Patents Represented by Attorney Robert O. Rice
  • Patent number: 7201005
    Abstract: A water dispenser for a refrigerator freezer having a water dispensing control including a measured fill mode of operation in which the water dispenser dispenses a predetermined amount of water and a manual fill mode of operation. The water dispensing control allows user selection of the units of measure, the type of container being filled and selection of the amount to be dispensed. A user display can display the selections and can display the amount dispensed in real time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Ronald L. Voglewede, Marcus R. Fischer, Patrick J. Boarman, Daryl L. Harmon, Gary W. Wilson, Sr., Bradley L. Kicklighter
  • Patent number: 7197888
    Abstract: A modular cabinet for a family of drawer appliances including an insulated liner defining a drawer space, a machine compartment, a wiring harness leading from the machine compartment to the drawer space, a passage leading from the machine compartment to the drawer space and an air passage leading from the machine compartment to the front of the cabinet and a drain leading from the liner space to the machine compartment. The family of drawer appliances can include refrigerator, freezer, ice maker, wine and warming drawers. A drawer can have two compartments and can be maintained at two temperatures. The drawers include an insulated front and a bin and can be slidably carried in the drawer space. The modular cabinet and control can be used for each member of the family of drawer appliances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Douglas D. LeClear, Paul B. Allard, Karen J. Querfurth, Andrew M. Tenbarge, Michele W. Wilcox, Chad E. Lange
  • Patent number: 7193195
    Abstract: A filter system for a wall mounted type microwave oven, which has an external enclosure surrounding an oven cavity. The external enclosure includes a bottom closure wall having a suction opening. The external enclosure also includes a top vent opening. An air exhaust path is formed between the external enclosure and the oven cavity wherein air drawn into the suction opening passes through the air exhaust path and is exhausted through the top vent opening. A first filter is provided on the suction side of the air exhaust path and a second filter may be provided on the exhaust side of the air exhaust path. In particular, the first filter may be provided adjacent the suction opening and a second filter may be provided adjacent the top vent opening, such that the first filter is provided at the inlet of the air exhaust path and the second filter is provided at the outlet of the air exhaust path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Hakan Lundstrom, Per Törngren, Hans Lindgren, Alan D. Bengtson
  • Patent number: 7191827
    Abstract: A refrigerator adapted for use in low ambient temperature conditions such as in an unheated garage or outdoors on a deck or patio. The refrigerator is provided with a low ambient heater to add heat to the refrigerated space when ambient temperatures outside the refrigerator are low enough that items stored in the refrigerator could freeze. The low ambient heater is controlled by an ambient thermostat located to sense temperatures outside the refrigerator. The low ambient heater and ambient thermostat are connected in the refrigerator control so that the ambient heater can not be energized when the cooling system is operating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Brent A. Junge, Allan R. Steinkuhl, John R. Wisnoski, Ralph Tate, Jr., Marco Stura
  • Patent number: 7188824
    Abstract: An appliance lift tool is provided which includes a cart having a frame includes a support platform having a horizontal orientation, a bottom frame, and a lift mechanism engaged between the support platform and the bottom frame to move the support platform toward and away from the bottom frame, while maintaining the support platform's horizontal orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Richard R. Blake, Jeffrey T. Russell, Charles L. Jones, Paul J. Gray, Jeffrey W. Fjelstul, Steven P. Hinrichs, Richard T. Lundy, Henry H. Wu
  • Patent number: 7188479
    Abstract: An ice and water dispenser for a bottom freezer refrigerator positioned on a refrigerator compartment door. The ice maker and ice cube storage bin can have below 0° C. air provided to maintain the ice maker and ice cube storage bin below 0° C. Supply and return ducts can convey below 0° C. air to the ice maker and ice cube storage bin. The supply and return ducts can lead from the bottom freezer compartment or from an evaporator compartment. The ice maker and ice cube storage bin can be located in insulated sub-compartment to allow normal refrigerator compartment temperatures to be maintained in the above freezing refrigerator compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffery J. Anselmino, Marcus R. Fischer, Tushar Kulkarni, Andrew M. Tenbarge, Frank W. Maglinger
  • Patent number: 7185507
    Abstract: An ice making and dispensing system suitable for making and dispensing ice through the refrigerator compartment door of a bottom freezer refrigerator. The ice maker and ice cube storage bin are located in an insulated sub-compartment in the refrigerator compartment. The insulated sub-compartment is maintained below 0° C. for forming and storing ice cubes. The insulated sub-compartment can be positioned adjacent the freezer compartment and can be cooled by below 0° C. air from the freezer compartment or from an auxiliary evaporator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Frank W. Maglinger, Nihat Cur, Marcus R. Fischer, Tushar Kulkarni, Jeffery J. Anselmino, Ronald L. Voglewede, James C. L. Guarino
  • Patent number: 7185508
    Abstract: A refrigerator/freezer with an ice maker having an ice cube tray in which are formed multiple ice cube recesses. The ice cube tray is movable between a fill position and a harvest position. The ice cube tray has a composite construction comprising a base layer and a top layer, with the base layer being made of a flexible material and the top layer being made of a low friction material. The ice cubes are harvested by deflecting or deforming the ice cube recesses to expel the ice cube therefrom when the tray is moved into the harvest position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Ronald L. Voglewede, Jerry M. Visin, Douglas D. LeClear
  • Patent number: 7147773
    Abstract: A refrigerator with a water treatment system including a head connecting a water supply to a water-using accessory. An end piece is provided for connecting a treatment cartridge to the head. The end piece comprises an inlet fitting having a cam that contacts a follower of a valve located in the head to open the valve when the end piece is mounted to the head and connects the treatment cartridge to the water treatment system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Alan Joseph Mitchell, Todd Lawrence Rose, Judd Dylan Olson, David James Emmons, John Paul Boros, Donald Stephen Bretl
  • Patent number: 7131280
    Abstract: A method of making ice cubes in a compact ice maker by setting a freeze time based on the determined volume of a mold for the ice maker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2006
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Ronald L. Voglewede, Chad Lange, Marcus R. Fischer
  • Patent number: 7114350
    Abstract: A refrigerator with an evaporator and at least one preservation compartment, in which the evaporator is formed from extendable spiral-wound tube of engineering polymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Riccardo Soldinger, Enrica Monticelli, Roberta Bernasconi
  • Patent number: 7100387
    Abstract: A method for controlling a refrigerator having a variable speed compressor and at least two compartments (FR, FZ) cooled to respective temperatures and comprising sensor devices (TR, TZ) for generating control signal responsive to cooling demands of the respective compartments comprises the step of providing the control system with a signal indicative of the total cooling demand on the basis of the sum of each compartment cooling demand, such signal being used to drive the variable speed compressor according to said total cooling demand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Alessandro Boer, Raffaele Paganini, Rocco Petrigliano
  • Patent number: 7089948
    Abstract: A dish-cleaning appliance comprising a sink defining a wash chamber with an open top for providing access to the wash chamber. A liquid recirculation system is provided for spraying liquid onto the dish rack to effect the cleaning of any dishes along the rack. The lid is mounted to the sink and is movable to selectively cover the open top of the bowl. A latch is provided to hold the lid in the closed position. The latch comprises a catch and a strike, with the strike having an integrated handle resulting in a small form factor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: John M. DeBoer, Larry D. Marks, Ryan K. Roth
  • Patent number: 7055338
    Abstract: A refrigerator having a compressor and a control unit for selectively activating and deactivating the compressor in response to the temperature inside the refrigerator. The selective activation and deactivation of the compressor being carried out at predetermined cut-on and cut-off temperatures. The control unit being adapted to detect how the actual temperature inside the refrigerator increases above the cut-on value due to a special event, and to adjust the cut-off temperature of the refrigerator accordingly, in order to keep the temperature of stored food substantially constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Dejan Ergarac, Enrica Monticelli
  • Patent number: 7032408
    Abstract: A refrigerator comprises a refrigerator housing having a compartment, this latter presenting side walls having brackets for at least one removable element for supporting products to be preserved and separating the compartment into separate zones, the compartment having a rear wall in correspondence with which an evaporator is present, in the rear wall there being provided a plurality of apertures disposed in overlying planes and communicating with the evaporator, an electronic circuit being provided for measuring the internal temperature of the compartment. The evaporator is located in correspondence with rear wall apertures of the compartment, on these latter there being disposed motor-driven fans, the fans being mutually independent to enable different independent temperatures to be created within the different compartment zones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Daniela Dentella, Fabio Gastaldello, Marco Signa, Davide Braggion
  • Patent number: 7001005
    Abstract: A domestic refrigerator or freezer has a food storage compartment delimited by insulated walls and by one or more access doors to the compartment. One or more walls or doors are provided with a metallic film, preferably a metallised polymeric film, capable of enhancing the performance of the refrigerator with regard to energy saving.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2006
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Luca Gamberoni, Jutta Ziermaier, Roberta Bernasconi
  • Patent number: D517319
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2006
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: John R. Wisnoski, Amy L. Stevenson, Wyatt A. Cline, Todd C. Starr
  • Patent number: D537852
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventor: Matthew G. Czach
  • Patent number: D539403
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2007
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventor: Giovanni Pino
  • Patent number: D539591
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Alan D. Bengtson, Mark W. Baldwin, Steve S. Lee, Philip M. Thompson, Jamian Cobbett