Patents by Inventor Roberto Obregon

Roberto Obregon 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: 20260043188
    Abstract: An appliance includes a wash tub positioned within a cabinet and defining a wash chamber and an external filter assembly. The external filter assembly includes a filter and an inlet conduit fluidly coupled with the filter and the wash tub. Fluid flows from the wash tub to the filter. The filter assembly includes a recirculation conduit fluidly coupled with the filter and the wash tub. The fluid flows from the filter to the wash tub. The filter assembly further includes a drainage conduit. The fluid flows from at least one of the wash tub or the filter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2024
    Publication date: February 12, 2026
    Inventor: Roberto Obregon
  • Patent number: 12522969
    Abstract: A laundry treatment appliance includes a cabinet; a tub positioned within the cabinet, the tub defining a receiving space; and a heating assembly positioned within the cabinet. The heating assembly includes a duct forming an air passageway in fluid communication with the tub, the duct defining an axial direction, a radial direction, and a circumferential direction; a vessel positioned within the duct, the vessel configured to store a quantity of liquid; and a heating element provided around the vessel, the heating element configured to selectively provide heat to the vessel, wherein the heating element is positioned outside of the air passageway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2024
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2026
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander B. Leibman, Pavan Kumar Madeti, Roberto Obregon
  • Publication number: 20250215634
    Abstract: A laundry treatment appliance includes a cabinet; a tub positioned within the cabinet, the tub defining a receiving space; and a heating assembly positioned within the cabinet. The heating assembly includes a duct forming an air passageway in fluid communication with the tub, the duct defining an axial direction, a radial direction, and a circumferential direction; a vessel positioned within the duct, the vessel configured to store a quantity of liquid; and a heating element provided around the vessel, the heating element configured to selectively provide heat to the vessel, wherein the heating element is positioned outside of the air passageway.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2024
    Publication date: July 3, 2025
    Inventors: Alexander B. Leibman, Pavan Kumar Madeti, Roberto Obregon
  • Patent number: 12134854
    Abstract: A dryer appliance may include a cabinet, a drum, a heater assembly, a temperature sensor, and a controller. The heater assembly may be in upstream fluid communication with a drying chamber. The temperature sensor may be in upstream fluid communication with the drying chamber. The controller may be in operable communication with the heater assembly and the temperature sensor. The controller may be configured to initiate a test cycle. The test cycle may include activating the heater assembly, detecting a first temperature upstream of the drum at a first moment following activating the heater assembly, detecting a second temperature upstream of the drum at a second moment following the first moment, determining a temperature delta as a difference between the second temperature and the first temperature, comparing the temperature delta to a delta threshold, and initiating an alert message based on comparing the temperature delta to the delta threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2024
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Roberto Obregon, Nemetalla Salameh
  • Publication number: 20230123910
    Abstract: A dryer appliance may include a cabinet, a drum, a heater assembly, a temperature sensor, and a controller. The heater assembly may be in upstream fluid communication with a drying chamber. The temperature sensor may be in upstream fluid communication with the drying chamber. The controller may be in operable communication with the heater assembly and the temperature sensor. The controller may be configured to initiate a test cycle. The test cycle may include activating the heater assembly, detecting a first temperature upstream of the drum at a first moment following activating the heater assembly, detecting a second temperature upstream of the drum at a second moment following the first moment, determining a temperature delta as a difference between the second temperature and the first temperature, comparing the temperature delta to a delta threshold, and initiating an alert message based on comparing the temperature delta to the delta threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2021
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Inventors: Roberto Obregon, Nemetalla Salameh
  • Patent number: 9909245
    Abstract: A method for controlling additive deposition in a washing machine appliance includes transmitting, after a first agitation of a load within a tub of the washing machine appliance, an additive deposition signal to a user of the washing machine appliance. The method further includes beginning a timer, the timer set to run for a predetermined time period. The method further includes determining whether a door of the washing machine appliance has been opened after transmitting the additive deposition signal and during the predetermined time period. The method further includes determining whether the door has been closed when the door has been opened during the predetermined time period, and performing a second agitation of the load when the door has been closed. The method further includes performing the second agitation when the door has not been opened during the predetermined time period after the predetermined time period has been reached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Roberto Obregon
  • Patent number: 9816222
    Abstract: The present subject matter provides a method for detecting underfilling of a washing machine appliance. The method includes rotating an impeller of the washing machine appliance with a motor operating at a reduced power relative to a full power of the motor. The method also includes determining a maximum angular velocity of the impeller when the impeller is rotated at the reduced power and adding liquid to a tub of the washing machine appliance if the maximum angular velocity of the impeller when the impeller is rotated at the reduced power is less than a threshold angular velocity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Roberto Obregon
  • Patent number: 9803305
    Abstract: An agitation element includes a base, a shaft extending from the base generally along a vertical direction, at least one fin, and a plurality of ribs. Each of the plurality of ribs extends from the base and radially outward from the shaft. Each of the plurality of ribs includes a radially outward portion, the radially outward portion including two opposing entirely convex sidewalls and defining a maximum width and a maximum height, wherein a ratio of the maximum width to the maximum height is between 0.8 and 1.2. Each of the plurality of ribs further includes a radially inward portion, the radially inward portion including two opposing sidewalls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: HAIER US APPLIANCE SOLUTIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Roberto Obregon, Thomas Holzen
  • Patent number: 9803304
    Abstract: A single action agitation element for a washing machine appliance is provided. The agitation element includes a shaft, a first fin, and a second fin. The first fin and second fin each extend outwardly from the shaft and around the shaft. The first fin extends generally in a first fin plane defining an angle greater than zero with a reference plane of the shaft. By contrast, the second fin extends generally in a second fin plane defining an angle less than zero with the reference plane of the shaft. Such a configuration may more efficiently move clothes or other articles within a wash basket of the washing machine appliance downwardly along a vertical direction during certain washing machine operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Roberto Obregon, Bradley Kyle Harris, Randall Winfield Calmeise
  • Publication number: 20170260673
    Abstract: An agitation element includes a base, a shaft extending from the base generally along a vertical direction, at least one fin, and a plurality of ribs. Each of the plurality of ribs extends from the base and radially outward from the shaft. Each of the plurality of ribs includes a radially outward portion, the radially outward portion including two opposing entirely convex sidewalls and defining a maximum width and a maximum height, wherein a ratio of the maximum width to the maximum height is between 0.8 and 1.2. Each of the plurality of ribs further includes a radially inward portion, the radially inward portion including two opposing sidewalls.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2016
    Publication date: September 14, 2017
    Inventors: Roberto Obregon, Thomas Holzen
  • Patent number: 9758913
    Abstract: A washing machine appliance and a method for operating a washing machine appliance are provided. The method includes estimating a mass of articles within a wash chamber of a drum based at least in part on an inertia of the drum and articles within the wash chamber of the drum, gauging the mass of articles within the wash chamber of the drum based at least in part on a volume of water within a tub, and establishing a load type of articles within the wash chamber of the drum based at least in part on the mass of articles within the wash chamber of the drum from the step of estimating and the mass of articles within the wash chamber of the drum from the step of gauging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Roberto Obregon
  • Publication number: 20170089001
    Abstract: The present subject matter provides a method for detecting underfilling of a washing machine appliance. The method includes rotating an impeller of the washing machine appliance with a motor operating at a reduced power relative to a full power of the motor. The method also includes determining a maximum angular velocity of the impeller when the impeller is rotated at the reduced power and adding liquid to a tub of the washing machine appliance if the maximum angular velocity of the impeller when the impeller is rotated at the reduced power is less than a threshold angular velocity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2015
    Publication date: March 30, 2017
    Inventor: Roberto Obregon
  • Publication number: 20170073870
    Abstract: A method for controlling additive deposition in a washing machine appliance includes transmitting, after a first agitation of a load within a tub of the washing machine appliance, an additive deposition signal to a user of the washing machine appliance. The method further includes beginning a timer, the timer set to run for a predetermined time period. The method further includes determining whether a door of the washing machine appliance has been opened after transmitting the additive deposition signal and during the predetermined time period. The method further includes determining whether the door has been closed when the door has been opened during the predetermined time period, and performing a second agitation of the load when the door has been closed. The method further includes performing the second agitation when the door has not been opened during the predetermined time period after the predetermined time period has been reached.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2015
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Inventor: Roberto Obregon
  • Publication number: 20160362826
    Abstract: A single action agitation element for a washing machine appliance is provided. The agitation element includes a shaft, a first fin, and a second fin. The first fin and second fin each extend outwardly from the shaft and around the shaft. The first fin extends generally in a first fin plane defining an angle greater than zero with a reference plane of the shaft. By contrast, the second fin extends generally in a second fin plane defining an angle less than zero with the reference plane of the shaft. Such a configuration may more efficiently move clothes or other articles within a wash basket of the washing machine appliance downwardly along a vertical direction during certain washing machine operations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2015
    Publication date: December 15, 2016
    Inventors: Roberto Obregon, Bradley Kyle Harris, Randall Winfield Calmeise
  • Patent number: 9228281
    Abstract: A wash basket has a plurality of fins mounted to the wash basket. The plurality of fins is configured to deliver a flow of wash fluid to the top of the wash basket using e.g., a conduit between the bottom and the top of the wash basket where the wash fluid may be directed to articles disposed within the wash basket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Roberto Obregon, Joshua Flesch, David Billman
  • Publication number: 20150052688
    Abstract: A washing machine appliance and a method for operating a washing machine appliance are provided. The method includes directing a volume of liquid into a chamber of a basket, spinning the basket within a tub, and establishing a load type of articles within the chamber of the basket. The established load type is confirmed or controverted based at least in part on a height of liquid on a wall of the tub while the basket is spinning within the tub.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2013
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Roberto Obregon, Anthony William Simpson
  • Publication number: 20150000047
    Abstract: A washing machine appliance and a method for operating a washing machine appliance are provided. The method includes estimating a mass of articles within a wash chamber of a drum based at least in part on an inertia of the drum and articles within the wash chamber of the drum, gauging the mass of articles within the wash chamber of the drum based at least in part on a volume of water within a tub, and establishing a load type of articles within the wash chamber of the drum based at least in part on the mass of articles within the wash chamber of the drum from the step of estimating and the mass of articles within the wash chamber of the drum from the step of gauging.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2013
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Inventor: Roberto Obregon
  • Publication number: 20130180292
    Abstract: The present subject matter provides a wash basket that has a plurality of fins mounted to the wash basket. The plurality of fins is configured to deliver a flow of wash fluid to the top of the wash basket using e.g., a conduit between the bottom and the top of the wash basket where the wash fluid may be directed to articles disposed within the wash basket.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2012
    Publication date: July 18, 2013
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Roberto Obregon, Joshua Flesch, David Billman
  • Patent number: 7275743
    Abstract: A representative embodiment provides for an imaging apparatus including an output tray supported by the imaging apparatus and configured to receive sheet media from a first source and a second source, wherein the first source and the second source are respectively supported by the imaging apparatus. Optionally, the imaging apparatus also includes a detector configured to provide a signal in response to a predetermined accumulation of sheet media from the first source and the second source within the output tray. Another embodiment provides a method of receiving a first sheet media and a second sheet media within a common output tray, including routing the first sheet media from an imaging device into the output tray using a diverter device, and routing the second sheet media from the imaging device into a sheet handling device and then into the output tray using the diverter device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Paul K. Mui, David J. Arcaro, Roberto Obregon, Russell A. Mendenhall
  • Patent number: 7200984
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a device and method for building a consumable refill that includes the steps of fabricating a plurality of arrays of detachably connected consumable parts along a first direction, stacking the arrays of detachably connected consumable parts along a second direction and bonding the stacked arrays of detachably connected consumable parts at an outer surface formed by one or more aligned marginal surfaces of the detachably connected consumable parts. In one embodiment, a staple refill includes a number of staple wire sheets stacked along a direction normal to a plane of each of the staple wire sheets. The staple wire sheets are bonded at an outer surface formed by one or more aligned marginal surfaces of the plurality of staple wires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Roberto Obregon, Marina M. Talavera