Patents by Inventor Stephen D. Ostdiek

Stephen D. Ostdiek 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: 11946184
    Abstract: A laundry appliance includes a cabinet that has a front panel. A tub is positioned within the cabinet. A door is coupled to the front panel of the cabinet. The door moves vertically between a closed position and an opened position. A bellows assembly is coupled to the front panel. The bellows assembly extends between the cabinet and the tub. A sealing assembly includes a first seal and a second seal that are each coupled to the bellows assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Darryl C. Bodine, Gregg P. Fitzgerald, Stephen D. Ostdiek, Marcel Schmidt, Todd J. Tunzi
  • Patent number: 11946186
    Abstract: A laundry appliance includes a cabinet defining an aperture in a front surface thereof. A drum is disposed within the cabinet. The drum defines an access opening that aligns with the aperture. A door is coupled to the cabinet and is operable between closed and opened positions relative to the aperture. A bellows extends along a perimeter of the aperture and proximate the access opening. A deflector extends along at least a portion of the perimeter of the aperture. The deflector extends into an interior of the drum over the bellows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Darryl C. Bodine, Donald E. Erickson, Gregg P. Fitzgerald, Stephen D. Ostdiek, Marcel Schmidt, Todd J. Tunzi
  • Publication number: 20240102224
    Abstract: A laundry appliance includes a cabinet that has a front panel. A tub is positioned within the cabinet. A door is coupled to the front panel of the cabinet. The door moves vertically between a closed position and an opened position. A bellows assembly is coupled to the front panel. The bellows assembly extends between the cabinet and the tub. A sealing assembly includes a first seal and a second seal that are each coupled to the bellows assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2023
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Darryl C. Bodine, Gregg P. Fitzgerald, Stephen D. Ostdiek, Marcel Schmidt, Todd J. Tunzi
  • Publication number: 20230374717
    Abstract: A laundry appliance includes a cabinet defining a front opening in a front panel. The front opening is defined by a lip having a curved edge. The lip defines a plurality of apertures spaced-apart around the front opening. A tub is disposed within the cabinet. The tub defines an access opening aligned with the front opening. A drum is disposed within the tub. A bellows assembly extends between the cabinet and the tub. The bellows assembly includes a projection coupled to the curved edge of the cabinet. A deflector has a rim and a chute wherein the chute extends toward the drum. The rim is configured to snap-fit over the projection of the bellows assembly. The rim includes a plurality of hooks where each hook is configured to extend through an aperture and interlock with the cabinet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2023
    Publication date: November 23, 2023
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Darryl C. Bodine, Donald Erickson, Gregg P. Fitzgerald, Eric A. Hill, Patrick A. McCormick, Stephen D. Ostdiek, Anna C. Schelling, Robert J. Schneider, Mohaideen Abdul Khadaar Sikkandar Batcha, Todd J. Tunzi, Andrew C. Kubasiak
  • Patent number: 11795598
    Abstract: A dynamic balancer device for mounting to and balancing a rotatable drum in a laundry treating appliance comprises an enclosed non-metal annular housing having a radial circumferential wall, an annular metal race within the non-metal annular housing disposed against the radial circumferential wall, and a mass disposed in the annular race and movable therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Donald E. Erickson, Mark R. Haslanger, Stephen D. Ostdiek, Jaime E. Rodriguez
  • Patent number: 11761134
    Abstract: A laundry appliance includes a cabinet defining a front opening in a front panel. The front opening is defined by a lip having a curved edge. The lip defines a plurality of apertures spaced-apart around the front opening. A tub is disposed within the cabinet. The tub defines an access opening aligned with the front opening. A drum is disposed within the tub. A bellows assembly extends between the cabinet and the tub. The bellows assembly includes a projection coupled to the curved edge of the cabinet. A deflector has a rim and a chute wherein the chute extends toward the drum. The rim is configured to snap-fit over the projection of the bellows assembly. The rim includes a plurality of hooks where each hook is configured to extend through an aperture and interlock with the cabinet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Darryl C. Bodine, Gregg P. Fitzgerald, Eric A. Hill, Patrick A. McCormick, Stephen D. Ostdiek, Anna C. Schelling, Robert J. Schneider, Mohaideen Abdul Khadaar Sikkandar Batcha, Todd J. Tunzi
  • Publication number: 20220372686
    Abstract: A laundry appliance includes a cabinet defining a front opening in a front panel. The front opening is defined by a lip having a curved edge. The lip defines a plurality of apertures spaced-apart around the front opening. A tub is disposed within the cabinet. The tub defines an access opening aligned with the front opening. A drum is disposed within the tub. A bellows assembly extends between the cabinet and the tub. The bellows assembly includes a projection coupled to the curved edge of the cabinet. A deflector has a rim and a chute wherein the chute extends toward the drum. The rim is configured to snap-fit over the projection of the bellows assembly. The rim includes a plurality of hooks where each hook is configured to extend through an aperture and interlock with the cabinet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2022
    Publication date: November 24, 2022
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Darryl C. Bodine, Donald Erickson, Gregg P. Fitzgerald, Eric A. Hill, Patrick A. McCormick, Stephen D. Ostdiek, Anna C. Schelling, Robert J. Schneider, Mohaideen Abdul Khadaar Sikkandar Batcha, Todd J. Tunzi
  • Publication number: 20220290350
    Abstract: A laundry appliance includes a cabinet that has a front panel. A tub is positioned within the cabinet. A door is coupled to the front panel of the cabinet. The door moves vertically between a closed position and an opened position. A bellows assembly is coupled to the front panel. The bellows assembly extends between the cabinet and the tub. A sealing assembly includes a first seal and a second seal that are each coupled to the bellows assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2022
    Publication date: September 15, 2022
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Darryl C. Bodine, Gregg P. Fitzgerald, Stephen D. Ostdiek, Marcel Schmidt, Todd J. Tunzi
  • Patent number: 11434594
    Abstract: A laundry appliance includes a cabinet defining a front opening in a front panel. The front opening is defined by a lip having a curved edge. The lip defines a plurality of apertures spaced-apart around the front opening. A tub is disposed within the cabinet. The tub defines an access opening aligned with the front opening. A drum is disposed within the tub. A bellows assembly extends between the cabinet and the tub. The bellows assembly includes a projection coupled to the curved edge of the cabinet. A deflector has a rim and a chute wherein the chute extends toward the drum. The rim is configured to snap-fit over the projection of the bellows assembly. The rim includes a plurality of hooks where each hook is configured to extend through an aperture and interlock with the cabinet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Darryl C. Bodine, Donald Erickson, Gregg P. Fitzgerald, Andrew C. Kubasiak, Patrick A. McCormick, Stephen D. Ostdiek, Anna C. Schelling, Robert J. Schneider, Mohaideen Abdul Khadaar Sikkandar Batcha, Todd J. Tunzi
  • Publication number: 20220220657
    Abstract: A laundry appliance includes a cabinet. A door is operably coupled to the cabinet. A drum is disposed within the cabinet proximate to the door. A lifter is disposed within and operably coupled to the drum. A foreign substrate collector is disposed within the lifter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2021
    Publication date: July 14, 2022
    Inventors: Evan Kristopher Bauer, Tarun Sai Yadav Godha, Bharadwaj J, Skylar Rhae Kleindienst, Sayer James Murphy, Sachin Nilawar, Stephen D. Ostdiek, B. Shiva, Ryan James Van Zoest, Michelle Flachs Croce, Karthick Kumar Dhanapal, Jun Young Park
  • Patent number: 11377772
    Abstract: A laundry appliance includes a cabinet that has a front panel. A tub is positioned within the cabinet. A door is coupled to the front panel of the cabinet. The door moves vertically between a closed position and an opened position. A bellows assembly is coupled to the front panel. The bellows assembly extends between the cabinet and the tub. A sealing assembly includes a first seal and a second seal that are each coupled to the bellows assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Darryl C. Bodine, Gregg P. Fitzgerald, Stephen D. Ostdiek, Marcel Schmidt, Todd J. Tunzi
  • Publication number: 20220120025
    Abstract: A laundry treating appliance includes a chassis defining an interior and having a front panel defining a front panel opening. A rotatable treating chamber is located within the interior and accessible through the front panel opening. A door assembly is mounted to the chassis for movement between opened and closed positions to selectively open or close the front panel opening. The door assembly includes a window or panel slidable between first and second positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2021
    Publication date: April 21, 2022
    Inventors: DARRYL C. BODINE, GREGG P. FITZGERALD, STEPHEN D. OSTDIEK, MARCEL SCHMIDT, TODD TUNZI
  • Publication number: 20220112646
    Abstract: A dynamic balancer device for mounting to and balancing a rotatable drum in a laundry treating appliance comprises an enclosed non-metal annular housing having a radial circumferential wall, an annular metal race within the non-metal annular housing disposed against the radial circumferential wall, and a mass disposed in the annular race and movable therein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2021
    Publication date: April 14, 2022
    Inventors: DONALD E. ERICKSON, MARK R. HASLANGER, STEPHEN D. OSTDIEK, JAIME E. RODRIGUEZ
  • Publication number: 20220074101
    Abstract: A laundry appliance includes a cabinet defining an aperture in a front surface thereof. A drum is disposed within the cabinet. The drum defines an access opening that aligns with the aperture. A door is coupled to the cabinet and is operable between closed and opened positions relative to the aperture. A bellows extends along a perimeter of the aperture and proximate the access opening. A deflector extends along at least a portion of the perimeter of the aperture. The deflector extends into an interior of the drum over the bellows.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2021
    Publication date: March 10, 2022
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Darryl C. Bodine, Donald E. Erickson, Gregg P. Fitzgerald, Stephen D. Ostdiek, Marcel Schmidt, Todd J. Tunzi
  • Patent number: 11242636
    Abstract: A dynamic balancer device for mounting to and balancing a rotatable drum in a laundry treating appliance comprises an enclosed non-metal annular housing having a radial circumferential wall, an annular metal race within the non-metal annular housing disposed against the radial circumferential wall, and a mass disposed in the annular race and movable therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Donald E. Erickson, Mark R. Haslanger, Stephen D. Ostdiek, Jaime E. Rodriguez
  • Patent number: 11242645
    Abstract: A laundry treating appliance includes a chassis defining an interior and having a front panel defining a front panel opening. A rotatable treating chamber is located within the interior and accessible through the front panel opening. A door assembly is mounted to the chassis for movement between opened and closed positions to selectively open or close the front panel opening. The door assembly includes a window or panel slidable between first and second positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Darryl C. Bodine, Gregg P. Fitzgerald, Stephen D. Ostdiek, Marcel Schmidt, Todd Tunzi
  • Patent number: 11208750
    Abstract: A laundry appliance includes a cabinet defining an aperture in a front surface thereof. A drum is disposed within the cabinet. The drum defines an access opening that aligns with the aperture. A door is coupled to the cabinet and is operable between closed and opened positions relative to the aperture. A bellows extends along a perimeter of the aperture and proximate the access opening. A deflector extends along at least a portion of the perimeter of the aperture. The deflector extends into an interior of the drum over the bellows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Darryl C. Bodine, Donald E. Erickson, Gregg P. Fitzgerald, Stephen D. Ostdiek, Marcel Schmidt, Todd J. Tunzi
  • Publication number: 20200370222
    Abstract: A laundry appliance includes a cabinet defining a front opening in a front panel. The front opening is defined by a lip having a curved edge. The lip defines a plurality of apertures spaced-apart around the front opening. A tub is disposed within the cabinet. The tub defines an access opening aligned with the front opening. A drum is disposed within the tub. A bellows assembly extends between the cabinet and the tub. The bellows assembly includes a projection coupled to the curved edge of the cabinet. A deflector has a rim and a chute wherein the chute extends toward the drum. The rim is configured to snap-fit over the projection of the bellows assembly. The rim includes a plurality of hooks where each hook is configured to extend through an aperture and interlock with the cabinet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2020
    Publication date: November 26, 2020
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Darryl C. Bodine, Donald Erickson, Gregg P. Fitzgerald, Eric A. Hill, Andrew C. Kubasiak, Patrick A. McCormick, Stephen D. Ostdiek, Anna C. Schelling, Robert J. Schneider, Mohaideen Abdul Khadaar Sikkandar Batcha, Todd J. Tunzi
  • Publication number: 20200370233
    Abstract: A laundry appliance includes a cabinet that has a front panel. A tub is positioned within the cabinet. A door is coupled to the front panel of the cabinet. The door moves vertically between a closed position and an opened position. A bellows assembly is coupled to the front panel. The bellows assembly extends between the cabinet and the tub. A sealing assembly includes a first seal and a second seal that are each coupled to the bellows assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2020
    Publication date: November 26, 2020
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Darryl C. Bodine, Gregg P. Fitzgerald, Stephen D. Ostdiek, Marcel Schmidt, Todd J. Tunzi
  • Publication number: 20200208324
    Abstract: A laundry appliance includes a cabinet defining an aperture in a front surface thereof. A drum is disposed within the cabinet. The drum defines an access opening that aligns with the aperture. A door is coupled to the cabinet and is operable between closed and opened positions relative to the aperture. A bellows extends along a perimeter of the aperture and proximate the access opening. A deflector extends along at least a portion of the perimeter of the aperture. The deflector extends into an interior of the drum over the bellows.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2019
    Publication date: July 2, 2020
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Darryl C. Bodine, Donald E. Erickson, Gregg P. Fitzgerald, Stephen D. Ostdiek, Marcel Schmidt, Todd J. Tunzi