Patents by Inventor Todd E. Kniffen
Todd E. Kniffen 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).
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Patent number: 10295241Abstract: A bottom mount household refrigerator is provided with an apparatus to permit the dispensing of ice. According to one embodiment, a sealed ice making compartment is provided within the fresh food compartment. The sealed ice making compartment may be located at the bottom, at the top, or along a side wall within the fresh food compartment. According to another embodiment, ice is made in the ice compartment, and lifted upward to a dispensing location through the door of the fresh food compartment.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 2016Date of Patent: May 21, 2019Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Joseph R. Adamski, Jason Colsch, Tim L. Coulter, Glenn E. Goetz, Steven G. Herndon, Todd E. Kniffen, Bill J. Koons, Lou Montuoro, John H. Tenhundfeld, David Thalacker, Brett Vladika
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Patent number: 10208998Abstract: A bottom mount household refrigerator is provided with an apparatus to permit the dispensing of ice. According to one embodiment, a sealed ice making compartment is provided within the fresh food compartment. The sealed ice making compartment may be located at the bottom, at the top, or along a side wall within the fresh food compartment. According to another embodiment, ice is made in the ice compartment, and lifted upward to a dispensing location through the door of the fresh food compartment.Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 2010Date of Patent: February 19, 2019Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Joseph R. Adamski, Jason Colsch, Tim L. Coulter, Glenn E. Goetz, Steven G. Herndon, Todd E. Kniffen, Bill J. Koons, Lou Montuoro, John H. Tenhundfeld, David Thalacker, Brett Vladika
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Patent number: 10132558Abstract: A bottom mount refrigerator is provided with a pantry compartment that is accessible from outside the refrigerator by pulling open an easy access pantry drawer without the need to first open the fresh food compartment or the freezer compartment. A divider between the pantry compartment and the fresh food compartment is formed by a secondary mullion and a transparent shelf. The secondary mullion is provided with a light source for illuminating the contents of the pantry drawer. A light source at the rear of the pantry compartment shines generally forwardly and upwardly to illuminate the fresh food compartment.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2018Date of Patent: November 20, 2018Assignee: Whirlpool CoporationInventors: Michael J. Eveland, Steven G. Herndon, Todd E. Kniffen, Bill J. Koons
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Publication number: 20180149419Abstract: A bottom mount refrigerator is provided with a pantry compartment that is accessible from outside the refrigerator by pulling open an easy access pantry drawer without the need to first open the fresh food compartment or the freezer compartment. A divider between the pantry compartment and the fresh food compartment is formed by a secondary mullion and a transparent shelf. The secondary mullion is provided with a light source for illuminating the contents of the pantry drawer. A light source at the rear of the pantry compartment shines generally forwardly and upwardly to illuminate the fresh food compartment.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 31, 2018Publication date: May 31, 2018Inventors: MICHAEL J. EVELAND, STEVEN G. HERNDON, TODD E. KNIFFEN, BILL J. KOONS
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Patent number: 9927167Abstract: A bottom mount refrigerator is provided with a pantry compartment that is accessible from outside the refrigerator by pulling open an easy access pantry drawer without the need to first open the fresh food compartment or the freezer compartment. A divider between the pantry compartment and the fresh food compartment is formed by a secondary mullion and a transparent shelf. The secondary mullion is provided with a light source for illuminating the contents of the pantry drawer. A light source at the rear of the pantry compartment shines generally forwardly and upwardly to illuminate the fresh food compartment.Type: GrantFiled: November 28, 2016Date of Patent: March 27, 2018Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Michael J. Eveland, Steven G. Herndon, Todd E. Kniffen, Bill J. Koons
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Publication number: 20170082339Abstract: A bottom mount household refrigerator is provided with an apparatus to permit the dispensing of ice. According to one embodiment, a sealed ice making compartment is provided within the fresh food compartment. The sealed ice making compartment may be located at the bottom, at the top, or along a side wall within the fresh food compartment. According to another embodiment, ice is made in the ice compartment, and lifted upward to a dispensing location through the door of the fresh food compartment.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 6, 2016Publication date: March 23, 2017Inventors: Joseph R. ADAMSKI, Jason COLSCH, Tim L. COULTER, Glenn E. GOETZ, Steven G. HERNDON, Todd E. KNIFFEN, Bill J. KOONS, Lou MONTUORO, John H. TENHUNDFELD, David THALACKER, Brett VLADIKA
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Publication number: 20170082340Abstract: A bottom mount household refrigerator is provided with an apparatus to permit the dispensing of ice. According to one embodiment, a sealed ice making compartment is provided within the fresh food compartment. The sealed ice making compartment may be located at the bottom, at the top, or along a side wall within the fresh food compartment. According to another embodiment, ice is made in the ice compartment, and lifted upward to a dispensing location through the door of the fresh food compartment.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 6, 2016Publication date: March 23, 2017Inventors: Joseph R. ADAMSKI, Jason COLSCH, Tim L. COULTER, Glenn E. GOETZ, Steven G. HERNDON, Todd E. KNIFFEN, Bill J. KOONS, Lou MONTUORO, John H. TENHUNDFELD, David THALACKER, Brett VLADIKA
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Publication number: 20170074580Abstract: A bottom mount refrigerator is provided with a pantry compartment that is accessible from outside the refrigerator by pulling open an easy access pantry drawer without the need to first open the fresh food compartment or the freezer compartment. A divider between the pantry compartment and the fresh food compartment is formed by a secondary mullion and a transparent shelf. The secondary mullion is provided with a light source for illuminating the contents of the pantry drawer. A light source at the rear of the pantry compartment shines generally forwardly and upwardly to illuminate the fresh food compartment.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 28, 2016Publication date: March 16, 2017Inventors: MICHAEL J. EVELAND, STEVEN G. HERNDON, TODD E. KNIFFEN, BILL J. KOONS
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Patent number: 9534825Abstract: A bottom mount refrigerator is provided with a pantry compartment that is accessible from outside the refrigerator by pulling open an easy access pantry drawer without the need to first open the fresh food compartment or the freezer compartment. A divider between the pantry compartment and the fresh food compartment is formed by a secondary mullion and a transparent shelf. The secondary mullion is provided with a light source for illuminating the contents of the pantry drawer. A light source at the rear of the pantry compartment shines generally forwardly and upwardly to illuminate the fresh food compartment.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2015Date of Patent: January 3, 2017Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Michael J. Eveland, Steven G. Herndon, Todd E. Kniffen, Bill J. Koons
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Patent number: 9474201Abstract: An agricultural planter includes a plurality of row units attached to a toolbar. The row units include seed meters for receiving, singulating, and dispensing seed or other particulate. The seed meters include a circular seed disc with a seed path for receiving the seed in the seed meter housing. Integrated with the seed disc is a motor that is housed within the seed meter housing and that includes a rotatable portion being attached to the circular disc such that the two rotate in tandem. The integrated motor can be positioned within an interior portion of the circular seed disc such that the width of the disc and motor combination is kept to a minimum.Type: GrantFiled: January 9, 2015Date of Patent: October 25, 2016Assignee: Kinze Manufacturing, Inc.Inventors: Matthew J. Wilhelmi, Merlan Rolffs, Dustan Hahn, John P. Mulherin, Courtney N. Achen, Michael J. Myers, Ryan Legge, Rhett Schildroth, Marvin Bachman, Todd E. Kniffen
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Publication number: 20150189826Abstract: An agricultural planter includes a plurality of row units attached to a toolbar. The row units include seed meters for receiving, singulating, and dispensing seed or other particulate. The seed meters include a circular seed disc with a seed path for receiving the seed in the seed meter housing. Integrated with the seed disc is a motor that is housed within the seed meter housing and that includes a rotatable portion being attached to the circular disc such that the two rotate in tandem. The integrated motor can be positioned within an interior portion of the circular seed disc such that the width of the disc and motor combination is kept to a minimum.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 9, 2015Publication date: July 9, 2015Inventors: Matthew J. Wilhelmi, Merlan Rolffs, Dustan Hahn, John P. Mulherin, Courtney N. Achen, Michael J. Myers, Ryan Legge, Rhett Schildroth, Marvin Bachman, Todd E. Kniffen
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Publication number: 20150135762Abstract: A bottom mount refrigerator is provided with a pantry compartment that is accessible from outside the refrigerator by pulling open an easy access pantry drawer without the need to first open the fresh food compartment or the freezer compartment. A divider between the pantry compartment and the fresh food compartment is formed by a secondary mullion and a transparent shelf. The secondary mullion is provided with a light source for illuminating the contents of the pantry drawer. A light source at the rear of the pantry compartment shines generally forwardly and upwardly to illuminate the fresh food compartment.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 23, 2015Publication date: May 21, 2015Applicant: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: MICHAEL J. EVELAND, STEVEN G. HERNDON, TODD E. KNIFFEN, BILL J. KOONS
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Patent number: 8966926Abstract: A bottom mount refrigerator is provided with a pantry compartment that is accessible from outside the refrigerator by pulling open an easy access pantry drawer without the need to first open the fresh food compartment or the freezer compartment. A divider between the pantry compartment and the fresh food compartment is formed by a secondary mullion and a transparent shelf. The secondary mullion is provided with a light source for illuminating the contents of the pantry drawer. A light source at the rear of the pantry compartment shines generally forwardly and upwardly to illuminate the fresh food compartment.Type: GrantFiled: April 21, 2009Date of Patent: March 3, 2015Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Michael J. Eveland, Steven G. Herndon, Todd E. Kniffen, Bill J. Koons
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Patent number: 8756952Abstract: A bottom mount household refrigerator is provided with an apparatus to permit the dispensing of ice. According to one embodiment, a sealed ice making compartment is provided within the fresh food compartment. The sealed ice making compartment may be located at the bottom, at the top, or along a side wall within the fresh food compartment. According to another embodiment, ice is made in the ice compartment, and lifted upward to a dispensing location through the door of the fresh food compartment.Type: GrantFiled: September 5, 2012Date of Patent: June 24, 2014Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Joseph R. Adamski, Jason Colsch, Tim L. Coulter, Glenn E. Goetz, Steven G. Herndon, Todd E. Kniffen, Bill J. Koons, Lou Montuoro, John H. Tenhundfeld, David Thalacker, Brett Vladika
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Patent number: 8733123Abstract: A bottom mount household refrigerator is provided with an apparatus to permit the dispensing of ice. According to one embodiment, a sealed ice making compartment is provided within the fresh food compartment. The sealed ice making compartment may be located at the bottom, at the top, or along a side wall within the fresh food compartment. According to another embodiment, ice is made in the ice compartment, and lifted upward to a dispensing location through the door of the fresh food compartment.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2011Date of Patent: May 27, 2014Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Joseph R. Adamski, Jason Colsch, Tim L. Coulter, Glenn E. Goetz, Steven G. Herndon, Todd E. Kniffen, Bill J. Koons, Lou Montuoro, John H. Tenhundfeld, David Thalacker, Bret Vladika
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Patent number: 8474928Abstract: The invention relates generally to an articulating drawer for a bottom mount freezer refrigerator. The drawer can be slidably mounted in the freezer compartment on slides that can include pivots to pivotally mount a drawer front on the slides. A support mechanism can mount a food storage basket for movement with the drawer front and movable slides and can move the food storage basket upward when the door is moved to the open position. The support mechanism can include a pair of guide plates connected to the slides having a guide surface arranged to be engaged by a food storage basket guide surface follower and a pair of links each connected to the drawer front at one end and having a first link pivot at a distal end arranged to pivotally connect to a food storage basket pivot.Type: GrantFiled: June 11, 2012Date of Patent: July 2, 2013Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Lawrence J. Ertz, Pawan Mansukhlal Gandhi, Todd E. Kniffen
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Patent number: 8353177Abstract: A bottom mount household refrigerator is provided with an apparatus to permit the dispensing of ice. According to one embodiment, a sealed ice making compartment is provided within the fresh food compartment. The sealed ice making compartment may be located at the bottom, at the top, or along a side wall within the fresh food compartment. According to another embodiment, ice is made in the ice compartment, and lifted upward to a dispensing location through the door of the fresh food compartment.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2005Date of Patent: January 15, 2013Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Joseph R. Adamski, Jason Colsch, Tim L. Coulter, Glenn E. Goetz, Steven G. Herndon, Todd E. Kniffen, Bill J. Koons, Lou Montuoro, John H. Tenhundfeld, David Thalacker, Brett Vladika
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Publication number: 20120324937Abstract: A bottom mount household refrigerator is provided with an apparatus to permit the dispensing of ice. According to one embodiment, a sealed ice making compartment is provided within the fresh food compartment. The sealed ice making compartment may be located at the bottom, at the top, or along a side wall within the fresh food compartment. According to another embodiment, ice is made in the ice compartment, and lifted upward to a dispensing location through the door of the fresh food compartment.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 5, 2012Publication date: December 27, 2012Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: JOSEPH R. ADAMSKI, JASON COLSCH, TIM L. COULTER, GLENN E. GOETZ, STEVEN G. HERNDON, TODD E. KNIFFEN, BILL J. KOONS, LOU MONTUORO, JOHN H. TENHUNDFELD, DAVID THALACKER, BRETT VLADIKA
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Publication number: 20120248958Abstract: The invention relates generally to an articulating drawer for a bottom mount freezer refrigerator. The drawer can be slideably mounted in the freezer compartment on slides that can include pivots to pivotally mount a drawer front on the slides. A support mechanism can mount a food storage basket for movement with the drawer front and movable slides and can move the food storage basket upward when the door is moved to the open position. The support mechanism can include a pair of guide plates connected to the slides having a guide surface arranged to be engaged by a food storage basket guide surface follower and a pair of links each connected to the drawer front at one end and having a first link pivot at a distal end arranged to pivotally connect to a food storage basket pivot.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 11, 2012Publication date: October 4, 2012Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: LAWRENCE J. ERTZ, PAWAN MANSUKHLAL GANDHI, TODD E. KNIFFEN
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Patent number: 8231190Abstract: The invention relates generally to an articulating drawer for a bottom mount freezer refrigerator. The drawer can be slideably mounted in the freezer compartment on slides that can include pivots to pivotally mount a drawer front on the slides. A support mechanism can mount a food storage basket for movement with the drawer front and movable slides and can move the food storage basket upward when the door is moved to the open position. The support mechanism can include a pair of guide plates connected to the slides having a guide surface arranged to be engaged by a food storage basket guide surface follower and a pair of links each connected to the drawer front at one end and having a first link pivot at a distal end arranged to pivotally connect to a food storage basket pivot.Type: GrantFiled: February 2, 2009Date of Patent: July 31, 2012Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Lawrence J. Ertz, Pawan Mansukhlal Gandhi, Todd E. Kniffen