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).

  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • Patent number: 8845326
    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: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Timothy Scott Shaffer, Eric K. Watson, Brian Michael Schork, Paul Bryan Cadima, Paul E. McCrorey
  • Publication number: 20140262994
    Abstract: An apparatus includes an interlocking member being disposed radially outward of a portion of the apparatus, wherein the interlocking member comprises a tapered helical interface following an outwardly tapering helical path on an annular outer wall of the interlocking member and including at least one depression defined thereon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventor: Timothy Scott Shaffer
  • Publication number: 20140238919
    Abstract: A filter canister apparatus for engagement with a manifold includes an inlet annular recess defined by a mating surface, and at least a first set of embossments displaced and/or defined upon the mating surface separated approximately 180 degrees apart from each other, and a second set of embossments displaced and/or defined upon the mating surface separated approximately 180 degrees apart from each other, such that each set of embossments is separated relative to each other set by an angular spacing in the range of approximately 30-90 degrees on the mating surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2013
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: Timothy Scott Shaffer
  • Publication number: 20140202940
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a canister comprising a venturi component. The venturi component includes a check valve and a channel defined in the venturi component coupling the check valve to an interior cavity of the canister. Another apparatus additionally includes a plenum fluidly coupled to a venturi component via a channel defined in the venturi component such that a check valve only permits fluid to travel from the plenum into the canister.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2013
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Timothy Scott Shaffer
  • Publication number: 20140190582
    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: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2013
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: Timothy Scott Shaffer
  • Publication number: 20140182744
    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: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2013
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: Timothy Scott Shaffer
  • Patent number: 8757138
    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: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Timothy Scott Shaffer, Ariel Marie Young
  • Publication number: 20140158590
    Abstract: An apparatus includes multiple manifolds, an inlet connecting line fluidly coupled to a flow inlet channel defined within a first manifold to a flow inlet channel defined within a second manifold, and an outlet connecting line fluidly coupled to a flow outlet channel defined within the first manifold and to a flow outlet channel defined within the second manifold. Another apparatus includes a plenum coupled to a surface of a multiple manifold apparatus including a influent channel fluidly coupled to a flow inlet channel defined within a first manifold and to a flow inlet channel defined within a second manifold, wherein the plenum also includes a secondary flow channel fluidly coupled to a flow outlet channel defined within the first manifold and to a flow outlet channel defined within the second manifold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2012
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: Timothy Scott Shaffer
  • Publication number: 20140150906
    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: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2012
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Timothy Scott Shaffer, Mark Anthony Copelli, James Robert White, Michael Lee Alsip
  • Publication number: 20140151280
    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: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2012
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: Timothy Scott Shaffer
  • Publication number: 20140151281
    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: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2012
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Timothy Scott Shaffer, Michael Lee Alsip
  • Publication number: 20140144824
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a fluid filter canister that includes an internal seal disposed within an inlet recess to provide a seal between a flow of unfiltered fluid into the filter canister and the ambient environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2012
    Publication date: May 29, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: Timothy Scott SHAFFER
  • Publication number: 20140144172
    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: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2012
    Publication date: May 29, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: Timothy Scott Shaffer
  • Publication number: 20140144173
    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: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2012
    Publication date: May 29, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Timothy Scott Shaffer, William A. Baker
  • Publication number: 20140124501
    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: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2012
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Timothy Scott Shaffer, John Stanley Glaser
  • Patent number: 8702873
    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: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Timothy Scott Shaffer, Ronald Scott Tarr, Matthew David Mersch, James Quentin Pollett, Kyle Kozinski