Patents Represented by Attorney Robert O. Rice

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  • Dynamic balancer for an automatic washer
    Patent number: 6550292
    Abstract: A dynamic balancer for an automatic washer includes an annular hollow first chamber. A first fluid is held within the first chamber and only partly fills the first chamber. An annular hollow second chamber is disposed adjacent to the first chamber and includes a plurality of objects disposed therein which are movable along the chamber. A second fluid is also held in the second chamber and, in combination with the solid bodies, only partly fills the second chamber. The first fluid in the first chamber produces a first balancing characteristic of the dynamic balancer. The movable objects within the second chamber produce a second balancing characteristic of the, dynamic balancer. The second fluid held in the second chamber also produces a third balancing characteristic of the dynamic balancer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel W. Southworth, Eric K. Farrington, Gregory M. Garstecki
  • Method for producing multi-compartment refrigerators
    Patent number: 6547349
    Abstract: A method for varying the volumn of a refrigerator cabinet into two different configurations, by providing each of the two configurations with a substantially equal static cabinet, two deep doors of unequal height outwardly closing two end compartments and an intermediate compartment, and a frontal divider selectively fixable to the static cabinet in two different positions, on the basis of which a different selected end, compartment is increased in volume by its connection to the deep door of greater height.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Luigi Sessa, Giorgio Giudici
  • Refrigerator shelf
    Patent number: 6547350
    Abstract: A refrigerator shelf having a plate surrounded by a frame. A guide is connected to the frame for slidable guiding of a closure member. The closure member is formed from an assembly of hinged-together bar elements which are able to pass between an extended position in which the closure member closes a chamber formed between the shelf and an underlying shelf, and a retracted position into the guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Marco Maritan, Lorenzo Bianchi
  • Cooking oven
    Patent number: 6545251
    Abstract: A cooking oven comprises a cavity having a separating and insulating plate which can be inserted horizontally in the cavity in order to split it in two sub-cavities. Each sub-cavity has heating elements on its side walls. The oven sub-cavities can be singularly or separately and this increases flexibility in use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Riccardo Allera, Giovanni Franzetti, Marco Maritan, Salvatore Sanna, Massimo Maroni, David Ward, Galli Rocco, Ermanno Buzzi, Massimiliano Comolli, Robert Meyer, Marco Poma
  • Ice maker with magnetic water conditioner
    Patent number: 6539742
    Abstract: An ice maker is provided including a refrigeration system for cooling an ice forming surface below the freezing temperature of water. The ice maker further includes a water supply inlet, a water collecting device connected to receive a supply of water from the water supply inlet and arranged to receive a flow of water from the ice forming surface, a recirculating pump having an inlet connected to the water collecting device, a recirculating passage connected at a first end to an outlet of the recirculating pump and arranged to direct water toward the ice making surface, and a magnetic field generating device positioned along a length of the recirculating passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Alan J. Mitchell, Herbert P. Sabelhaus, John P Tinney
  • Microwave oven with microwave seal
    Patent number: 6538241
    Abstract: A microwave oven for heating of foodstuffs including an oven cavity (4) with an opening, a microwave unit for feeding microwaves to the oven cavity, an openable door adapted to close the opening and constituting one of the walls of the cavity, and a microwave seal (6) for reducing the leakage of microwave radiation from the oven cavity when the door is closed. The microwave seal has the form of a groove (12) which surrounds the opening and which is longitudinally divided into a first cavity (7) and a second cavity (8) by a partition (13). When the door is closed, the electric length from the oven cavity to the base of the first cavity is smaller than a quarter of a wavelength, and the electric length from the oven cavity to the base of the second cavity is greater than a quarter of a wavelength, such that two damping peaks are obtained, one on each side of the centre frequency of the microwaves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventor: Gunnar Karl Filipsson
  • Door for built-in household electrical appliances
    Patent number: 6536856
    Abstract: A moulded copolymer door for built-in household electrical appliances to which a panel is to be adjustably connected to the door. The panel is configured to be adjusted in height, laterally and in depth. Adjustable mounting brackets are mounted on the door adjacent to undercuts on the vertical sides of said door and are accessible from a face of the door opposite of the panel through which the undercuts of the panel may be secured to the adjustable mounting brackets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Armando Pelizzari, Andrea Ansaldo, Matteo Reni, Giorgio Giudici
  • Method of maximizing ice production in a refrigeration appliance
    Patent number: 6532751
    Abstract: A method of maximizing ice production in a refrigeration. The method includes monitoring a fill level of an ice storage bin and when the fill level is below a predetermined full level, energizing a water valve to dispense water into a mold, an alternate cooling routine is initiated comprising energizing an evaporator fan for a predetermined time period being equal to a time period necessary to freeze the water in the mold, controlling a temperature in a fresh food compartment by opening and closing an air door positioned in the air flow between the evaporator and the fresh food compartment, dispensing the ice from the mold to the storage bin upon a completion of the predetermined time period, and determining whether the storage bin is filled and if so, terminating the alternate cooling routine and if not, reenergizing the water valve and continuing the alternate cooling routine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Dennis G. Schenk, John R. Wisnoski, David A. Diekmann, Steven J. Kuehl
  • Door latch for a dishwasher
    Patent number: 6527315
    Abstract: A latch assembly for a dishwasher door having a bolt secured to the door. The bolt has a catch including a ramp surface facing toward the tub. An actuator is slidably connected to the bolt. A switch is secured to the bolt such that movement of the actuator may selectively close the switch. A handle is moveably mounted to the bolt in a position for access from the front surface of the door. A strike plate is connected to the tub and includes a latching portion extending toward the door. The strike plate flexes vertically to deflect up over the latch when the door moves to the closed position. The strike plate may be released from the latch by moving the handle upwardly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Larry D. Marks, John M. DeBoer
  • Adaptive system for controlling the duration of a self-clean cycle in an oven
    Patent number: 6509551
    Abstract: A method for controlling the duration of a self-cleaning operation in an oven responsive to the oven usage. The oven includes a cooking chamber, a heating device for supplying heat into the cooking chamber, an exhaust outlet from the cooking chamber leading to atmosphere, and a heat control device for controlling the heating device for baking, broiling and self-cleaning cycles. The method of controlling the duration includes the steps of maintaining a count at the heat control device of the length of oven operation time performed since a last self-cleaning cycle, accepting an input at the heat control device to begin a self-cleaning operation, and controlling the heating device to heat the oven cavity for a time period based upon the length of oven operation time performed since a last self-cleaning cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2003
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Lawrence D Metcalfe, Richard L. Baker, Erin M. May
  • Double oven front panel and door
    Patent number: D468962
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2003
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Charles L. Jones, Philip M. Thompson, Tania L. Aldous, Mark W. Baldwin, Viorel Luminosu
  • Refrigerator
    Patent number: D470156
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Ildefonso Resuello, Jonathan Dalton, Dana Reinisch, Raffaele Mazzei, Aaron Hayes, James Owen, Charles L. Jones, Timothy Edward McKeown, Allen D. Wong, Daniel Henry Quinlan
  • Cooktop
    Patent number: D470359
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2003
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Charles L. Jones, Philip M. Thompson, Tania L. Aldous, Mark W. Baldwin, Viorel Luminosu
  • Front of range
    Patent number: D470720
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2003
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Charles L. Jones, Philip M. Thompson, Tania L. Aldous, Mark W. Baldwin, Viorel Luminosu
  • Warming drawer front panel
    Patent number: D471403
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Charles L. Jones, Philip M. Thompson, Tania L. Aldous, Mark W. Baldwin, Viorel Luminosu
  • Dishwasher front door and panel
    Patent number: D472023
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Charles L. Jones, Philip M. Thompson, Tania L. Aldous, Mark W. Baldwin, Viorel Luminosu
  • Cooktop
    Patent number: D473096
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Ildefonso Resuello, Jonathan Dalton, Dana Reinisch, Rafael Massei, Aaron Hayes, James Owen, Charles L. Jones, Philip Michael Thompson, Tania L. Aldous, Mark William Baldwin
  • Slatwall
    Patent number: D473664
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Travis M. Perkins, Thomas W. Arent, Todd C. Starr, Ty Sampson
  • Dishwasher front panel
    Patent number: D473980
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: James R. Bowser, Michael F. Gregory, Eric C. Irwin
  • Built-in refrigerator front panel and doors
    Patent number: D474211
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Charles L. Jones, Philip M. Thompson, Tania L. Aldous, Mark W. Baldwin, Viorel Luminosu