Patents by Inventor Matthew Hunter

Matthew Hunter 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: 20220007593
    Abstract: An indoor gardening appliance includes a liner defining a grow chamber and a grow module rotatably mounted within the grow chamber and defining a root chamber. A hydration system is fluidly coupled to the root chamber for selectively implementing a hydration cycle where the root chamber is charged with mist and an air circulation system selectively urges a flow of air through the root chamber to maintain a desired temperature. A controller is configured for stopping the flow of air during the hydration cycle, e.g., to minimize disruption of the hydration cycle. The stopping of the flow of air may be time-based, e.g., based on the start/end times of the hydration cycle, or may be based on moisture level, e.g., as measured by an optical sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2020
    Publication date: January 13, 2022
    Inventors: Matthew Hunter, Michael Goodman Schroeder, Brent Alden Junge
  • Patent number: 11160218
    Abstract: An indoor gardening appliance includes a liner positioned within a cabinet that defines a front display opening and an enclosed back portion. A grow module is rotatably mounted within the liner and include a central hub and a plurality of partitions defining a plurality of grow chambers. The grow module is selectively rotated to index the plurality of grow chambers between a sealed position between the grow module and the enclosed back portion of the liner and a display position aligned with the front display opening. An environmental control system regulates a temperature within the chamber when the chamber is in the sealed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Matthew Hunter
  • Patent number: 11147395
    Abstract: An indoor gardening appliance includes a liner positioned within a cabinet that defines a front display opening and an enclosed back portion. A grow module is rotatably mounted within the liner and include a central hub and a plurality of partitions defining a plurality of grow chambers. The grow module is selectively rotated to index the plurality of grow chambers between a sealed position between the grow module and the enclosed back portion of the liner and a display position aligned with the front display opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Hunter, Lauren Nicole Platts
  • Patent number: 11143306
    Abstract: A self-aligning dust seal assembly for rock crusher machines and particularly gyratory crusher machines has a dust seal and a seal guide that extends from the dust seal in a cone shape to enable alignment of the dust seal when the main shaft is lowered into position. The dust seal has a body portion that is disc shaped. There is an inner seal surface around the inner perimeter of the dust ring that seals against an inner element of the crusher. The seal guide extends down and outward from a connected portion with the dust seal that is proximal the inner perimeter of the dust seal. The seal guide is cone shaped and extends outward in a convex shape from the connected portion. The cone shape of the seal guide may nest on a corresponding flange that is fixed in the rock crusher machine, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: Tristar Design and Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Caleb Hunter, Rick Lorenzen, Matthew Hunter, Benjamin Hunter
  • Patent number: 11125491
    Abstract: An appliance includes a cabinet and a shelf assembly. The shelf assembly includes a lead screw mounted to the cabinet such that the lead screw is rotatable. A shelf support is mounted to the cabinet such the shelf support is translatable relative to the lead screw. The shelf support has a housing. A nut is disposed within the housing of the shelf support and is threaded on the lead screw. The nut has a plurality of teeth at an outer surface of the nut. A locking plunger has at least one tooth. An actuator is coupled to the locking plunger. The actuator is operable to selectively mesh the at least one tooth of the locking plunger with the plurality of teeth of the nut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Allgeier, Stephanos Kyriacou, Matthew Hunter
  • Publication number: 20210224979
    Abstract: An indoor gardening appliance includes a liner defining a grow chamber and a grow module mounted within the grow chamber for receiving a plurality of plant pods. A motor rotates the grow module between a plurality of angular positions and a camera system captures images of the plants at the various positions. The plurality of images are used by the controller to estimate a total plant mass or a total plant volume, or the controller may stitch together the plurality of images to generate a 3D image that may be used to detect abnormal growth conditions or otherwise provide feedback to a user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2020
    Publication date: July 22, 2021
    Inventors: Matthew Hunter, Michael Goodman Schroeder, Brian Michael Schork
  • Publication number: 20210164725
    Abstract: A variable shelf assembly for a refrigerator appliance, as provided herein, may include a stationary hydraulic actuator, a shelving bracket, a movable hydraulic actuator, and an actuator handle. The stationary hydraulic actuator may be extendable between a shortened position and an elongated position. The shelving bracket may be slidably mounted in mechanical communication with the stationary hydraulic actuator to move along a vertical direction between a first extreme position and a second extreme position. The first extreme position may correspond to the shortened position and the second extreme position may correspond to the elongated position. The movable hydraulic actuator may be mounted to the shelving bracket to move therewith along the vertical direction. The movable hydraulic actuator may include an input cylinder in fluid communication with the stationary hydraulic actuator. The actuator handle may be movably attached to the shelving bracket.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2019
    Publication date: June 3, 2021
    Inventors: Santosh Kumar, Chaitanya Krishna Karanam, Matthew Hunter, Brian Allgeier, Moinuddin Mohd Bilal
  • Patent number: 10986951
    Abstract: A delivery retrieval station, as provided herein, may include a delivery base and a destination container. The delivery base may include a receiving platform and a conditioning assembly in thermal communication with the receiving platform. The conditioning assembly may be disposed within a mechanical compartment beneath the receiving platform. The destination container may be selectively mounted to the base station. The destination container may include a base wall and sidewall defining a storage chamber. The base wall may be selectively supported on the receiving platform in a delivered position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan Joseph Mitchell, Vineeth Vijayan, Matthew Hunter
  • Patent number: 10970314
    Abstract: Described herein is a computer implemented method comprising accessing a document, generating a document vector in respect of the document, and generating a sentence vector for each sentence in the document. The method further comprises calculating a sentence similarity score for each sentence in the document which, for a given sentence, is calculated based on a similarity between the sentence vector for the given sentence and the document vector, and identifying one or more representative document sentences for inclusion in a document summary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignees: ATLASSIAN PTY LTD., ATLASSIAN INC.
    Inventors: Geoff Sims, Michael Fulthorp, Mike Ortman, Jeff Nelson, Matthew Hunter
  • Publication number: 20210093116
    Abstract: A delivery retrieval station, as provided herein, may include a delivery base and a destination container. The delivery base may include a receiving platform and a conditioning assembly in thermal communication with the receiving platform. The conditioning assembly may be disposed within a mechanical compartment beneath the receiving platform. The destination container may be selectively mounted to the base station. The destination container may include a base wall and sidewall defining a storage chamber. The base wall may be selectively supported on the receiving platform in a delivered position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2019
    Publication date: April 1, 2021
    Inventors: Alan Joseph Mitchell, Vineeth Vijayan, Matthew Hunter
  • Publication number: 20210084831
    Abstract: An indoor gardening appliance includes a liner defining a grow chamber and a grow module mounted within the grow chamber for receiving a plurality of plant pods. The grow module defines a root chamber and a plurality of apertures for positioning a root end of the plant pod in the root chamber. A resonator may be positioned on each plant pod or at each of the plurality of apertures for generating a unique sound signature when a specific plant pod is inserted into a specific aperture. A detection device, such as a microphone, measures the sound waves generated by the resonator and a controller determines a location and/or a type of the plant pod based on the unique sound signature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2019
    Publication date: March 25, 2021
    Inventors: Matthew Hunter, Michael Goodman Schroeder, Nicholas Matthew Dillon
  • Publication number: 20210084828
    Abstract: An indoor gardening appliance includes a liner defining a grow chamber and a grow module mounted within the grow chamber for receiving a plurality of plant pods. A lighting assembly is positioned within the grow chamber and includes a plurality of lights that are independently movable and adjustable. A controller receives an illumination parameter that may indicate a particular region of the grow chamber that should be illuminated, a particular lighting intensity, wavelength, or schedule, or other information related to a preferred lighting condition within the grow chamber. The lighting assembly is operated to illuminate the grow chamber according to the received illumination parameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2019
    Publication date: March 25, 2021
    Inventors: Matthew Hunter, Michael Goodman Schroeder
  • Publication number: 20210084844
    Abstract: An indoor gardening appliance includes a liner defining a grow chamber and a grow module mounted within the grow chamber for receiving a plurality of plant pods. A hydration assembly is positioned within a root chamber and includes a plurality of nozzles that are independent movable and adjustable. A controller detects an abnormal or undesirable growth condition, e.g., plant roots growing in a single direction, into conflict with each other, toward a pinch point, or in another abnormal direction. The hydration assembly may be adjusted to correct the abnormal or undesirable growth condition, e.g., by modifying a hydration schedule, a nutrient concentration, a spray direction or magnitude, or another hydration parameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2019
    Publication date: March 25, 2021
    Inventors: Matthew Hunter, Michael Goodman Schroeder, Brian Michael Schork
  • Publication number: 20210084836
    Abstract: An indoor gardening appliance includes a liner defining a grow chamber and a grow module mounted within the grow chamber for receiving a plurality of plant pods. A lighting assembly is positioned within the grow chamber and includes a plurality of lights that are independent movable and adjustable. A controller detects an abnormal growth condition, e.g., a plant growing in a single direction, the presence and location of bare or void regions within a particular plant, growth toward a pinch point, and other growth abnormalities. The lighting assembly may be adjusted to correct the abnormal grow condition, e.g., by modifying an illumination schedule, an illumination direction, an intensity, a wavelength, or another parameter of the generated light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2019
    Publication date: March 25, 2021
    Inventors: Matthew Hunter, Michael Goodman Schroeder, Stephanos Kyriacou
  • Publication number: 20210088270
    Abstract: An appliance includes a cabinet and a shelf assembly. The shelf assembly includes a lead screw mounted to the cabinet such that the lead screw is rotatable. A shelf support is mounted to the cabinet such the shelf support is translatable relative to the lead screw. The shelf support has a housing. A nut is disposed within the housing of the shelf support and is threaded on the lead screw. The nut has a plurality of teeth at an outer surface of the nut. A locking plunger has at least one tooth. An actuator is coupled to the locking plunger. The actuator is operable to selectively mesh the at least one tooth of the locking plunger with the plurality of teeth of the nut.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2019
    Publication date: March 25, 2021
    Inventors: Brian Allgeier, Stephanos Kyriacou, Matthew Hunter
  • Publication number: 20210084827
    Abstract: An indoor gardening appliance includes a liner defining a grow chamber and a grow module rotatably mounted within the grow chamber and defining a plurality of apertures for receiving a plurality of plant pods. A pollen pod is mounted to the grow module in one of the apertures and contains pollen for pollinating the plant pods to facilitate plant growth. A pollen ejection device, which may be a pressurized air nozzle or a protruding member for puncturing the pollen pod, is fixed to the liner or otherwise stationary relative to the pollen pod and is configured for engaging the pollen pod when the grow module rotates the pollen pod past the pollen ejection device to discharge and disperse pollen onto the plant pods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2019
    Publication date: March 25, 2021
    Inventors: Matthew Hunter, Michael Goodman Schroeder, David C. McCalpin
  • Publication number: 20210084834
    Abstract: An indoor gardening appliance includes a liner defining a grow chamber and a grow module rotatably mounted within the grow chamber for receiving a plurality of plant pods, the grow module defining a plurality of grow chambers spaced apart along the circumferential direction. One or more resilient sealing elements, e.g., formed from silicone, are positioned at the distal ends of the grow module to seal a gap between the grow module and the liner. The resilient sealing elements define one or more air ducts for providing a flow of air through the resilient sealing element into one of the plurality of chambers and a flow regulating device for regulating the flow of air.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2019
    Publication date: March 25, 2021
    Inventors: Matthew Hunter, Michael Goodman Schroeder, Brent Alden Junge
  • Publication number: 20210084845
    Abstract: An indoor gardening appliance includes a liner defining a grow chamber and a grow module mounted within the grow chamber for receiving a plurality of plant pods. A nutrient dosing system is positioned within a root chamber and includes a plurality of nozzles. A nutrient cartridge and a water supply are fluidly coupled to a dilution tank and are independently regulated to control the flow rate of nutrients and water that are mixed to create a flow of diluted nutrient mixture. A pump system selectively discharges the flow of diluted nutrient mixture to desired locations within the root chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2019
    Publication date: March 25, 2021
    Inventors: Matthew Hunter, Michael Goodman Schroeder, Brian Michael Schork
  • Publication number: 20210076862
    Abstract: A refrigerator appliance includes a cabinet that defines a chilled chamber. A drawer is slidably mounted within the chilled chamber and slides between an open position and a closed position. The refrigerator appliance also includes a heating unit disposed in a stationary position within the cabinet. The heating unit is proximate the drawer when the drawer is in the closed position. As such, the heating unit is in operative communication with the drawer when the drawer is in the closed position whereby the heating unit provides heat to the drawer within the chilled chamber when the drawer is in the closed position and the heating unit is activated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2019
    Publication date: March 18, 2021
    Inventors: William Everette Gardner, Matthew Hunter, Brent Alden Junge
  • Publication number: 20210033336
    Abstract: A refrigerator appliance or a variable shelf assembly, as provided herein, may include a selectively-sealed shelf tube, a support piston, a shelving bracket, a first valve, and a second valve. The selectively-sealed shelf tube may define a fluid inlet to receive water therethrough and a fluid outlet to exhaust water therethrough. The support piston may be slidably disposed within the selectively-sealed shelf tube to move between a top position and a base position according to a volume of water within the selectively-sealed shelf tube. The shelving bracket may be fixed to the support piston to move therewith. The first valve may be upstream from the fluid inlet to selectively permit water thereto. The second valve may be downstream from the fluid outlet to selectively permit water from the variable shelf assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2019
    Publication date: February 4, 2021
    Inventors: Michael Goodman Schroeder, Matthew Hunter