwasher appliance includes a spray detection sensor and a variable speed pump. Based upon signals from the spray detection sensor, a speed of the variable speed pump is changed. By changing the speed of the variable speed pump, a trajectory of wash fluid from a spray assembly of the dishwasher appliance is also changed such that the wash fluid is directed towards a detergent dispenser of the dishwasher appliance. A related method for operating a dishwasher appliance is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Leo Edward Hodapp, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20160000297
    Abstract: A dishwasher appliance includes a spray detection sensor and a variable speed pump. Based upon signals from the spray detection sensor, a speed of the variable speed pump is changed. By changing the speed of the variable speed pump, a trajectory of wash fluid from a spray assembly of the dishwasher appliance is also changed such that the wash fluid is directed towards a detergent dispenser of the dishwasher appliance. A related method for operating a dishwasher appliance is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2014
    Publication date: January 7, 2016
    Inventor: Leo Edward Hodapp, JR.
  • Patent number: 8783243
    Abstract: A lockout control system for a cooktop appliance having a surface heating unit includes a controller coupled to the cooktop, a lockout device coupled to the controller, a surface burner state switch coupled between the controller and the lockout device, the surface burner state switch configured to prevent operation of the lockout device when the surface heating unit is enabled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Leo Edward Hodapp, Jr., Michael Bernard Hitchcock, William Lee Holbrook
  • Patent number: 8658946
    Abstract: A control system for an appliance having at least a first oven and a second oven includes an electronic range control device for regulating a temperature of the first oven, an electromechanical thermostat assembly for regulating a temperature of the second oven, and a relay circuit assembly under control of the electronic range control device, the relay circuit assembly being configured to selectively enable operation of the first oven and the electromechanical thermostat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Leo Edward Hodapp, Jr., William Lee Holbrook, Michael Thomas Chezem, Michael Bernard Hitchcock, Philip Ames Barber, Jose Pintor
  • Patent number: 8563901
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are described for providing top heat to assist with baking in an oven appliance having a gas bake burner. The top heat is provided by a heating element positioned in the top of the oven cavity. This top heating element is operated in a manner that assists the bottom, gas bake burner with properly browning the food on both its top and bottom. The operation of the both the top heating element and the gas bake burner can be varied to provide proper cooking and browning based upon e.g., the type of food being cooked, the amount of food being cooked, and the level of browning desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Michael Bernard Hitchcock, Philip Ames Barber, John Mark Chilton, Michael Thomas Chezem, Leo Edward Hodapp, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20120168423
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are described for providing top heat to assist with baking in an oven appliance having a gas bake burner. The top heat is provided by a heating element positioned in the top of the oven cavity. This top heating element is operated in a manner that assists the bottom, gas bake burner with properly browning the food on both its top and bottom. The operation of the both the top heating element and the gas bake burner can be varied to provide proper cooking and browning based upon e.g., the type of food being cooked, the amount of food being cooked, and the level of browning desired.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2011
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Michael Bernard Hitchcock, Philip Ames Barber, John Mark Chilton, Michael Thomas Chezem, Leo Edward Hodapp, JR.
  • Publication number: 20120100492
    Abstract: A lockout control system for a cooktop appliance having a surface heating unit includes a controller coupled to the cooktop, a lockout device coupled to the controller, a surface burner state switch coupled between the controller and the lockout device, the surface burner state switch configured to prevent operation of the lockout device when the surface heating unit is enabled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2010
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Inventors: Leo Edward Hodapp, JR., Michael Bernard Hitchcock, William Lee Holbrook
  • Publication number: 20120074123
    Abstract: A control system for an appliance having at least a first oven and a second oven includes an electronic range control device for regulating a temperature of the first oven, an electromechanical thermostat assembly for regulating a temperature of the second oven, and a relay circuit assembly under control of the electronic range control device, the relay circuit assembly being configured to selectively enable operation of the first oven and the electromechanical thermostat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2010
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Inventors: Leo Edward HODAPP, JR., William Lee Holbrook, Michael Thomas Chezem, Michael Bernard Hitchcock, Philip Ames Barber, Jose Pintor