Patents by Inventor Alan Welch

Alan Welch 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).

  • Publication number: 20060260349
    Abstract: An insulated ice making compartment is provided in the fresh food compartment of a bottom mount refrigerator. The ice making compartment may be integrally formed with the liner of the fresh food compartment, or alternatively, may be modular for installation anywhere in the fresh food compartment. A removable bin assembly with a front cover normally seals the ice making compartment to maintain the temperature in the compartment. A cold air duct formed in the rear wall of the refrigerator supplies cold air from the freezer compartment to the ice making compartment. A return air duct directs a portion of the air from the ice making compartment back to the freezer compartment. An air vent in the ice making compartment directs another portion of air into the fresh food compartment. A control system provides for controlling refrigerator functions in a manner that promotes energy efficiency. The refrigerator has a modular water tank assembly housed in a cavity in the back wall of the cabinet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2006
    Publication date: November 23, 2006
    Applicant: MAYTAG CORPORATION
    Inventors: TIM COULTER, THOMAS GOSE, STEVEN HERNDON, JAMES JENKINS, BILL KOONS, BRENT KRAMER, SCOTT LEIMKUEHLER, DEAN MARTIN, ALVIN MILLER, KEVIN NOEL, RON PAULSEN, LESTER OTT, CHAD ROTTER, DAVID STAUFFER, KYLE VAN METER, ALAN WELCH, ROBERT WETEKAMP, MAURO OLIVEIRA
  • Publication number: 20060260347
    Abstract: An insulated icemaking compartment is provided in the fresh food compartment of a bottom mount refrigerator. The icemaking compartment may be integrally formed with the liner of the fresh food compartment, or alternatively, may be modular for installation anywhere in the fresh food compartment. A removable bin assembly with a front cover normally seals the icemaking compartment to maintain the temperature in the compartment. A cold air duct formed in the rear wall of the refrigerator supplies cold air from the freezer compartment to the icemaking compartment. A return air duct directs a portion of the air from the icemaking compartment back to the freezer compartment. An air vent in the icemaking compartment directs another portion of air into the fresh food compartment. A control system provides for controlling refrigerator functions in a manner that promotes energy efficiency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2005
    Publication date: November 23, 2006
    Applicant: Maytag Corporation
    Inventors: Tim Coulter, Thomas Gose, Steven Herndon, James Jenkins, Bill Koons, Brent Kramer, Scott Leimkuehler, Dean Martin, Alvin Miller, Kevin Noel, Mauro Oliveira, Lester Ott, Ron Paulsen, Chad Rotter, David Stauffer, Kyle Van Meter, Alan Welch, Robert Wetekamp
  • Publication number: 20060260346
    Abstract: An insulated ice making compartment is provided in the fresh food compartment of a bottom mount refrigerator. The ice making compartment may be integrally formed with the liner of the fresh food compartment, or alternatively, may be modular for installation anywhere in the fresh food compartment. A removable bin assembly with a front cover normally seals the ice making compartment to maintain the temperature in the compartment. A cold air duct formed in the rear wall of the refrigerator supplies cold air from the freezer compartment to the ice making compartment. A return air duct directs a portion of the air from the ice making compartment back to the freezer compartment. An air vent in the ice making compartment directs another portion of air into the fresh food compartment. A control system provides for controlling refrigerator functions in a manner that promotes energy efficiency. The refrigerator has an improved water fill tube for the ice maker.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2006
    Publication date: November 23, 2006
    Applicant: MAYTAG CORPORATION
    Inventors: TIM COULTER, THOMAS GOSE, STEVEN HERNDON, JAMES JENKINS, BILL KOONS, BRENT KRAMER, SCOTT LEIMKUEHLER, DEAN MARTIN, ALVIN MILLER, KEVIN NOEL, MAURO OLIVEIRA, RON PAULSEN, LESTER OTT, CHAD ROTTER, DAVID STAUFFER, KYLE VAN METER, ALAN WELCH, ROBERT WETEKAMP
  • Publication number: 20060260351
    Abstract: An insulated ice making compartment is provided in the fresh food compartment of a bottom mount refrigerator. The ice making compartment may be integrally formed with the liner of the fresh food compartment, or alternatively, may be modular for installation anywhere in the fresh food compartment. A removable bin assembly with a front cover normally seals the ice making compartment to maintain the temperature in the compartment. A cold air duct formed in the rear wall of the refrigerator supplies cold air from the freezer compartment to the ice making compartment. A return air duct directs a portion of the air from the ice making compartment back to the freezer compartment. An air vent in the ice making compartment directs another portion of air into the fresh food compartment. A control system provides for controlling refrigerator functions in a manner that promotes energy efficiency. The icemaker has improved air impingement to enhance ice making.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2006
    Publication date: November 23, 2006
    Applicant: MAYTAG CORPORATION
    Inventors: TIM COULTER, THOMAS GOSE, STEVEN HERNDON, JAMES JENKINS, BILL KOONS, BRENT KRAMER, Scott Leimkuehler, DEAN MARTIN, ALVIN MILLER, KEVIN NOEL, RON PAULSEN, MAURO OLIVEIRA, LESTER OTT, CHAD ROTTER, DAVID STAUFFER, KYLE VAN METER, ALAN WELCH, ROBERT WETEKAMP
  • Publication number: 20060260345
    Abstract: An insulated icemaking compartment is provided in the fresh food compartment of a bottom mount refrigerator. The icemaking compartment may be integrally formed with the liner of the fresh food compartment, or alternatively, may be modular for installation anywhere in the fresh food compartment. A removable bin assembly with a front cover normally seals the icemaking compartment to maintain the temperature in the compartment. A cold air duct formed in the rear wall of the refrigerator supplies cold air from the freezer compartment to the icemaking compartment. A return air duct directs a portion of the air from the icemaking compartment back to the freezer compartment. An air vent in the icemaking compartment directs another portion of air into the fresh food compartment. A control system provides for controlling refrigerator functions in a manner that promotes energy efficiency. The temperature of the ice compartment is between the temperatures of the fresh food and freezer compartments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2006
    Publication date: November 23, 2006
    Applicant: MAYTAG CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tim Coulter, Thomas Gose, Steven Herndon, James Jenkins, Bill Koons, Brent Kramer, Scott Leimkuehler, Dean Martin, Alvin Miller, Kevin Noel, Mauro Oliveira, Lester Ott, Ron Paulsen, Chad Rotter, David Stauffer, Kyle Van Meter, Alan Welch, Robert Wetekamp
  • Publication number: 20050206024
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for producing a decorated plastic product are disclosed. A strip of plastics material is extruded from a strip extruder and moved along a production line in sequence from the strip extruder past a decoration media dispenser to a thermoformer. At the decoration media dispenser, decoration media is dispensed from the decoration media dispenser onto a portion of the strip. The thermoformer is used to heat and form the decorated strip portion into the plastic product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2004
    Publication date: September 22, 2005
    Inventors: David Jochem, Jeffrey Mann, Milan Maravich, Alan Welch
  • Patent number: 4012479
    Abstract: Discloses method of forming a belted radial tire from a cylindrical radial green tire band having biased corded belts which are adapted to pantograph and expand circumferentially as the tire band is shaped to be molded into a finished tire without "S-ing" of the radial cords of the carcass plies under the belts of the finished tire as may be caused by the pantograph action of the belts while the tire band is being expanded into finished shape. Involves lowering a belted radial green tire band of generally cylindrical shape to seat into a conventional tire molding press over the inflatable curing bladder, then applying inflation pressure into the curing bladder to a first pressure level while partially closing the press. The inflation pressure is continued to a second pressure level while continuing to close the press. The belts pantograph and circumferentially expand substantially completely through application of the second pressure until the tire band has reached a generally circular U-shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1975
    Date of Patent: March 15, 1977
    Assignee: The General Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: James Earl Britton, Joseph L. Grant, John Alan Welch
  • Patent number: 4008743
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire with an internal toroidal safety structure that expands and provides emergency support between the tire tread and the wheel rim if the tire loses inflation pressure. The safety structure has an outer circumferential belt comprising one or more superposed layers of cord reinforced strips, the belt being secured to the safety structure in a relatively narrow central circumferential zone so that radial expansion of the toroidal safety structure is readily accommodated should the tire lose inflation pressure. The belt bears between the inner surface of the tread portion of the tire and the safety structure in the event of tire deflation or underinflation and thus guards against puncture. The safety structure may be an internal inflatable tube or a flexible resilient foam member, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1975
    Date of Patent: February 22, 1977
    Assignee: The General Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventor: John Alan Welch