Patents by Inventor Brenner M. Sharp

Brenner M. Sharp 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: 20170211220
    Abstract: A laundry treating appliance for treating laundry according to an automatic cycle of operation and including a cabinet defining an interior, an imperforate tub located within the interior and having a peripheral wall with an upper portion and a bottom end closed by a base, and a structural support provided within the interior adjacent at least a portion of the imperforate tub.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2016
    Publication date: July 27, 2017
    Inventors: BENJAMIN E. ALEXANDER, BRENT M. BURGESS, MICHAEL K. CLUSKEY, CHRISTOPHER A. JONES, DALE MUELLER, MICHELE A. PAUSTIAN, BRENNER M. SHARP
  • Publication number: 20170159225
    Abstract: A laundry treating appliance having a tub with a tub ring and a drum located within the tub having a balance ring. The tub ring may extend radially inward and be spaced above the balance ring. The tub ring and balance ring may have an angled portion to provide for a generally constant space between the tub ring and balance ring during rotation of the drum within the tub.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2017
    Publication date: June 8, 2017
    Inventor: BRENNER M. SHARP
  • Publication number: 20170029998
    Abstract: A laundry treating appliance configured to implement a cycle of operation to treat a load of laundry includes a basket defining a treating chamber and rotatable about an axis of rotation, a motor having a rotor and a stator, and a shifter within the interior diameter of the stator and having an energizable clutch coil at least partially enveloped in a magnetically permeable housing and a magnetically permeable slidable drive mechanism radially spaced from the housing and configured to selectively couple the basket with the rotor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2015
    Publication date: February 2, 2017
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: THAYLEN K. LEANY, BRENNER M. SHARP, KURT WERNER
  • Publication number: 20170029999
    Abstract: A laundry treating appliance includes a rotatable basket defining a treating chamber for receiving a load of laundry items for treatment, and two annular balance rings coupled with the basket for rotation therewith. Each balance ring includes a sump for holding balancing fluid when the rotational speed of the basket is below a critical speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2015
    Publication date: February 2, 2017
    Applicant: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: BENJAMIN E. ALEXANDER, MICHAEL K. CLUSKEY, JOHN M. HUNNELL, CHRISTOPHER A. JONES, BRENNER M. SHARP
  • Publication number: 20170030002
    Abstract: A laundry treating appliance includes a rotatable basket defining a treating chamber for receiving a load of laundry items for treatment, and an annular balance rings defining an annular chamber within, coupled with the basket for rotation therewith. The basket can further comprise a pair of walls comprising a perforated inner wrapper and an outer wall defining a space therebetween. The space fluidly couples to the annular chamber, permitting liquid to flow from the treating chamber, into the space and into the annular chamber to provide a restoring force to the system. The annular balance ring can further comprise a plurality of passages, fluidly coupling the treating chamber to the annular chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2015
    Publication date: February 2, 2017
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: BENJAMIN E. ALEXANDER, BRENT M. BURGESS, CHRISTOPHER A. JONES, AARON A. LINDEN, DALE E. MUELLER, MICHELE A. PAUSTIAN, BRENNER M. SHARP
  • Patent number: 9534334
    Abstract: A laundry treating appliance having a cabinet, a wash tub located within the cabinet and defining an interior, a wash basket mounted within the wash tub and defining a laundry treating chamber, and at least one suspension assembly operably coupled to a portion of the cabinet and a portion of the tub such that the tub is suspended from the cabinet and where the suspension assembly includes a suspension rod for attaching to a portion of the tub in a lower part of the cabinet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Benjamin E. Alexander, Bradley D. Morrow, Brenner M. Sharp
  • Patent number: 9453297
    Abstract: A dynamic balancer device for mounting to and balancing a rotatable drum in a laundry treating appliance. The dynamic balancer device comprises an enclosed annular housing having a radial circumferential wall, a plurality of internal baffles in the enclosed annular housing and a fluid disposed in the annular race and movable therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Benjamin E. Alexander, Michael K. Cluskey, John M. Hunnell, Christopher A. Jones, Brenner M. Sharp
  • Publication number: 20160258103
    Abstract: A tub ring mountable to an upper end of a liquid holding tub in a laundry treating appliance may include a circumferential side wall, a top wall extending radially inward from the side wall, and a plurality of radial stiffening ribs extending between the top wall and the side wall. The ribs may have a bottom edge with at least a portion inclined relative to horizontal. At least a portion of the bottom edge may also be complementary to a top wall of a balance ring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2015
    Publication date: September 8, 2016
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: JOHN M. HUNNELL, PRADEEP KUMAR, BRENNER M. SHARP, CHRISTINE L. STRAIN
  • Publication number: 20160160421
    Abstract: A dynamic balancer device for mounting to and balancing a rotatable drum in a laundry treating appliance. The dynamic balancer device comprises an enclosed annular housing having a radial circumferential wall, a plurality of internal baffles in the enclosed annular housing and a fluid disposed in the annular race and movable therein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2014
    Publication date: June 9, 2016
    Applicant: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: BENJAMIN E. ALEXANDER, MICHAEL K. CLUSKEY, JOHN M. HUNNELL, CHRISTOPHER A. JONES, BRENNER M. SHARP
  • Publication number: 20160138206
    Abstract: A laundry treating appliance may include a tub and a basket located at least partially within the tub and at least partially defining a laundry treating chamber. A drive system may operatively couple the tub to the basket and may be operative to rotate the basket about a rotational axis. The tub and the basket may each have similar deflection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2016
    Publication date: May 19, 2016
    Inventor: BRENNER M. SHARP
  • Publication number: 20160083888
    Abstract: A laundry treating appliance having a cabinet, a wash tub located within the cabinet and defining an interior, a wash basket mounted within the wash tub and defining a laundry treating chamber, and at least one suspension assembly operably coupled to a portion of the cabinet and a portion of the tub such that the tub is suspended from the cabinet and where the suspension assembly includes a suspension rod for attaching to a portion of the tub in a lower part of the cabinet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2014
    Publication date: March 24, 2016
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: BENJAMIN E. ALEXANDER, BRADLEY D. MORROW, BRENNER M. SHARP
  • Patent number: 9284672
    Abstract: A laundry treating appliance may include a tub and a basket located at least partially within the tub and at least partially defining a laundry treating chamber. A drive system may operatively couple the tub to the basket and may be operative to rotate the basket about a rotational axis. The tub and the basket may each have a base with an effective stiffness, and the effective stiffnesses may be matched.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventor: Brenner M. Sharp
  • Publication number: 20150176166
    Abstract: A method of controlling a laundry treating appliance having a rotatable wash basket defining a treating chamber for receiving laundry items for treatment according to an automatic cycle of operation, the method comprising supplying liquid to the wash basket, draining liquid from the wash basket by gravity, and filling the wash basket to a predetermined fill level based on an amount of laundry, a type of laundry, a selected cycle of operation, or combinations thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2015
    Publication date: June 25, 2015
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: BENJAMIN E. ALEXANDER, BRENT M. BURGESS, MICHAEL K. CLUSKEY, DONALD E. ERICKSON, CHRISTOPHER A. JONES, AARON A. LINDEN, KENNETH L. MCCONNELL, BRADLEY D. MORROW, DALE E. MUELLER, MICHELE A. PAUSTIAN, BRENNER M. SHARP, CHRISTINE L. STRAIN, DEAN L. TIETZ, LAUREN M. LALONDE
  • Publication number: 20150159311
    Abstract: A laundry treating appliance having a tub with a tub ring and a drum located within the tub having a balance ring. The tub ring may extend radially inward and be spaced above the balance ring. The tub ring and balance ring may have an angled portion to provide for a generally constant space between the tub ring and balance ring during rotation of the drum within the tub.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2015
    Publication date: June 11, 2015
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventor: BRENNER M. SHARP
  • Publication number: 20150107308
    Abstract: A laundry treating appliance may include a tub and a basket located at least partially within the tub and at least partially defining a laundry treating chamber. A drive system may operatively couple the tub to the basket and may be operative to rotate the basket about a rotational axis. The tub and the basket may each have a base with an effective stiffness, and the effective stiffnesses may be matched.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2013
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Applicant: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventor: BRENNER M. SHARP
  • Patent number: 9010159
    Abstract: A laundry treating appliance having a tub with a tub ring and a drum located within the tub having a balance ring. The tub ring may extend radially inward and be spaced above the balance ring. The tub ring and balance ring may have an angled portion to provide for a generally constant space between the tub ring and balance ring during rotation of the drum within the tub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventor: Brenner M Sharp
  • Publication number: 20150052954
    Abstract: A washing machine may include a static wash tub, a rotatable vertical axis wash basket in the static wash tub, and a drive motor for rotating the wash basket. A closure may direct wash liquid from the wash basket to a catch basin. A flange may be attached to the closure so that an unattached edge ends within the catch basin. The unattached edge may end below the surface of a first volume of wash liquid to minimize migration of wash liquid and/or vapor from the washing machine. The unattached edge may end above the surface of a second volume of wash liquid less than the first volume to minimize agitation of wash liquid in the catch basin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2014
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Applicant: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: DONALD E. ERICKSON, BRENNER M. SHARP
  • Publication number: 20150052953
    Abstract: A laundry treating appliance having a cabinet, a static wash tub fixed in position relative to the cabinet, a wash basket mounted within the wash tub for rotation about a vertical axis and having at least one drain hole, a drive motor within the cabinet for rotating the wash basket, a catch basin fixed to the wash tub and spaced from the drive motor, a recirculation pump, and a closure between the drive motor and the catch basin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2013
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Applicant: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: DONALD E. ERICKSON, JOHN M. HUNNELL, LAUREN M. LALONDE, KENNETH L. MCCONNELL, BRADLEY D. MORROW, DAVID SCHARICH, III, BRENNER M. SHARP, CHRISTINE L. STRAIN, DEAN L. TIETZ
  • Patent number: 8516859
    Abstract: An automatic washing machine having a tub defining an interior, a sump in fluid communication with the interior of the tub, a wash basket located within the interior of the tub and defining a laundry treating space, and a foreign object trap located in a portion of the wash basket that defines a foreign object passageway for retaining foreign objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Lauren M. Lalonde, Donald R. Miller, James C. Miller, Brenner M. Sharp, Jon D. Strait, Dean L. Tietz, Nyik Siong Wong
  • Publication number: 20110247373
    Abstract: A laundry treating appliance having a tub with a tub ring and a drum located within the tub having a balance ring. The tub ring may extend radially inward and be spaced above the balance ring. The tub ring and balance ring may have an angled portion to provide for a generally constant space between the tub ring and balance ring during rotation of the drum within the tub.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Publication date: October 13, 2011
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventor: BRENNER M SHARP