Patents by Inventor CHRISTINE L. STRAIN
CHRISTINE L. STRAIN 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: 11970811Abstract: A hub for an overmolded basket base assembly of a laundry appliance is provided. The hub includes a central core defining an opening along an axis configured to receive a drive shaft. The hub further includes a disc, extending radially outwardly from the core about the axis, the disc configured to be overmolded in polymeric material that forms an overmolded plastic base, the disc including a plurality of posts arranged around the core and extending upward from a top surface of the disc to form a circumferentially-extending array to align the hub when applying torque to the hub.Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 2021Date of Patent: April 30, 2024Assignee: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: Jesse de Freitas Goncalves, Kenneth McConnell, Steven Fricke, Marcos H. Herrmann, Bradley D. Morrow, Eric J. Walsh, Christine L. Strain, Peter A. Wagoner
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Patent number: 11668040Abstract: A laundry appliance includes a rotating drum that receives laundry to be treated. A motor rotates a drive shaft about a vertical axis and engages the rotating drum at a base. A coupler is disposed within an upper portion of the base and that rests upon the drive shaft to transfer rotational forces from the drive shaft to the drum. A lower portion of the base engages an outer surface of the shaft to resist moment forces that are exerted against the drive shaft in an off-axis direction relative to the vertical axis.Type: GrantFiled: November 24, 2020Date of Patent: June 6, 2023Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Nicholas C. Fugal, Bradley D. Morrow, Joseph C. O'Connor, Prabhath KV, Jason S. Sabel, Christine L. Strain, Meredith A. Wagner, Robert C. Williams
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Publication number: 20220389636Abstract: A hub for an overmolded basket base assembly of a laundry appliance is provided. The hub includes a central core defining an opening along an axis configured to receive a drive shaft. The hub further includes a disc, extending radially outwardly from the core about the axis, the disc configured to be overmolded in polymeric material that forms an overmolded plastic base, the disc including a plurality of posts arranged around the core and extending upward from a top surface of the disc to form a circumferentially-extending array to align the hub when applying torque to the hub.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 8, 2021Publication date: December 8, 2022Inventors: Jesse de FREITAS GONCALVES, Kenneth McCONNELL, Steven FRICKE, Marcos H. HERRMANN, Bradley D. MORROW, Eric J. WALSH, Christine L. STRAIN, Peter A. WAGONER
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Patent number: 11053624Abstract: A laundry treating appliance having a tub defining an interior, a basket located within the interior and rotatably mounted within the tub and having an upper and lower basket base portion, a balance ring mounted to the upper edge of the basket peripheral wall, a clothes mover rotatably mounted within the basket, a drive system comprising a motor operably coupled to the basket and the clothes mover and configured to selectively oscillate or rotate the basket or the clothes mover and a first and second drive shaft, and a drive attachment mechanism configured to couple the basket to the second drive shaft, with the drive attachment mechanism comprising a bushing assembly.Type: GrantFiled: February 7, 2019Date of Patent: July 6, 2021Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Eric K. Farrington, Steven Fricke, Nicholas C. Fugal, Christine L. Strain, Philip R. Thompson, Robert C. Williams
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Publication number: 20210079580Abstract: A laundry appliance includes a rotating drum that receives laundry to be treated. A motor rotates a drive shaft about a vertical axis and engages the rotating drum at a base. A coupler is disposed within an upper portion of the base and that rests upon the drive shaft to transfer rotational forces from the drive shaft to the drum. A lower portion of the base engages an outer surface of the shaft to resist moment forces that are exerted against the drive shaft in an off-axis direction relative to the vertical axis.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 24, 2020Publication date: March 18, 2021Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: Nicholas C. Fugal, Bradley D. Morrow, Joseph C. O'Connor, Prabhath KV, Jason S. Sabel, Christine L. Strain, Meredith A. Wagner, Robert C. Williams
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Patent number: 10907293Abstract: A laundry appliance includes a rotating drum that receives laundry to be treated. A motor rotates a drive shaft about a vertical axis and engages the rotating drum at a base. A coupler is disposed within an upper portion of the base and that rests upon the drive shaft to transfer rotational forces from the drive shaft to the drum. A lower portion of the base engages an outer surface of the shaft to resist moment forces that are exerted against the drive shaft in an off-axis direction relative to the vertical axis.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2017Date of Patent: February 2, 2021Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Nicholas C. Fugal, Bradley D. Morrow, Joseph C. O'Connor, Prabhath KV, Jason S. Sabel, Christine L. Strain, Meredith A. Wagner, Robert C. Williams
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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: 20190194853Abstract: A laundry treating appliance having a tub defining an interior, a basket located within the interior and rotatably mounted within the tub and having an upper and lower basket base portion, a balance ring mounted to the upper edge of the basket peripheral wall, a clothes mover rotatably mounted within the basket, a drive system comprising a motor operably coupled to the basket and the clothes mover and configured to selectively oscillate or rotate the basket or the clothes mover and a first and second drive shaft, and a drive attachment mechanism configured to couple the basket to the second drive shaft, with the drive attachment mechanism comprising a bushing assembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 7, 2019Publication date: June 27, 2019Inventors: ERIC K. FARRINGTON, STEVEN FRICKE, NICHOLAS C. FUGAL, CHRISTINE L. STRAIN, PHILIP R. THOMPSON, ROBERT C. WILLIAMS
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Publication number: 20190161899Abstract: A laundry appliance includes a rotating drum that receives laundry to be treated. A motor rotates a drive shaft about a vertical axis and engages the rotating drum at a base. A coupler is disposed within an upper portion of the base and that rests upon the drive shaft to transfer rotational forces from the drive shaft to the drum. A lower portion of the base engages an outer surface of the shaft to resist moment forces that are exerted against the drive shaft in an off-axis direction relative to the vertical axis.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 30, 2017Publication date: May 30, 2019Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: Nicholas C. Fugal, Bradley D. Morrow, Joseph C. O'Connor, Prabhath KV, Jason S. Sabel, Christine L. Strain, Meredith A. Wagner, Robert C. Williams
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Patent number: 10240272Abstract: A laundry treating appliance having a tub defining an interior, a basket located within the interior and rotatably mounted within the tub and having an upper and lower basket base portion, a balance ring mounted to the upper edge of the basket peripheral wall, a clothes mover rotatably mounted within the basket, a drive system comprising a motor operably coupled to the basket and the clothes mover and configured to selectively oscillate or rotate the basket or the clothes mover and a first and second drive shaft, and a drive attachment mechanism configured to couple the basket to the second drive shaft, with the drive attachment mechanism comprising a bushing assembly.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 2016Date of Patent: March 26, 2019Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Eric K. Farrington, Steven Fricke, Nicholas C. Fugal, Christine L. Strain, Philip R. Thompson, Robert C. Williams
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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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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: 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: 20170327989Abstract: A laundry treating appliance having a tub defining an interior, a basket located within the interior and rotatably mounted within the tub and having an upper and lower basket base portion, a balance ring mounted to the upper edge of the basket peripheral wall, a clothes mover rotatably mounted within the basket, a drive system comprising a motor operably coupled to the basket and the clothes mover and configured to selectively oscillate or rotate the basket or the clothes mover and a first and second drive shaft, and a drive attachment mechanism configured to couple the basket to the second drive shaft, with the drive attachment mechanism comprising a bushing assembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 13, 2016Publication date: November 16, 2017Inventors: ERIC K. FARRINGTON, STEVEN FRICKE, NICHOLAS C. FUGAL, CHRISTINE L. STRAIN, PHILIP R. THOMPSON, ROBERT C. WILLIAMS
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Publication number: 20160258103Abstract: 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: March 5, 2015Publication date: September 8, 2016Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: JOHN M. HUNNELL, PRADEEP KUMAR, BRENNER M. SHARP, CHRISTINE L. STRAIN
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Publication number: 20150176166Abstract: A method of controlling a laundry treating appliance having a rotatable wash basket defining a treating chamber for receiving laundry items for treatment according to an automatic cycle of operation, the method comprising supplying liquid to the wash basket, draining liquid from the wash basket by gravity, and filling the wash basket to a predetermined fill level based on an amount of laundry, a type of laundry, a selected cycle of operation, or combinations thereof.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 9, 2015Publication date: June 25, 2015Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: BENJAMIN E. ALEXANDER, BRENT M. BURGESS, MICHAEL K. CLUSKEY, DONALD E. ERICKSON, CHRISTOPHER A. JONES, AARON A. LINDEN, KENNETH L. MCCONNELL, BRADLEY D. MORROW, DALE E. MUELLER, MICHELE A. PAUSTIAN, BRENNER M. SHARP, CHRISTINE L. STRAIN, DEAN L. TIETZ, LAUREN M. LALONDE
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Publication number: 20150052953Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 20, 2013Publication date: February 26, 2015Applicant: 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