The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 13, 2026
Filed:
Apr. 26, 2024
Haier Us Appliance Solutions, Inc., Wilmington, DE (US);
Walter S. Pozgay, Louisville, KY (US);
Ronald Gary Foster, Louisville, KY (US);
Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc., Wilmington, DE (US);
Abstract
A refrigerator appliance includes a cabinet, at least one sensor positioned within the cabinet, and at least one water valve positioned within the cabinet. A method of operating a refrigerator appliance includes determining the refrigerator appliance is operating according to a predetermined operating mode; detecting, via the at least one sensor, a flow of water within the refrigerator appliance; determining a length of time for which the water flows upon detecting the flow of water; determining that the length of time for which the water flows is greater than a first predetermined threshold length of time; and implementing a responsive action in response to determining that the length of time is greater than the first predetermined threshold length of time, wherein the responsive action includes emitting a notification to a remote connected device.