Patents by Inventor Debra L. Bengston

Debra L. Bengston 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).

  • Patent number: 8377227
    Abstract: A utensil holder for use in a dishwasher includes a basket including front, rear, bottom and opposing side walls, as well as an upper opening. The rear wall has a height greater than the front wall. A lid member, having a support surface across which are arrayed a plurality of openings, is secured across the upper opening. The plurality of openings receive and arrange utensils to be exposed to a washing operation. A handle member, including first and second upstanding portions interconnected through a cross bar portion, extends from the basket. The cross bar portion includes angled sections that enable a gripping section to be offset. The utensil holder is designed to mount in various configurations to an inner liner of a dishwasher door, or alternatively be supported on a rack in the dishwasher.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Debra L. Bengston, Mark Britton, Heather Hagans, Scott D. Raches, Wayne M. VanLandingham, Christopher W. Vaughn, Karl R. C. Wendt
  • Patent number: 8168006
    Abstract: A utensil holder assembly for a dishwasher includes multiple utensil baskets that can be mounted in various different configurations in the dishwasher to provide a consumer with the flexibility to construct diverse arrangements of dishware, cookware, utensils and the like for a washing operation. In a first configuration, two utensil baskets are interconnected to form an elongated basket which can be mounted to an inner liner of a dishwasher door. In a second configuration, one basket is mounted to the inner liner and the other basket is supported on a rack in the dishwasher. In a third configuration, both of the baskets are supported on the rack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Debra L. Bengston, Mark Britton, Heather Hagans, Scott D. Raches, Wayne M. VanLandingham, Christopher W. Vaughn, Karl R. C. Wendt