Patents by Inventor Chad Eric McCray

Chad Eric McCray 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).

  • FEATURE FOR ACCELERATING EVACUATION OF A VACUUM INSULATED STRUCTURE
    Publication number: 20250334323
    Abstract: A vacuum insulated appliance includes a cabinet with an outer wrapper and an inner liner coupled to the outer wrapper. A vacuum insulated cavity is defined between the outer wrapper and the inner liner. A trim breaker is coupled to the outer wrapper and the inner liner and seals the vacuum insulated cavity. An evacuation port is defined by the outer wrapper. An insulation powder is disposed in the vacuum insulated cavity. An open-cell foam is coupled to at least one of an inner surface of the outer wrapper and an inner surface of the inner liner. The open-cell foam defines a first plurality of pores that define a first plurality of airflow paths in fluid communication with the vacuum insulated cavity and the evacuation port for evacuating air from the vacuum insulated cavity, through the first plurality of airflow paths, and through the evacuation port.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2025
    Publication date: October 30, 2025
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Paul Bennett Allard, Sunil Shivaji Ekshinge, Chad Eric McCray, Jose Guizoni, Jr.
  • Feature for accelerating evacuation of a vacuum insulated structure
    Patent number: 12385690
    Abstract: A vacuum insulated appliance includes a cabinet with an outer wrapper and an inner liner coupled to the outer wrapper. A vacuum insulated cavity is defined between the outer wrapper and the inner liner. A trim breaker is coupled to the outer wrapper and the inner liner and seals the vacuum insulated cavity. An evacuation port is defined by the outer wrapper. An insulation powder is disposed in the vacuum insulated cavity. An open-cell foam is coupled to at least one of an inner surface of the outer wrapper and an inner surface of the inner liner. The open-cell foam defines a first plurality of pores that define a first plurality of airflow paths in fluid communication with the vacuum insulated cavity and the evacuation port for evacuating air from the vacuum insulated cavity, through the first plurality of airflow paths, and through the evacuation port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2025
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Paul Bennett Allard, Sunil Shivaji Ekshinge, Chad Eric McCray, Jose Guizoni, Jr.
  • Insulation panel assembly for a refrigeration unit
    Patent number: 12264872
    Abstract: An insulation panel assembly for a refrigeration unit includes a first panel, a second panel coupled to the first panel, an evacuation hub defining an evacuation port that extends from an inlet to an outlet and a groove that extends around the inlet, and a conduit engaged with the evacuation hub. The second panel defines an aperture and includes a protruding surround that extends around the aperture. The evacuation hub is positioned such that the inlet is aligned with the aperture defined by the second panel and the groove receives the protruding surround of the second panel therein. Further, the conduit extends into the evacuation port via the outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2025
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Paul Bennett Allard, Chad Eric McCray, Dustin Michael Miller, Jeffrey P. Beckner
  • FEATURE FOR ACCELERATING EVACUATION OF A VACUUM INSULATED STRUCTURE
    Publication number: 20240361068
    Abstract: A vacuum insulated appliance includes a cabinet with an outer wrapper and an inner liner coupled to the outer wrapper. A vacuum insulated cavity is defined between the outer wrapper and the inner liner. A trim breaker is coupled to the outer wrapper and the inner liner and seals the vacuum insulated cavity. An evacuation port is defined by the outer wrapper. An insulation powder is disposed in the vacuum insulated cavity. An open-cell foam is coupled to at least one of an inner surface of the outer wrapper and an inner surface of the inner liner. The open-cell foam defines a first plurality of pores that define a first plurality of airflow paths in fluid communication with the vacuum insulated cavity and the evacuation port for evacuating air from the vacuum insulated cavity, through the first plurality of airflow paths, and through the evacuation port.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2023
    Publication date: October 31, 2024
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Paul Bennett Allard, Sunil Shivaji Ekshinge, Chad Eric McCray, Jose Guizoni, JR.
  • INSULATION PANEL ASSEMBLY FOR A REFRIGERATION UNIT
    Publication number: 20240230210
    Abstract: An insulation panel assembly for a refrigeration unit includes a first panel, a second panel coupled to the first panel, an evacuation hub defining an evacuation port that extends from an inlet to an outlet and a groove that extends around the inlet, and a conduit engaged with the evacuation hub. The second panel defines an aperture and includes a protruding surround that extends around the aperture. The evacuation hub is positioned such that the inlet is aligned with the aperture defined by the second panel and the groove receives the protruding surround of the second panel therein. Further, the conduit extends into the evacuation port via the outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2022
    Publication date: July 11, 2024
    Applicant: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Paul Bennett Allard, Chad Eric McCray, Dustin Michael Miller, Jeffrey P. Beckner
  • INSULATION PANEL ASSEMBLY FOR A REFRIGERATION UNIT
    Publication number: 20240133615
    Abstract: An insulation panel assembly for a refrigeration unit includes a first panel, a second panel coupled to the first panel, an evacuation hub defining an evacuation port that extends from an inlet to an outlet and a groove that extends around the inlet, and a conduit engaged with the evacuation hub. The second panel defines an aperture and includes a protruding surround that extends around the aperture. The evacuation hub is positioned such that the inlet is aligned with the aperture defined by the second panel and the groove receives the protruding surround of the second panel therein. Further, the conduit extends into the evacuation port via the outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2022
    Publication date: April 25, 2024
    Applicant: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Paul Bennett Allard, Chad Eric McCray, Dustin Michael Miller, Jeffrey P. Beckner