Patents by Inventor John I. Smith

John I. Smith 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: 6546942
    Abstract: The invention addresses the need for an automatic dishwasher that can accommodate various shapes and sizes of utensils. The invention relates to an automatic dishwasher comprising a cabinet that defines a washing chamber. The cabinet has an access opening, which is closeable by a door that is moveably mounted to the cabinet between an open position and a closed position. A first basket is moveably mounted within the washing chamber and capable of movement between a use position and a load position. An auxiliary basket assembly comprising an auxiliary basket and an auxiliary basket support for support the auxiliary basket above the first basket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: John I. Smith, Jeffrey R. Taylor
  • Publication number: 20020148494
    Abstract: The invention addresses the need for an automatic dishwasher that can accommodate various shapes and sizes of utensils. The invention relates to an automatic dishwasher comprising a cabinet that defines a washing chamber. The cabinet has an access opening, which is closeable by a door that is moveably mounted to the cabinet between an open position and a closed position. A first basket is moveably mounted within the washing chamber and capable of movement between a use position and a load position. An auxiliary basket assembly comprising an auxiliary basket and an auxiliary basket support for support the auxiliary basket above the first basket.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2001
    Publication date: October 17, 2002
    Inventors: John I. Smith, Jeffrey R. Taylor
  • Patent number: 5474378
    Abstract: A manually adjustable support assembly for movably supporting an upper dishrack within a dishwasher. A plurality of support assemblies are provided for each dishrack and permit manual adjustments of the dishrack between predetermined vertically spaced positions. Each of the adjustable support assemblies comprise a housing for interconnection with the dishrack. A flex plate is disposed adjacent the housing and slidably interconnects with the housing. A wheel rotatably interconnects with the flex plate and is rotatably received into a track supported on the sidewall of the dishwasher tub. The flex plate includes a positioning rib which is received into one of a plurality of receiving slots formed into the housing. By flexing the flex plate, the positioning rib may be disengaged from one of the receiving slots and the flex plate moved longitudinally relative to the housing. By relaxing the flex plate, the positioning rib is engaged into the adjacent-most receiving slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 12, 1995
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: John I. Smith, Michael L. Giddings
  • Patent number: 4991611
    Abstract: A spray arm assembly for delivering a fluid under pressure into a dishwasher wash chamber consists of a spray arm having a rotational axis and defining a fluid passageway for distributing incoming fluid into the wash chamber, a tower section, structure for mounting the tower section to the spray arm for guided movement relative to the spray arm between a retracted position and an extended position, and structure on the tower section for directing fluid from the fluid supply into the wash chamber with the lower section in its extended position. Mounting structure, integrally formed with the spray arm, prevents the tower section from separating from the spray arm with the tower section in its extended position. Any number of cooperating tower sections can be employed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 12, 1991
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Wilbur W. Jarvis, John I. Smith, Kirk A. Gutmann, Lane S. Duncan, Richard D. Taylor, Richard W. Germuska
  • Patent number: 4822241
    Abstract: An automatic dishwasher includes a cabinet enclosing an interior washing chamber with a pump mounted in the cabinet for pumping liquids into and out of the washing chamber. The pump includes a housing having spaced apart walls and a rotatable motor shaft extending into the housing from a first one of the walls. A rotatable impeller is mounted for longitudinal movement along the motor shaft and is keyed to rotate with the motor shaft between the spaced apart walls of the housing. A removable bearing mount that supports a thrust bearing is threaded into the pump housing and, with the thrust bearing, provides an axial stop for limiting the movement of the impeller along the motor shaft. The bearing mount also includes an annular surface disposed near the exposed edges of the blades of the impeller and spaced therefrom by a predetermined, desired clearance or gap. The optimization of the clearance maximizes the efficiency of the pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 18, 1989
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Wilbur W. Jarvis, John I. Smith
  • Patent number: 4732323
    Abstract: According to the invention a seal is established between a rotary spray arm and a stationary pedestal support for the spray arm. Liquid from a pump, which forcibly delivers liquid to the spray arm is forced between cooperating parts of the spray arm and spray arm support in such a manner that a sealing split ring is urged both axially and radially relative to the rotational axis of the spray arm into sealing engagement with surfaces on both the spray arm and spray arm support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 22, 1988
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Wilbur W. Jarvis, John I. Smith
  • Patent number: 4207533
    Abstract: An economical Cds photoresistor is connected to the input of an operational amplifier. Logging diodes are connected in a feedback configuration with the operational amplifier through a galvanometer meter. The log of the ratio of the input currents to the operational amplifier is independent of supply voltage thereby permitting the use of a wide tolerance battery supply. The input of the operational amplifier and the meter are referenced to a voltage divider. A feedback connection regulates meter current independently of meter resistance that varies strongly with ambient temperature changes. Light-emitting diodes provide regulation against battery voltage variation, light for meter scale illumination, and an inherent, unfailingly diagnostic battery-check response.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1978
    Date of Patent: June 10, 1980
    Inventor: John I. Smith
  • Patent number: 3940603
    Abstract: Three log circuits are fed by respective x, y and z inputs, along with predetermined interconnections therebetween. The outputs from the log circuits are log z, log (x+z) and log (y+z). These outputs are fed to summing and anti-log circuits to derive the equation (xy)/z + x + y + z. A second summing circuit is provided for substracting the three variables from the resultant output so that (xy)/z is finally derived.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1974
    Date of Patent: February 24, 1976
    Inventor: John I. Smith
  • Patent number: D546659
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Inventor: John I. Smith
  • Patent number: D573866
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Inventor: John I. Smith
  • Patent number: D488891
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Inventors: John I. Smith, Jeffrey R. Taylor, Viorel Luminosu