Patents by Inventor BLAYNE C. SMITH

BLAYNE C. SMITH 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: 10631705
    Abstract: A household appliance, such as a dishwasher, for treating an item, such as a dish, in a treating chamber according to at least one automatic cycle of operation includes multiple antennas for transmitting and receiving data with an external network. The multiple antennas can be coupled with a radio also located within the appliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Nicholas J. Cottrell, Jason R. Gries, Vince A. Ireland, Blayne C. Smith
  • Patent number: 10631704
    Abstract: A dishwasher with an integrated closure element, such as a pivoting door or sliding drawer front, having a metallic front panel extending from an upper edge to a lower edge of the closure element includes a control console located at an upper end of the closure element. The control console includes an antenna located adjacent a user interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Wyndham F. Gary, Jr., Blayne C. Smith
  • Publication number: 20190239714
    Abstract: A household appliance, such as a dishwasher, for treating an item, such as a dish, in a treating chamber according to at least one automatic cycle of operation includes multiple antennas for transmitting and receiving data with an external network. The multiple antennas can be coupled with a radio also located within the appliance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2019
    Publication date: August 8, 2019
    Inventors: NICHOLAS J. COTTRELL, JASON R. GRIES, VINCE A. IRELAND, BLAYNE C. SMITH
  • Publication number: 20190208981
    Abstract: A dishwasher with an integrated closure element, such as a pivoting door or sliding drawer front, having a metallic front panel extending from an upper edge to a lower edge of the closure element includes a control console located at an upper end of the closure element. The control console includes an antenna located adjacent a user interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2019
    Publication date: July 11, 2019
    Inventors: Wyndham F. Gary, JR., Blayne C. Smith
  • Patent number: 10307034
    Abstract: A household appliance, such as a dishwasher, for treating an item, such as a dish, in a treating chamber according to at least one automatic cycle of operation includes multiple antennas for transmitting and receiving data with an external network. The multiple antennas can be coupled with a radio also located within the appliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Nicholas J. Cottrell, Jason R. Gries, Vince A. Ireland, Blayne C. Smith
  • Patent number: 10271709
    Abstract: A dishwasher with an integrated closure element, such as a pivoting door or sliding drawer front, having a metallic front panel extending from an upper edge to a lower edge of the closure element includes a control console located at an upper end of the closure element. The control console includes an antenna located adjacent a user interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Wyndham F. Gary, Jr., Blayne C. Smith
  • Publication number: 20180256000
    Abstract: A household appliance, such as a dishwasher, for treating an item, such as a dish, in a treating chamber according to at least one automatic cycle of operation includes multiple antennas for transmitting and receiving data with an external network. The multiple antennas can be coupled with a radio also located within the appliance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2018
    Publication date: September 13, 2018
    Inventors: NICHOLAS J. COTTRELL, JASON R. GRIES, VINCE A. IRELAND, BLAYNE C. SMITH
  • Patent number: 10004376
    Abstract: A household appliance, such as a dishwasher, for treating an item according to at least one automatic cycle of operation includes multiple antennas for transmitting and receiving data with an external network. The multiple antennas can be coupled with a radio also located within the appliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Nicholas J. Cottrell, Jason R. Gries, Vince A. Ireland, Blayne C. Smith
  • Publication number: 20180103823
    Abstract: A dishwasher with an integrated closure element, such as a pivoting door or sliding drawer front, having a metallic front panel extending from an upper edge to a lower edge of the closure element includes a control console located at an upper end of the closure element. The control console includes an antenna located adjacent a user interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2017
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Inventors: Wyndham F. Gary, JR., Blayne C. Smith
  • Patent number: 9924849
    Abstract: A dishwasher with an integrated closure element, such as a pivoting door or sliding drawer front, having a metallic front panel extending from an upper edge to a lower edge of the closure element includes a user interface located on an upper face of the closure element such that when the closure element is in a closed position, the user interface faces upwardly and is inaccessible to a user. A radio system for the dishwasher includes an upwardly facing antenna located on the closure element adjacent the user interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Wyndham F. Gary, Jr., Blayne C. Smith
  • Publication number: 20170055802
    Abstract: A household appliance, such as a dishwasher, for treating an item according to at least one automatic cycle of operation includes multiple antennas for transmitting and receiving data with an external network. The multiple antennas can be coupled with a radio also located within the appliance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: NICHOLAS J. COTTRELL, JASON R. GRIES, VINCE A. IRELAND, BLAYNE C. SMITH
  • 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
  • Patent number: 9510723
    Abstract: A household appliance, such as a dishwasher, for treating an item according to at least one automatic cycle of operation includes multiple antennas for transmitting and receiving data with an external network. The multiple antennas can be coupled with a radio also located within the appliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Nicholas J. Cottrell, Jason R. Gries, Vince A. Ireland, Blayne C. Smith
  • Patent number: 9462926
    Abstract: A dishwasher may include a closure element, such as a door, a user interface on the closure element, and a controller. A data communication link having a first data connector may be coupled to the controller, and a second data connector may be coupled to the user interface. The first and second data connectors may communicatively couple when the closure element is in the closed condition to establish data communication between the controller and the user interface. The communication link may also form a power link to provide power to the user interface across an electrical link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Mark W. Baldwin, Blayne C. Smith, Marcus R. Fischer, Mike S. Hemry, Saadat Hussain, Duane M. Kobos, Justin D. McIver, Demetrius J. Schaaf, Bryan M. Topp, Barry E. Tuller, Ameresh B. Viswanathan, Anthony B. Welsh, Elizabeh A. Moit
  • Publication number: 20160278603
    Abstract: A household appliance, such as a dishwasher, for treating an item according to at least one automatic cycle of operation includes multiple antennas for transmitting and receiving data with an external network. The multiple antennas can be coupled with a radio also located within the appliance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2016
    Publication date: September 29, 2016
    Inventors: NICHOLAS J. COTTRELL, JASON R. GRIES, VINCE A. IRELAND, BLAYNE C. SMITH
  • Patent number: 9445706
    Abstract: A dishwasher for treating dishes includes a tub at least partially defining a treating chamber, a spraying system having a distribution header and at least one aperture provided on the distribution header for spraying wash liquid into the treating chamber, and a recirculation system for recirculating liquid sprayed in the treating chamber to the spraying system. A light assembly is provided on the distribution header, and includes a light source that emits light to a light guide, which in turn distributes light to the treating chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: William K. Kangas, Praveen Poojary, Michael S. Seeley, Blayne C. Smith
  • Patent number: 9375125
    Abstract: A household appliance for treating an item according to at least one automatic cycle of operation includes multiple antennas for transmitting and receiving data with an external network. The multiple antennas can be coupled with a radio also located within the appliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Nicholas J. Cottrell, Jason R. Gries, Vince A. Ireland, Gregory S. Lieto, Daniel Plach, Robert E. Porter, Blayne C. Smith
  • Patent number: D784633
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: William K. Kangas, Praveen Poojary, Michael S. Seeley, Blayne C. Smith
  • Patent number: D866884
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: William K. Kangas, Praveen Poojary, Michael S. Seeley, Blayne C. Smith
  • Patent number: D959066
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: William K. Kangas, Praveen Poojary, Michael S. Seeley, Blayne C. Smith