Patents by Inventor Michael S. Kauffman

Michael S. Kauffman 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: 5899083
    Abstract: A refrigerator having a middle fresh food compartment and a relatively large bottom freezer compartment arranged below the fresh food compartment and a relatively small freezer compartment arranged above the fresh food compartment. The bottom freezer compartment preferably supports a drawer including a frame and a removable bin. Cool air can be supplied to the compartments of the refrigerator by employing a two fan control system such that no electromechanical baffles are required. Alternatively, cool air can be directed to the compartments of the refrigerator by use of a baffle which requires only a single electromechanical device to control air flow into three different compartments. The baffle includes a main rotary damper which can be positioned to provide proportional amounts of chilled air to the three separate compartments based on the degree of cooling required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1999
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: James R. Peterson, Steven J. Kuehl, Michael S. Kauffman, Jim J. Pastryk, Devinder Singh, Richard C. Spears, Jeffrey L. Burk, Donald E. Janke, Li Gong Ling
  • Patent number: 5758512
    Abstract: A refrigerator having a middle fresh food compartment and a relatively large bottom freezer compartment arranged below the fresh food compartment and a relatively small freezer compartment arranged above the fresh food compartment. The bottom freezer compartment preferably supports a drawer including a frame and a removable bin. Cool air can be supplied to the compartments of the refrigerator by employing a two fan control system such that no electro-mechanical baffles are required. Alternatively, cool air can be directed to the compartments of the refrigerator by use of a baffle which requires only a single electro-mechanical device to control air flow into three different compartments. The baffle includes a main rotary damper which can be positioned to provide proportional amounts of chilled air to the three separate compartments based on the degree of cooling required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1998
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: James R. Peterson, Steven J. Kuehl, Michael S. Kauffman, Jim J. Pastryk, Devinder Singh, Richard C. Spears, Jeffrey L. Burk, Donald E. Janke, Li Gong Ling
  • Patent number: 5445452
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes an adjustable utility compartment and sliding shelf. Particularly, the refrigerator includes a door having an inner door panel including a rear wall extending between opposite vertical sidewalls. The utility compartment is removably mounted to the inner door panel adjacent a first one of the sidewalls. A shelf trim piece extends between the sidewalls and is spaced forwardly of the panel rear wall. A storage shelf is of a length shorter than a distance between the sidewalls. The storage shelf is slidably positioned between a ledge on the panel rear wall and the shelf trim piece for slidable lateral movement between a usable storage position located between the utility compartment and a second one of the sidewalls and a non-usable retracted position beneath the utility compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 29, 1995
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Michael S. Kauffman, Patrick A. Braun, Donna J. Heacock, Jeffrey A. DeBoer