Patents by Inventor Timothy Scott Shaffer
Timothy 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).
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Publication number: 20240102672Abstract: An air conditioner unit and a film heating assembly for use in the air conditioner unit, the air conditioner unit comprising a bulkhead defining an indoor portion and an outdoor portion and an indoor fan positioned within the indoor portion for selectively urging a flow of air through an indoor heat exchanger. The film heating assembly comprises a plurality of thick film heaters mounted to the bulkhead and an electrical relay system for selectively coupling the plurality of thick film heaters to an external power source.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 27, 2022Publication date: March 28, 2024Inventors: Bryan Isaac D'Souza, Richard Dustin Henderson, Charles D. Robinson, III, Joshua Duane Longenecker, Timothy Scott Shaffer
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Patent number: 11920802Abstract: An air conditioner unit includes an indoor heat exchanger assembly positioned in an indoor portion of the air conditioner unit. The indoor heat exchanger assembly includes an indoor heat exchanger and an indoor fan. The air conditioner unit also includes a heating unit. The heating unit may be positioned in the indoor portion of the air conditioner unit downstream of the indoor fan and/or at the exhaust side of the indoor fan.Type: GrantFiled: August 8, 2022Date of Patent: March 5, 2024Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.Inventors: Charles D. Robinson, III, Joshua Duane Longenecker, Richard Dustin Henderson, Bryan Isaac D'Souza, Timothy Scott Shaffer
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Publication number: 20240044526Abstract: An air conditioner unit includes an indoor heat exchanger assembly positioned in an indoor portion of the air conditioner unit. The indoor heat exchanger assembly includes an indoor heat exchanger and an indoor fan. The air conditioner unit also includes a heating unit. The heating unit may be positioned in the indoor portion of the air conditioner unit downstream of the indoor fan and/or at the exhaust side of the indoor fan.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 8, 2022Publication date: February 8, 2024Inventors: Joshua Duane Longenecker, Bryan Isaac D'Souza, Richard Dustin Henderson, Charles D. Robinson, III, Timothy Scott Shaffer
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Publication number: 20240044524Abstract: An air conditioner unit includes an indoor heat exchanger assembly positioned in an indoor portion of the air conditioner unit. The indoor heat exchanger assembly includes an indoor heat exchanger and an indoor fan. The air conditioner unit also includes a heating unit. The heating unit may be positioned in the indoor portion of the air conditioner unit downstream of the indoor fan and/or at the exhaust side of the indoor fan.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 8, 2022Publication date: February 8, 2024Inventors: Charles D. Robinson, III, Joshua Duane Longenecker, Richard Dustin Henderson, Bryan Isaac D'Souza, Timothy Scott Shaffer
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Publication number: 20240003585Abstract: A method for operating an appliance is provided. The appliance includes a plurality of power actuatable devices and a controller in operable communication with the plurality of power actuatable devices. The controller is configured to receive a control command corresponding to providing power to a first power actuatable device and determine whether a second power actuatable device is in a power receiving state below a power threshold or above the power threshold. When the power receiving state of the second power actuatable device is above the power threshold, the controller is configured to monitor the power receiving state of the second power actuatable device until the power receiving state is below the power threshold. When the power receiving state of the second power actuatable device is below the power threshold, the controller is configured to provide power to the first power actuatable device based on the control command.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 30, 2022Publication date: January 4, 2024Inventors: Joshua Duane Longenecker, Timothy Scott Shaffer
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Publication number: 20230390683Abstract: A single-package air conditioner unit includes a housing defining an outdoor portion and an indoor portion, an outdoor heat exchanger assembly disposed in the outdoor portion and comprising an outdoor heat exchanger and an outdoor fan, an indoor heat exchanger assembly disposed in the indoor portion and comprising an indoor heat exchanger and an indoor fan, an intake conduit extending from the housing and defining a primary air flow path upstream from the indoor heat exchanger assembly and a make-up air (MUA) air flow path, the MUA air flow bath being non-sequential with the primary air flow path, and a filter tray received within the intake conduit along the MUA air flow path, the filter tray defining a filter reception zone within the intake conduit to receive a filter cartridge therein.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 2, 2022Publication date: December 7, 2023Inventors: Joseph Robert Tobbe, Charles D. Robinson, III, Timothy Scott Shaffer
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Patent number: 11796192Abstract: A single-package air conditioning appliance includes a housing defining an outdoor portion and an indoor portion. An outdoor heat exchanger assembly is disposed in the outdoor portion. The outdoor heat exchanger assembly includes an outdoor heat exchanger and an outdoor fan. An indoor heat exchanger assembly is disposed in the indoor portion. The indoor heat exchanger assembly includes an indoor heat exchanger and an indoor fan. A compressor is in fluid communication with the outdoor heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger to circulate a refrigerant between the outdoor heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger. The single-package air conditioner unit also includes a make-up air module mounted on an external surface of the housing.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2019Date of Patent: October 24, 2023Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.Inventors: Timothy Scott Shaffer, Stephen D. Hatcher, Richard Michael Phillips
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Patent number: 11795940Abstract: An air conditioner unit includes a cabinet including a base pan that defines at least one alignment feature and a compressor mounted to the base pan using mechanical fasteners that pass through mounting feet and into mounting bosses defined on the base pan. A damper is positioned between the compressor and the base pan and includes a lower pad seated on the base pan, an upper pad extending from the lower pad along the vertical direction and contacting a bottom surface of the compressor, and at least one stopping feature defined on the lower pad or the upper pad, the at least one stopping feature engaging the at least one alignment feature to prevent rotation of the damper.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 2021Date of Patent: October 24, 2023Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.Inventors: Charles D. Robinson, III, Joseph Robert Tobbe, Timothy Scott Shaffer
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Patent number: 11739953Abstract: An air conditioning appliance or a make-up air (MUA) assembly may include an intake conduit and a secondary air duct. The intake conduit may be attachable to a housing of the air conditioning appliance. The intake conduit may define an intake passage upstream from the indoor inlet. The intake conduit may further define a secondary inlet upstream from the intake passage to permit air thereto. The secondary air duct may extend from the intake conduit outside of the housing upstream from the secondary inlet to direct air thereto.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2021Date of Patent: August 29, 2023Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.Inventors: Eric Ormsby Sakal, Joseph Robert Tobbe, Joshua Duane Longenecker, Charles D. Robinson, III, Cody Ewing, Timothy Scott Shaffer
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Patent number: 11719448Abstract: An air conditioner unit may include a housing, an outdoor heat exchanger assembly, an indoor heat exchanger assembly, a compressor, and a sterilization light assembly. The housing may define an indoor portion and an outdoor portion. The housing may further define an exhaust outlet downstream from the indoor portion to exhaust air therefrom. The outdoor heat exchanger assembly may be disposed in the outdoor portion and include an outdoor heat exchanger. The indoor heat exchanger assembly may be disposed in the indoor portion and include an indoor heat exchanger and an indoor fan. The compressor may be in fluid communication with the outdoor heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger to circulate a refrigerant between the outdoor heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger. The sterilization light assembly may be disposed within the indoor portion and directed at the indoor fan to transmit an ultraviolet light emission thereto.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 2021Date of Patent: August 8, 2023Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.Inventors: Michael Robin Blackwood, Timothy Scott Shaffer, John Huguenard, Stephen Budelsky
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Patent number: 11713901Abstract: An air conditioner unit includes a housing defining an outdoor portion and an indoor portion. A makeup air intake duct and a makeup air exhaust duct are disposed above the housing. The air conditioner unit also includes an air to air heat exchanger. The air to air heat exchanger includes a first inlet side attached to the makeup air intake duct, a second inlet side, a first outlet side, and a second outlet side attached to the makeup air exhaust duct. The air to air heat exchanger also includes one or more alternating top layers and bottom layers. The one or more top layers are in fluid communication with the first inlet side and the first outlet side, and the one or more bottom layers are in fluid communication with the second inlet side and the second outlet side.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 2021Date of Patent: August 1, 2023Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.Inventors: Timothy Scott Shaffer, Eric Ormsby Sakal, Charles D. Robinson, III
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Publication number: 20230228447Abstract: Air conditioner units and methods of operating the same are provided. A method of operating an air conditioner unit includes activating a makeup air system of the air conditioner unit. The makeup air system directs a flow of outside air from the makeup air system to an indoor portion of a housing of the air conditioner unit. The method also includes activating an indoor fan disposed in the indoor portion of the air conditioner unit at a fan speed at least equal to a minimum circulation threshold speed in response to the makeup air system being activated. Activating the indoor fan causes the flow of outside air from the makeup air system to be urged through the indoor portion of the housing. An air conditioner unit may include a controller, and the controller may be configured for performing the method.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 18, 2022Publication date: July 20, 2023Inventors: Joshua Duane Longenecker, Charles D. Robinson, III, Timothy Scott Shaffer
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Patent number: 11692720Abstract: An air conditioner unit may include a housing, an outdoor heat exchanger assembly, an indoor heat exchanger assembly, a compressor, a bulkhead, and a sterilization light assembly. The housing may define an indoor portion and an outdoor portion. The housing may further define an exhaust outlet downstream from the indoor portion to exhaust air. The outdoor heat exchanger assembly may be disposed in the outdoor portion and include an outdoor heat exchanger. The indoor heat exchanger assembly may be disposed in the indoor portion and include an indoor heat exchanger and an indoor fan. The bulkhead may be disposed between the outdoor heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger along a transverse direction to define the indoor portion and the outdoor portion. The bulkhead may further define a vent aperture therethrough. The sterilization light assembly may be disposed within the indoor portion downstream from the vent aperture.Type: GrantFiled: May 3, 2021Date of Patent: July 4, 2023Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.Inventors: Timothy Scott Shaffer, Craig Benjamin Williams, Stephen Budelsky
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Publication number: 20230138109Abstract: An air conditioner unit includes a compressor for circulating refrigerant through refrigeration loop, an indoor fan, and an outdoor fan. A controller is configured to operate the air conditioner unit in a standard mode of operation to heat a room, determine that an occupant is present in the room, and operate the air conditioner unit in an occupant mode of operation in response to determining that the occupant is present in the room. The occupant mode of operation includes adjusting at least one operating parameter of the air conditioner unit to increase a discharge temperature of a flow of indoor air relative to the standard mode of operation.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 29, 2021Publication date: May 4, 2023Inventors: Timothy Scott Shaffer, Joshua Duane Longenecker
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Patent number: 11604006Abstract: An air conditioner unit includes a housing with an outdoor heat exchanger assembly and an indoor heat exchanger assembly therein. A makeup air intake duct an a makeup are exhaust duct are disposed above the housing parallel to each other. The air conditioner unit also includes a heat exchanger having a first coil and a second coil. The first coil is disposed within the makeup air intake duct. The second coil is disposed with the makeup air exhaust duct. The heat exchanger also includes a first pipe connecting an outlet of the first coil to an inlet of the second coil and a second pipe connecting an outlet of the second coil to an inlet of the first coil.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 2021Date of Patent: March 14, 2023Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.Inventors: Timothy Scott Shaffer, Eric Ormsby Sakal, Joseph Robert Tobbe
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Patent number: 11585547Abstract: An air conditioner unit may include a housing, an outdoor heat exchanger assembly, an indoor heat exchanger assembly, a compressor, and a sterilization light assembly. The housing may define an indoor portion and an outdoor portion. The housing may define an exhaust outlet downstream from the indoor portion to exhaust air therefrom. The outdoor heat exchanger assembly may be disposed in the outdoor portion and comprising an outdoor heat exchanger. The indoor heat exchanger assembly may be disposed in the indoor portion and comprising an indoor heat exchanger and an indoor fan. The compressor may be in fluid communication with the outdoor heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger to circulate a refrigerant between the outdoor heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger. The sterilization light assembly may be disposed within the indoor portion and directed at the indoor heat exchanger to transmit an ultraviolet light emission thereto.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2021Date of Patent: February 21, 2023Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.Inventors: Timothy Scott Shaffer, Craig Benjamin Williams, Stephen Budelsky, Venkateswarlu Vivaram
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Patent number: 11578884Abstract: An air conditioner unit may include a housing, an outdoor heat exchanger assembly, an indoor heat exchanger assembly, a compressor, and a sterilization light assembly. The housing may define an indoor portion and an outdoor portion. The housing may further define an exhaust outlet downstream from the indoor portion to exhaust air therefrom. The sterilization light assembly may be disposed within the housing to transmit an ultraviolet light emission thereto. The sterilization light assembly may include a support board, an ultraviolet C (UVC) light source, and a lens casing. The UVC light source may be mounted to the support board and configured to emit radiation between 200 to 280 nanometers. The lens casing may be disposed over the support board and seal the UVC light source to prevent moisture from contacting the UVC light source.Type: GrantFiled: May 11, 2021Date of Patent: February 14, 2023Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.Inventors: Timothy Scott Shaffer, Craig Benjamin Williams, Stephen Budelsky
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Publication number: 20230028978Abstract: An air conditioner unit may include a housing, an outdoor heat exchanger, an indoor heat exchanger, a compressor, a sterilization light assembly, and a controller. The housing may define an indoor portion and an outdoor portion. The housing may further define an exhaust outlet downstream from the indoor portion to exhaust air therefrom. The sterilization light assembly may be disposed within the indoor portion. The controller may be in operable communication with the indoor fan and the sterilization light assembly. The controller may be configured to initiate a sterilizing operation. The sterilizing operation may include directing activation of the indoor fan to motivate air through the indoor portion, detecting activation of the indoor fan to motivate air through the indoor portion, and directing activation of the sterilization light assembly to transmit an ultraviolet light emission within the indoor portion based on detected activation of the indoor fan.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 22, 2021Publication date: January 26, 2023Inventors: Craig Benjamin Williams, Timothy Scott Shaffer
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Publication number: 20220412590Abstract: An air conditioning appliance includes a heat exchanger disposed within a housing. A compressor is in fluid communication with the heat exchanger. The compressor is operable to circulate refrigerant through the heat exchanger. A fan is disposed within the housing. The fan is operable to flow air over the heat exchanger. A circuit board is disposed within the housing, and a heat sink is mounted to the circuit board. The heat sink positioned such that the fan flows air over the heat sink during operation of the fan. A temperature sensor is disposed at one or both of the heat sink and the circuit board. A controller is in operative communication with the temperature sensor. The controller is configured to receive a signal from the temperature sensor corresponding to a temperature measurement and to activate an alert at least partially in response to the temperature measurement exceeding a temperature limit.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 28, 2021Publication date: December 29, 2022Inventors: Timothy Scott Shaffer, Joseph Robert Tobbe
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Publication number: 20220403837Abstract: An air conditioner unit includes a cabinet including a base pan that defines at least one alignment feature and a compressor mounted to the base pan using mechanical fasteners that pass through mounting feet and into mounting bosses defined on the base pan. A damper is positioned between the compressor and the base pan and includes a lower pad seated on the base pan, an upper pad extending from the lower pad along the vertical direction and contacting a bottom surface of the compressor, and at least one stopping feature defined on the lower pad or the upper pad, the at least one stopping feature engaging the at least one alignment feature to prevent rotation of the damper.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 18, 2021Publication date: December 22, 2022Inventors: Charles D. Robinson, III, Joseph Robert Tobbe, Timothy Scott Shaffer