Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Allan P. Orsund
  • Patent number: 7752790
    Abstract: A lighted display device that includes components that are over molded or encased in a polymer gel. The polymer gel exhibits a high surface coefficient of friction such that the gel has a tacky surface and allows the display device to cling to a surface of any orientation. The polymer gel is clear or translucent such that the over molded components, which include light emitting components, can back or front light a display. The polymer gel can be flat on its sides or include three dimensional protrusions or inclusions on the surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Inventors: Daryl A. Michael, Jennifer L. Michael
  • Patent number: 6187252
    Abstract: A unitary plastic appliance door is produced by thermoforming an outer door panel and an inner door liner and joining them together in a unitary apparatus. The inner door liner is formed of sheet plastic on a male mold member and is then positioned over a female mold member mounted alongside the male mold member. The outer door panel is formed from a second sheet of plastic in the female mold member and then the inner door liner is registered with the formed outer door panel in the female mold member and is joined thereto to form the appliance door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2001
    Assignee: Maytag Corporation
    Inventors: Randy R. Rhoades, Steven G. Tirrell
  • Patent number: 5759591
    Abstract: Apparatus is provided for thermoforming a unitary plastic appliance door by thermoforming an outer door panel and an inner door liner and joining them together in a unitary apparatus. The apparatus includes a press with first and second platens, a male and a female mold member attached to the first platen and shaped to the contour of the outer door panel and the inner door liner respectively. A movable shuttle box is mounted on the second platen and a first plug assist member is located in the shuttle box. The shuttle box and first plug assist member are movable on the second platen into vertical alignment with either the male or female mold member. A transportation device is positioned between the first and second platens and is operable for transporting first and second plastic sheets into thermoforming posture with the male and female molds respectively. A second plug assist member is located for movement into and out of proximity with the female mold member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1998
    Assignee: Maytag Corporation
    Inventors: Randy R. Rhoades, Steven G. Tirrell
  • Patent number: 5143513
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a two chamber dishwasher pump wherein the pumping noise associated with recirculation is substantially lowered by reducing the intake area to the recirculation impeller thereby interrupting air pockets formed in the fluid while recirculating. In addition the noise associated with fluid drainage is minimized by an aperture between the drain chamber inlet and the drain outlet which allows fluid to flow from the inlet to the outlet thereby interrupting air pockets in the drain line which create the noise. In addition, fluid flows through the aperture in an opposite direction to that described above in order to relieve excessive pressure in the drain line during recirculation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1992
    Assignee: Maytag Corporation
    Inventors: David I. Ellingson, Herbert E. Scott, James E. Sparks
  • Patent number: 5038587
    Abstract: A control system is provided for a fabric washing machine including a controller for controlling the machine through a predetermined cycle of operations and having a first state at which the cycle may be initiated and a second state at the end of the cycle. A lid actuated switch is in circuit with a power supply and the controller and is operable between first and second conductive postures by movement of the lid. First circuitry is connected to the first conductive posture of the switch for energizing the controller in the first state to control the machine through the cycle and terminate operation at the second controller state at the end of the cycle. Second circuitry is connected to the second conductive posture of the switch and is operable with the controller in the second state for initiating modification of the controller to the first state to condition the controller for initiation of a new cycle of operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 13, 1991
    Assignee: Maytag Corporation
    Inventor: Gregory K. Harmelink
  • Patent number: D508818
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Assignee: Maytag Corporation
    Inventors: Dustin L. Hawkins, Gary B. Jackovin, Ronald W. Miksa
  • Patent number: D524089
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: Maytag Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth Boyle, Doug Drenten, Robert Brueckner, Gary Petersen, Kristi Lafrenz, Gary Schmitz, Keith Gausmann, Jeffrey DeBord, Michael Kopczewski, Robert Hayes, Sally Stark, Paul Hsu
  • Patent number: D524600
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignee: Maytag Corporation
    Inventors: Kerry O. Austin, Thu-Ha Duncan, Steven M. Haring, Steven M. Swayne