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).

  • 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
  • Safety gate latch
    Patent number: 9010816
    Abstract: Bonded or slide on sleeve and cover devices, and replacement gate latches and methods for preventing injury with oar, fork and U-shaped gate latches that are pivotally attached to fixed support post next to an opening in a fence. The sleeves and covers and replacement oar, fork and U-shaped gate latches have enlarged blunt tips that can include bulbous, dome and ball shapes that prevent injury from children or adults that come into contact with the gate latches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Inventor: Scott Shaffer
  • VALVE WITH AIR-GAP PROVISION TO PREVENT BACKFLOW
    Publication number: 20150096635
    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: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2013
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: Timothy Scott Shaffer
  • HIGH ADSORPTION CHAMBERED FILTER
    Publication number: 20150068967
    Abstract: A filter block for a filter is provided. The filter block uses a structure constructed from bound particles of an adsorption media that create one or more chambers for the receipt of unbound particles of the adsorption media. By using a structure formed of bound particles of the adsorption media having one or more chambers that contain unbound particles of the adsorption media, the surface area available for adsorption can be substantially increased relative to conventional configurations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2013
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Richard T. Nock, Cameron J. Fordyce, Timothy Scott Shaffer
  • Oven appliance with dual pocketing doors
    Patent number: 8905014
    Abstract: An oven appliance with a pair of doors is provided. The doors slide along a track in order to open and close and are coupled with a linkage assembly. The linkage assembly allows movement of one of the doors to be transferred to the other door such that the doors open and close simultaneously. When the doors are open, the doors are stored in pockets defined in the oven appliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Timothy Scott Shaffer
  • Voltage switching microswitch for hot surface igniter system
    Patent number: 8878104
    Abstract: A voltage switching microswitch is provided for supplying power to a hot surface igniter in a gas burning system. The microswitch is configured to operate concurrently with manual operation of a gas control valve such that rotation of an operating stem of the gas control valve produces rotation of a cam within the microswitch. The cam is configured to operate a pair of reed switches so that a relatively high voltage from a power supply is applied to the hot surface igniter following a first predetermined amount of rotation of the cam and a relatively lower voltage is applied to the hot surface igniter following a second predetermined amount of rotation of the cam to maintain the temperature of the igniter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Timothy Scott Shaffer, Daniel Vincent Brosnan
  • WATER FILTER ASSEMBLY
    Publication number: 20140319050
    Abstract: A water filter assembly is provided. The water assembly includes a cylindrical filter media, a pair of caps mounted at opposite ends of the cylindrical filter media, and a support column positioned within the cylindrical filter media. Inner and outer diameters of the cylindrical filter media can be selected in order to improve filtering of the cylindrical filter media. Also, at least one cap of the pair of caps can define an outlet having a diameter less than the inner diameter of the cylindrical filter media.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2013
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Timothy Scott Shaffer
  • WATER FILTER ASSEMBLY
    Publication number: 20140319033
    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: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2013
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Timothy Scott Shaffer
  • Water diverter assembly for a water filter
    Patent number: 8869833
    Abstract: A water diverter assembly is provided. The water diverter assembly includes a valve and a selecting mechanism. The selecting mechanism permits adjustment of the valve. Such adjustment can selectively direct a flow of filtered water or a flow of unfiltered water through the valve. The water diverter assembly also includes an auxiliary filtered water connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Timothy Scott Shaffer
  • Gas grill
    Patent number: 8863734
    Abstract: A control system for a gas grill is disclosed. The gas grill has a cooking surface. The control system includes at least two fuel flow valves located between a fuel source and at least one grill burner, a user interface unit configured to receive grill operation settings, at least one temperature sensor disposed adjacent to the cooking surface and configured to detect at least a grill operating temperature and a control unit configured to, receive the grill operation settings from the user interface unit, receive the grill operating temperature from the at least one temperature sensor, and automatically control the at least one fuel flow valve for modulating the amount of fuel delivered to the at least one grill burner to maintain the grill operating temperature at a predetermined temperature based on the operation settings and the grill operating temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Timothy Scott Shaffer