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).

  • Patent number: 8405003
    Abstract: An oven has a plurality of walls defining an oven cavity, a light source disposed outside of a wall of the oven cavity, and an optical light pipe in optical communication with the light source. The light pipe has a central body portion disposed within the oven cavity, and an end portion extending from the central body portion, the end portion extending outside of the oven cavity and being in optical communication with the light source. The central body distributes light from the light source within the oven cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Timothy Scott Shaffer
  • Patent number: 8381714
    Abstract: A gas burner for a cooking appliance having a base portion and a side wall extending from the base portion. A cap is disposed on the side wall. The cap includes a substantially conical interior surface facing the base portion. The substantially conical interior surface is configured to substantially eliminate creation of turbulent flow eddies in a gaseous fuel mixture passing through the gas burner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Timothy Scott Shaffer, Mark Davis Johnson, Derek Lee Watkins
  • Publication number: 20120199110
    Abstract: A humidity control system for use with a warming appliance including a warming cavity includes an internal reservoir for retaining water within the warming cavity, a metering device, and a water source external to the warming cavity and coupled in flow communication with the internal reservoir via the metering device. A controller is communicatively coupled to the metering device. The controller is configured to control a flow rate of the water from the water source to the internal reservoir based on a selected food type being warmed within the warming cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2011
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Inventors: Timothy Scott SHAFFER, Ravi Ayyalasomayajula, Rajendra Prasad Gottipati
  • Patent number: 8226180
    Abstract: An apparatus including a frame forming an internal cavity, the frame having an opening for accessing the internal cavity, a first door and a second door mounted to the frame and a door coupling mechanism for effecting a substantially simultaneous movement of the first door and second door relative to the frame, the door coupling mechanism including a first door link, a second door link and at least one ternary link, the first door link being rotatably coupled to the first door and the at least one ternary link, the second door being rotatably coupled to the second door and the at least one ternary link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Mahendra Madhukar Patil, Timothy Scott Shaffer, Derek Lee Watkins
  • Publication number: 20120180825
    Abstract: An electrolytic sanitizer is disclosed for use in a dishwasher holding a salt solution, the dishwasher having a water rinse cycle. A spaced anode and cathode are provided in contact with the salt solution in the dishwasher. A source of current provides a voltage across the anode and cathode to generate chlorine from the salt solution, the chlorine being introduced into the water rinse cycle to sanitize objects in the dishwasher. Related dishwasher designs are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2011
    Publication date: July 19, 2012
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Timothy Scott Shaffer, Ronald Scott Tarr, Matthew David Mersch, James Quentin Pollett, Kyle Kozinski
  • Patent number: 8201304
    Abstract: An apparatus including a frame, a door and a compliant hinge mechanism hingably mounting the door to the frame, the compliant hinge mechanism including a resistance configured to provide a preload to balance the door in a first open position and an increasing force resisting further opening of the door when the preload is overcome and the door is opened past the first open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Brian M. Steurer, Timothy Scott Shaffer
  • Publication number: 20120125910
    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: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2010
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Timothy Scott Shaffer, Daniel Vincent Brosnan
  • Publication number: 20120125911
    Abstract: An oven has a plurality of walls defining an oven cavity, a light source disposed outside of a wall of the oven cavity, and an optical light pipe in optical communication with the light source. The light pipe has a central body portion disposed within the oven cavity, and an end portion extending from the central body portion, the end portion extending outside of the oven cavity and being in optical communication with the light source. The central body distributes light from the light source within the oven cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2010
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Inventor: Timothy Scott SHAFFER
  • Publication number: 20120090595
    Abstract: An gas burner assembly for a cooking appliance includes a main burner assembly, a simmer burner assembly positioned in a stacked relationship with and located below the main burner assembly, a venturi assembly for delivering a gas flow to the main burner assembly, a gas boost pump configured to control a pressurization of the gas flow, a gas valve assembly for controlling a rate of the gas flow, and an encoder coupled to the gas valve assembly, the encoder configured to track a position of the gas valve assembly and provide a signal to the gas boost pump for pressurization of the gas flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2010
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Inventors: Timothy Scott SHAFFER, Eric K. Watson, Brian Michael Schork, Paul Bryan Cadima, Paul E. McCrorey
  • Publication number: 20120048256
    Abstract: A gas cooktop includes a burner box assembly having a top surface with a plurality of air inlets and gas burners disposed therethrough. A partition is disposed between the top surface and a bottom surface, the partition defining a plurality of segregated air paths that each leading from at least one of the plurality of air inlets to one of the plurality of gas burners.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2010
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Inventors: Timothy Scott Shaffer, Ariel Marie Young
  • Patent number: 8033279
    Abstract: An appliance including at least two surface burners and a burner control system configured to selectively allow individual control of each of the at least two burners or simultaneous control of the at least two burners as a unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Timothy Scott Shaffer
  • Publication number: 20110207065
    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: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2010
    Publication date: August 25, 2011
    Inventors: Timothy Scott SHAFFER, Nicholas Okruch, JR., Daniel Trice, Brian Schork, Mark Johnson, Daniel Ernst, Daniel Brosnan
  • Publication number: 20110139141
    Abstract: An oven cavity for an oven or range appliance includes a heat-stable base substrate, and a hard ceramic coating disposed on the base substrate. The hard ceramic coating is a poly-condensated silicone, polymeric silazane or poly-ceramic coating composition. A method of forming a surface for an oven or range appliance is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2009
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Inventors: Timothy Scott Shaffer, Donald Joseph Breit, John Mark Smith, Brian M. Steurer, Daniel Joseph Trice
  • Publication number: 20110108016
    Abstract: A gas burner for a cooking appliance having a base portion and a side wall extending from the base portion. A cap is disposed on the side wall. The cap includes a substantially conical interior surface facing the base portion. The substantially conical interior surface is configured to substantially eliminate creation of turbulent flow eddies in a gaseous fuel mixture passing through the gas burner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2009
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Inventors: Timothy Scott SHAFFER, Mark Davis Johnson, Derek Lee Watkins
  • Publication number: 20110091189
    Abstract: A broiler assembly for a cooking appliance, the cooking appliance having an oven cavity and the broiler assembly is disposed within the oven cavity. The broiler assembly includes a reflector having first and second sides, side retainers coupled to a respective one of the first and second sides, and at least one carbon emitter heating element mounted to the side retainers. The at least one carbon emitter heating element includes a carbon filament disposed within a lamp.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2009
    Publication date: April 21, 2011
    Inventors: Timothy Scott SHAFFER, Blake Philip Bomar
  • Publication number: 20100264344
    Abstract: A gas appliance including a frame and a control knob assembly connected to the frame, the control knob assembly including a gas valve with a valve stem, a control knob attached to the valve stem, and a valve restraint. The valve restraint is substantially fixed relative to the frame and longitudinally disposed substantially between the gas valve and control knob, and is configured to limit lateral movement of the valve stem.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2009
    Publication date: October 21, 2010
    Inventors: Timothy Scott Shaffer, Howard Richard Bowles, Jorge Hinojosa
  • Publication number: 20100212112
    Abstract: An apparatus including a frame, a door and a compliant hinge mechanism hingably mounting the door to the frame, the compliant hinge mechanism including a resistance configured to provide a preload to balance the door in a first open position and an increasing force resisting further opening of the door when the preload is overcome and the door is opened past the first open position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2009
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Inventors: Brian M. Steurer, Timothy Scott Shaffer
  • Publication number: 20100189726
    Abstract: The invention relates to triazines and the use thereof to inhibit lysophosphatidic acid acyltransferase ? (LPAAT-?) activity. The invention further relates to methods of treating cancer using said triazines. The invention also relates to methods for screening for LPAAT-? activity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2009
    Publication date: July 29, 2010
    Applicant: Cell Therapeutics, Inc.
    Inventors: Lynn BONHAM, J. Peter Klein, Robert E. Finney, David M. Hollenback, Scott A. Shaffer, Norina M. Tang, Thayer H. White, David W. Leung, Baoqing Gong, John Tulinsky
  • Patent number: 7759617
    Abstract: A gas range includes a gas cooktop including a plurality of gas cooktop burners, and an oven coupled to the gas cooktop. The oven includes an oven cavity comprising a top portion, a bottom portion, a rear portion coupled to the top and bottom portions, a first side portion, and a second side portion, the first and second side portions coupled to the top, bottom, and rear portions respectively, at least one gas oven burner positioned proximate to the bottom portion within the oven cavity; and a first electrical heating element positioned proximate the top portion within the oven cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Howard Richard Bowles, John Mark Smith, Timothy Scott Shaffer, David Joseph Najewicz
  • Publication number: 20100139169
    Abstract: An apparatus including a frame forming an internal cavity, the frame having an opening for accessing the internal cavity, a first door and a second door mounted to the frame and a door coupling mechanism for effecting a substantially simultaneous movement of the first door and second door relative to the frame, the door coupling mechanism including a first door link, a second door link and at least one ternary link, the first door link being rotatably coupled to the first door and the at least one ternary link, the second door being rotatably coupled to the second door and the at least one ternary link.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2008
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Inventors: Mahendra Madhukar PATIL, Timothy Scott Shaffer, Derek Lee Watkins