Patents by Inventor Matthew Lerch
Matthew Lerch 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).
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Patent number: 11860240Abstract: Provided is an apparatus and method for protecting against unsafe electric current conditions. An example method includes accessing a selected operating mode for a heating element of the electric grill using at least one user input device of the electric grill, the heating element connected to a voltage line and a neutral line; measuring, using a temperature probe, a temperature of the heating element; estimating an ambient temperature at a location within a cook box of the electric grill spaced apart from the heating element, the estimation of the ambient temperature based on the measured temperature of the heating element; and using the estimated ambient temperature to determine when a target temperature corresponding to the selected operating mode is reached.Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 2022Date of Patent: January 2, 2024Assignee: Weber-Stephen Products LLCInventors: Eric Knappenberger, Julio C. Zuleta, Matthew Lerch, Jeffery C. Emmerich
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Publication number: 20230315184Abstract: Provided is an apparatus and method for a digital power supply that can provide independent power control for two or more electrical loads. Some disclosed embodiments provide continuous, variable power and other disclosed embodiments provide discrete power levels. Disclosed embodiments may reduce the magnitude of harmonic currents and/or flicker introduced into a power system. Embodiments include a microprocessor that delivers power to electric loads using phase-controlled AC current. In some embodiments, the microprocessor may calculate a power array corresponding to a requested power for each electric load. Logic is provided for populating the power array in a pattern that reduces the magnitude of harmonic currents and flicker. Portions of the disclosure include a band controller for delivering power to achieve and maintain a desired target temperature, and a wireless controller for controlling temperature from a remote device.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 1, 2023Publication date: October 5, 2023Inventors: Eric Knappenberger, Julio C. Zuleta, Matthew Lerch, Jeffery C. Emmerich
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Patent number: 11703928Abstract: Provided is an apparatus and method for a digital power supply that can provide independent power control for two or more electrical loads. Some disclosed embodiments provide continuous, variable power and other disclosed embodiments provide discrete power levels. Disclosed embodiments may reduce the magnitude of harmonic currents and/or flicker introduced into a power system. Embodiments include a microprocessor that delivers power to electric loads using phase-controlled AC current. In some embodiments, the microprocessor may calculate a power array corresponding to a requested power for each electric load. Logic is provided for populating the power array in a pattern that reduces the magnitude of harmonic currents and flicker. Portions of the disclosure include a band controller for delivering power to achieve and maintain a desired target temperature, and a wireless controller for controlling temperature from a remote device.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2019Date of Patent: July 18, 2023Assignee: Weber-Stephen Products LLCInventors: Eric Knappenberger, Julio C. Zuleta, Matthew Lerch, Jeffery C. Emmerich
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Publication number: 20230209659Abstract: Provided is an apparatus and method for protecting against unsafe electric current conditions. A protections circuit may be used in a device, such as an electric grill, that has one or more electric loads, such as heating elements. The protection circuit may protect against various failure scenarios, including, without limitation, instances of ground fault, over current, driver failure, and failure of a microprocessor. In response to a failure, the protection circuit may trip a latch relay or disable a triac driver to stop current from flowing.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 28, 2023Publication date: June 29, 2023Inventors: Eric Knappenberger, Julio C. Zuleta, Matthew Lerch, Jeffery C. Emmerich
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Patent number: 11622420Abstract: Provided is an apparatus and method for protecting against unsafe electric current conditions. A protections circuit may be used in a device, such as an electric grill, that has one or more electric loads, such as heating elements. The protection circuit may protect against various failure scenarios, including, without limitation, instances of ground fault, over current, driver failure, and failure of a microprocessor. In response to a failure, the protection circuit may trip a latch relay or disable a triac driver to stop current from flowing.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 2019Date of Patent: April 4, 2023Assignee: Weber-Stephen Products LLCInventors: Eric Knappenberger, Julio C. Zuleta, Matthew Lerch, Jeffery C. Emmerich
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Patent number: 11564375Abstract: A canine multi-meal kit is provided herein. The kit comprises at least two containers, each container storing one dehydrated canine meal, in aspects. Each dehydrated canine meal is sealed within a container in an airtight manner by a containment structure. Each containment structure partitions a container into a volume occupied by a canine meal and another volume that is not occupied by the canine meal, as the volume of the canine meal is less than the total volume of the corresponding container. In one aspect, items are stored at least partially within the unoccupied volume of the containers when the kit is in an enclosed configuration.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2019Date of Patent: January 31, 2023Assignee: FENRIS, LLCInventors: Evan Jansen, Bret Hribar, Matthew Lerch
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Publication number: 20220404434Abstract: Provided is an apparatus and method for protecting against unsafe electric current conditions. An example method includes accessing a selected operating mode for a heating element of the electric grill using at least one user input device of the electric grill, the heating element connected to a voltage line and a neutral line; measuring, using a temperature probe, a temperature of the heating element; estimating an ambient temperature at a location within a cook box of the electric grill spaced apart from the heating element, the estimation of the ambient temperature based on the measured temperature of the heating element; and using the estimated ambient temperature to determine when a target temperature corresponding to the selected operating mode is reached.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 25, 2022Publication date: December 22, 2022Inventors: Eric Knappenberger, Julio C. Zuleta, Matthew Lerch, Jeffery C. Emmerich
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Patent number: 11454677Abstract: Provided is an apparatus and method for protecting against unsafe electric current conditions. A protections circuit may be used in a device, such as an electric grill, that has one or more electric loads, such as heating elements. The protection circuit may protect against various failure scenarios, including, without limitation, instances of ground fault, over current, driver failure, and failure of a microprocessor. The microprocessor may further be in wireless communication with a remote device and wirelessly communicate error codes indicative of an error, and receive control signals from the remote device for controlling temperature or turning the grill off. The remote device may also receive operating parameters and create a log of the electric grill's conditions at the time of an error.Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 2017Date of Patent: September 27, 2022Assignee: Weber-Stephen Products LLCInventors: Eric Knappenberger, Julio C. Zuleta, Matthew Lerch, Jeffery C. Emmerich
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Publication number: 20210169042Abstract: A canine multi-meal kit is provided herein. The kit comprises at least two containers, each container storing one dehydrated canine meal, in aspects. Each dehydrated canine meal is sealed within a container in an airtight manner by a containment structure. Each containment structure partitions a container into a volume occupied by a canine meal and another volume that is not occupied by the canine meal, as the volume of the canine meal is less than the total volume of the corresponding container. In one aspect, items are stored at least partially within the unoccupied volume of the containers when the kit is in an enclosed configuration.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 5, 2019Publication date: June 10, 2021Inventors: Evan Jansen, Bret Hribar, Matthew Lerch
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Publication number: 20200201414Abstract: Provided is an apparatus and method for a digital power supply that can provide independent power control for two or more electrical loads. Some disclosed embodiments provide continuous, variable power and other disclosed embodiments provide discrete power levels. Disclosed embodiments may reduce the magnitude of harmonic currents and/or flicker introduced into a power system. Embodiments include a microprocessor that delivers power to electric loads using phase-controlled AC current. In some embodiments, the microprocessor may calculate a power array corresponding to a requested power for each electric load. Logic is provided for populating the power array in a pattern that reduces the magnitude of harmonic currents and flicker. Portions of the disclosure include a band controller for delivering power to achieve and maintain a desired target temperature, and a wireless controller for controlling temperature from a remote device.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 23, 2019Publication date: June 25, 2020Applicant: Weber-Stephen Products LLCInventors: Eric Knappenberger, Julio C. Zuleta, Matthew Lerch, Jeffery C. Emmerich
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Publication number: 20200100615Abstract: Provided is an apparatus and method for a digital power supply that can provide independent power control, and control variable power, for two or more electrical loads. Disclosed embodiments may reduce the magnitude of harmonic currents and/or flicker introduced into a power system. Embodiments include a microprocessor that delivers power to electric loads using phase-controlled AC current. The microprocessor may calculate a power array corresponding to a requested power for each electric load. Logic is provided for populating the power army in a pattern that reduces the magnitude of harmonic currents and flicker.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 19, 2019Publication date: April 2, 2020Applicant: Weber-Stephen Products LLCInventors: Eric Knappenberger, Julio C. Zuleta, Matthew Lerch, Jeffery C. Emmerich
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Publication number: 20200084837Abstract: Provided is an apparatus and method for protecting against unsafe electric current conditions. A protections circuit may be used in a device, such as an electric grill, that has one or more electric loads, such as heating elements. The protection circuit may protect against various failure scenarios, including, without limitation, instances of ground fault, over current, driver failure, and failure of a microprocessor. In response to a failure, the protection circuit may trip a latch relay or disable a triac driver to stop current from flowing.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 19, 2019Publication date: March 12, 2020Applicant: Weber-Stephen Products LLCInventors: Eric Knappenberger, Julio C. Zuleta, Matthew Lerch, Jeffery C. Emmerich
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Patent number: 10551893Abstract: Provided is an apparatus and method for a digital power supply that can provide independent power control for two or more electrical loads. Some disclosed embodiments provide continuous, variable power and other disclosed embodiments provide discrete power levels. Disclosed embodiments may reduce the magnitude of harmonic currents and/or flicker introduced into a power system. Embodiments include a microprocessor that delivers power to electric loads using phase-controlled AC current. In some embodiments, the microprocessor may calculate a power array corresponding to a requested power for each electric load. Logic is provided for populating the power array in a pattern that reduces the magnitude of harmonic currents and flicker. Portions of the disclosure include a band controller for delivering power to achieve and maintain a desired target temperature, and a wireless controller for controlling temperature from a remote device.Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 2017Date of Patent: February 4, 2020Assignee: Weber-Stephen Products LLCInventors: Eric Knappenberger, Julio C. Zuleta, Matthew Lerch, Jeffery C. Emmerich
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Patent number: 10537199Abstract: Provided is an apparatus and method for a digital power supply that can provide independent power control, and control variable power, for two or more electrical loads. Disclosed embodiments may reduce the magnitude of harmonic currents and/or flicker introduced into a power system. Embodiments include a microprocessor that delivers power to electric loads using phase-controlled AC current. The microprocessor may calculate a power array corresponding to a requested power for each electric load. Logic is provided for populating the power array in a pattern that reduces the magnitude of harmonic currents and flicker.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2016Date of Patent: January 21, 2020Assignee: Weber-Stephen Products LLCInventors: Eric Knappenberger, Julio C. Zuleta, Matthew Lerch, Jeffery C. Emmerich
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Patent number: 10524312Abstract: Provided is an apparatus and method for protecting against unsafe electric current conditions. A protections circuit may be used in a device, as an electric grill, that has one or more electric loads, such as heating elements. The protection circuit may protect against various failure scenarios, including, without limitation, instances of ground fault, over current, driver failure, and failure of a microprocessor. In response to a failure, the protection circuit may trip a latch relay or disable a triac driver to stop current from flowing.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2016Date of Patent: December 31, 2019Assignee: Weber-Stephen Products LLCInventors: Eric Knappenberger, Julio C. Zuleta, Matthew Lerch, Jeffery C. Emmerich
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Publication number: 20180007739Abstract: Provided is an apparatus and method for protecting against unsafe electric current conditions. A protections circuit may be used in a device, such as an electric grill, that has one or more electric loads, such as heating elements. The protection circuit may protect against various failure scenarios, including, without limitation, instances of ground fault, over current, driver failure, and failure of a microprocessor. The microprocessor may further be in wireless communication with a remote device and wirelessly communicate error codes indicative of an error, and receive control signals from the remote device for controlling temperature or turning the grill off. The remote device may also receive operating parameters and create a log of the electric grill's conditions at the time of an error.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 5, 2017Publication date: January 4, 2018Applicant: Weber-Stephen Products LLCInventors: Eric Knappenberger, Julio C. Zuleta, Matthew Lerch, Jeffery C. Emmerich
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Publication number: 20180004271Abstract: Provided is an apparatus and method for a digital power supply that can provide independent power control for two or more electrical loads. Some disclosed embodiments provide continuous, variable power and other disclosed embodiments provide discrete power levels. Disclosed embodiments may reduce the magnitude of harmonic currents and/or flicker introduced into a power system. Embodiments include a microprocessor that delivers power to electric loads using phase-controlled AC current. In some embodiments, the microprocessor may calculate a power array corresponding to a requested power for each electric load. Logic is provided for populating the power array in a pattern that reduces the magnitude of harmonic currents and flicker. Portions of the disclosure include a band controller for delivering power to achieve and maintain a desired target temperature, and a wireless controller for controlling temperature from a remote device.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 5, 2017Publication date: January 4, 2018Applicant: Weber-Stephen Products LLCInventors: Eric Knappenberger, Julio C. Zuleta, Matthew Lerch, Jeffery C. Emmerich
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Publication number: 20180007738Abstract: Provided is an apparatus and method for protecting against unsafe electric current conditions. A protections circuit may be used in a device, as an electric grill, that has one or more electric loads, such as heating elements. The protection circuit may protect against various failure scenarios, including, without limitation, instances of ground fault, over current, driver failure, and failure of a microprocessor. In response to a failure, the protection circuit may trip a latch relay or disable a triac driver to stop current from flowing.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 1, 2016Publication date: January 4, 2018Applicant: Weber-Stephen Products LLCInventors: Eric Knappenberger, Julio C. Zuleta, Matthew Lerch, Jeffery C. Emmerich
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Publication number: 20180000277Abstract: Provided is an apparatus and method for a digital power supply that can provide independent power control, and control variable power, for two or more electrical loads. Disclosed embodiments may reduce the magnitude of harmonic currents and/or flicker introduced into a power system. Embodiments include a microprocessor that delivers power to electric loads using phase-controlled AC current. The microprocessor may calculate a power array corresponding to a requested power for each electric load. Logic is provided for populating the power array in a pattern that reduces the magnitude of harmonic currents and flicker.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 1, 2016Publication date: January 4, 2018Applicant: Weber-Stephen Products LLCInventors: Eric Knappenberger, Julio C. Zuleta, Matthew Lerch, Jeffery C. Emmerich
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Publication number: 20110240505Abstract: A storage container is provided which includes a first member and a second member. The first member includes a bottom wall and a side wall defining a first central area for receipt and storage of at least a lower portion of an article therebetween. The side wall includes a top flange having a plurality of posts formed in a stand section opposite a handle section, relatively to the first central area. The second member includes a top wall and a side wall defining a second central area for receipt and storage of at least an upper portion of the article therebetween. The side wall of the second member includes a bottom flange having a plurality of holes formed in a stand section opposite a handle section relatively to the second central area. In a closed state of the storage container when the second member is positioned in an opposite manner to the first member, the plurality of posts is fittingly engaged with the plurality of holes in a first direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 10, 2011Publication date: October 6, 2011Applicant: Home Products International - North America, Inc.Inventors: Rolando Hernandez, Matthew Lerch, Trey Roeser, Thomas Welsh