Patents by Inventor Bruce Kopf

Bruce Kopf 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: 20060201192
    Abstract: A refrigerator having a dispenser in a front panel of the door. The door has an outer door pan with an outer door cavity and an inner liner having an inner liner cavity. An angled ice chute may be placed through both the inner liner cavity and the outer door cavity to move ice to the dispenser. The inner liner has more storage space over conventional ice chute dispensers. The dispenser may have a housing that positions a control panel and water outlet forward the front panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2006
    Publication date: September 14, 2006
    Applicant: MAYTAG CORPORATION
    Inventors: MICHAEL BOWEN, LAWRENCE ERTZ, BRUCE KOPF
  • Publication number: 20060201193
    Abstract: A refrigerator having an ice and water dispenser. The dispenser includes an ice chute door actuated by an electric motor for reducing energy consumption over traditional solenoid activated doors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2006
    Publication date: September 14, 2006
    Applicant: MAYTAG CORPORATION
    Inventors: MICHAEL BOWEN, LAWRENCE ERTZ, BRUCE KOPF, DEAN MARTIN, SCOTT LEIMKUEHLER, CHAD ROTTER
  • Publication number: 20060144075
    Abstract: A refrigerator having an ice and water dispenser that extends forwardly from the refrigerator door. The dispenser includes a retractable ledge to support a container, a sloped back wall to provide increased storage space in the door, a lighted target ring to facilitate positioning of a container for receipt of ice and water, an ice chute door actuated by an electric motor, and a seal to sealingly engage the ice compartment when the refrigerator door is closed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2005
    Publication date: July 6, 2006
    Applicant: Maytag Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Bowen, Lawrence Ertz, Bruce Kopf, Dean Martin, Scott Leimkuehler, Chad Rotter
  • Publication number: 20060144074
    Abstract: A refrigerator having a forward projecting dispenser that extends forward a front panel of the door. The door has an outer door pan with an outer door cavity and an inner liner having an inner liner cavity. An ice chute may be placed through both the inner liner cavity and the outer door cavity to move ice to the forward projecting dispenser. The dispenser may have a housing that positions a control panel and water outlet forward the front panel. The dispenser may extend to the door handle of the refrigerator or beyond the handle. The distance the dispenser extends forward the front panel of the door is minimized using a slight diagonal rear side of the dispenser housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2005
    Publication date: July 6, 2006
    Applicant: Maytag Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Bowen, Lawrence Ertz, Bruce Kopf
  • Patent number: 6772606
    Abstract: An evaporator fan assembly includes a shroud have a plurality of irregularly staggered shroud legs radially outwardly spaced from a fan orifice and terminating in a motor mount. A motor is removably secured to the motor mount by a motor clip. The motor clip preferably includes a pair of legs terminating in a catch or hook that may be secured to a cross-member or support bar between the shroud legs. The motor is secured in a centered position to properly align a fan blade in the fan orifice. The fan blade is secured to the drive shaft of the motor which passes through a hole in the motor mount. A shroud cover may be secured to the shroud.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Assignee: Maytag Corporation
    Inventors: Bruce A. Kopf, Tim L. Coulter, Richard A. Kirchner, Michael A. Bowen, Troy M. Anderson, Eric K. Silbaugh
  • Publication number: 20040007010
    Abstract: An evaporator fan assembly includes a shroud have a plurality of irregularly staggered shroud legs radially outwardly spaced from a fan orifice and terminating in a motor mount. A motor is removably secured to the motor mount by a motor clip. The motor clip preferably includes a pair of legs terminating in a catch or hook that may be secured to a cross-member or support bar between the shroud legs. The motor is secured in a centered position to properly align a fan blade in the fan orifice. The fan blade is secured to the drive shaft of the motor which passes through a hole in the motor mount. A shroud cover may be secured to the shroud.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2002
    Publication date: January 15, 2004
    Inventors: Bruce A. Kopf, Tim L. Coulter, Richard A. Kirchner, Michael A. Bowen, Troy M. Anderson, Eric K. Silbaugh
  • Patent number: 6286330
    Abstract: An air filter system for refrigerators includes an economically and easily manufactured housing having a replaceable air filter supported within the housing, and a releasable connector associated with the housing permits the housing of the air filter system to be readily and easily removed from the refrigerator, to permit the easy replacement of the air filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2001
    Assignee: Amana Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Bruce A. Kopf
  • Patent number: 5715703
    Abstract: A refrigerator has fresh food and freezer compartments, and each of the fresh food and freezer compartments has upper and lower portions. A first air duct extends from the upper portion of the freezer compartment to the upper portion of the fresh food compartment, and a second air duct extends between the lower portion of the freezer compartment and the lower portion of the fresh food compartment. A first fan is arranged to draw first air through the first air duct from the upper portion of the freezer compartment and to discharge the first air into the upper portion of the fresh food compartment. A second fan is arranged to draw second air from the lower portion of freezer compartment and to discharge the second air into the upper portion of the freezer compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 10, 1998
    Inventors: Bruce A. Kopf, Lyle J. Berkenbosch, Les J. Ott
  • Patent number: 4966004
    Abstract: An electronic control mounted in the door of a refrigerator. In fabrication, a compartment is formed within the refrigerated food door by positioning a tub behind a vertically elongated aperture near the edge of the door, and inserting locator pins of the tub through corresponding holes in the door panel so as to provide alignment between the two. The trim mounting bracket also has holes aligned to receive the locator pins, and the trim mounting bracket is screwed through the door panel to the tub. The control board is inserted into the compartment through the aperture and mounted to the tub. A plate is mounted over the aperture and provides a flame barrier in addition to having a side lever that reenforces the portion of the panel peripheral to the aperture so as to prevent oil canning. Finally, the decorative trim which integrally includes a control panel is positioned over the plate and mounted to the trim mounting bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 30, 1990
    Assignee: Amana Refrigeration, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian M. Midlang, Bruce A. Kopf, Richard N. Walker