Patents by Inventor Stephen W. Wharton

Stephen W. Wharton 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: 6736298
    Abstract: A filter monitor system is provided in a bottled water cooler for automatically tracking a filter service interval, and for indicating that filter cleaning or replacement is required for continued efficient cooler operation. In the preferred form, the water cooler includes a thermoelectric chiller module for chilling at least a portion of water contained within a cooler reservoir. An air filter is mounted on a filter frame which is removably positioned for filtering air drawn by a fan to circulate over a heat sink associated with the thermoelectric chiller module. The filter monitor system includes a reset switch engaged by the filter frame to initiate and track a predetermined filter service time interval, such as thirty days, and to energize a signal such as an indicator light at the conclusion of this service interval to indicate that the air filter should be removed for cleaning or replacement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: Oasis Corporation
    Inventors: Louis M. Busick, John W. Host, Larry L. Nichols, Stephen W. Wharton
  • Patent number: 6644037
    Abstract: A beverage cooler is provided with an improved thermoelectric chiller unit for chilling a supply of water or other selected beverage within a cooler reservoir. The improved thermoelectric chiller unit includes a thermoelectric heat transfer module captured by a spring mount with substantially uniform pressure distribution between a chiller probe for chilling the water within the cooler reservoir, and a heat exchanger for dissipating heat drawn from the chilled water. The cooler reservoir has a faucet mounted thereon for on-demand dispensing of the water, and is mounted as a removable unit within a cooler housing with a bottom wall of the reservoir defining an inverted cup-shaped receptacle for close slide-fit reception of the chiller probe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: Oasis Corporation
    Inventors: Louis M. Busick, Stephen W. Wharton, Stephen J. Sabin, Declan L. Coyle
  • Publication number: 20030115902
    Abstract: A beverage cooler is provided with an improved thermoelectric chiller unit for chilling a supply of water or other selected beverage within a cooler reservoir. The improved thermoelectric chiller unit includes a thermoelectric heat transfer module captured by a spring mount with substantially uniform pressure distribution between a chiller probe for chilling the water within the cooler reservoir, and a heat exchanger for dissipating heat drawn from the chilled water. The cooler reservoir has a faucet mounted thereon for on-demand dispensing of the water, and is mounted as a removable unit within a cooler housing with a bottom wall of the reservoir defining an inverted cup-shaped receptacle for close slide-fit reception of the chiller probe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2002
    Publication date: June 26, 2003
    Inventors: Louis M. Busick, Stephen W. Wharton, Stephen J. Sabin, Declan L. Coyle
  • Publication number: 20020145009
    Abstract: A filter monitor system is provided in a bottled water cooler for automatically tracking a filter service interval, and for indicating that filter cleaning or replacement is required for continued efficient cooler operation. In the preferred form, the water cooler includes a thermoelectric chiller module for chilling at least a portion of water contained within a cooler reservoir. An air filter is mounted on a filter frame which is removably positioned for filtering air drawn by a fan to circulate over a heat sink associated with the thermoelectric chiller module. The filter monitor system includes a reset switch engaged by the filter frame to initiate and track a predetermined filter service time interval, such as thirty days, and to energize a signal such as an indicator light at the conclusion of this service interval to indicate that the air filter should be removed for cleaning or replacement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2002
    Publication date: October 10, 2002
    Inventors: Louis M. Busick, John W. Host, Larry L. Nichols, Stephen W. Wharton
  • Patent number: D463194
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Assignee: Oasis Corporation
    Inventors: Louis M. Busick, Stephen W. Wharton, Stephen J. Sabin, Declan L. Coyle
  • Patent number: D477487
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Assignee: Burrows Golf, Inc.
    Inventors: David B. Chaney, Stephen W. Wharton
  • Patent number: D477955
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Assignee: Burrows Golf, Inc.
    Inventors: David B. Chaney, Stephen W. Wharton
  • Patent number: D478233
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2003
    Assignee: Burrows Golf, Inc.
    Inventors: David B. Chaney, Stephen W. Wharton