Patents by Inventor Michael Bernard Hitchcock

Michael Bernard Hitchcock 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).

  • Lockout system for surface burners of a cooking appliance
    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
  • Control system for a self cleaning oven appliance
    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
  • Method and apparatus for top heat bake assist in a gas oven appliance
    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.
  • METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TOP HEAT BAKE ASSIST IN A GAS OVEN APPLIANCE
    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.
  • LOCKOUT SYSTEM FOR SURFACE BURNERS OF A COOKING APPLIANCE
    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
  • CONTROL SYSTEM FOR A SELF CLEANING OVEN APPLIANCE
    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