Patents by Inventor CHRISTOPH J. MILLER

CHRISTOPH J. MILLER 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: 20230002950
    Abstract: A laundry appliance includes a tub having a rear wall that includes a plurality of structural ribs. A drive hub has a bearing housing insert injection molded into the rear wall. A stator is attached to the drive hub at stator fastening portions exposed through the rear wall of the tub. A reinforcing cap is fixed to the structural ribs of the rear wall of the tub. The bearing housing of the drive hub extends rearwards through a portion of the reinforcing cap. The stator fastening portions are exposed through the reinforcing cap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2022
    Publication date: January 5, 2023
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Steven Fricke, Tarun Sai Yadav Godha, James B. Hull, Peter A. Wagoner, Eric J. Walsh, Christoph J. Miller
  • Patent number: 11473231
    Abstract: A laundry appliance includes a tub having a rear wall that includes a plurality of structural ribs. A drive hub has a bearing housing insert injection molded into the rear wall. A stator is attached to the drive hub at stator fastening portions exposed through the rear wall of the tub. A reinforcing cap is fixed to the structural ribs of the rear wall of the tub. The bearing housing of the drive hub extends rearwards through a portion of the reinforcing cap. The stator fastening portions are exposed through the reinforcing cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Steven Fricke, Tarun Sai Yadav Godha, James B. Hull, Peter A. Wagoner, Eric J. Walsh, Christoph J. Miller
  • Patent number: 11236458
    Abstract: A fabric treating appliance for treating an article according to a cycle of operation includes a chassis defining an interior with a tub provided within the interior, the tub at least partially defining a liquid chamber. A drum is provided within the liquid chamber to at least partially define a treating chamber. The drum has a peripheral wall terminating in a front edge and a rear edge, with the front edge defining a front opening. An exoskeleton is provided within the liquid chamber coupling the drum to the chassis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Douglas Mikkelsen, Christoph J. Miller, Eric J. Walsh, Donald E. Erickson
  • Publication number: 20200283943
    Abstract: A laundry appliance includes a tub having a rear wall that includes a plurality of structural ribs. A drive hub has a bearing housing insert injection molded into the rear wall. A stator is attached to the drive hub at stator fastening portions exposed through the rear wall of the tub. A reinforcing cap is fixed to the structural ribs of the rear wall of the tub. The bearing housing of the drive hub extends rearwards through a portion of the reinforcing cap. The stator fastening portions are exposed through the reinforcing cap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2020
    Publication date: September 10, 2020
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Steven Fricke, Tarun Sai Yadav Godha, James B. Hull, Peter A. Wagoner, Eric J. Walsh, Christoph J. Miller
  • Patent number: 10704180
    Abstract: A laundry appliance includes a tub having a rear wall that includes a plurality of structural ribs. A drive hub has a bearing housing insert injection molded into the rear wall. A stator is attached to the drive hub at stator fastening portions exposed through the rear wall of the tub. A reinforcing cap is fixed to the structural ribs of the rear wall of the tub. The bearing housing of the drive hub extends rearwards through a portion of the reinforcing cap. The stator fastening portions are exposed through the reinforcing cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Steven Fricke, Tarun Sai Yadav Godha, James B. Hull, Peter A. Wagoner, Eric J. Walsh, Christoph J. Miller
  • Patent number: 10676851
    Abstract: A laundry treating appliance is configured to treat laundry according to a cycle of operation. The laundry treating appliance comprises a chassis that defines an interior and has a front and rear with an access opening located in the front. A tub statically mounted to the chassis and defines a liquid chamber located within the interior and has at least one suspension opening. An exoskeleton is located within the liquid chamber and has a front support, a rear support, and stringers extending longitudinally to form a skeletal frame defining a frame interior. A rotatable drum is located within the frame interior. A suspension system is located within the interior and has at least one suspension component extending into the liquid chamber through the suspension opening and is operably coupled to the exoskeleton. A liquid dam retards liquid flow from the liquid chamber to the interior through the suspension opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Donald E. Erickson, George W. Malheiros, Christoph J. Miller
  • Publication number: 20200087831
    Abstract: A fabric treating appliance for treating an article according to a cycle of operation includes a chassis defining an interior with a tub provided within the interior, the tub at least partially defining a liquid chamber. A drum is provided within the liquid chamber to at least partially define a treating chamber. The drum has a peripheral wall terminating in a front edge and a rear edge, with the front edge defining a front opening. An exoskeleton is provided within the liquid chamber coupling the drum to the chassis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2019
    Publication date: March 19, 2020
    Inventors: DOUGLAS MIKKELSEN, CHRISTOPH J. MILLER, ERIC J. WALSH, DONALD E. ERICKSON
  • Patent number: 10487432
    Abstract: A fabric treating appliance for treating an article according to a cycle of operation includes a chassis defining an interior with a tub disposed in the interior, the tub defining a liquid chamber. A drum is provided within the liquid chamber to define a treating chamber. An exoskeleton is disposed within the liquid chamber and houses the drum. A front frame mounts to the drum and forms at least a portion of the exoskeleton.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Douglas Mikkelsen, Christoph J. Miller, Eric J. Walsh
  • Patent number: 10240274
    Abstract: A method of dosing detergent into a cleaning chamber of a washing machine using gravity. The method comprises providing an amount of detergent to be used in a washing machine, providing a detergent storage tank, providing a diverter valve comprising a detergent inlet, a detergent outlet, and an air vent, presenting a user interface at a location accessible to a user for a user to input load characteristics, relaying information via electrical signals from the user interface to a controller in electrical communication with the user interface, determining a dosage requirement and dispensing a fluid into the cleaning chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventor: Christoph J. Miller
  • Patent number: 10125446
    Abstract: A fabric treating appliance includes a chassis defining an interior. A tub is provided in the interior defining a liquid chamber. An exoskeleton is disposed within the liquid chamber and houses a drum defining a treating chamber for treating an article of laundry. A rear drive plate is provided at one end of the drum and at least partially defines the exoskeleton. One or more braces can couple to the rear drive plate to improve structural integrity of the exoskeleton housing the drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Douglas Mikkelsen, Christoph J. Miller, Eric J. Walsh
  • Patent number: 10094062
    Abstract: A laundry treating appliance comprising a chassis defining an interior with at fixed tub disposed in the interior, the tub defining a liquid chamber. An exoskeleton is disposed within the liquid chamber and houses a drum defining a treating chamber for treating laundry. A suspension comprising one or more suspension component mounts the exoskeleton to that chassis through an opening in the tub. The interior is sealed from the liquid chamber by a plurality of seals at the openings and suspension components extending through the openings, preventing liquid from spilling into the interior from the liquid chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Donald E. Erickson, George W. Malheiros, Christoph J. Miller
  • Publication number: 20180171531
    Abstract: A method of dosing detergent into a cleaning chamber of a washing machine using gravity. The method comprises providing an amount of detergent to be used in a washing machine, providing a detergent storage tank, providing a diverter valve comprising a detergent inlet, a detergent outlet, and an air vent, presenting a user interface at a location accessible to a user for a user to input load characteristics, relaying information via electrical signals from the user interface to a controller in electrical communication with the user interface, determining a dosage requirement and dispensing a fluid into the cleaning chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2018
    Publication date: June 21, 2018
    Inventor: CHRISTOPH J. MILLER
  • Patent number: 9938654
    Abstract: An appliance for washing clothes includes a detergent storage tank and a drum. Between the detergent storage tank and the drum is a diverter valve which has a detergent inlet connected to the detergent storage tank, an air vent connected to ambient air, and a detergent outlet. The diverter valve has an energized state wherein the detergent inlet is open and the air vent is closed, and a de-energized state wherein the detergent inlet is closed and the air vent is open. The appliance also has a flow meter connected to the diverter valve and the drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventor: Christoph J. Miller
  • Publication number: 20180080161
    Abstract: A laundry appliance includes a tub having a rear wall that includes a plurality of structural ribs. A drive hub has a bearing housing insert injection molded into the rear wall. A stator is attached to the drive hub at stator fastening portions exposed through the rear wall of the tub. A reinforcing cap is fixed to the structural ribs of the rear wall of the tub. The bearing housing of the drive hub extends rearwards through a portion of the reinforcing cap. The stator fastening portions are exposed through the reinforcing cap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2017
    Publication date: March 22, 2018
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Steven Fricke, Tarun Sai Yadav Godha, James B. Hull, Peter A. Wagoner, Eric J. Walsh, Christoph J. Miller
  • Patent number: 9873969
    Abstract: A laundry treating appliance configured to treat laundry according to a treating cycle of operation includes a chassis that defines an interior and a tub statically mounted to the chassis, and at least one suspension opening in a side of the tub. An exoskeleton is located within the liquid chamber and has a front support, a rear support, and stringers extending between and connecting the front and rear supports. An electric motor is mounted to the rear support and has a rotating output shaft. A drum is connected to the output shaft and is rotatbly mounted to the exoskeleton. A suspension system is located within the interior and has at least one suspension component extending from the interior and into the liquid chamber through the suspension opening and is operably coupled to the exoskeleton. The suspension system provides suspension directly to the exoskeleton to indirectly provide suspension for the drum and electric motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Donald E. Erickson, George W. Malheiros, Christoph J. Miller
  • Publication number: 20180010279
    Abstract: A laundry treating appliance is configured to treat laundry according to a cycle of operation. The laundry treating appliance comprises a chassis that defines an interior and has a front and rear with an access opening located in the front. A tub statically mounted to the chassis and defines a liquid chamber located within the interior and has at least one suspension opening. An exoskeleton is located within the liquid chamber and has a front support, a rear support, and stringers extending longitudinally to form a skeletal frame defining a frame interior. A rotatable drum is located within the frame interior. A suspension system is located within the interior and has at least one suspension component extending into the liquid chamber through the suspension opening and is operably coupled to the exoskeleton. A liquid dam retards liquid flow from the liquid chamber to the interior through the suspension opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2017
    Publication date: January 11, 2018
    Inventors: DONALD E. ERICKSON, GEORGE W. MALHEIROS, CHRISTOPH J. MILLER
  • Patent number: 9797081
    Abstract: A suspension system for a laundry treating appliance having a cabinet and a tub comprises a rod coupled to the cabinet and a shock absorber coupled between the rod and the tub. A socket interface on the rod reduces side loading forces on the shock absorber. The socket interface may be separate from the shock absorber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Christoph J. Miller, John L. Patera
  • Patent number: 9765467
    Abstract: A laundry treating appliance configured to treat laundry according to a treating cycle of operation includes a chassis defining an interior and a tub located within the interior and statically mounted to the chassis, with the tub defining a liquid chamber, and having at least one suspension opening in a side of the tub. A rotatable drum is located within the liquid chamber and rotatable about a horizontal axis. An electric motor having an output shaft is operably coupled to the rotatable drum, wherein rotation of the output shaft effects a rotation of the drum. An exoskeleton is located within the liquid chamber and physically supports the rotatable drum and electric motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Donald E. Erickson, George W. Malheiros, Christoph J. Miller
  • Publication number: 20170152625
    Abstract: A fabric treating appliance includes a chassis defining an interior. A tub is provided in the interior defining a liquid chamber. An exoskeleton is disposed within the liquid chamber and houses a drum defining a treating chamber for treating an article of laundry. A rear drive plate is provided at one end of the drum and at least partially defines the exoskeleton. One or more braces can couple to the rear drive plate to improve structural integrity of the exoskeleton housing the drum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2016
    Publication date: June 1, 2017
    Inventors: DOUGLAS MIKKELSEN, CHRISTOPH J. MILLER, ERIC J. WALSH
  • Publication number: 20170152622
    Abstract: A fabric treating appliance for treating an article according to a cycle of operation includes a chassis defining an interior with a tub disposed in the interior, the tub defining a liquid chamber. A drum is provided within the liquid chamber to define a treating chamber. An exoskeleton is disposed within the liquid chamber and houses the drum. A front frame mounts to the drum and forms at least a portion of the exoskeleton.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2016
    Publication date: June 1, 2017
    Inventors: DOUGLAS MIKKELSEN, CHRISTOPH J. MILLER, ERIC J. WALSH