Patents by Inventor Stephen E. Hettinger

Stephen E. Hettinger 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: 8387422
    Abstract: A pulsator wash system includes a cabinet, a wash tub supported within the cabinet, a wash basket supported within the wash tub, and a drive system for rotating the wash basket. A pulsator is disposed adjacent a bottom of the wash basket and drivingly connected to the drive system. The pulsator includes a base portion, a central hub extending upward from the base portion, and a plurality of radially extending vanes extending upward from the base portion. Each of the plurality of radially extending vanes extends radially from about a peripheral radial edge of the base portion to a location spaced apart from the central hub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Stephen E. Hettinger, James Quentin Pollett
  • Publication number: 20110296630
    Abstract: An appliance lid for an appliance is disclosed. The appliance lid includes a viewing window; and at least one clamshell providing partial encapsulation of the viewing window using at least two parts surrounding the viewing window. The viewing window allows operation of the appliance to be observed. In one embodiment, the clamshell includes a top piece and a bottom piece encapsulating the viewing window. The appliance may be, for example, a top loading washing machine. The top and bottom pieces can be fastened to one another, for example, using an adhesive or one or more mechanical fasteners. One or more gaskets can optionally be provided along at least one edge of the viewing window. A magnet can optionally be embedded in the clamshell to provide a safety lock for the appliance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2010
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Inventors: Daniel S. Frazer, Todd P. Boutiette, David S. Dunn, Stephen E. Hettinger, Matthew Parsons, James Q. Pollett
  • Publication number: 20090293203
    Abstract: A dispenser and dispensing method for a pulsator wash system or machine includes an inner cup defining an inner chamber for receiving an additive and an outer cup defining an outer chamber annularly disposed about the inner cup. The inner and outer cups are disposed within a pulsator hub of the pulsator washing machine. In operation, an additive is added to the inner chamber and the wash tub of the pulsator washing machine is filled with water, wherein that water enters and rises within the outer chamber. A predetermined amount of the water in the outer cup is permitted to enter the inner cup to pre-dilute the additive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2008
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Inventors: Stephen E. Hettinger, James Quentin Pollett
  • Publication number: 20090293554
    Abstract: A pulsator wash system includes a cabinet, a wash tub supported within the cabinet, a wash basket supported within the wash tub, and a drive system for rotating the wash basket. A pulsator is disposed adjacent a bottom of the wash basket and drivingly connected to the drive system. The pulsator includes a base portion, a central hub extending upward from the base portion, and a plurality of radially extending vanes extending upward from the base portion. Each of the plurality of radially extending vanes extends radially from about a peripheral radial edge of the base portion to a location spaced apart from the central hub.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2008
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Inventors: Stephen E. Hettinger, James Quentin Pollett