Patents by Inventor Chad J. Rotter
Chad J. Rotter 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: 11970895Abstract: A hinge bracket assembly includes an appliance wrapper defining a first receiving space extending in a first direction, a second receiving space extending in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction, and a third receiving space extending in a third direction oriented at an acute angle relative to the first direction. An anchor plate is engaged with the appliance wrapper and includes a retention member received by the first receiving space, a first flange received by the second receiving space, and a second flange received by the third receiving space. A hinge plate is coupled with the anchor plate and includes a protrusion received by a slot defined by the retention member. The appliance wrapper is positioned between the anchor and hinge plates. A locking arm is selectively engaged with the anchor and hinge plates and is rotatable between an unlocked position and a locked position.Type: GrantFiled: November 11, 2020Date of Patent: April 30, 2024Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Ian Pavnick, Ryan M. Post, Michael S. Richards, Chad J. Rotter
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Patent number: 11939801Abstract: A hinge bracket assembly includes an anchor plate. A retention member extends perpendicular to the anchor plate. The anchor plate defines a first receiving aperture. A hinge plate is aligned with the anchor plate and includes a hinge arm and a protrusion. The protrusion extends from an edge of the hinge plate opposite the hinge arm. The hinge plate defines a second receiving aperture aligned with the first receiving aperture when the protrusion is received by a space defined by the retention member. A locking arm is rotatable between an unlocked position and a locked position and is configured to be at least partially received by the first and second receiving apertures to couple the anchor plate and the hinge plate.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 2021Date of Patent: March 26, 2024Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Ian Pavnick, Ryan M. Post, Michael S. Richards, Chad J. Rotter
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Patent number: 11732518Abstract: A refrigerator door assembly includes a refrigerator door that has a recess and an alignment mechanism that includes a door hinge. A plate is fixedly attached to the door hinge and positioned at least partially within the recess of the refrigerator door. The plate includes an orienting member configured to extend along an axis of rotation of the door hinge and away from a body of the plate. The refrigerator door is movably positionable between at least a first position and a second position relative to the plate to permit adjustment of a location of the refrigerator door relative to the door hinge. The recess includes a track that slides against the plate in a linear path between the first and second positions of the refrigerator door.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 2022Date of Patent: August 22, 2023Assignee: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: Alexandre C. Azevedo, Dakota E. Kosek, Juan Pablo Ramirez Carrillo, Chad J. Rotter, Antonio Sanchez
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Patent number: 11719479Abstract: A refrigerator having an ice and water dispenser has a seal to sealingly engage the ice compartment when the refrigerator door is closed. The seal is flexible to accommodate manufacturing tolerance. The seal may be impregnated with a friction reducing agent to increase life of the seal.Type: GrantFiled: August 2, 2021Date of Patent: August 8, 2023Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Michael A. Bowen, Bruce A. Kopf, Dean A. Martin, Chad J. Rotter, Scott W. Leimkuehler, Lawrence J. Ertz
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Publication number: 20220163253Abstract: An appliance door assembly includes a front panel spaced apart from a rear panel. A door adjustment assembly is coupled with the rear panel and includes a housing that defines a cavity. A driven member is positioned within the cavity and extends at least partially from the housing. The driven member is movable between a first position and a second position. A driving member is rotatably engaged with the driven member and is configured to rotate the driven member. A bracket is coupled with the door adjustment assembly at a first end and coupled with the rear panel at a second end. The bracket abuts the housing of the door adjustment assembly when the driven member is in the first position and is spaced apart from the housing of the door adjustment assembly when the driven member is in the second position.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 22, 2021Publication date: May 26, 2022Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: Jackson Felipe Karl, Kailash Shravan More, Sunil Mahadev Patil, Vinay M. Patil, Chad J. Rotter
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Publication number: 20220162895Abstract: A refrigerator door assembly includes a refrigerator door that has a recess and an alignment mechanism that includes a door hinge. A plate is fixedly attached to the door hinge and positioned at least partially within the recess of the refrigerator door. The plate includes an orienting member configured to extend along an axis of rotation of the door hinge and away from a body of the plate. The refrigerator door is movably positionable between at least a first position and a second position relative to the plate to permit adjustment of a location of the refrigerator door relative to the door hinge. The recess includes a track that slides against the plate in a linear path between the first and second positions of the refrigerator door.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 14, 2022Publication date: May 26, 2022Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: Alexandre C. Azevedo, Dakota E. Kosek, Juan Pablo Ramirez Carrillo, Chad J. Rotter, Antonio Sanchez
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Patent number: 11306967Abstract: A drawer assembly of a refrigerator includes a gasket assembly having a base portion with opposed first and second sides. A mounting portion extends outwardly from the first side of the base portion, and a contact lobe outwardly extends from the second side of the base portion. The contact lobe includes a body portion comprised of a first material having an outer surface with one or more ribs comprised of a second material that is less rigid than the first material. The one or more ribs extend outwardly from the outer surface of the body portion of the contact lobe and are configured to seal against a textured front surface of a cabinet structure of the refrigerator.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 2020Date of Patent: April 19, 2022Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventor: Chad J. Rotter
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Patent number: 11248407Abstract: A refrigerator door assembly includes a refrigerator door having a recess. An alignment mechanism includes a plate and a door hinge. The plate is fixedly attached to the door hinge and positioned at least partially within the recess of the refrigerator door. The refrigerator door is movably positionable between at least a first position and a second position relative to the plate to permit adjustment of a location of the refrigerator door relative to the door hinge.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2018Date of Patent: February 15, 2022Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Alexandre C. Azevedo, Dakota E. Kosek, Juan Pablo Ramirez Carrillo, Chad J. Rotter, Antonio Sanchez
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Publication number: 20210364215Abstract: A refrigerator having an ice and water dispenser has a seal to sealingly engage the ice compartment when the refrigerator door is closed. The seal is flexible to accommodate manufacturing tolerance. The seal may be impregnated with a friction reducing agent to increase life of the seal.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 2, 2021Publication date: November 25, 2021Inventors: Michael A. BOWEN, Bruce A. KOPF, Dean A. MARTIN, Chad J. ROTTER, Scott W. LEIMKUEHLER, Lawrence J. ERTZ
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Publication number: 20210355727Abstract: A hinge bracket assembly includes an anchor plate. A retention member extends perpendicular to the anchor plate. The anchor plate defines a first receiving aperture. A hinge plate is aligned with the anchor plate and includes a hinge arm and a protrusion. The protrusion extends from an edge of the hinge plate opposite the hinge arm. The hinge plate defines a second receiving aperture aligned with the first receiving aperture when the protrusion is received by a space defined by the retention member. A locking arm is rotatable between an unlocked position and a locked position and is configured to be at least partially received by the first and second receiving apertures to couple the anchor plate and the hinge plate.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 23, 2021Publication date: November 18, 2021Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: Ian Pavnick, Ryan M. Post, Michael S. Richards, Chad J. Rotter
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Patent number: 11098941Abstract: A refrigerator having an ice and water dispenser has a seal to sealingly engage the ice compartment when the refrigerator door is closed. The seal is flexible to accommodate manufacturing tolerance. The seal may be impregnated with a friction reducing agent to increase life of the seal.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2018Date of Patent: August 24, 2021Assignee: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: Michael A. Bowen, Bruce A. Kopf, Dean A. Martin, Chad J. Rotter, Scott W. Leimkuehler, Lawrence J. Ertz
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Publication number: 20210247132Abstract: A drawer assembly of a refrigerator includes a gasket assembly having a base portion with opposed first and second sides. A mounting portion extends outwardly from the first side of the base portion, and a contact lobe outwardly extends from the second side of the base portion. The contact lobe includes a body portion comprised of a first material having an outer surface with one or more ribs comprised of a second material that is less rigid than the first material. The one or more ribs extend outwardly from the outer surface of the body portion of the contact lobe and are configured to seal against a textured front surface of a cabinet structure of the refrigerator.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 10, 2020Publication date: August 12, 2021Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventor: Chad J. Rotter
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Patent number: 11072956Abstract: A hinge bracket assembly includes an anchor plate. A retention member extends perpendicular to the anchor plate. The anchor plate defines a first receiving aperture. A hinge plate is aligned with the anchor plate and includes a hinge arm and a protrusion. The protrusion extends from an edge of the hinge plate opposite the hinge arm. The hinge plate defines a second receiving aperture aligned with the first receiving aperture when the protrusion is received by a space defined by the retention member. A locking arm is rotatable between an unlocked position and a locked position and is configured to be at least partially received by the first and second receiving apertures to couple the anchor plate and the hinge plate.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 2019Date of Patent: July 27, 2021Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Ian Pavnick, Ryan M. Post, Michael S. Richards, Chad J. Rotter
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Publication number: 20210156604Abstract: An insulated icemaking compartment is provided in the fresh food compartment of a bottom mount refrigerator. The icemaking compartment may be integrally fowled 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 with a damper in the icemaking compartment directs another portion of air into the fresh food compartment.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 5, 2021Publication date: May 27, 2021Inventors: Dean A. Martin, Chad J. Rotter
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Publication number: 20210062561Abstract: A hinge bracket assembly includes an appliance wrapper defining a first receiving space extending in a first direction, a second receiving space extending in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction, and a third receiving space extending in a third direction oriented at an acute angle relative to the first direction. An anchor plate is engaged with the appliance wrapper and includes a retention member received by the first receiving space, a first flange received by the second receiving space, and a second flange received by the third receiving space. A hinge plate is coupled with the anchor plate and includes a protrusion received by a slot defined by the retention member. The appliance wrapper is positioned between the anchor and hinge plates. A locking arm is selectively engaged with the anchor and hinge plates and is rotatable between an unlocked position and a locked position.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 11, 2020Publication date: March 4, 2021Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: Ian Pavnick, Ryan M. Post, Michael S. Richards, Chad J. Rotter
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Publication number: 20200370350Abstract: A hinge bracket assembly includes an anchor plate. A retention member extends perpendicular to the anchor plate. The anchor plate defines a first receiving aperture. A hinge plate is aligned with the anchor plate and includes a hinge arm and a protrusion. The protrusion extends from an edge of the hinge plate opposite the hinge arm. The hinge plate defines a second receiving aperture aligned with the first receiving aperture when the protrusion is received by a space defined by the retention member. A locking arm is rotatable between an unlocked position and a locked position and is configured to be at least partially received by the first and second receiving apertures to couple the anchor plate and the hinge plate.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 21, 2019Publication date: November 26, 2020Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: Ian Pavnick, Ryan M. Post, Michael S. Richards, Chad J. Rotter
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Publication number: 20200132358Abstract: A refrigerator door assembly includes a refrigerator door having a recess. An alignment mechanism includes a plate and a door hinge. The plate is fixedly attached to the door hinge and positioned at least partially within the recess of the refrigerator door. The refrigerator door is movably positionable between at least a first position and a second position relative to the plate to permit adjustment of a location of the refrigerator door relative to the door hinge.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 30, 2018Publication date: April 30, 2020Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: Alexandre C. Azevedo, Dakota E. Kosek, Juan Pablo Ramirez Carrillo, Chad J. Rotter, Antonio Sanchez
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Patent number: 10401081Abstract: A refrigerated appliance includes a crossbar assembly disposed above a mounting area. The crossbar assembly includes a hooked portion that is operably coupled to a hook portion of a crossbar adapter. The crossbar adapter further includes a deflecting arm operable between at-rest and flexed positions. A housing includes an upper sidewall with a ramped introductory portion and a stepped snap feature. The deflecting arm of the crossbar adapter moves towards the flexed position from the at-rest position as the ramped introductory portion of the upper sidewall engages the deflecting arm of the crossbar adapter when the housing is received in the mounting area. The deflecting arm of the crossbar adapter resiliently snaps towards the at-rest position from the flexed position when the stepped snap feature of the housing clears a stepped snap feature disposed on the deflecting arm to releasably couple the housing to the crossbar adapter.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 2017Date of Patent: September 3, 2019Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Pavan P. Jorapur, Chad J. Rotter, Pradip Varpe, Binil K. Jose
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Patent number: 10309717Abstract: A variable width shelf assembly includes a shelf panel with first and second support brackets. One or more support slots and one or more relief slots are disposed on an upright portion of the support brackets. One or more coupling tabs are disposed adjacent to one of the one or more support slots and one of the one or more relief slots. The coupling tabs are flexible tabs configured to flex outwardly relative to the upright portion of the support brackets for coupling the first and second brackets to a refrigerator compartment. Mounting plates mounted on a refrigerator include mounting features that are received in the support slots of the support brackets. Abutment guides on the mounting plates are used to guide a bending motion of the coupling tabs in assembly.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 2018Date of Patent: June 4, 2019Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Chad J. Rotter, Trevor L. Hawkins
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Publication number: 20190113275Abstract: A refrigerated appliance includes a crossbar assembly disposed above a mounting area. The crossbar assembly includes a hooked portion that is operably coupled to a hook portion of a crossbar adapter. The crossbar adapter further includes a deflecting arm operable between at-rest and flexed positions. A housing includes an upper sidewall with a ramped introductory portion and a stepped snap feature. The deflecting arm of the crossbar adapter moves towards the flexed position from the at-rest position as the ramped introductory portion of the upper sidewall engages the deflecting arm of the crossbar adapter when the housing is received in the mounting area. The deflecting arm of the crossbar adapter resiliently snaps towards the at-rest position from the flexed position when the stepped snap feature of the housing clears a stepped snap feature disposed on the deflecting arm to releasably couple the housing to the crossbar adapter.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 13, 2017Publication date: April 18, 2019Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: Pavan P. Jorapur, Chad J. Rotter, Pradip Varpe, Binil K. Jose