Patents by Inventor Michelle Diana GROSS
Michelle Diana GROSS 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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Publication number: 20240117554Abstract: A control panel for an appliance defines a display direction and includes a printed circuit board defining a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface along the display direction, and a through hole passing through the printed circuit board from the first surface to the second surface. A console cover is mounted to the first surface of the printed circuit board, a standoff feature is positioned between the console cover and the printed circuit board to create a localized gap between the console cover and the printed circuit board, a retention feature engages the second surface to retain the printed circuit board against the console cover, and an electronic component mounted to the printed circuit board and having an electrical contact that extends through the through hole where it forms a connection joint that is positioned within the localized gap.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 10, 2022Publication date: April 11, 2024Inventors: Kyle James Brewer, Timothy David Kaiser, Michelle Diana Gross Berry, Brian J. Morman
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Publication number: 20240099548Abstract: A dishwasher appliance is provided. The dishwasher appliance may include a cabinet, a door pivotably mounted to the cabinet, and a control panel located on a panel of the door. The control panel may include a printed circuit board, a light source, and a control cover. The printed circuit board may define a top surface and a bottom surface. The light source may be mounted to the bottom surface of the printed circuit board for selectively generating light. The control cover may be mounted to the top surface and may extend parallel to the top surface. The control cover may define a light channel. The control cover may include a reflective surface extending towards the light source from the control surface. The reflective surface may be angled to direct light selectively generated from the light source towards the light channel.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 26, 2022Publication date: March 28, 2024Inventors: Michelle Diana Gross Berry, Kyle James Brewer, Brian J. Morman, Timothy David Kaiser
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Patent number: 11918165Abstract: A door for an appliance includes a control panel mounted on the door and defining an illumination direction. The control panel includes a printed circuit board defining a top surface, a light source mounted to the top surface of the printed circuit board, a control cover mounted to the top surface of the printed circuit board over the light source and defining a light directing channel extending from a bottom surface of the control cover to a top surface of the control cover, and wherein the control cover further defines a reflective surface for redirecting the light generated by the light source toward the top surface of the control cover, and an overlay panel mounted on the top surface of the control cover, the overlay panel comprising one or more diffused indicator zones.Type: GrantFiled: May 12, 2022Date of Patent: March 5, 2024Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.Inventors: Michelle Diana Gross Berry, Kyle James Brewer, Brian J. Morman, Timothy David Kaiser
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Publication number: 20230363617Abstract: A door for an appliance includes a control panel mounted on the door and defining an illumination direction. The control panel includes a printed circuit board defining a top surface, a light source mounted to the top surface of the printed circuit board, a control cover mounted to the top surface of the printed circuit board over the light source and defining a light directing channel extending from a bottom surface of the control cover to a top surface of the control cover, and wherein the control cover further defines a reflective surface for redirecting the light generated by the light source toward the top surface of the control cover, and an overlay panel mounted on the top surface of the control cover, the overlay panel comprising one or more diffused indicator zones.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 12, 2022Publication date: November 16, 2023Inventors: Michelle Diana Gross Berry, Kyle James Brewer, Brian J. Morman, Timothy David Kaiser
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Publication number: 20230371190Abstract: A control panel for an appliance defines a display direction and includes a console cover defining a display surface and an inner surface, a printed circuit board defining a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface along the display direction, wherein the first surface of the printed circuit board is positioned against the inner surface of the console cover, a retention bracket mounted over the second surface of the printed circuit board to secure the printed circuit board to the console cover, and a resilient member that extends from the retention bracket toward the printed circuit board and is biased against the second surface of the printed circuit board.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 28, 2023Publication date: November 16, 2023Inventors: Michelle Diana Gross Berry, Kyle James Brewer, Aldo Vincent Kremmel, Zachary Wiles, Jeffrey Thomas Kiesler
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Publication number: 20220400928Abstract: A console base for an appliance holding a circuit board includes a clip for holding an edge connector in place during operation of the appliance. The console base includes a connector support structure including a resilient tab allowing selective connection and release of the connector without disassembly of the appliance.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 21, 2021Publication date: December 22, 2022Inventor: Michelle Diana Gross
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Patent number: 11484182Abstract: A door assembly for an appliance includes a door frame having a top edge and a user interface board positioned at the top edge of the door frame. A console cover is positioned over the user interface board and has a top surface defining a plurality of touch buttons and a front surface defining a front indicator extending at least partially along the vertical direction adjacent the top edge of the door frame. A side-fire light source is mounted on the user interface board for selectively emitting light energy toward the front indicator.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 2020Date of Patent: November 1, 2022Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.Inventors: Kyle James Brewer, Jason Allen Rowe, Timothy David Kaiser, Michelle Diana Gross
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Publication number: 20220151457Abstract: A user interface assembly for an appliance includes a user interface console having a first portion and a second portion. The first portion defines a first thickness, the second portion defines a second thickness, wherein the second thickness is greater than the first thickness. The user interface assembly also includes a user interface circuit board secured to the second portion of the user interface console. Further, the user interface assembly includes an edge connector electrically coupled to the user interface circuit board. As such, the second thickness of the second portion of the user interface console provides a clearance between the edge connector and the user interface console. The user interface assembly also includes a wired connection electrically coupled to the edge connector for electrically coupling the user interface circuit board to a controller of the appliance.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 17, 2020Publication date: May 19, 2022Inventor: Michelle Diana Gross
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Publication number: 20220104682Abstract: A door assembly for an appliance includes a door frame having a top edge and a user interface board positioned at the top edge of the door frame. A console cover is positioned over the user interface board and has a top surface defining a plurality of touch buttons and a front surface defining a front indicator extending at least partially along the vertical direction adjacent the top edge of the door frame. A side-fire light source is mounted on the user interface board for selectively emitting light energy toward the front indicator.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 6, 2020Publication date: April 7, 2022Inventors: Kyle James Brewer, Jason Allen Rowe, Timothy David Kaiser, Michelle Diana Gross
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Patent number: 11266291Abstract: A dishwasher appliance includes a user interface panel positioned on a door at a top edge of the door. A circuit board is positioned within the door. A user touch input and a side-fire light emitting diode are mounted to the circuit board. A lightguide is positioned within the door. An inlet of the lightguide is positioned proximate the side-fire light emitting diode, and an outlet of the lightguide positioned below the circuit board. The side-fire light emitting diode is operable to emit light, and the lightguide is configured such that the light from the side-fire light emitting diode is reflected within the lightguide from the inlet of the lightguide to the outlet of the lightguide in order to illuminate an indicator at the outlet of the lightguide with the light from the side-fire light emitting diode.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 2020Date of Patent: March 8, 2022Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.Inventors: Michelle Diana Gross, Kyle James Brewer
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Publication number: 20170193794Abstract: Water heaters and methods for monitoring anode rod depletion in water heaters are provided. A water heater includes a tank for holding a volume of water, and an anode rod extending into the water and electrically connected to an electrical ground such that a galvanic current flows from the anode rod to the electrical ground. The water heater further includes at least one heating element configured to heat the water when energized, and a controller. The controller is configured to receive a galvanic current level, compare the galvanic current level to a threshold current level, and transmit an alert signal when the galvanic current level is less than the threshold current level.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 6, 2016Publication date: July 6, 2017Inventors: Brett Alan Farris, Michelle Diana Gross
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Publication number: 20170146268Abstract: The present subject matter provides chiller apparatus including a storage tank for storing the liquid and a refrigerant cooling system. The refrigerant cooling system includes a compressor attached to the storage tank, a condenser positioned downstream from the compressor to condense a refrigerant received therefrom, and at least one evaporator positioned downstream of the condenser and wrapped about the outer surface of the storage tank. The evaporator includes a negative pitch coil configured to direct refrigerant flow from a position near a top of the storage tank to a position near a bottom of the storage tank.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 24, 2015Publication date: May 25, 2017Inventors: Timothy Scott Shaffer, Noel Aguilar, Craig lung-Pei Tsai, Alan George Constance, Christopher Bryan Rissler, Michelle Diana Gross, Timothy David Gantt, Jonathan D. Nelson
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Patent number: 9618233Abstract: A method for determining whether a water heater appliance is operating on a timer switch is provided. The method includes determining a power on time interval between a previous power interruption and a current power interruption if the current power interruption is a long power outage and establishing that the water heater appliance is not operating with a timer switch if the power on time interval is greater than a threshold time interval. A related water heater appliance is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 2014Date of Patent: April 11, 2017Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.Inventors: Brett Alan Farris, Barrett Wilson Brown, Michelle Diana Gross
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Patent number: 9335065Abstract: Systems and methods for adjusting anode rod galvanic corrosion are provided. An exemplary water heater includes a tank for holding a volume of water. The water heater also includes an anode rod extending into the water and electrically connected to an electrical ground such that a galvanic current flows from the anode rod to the electrical ground. The water heater includes at least one heating element configured to heat the water when energized. The water heater also includes a resistor configuration connected between the anode rod and the electrical ground such that the galvanic current flows through the resistor configuration. The resistor configuration provides a variable resistance.Type: GrantFiled: April 25, 2013Date of Patent: May 10, 2016Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Brett Alan Farris, Michelle Diana Gross
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Publication number: 20160084526Abstract: A method for determining whether a water heater appliance is operating on a timer switch is provided. The method includes determining a power on time interval between a previous power interruption and a current power interruption if the current power interruption is a long power outage and establishing that the water heater appliance is not operating with a timer switch if the power on time interval is greater than a threshold time interval. A related water heater appliance is also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 18, 2014Publication date: March 24, 2016Inventors: Brett Alan Farris, Barrett Wilson Brown, Michelle Diana Gross
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Patent number: 9121124Abstract: The present subject matter provides a vertical axis washing machine appliance with features for applying steam to articles disposed therein. The washing machine appliance can be configured for filling a sump of the appliance with fluid and activating a pump in order to drain the sump of fluid. After the pump is activated, the washing machine appliance can be configured for submerging a heater in the appliance's sump with fluid and also starting the heater in order to heat the fluid in the sump and generate steam. Related methods are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: January 19, 2012Date of Patent: September 1, 2015Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Blake Philip Bomar, Michelle Diana Gross, Brett Farris
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Patent number: 8890703Abstract: The present subject matter relates to methodologies and algorithms for providing anode rod depletion detection and warnings thereof to consumers. Consumers general are not concerned with monitoring consumption of protective anode rods incorporated within water heaters, The present subject matter provides automatic monitoring of anode rod depletion and provides the consumer with notification of rod depletion beyond a predetermined amount by one or more of optical, audible, or electronic devices. Aspects of the algorithm include handling of start-up conditions, service board replacement conditions, and properly defining the anode rod depletion threshold. Additional algorithm aspects include considerations for taking into consideration power outage conditions and accurately estimating galvanic current.Type: GrantFiled: February 6, 2013Date of Patent: November 18, 2014Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Brett Alan Farris, Michelle Diana Gross, Jonathan D. Nelson
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Publication number: 20140321838Abstract: Systems and methods for adjusting anode rod galvanic corrosion are provided. An exemplary water heater includes a tank for holding a volume of water. The water heater also includes an anode rod extending into the water and electrically connected to an electrical ground such that a galvanic current flows from the anode rod to the electrical ground. The water heater includes at least one heating element configured to heat the water when energized. The water heater also includes a resistor configuration connected between the anode rod and the electrical ground such that the galvanic current flows through the resistor configuration. The resistor configuration provides a variable resistance.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 25, 2013Publication date: October 30, 2014Applicant: General Electric CompanyInventors: Brett Alan Farris, Michelle Diana Gross
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Publication number: 20140218006Abstract: The present subject matter relates to methodologies for sensing anode rod depletion. Consumers generally are not concerned with monitoring consumption of protective anode rods incorporated within water heaters. The present subject matter provides automatic monitoring of anode rod depletion and provides the consumer with notification of rod depletion beyond a predetermined amount. The principles of Faraday's Law are used to calculate anode weight loss by conversion of measured and accumulated current.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 6, 2013Publication date: August 7, 2014Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Michelle Diana Gross, Jonathan D. Nelson, Brett Alan Farris, William A. Baker
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Publication number: 20140216945Abstract: The present subject matter relates to methodologies and algorithms for providing anode rod depletion detection and warnings thereof to consumers. Consumers general are not concerned with monitoring consumption of protective anode rods incorporated within water heaters, The present subject matter provides automatic monitoring of anode rod depletion and provides the consumer with notification of rod depletion beyond a predetermined amount by one or more of optical, audible, or electronic devices. Aspects of the algorithm include handling of start-up conditions, service board replacement conditions, and properly defining the anode rod depletion threshold. Additional algorithm aspects include considerations for taking into consideration power outage conditions and accurately estimating galvanic current.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 6, 2013Publication date: August 7, 2014Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Brett Alan Farris, Michelle Diana Gross, Jonathan D. Nelson