Patents by Inventor Brian D. Towle

Brian D. Towle 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: 5402553
    Abstract: A refrigerator door handle and a method of attaching the handle to a door panel. A door handle retainer strip includes an elongated channel having a shoulder opposite a laterally extending longitudinal groove. After the retainer strip is screwed to the door panel, a rail on the back of the handle is inserted into the channel. The rail has a laterally extending tongue that is received in sliding engagement in the groove as the handle is moved laterally. The handle is then secured or locked in that position within the channel of the retainer strip by driving screws between the shoulder and the rail at the ends of the handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 4, 1995
    Assignee: Amana Refrigeration Inc.
    Inventors: Glenn E. Goetz, Brian D. Towle, Larry D. Yoder
  • Patent number: 5056688
    Abstract: A selective ice cube and crushed ice dispenser having a crusher section including a crusher arm mounted to a horizontal shaft axially rotatable in either direction, and a stationary crusher arm mounted to one side of the shaft. When the shaft is driven in one direction, ice pieces fed to the crusher section are caught and crushed between the rotating and stationary crusher arms. However, when the shaft is driven in the opposite direction, the ice pieces escape down the side of the shaft opposite the stationary crusher arms thereby avoiding being crushed. The ice piece feed within the ice piece receptacle is also rotatably driven by the shaft and is operable to feed ice pieces to the crusher section regardless of which direction the shaft is being driven.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 15, 1991
    Assignee: Amana Refrigeration Inc.
    Inventors: Glenn E. Goetz, Brian D. Towle, Michael J. Eveland