Patents by Inventor Steven J. Joerger

Steven J. Joerger 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: 8449006
    Abstract: A technique and various door/latch structures are provided to deal efficiently and effectively with excessive appliance door closure/opening forces that can arise in the case that the door strike extension depth is not ideally matched to the relative location of the mating latch mechanism. This is particularly useful in connection with the use of a push-push style access door that must be compressed against a compressible seal gasket in order to effect both opening and closing of the door. A strike member is mounted to one of an appliance cabinet and door so as to be engagable with a latch mechanism when the door is in the closed position. The installing involves initially tentatively mounting the strike in a first of at least two provisioned ways, to thereby provide a first of at least two different strike extension depths. The door operation is then tested to determine whether an excessive operation force is required in order to open or close the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Electrolux Home Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven J. Joerger, Chris H. Hill, Jason Schott, Douglas C. Norman
  • Publication number: 20120241303
    Abstract: An electronics enclosure and associated components form a self-contained, unitized assembly including control buttons and illuminated indicator elements, that can be mated as a single piece with an outer user interface control panel fascia. A front panel of the electronics enclosure provides a mounting location for various buttons and lighted indicators that will show through mating apertures provided in the control panel fascia. This may include light pipe collars and integral spring levers. Specially configured cup structures may be integrally molded at the ends of the spring levers to provide electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection. A mount of planar spring button pieces on the front enclosure panel, over the associated spring levers, results in an assembly incorporating two springs serving to bias the associated button to its return position, and eliminating any rattle or looseness of the parts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2012
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Applicant: ELECTROLUX HOME PRODUCTS, INC.
    Inventors: Lee A. ROOSE, William M. MONSON, Michael P. RICKLEFS, Steven J. JOERGER
  • Patent number: 8178802
    Abstract: An electronics enclosure and associated components form a self-contained, unitized assembly including control buttons and illuminated indicator elements, that can be mated as a single piece with an outer user interface control panel fascia. A front panel of the electronics enclosure provides a mounting location for various buttons and lighted indicators that will show through mating apertures provided in the control panel fascia. This may include light pipe collars and integral spring levers. Specially configured cup structures may be integrally molded at the ends of the spring levers to provide electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection. A mount of planar spring button pieces on the front enclosure panel, over the associated spring levers, results in an assembly incorporating two springs serving to bias the associated button to its return position, and eliminating any rattle or looseness of the parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Electrolux Home Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Lee A. Roose, William M. Monson, Michael P. Ricklefs, Steven J. Joerger, Brian D. Ripley, Sean F. Myers
  • Publication number: 20100025214
    Abstract: An electronics enclosure and associated components form a self-contained, unitized assembly including control buttons and illuminated indicator elements, that can be mated as a single piece with an outer user interface control panel fascia. A front panel of the electronics enclosure provides a mounting location for various buttons and lighted indicators that will show through mating apertures provided in the control panel fascia. This may include light pipe collars and integral spring levers. Specially configured cup structures may be integrally molded at the ends of the spring levers to provide electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection. A mount of planar spring button pieces on the front enclosure panel, over the associated spring levers, results in an assembly incorporating two springs serving to bias the associated button to its return position, and eliminating any rattle or looseness of the parts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2008
    Publication date: February 4, 2010
    Applicant: Electrolux Home Products
    Inventors: Lee A. Roose, William M. Monson, Michael P. Ricklefs, Steven J. Joerger, Brian D. Ripley, Sean F. Myers
  • Publication number: 20100026015
    Abstract: A technique and various door/latch structures are provided to deal efficiently and effectively with excessive appliance door closure/opening forces that can arise in the case that the door strike extension depth is not ideally matched to the relative location of the mating latch mechanism. This is particularly useful in connection with the use of a push-push style access door that must be compressed against a compressible seal gasket in order to effect both opening and closing of the door. A strike member is mounted to one of an appliance cabinet and door so as to be engagable with a latch mechanism when the door is in the closed position. The installing involves initially tentatively mounting the strike in a first of at least two provisioned ways, to thereby provide a first of at least two different strike extension depths. The door operation is then tested to determine whether an excessive operation force is required in order to open or close the door.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2008
    Publication date: February 4, 2010
    Applicant: ELECTROLUX HOME PRODUCTS
    Inventors: Steven J. Joerger, Chris H. Hill, Jason Schott, Douglas C. Norman
  • Patent number: D576364
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Electrolux Home Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Melissa M. Reim, Renato H. Honfi, Steven J. Joerger, Robin A. Hultman, Charles M. Fischels, Michael P. Ricklefs, Brian D. Ripley