Patents by Inventor Frank L. Rice

Frank L. Rice 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: 4869231
    Abstract: An improved cooktop mounting arrangement for a range with an upswept lift-up cooktop including a pair of upper pivot members extending from opposite sides of the upswept section of the cooktop, a pair of spaced lower pivot members extending from opposite sides of the cooktop near the intersection of the upswept section and the cooking surface section, and corresponding upper and lower guides supported from the main range body. The upper and lower guides are cooperatively configured to respectively simultaneously guide the upper pivot members through a vertically oriented arcuate path extending downwardly and forwardly and to guide the lower pivot members through a horizontally oriented path extending generally forwardly and upwardly as the cooktop moves from its lowered position to its raised position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 26, 1989
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Frank L. Rice, David L. Kinny
  • Patent number: 4748715
    Abstract: An adjustable roller assembly for supporting and leveling an appliance including a rail secured to the appliance and having a keyhole opening with a horizontal stationary base frame secured to the rail. A bracket having a bottom end is pivotally secured to the base frame and the top end of the bracket has a threaded nut spaced from the keyhole opening in the rail. A roller is rotatably secured to the bottom end of the bracket and is movable up and down relative to the stationary base frame in response to pivotal movement of the bracket. A horizontally disposed bolt having a head portion, a shank portion, a threaded portion, and an unthreaded terminal end portion is provided with the shank portion passing through the keyhole opening in the rail. The head portion is located on one side of the rail, and the threaded portion on the opposite side of the rail and threadingly engages the nut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1987
    Date of Patent: June 7, 1988
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Frank L. Rice
  • Patent number: 4327274
    Abstract: An assembly for combining an appliance, for example a microwave oven, with a range vent hood having an appliance housing and a support structure for mounting the housing to a wall or to the floor of an overhead cabinet above a conventional cooking range is disclosed. The support structure includes a back wall upon which ribs are formed so as to space the rear of the housing from the back to form a channelized air space therebetween. A plate is attached to a lower portion of the back wall and extends forwardly toward and beneath the front of the appliance housing to form a second channelized air space between the plate and bottom of the housing. The two air spaces thus formed, communicate with one another to permit cooking gases and vapors from the range to be drawn upward through openings in the plate, then through the two air spaces and out the assembly on or near a top rear portion thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1980
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1982
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: James A. White, Frank L. Rice, Walter E. Lewis
  • Patent number: 4313043
    Abstract: A combination microwave oven and exhaust vent comprising a support assembly and a microwave oven operating module. The support assembly includes an open sided support enclosure into which the operating module is slidably inserted. The support assembly is initially mounted in the position above a countertop or cooking surface and the module is inserted thereinto to complete the mounting process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1978
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1982
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: James A. White, Frank L. Rice
  • Patent number: 4254450
    Abstract: A lamp mounting assembly for a microwave oven which permits easy replacement of the illuminating lamps including a lamp housing which attaches to the top wall of a microwave oven structure and is located in a space between the top wall of the oven structure and the top wall of a support assembly. The lamp housing is accessible through a removable grille which closes the space at the front of the microwave oven. The top wall of the oven cavity has a series of openings through which light from the bulb is directed to illuminate the oven cavity. The assembly includes supporting sidewalls having elongated channels sloping downwardly from front to rear. The lamp mounting member is supported for reciprocal movement along the channels, the member being accessible through the removable grille.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1978
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1981
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: James A. White, Frank L. Rice
  • Patent number: 4001973
    Abstract: An appliance, such as a domestic oven, with a removable oven door hinged to the appliance. The hinge system includes a pair of hinge mechanisms, where each mechanism includes a stationary bracket supporting a pivoted door guide, a spring-loaded hinged lever carried by the door guide, and a separable mating member in the door for cooperation with the door guide. The door guide includes a slip-on self-supporting wire spring that is operable whenever there is a partial removal of the door from the door guide to cause a locking action between the door guide and the support bracket. When the door is reinstalled on the hinge mechanism, the wire spring is unlocked from the support bracket so the door may be closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1975
    Date of Patent: January 11, 1977
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Frank L. Rice, Arthur C. Wilson