Patents by Inventor Robert M. Digman

Robert M. Digman 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).

  • Publication number: 20240349981
    Abstract: A carrier for one or more straws of an appliance such as a dish washing appliance. The carrier and/or rack may be in fluid communication with one or more spray elements when in a stowed position within a dishwasher tub. The one or more carriers may route fluid from the one or more spray elements to wash an interior and/or an exterior of at least one straw. The carrier may include one or more bridges projecting inwardly towards the one or more straws defining one or more pathways for received fluid. The body of the carrier may include one or more adjustable portions. The carrier may be adjustable to engage one or more straws of varying lengths/diameters. The carrier may include one or more fixed portions. The carrier may include one or more biasing mechanisms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2024
    Publication date: October 24, 2024
    Inventors: Bassam Fawaz, Robert M. Digman
  • Publication number: 20240324846
    Abstract: A carrier for one or more straws of an appliance such as a dish washing appliance. The carrier and/or rack may be in fluid communication with one or more spray elements when in a stowed position within a dishwasher tub. The one or more carriers may route fluid from the one or more spray elements to wash an interior and/or an exterior of at least one straw. The carrier may include one or more bridges projecting inwardly towards the one or more straws defining one or more pathways for received fluid. The body of the carrier may include one or more adjustable portions. The carrier may be adjustable to engage one or more straws of varying lengths/diameters. The carrier may include one or more fixed portions. The carrier may include one or more biasing mechanisms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2023
    Publication date: October 3, 2024
    Inventors: Bassam Fawaz, Robert M. Digman
  • Patent number: 12082761
    Abstract: A beverage container washing system may utilize a heated wash fluid circulation system to circulate wash fluid retained in a line between a tank and a sprayer to enable fluid that is supplied to the sprayer to be maintained at a suitable temperature for washing and/or sanitizing a beverage container, and in many instances regardless of the amount of time between wash cycles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2024
    Assignee: MIDEA GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Joel Boyer, Robert M. Digman
  • Patent number: 12075961
    Abstract: A carrier for one or more straws of an appliance such as a dish washing appliance. The carrier and/or rack may be in fluid communication with one or more spray elements when in a stowed position within a dishwasher tub. The one or more carriers may route fluid from the one or more spray elements to wash an interior and/or an exterior of at least one straw. The carrier may include one or more bridges projecting inwardly towards the one or more straws defining one or more pathways for received fluid. The body of the carrier may include a lid and/or latch. The carrier may be adjustable to engage one or more straws of varying lengths. The carrier may include an adjustable end and a fixed end. The carrier may include a biasing mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2024
    Assignee: MIDEA GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Bassam Fawaz, Robert M. Digman
  • Patent number: 12042111
    Abstract: A dishwasher and method utilize a cam-based position sensor that is configured to sense multiple rotational positions for a discretely directable tubular spray element driven by a tubular spray element drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: MIDEA GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Joel Boyer, Robert M. Digman
  • Patent number: 12035865
    Abstract: A beverage container washing system may be used for rapid washing and/or sanitizing of beverage containers, e.g., for use in a retail environment to wash and/or sanitize customer-provided beverage containers prior to filling the beverage containers with purchased beverages, among other applications. The beverage container washing system may include multiple concentric housing members supported on a base, with each having one or more openings that may be selectively aligned through driven movement of at least one of the concentric housing members to provide access to a wash chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2024
    Assignee: MIDEA GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Joel Boyer, Robert M. Digman
  • Patent number: 12036588
    Abstract: A beverage container washing system may be used for rapid washing and/or sanitizing of beverage containers, e.g., for use in a retail environment to wash and/or sanitize customer-provided beverage containers prior to filling the beverage containers with purchased beverages, among other applications. The beverage container washing system may include a holder that utilizes a base that supports a beverage container in an inverted orientation and a retainer that supports a sidewall of the beverage container and includes a lateral opening through which the beverage container may be passed during insertion into and/or removal from the holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2024
    Assignee: MIDEA GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Daniel J. Trice, Robert M. Digman, Eric Scalf
  • Patent number: 12029369
    Abstract: A beverage container washing system may be used for rapid washing and/or sanitizing of beverage containers, e.g., for use in a retail environment to wash and/or sanitize customer-provided beverage containers prior to filling the beverage containers with purchased beverages, among other applications. The beverage container washing system may include a pop-up sprayer that includes multiple nozzles, one of which is oriented to spray wash fluid into an interior of a beverage container and another of which is oriented to spray wash fluid onto an outer lip of the beverage container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: MIDEA GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Joel Boyer, Robert M. Digman
  • Patent number: 12029372
    Abstract: A detergent dispenser may be positioned to dispense detergent into a wash tub of a household appliance. The detergent dispenser may include a detergent cartridge. The detergent cartridge may include a detergent strip having a plurality of detergents. One or more ejection mechanisms may be used to expel the detergent from the detergent strip through an outlet of the detergent cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: MIDEA GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Bassam Fawaz, Robert M. Digman, Joel Boyer, Russell Dietrich
  • Patent number: 12011132
    Abstract: A beverage container washing system may be used for rapid washing and/or sanitizing of beverage containers, e.g., for use in a retail environment to wash and/or sanitize customer-provided beverage containers prior to filling the beverage containers with purchased beverages, among other applications. Separate entrance and exit openings may be provided in some instances to minimize employee interaction with unwashed customer beverage containers. A spray assembly may be used to spray wash fluid heated to a sanitizing temperature onto beverage containers and an ultraviolet sanitizing assembly may be used to emit ultraviolet light toward beverage containers. The spray assembly may also include a tank with first and second chambers and a cross-over with an inverted conduit fluidly coupling the first and second chambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2024
    Assignee: MIDEA GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Robert M. Digman, Daniel J. Trice, Joel Boyer, John Kenneth Hooker, Bassam Fawaz
  • Publication number: 20240188789
    Abstract: A wall mounted dishwasher incorporates storage into an exterior door of the dishwasher to facilitate user access to utensils stored in the dishwasher. The exterior door may be hinged and configured to rotate about a substantially vertical axis, and one or more spray devices and/or one or more fluid collection pans may be integrated into the exterior door.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2024
    Publication date: June 13, 2024
    Inventors: Joel Boyer, Robert M. Digman, Bassam Fawaz, Russell Dietrich
  • Publication number: 20240164618
    Abstract: A dishwashing appliance with a filtration assembly capable of removing/shredding/pulverizing large dishwashing debris from recirculated dishwashing fluid is provided. The dishwashing appliance may include a tub, a spray system, a recirculation pump, a drainage pump, and a grinding type filtration assembly in fluid communication with the spray system, the recirculation pump, and the drainage pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2024
    Publication date: May 23, 2024
    Inventor: Robert M. Digman
  • Patent number: 11969132
    Abstract: A rack for an appliance such as a dish washing appliance. Deployment of the rack may allow the user to become aware of the presence of the rack within the dish washing appliance. At least one rack is positionable from a stowed position to at least one deployed position. The rack may be deployed or actuated with a door and/or a second rack. The door and/or second rack may carry, force, or actuate the rack to a deployed position. The deployed position of the rack may not be a fully deployed position of the rack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: MIDEA GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Bassam Fawaz, Robert M. Digman
  • Patent number: 11950744
    Abstract: A carrier for one or more straws of an appliance such as a dish washing appliance. The carrier and/or rack may be in fluid communication with one or more spray elements when in a stowed position within a dishwasher tub. The one or more carriers may route fluid from the one or more spray elements to wash an interior and/or an exterior of at least one straw. The carrier may include one or more bridges projecting inwardly towards the one or more straws defining one or more pathways for received fluid. The body of the carrier may include a lid and/or latch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: MIDEA GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Bassam Fawaz, Robert M. Digman
  • Publication number: 20240108195
    Abstract: A beverage container washing system may utilize an auto-opening holder to laterally separate opposing grippers from one another when a housing is configured in a loading or unloading configuration to facilitate insertion and/or removal of a beverage container into or from the holder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2022
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Inventor: Robert M. Digman
  • Publication number: 20240108191
    Abstract: A beverage container washing system may be used for rapid washing and/or sanitizing of beverage containers, e.g., for use in a retail environment to wash and/or sanitize customer-provided beverage containers prior to filling the beverage containers with purchased beverages, among other applications. Separate entrance and exit openings may be provided in some instances to minimize employee interaction with unwashed customer beverage containers, and a beverage container may be conveyed from the entrance opening to the exit opening past one or more stations using a holder that is capable of spinning the beverage container when the beverage container is disposed in at least one of the stations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2022
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Inventors: Daniel J. Trice, Robert M. Digman
  • Patent number: 11944255
    Abstract: A wall mounted dishwasher incorporates storage into an exterior door of the dishwasher to facilitate user access to utensils stored in the dishwasher. The exterior door may be hinged and configured to rotate about a substantially vertical axis, and one or more spray devices and/or one or more fluid collection pans may be integrated into the exterior door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: MIDEA GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Joel Boyer, Robert M Digman, Bassam Fawaz, Russell Dietrich
  • Patent number: 11903544
    Abstract: A dishwashing appliance with a filtration assembly capable of removing/shredding/pulverizing large dishwashing debris from recirculated dishwashing fluid is provided. The dishwashing appliance may include a tub, a spray system, a recirculation pump, a drainage pump, and a grinding type filtration assembly in fluid communication with the spray system, the recirculation pump, and the drainage pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: MIDEA GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Robert M. Digman
  • Patent number: 11896182
    Abstract: Image-based object sensing is utilized in a dishwasher to configure a wash cycle and/or perform other operations in the dishwasher.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: MIDEA GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Joel Boyer, Robert M. Digman, Bassam Fawaz, Russell Dietrich
  • Patent number: 11889966
    Abstract: Image-based object sensing is utilized in a dishwasher to configure a wash cycle and/or perform other operations in the dishwasher.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: MIDEA GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Joel Boyer, Robert M. Digman, Bassam Fawaz, Russell Dietrich