Patents by Inventor Robert Charles Pfaffinger, JR.

Robert Charles Pfaffinger, JR. 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: 11709009
    Abstract: An ice bucket for a refrigerator appliance, includes a bucket body; an auger provided inside the bucket and including an auger shaft rotatable about a first shaft axis and a collet at a first end of the auger shaft and including an axially beveled surface formed circumferentially around the auger shaft; and an agitator provided in the bucket in mechanical communication with the auger, the agitator including an agitator shaft rotatable about a second shaft axis non-parallel to the first shaft axis, a plurality of first tines extending radially from the agitator shaft within the bucket body to engage ice therein, and a projection that extends perpendicularly from the agitator shaft opposite the plurality of tines. The projection engages with the axially beveled surface to oscillate the agitator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Yayu Song, Qianmao Zhou, Bo Yan, Lixin Zhou, Jun Teng, Xiaoyang Jiang, Jin Wu, Robert Charles Pfaffinger, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20230129406
    Abstract: An ice bucket for a refrigerator appliance, includes a bucket body; an auger provided inside the bucket and including an auger shaft rotatable about a first shaft axis and a collet at a first end of the auger shaft and including an axially beveled surface formed circumferentially around the auger shaft; and an agitator provided in the bucket in mechanical communication with the auger, the agitator including an agitator shaft rotatable about a second shaft axis non-parallel to the first shaft axis, a plurality of first tines extending radially from the agitator shaft within the bucket body to engage ice therein, and a projection that extends perpendicularly from the agitator shaft opposite the plurality of tines. The projection engages with the axially beveled surface to oscillate the agitator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2020
    Publication date: April 27, 2023
    Inventors: Yayu Song, Qianmao Zhou, Bo Yan, Lixin Zhou, Jun Teng, Xiaoyang Jiang, Jin Wu, Robert Charles Pfaffinger, JR.
  • Publication number: 20220163248
    Abstract: A refrigerator appliance or ice maker may include an assembly frame, a rotating body, a thermistor wire, and a biasing spring. The rotating body may be rotatably attached to the assembly frame to rotate about an axial direction. The thermistor wire may extend between a static end and a movable end fixed to the rotating body to move therewith. The biasing spring may be fixed to the thermistor wire between the static end and the movable end. The biasing spring may be in biased engagement with the thermistor wire to motivate the movable end toward the static end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2020
    Publication date: May 26, 2022
    Inventors: Robert Charles Pfaffinger, JR., Cassandra Brady
  • Publication number: 20220113075
    Abstract: An ice dispensing motor assembly includes a motor in operative communication with an auger of an ice maker. The motor is enclosed within a first housing. The motor assembly also includes a driver circuit in electrical communication with the motor. The driver circuit is enclosed within a second housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2020
    Publication date: April 14, 2022
    Inventors: Venkataramana Peruri, Rambabu Koppineni, Mark Dilip Shah, Robert Charles Pfaffinger, JR.
  • Publication number: 20200018538
    Abstract: Refrigerator appliances, including active air filter assemblies for use therein, are provided herein. The active filter assembly may include a housing, a filter medium, a field tag, and a field sensor. The filter medium may be removably positioned within the housing. The field tag may be fixed to the filter medium. The field sensor may be attached to the housing to detect the field tag. The controller may be in operable communication with active filter assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2018
    Publication date: January 16, 2020
    Inventors: Robert Charles Pfaffinger, JR., Ryan John Prince
  • Patent number: 9615007
    Abstract: A camera assembly for an oven appliance including an attachment mechanism, an arm, and a camera is provided. The attachment mechanism is configured for attachment to a handle of an oven appliance door. The arm extends from the attachment mechanism to the camera, and attaches to at least one of the camera or a housing, if provided. The camera records or transmits images of the oven cavity to, e.g., a user device allowing a user to monitor a doneness of any food items positioned within the oven appliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Charles Pfaffinger, Jr., Michael A. Funk, Rebekah Leigh Tyler
  • Publication number: 20160366314
    Abstract: A camera assembly for an oven appliance including an attachment mechanism, an arm, and a camera is provided. The attachment mechanism is configured for attachment to a handle of an oven appliance door. The arm extends from the attachment mechanism to the camera, and attaches to at least one of the camera or a housing, if provided. The camera records or transmits images of the oven cavity to, e.g., a user device allowing a user to monitor a doneness of any food items positioned within the oven appliance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2015
    Publication date: December 15, 2016
    Inventors: Robert Charles Pfaffinger, JR., Michael A. Funk, Rebekah Leigh Tyler