Patents by Inventor Troy Marshall Wright

Troy Marshall Wright 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: 20240035223
    Abstract: A laundry treatment appliance includes a cabinet defining a drawer receiving space, a tub accommodated within the cabinet, the tub storing water, a basket rotatably mounted within the tub to rotate about a rotation axis, and a dispenser drawer slidably received within the drawer receiving space, the dispenser drawer being fluidly coupled to the tub. The dispenser drawer includes a base plate, a plurality of body walls extending from the base plate along the vertical direction to define a detergent chamber, and a plurality of inner partition portions protruding from the base plate along the vertical direction, wherein the plurality of inner partition portions defines a pod compartment within the detergent chamber, the pod compartment being in fluid communication with the detergent chamber through one or more portions of the plurality of inner partition portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2022
    Publication date: February 1, 2024
    Inventors: Christopher Jaynes, Karlarrious Dawain Donar, Jr., Christopher Gene Vowels, V V Subrahmanyeswara Rao Kasa, Troy Marshall Wright
  • Patent number: 11859339
    Abstract: A washing machine appliance defines a mutually perpendicular vertical direction, lateral direction, and transverse direction. The washing machine appliance includes a cabinet and a top cover. A wash tub is mounted within the cabinet and a wash basket is mounted rotatably within the wash tub. The wash basket is accessible through an opening in the top cover. A bulk tank is mounted inside the top cover. The washing machine appliance further includes a dispensing pump spaced apart from the bulk tank and in fluid communication with the bulk tank. The dispensing pump is operable to draw a liquid additive from the bulk tank. The washing machine appliance also includes a dispenser box downstream of the dispensing pump and upstream of the wash tub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Karlarrious Dawain Donar, Jr., Christopher Gene Vowels, Troy Marshall Wright
  • Patent number: 11795604
    Abstract: A washing machine appliance defines a mutually perpendicular vertical direction, lateral direction, and transverse direction. The washing machine appliance includes a cabinet having an opening defined in and through a top cover thereof. A wash tub is mounted within the cabinet and a wash basket is mounted rotatably within the wash tub. The wash basket is accessible through the opening in the top cover. A dispensing assembly includes a dispenser box mounted above the wash tub, a shower plate positioned within the dispenser box and defining a plurality of water supply apertures, lateral suspension arms that extend downward from the shower plate along a vertical direction, and a detergent drawer defining one or more detergent reservoirs, the detergent drawer being directly supported by the lateral suspension arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Karlarrious Dawain Donar, Jr., Christopher Gene Vowels, Troy Marshall Wright
  • Publication number: 20230050502
    Abstract: A washing machine appliance defines a mutually perpendicular vertical direction, lateral direction, and transverse direction. The washing machine appliance includes a cabinet having an opening defined in and through a top cover thereof. A wash tub is mounted within the cabinet and a wash basket is mounted rotatably within the wash tub. The wash basket is accessible through the opening in the top cover. A dispensing assembly includes a dispenser box mounted above the wash tub, a shower plate positioned within the dispenser box and defining a plurality of water supply apertures, lateral suspension arms that extend downward from the shower plate along a vertical direction, and a detergent drawer defining one or more detergent reservoirs, the detergent drawer being directly supported by the lateral suspension arms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2021
    Publication date: February 16, 2023
    Inventors: Karlarrious Dawain Donar, JR., Christopher Gene Vowels, Troy Marshall Wright
  • Publication number: 20230040628
    Abstract: A washing machine appliance defines a mutually perpendicular vertical direction, lateral direction, and transverse direction. The washing machine appliance includes a cabinet and a top cover. A wash tub is mounted within the cabinet and a wash basket is mounted rotatably within the wash tub. The wash basket is accessible through an opening in the top cover. A bulk tank is mounted inside the top cover. The washing machine appliance further includes a dispensing pump spaced apart from the bulk tank and in fluid communication with the bulk tank. The dispensing pump is operable to draw a liquid additive from the bulk tank. The washing machine appliance also includes a dispenser box downstream of the dispensing pump and upstream of the wash tub.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2021
    Publication date: February 9, 2023
    Inventors: Karlarrious Dawain Donar, Jr., Christopher Gene Vowels, Troy Marshall Wright
  • Patent number: 11447908
    Abstract: A washing machine appliance, as provided herein, may include a fluid additive dispenser and a controller. The fluid additive dispenser may include a housing, a dispenser drawer, a water supply conduit, a first water valve, a shower plate, and a second water valve. The water supply conduit may be directed to the pod compartment defined by the dispenser drawer and define a water inlet. The shower plate may be disposed upstream from a primary compartment and the pod compartment. The controller may be configured to initiate a washing operation that includes initiating a wetting water flow at the second water valve to the pod compartment through the shower plate, initiating a break water flow to the pod compartment through the water supply conduit following the wetting water flow, and initiating a fill water flow through the shower plate following the break water flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Fikreadam Abebe Damtew, Troy Marshall Wright, James Quentin Pollett, Ryan Ellis Leonard
  • Patent number: 11421370
    Abstract: A washing machine appliance includes a cabinet, a tub positioned within the cabinet, and a basket rotatably mounted within the tub. The basket defines a wash chamber for receipt of articles for washing. The basket is positioned proximate an aperture in the cabinet and, as a result of such positioning, the wash chamber is accessible through the aperture. A door is rotatably mounted to the cabinet. A lock is configured to engage the door and prevent the door from rotating when the door is closed and the lock is locked. A light is mounted to the lock and the light is positioned and oriented to illuminate the wash chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Troy Marshall Wright, Peter Hans Bensel
  • Patent number: 11384473
    Abstract: A washing machine appliance, as provided herein, may include a cabinet, a tub disposed within the cabinet, a basket, and a fluid additive dispenser. The fluid additive dispenser may include a housing, a dispenser drawer, and a pod cup. The housing may extend between an open front end and a closed rear end. The housing may be disposed within the cabinet. The dispenser drawer may be slidably received in the housing above the basket. The dispenser drawer may extend from a forward end to a rearward end. The dispenser drawer may define a primary compartment and a pod compartment adjacent to the primary compartment between the forward end and the rearward end. The pod cup may be selectively received on the dispenser drawer within the pod compartment to hold an additive pod. The pod cup may define an opening therein to permit a wash fluid therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Fikreadam Abebe Damtew, Troy Marshall Wright, James Quentin Pollett
  • Patent number: 11359326
    Abstract: A washing machine appliance, as provided herein, may include a cabinet, a tub, a basket, and a fluid additive dispenser. The fluid additive dispenser may include a housing and a dispenser drawer. The housing may extend between an open front end and a closed rear end. The housing may be disposed within the cabinet. The dispenser drawer may be selectively received in the housing above the basket. The dispenser drawer may extend from a forward end proximate to the rotation axis to a rearward end distal to the rotation axis. The dispenser drawer may define a primary compartment and a pod compartment adjacent to the primary compartment between the forward end and the rearward end. The dispenser drawer may further define a pod outlet extending through a wall of the pod compartment to direct a wash fluid therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Fikreadam Abebe Damtew, Troy Marshall Wright, James Quentin Pollett
  • Patent number: 11352730
    Abstract: A washing machine appliance as provided herein, may include a cabinet, a tub, a fluid additive dispenser, and a controller. The tub may be disposed within the cabinet. The fluid additive dispenser may include a housing, a dispenser drawer, a water supply conduit, a conduit water valve, and an optical sensor. The optical sensor may be mounted to a housing and directed at a pod compartment. The controller may be operably coupled to the fluid additive dispenser and may be configured to initiate a washing operation. The washing operation may include receiving an image signal from the optical sensor, determining a pod characteristic within the pod compartment based on the received image signal, and directing water to the pod compartment based on the determined pod characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: James Quentin Pollett, Fikreadam Abebe Damtew, Troy Marshall Wright
  • Patent number: 11332874
    Abstract: A washing machine appliance, as provided herein, may include a cabinet, a tub, a basket, and a fluid additive dispenser. The fluid additive dispenser may include a housing and a dispenser drawer. The housing may extend between an open front end and a closed rear end. The housing may be disposed within the cabinet. The dispenser drawer may be selectively received in the housing above the basket. The dispenser drawer may extend from a forward end proximate to the rotation axis to a rearward end distal to the rotation axis. The dispenser drawer may define a primary compartment and a pod compartment adjacent to the primary compartment between the forward end and the rearward end. The dispenser drawer may further define a pod outlet extending through a wall of the pod compartment to direct a wash fluid therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Fikreadam Abebe Damtew, Troy Marshall Wright, James Quentin Pollett
  • Patent number: 11280041
    Abstract: A washing machine appliance, as provided herein, may include a cabinet, a tub, a basket, and a fluid additive dispenser. The cabinet may have a top panel. The tub may define a wash chamber. The basket may be rotatably mounted within the tub. The fluid additive dispenser may include a housing, a dispenser drawer, a primary cup, and a secondary cup. The housing may be mounted below the top panel. The dispenser drawer may be selectively received in the housing above the basket. The dispenser drawer may define a primary compartment and a secondary compartment. The primary cup may be selectively received within the primary compartment and define a vertical opening therethrough to permit a first wash additive to the primary compartment. The secondary cup may be selectively received within the secondary compartment and define a vertical opening therethrough to permit the second wash additive to the secondary compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Troy Marshall Wright, Rose Marie Connelly
  • Patent number: 11203832
    Abstract: A washing appliance or additive dispensing assembly, as provided herein, may include a dispenser, a water intake, and a bulk tank. The dispenser may include a compartment to receive an additive pod. The dispenser may define a nozzle above the wash chamber to direct a wash fluid to a wash chamber. The water intake may be mounted to the dispenser in upstream fluid communication with the compartment to direct a water flow to the additive pod. The bulk tank may be spaced apart from the dispenser within a washing appliance. The bulk tank may define a reservoir in upstream fluid communication with the compartment to direct an additive flow thereto. The bulk tank may be attached to the dispenser in fluid parallel to the water intake.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Troy Marshall Wright
  • Publication number: 20210254261
    Abstract: A washing machine appliance, as provided herein, may include a cabinet, a tub disposed within the cabinet, a basket, and a fluid additive dispenser. The fluid additive dispenser may include a housing, a dispenser drawer, and a pod cup. The housing may extend between an open front end and a closed rear end. The housing may be disposed within the cabinet. The dispenser drawer may be slidably received in the housing above the basket. The dispenser drawer may extend from a forward end to a rearward end. The dispenser drawer may define a primary compartment and a pod compartment adjacent to the primary compartment between the forward end and the rearward end. The pod cup may be selectively received on the dispenser drawer within the pod compartment to hold an additive pod. The pod cup may define an opening therein to permit a wash fluid therethrough.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2020
    Publication date: August 19, 2021
    Inventors: Fikreadam Abebe Damtew, Troy Marshall Wright, James Quentin Pollett
  • Publication number: 20210254262
    Abstract: A washing machine appliance, as provided herein, may include a fluid additive dispenser and a controller. The fluid additive dispenser may include a housing, a dispenser drawer, a water supply conduit, a first water valve, a shower plate, and a second water valve. The water supply conduit may be directed to the pod compartment defined by the dispenser drawer and define a water inlet. The shower plate may be disposed upstream from a primary compartment and the pod compartment. The controller may be configured to initiate a washing operation that includes initiating a wetting water flow at the second water valve to the pod compartment through the shower plate, initiating a break water flow to the pod compartment through the water supply conduit following the wetting water flow, and initiating a fill water flow through the shower plate following the break water flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2020
    Publication date: August 19, 2021
    Inventors: Fikreadam Abebe Damtew, Troy Marshall Wright, James Quentin Pollett, Ryan Ellis Leonard
  • Publication number: 20210254253
    Abstract: A washing machine appliance as provided herein, may include a cabinet, a tub, a fluid additive dispenser, and a controller. The tub may be disposed within the cabinet. The fluid additive dispenser may include a housing, a dispenser drawer, a water supply conduit, a conduit water valve, and an optical sensor. The optical sensor may be mounted to a housing and directed at a pod compartment. The controller may be operably coupled to the fluid additive dispenser and may be configured to initiate a washing operation. The washing operation may include receiving an image signal from the optical sensor, determining a pod characteristic within the pod compartment based on the received image signal, and directing water to the pod compartment based on the determined pod characteristic.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2020
    Publication date: August 19, 2021
    Inventors: James Quentin Pollett, Fikreadam Abebe Damtew, Troy Marshall Wright
  • Publication number: 20210254258
    Abstract: A washing machine appliance, as provided herein, may include a cabinet, a tub, a basket, and a fluid additive dispenser. The fluid additive dispenser may include a housing and a dispenser drawer. The housing may extend between an open front end and a closed rear end. The housing may be disposed within the cabinet. The dispenser drawer may be selectively received in the housing above the basket. The dispenser drawer may extend from a forward end proximate to the rotation axis to a rearward end distal to the rotation axis. The dispenser drawer may define a primary compartment and a pod compartment adjacent to the primary compartment between the forward end and the rearward end. The dispenser drawer may further define a pod outlet extending through a wall of the pod compartment to direct a wash fluid therefrom.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2020
    Publication date: August 19, 2021
    Inventors: Fikreadam Abebe Damtew, Troy Marshall Wright, James Quentin Pollett
  • Publication number: 20210254260
    Abstract: A washing machine appliance, as provided herein, may include a cabinet, a tub, a basket, and a fluid additive dispenser. The fluid additive dispenser may include a housing and a dispenser drawer. The housing may extend between an open front end and a closed rear end. The housing may be disposed within the cabinet. The dispenser drawer may be selectively received in the housing above the basket. The dispenser drawer may extend from a forward end proximate to the rotation axis to a rearward end distal to the rotation axis. The dispenser drawer may define a primary compartment and a pod compartment adjacent to the primary compartment between the forward end and the rearward end. The dispenser drawer may further define a pod outlet extending through a wall of the pod compartment to direct a wash fluid therefrom.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2020
    Publication date: August 19, 2021
    Inventors: Fikreadam Abebe Damtew, Troy Marshall Wright, James Quentin Pollett
  • Publication number: 20210230785
    Abstract: A washing machine appliance, as provided herein, may include a cabinet, a tub, a basket, and a fluid additive dispenser. The cabinet may have a top panel. The tub may define a wash chamber. The basket may be rotatably mounted within the tub. The fluid additive dispenser may include a housing, a dispenser drawer, a primary cup, and a secondary cup. The housing may be mounted below the top panel. The dispenser drawer may be selectively received in the housing above the basket. The dispenser drawer may define a primary compartment and a secondary compartment. The primary cup may be selectively received within the primary compartment and define a vertical opening therethrough to permit a first wash additive to the primary compartment. The secondary cup may be selectively received within the secondary compartment and define a vertical opening therethrough to permit the second wash additive to the secondary compartment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2020
    Publication date: July 29, 2021
    Inventors: Troy Marshall Wright, Rose Marie Connelly
  • Publication number: 20210222348
    Abstract: A washing machine appliance includes a cabinet, a tub positioned within the cabinet, and a basket rotatably mounted within the tub. The basket defines a wash chamber for receipt of articles for washing. The basket is positioned proximate an aperture in the cabinet and, as a result of such positioning, the wash chamber is accessible through the aperture. A door is rotatably mounted to the cabinet. A lock is configured to engage the door and prevent the door from rotating when the door is closed and the lock is locked. A light is mounted to the lock and the light is positioned and oriented to illuminate the wash chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2020
    Publication date: July 22, 2021
    Inventors: Troy Marshall Wright, Peter Hans Bensel