Patents by Inventor Richard D. Hood, Jr.

Richard D. Hood, Jr. 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: 4870988
    Abstract: A one-piece drain hose for an automatic washer is provided wherein the hose is attached to a discharge outlet of a pump by an adapter integrally molded onto the hose at a first end. The hose, which is formed of a corrugated plastic material, passes through an opening in the cabinet wall and is connected to a drain. A stop member is immovably carried on the hose to prevent it from being withdrawn from the washer cabinet by an excessive amount. A hose hanger is provided to hold a short portion of the hose in an exposed position while the remainder of the hose is positioned in the interior of the cabinet during shipping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 3, 1989
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Richard D. Hood, Jr., John D. Cleminshaw, Jack E. Blakeman
  • Patent number: 4856303
    Abstract: A thrust spacer having resilient, upwardly angled tabs is provided to act as a variable spacer within a two-piece agitator, between an upper agitator portion and a lower agitator portion to prevent relative vertical movement between the two portions while permitting relative rotational movement therebetween. Each of the tabs is positioned adjacent to an opening larger than the tab to permit the tab to be compressed into the opening to provide a large degree of variability in the height of the tabs. The spacer also includes angled arms which engage with slots in the lower agitator portion to cause the spacer to rotate with the lower agitator portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 15, 1989
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Richard D. Hood, Jr., Dale E. Mueller, Douglas J. Walker