Patents by Inventor Bill J. Koons

Bill J. Koons 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: 20120000234
    Abstract: A bottom mount household refrigerator is provided with an apparatus to permit the dispensing of ice. According to one embodiment, a sealed ice making compartment is provided within the fresh food compartment. The sealed ice making compartment may be located at the bottom, at the top, or along a side wall within the fresh food compartment. According to another embodiment, ice is made in the ice compartment, and lifted upward to a dispensing location through the door of the fresh food compartment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2011
    Publication date: January 5, 2012
    Applicant: MAYTAG CORPORATION
    Inventors: Joseph R. Adamski, Jason Colsch, Tim L. Coulter, Glenn E. Goetz, Steven G. Herndon, Todd E. Kniffen, Bill J. Koons, Lou Montuoro, John H. Tenhundfeld, David Thalacker, Brett Vladika
  • Publication number: 20110101033
    Abstract: An ice-containing member having a plurality of interior chambers separated by substantially radially-extending chamber walls. A base is disposed below the ice-containing member and includes an ice-dispensing aperture. A lid is adjacent to the ice-containing member and operable between a first position. The lid is in abutting contact with the ice-containing member and a second position. The lid is spaced a predetermined distance from the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2009
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: BILL J. KOONS, DAVID J. OLBERDING
  • Publication number: 20100293984
    Abstract: A bottom mount household refrigerator is provided with an apparatus to permit the dispensing of ice. According to one embodiment, a sealed ice making compartment is provided within the fresh food compartment. The sealed ice making compartment may be located at the bottom, at the top, or along a side wall within the fresh food compartment. According to another embodiment, ice is made in the ice compartment, and lifted upward to a dispensing location through the door of the fresh food compartment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2010
    Publication date: November 25, 2010
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: JOSEPH R. ADAMSKI, JASON COLSCH, TIM L. COULTER, GLENN E. GOETZ, STEVEN G. HERNDON, TODD E. KNIFFEN, BILL J. KOONS, LOU MONTUORO, JOHN H. TENHUNDFELD, DAVID THALACKER, BRETT VLADIKA
  • Publication number: 20090277210
    Abstract: A bottom mount refrigerator is provided with a pantry compartment that is accessible from outside the refrigerator by pulling open an easy access pantry drawer without the need to first open the fresh food compartment or the freezer compartment. A divider between the pantry compartment and the fresh food compartment is formed by a secondary mullion and a transparent shelf. The secondary mullion is provided with a light source for illuminating the contents of the pantry drawer. A light source at the rear of the pantry compartment shines generally forwardly and upwardly to illuminate the fresh food compartment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2009
    Publication date: November 12, 2009
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: MICHAEL J. EVELAND, STEVEN G. HERNDON, TODD E. KNIFFEN, BILL J. KOONS
  • Patent number: 7568354
    Abstract: An insulated ice making compartment is provided in the fresh food compartment of a bottom mount refrigerator. The ice making compartment may be integrally formed with the liner of the fresh food compartment, or alternatively, may be modular for installation anywhere in the fresh food compartment. A removable bin assembly with a front cover normally seals the ice making compartment to maintain the temperature in the compartment. A cold air duct formed in the rear wall of the refrigerator supplies cold air from the freezer compartment to the ice making compartment. A return air duct directs a portion of the air from the ice making compartment back to the freezer compartment. An air vent in the ice making compartment directs another portion of air into the fresh food compartment. A control system provides for controlling refrigerator functions in a manner that promotes energy efficiency. The refrigerator has an improved water fill tube for the ice maker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: Maytag Corporation
    Inventors: Tim L. Coulter, Thomas E. Gose, Steven G. Herndon, James H. Jenkins, Jr., Bill J. Koons, Brent A. Kramer, Scott W. Leimkuehler, Dean A. Martin, Alvin V. Miller, Kevin Lee Noel, Mauro M. Oliveira, Lester J. Ott, Ron S. Paulsen, Chad J. Rotter, David Allen Stauffer, Kyle B. Van Meter, Alan M. Welch, Robert L. Wetekamp
  • Patent number: 7552594
    Abstract: An insulated ice making compartment is provided in the fresh food compartment of a bottom mount refrigerator. The ice making compartment may be integrally formed with the liner of the fresh food compartment, or alternatively, may be modular for installation anywhere in the fresh food compartment. A removable bin assembly with a front cover normally seals the ice making compartment to maintain the temperature in the compartment. A cold air duct formed in the rear wall of the refrigerator supplies cold air from the freezer compartment to the ice making compartment. A return air duct directs a portion of the air from the ice making compartment back to the freezer compartment. An air vent in the ice making compartment directs another portion of air into the fresh food compartment. A control system provides for controlling refrigerator functions in a manner that promotes energy efficiency. The icemaker has improved air impingement to enhance ice making.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignee: Maytag Corporation
    Inventors: Tim L. Coulter, Thomas E. Gose, Steven G. Herndon, James H. Jenkins, Jr., Bill J. Koons, Brent A. Kramer, Scott W. Leimkuehler, Dean A. Martin, Alvin V. Miller, Kevin Lee Noel, Mauro M. Oliveira, Lester J. Ott, Ron S. Paulsen, Chad J. Rotter, David Allen Stauffer, Kyle B. Van Meter, Alan M. Welch, Robert L. Wetekamp
  • Patent number: 7386992
    Abstract: A bottom mount household refrigerator is provided with an ice dispenser in the fresh food door to dispense ice from a sealed ice making compartment within the fresh food compartment. A conveyor carries ice from a storage bin in the ice compartment to the dispenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2008
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph R. Adamski, Jason Colsch, Tim L. Coulter, Glenn E. Goetz, Steven G. Herndon, Todd E. Kniffen, Bill J. Koons, Lou Montuoro, John H. Tenhundfeld, David Thalacker, Brett Vladika
  • Patent number: 7337620
    Abstract: An insulated icemaking compartment is provided in the fresh food compartment of a bottom mount refrigerator. The icemaking compartment may be integrally formed with the liner of the fresh food compartment, or alternatively, may be modular for installation anywhere in the fresh food compartment. A removable bin assembly with a front cover normally seals the icemaking compartment to maintain the temperature in the compartment. A cold air duct formed in the rear wall of the refrigerator supplies cold air from the freezer compartment to the icemaking compartment. A return air duct directs a portion of the air from the icemaking compartment back to the freezer compartment. An air vent in the icemaking compartment directs another portion of air into the fresh food compartment. A control system provides for controlling refrigerator functions in a manner that promotes energy efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Tim L. Coulter, Thomas E. Gose, Steven G. Herndon, James H. Jenkins, Jr., Bill J. Koons, Brent A. Kramer, Scott W. Leimkuehler, Dean A. Martin, Alvin V. Miller, Kevin Lee Noel, Mauro M. Oliveira, Lester J. Ott, Ron S. Paulsen, Chad J. Rotter, David Allen Stauffer, Kyle B. Van Meter, Alan M. Welch, Robert L. Wetekamp
  • Patent number: 7287397
    Abstract: An insulated ice making compartment is provided in the fresh food compartment of a bottom mount refrigerator. The ice making compartment may be integrally formed with the liner of the fresh food compartment, or alternatively, may be modular for installation anywhere in the fresh food compartment. A removable bin assembly with a front cover normally seals the ice making compartment to maintain the temperature in the compartment. A cold air duct formed in the rear wall of the refrigerator supplies cold air from the freezer compartment to the ice making compartment. A return air duct directs a portion of the air from the ice making compartment back to the freezer compartment. An air vent in the ice making compartment directs another portion of air into the fresh food compartment. A control system provides for controlling refrigerator functions in a manner that promotes energy efficiency. The refrigerator has a modular water tank assembly housed in a cavity in the back wall of the cabinet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Tim L. Coulter, Thomas E. Gose, Steven G. Herndon, James H. Jenkins, Jr., Bill J. Koons, Brent A. Kramer, Scott W. Leimkuehler, Dean A. Martin, Alvin V. Miller, Kevin Lee Noel, Ron S. Paulsen, Lester J. Ott, Chad J. Rotter, David Allen Stauffer, Kyle B. Van Meter, Alan M. Welch, Robert L. Wetekamp, Mauro M. Oliveira
  • Patent number: 7240980
    Abstract: A freezer drawer support assembly is provided for a refrigerator including an upper fresh food compartment and a lower freezer compartment having a rearwardly tapering liner. The support assembly includes a pair of side adapters which compensate for the tapering of the liner, while defining both channels for the attachment of extensible drawer slides, to which a freezer door and a slidable basket is attached, and ledges for slidably supporting another basket. Preferably, the side adapters mate with groove and ledge structure formed into the liner to enhance the transfer of weight from the baskets, while enabling a refrigerator liner designed to directly support one or more slidable baskets to indirectly support multiple baskets which can be slid relative to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2007
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventor: Bill J. Koons
  • Patent number: 6971730
    Abstract: A freezer drawer support assembly is provided for a refrigerator including an upper fresh food compartment and a lower freezer compartment having a rearwardly tapering liner. The support assembly includes a pair of side adapters which compensate for the tapering of the liner, while defining both channels for the attachment of extensible drawer slides, to which a freezer door and a slidable basket is attached, and ledges for slidably supporting another basket. Preferably, the side adapters mate with groove and ledge structure formed into the liner to enhance the transfer of weight from the baskets, while enabling a refrigerator liner designed to directly support one or more slidable baskets to indirectly support multiple baskets which can be slid relative to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2005
    Assignee: Maytag Corporation
    Inventor: Bill J. Koons
  • Patent number: 6961988
    Abstract: A freezer door, adapted to be slidably attached to a refrigerator cabinet, includes a metal outer door pan defining an internal cavity, a plurality of plastic corner brackets positioned in the internal cavity, and an inner door liner attached to the outer door pan. A pair vertical support brackets, used to connect the freezer door to slide support members of the refrigerator cabinet, are attached to the outer door pan with mechanical fasteners extending through slots formed in the inner door liner and being secured to the corner brackets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2005
    Assignee: Maytag Corporation
    Inventor: Bill J. Koons
  • Publication number: 20040256965
    Abstract: A freezer door, adapted to be slidably attached to a refrigerator cabinet, includes a metal outer door pan defining an internal cavity, a plurality of plastic corner brackets positioned in the internal cavity, and an inner door liner attached to the outer door pan. A pair vertical support brackets, used to connect the freezer door to slide support members of the refrigerator cabinet, are attached to the outer door pan with mechanical fasteners extending through slots formed in the inner door liner and being secured to the corner brackets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2004
    Publication date: December 23, 2004
    Inventor: Bill J. Koons
  • Patent number: 6779859
    Abstract: A freezer door, adapted to be slidably attached to a refrigerator cabinet, includes a metal outer door pan defining an internal cavity, a plurality of plastic corner brackets positioned in the internal cavity, and an inner door liner attached to the outer door pan. A pair of vertical support brackets, used to connect the freezer door to slide support members of the refrigerator cabinet, are attached to the outer door pan with mechanical fasteners extending through slots formed in the inner door liner and being secured to the corner brackets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2004
    Assignee: Maytag Corporation
    Inventor: Bill J. Koons
  • Publication number: 20030173882
    Abstract: A freezer drawer support assembly is provided for a refrigerator including an upper fresh food compartment and a lower freezer compartment having a rearwardly tapering liner. The support assembly includes a pair of side adapters which compensate for the tapering of the liner, while defining both channels for the attachment of extensible drawer slides, to which a freezer door and a slidable basket is attached, and ledges for slidably supporting another basket. Preferably, the side adapters mate with groove and ledge structure formed into the liner to enhance the transfer of weight from the baskets, while enabling a refrigerator liner designed to directly support one or more slidable baskets to indirectly support multiple baskets which can be slid relative to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2003
    Publication date: September 18, 2003
    Applicant: Maytag Corporation
    Inventor: Bill J. Koons
  • Publication number: 20030173883
    Abstract: A freezer door, adapted to be slidably attached to a refrigerator cabinet, includes a metal outer door pan defining an internal cavity, a plurality of plastic corner brackets positioned in the internal cavity, and an inner door liner attached to the outer door pan. A pair vertical support brackets, used to connect the freezer door to slide support members of the refrigerator cabinet, are attached to the outer door pan with mechanical fasteners extending through slots formed in the inner door liner and being secured to the corner brackets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2003
    Publication date: September 18, 2003
    Applicant: Maytag Corporation
    Inventor: Bill J. Koons
  • Patent number: D549745
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Assignee: Maytag Corporation
    Inventors: Tim L. Coulter, Steven G. Herndon, Bill J. Koons, Dean A. Martin, Kevin Lee Noel, Lester J. Ott, Ron S. Paulsen, Kyle B. Van Meter