Patents by Inventor Paul Owen Davis

Paul Owen Davis 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: 11952695
    Abstract: A washing machine appliance may include a tub, a basket, an impeller base, and an extended post. The impeller base may include one or impeller fins and a mounting face. The mounting face may include a threaded bracket defining a mounting thread extending about a rotation axis. The mounting face may define a vertical slot radially inward from the mounting thread. The extended post may be removably attached to the impeller base to rotate therewith. The extended post may include a base body, an auger fin, and a mating face. The base body may extend between a bottom end and a top end. The auger fin may extend radially from the base body. The mating face may be disposed on the bottom end. The mating face may define a mating thread matched to the mounting thread to rotatably enmesh therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul Owen Davis
  • Patent number: 11713529
    Abstract: A washing machine appliance may include a tub, a basket, an impeller base, and an extended post. The impeller base may be rotatably mounted within the basket. The impeller base may include an impeller platform and a mounting face defined on the impeller platform. The mounting face may define a recessed cup. The extended post may be removably attached to the impeller base to rotate therewith. The extended post may define an interior cavity. The extended post may include a mating collar and an attachment piston. The mating collar may be on the bottom end in selective engagement with the mounting face at the recessed cup. The attachment piston may include a piston flange extending radially outward at an upper piston end and define an upper radial contact surface in selective engagement with a portion of an inner surface of the mating collar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul Owen Davis
  • Publication number: 20230011849
    Abstract: A washing machine appliance may include a tub, a basket, an impeller base, and an extended post. The impeller base may include one or impeller fins and a mounting face. The mounting face may include a threaded bracket defining a mounting thread extending about a rotation axis. The mounting face may define a vertical slot radially inward from the mounting thread.. The extended post may be removably attached to the impeller base to rotate therewith. The extended post may include a base body, an auger fin, and a mating face. The base body may extend between a bottom end and a top end. The auger fin may extend radially from the base body. The mating face may be disposed on the bottom end. The mating face may define a mating thread matched to the mounting thread to rotatably enmesh therewith.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2021
    Publication date: January 12, 2023
    Inventor: Paul Owen Davis
  • Publication number: 20230002954
    Abstract: A dryer appliance includes an impeller assembly for drawing a fluid from a reservoir assembly and directing the fluid into a drying chamber to treat articles for drying. The impeller assembly includes a spindle that drives the impeller. The spindle is rotated by a roller which itself is rotated through contact with the dryer appliance's rotating drum. The reservoir assembly is filled with a clothing treatment liquid. Negative pressure generated by operation of the impeller assembly draws fluid from the reservoir through a siphon and the fluid is delivered to a fluid distribution element directed into the drying chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2021
    Publication date: January 5, 2023
    Inventors: Alexander B. Leibman, Venkata Chakradhar Rangu, Paul Owen Davis, Jay Pareshbhai Shinde
  • Publication number: 20220380960
    Abstract: A washing machine appliance may include a tub, a basket, an impeller base, and an extended post. The impeller base may be rotatably mounted within the basket. The impeller base may include an impeller platform and a mounting face defined on the impeller platform. The mounting face may define a recessed cup. The extended post may be removably attached to the impeller base to rotate therewith. The extended post may define an interior cavity. The extended post may include a mating collar and an attachment piston. The mating collar may be on the bottom end in selective engagement with the mounting face at the recessed cup. The attachment piston may include a piston flange extending radially outward at an upper piston end and define an upper radial contact surface in selective engagement with a portion of an inner surface of the mating collar.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2021
    Publication date: December 1, 2022
    Inventor: Paul Owen Davis
  • Patent number: 11453968
    Abstract: A washing machine appliance may include a tub, a basket, an impeller base, and an extended post. The basket may be rotatably positioned within the tub. The impeller base may be rotatably mounted within the basket and define a rotation axis. The impeller base may include an impeller platform extending radially outward from the rotation axis and a mounting face defined on the impeller platform coaxial to the rotation axis. The extended post may be removably attached to the impeller base to rotate therewith. The extended post may include a base body, a mating face, a bar latch, and a connector bar. The base body may define an interior cavity. The mating face may be disposed in selective engagement with the mounting face. The bar latch may be pivotably attached to the base body above the mating face. The connector bar may be movably received within the interior cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Owen Davis, Paul Haney, James Augustine Ford
  • Publication number: 20220290351
    Abstract: A washing machine appliance may include a tub, a basket, an impeller base, and an extended post. The basket may be rotatably positioned within the tub. The impeller base may be rotatably mounted within the basket and define a rotation axis. The impeller base may include an impeller platform extending radially outward from the rotation axis and a mounting face defined on the impeller platform coaxial to the rotation axis. The extended post may be removably attached to the impeller base to rotate therewith. The extended post may include a base body, a mating face, a bar latch, and a connector bar. The base body may define an interior cavity. The mating face may be disposed in selective engagement with the mounting face. The bar latch may be pivotably attached to the base body above the mating face. The connector bar may be movably received within the interior cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2021
    Publication date: September 15, 2022
    Inventors: Paul Owen Davis, Paul Haney, James Augustine Ford
  • Patent number: 11332867
    Abstract: A washing machine appliance includes a wash basket rotatably mounted within a wash tub and supported by a front bearing and a rear bearing. A method of operating the washing machine appliance includes rotating the wash basket within the wash tub at a basket speed and obtaining first and second displacement amplitudes of the wash tub. Bearing forces at the front and rear bearings are obtained based on the basket speed and the displacement amplitudes. The determined bearing force at the front bearing is compared to a front limit. The determined bearing force at the rear bearing is compared to a rear limit. If the determined bearing force value at either of the front bearing or the rear bearing is greater than or equal to the respective limit, an operating parameter of the washing machine appliance is adjusted to limit bearing forces resulting from out-of-balance loads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul Owen Davis
  • Patent number: 11111620
    Abstract: A dampening suspension assembly for a washing machine appliance is provided. The washing machine appliance has a cabinet and a tub mounted within the cabinet. The dampening suspension assembly includes a suspension rod extending between the tub and the cabinet. The dampening suspension assembly also includes a foam damper assembly circumferentially surrounding a portion of the suspension rod. The foam damper assembly includes a capsule, a first foam friction element disposed in a first trough of the capsule, and a second foam friction element disposed in a second trough of the capsule radially opposite the first foam friction element. The first foam friction element is compressed between opposing sidewalls of the first trough and is compressed against the suspension rod. The second foam friction element is compressed between opposing sidewalls of the second trough and is compressed against the suspension rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul Owen Davis
  • Patent number: 11111619
    Abstract: A washing machine appliance, as provided herein may include a cabinet, a tub housed within the cabinet, a basket rotatably mounted within the tub, a measurement device attached to the tub, a motor, and a controller. The motor may be in mechanical communication with the basket. The motor may be configured to selectively rotate the basket within the tub. The controller may be in operative communication with the motor and the measurement device. The controller may be configured to initiate an operation cycle. The operation cycle may include spinning the basket at a set dwell speed during a predetermined dwell period, measuring movement of the tub during the predetermined dwell period, determining an out-of-balance mass within the basket based on the measured movement, and halting the basket in response to determining the out-of-balance mass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul Owen Davis
  • Patent number: 11053623
    Abstract: A washing machine appliance and related methods are provided. The washing machine appliance has a wash tub, a wash basket rotatably mounted within the wash tub, and a balancing system comprising a plurality of fluid chambers defined in the wash basket. The method includes rotating the wash basket within the wash tub at a basket speed. The method also includes receiving, with the balancing system, a first signal from a measurement device and receiving, with the balancing system, a second signal from a controller of the washing machine appliance. The method further includes opening a valve to provide fluid to at least one of the plurality of fluid chambers of the balancing system based on the first signal and the second signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul Owen Davis
  • Patent number: 11021825
    Abstract: A washing machine appliance configured to detect a location of an imbalanced load is provided. The washing machine appliance utilizes the displacement or a component of the displacement of a tub of the washing machine appliance to determine the location of an out-of-balance load. In particular, the washing machine compares the displacement or component of the displacement of the tub at a first point with the displacement of the tub at a second point that is positioned forward of the first point. By comparing the displacement or components of the displacement of the tub at these two points, the location of the imbalanced load may be determined. Methods for determining imbalanced loads are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory Allen Dedow, Paul Owen Davis
  • Publication number: 20200378051
    Abstract: A washing machine appliance, as provided herein may include a cabinet, a tub housed within the cabinet, a basket rotatably mounted within the tub, a measurement device attached to the tub, a motor, and a controller. The motor may be in mechanical communication with the basket. The motor may be configured to selectively rotate the basket within the tub. The controller may be in operative communication with the motor and the measurement device. The controller may be configured to initiate an operation cycle. The operation cycle may include spinning the basket at a set dwell speed during a predetermined dwell period, measuring movement of the tub during the predetermined dwell period, determining an out-of-balance mass within the basket based on the measured movement, and halting the basket in response to determining the out-of-balance mass.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2019
    Publication date: December 3, 2020
    Inventor: Paul Owen Davis
  • Publication number: 20200354876
    Abstract: A dampening suspension assembly for a washing machine appliance is provided. The washing machine appliance has a cabinet and a tub mounted within the cabinet. The dampening suspension assembly includes a suspension rod extending between the tub and the cabinet. The dampening suspension assembly also includes a foam damper assembly circumferentially surrounding a portion of the suspension rod. The foam damper assembly includes a capsule, a first foam friction element disposed in a first trough of the capsule, and a second foam friction element disposed in a second trough of the capsule radially opposite the first foam friction element. The first foam friction element is compressed between opposing sidewalls of the first trough and is compressed against the suspension rod. The second foam friction element is compressed between opposing sidewalls of the second trough and is compressed against the suspension rod.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2019
    Publication date: November 12, 2020
    Inventor: Paul Owen Davis
  • Patent number: 10753030
    Abstract: A washing machine appliance, including one or more methods of operation, is provided herein. The washing machine appliance includes a wash basket rotatably mounted within a wash tub and being supported by a front bearing and a rear bearing. A method of operating the washing machine appliance includes rotating the wash basket within the wash tub at a basket speed and obtaining a front displacement amplitude, a rear displacement amplitude, and a wobble angle of the wash tub. Based at least in part on these measured values, front and rear bearing force amplitude thresholds and virtual bearing force values are calculated and compared. If the virtual bearing force value of either the front or rear bearing exceeds the respective bearing force amplitude threshold, an operating parameter of the washing machine appliance is adjusted to limit bearing forces resulting from out-of-balance loads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul Owen Davis
  • Publication number: 20200248350
    Abstract: A washing machine appliance includes a wash basket rotatably mounted within a wash tub and supported by a front bearing and a rear bearing. A method of operating the washing machine appliance includes rotating the wash basket within the wash tub at a basket speed and obtaining first and second displacement amplitudes of the wash tub. Bearing forces at the front and rear bearings are obtained based on the basket speed and the displacement amplitudes. The determined bearing force at the front bearing is compared to a front limit. The determined bearing force at the rear bearing is compared to a rear limit. If the determined bearing force value at either of the front bearing or the rear bearing is greater than or equal to the respective limit, an operating parameter of the washing machine appliance is adjusted to limit bearing forces resulting from out-of-balance loads.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2019
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Inventor: Paul Owen Davis
  • Publication number: 20200232140
    Abstract: A washing machine appliance and related methods are provided. The washing machine appliance has a wash tub, a wash basket rotatably mounted within the wash tub, and a balancing system comprising a plurality of fluid chambers defined in the wash basket. The method includes rotating the wash basket within the wash tub at a basket speed. The method also includes receiving, with the balancing system, a first signal from a measurement device and receiving, with the balancing system, a second signal from a controller of the washing machine appliance. The method further includes opening a valve to provide fluid to at least one of the plurality of fluid chambers of the balancing system based on the first signal and the second signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2019
    Publication date: July 23, 2020
    Inventor: Paul Owen Davis
  • Publication number: 20200018007
    Abstract: A washing machine appliance, including one or more methods of operation, is provided herein. The washing machine appliance includes a wash basket rotatably mounted within a wash tub and being supported by a front bearing and a rear bearing. A method of operating the washing machine appliance includes rotating the wash basket within the wash tub at a basket speed and obtaining a front displacement amplitude, a rear displacement amplitude, and a wobble angle of the wash tub. Based at least in part on these measured values, front and rear bearing force amplitude thresholds and virtual bearing force values are calculated and compared. If the virtual bearing force value of either the front or rear bearing exceeds the respective bearing force amplitude threshold, an operating parameter of the washing machine appliance is adjusted to limit bearing forces resulting from out-of-balance loads.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2018
    Publication date: January 16, 2020
    Inventor: Paul Owen Davis
  • Patent number: 10533272
    Abstract: A washing machine appliance and method of operation are generally provided herein. The washing machine appliance may include a cabinet, a first pair of diagonal feet, a second pair of diagonal feet, a tub, a basket, a measurement device, a motor, and a controller. The motor may be configured for selectively rotating the basket within the tub. The controller may be in operative communication with the motor and the measurement device. The controller may be configured for rotating the basket for a first period, monitoring movement of the cabinet between the first pair of diagonal feet and between the second pair of diagonal feet during the rotating, determining a first diagonal movement value, determining a second diagonal movement value, evaluating one or both of the diagonal movement values against a predetermined value, and transmitting a stability signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: David Scott Dunn, Paul Owen Davis, John Andrew Schmelz
  • Publication number: 20190316287
    Abstract: A washing machine appliance configured to detect a location of an imbalanced load is provided. The washing machine appliance utilizes the displacement or a component of the displacement of a tub of the washing machine appliance to determine the location of an out-of-balance load. In particular, the washing machine compares the displacement or component of the displacement of the tub at a first point with the displacement of the tub at a second point that is positioned forward of the first point. By comparing the displacement or components of the displacement of the tub at these two points, the location of the imbalanced load may be determined. Methods for determining imbalanced loads are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2018
    Publication date: October 17, 2019
    Inventors: Gregory Allen Dedow, Paul Owen Davis