Patents by Inventor Scott Shaffer

Scott Shaffer 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).

  • HEAT PUMP WATER HEATER APPLIANCE AND AN ELECTRONIC MIXING VALVE
    Publication number: 20160348952
    Abstract: A heat pump water heater appliance includes an electronic mixing valve. The electronic mixing valve is positioned within a casing of the heat pump water heater appliance. A mixed water conduit and a heated water conduit of the electronic mixing valve may be positioned coaxially with each other, and a cold water conduit of the electronic mixing valve may be oriented such that the cold water conduit extends orthogonal to the heated water conduit and the mixed water conduit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2015
    Publication date: December 1, 2016
    Inventors: Shaun Michael Ward, Timothy Scott Shaffer
  • Induction cooktop appliance
    Patent number: 9491809
    Abstract: An induction cooktop appliance is provided. The induction cooktop appliance includes an induction heating element and a metal top panel positioned above the induction heating element for supporting cooking utensils thereon. The metal top panel defines an opening above the induction heating element. The opening can limit or regulate eddy currents within the metal top panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy Scott Shaffer, John Stanley Glaser
  • METHOD FOR OPERATING A WATER HEATER APPLIANCE
    Publication number: 20160313029
    Abstract: A method for operating a water heater appliance includes determining a temperature, Ttank, of water within a tank of the water heater appliance, a temperature, Tcold, of water at an inlet conduit of the water heater appliance and an actual position, VMPactual, of a mixing valve of the water heater appliance. The method also includes calculating a theoretical position, VMPtheoretical, of the mixing valve of the water heater appliance and establishing a lower flow rate limit for water exiting the water heater appliance and an upper flow rate limit for water exiting the water heater appliance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2015
    Publication date: October 27, 2016
    Inventors: Shaun Michael Ward, Timothy Scott Shaffer, Brett Alan Farris
  • Valve with air-gap provision to prevent backflow
    Patent number: 9403125
    Abstract: A valve is provided having an air gap to protect against backflow in a fluid system. The valve can also be used to control fluid flow while providing such backflow protection. The valve can be used with e.g., a reverse osmosis water filtration system and/or other systems. By incorporating both backflow protection and flow control into the same device, efficiencies in space, complexity, and/or installation time are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy Scott Shaffer
  • WATER HEATER APPLIANCE
    Publication number: 20160201946
    Abstract: A water heater appliance with a mixing valve positioned within a casing of the water heater appliance is provided. The mixing valve is fluidly coupled to a heated water conduit and a bypass conduit of the water heater appliance. An actuator assembly is configured for selectively adjusting a mixing ratio of the mixing valve. The actuator assembly includes a knob positioned at an outer surface of the casing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2015
    Publication date: July 14, 2016
    Inventors: Timothy Scott Shaffer, Shaun Michael Ward, Dan Riley
  • Flow diverter device
    Patent number: 9328485
    Abstract: A flow diverter device includes a diverter body defining therein a diverter channel that connects with two inlet channels and an outlet channel, and a diverter valve stem including at least two sealing mechanisms. The diverter valve stem is movable between a first position wherein one of the sealing mechanisms engages the diverter channel such that the diverter channel fluidly connects one of the inlet channels with the outlet channel only and a second position wherein another of the sealing mechanisms engages the diverter channel such that the diverter channel fluidly connects the other of the inlet channels with the outlet channel only.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Timothy Scott Shaffer
  • TRANSITION MEMBER FOR HEAT PUMP APPLIANCE
    Publication number: 20160109154
    Abstract: A heat pump water heater appliance is provided including a tank defining an interior volume, a sealed system configured for heating water within the interior volume, and a casing. The casing defines an airflow inlet and an airflow exhaust, and the tank and an evaporator of the sealed system are disposed within the casing. A transition member is also provided, including a first end attached to the casing over the airflow inlet and a second end. A passage is defined between the first and second ends. Additionally, a filter tray is removably positioned in the passage of the transition member, allowing, e.g., a user or operator to easily remove and/or replace filter medium supported by the filter tray without disassembling the transition member or any ductwork attached thereto.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2014
    Publication date: April 21, 2016
    Inventors: Timothy Scott Shaffer, Michael Lee Alsip
  • DAMPER VALVE AND A HEAT PUMP WATER HEATER APPLIANCE
    Publication number: 20160097573
    Abstract: The present subject matter provides a damper valve. The damper valve includes an outer sleeve and an inner sleeve. The inner sleeve is positioned within the outer sleeve and is pivotable between a first position and a second position within the outer sleeve. Radial openings of the inner sleeve align with radial openings of the outer sleeve when the inner sleeve is in the first position, and axial openings of the inner sleeve align with axial openings of the outer sleeve when the inner sleeve is in the second position. A related heat pump water heater appliance is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2014
    Publication date: April 7, 2016
    Inventors: Timothy Scott Shaffer, Shaun Michael Ward
  • FILTER CARTRIDGE AND A METHOD FOR FORMING A FILTER MEDIUM
    Publication number: 20160090313
    Abstract: A method for forming a filter medium includes mixing activated carbon and nitrogen enriched plastic binder. The activated carbon and nitrogen enriched plastic binder are heated in order to bind the activated carbon to the nitrogen enriched plastic binder and form a filter medium block. A related filter cartridge is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Publication date: March 31, 2016
    Inventors: Timothy Scott Shaffer, Brian Christopher Moore, Doo Young Kim
  • WATER HEATER APPLIANCE WITH AN ANGLED ANODE
    Publication number: 20160061488
    Abstract: A water heater appliance includes a tank with a sidewall. A boss is mounted to the sidewall of the tank, and an anode is mounted to the boss. The anode extends through the tank into an interior volume of the tank at an angle such that the anode avoids internal tank components of the water heater appliance. A related heat pump water heater appliance is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2014
    Publication date: March 3, 2016
    Inventor: Timothy Scott Shaffer
  • Water filter with features for reduced spilling
    Patent number: 9242195
    Abstract: A water filter is provided. The water filter includes a check valve positioned at an opening of a casing. The check valve regulates a flow of liquid through the opening of the casing. By regulating the flow of liquid, the check valve can hinder spilling of liquid contained within the water filter during removal or replacement of the water filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Timothy Scott Shaffer
  • Flow diverter device
    Patent number: 9217241
    Abstract: A flow diverter device includes a diverter body. The diverter body defines therein two inlet channels and an outlet channel and includes a diverter valve defining therein a connecting channel. The diverter valve is movable between a first position wherein the connecting channel fluidly connects one of the inlet channels with the outlet channel only and a second position wherein the connecting channel fluidly connects the other of the inlet channels with the outlet channel only. The flow diverter device further includes a sleeve component including a secondary inlet channel and a secondary outlet channel. The sleeve component is connectable to the diverter body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Timothy Scott Shaffer, Michael Lee Alsip
  • Light curing system and method
    Patent number: 9144479
    Abstract: A method for light-curing polymerizable materials to form a dental device is provided. A light-curing apparatus having at least one integrated lighting and heating source, a curing volume, and a temperature controller, preferably a fan, is used in the method. The light source and temperature controller are used to heat a first polymerizable material to temperatures within a first temperature range. A second polymerizable material is applied on or adjacent to the first polymerizable material. The light source and temperature controller are used to heat the second polymerizable material to temperatures within a second temperature range. The first temperature range has a first midpoint and the second temperature range has a second midpoint. The first midpoint temperature is at least 10° C. apart from the second midpoint temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: DENTSPLY International Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin J. Sun, Andrew Lichkus, Scott Shaffer
  • Water filter assembly
    Patent number: 9139452
    Abstract: A water filter assembly is provided. The water filter assembly includes a casing that is selectively mounted to a manifold. A filtering media is positioned within the casing for filtering a flow of water through the casing. The water filter assembly also includes features for hindering spilling of water during changing of the filtering media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Timothy Scott Shaffer
  • Flow diverter device
    Patent number: 9091358
    Abstract: A flow diverter device includes a valve body component defining therein two inlet channels and an outlet channel; and a rotatable diverter component comprising an exterior side wall and defining therein a connecting channel in the form of an annular slot positioned around a portion of the exterior side wall. The rotatable diverter component is rotatably received by the valve body component and being movable between a first position where the connecting channel fluidly connects one of the inlet channels with the outlet channel only and a second position where the connecting channel fluidly connects the other of the inlet channels with the outlet channel only.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Timothy Scott Shaffer, Mark Anthony Copelli, James Robert White, Michael Lee Alsip
  • WATER HEATER APPLIANCE AND A METHOD FOR OPERATING A WATER HEATER APPLIANCE
    Publication number: 20150184889
    Abstract: A water heater appliance and method for operating a water heater appliance are provided. The method includes measuring a temperature of water within the water heater appliance, operating a heating element of the water heater appliance if the temperature of water within the water heater appliance is less than a threshold temperature and deactivating the heating element of the water heater appliance when the temperature of water within the water heater appliance exceeds the threshold temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2014
    Publication date: July 2, 2015
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Timothy Scott Shaffer, Michael Thomas Beyerle
  • WATER FILTER ASSEMBLY
    Publication number: 20150182894
    Abstract: A water filter assembly is provided. The water filter assembly includes a manifold and a fitting rotatably mounted to the manifold such that the fitting is rotatable between a substantially vertical configuration and a substantially horizontal configuration. The water filter assembly also includes a diverting member and a handle mounted to the diverting member. The handle is positioned opposite the fitting on the manifold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2014
    Publication date: July 2, 2015
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Timothy Scott Shaffer, James Robert White
  • Rapid gas ignition system
    Patent number: 9068752
    Abstract: An ignition control system for an appliance is disclosed. The appliance includes a gas burner, a user actuable valve for controlling a flow of fuel to the burner and an electrical resistance igniter for igniting fuel at the burner. The system includes a user actuable control interface having an off state and an on state, coupled to the valve operative to control the valve and provide a control signal indicative of the state of the control interface. The system also includes a controller having a timer circuit responsive to the control signal and a boost circuit coupled to the timer circuit. The timer circuit selectively activates the boost circuit for a predetermined period of time. A first DC power supply is selectively coupled to the igniter to provide power to the igniter through the boost circuit. A second DC power supply is coupled to the igniter and control interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Timothy Scott Shaffer, Nicholas Okruch, Jr., Daniel Trice, Brian Schork, Mark Johnson, Daniel Ernst, Daniel Brosnan
  • Water filter
    Patent number: 9027361
    Abstract: A water filter is provided. The water filter includes a casing with a filtering media disposed within the casing. The water filter also includes a plug and a water soluble support. The plug can impede a flow of water through the chamber in order to encourage replacement of the water filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Timothy Scott Shaffer, William A. Baker
  • Bottom fill kitchen sink feature
    Patent number: 9016333
    Abstract: A bottom fill, fluid dispensing system is provided having a dispenser capable of being mounted to a countertop and a container. The container may be placed onto the dispenser and the dispenser may be moved to a first position, to allow the dispenser to fill the container with a fluid. The container may be filled through a one way valve in the container wall. Once the container is filled to a desired level, the dispenser may be moved to a second position and the container may be removed from the dispenser without the fluid leaking from the one way valve in the container wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Timothy Scott Shaffer