Patents Represented by Attorney McGarry Bair PC

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  • Adapter for docking a consumer electronic device in discrete orientations
    Patent number: 8018716
    Abstract: A modular system comprises an appliance conducting a useful cycle of operation, a consumer electronic device removably mounted to the appliance and having a user interface for controlling a primary function of the consumer electronic device, and an adapter mounting the consumer electronic device to the appliance for movement between a first orientation, where the user interface is accessible to a user, and a second orientation, where the user interface is inaccessible to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventor: Richard A. McCoy
  • Smoothing motor speed during mixing
    Patent number: 8011825
    Abstract: A mixing system comprising a bowl, mixing element and motor. A mixing element is located within the bowl and is driven by a motor to impart mechanical energy to the foodstuff being mixed upon contact. A method for increasing the power to the motor comprises introducing additional current in advance of instantaneous loading.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Whrilpool Corporation
    Inventors: Rosario Ciancimino, Wayne W. Conard, Noah David Zelvis, Ryan W. Mill
  • Appliance with a service interface for communicating with a consumable holder
    Patent number: 8010211
    Abstract: An appliance configured to perform a physical operation on an article, using a resource, includes a process control apparatus to control a cycle of the physical operation, and a service interface in communication with the process control apparatus and configured to receive a consumable holder. The service interface has at least one coupling point for conveying the consumable from a consumable holder to the appliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Michael S. Hendrickson, Joel A. Luckman, Richard A. McCoy
  • Mechanically energized mechanical power communication coupling system
    Patent number: 8008586
    Abstract: A mechanical power coupling system including a mechanical power connector component for communicating a mechanical power service with another mechanical power connector component. A mechanical power service switch is provided for selectively permitting communication of the mechanical power service between the mechanical power connector components. The mechanical power service switch is activated to transfer a mechanical power service from a mechanical power service source to a mechanical power service consumer in response to a proximity sensor engaging a proximity target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Whirpool Corporation
    Inventors: Steven J. Kuehl, Richard A. McCoy
  • Dishwasher having multiple spray zones
    Patent number: 8007598
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing multiple spray zones, including a localized spray zone for an upper rack and a silverware spray zone for a silverware basket, within the wash chamber of a dishwasher.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: David Hung-Chih Chen, Brian Lee Greenhaw, Mark D. Kerber, Carl A. Rotter, Jeffrey R. Taylor
  • Thermoplastic belt connector with fingers
    Patent number: 8002110
    Abstract: A toothed belt connector for making an endless belt has two leaves, adapted to be connected to each other by knuckles along one or more teeth. Each knuckle has at least one hole extending through tooth portions so that when the holes are in registry, a pin can be extended through the holes to connect the leaves at the teeth. The leaves can be adjoined to the ends of a belt to make the belt endless. The tip end of each knuckle can be beveled or it can have a stepped finger that fits into a cutout on the opposite leaf to keep the end of the knuckle from protruding as the belt wraps around a sprocket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Thermodrive LLC
    Inventors: Michael DeGroot, James Honeycutt, Edward T. Mol
  • Milking apparatus and method
    Patent number: 8001928
    Abstract: The invention relates to apparatus for milking animals such as cows, components of the apparatus and methods of milking animals employing the apparatus. The apparatus comprises at least two resilient membranes having a space therebetween into which the teat of the animal may be inserted. The membranes are held by a support structure under tension in a direction transverse to the direction of insertion of the teat, to protect the teat from excessive force when the membranes fall onto the teat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Avon Polymer Products Limited
    Inventor: David Boast
  • Taxonomy engine and dataset for operating an appliance
    Patent number: 8005780
    Abstract: A control system for controlling the operation of a useful system comprises at least one controller configured to control an operation of the useful system in response to a well formed command from a group of well formed commands. At least one taxonomy engine of the system is adapted to generate a taxonomy dataset establishing the group of well formed commands, and at least one command generator of the system is adapted to generate a well formed command using the taxonomy dataset. The taxonomy engine is configured to deliver the taxonomy dataset to the command generator, and the command generator is configured to deliver the well formed command to the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Richard A. McCoy, Matthew P. Ebrom
  • Dispensing package
    Patent number: 7997444
    Abstract: The present invention refers to a portable dispensing package comprising a pair of longitudinally opposite end walls disposed in spaced apart relation by an adjacent peripheral wall therebetween, an opening arranged on one of said end walls and a hinged lid for distributing and storing a continuous band of detachable plastic bags.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: SR Pack Ind. Comercio LTDA
    Inventor: Ricardo Martins
  • Removing hair from a surface
    Patent number: 7998277
    Abstract: A method of removing hair from a surface laden with hair comprising moving a hair collection element along the surface in a first direction to collect hair, depositing the collected hair at a first location, gliding the hair collection element along the surface in a second direction away from the first location and removing the collection hair from the first location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: BISSELL Homecare, Inc.
    Inventor: Tom Minh Nguyen
  • Toolkit for executing diagnostics in an appliance
    Patent number: 7996176
    Abstract: An appliance development toolkit includes a communications driver and a test engine configured to access one or more test scripts, to construct a well formed message based on instructions in the test script, and to convey the well formed message to the appliance via a communication link. Each step of the test script is separated from adjacent steps by a transition condition. The transition condition includes a logic expression resolvable to a boolean value, and a command statement that instructs what should happen so that the test engine will execute the command statement contemporaneously with a transition. The toolkit also includes information associated with a message element in a message data payload. The message data payload is uniquely identifiable within a universe of pre-defined message data payloads so that the information enables the test engine to construct the well formed message.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventor: Richard A. McCoy
  • Retrofit valve assembly kit for frost-resistant hydrant
    Patent number: 7992585
    Abstract: A retrofit valve assembly for a frost-resistant hydrant comprises ceramic valve disks and a hydrant adapter to enable the valve assembly to be readily retrofit to existing frost-resistant hydrants produced by different manufacturers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Amerikam, Inc.
    Inventor: Patrick Fitzpatrick
  • Stemware holder for an automatic dishwasher
    Patent number: 7988107
    Abstract: A stemware holder for holding a stem of a stemware in a wire-frame dish rack. The dish rack comprises a bottom wall formed by wires with multiple tines extending from the bottom wall. The stemware holder comprises a stem holder configured to hold the stem, a rack mount configured to couple the stem holder to the dish rack, and a radial lock configured to releasably hold the stem holder at multiple radial positions relative to an axis generally perpendicular to the bottom wall when the stemware holder is mounted to the rack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Kevin B. Miller, Danielle Marie Hafling, John Irven Smith, Sandra C. Steward
  • Ignition key with recorded message
    Patent number: 7990259
    Abstract: A vehicle ignition key includes a shank portion securely attached to a grip portion including a housing with an exterior housing surface. An actuation switch includes a switch contact surface complementary with the exterior housing surface, and is electrically coupled with a digital message controller and a power source. The housing defines a chamber which can hold the digital message controller, the power source, and/or a message generator. The message generator can transmit a message from the digital message controller. Actuation of the actuation switch upon rotation of the ignition key in the ignition switch is facilitated by the complementary surfaces, and initiates processing of stored data and transmission of the digitized data from the digital message controller to the message generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Inventors: David Wayne Pobuda, Darwin Todd Willbrandt
  • Dishwasher with multiple wash zones
    Patent number: 7988791
    Abstract: An automatic dishwasher, comprises a wash chamber, a rotating spray arm having an outer periphery or rotation and having at least one outlet for introducing a stream of liquid into the wash chamber, a disperser located within the wash chamber and exteriorly of the outer periphery of the rotating spray arm where during at least a portion of one revolution of the rotating spray arm the disperser is fluidly connected such that the stream of liquid is transferred to the disperser, and a liquid volume controller to control the volume of liquid transferred from the rotating spray arm to the disperser. Wherein the disperser provides an additional source of water spray to utensils in the wash chamber and the liquid volume controller controls the amount of such additional spray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventor: Kristopher Lee Delgado
  • V stick vac foot
    Patent number: D642345
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: BISSELL Homecare, Inc.
    Inventors: Meghan L. McNeil, Michael Luyckx, Douglas J. Medema
  • Foot for a stick vacuum
    Patent number: D642346
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: BISSELL Homecare, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Luyckx, Terese Mauch, Lawrence Chun-Hei Chu, Wendy Hui Wu, Jonathan Stanley
  • Toilet brush
    Patent number: D643630
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: BISSELL Homecare, Inc.
    Inventor: Meghan M. Raven
  • Wand for a vacuum cleaner
    Patent number: D644384
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: BISSELL Homecare, Inc.
    Inventors: Jose Carlito Santiago, Wendy Hui Wu, Lawrence Chun-Hei Chu
  • Vacuum cleaner foot
    Patent number: D644802
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: BISSELL Homecare, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Young Park, Michael Keith Lemmon, David Randall Knaub, Pierre Harper, Mattias Segerholt, Felix Ballerstedt, Douglas J. Medema