Patents by Inventor Brenner M. Sharp
Brenner M. Sharp 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).
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Patent number: 11713530Abstract: A laundry treating appliance having a rotatable basket that defines a treating chamber, a tub for mounting the rotatable basket, a drive assembly mounted to the tub for rotating the basket and a drive motor mounted to the tub for driving the drive assembly. The tub has a lower region comprising a central cavity and a second cavity. The drive assembly is nested in the central cavity and the drive motor is nested in the second cavity for reducing the vertical stack of tub and the motor.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2021Date of Patent: August 1, 2023Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Eric K. Farrington, Karl David Mcallister, Brenner M. Sharp
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Patent number: 11180885Abstract: A laundry treating appliance includes a rotatable basket defining a treating chamber for receiving a load of laundry items for treatment, and an annular balance rings defining an annular chamber within, coupled with the basket for rotation therewith. The basket can further comprise a pair of walls comprising a perforated inner wrapper and an outer wall defining a space therebetween. The space fluidly couples to the annular chamber, permitting liquid to flow from the treating chamber, into the space and into the annular chamber to provide a restoring force to the system. The annular balance ring can further comprise a plurality of passages, fluidly coupling the treating chamber to the annular chamber.Type: GrantFiled: April 22, 2019Date of Patent: November 23, 2021Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Benjamin E. Alexander, Brent M. Burgess, Christopher A. Jones, Aaron A. Linden, Dale E. Mueller, Michele A. Paustian, Brenner M. Sharp
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Publication number: 20210198831Abstract: A laundry treating appliance having a rotatable basket that defines a treating chamber, a tub for mounting the rotatable basket, a drive assembly mounted to the tub for rotating the basket and a drive motor mounted to the tub for driving the drive assembly. The tub has a lower region comprising a central cavity and a second cavity. The drive assembly is nested in the central cavity and the drive motor is nested in the second cavity for reducing the vertical stack of tub and the motor.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2021Publication date: July 1, 2021Inventors: ERIC K. FARRINGTON, KARL DAVID MCALLISTER, BRENNER M. SHARP
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Patent number: 10988885Abstract: A laundry treating appliance having a rotatable basket that defines a treating chamber, a tub for mounting the rotatable basket, a drive assembly mounted to the tub for rotating the basket and a drive motor mounted to the tub for driving the drive assembly. The tub has a lower region comprising a central cavity and a second cavity. The drive assembly is nested in the central cavity and the drive motor is nested in the second cavity for reducing the vertical stack of tub and the motor.Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 2018Date of Patent: April 27, 2021Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Eric K. Farrington, Karl David McAllister, Brenner M. Sharp
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Patent number: 10774453Abstract: A washing machine may include a static wash tub, a rotatable vertical axis wash basket in the static wash tub, and a drive motor for rotating the wash basket. A closure may direct wash liquid from the wash basket to a catch basin. A flange may be attached to the closure so that an unattached edge ends within the catch basin. The unattached edge may end below the surface of a first volume of wash liquid to minimize migration of wash liquid and/or vapor from the washing machine. The unattached edge may end above the surface of a second volume of wash liquid less than the first volume to minimize agitation of wash liquid in the catch basin.Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 2018Date of Patent: September 15, 2020Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Donald E. Erickson, Brenner M. Sharp
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Publication number: 20200208323Abstract: A laundry treating appliance having a rotatable basket that defines a treating chamber, a tub for mounting the rotatable basket, a drive assembly mounted to the tub for rotating the basket and a drive motor mounted to the tub for driving the drive assembly. The tub has a lower region comprising a central cavity and a second cavity. The drive assembly is nested in the central cavity and the drive motor is nested in the second cavity for reducing the vertical stack of tub and the motor.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 28, 2018Publication date: July 2, 2020Inventors: ERIC K. FARRINGTON, KARL DAVID MCALLISTER, BRENNER M. SHARP
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Patent number: 10655262Abstract: A tub ring mountable to an upper end of a liquid holding tub in a laundry treating appliance may include a circumferential side wall, a top wall extending radially inward from the side wall, and a plurality of radial stiffening ribs extending between the top wall and the side wall. The ribs may have a bottom edge with at least a portion inclined relative to horizontal. At least a portion of the bottom edge may also be complementary to a top wall of a balance ring.Type: GrantFiled: January 17, 2018Date of Patent: May 19, 2020Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: John M. Hunnell, Pradeep Kumar, Brenner M. Sharp, Christine L. Strain
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Publication number: 20190242048Abstract: A laundry treating appliance includes a rotatable basket defining a treating chamber for receiving a load of laundry items for treatment, and an annular balance rings defining an annular chamber within, coupled with the basket for rotation therewith. The basket can further comprise a pair of walls comprising a perforated inner wrapper and an outer wall defining a space therebetween. The space fluidly couples to the annular chamber, permitting liquid to flow from the treating chamber, into the space and into the annular chamber to provide a restoring force to the system. The annular balance ring can further comprise a plurality of passages, fluidly coupling the treating chamber to the annular chamber.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 22, 2019Publication date: August 8, 2019Inventors: BENJAMIN E. ALEXANDER, BRENT M. BURGESS, CHRISTOPHER A. JONES, AARON A. LINDEN, DALE E. MUELLER, MICHELE A. PAUSTIAN, BRENNER M. SHARP
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Patent number: 10316451Abstract: A laundry treating appliance includes a rotatable basket defining a treating chamber for receiving a load of laundry items for treatment, and an annular balance rings defining an annular chamber within, coupled with the basket for rotation therewith. The basket can further comprise a pair of walls comprising a perforated inner wrapper and an outer wall defining a space therebetween. The space fluidly couples to the annular chamber, permitting liquid to flow from the treating chamber, into the space and into the annular chamber to provide a restoring force to the system. The annular balance ring can further comprise a plurality of passages, fluidly coupling the treating chamber to the annular chamber.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 2015Date of Patent: June 11, 2019Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Benjamin E. Alexander, Brent M. Burgess, Christopher A. Jones, Aaron A. Linden, Dale E. Mueller, Michele A. Paustian, Brenner M. Sharp
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Patent number: 10266978Abstract: A laundry treating appliance includes a rotatable basket defining a treating chamber for receiving a load of laundry items for treatment, and two annular balance rings coupled with the basket for rotation therewith. Each balance ring includes a sump for holding balancing fluid when the rotational speed of the basket is below a critical speed.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2015Date of Patent: April 23, 2019Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Benjamin E. Alexander, Michael K. Cluskey, John M. Hunnell, Christopher A. Jones, Brenner M. Sharp
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Patent number: 10202719Abstract: A vertical axis laundry treating appliance including a chassis defining a chassis interior, a tub disposed within the chassis interior and defining a tub interior, and a perforated wash basket disposed for rotation within the tub interior, wherein the tub includes a lower tub portion, an upper tub portion, and a flexible intermediate portion.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2016Date of Patent: February 12, 2019Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Benjamin E. Alexander, Prakash S. Amte, Brent M. Burgess, Michael K. Cluskey, Nicholas C. Fugal, Christopher A. Jones, Dale Mueller, Michele A. Paustian, Brenner M. Sharp
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Patent number: 10196770Abstract: A laundry treating appliance having a tub with a tub ring and a drum located within the tub having a balance ring. The tub ring may extend radially inward and be spaced above the balance ring. The tub ring and balance ring may have an angled portion to provide for a generally constant space between the tub ring and balance ring during rotation of the drum within the tub.Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 2017Date of Patent: February 5, 2019Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventor: Brenner M. Sharp
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Patent number: 10119216Abstract: A laundry treating appliance may include a tub and a basket located at least partially within the tub and at least partially defining a laundry treating chamber. A drive system may operatively couple the tub to the basket and may be operative to rotate the basket about a rotational axis. The tub and the basket may each have similar deflection.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 2016Date of Patent: November 6, 2018Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventor: Brenner M. Sharp
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Patent number: 10113260Abstract: A laundry treating appliance configured to implement a cycle of operation to treat a load of laundry includes a basket defining a treating chamber and rotatable about an axis of rotation, a motor having a rotor and a stator, and a shifter within the interior diameter of the stator and having an energizable clutch coil at least partially enveloped in a magnetically permeable housing and a magnetically permeable slidable drive mechanism radially spaced from the housing and configured to selectively couple the basket with the rotor.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 2015Date of Patent: October 30, 2018Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Thaylen K. Leany, Brenner M. Sharp, Kurt Werner
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Publication number: 20180142402Abstract: A tub ring mountable to an upper end of a liquid holding tub in a laundry treating appliance may include a circumferential side wall, a top wall extending radially inward from the side wall, and a plurality of radial stiffening ribs extending between the top wall and the side wall. The ribs may have a bottom edge with at least a portion inclined relative to horizontal. At least a portion of the bottom edge may also be complementary to a top wall of a balance ring.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 17, 2018Publication date: May 24, 2018Inventors: JOHN M. HUNNELL, PRADEEP KUMAR, BRENNER M. SHARP, CHRISTINE L. STRAIN
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Publication number: 20180127908Abstract: A washing machine may include a static wash tub, a rotatable vertical axis wash basket in the static wash tub, and a drive motor for rotating the wash basket. A closure may direct wash liquid from the wash basket to a catch basin. A flange may be attached to the closure so that an unattached edge ends within the catch basin. The unattached edge may end below the surface of a first volume of wash liquid to minimize migration of wash liquid and/or vapor from the washing machine. The unattached edge may end above the surface of a second volume of wash liquid less than the first volume to minimize agitation of wash liquid in the catch basin.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 8, 2018Publication date: May 10, 2018Inventors: DONALD E. ERICKSON, BRENNER M. SHARP
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Patent number: 9951457Abstract: A tub ring mountable to an upper end of a liquid holding tub in a laundry treating appliance may include a circumferential side wall, a top wall extending radially inward from the side wall, and a plurality of radial stiffening ribs extending between the top wall and the side wall. The ribs may have a bottom edge with at least a portion inclined relative to horizontal. At least a portion of the bottom edge may also be complementary to a top wall of a balance ring.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2015Date of Patent: April 24, 2018Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: John M. Hunnell, Pradeep Kumar, Brenner M. Sharp, Christine L. Strain
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Patent number: 9896792Abstract: A washing machine may include a static wash tub, a rotatable vertical axis wash basket in the static wash tub, and a drive motor for rotating the wash basket. A closure may direct wash liquid from the wash basket to a catch basin. A flange may be attached to the closure so that an unattached edge ends within the catch basin. The unattached edge may end below the surface of a first volume of wash liquid to minimize migration of wash liquid and/or vapor from the washing machine. The unattached edge may end above the surface of a second volume of wash liquid less than the first volume to minimize agitation of wash liquid in the catch basin.Type: GrantFiled: January 16, 2014Date of Patent: February 20, 2018Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Donald E. Erickson, Brenner M. Sharp
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Patent number: 9828714Abstract: A laundry treating appliance having a cabinet, a static wash tub fixed in position relative to the cabinet, a wash basket mounted within the wash tub for rotation about a vertical axis and having at least one drain hole, a drive motor within the cabinet for rotating the wash basket, a catch basin fixed to the wash tub and spaced from the drive motor, a recirculation pump, and a closure between the drive motor and the catch basin.Type: GrantFiled: August 20, 2013Date of Patent: November 28, 2017Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Donald E. Erickson, John M. Hunnell, Lauren M. Lalonde, Kenneth L. McConnell, Bradley D. Morrow, David Scharich, III, Brenner M. Sharp, Christine L. Strain, Dean L. Tietz
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Publication number: 20170268147Abstract: A vertical axis laundry treating appliance including a chassis defining a chassis interior, a tub disposed within the chassis interior and defining a tub interior, and a perforated wash basket disposed for rotation within the tub interior, wherein the tub includes a lower tub portion, an upper tub portion, and a flexible intermediate portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 17, 2016Publication date: September 21, 2017Inventors: BENJAMIN E. ALEXANDER, PRAKASH S. AMTE, BRENT M. BURGESS, MICHAEL K. CLUSKEY, NICHOLAS C. FUGAL, CHRISTOPHER A. JONES, DALE MUELLER, MICHELE A. PAUSTIAN, BRENNER M. SHARP