Patents by Inventor Anna Kathryn Duncan

Anna Kathryn Duncan 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).

  • Patent number: 9816221
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a washing machine (7) and pump (8) for a washing machine (7). The pump is driven by a brushless DC motor (38). The pump can be controlled to improve the operation of the washing machine. In one aspect the invention comprises a washing machine (7) with a variable speed pump (8) for pumping out wastewater, a controller (50) for controlling the speed of the pump and a sensor (10) for determining the flow-rate of water being pumped from the washing machine, wherein the controller (50) controls the speed of the pump to maintain the flow-rate at a desirable level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Fisher & Paykel Appliances Limited
    Inventors: Jonathan David Harwood, Hugh Griffith Johnson, Geoffrey Alan Lee, Gregory Paul Hill, Anna Kathryn Duncan, Adrian Anthony Sargeant
  • Patent number: 9534328
    Abstract: A laundry machine configured to supply a first amount of water to the wash tub wherein a wash plate can be oscillated such that clothes items directly above and in contact with the impeller are frictionally dragged in a oscillatory manner with the wash chamber while continuing to oscillate said wash plate, an additional supply of water is added to said wash tub such that as cloth items lost frictional engagement with the wash plate, the cloth items continue to move along an inverse toroidal rollover path at higher water levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Anna Kathryn Duncan, Erin Louise Hall, Geoffrey Walker, Gerald David Duncan, Flavio E. Bernardino, Mary Ellen Zeitler, David Wayne Carr
  • Publication number: 20160215428
    Abstract: A laundry machine configured to supply a first amount of water to the wash tub wherein a wash plate can be oscillated such that clothes items directly above and in contact with the impeller are frictionally dragged in a oscillatory manner with the wash chamber while continuing to oscillate said wash plate, an additional supply of water is added to said wash tub such that as cloth items lost frictional engagement with the wash plate, the cloth items continue to move along an inverse toroidal rollover path at higher water levels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2016
    Publication date: July 28, 2016
    Inventors: ANNA KATHRYN DUNCAN, ERIN LOUISE HALL, GEOFFREY WALKER, GERALD DAVID DUNCAN, FLAVIO E. BERNARDINO, MARY ELLEN ZEITLER, DAVID WAYNE CARR
  • Publication number: 20160060802
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a washing machine (7) and pump (8) for a washing machine (7). The pump is driven by a brushless DC motor (38). The pump can be controlled to improve the operation of the washing machine. In one aspect the invention comprises a washing machine (7) with a variable speed pump (8) for pumping out wastewater, a controller (50) for controlling the speed of the pump and a sensor (10) for determining the flow-rate of water being pumped from the washing machine, wherein the controller (50) controls the speed of the pump to maintain the flow-rate at a desirable level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2015
    Publication date: March 3, 2016
    Inventors: Jonathan David Harwood, Hugh Griffith Johnson, Geoffrey Alan Lee, Gregory Paul Hill, Anna Kathryn Duncan, Adrian Anthony Sargeant
  • Patent number: 9212443
    Abstract: A pump for pumping water from a bowl of a washing machine is provided. The pump includes a housing coupled to the bowl and a cover with an aperture. The housing and the cover define an interior in fluid communication with the bowl interior via the aperture. A filter filters water entering the interior via the aperture. The filter has a profiled wall defining a volute around the aperture, and a hood disposed above the wall. The profile of the hood perimeter substantially corresponding to the profiled wall to define a profiled space between the perimeter and the profiled wall. The profiled space allows water to enter the volute but substantially prevents elongated objects entering the volute.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Fisher & Paykel Appliances Limited
    Inventors: Jonathan David Harwood, Hugh Griffith Johnson, Geoffrey Alan Lee, Gregory Paul Hill, Anna Kathryn Duncan, Adrian Anthony Sargeant
  • Publication number: 20120227189
    Abstract: A laundry machine configured to supply a first amount of water to the wash tub wherein a wash plate can be oscillated such that clothes items directly above and in contact with the impeller are frictionally dragged in a oscillatory manner with the wash chamber while continuing to oscillate said wash plate, an additional supply of water is added to said wash tub such that as cloth items lost frictional engagement with the wash plate, the cloth items continue to move along an inverse toroidal rollover path at higher water levels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2012
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: ANNA KATHRYN DUNCAN, ERIN LOUISE HALL, GEOFFREY WALKER, GERALD DAVID DUNCAN, FLAVIO E. BERNARDINO, MARY ELLEN ZEITLER, DAVID WAYNE CARR
  • Publication number: 20120017647
    Abstract: A laundry machine configured to supply a first amount of water to the wash tub wherein a wash plate can be oscillated such that clothes items directly above and in contact with the impeller are frictionally dragged in a oscillatory manner with the wash chamber while continuing to oscillate said wash plate, an additional supply of water is added to said wash tub such that as cloth items lost frictional engagement with the wash plate, the cloth items continue to move along an inverse toroidal rollover path at higher water levels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2011
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: ANNA KATHRYN DUNCAN, ERIN LOUISE HALL, GEOFFREY WALKER, GERALD DAVID DUNCAN, FLAVIO E. BERNARDINO, MARY ELLEN ZEITLER, DAVID WAYNE CARR
  • Patent number: 8028550
    Abstract: A laundry machine configured to supply a first amount of water to the wash tub wherein a wash plate can be oscillated such that clothes items directly above and in contact with the impeller are frictionally dragged in a oscillatory manner with the wash chamber while continuing to oscillate said wash plate, an additional supply of water is added to said wash tub such that as cloth items lost frictional engagement with the wash plate, the cloth items continue to move along an inverse toroidal rollover path at higher water levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Anna Kathryn Duncan, Erin Louise Hall, Geoffrey Walker, Gerald David Duncan, Flavio E. Bernardino, Mary Ellen Zeitler, David Wayne Carr
  • Publication number: 20110107799
    Abstract: A laundry machine configured to supply a first amount of water to the wash tub wherein a wash plate can be oscillated such that clothes items directly above and in contact with the impeller are frictionally dragged in a oscillatory manner with the wash chamber while continuing to oscillate said wash plate, an additional supply of water is added to said wash tub such that as cloth items lost frictional engagement with the wash plate, the cloth items continue to move along an inverse toroidal rollover path at higher water levels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2011
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Applicant: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Anna Kathryn Duncan, Erin Louise Hall, Geoffrey Walker, Gerald David Duncan, Flavio E. Bernardino, Mary Ellen Zeitler, David Wayne Carr
  • Patent number: 7874187
    Abstract: A laundry machine configured to supply a first amount of water to the wash tub wherein a wash plate can be oscillated such that clothes items directly above and in contact with the impeller are frictionally dragged in a oscillatory manner with the wash chamber while continuing to oscillate said wash plate, an additional supply of water is added to said wash tub such that as cloth items lost frictional engagement with the wash plate, the cloth items continue to move along an inverse toroidal rollover path at higher water levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignees: Whirlpool Corporation, Fisher & Paykel
    Inventors: Anna Kathryn Duncan, Erin Louise Hall, Geoffrey Walker, Gerald David Duncan, Flavio E. Bernardino, Mary Ellen Zeitler, David Wayne Carr
  • Publication number: 20110000558
    Abstract: A pump for pumping water from a bowl of a washing machine is provided. The pump includes a housing coupled to the bowl and a cover with an aperture. The housing and the cover define an interior in fluid communication with the bowl interior via the aperture. A filter filters water entering the interior via the aperture. The filter has a profiled wall defining a volute around the aperture, and a hood disposed above the wall. The profile of the hood perimeter substantially corresponding to the profiled wall to define a profiled space between the perimeter and the profiled wall. The profiled space allows water to enter the volute but substantially prevents elongated objects entering the volute.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2010
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Inventors: JONATHAN DAVID HARWOOD, HUGH GRIFFITH JOHNSON, GEOFFREY ALAN LEE, GREGORY PAUL HILL, ANNA KATHRYN DUNCAN, ADRIAN ANTHONY SARGEANT
  • Patent number: 7810362
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a washing machine (7) and pump (8) for a washing machine (7). The pump is driven by a brushless DC motor (38). The pump can be controlled to improve the operation of the washing machine. In one aspect the invention comprises a washing machine (7) with a variable speed pump (8) for pumping out wastewater, a controller (50) for controlling the speed of the pump and a sensor (10) for determining the flow-rate of water being pumped from the washing machine, wherein the controller (50) controls the speed of the pump to maintain the flow-rate at a desirable level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Fisher & Paykel Appliances Ltd.
    Inventors: Jonathan David Harwood, Hugh Griffith Johnson, Geoffrey Alan Lee, Gregory Paul Hill, Anna Kathryn Duncan, Adrian Anthony Sargeant