Patents by Inventor ANDREW T. MIDDLETON

ANDREW T. MIDDLETON 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).

  • Appliance with closure element having an operative device
    Patent number: 9572475
    Abstract: An appliance that conducts a useful cycle of operation on an article comprises a treating chamber receiving the article and having an access opening. A first closure element selectively closes at least a first portion of the access opening, and a second closure element movable relative to the first closure element selectively closes at least a second portion of the access opening. An operative device can be coupled to the second closure element. A cable providing at least one of electrical or data communication to the device is routed through the first closure element to the second closure element and is operatively connected to the device on the second closure element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Jonathan D. Gephart, Andrew T. Middleton, Blayne C. Smith, Anthony B. Welsh
  • System for charging a power supply in a closure element of a household appliance
    Patent number: 9307888
    Abstract: A dishwasher includes an open-face tub and a closure element selectively closing the open face of the tub and housing a user interface powered by a rechargeable power supply, such as a battery, operatively coupled to a power charger. In one embodiment, the user interface is not removable from the closure element, and the power charger may be remote from the closure element to selectively provide power to the rechargeable power supply. In another embodiment, the closure element may include a first door and a second door, with each door having an inductive part for formation of an inductive coupling to charge the rechargeable power supply when the doors are in juxtaposition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Mark W. Baldwin, Marcus R. Fischer, Saadat Hussain, Justin D. McIver, Elizabeh A. Moit, Demetrius J. Schaaf, Blayne C. Smith, Bryan M. Topp, Barry E. Tuller, Ameresh B. Viswanathan, Anthony B. Welsh, Andrew T. Middleton
  • APPLIANCE WITH CLOSURE ELEMENT HAVING AN OPERATIVE DEVICE
    Publication number: 20140319990
    Abstract: An appliance that conducts a useful cycle of operation on an article comprises a treating chamber receiving the article and having an access opening. A first closure element selectively closes at least a first portion of the access opening, and a second closure element movable relative to the first closure element selectively closes at least a second portion of the access opening. An operative device can be coupled to the second closure element. A cable providing at least one of electrical or data communication to the device is routed through the first closure element to the second closure element and is operatively connected to the device on the second closure element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2013
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Applicant: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: JONATHAN D. GEPHART, ANDREW T. MIDDLETON, BLAYNE C. SMITH, ANTHONY B. WELSH