Patents by Inventor Ryan Joseph Thomas

Ryan Joseph Thomas 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: 12560376
    Abstract: A refrigerator appliance is provided, the appliance including an outer case forming a freezer compartment, a door hingedly attached to the outer case, and a dispenser assembly positioned at the door. The dispenser assembly includes a mouth forming at least a portion of an outlet opening. The mouth is slidably attached to a track. The track permits selective movement of the mouth at the outlet opening to vary an area of the outlet opening based at least on movement of the mouth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2026
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Katherine Michelle Caverno, Ryan Joseph Thomas
  • Publication number: 20260002723
    Abstract: A method of operating a refrigerator appliance includes operating a compressor of the refrigerator appliance to flow a refrigerant to an evaporator of the refrigerator appliance. The method also includes operating a fan to motivate a flow of air between the evaporator and a compartment of the refrigerator appliance while operating the compressor to flow the refrigerant to the evaporator. The compartment is thereby cooled. The method further includes stopping the flow of refrigerant to the evaporator. The method also includes determining a post-cool fan time based on a temperature setpoint of the compartment of the refrigerator appliance. The method further includes operating the fan for the determined post-cool fan time after stopping the flow of refrigerant to the evaporator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2024
    Publication date: January 1, 2026
    Inventors: Ryan Joseph Thomas, Kristin Marie Weirich
  • Patent number: 12498163
    Abstract: A refrigeration appliance, a controller, and a method for operating a three-compartment refrigeration appliance are provided. Operations include operating a cooling system to provide cooled air to a first compartment then operating the cooling system to provide cooled air to a second compartment. After operating the cooling system to provide cooled air to the second compartment, the operations include operating the cooling system to provide cooled air to the third compartment prior to deactivating the cooling system following operating the cooling system to provide cooled air to the second compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2025
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan Joseph Thomas, Carlos Gonzalez Juarez, Joseph Thomas Waugh
  • Publication number: 20250314414
    Abstract: A method of operating a refrigerator appliance, the refrigerator appliance comprising a chilled chamber, an auxiliary compartment positioned within the chilled chamber, an evaporator duct containing an evaporator, an evaporator fan for selectively urging a flow of primary air through the evaporator duct and into the chilled chamber, an auxiliary duct providing fluid communication between the evaporator duct and the auxiliary compartment, and an auxiliary fan for selectively urging a flow of auxiliary air from the evaporator duct, through the auxiliary duct, and into the auxiliary compartment. The method includes operating the evaporator fan at a first speed to provide the flow of primary air into the chilled chamber, receiving a request to cool the auxiliary compartment, operating the auxiliary fan to urge the flow of auxiliary air into the auxiliary compartment, and operating the evaporator fan at a second speed, the second speed being higher than the first speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2024
    Publication date: October 9, 2025
    Inventor: Ryan Joseph Thomas
  • Publication number: 20250189214
    Abstract: A refrigerator appliance is provided, the appliance including an outer case forming a freezer compartment, a door hingedly attached to the outer case, and a dispenser assembly positioned at the door. The dispenser assembly includes a mouth forming at least a portion of an outlet opening. The mouth is slidably attached to a track. The track permits selective movement of the mouth at the outlet opening to vary an area of the outlet opening based at least on movement of the mouth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2023
    Publication date: June 12, 2025
    Inventors: Katherine Michelle Caverno, Ryan Joseph Thomas
  • Publication number: 20240337430
    Abstract: A refrigeration appliance, a controller, and a method for operating a three-compartment refrigeration appliance are provided. Operations include operating a cooling system to provide cooled air to a first compartment then operating the cooling system to provide cooled air to a second compartment. After operating the cooling system to provide cooled air to the second compartment, the operations include operating the cooling system to provide cooled air to the third compartment prior to deactivating the cooling system following operating the cooling system to provide cooled air to the second compartment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2023
    Publication date: October 10, 2024
    Inventors: Ryan Joseph Thomas, Carlos Gonzalez Juarez, Joseph Thomas Waugh
  • Patent number: 11427459
    Abstract: A refrigerator appliance, as provided herein, may include a cabinet, a door, a dispensing assembly, a heating element, and a controller. The controller may be configured to initiate a dispensing operation. The dispensing operation may include providing a first time, TIME-1, by which a fluid is to be ready at a first temperature, TEMP-1, within the cabinet; ascertaining a first time period, ?t1, required to heat the fluid to at least the first temperature, TEMP-1; initiating detection of a container within a dispenser recess prior to the first time, TIME-1; and directing a heating element prior to the first time, TIME-1, based on initiating detection of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Katherine Michelle Jansen, Ryan Joseph Thomas
  • Publication number: 20220080117
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for incorporating patient pressure into medical fluid delivery. An example system includes a medical fluid delivery machine and a medical fluid handling device including a patient line for being placed in fluid communication with a patient. The medical fluid delivery machine includes a control unit, a pump actuator for actuating the medical fluid handling device to move medical fluid into or out of the device, and a pressure sensor configured to sense a pressure of the medical fluid. The control unit is programmed to perform a routine during pumping in which the control unit determines if at least a component of a signal reading from the pressure sensor is indicative of a pressure within the patient, and determines from the component of the signal reading indicative of the pressure in the patient whether to continue pumping or stop pumping.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2021
    Publication date: March 17, 2022
    Inventors: Yuanpang Ding, Ryan Joseph Thomas, Anders John Wellings, James Anthony Sloand
  • Patent number: 11179516
    Abstract: A medical fluid delivery machine includes a pump interface having an actuation area for delivering positive or negative pressure to a medical fluid handling device; a pressure sensor positioned to measure pressure within the actuation area; a valve positioned to selectively vent the actuation area to atmosphere; and a control unit in signal communication with the pressure sensor and control communication with the valve, the control unit performing a sequence during pumping, wherein (i) application of positive pressure or negative pressure to the actuation area is stopped, the valve is switched to vent the actuation area to atmosphere, then switched to close the actuation area to atmosphere, and at least one pressure signal reading is taken via the pressure sensor, and (ii) a determination is made whether positive pressure or negative pressure to the chamber should be resumed based on the at least one pressure signal reading.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignees: Baxter International Inc., Baxter Healthcare SA
    Inventors: Yuanpang Ding, Ryan Joseph Thomas, Anders John Wellings, James Anthony Sloand
  • Patent number: 11103103
    Abstract: A refrigerator appliance having a cold brewed coffee system positioned within a chilled chamber of the refrigerator appliance is provided. In one example aspect, the system includes a housing defining a water reservoir and a coffee reservoir. The water reservoir is in fluid communication with a water supply via an inlet supply conduit. An inlet valve is positioned along the inlet supply conduit and selectively allows water into the water reservoir. The water within the water reservoir drips into the coffee reservoir where the water mixes with coffee materials received therein. Cold brewed coffee is produced within the coffee reservoir and may slowly drip into a coffee container positioned or docked beneath the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Ryan Joseph Thomas
  • Publication number: 20210032089
    Abstract: A refrigerator appliance, as provided herein, may include a cabinet, a door, a dispensing assembly, a heating element, and a controller. The controller may be configured to initiate a dispensing operation. The dispensing operation may include providing a first time, TIME-1, by which a fluid is to be ready at a first temperature, TEMP-1, within the cabinet; ascertaining a first time period, ?t1, required to heat the fluid to at least the first temperature, TEMP-1; initiating detection of a container within a dispenser recess prior to the first time, TIME-1; and directing a heating element prior to the first time, TIME-1, based on initiating detection of the container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2019
    Publication date: February 4, 2021
    Inventors: Katherine Michelle Jansen, Ryan Joseph Thomas
  • Publication number: 20210025641
    Abstract: A refrigerator assembly, as disclosed herein, may include a cabinet, a louver panel, and a plurality of laterally-spaced vanes. The cabinet may extend along a lateral direction between a first lateral side and a second lateral side. The cabinet may define a chilled chamber and a machine compartment. The machine compartment may have an air inlet and an air outlet separate from the air inlet. The louver panel may be mounted to the cabinet in front of the machine compartment. The louver panel may define a plurality of lateral apertures spaced apart along a vertical direction. The plurality of lateral apertures may extend along the lateral direction in front of the air inlet and the air outlet from a first end to a second end. The plurality of laterally-spaced vanes may extend rearward from the louver panel at the air outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2019
    Publication date: January 28, 2021
    Inventors: Ryan Joseph Thomas, Scott P. Crane
  • Publication number: 20200093320
    Abstract: A refrigerator appliance having a cold brewed coffee system positioned within a chilled chamber of the refrigerator appliance is provided. In one example aspect, the system includes a housing defining a water reservoir and a coffee reservoir. The water reservoir is in fluid communication with a water supply via an inlet supply conduit. An inlet valve is positioned along the inlet supply conduit and selectively allows water into the water reservoir. The water within the water reservoir drips into the coffee reservoir where the water mixes with coffee materials received therein. Cold brewed coffee is produced within the coffee reservoir and may slowly drip into a coffee container positioned or docked beneath the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2018
    Publication date: March 26, 2020
    Inventor: Ryan Joseph Thomas
  • Patent number: 10345033
    Abstract: A refrigerator appliance includes a dispensing assembly mounted to a dispenser recess for providing a flow of water. The dispensing assembly includes a flexible hose that is movable between an extended position and a retracted position and a retraction mechanism for urging the flexible hose toward the retracted position. A dispensing nozzle is fluidly coupled to an end of the flexible hose and is mounted to an external container by a mechanical clip. The flow of water may be activated by a button or voice activation system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan Joseph Thomas, Katherine Michelle Jansen
  • Publication number: 20180369477
    Abstract: A medical fluid delivery machine includes a pump interface having an actuation area for delivering positive or negative pressure to a medical fluid handling device; a pressure sensor positioned to measure pressure within the actuation area; a valve positioned to selectively vent the actuation area to atmosphere; and a control unit in signal communication with the pressure sensor and control communication with the valve, the control unit performing a sequence during pumping, wherein (i) application of positive pressure or negative pressure to the actuation area is stopped, the valve is switched to vent the actuation area to atmosphere, then switched to close the actuation area to atmosphere, and at least one pressure signal reading is taken via the pressure sensor, and (ii) a determination is made whether positive pressure or negative pressure to the chamber should be resumed based on the at least one pressure signal reading.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2017
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Inventors: Yuanpang Ding, Ryan Joseph Thomas, Anders John Wellings, James Anthony Sloand