Patents Assigned to Whirlpool Corporation
  • Household cleaning appliance with a non-bulk dispensing system convertible to a household cleaning appliance with a bulk dispensing system
    Patent number: 9920468
    Abstract: A household cleaning appliance having a treating chamber and a non-bulk dispensing system coupled with the treating chamber and having a portion of material configured to be removable wherein the non-bulk dispensing system is configured to receive a removable cartridge containing a treating chemistry when such material is removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Michael S. Hendrickson, Joel A. Luckman
  • METHOD TO CREATE VACUUM INSULATED CABINETS FOR REFRIGERATORS
    Publication number: 20180071972
    Abstract: A method of forming a vacuum insulated refrigerator cabinet, the method comprising providing first and second sheets of material. The first sheet of material is thermoformed over a first forming tool forming a first intermediate structure. The first intermediate structure is then thermoformed over a second forming mold to create a second intermediate structure. The second sheet of material is then sealing connected with the second intermediate structure forming an annular space. A vacuum is created in the annular space creating a vacuum insulated cabinet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2017
    Publication date: March 15, 2018
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Guolian Wu, Nihat Cur, Jurgen Pannock
  • Method and apparatus for increasing rate of ice production in an automatic ice maker
    Patent number: 9915458
    Abstract: An appliance door includes an outer wrapper and an inner liner that defines an ice making receptacle. An ice maker is disposed proximate a top portion of the ice making receptacle. A sliding assembly is defined within an inward-facing surface of the ice making receptacle. An ice bin is operable between an engaged state, wherein the ice bin is fully inserted into the ice making receptacle, a disengaged state, wherein the ice bin is removed from the ice making receptacle, and a lateral sliding state, wherein the ice bin is operated laterally and free of rotation between the engaged and disengaged states. The ice bin and the ice making receptacle cooperatively define an ice delivery mechanism that selectively delivers ice pieces from an inner volume of the ice bin to an ice delivery zone proximate the outer wrapper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Robert B. Becker, Marcus R. Fischer, Christopher R. McElvain, Ryan D. Schuchart
  • Use of thermoelectric elements for clear ice making, ice harvesting, and creating a temperature condition for clear ice making
    Patent number: 9915459
    Abstract: An ice making apparatus for an appliance includes a housing that has an interior volume and an ice tray horizontally suspended across the interior volume that is configured to retain water. The ice making apparatus also includes a heat pump thermally coupled to a bottom surface of the ice tray. The heat pump is configured to freeze water in the ice tray and expel heat. A heat transfer device is configured to move heat expelled by the heat pump to an upper portion of the interior volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventor: Guolian Wu
  • Cold Plate Shelf Assembly for a Refrigerator
    Publication number: 20180066884
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes a refrigerated compartment, at least one door that selectively seals the refrigerated compartment and a cold plate shelf assembly mounted in the refrigerated compartment. The shelf assembly includes a front trim, a rear trim and a first plate directly coupled to the front trim and the rear trim. A second plate extends from the front trim to the rear trim, the second plate being positioned so that a food item supported on the shelf assembly contacts the second plate. The second plate is made from a material having a higher thermal conductivity than glass. In one arrangement, the refrigerator further includes an air duct having an air vent. Air exiting the air duct through the air vent either impinges on and travels across the second plate or enters an interior of the shelf assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2017
    Publication date: March 8, 2018
    Applicant: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel H. QUINLAN, Jose Angel AVALOS, Yifan WANG, Jason AMMERMAN, Christopher L. CARPENTER
  • SNAP SPRING CLIP FOR BURNER UNIT MOUNTING
    Publication number: 20180066852
    Abstract: A spring clip for attaching a radiant burner unit to a cooktop includes a retention tab having a portion extending in a first direction and a retention arm defining a lever portion projecting away from the retention tab to an end displaced from the tab in a second direction generally normal to the first direction. The retention arm further defines a resiliently deformable section facilitating movement of the lever toward and away from the retention tab. The spring clip further includes a snap tab positioned opposite the retention arm from the retention tab and resiliently deflectable toward and away from the retention tab.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2017
    Publication date: March 8, 2018
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventor: Alexander S. Pille
  • APPLIANCE WITH ELECTRONICALLY-CONTROLLED GAS FLOW TO BURNERS
    Publication number: 20180066844
    Abstract: An appliance includes a first gas-burning heating element, a first gas path extending from an inlet to the first heating element, and a first solenoid valve positioned within the first gas path. The appliance further includes a second gas path extending from upstream of the first solenoid valve to the first heating element and supplying a base gas flow to the first heating element. A controller is electronically coupled with the first solenoid valve for controlling a supplemental flow of gas through the first gas path to the first heating element such that the supplemental gas flow combines with the base gas flow to achieve a total gas flow. The controller controls the supplemental flow to adjust the total gas flow by pulsing the first solenoid valve at a first rate corresponding to a desired rate of the total gas flow to the first heating element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2017
    Publication date: March 8, 2018
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: James Charles Johncock, Cristiano Vito Pastore
  • Dishwasher utensil caddies
    Patent number: 9907452
    Abstract: Dishwasher utensil caddies are disclosed. A disclosed example utensil caddy for a dishwasher having a tub and a door at least partially defining a treating chamber, and dish rack in the treating chamber, includes an attachment member configured to attach the utensil caddy to a side of the dish rack in a space between the dish rack and the tub or the door, and a slot oriented at an angle relative to the dish rack, and configured to receive a handle of a cooking utensil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Ryan K. Roth, Anthony B. Welsh
  • Laundry treating appliance with an oversized wash tub
    Patent number: 9909247
    Abstract: A laundry treating appliance for treating fabric according to a cycle of operation includes a cabinet defining an interior, a wash tub within the interior and having a peripheral wall with an upper portion and a bottom end closed by a base; a wash basket located within the wash tub for movement relative thereto and defining a laundry treating chamber; and a drive motor located within the cabinet for rotating or oscillating the wash basket. Prior to installation of the wash tub in the cabinet, the wash tub is oversized relative to the interior. After installation of the wash tub in the cabinet, the upper portion of the wash tub forms a press fit with the cabinet such that the upper portion of the wash tub exerts a force on the cabinet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Benjamin E. Alexander, Brent M. Burgess, Michael K. Cluskey, Christopher A. Jones, Aaron A. Linden, Dale E. Mueller, Michele A. Paustian
  • Select fill sensor system for refrigerator dispensers
    Patent number: 9908768
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes a dispenser having a dispenser well, a control for regulating a product dispensing operation, and an optical sensing system includes a camera within the dispenser well in communication with a controller for controlling the filling of a container within the dispenser well based on image data. The image data can used to detect at least one of a presence of a container in the dispenser well, a height of liquid within the container, a height of ice within the container and a shape of the container within the dispenser well, as well as to adjust a dispensing rate of product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Farhad Ashrafzadeh, Kevin M. Chase, Brian P. Janke, Shreecharan Kanchanavally
  • VARIABLE WIDTH DELI COVER
    Publication number: 20180058750
    Abstract: A variable width shelf assembly includes a shelf panel with first and second support brackets. One or more support slots and one or more relief slots are disposed on an upright portion of the support brackets. One or more coupling tabs are disposed adjacent to one of the one or more support slots and one of the one or more relief slots. The coupling tabs are flexible tabs configured to flex outwardly relative to the upright portion of the support brackets for coupling the first and second brackets to a refrigerator compartment. Mounting plates mounted on a refrigerator include mounting features that are received in the support slots of the support brackets. Abutment guides on the mounting plates are used to guide a bending motion of the coupling tabs in assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2016
    Publication date: March 1, 2018
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Chad J. Rotter, Trevor L. Hawkins
  • LOW ENERGY EVAPORATOR DEFROST
    Publication number: 20180058746
    Abstract: A refrigerator is provided that includes a low energy defrost system and method for melting frost formed on an evaporator of a cooling system for the refrigerator. The low energy defrost system includes using air from the refrigerator compartment or external air adjacent the refrigerator to be directed to the evaporator and passed adjacent the evaporator coils to melt any frost formed thereon. As the air is above freezing temperature, it will melt any frost formed on the coils without the need of use an electrical heater. Re-cooled air from the melted frost may then be directed back into the refrigerator compartment to be used to aid in cooling the refrigerator compartment or keeping the refrigerator compartment at the programmed or predetermined temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2017
    Publication date: March 1, 2018
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventor: PATRICK J. BOARMAN
  • Hands Free, Controlled Autofill for a Dispenser
    Publication number: 20180057342
    Abstract: A dispensing system includes one or more digital image capture devices for capturing images in a dispenser well and a digital image analyzer operatively coupled to the digital image capture device(s) for analyzing the images for use in regulating a dispensing operation. The digital image analyzer evaluates digital images captured by the digital image capture device(s) to determine various characteristics of a container placed in the dispensing well, such as the height and position of the container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2017
    Publication date: March 1, 2018
    Applicant: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Kevin M. CHASE, Brian P. JANKE, Farhad ASHRAFZADEH, Shreecharan KANCHANAVALLY, James KERNER
  • INSTALLATION PROCEDURE AND DESIGN FOR COLUMNS FULLY INTEGRATED PRODUCT
    Publication number: 20180055228
    Abstract: A method for positioning and installing a column product includes coupling a template to a first side and a second side of an opening, using the template to position a depth gauge to the first side and the second side of the opening, selecting at least one shim from a plurality of thickness regions comprising a first thickness of 0.050 inches, a second thickness of 0.10 inches, a third thickness of 0.15 inches, a forth thickness of 0.20 inches, and a fifth thickness of 0.25 inches, using the template to position the plurality of shims to the first side and the second side of the opening, positioning the column product into the opening, and attaching one or more fasteners to the column product and coupling the column product to the first side and the second side of the opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2016
    Publication date: March 1, 2018
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Byron Gerber, Chad Rotter
  • Hinged cooktop grate assembly
    Patent number: 9903593
    Abstract: A cooking appliance includes a cooktop, at least one cooking element mounted to the cooktop, and a grate including a surface portion for supporting a cooking vessel and at least one cup member. The grate is mounted to the cooktop with the at least one cup member being interengaged with locating structure on the cooktop such that the grate can be selectively lifted vertically from the cooktop or pivoted relative to the cooktop. Upon pivoting through a predetermined angle, the grate is prevented from being lifted vertically based on the at least one cup member becoming interlocked with the locating structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Samuel B. Breneman, Michael A. Kahwaji, Andrew C. Kubasiak, Jason Scott Lind
  • Agitator assembly with scrub brush for a fabric treating appliance
    Patent number: 9903063
    Abstract: A fabric treating appliance having an agitator assembly comprising a base and a tower extending upwardly from the base and terminating in an upper portion with an opening. A centrifugally actuated dispensing cup located within the upper portion and fluidly coupled to the opening. The agitator includes a scrub brush that can be mounted to the upper portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Scott E. Carpenter, Orrin P. Lorenz, Joel A. Luckman
  • Frontload drying appliance
    Patent number: D812323
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Seth E. Bixby, Richard K. Gresens, John W. McConnell, Patrick J. Schiavone, Samuel B. Breneman
  • Frontload drying appliance
    Patent number: D812325
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Seth E. Bixby, Richard K. Gresens, John W. McConnell, Patrick J. Schiavone, Samuel B. Breneman
  • Fermentation cooling system
    Patent number: D812953
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Suzanne M. Berberet, Christopher A. Gregory, Zachary A. Lownds
  • Fermenter bottle filler attachment
    Patent number: D812972
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: James Braunschweig, Zachary A. Lownds, Ryan S. Murrin, Michael J. Scherzer