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).
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Publication number: 20230002950Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 9, 2022Publication date: January 5, 2023Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: Steven Fricke, Tarun Sai Yadav Godha, James B. Hull, Peter A. Wagoner, Eric J. Walsh, Christoph J. Miller
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Patent number: 11473231Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 27, 2020Date of Patent: October 18, 2022Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Steven Fricke, Tarun Sai Yadav Godha, James B. Hull, Peter A. Wagoner, Eric J. Walsh, Christoph J. Miller
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Patent number: 11236458Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 25, 2019Date of Patent: February 1, 2022Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Douglas Mikkelsen, Christoph J. Miller, Eric J. Walsh, Donald E. Erickson
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Publication number: 20200283943Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: May 27, 2020Publication date: September 10, 2020Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: Steven Fricke, Tarun Sai Yadav Godha, James B. Hull, Peter A. Wagoner, Eric J. Walsh, Christoph J. Miller
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Patent number: 10704180Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 1, 2017Date of Patent: July 7, 2020Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Steven Fricke, Tarun Sai Yadav Godha, James B. Hull, Peter A. Wagoner, Eric J. Walsh, Christoph J. Miller
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Patent number: 10676851Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 15, 2017Date of Patent: June 9, 2020Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Donald E. Erickson, George W. Malheiros, Christoph J. Miller
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Publication number: 20200087831Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: November 25, 2019Publication date: March 19, 2020Inventors: DOUGLAS MIKKELSEN, CHRISTOPH J. MILLER, ERIC J. WALSH, DONALD E. ERICKSON
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Patent number: 10487432Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 7, 2016Date of Patent: November 26, 2019Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Douglas Mikkelsen, Christoph J. Miller, Eric J. Walsh
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Patent number: 10240274Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 14, 2018Date of Patent: March 26, 2019Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventor: Christoph J. Miller
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Patent number: 10125446Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 7, 2016Date of Patent: November 13, 2018Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Douglas Mikkelsen, Christoph J. Miller, Eric J. Walsh
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Patent number: 10094062Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 28, 2015Date of Patent: October 9, 2018Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Donald E. Erickson, George W. Malheiros, Christoph J. Miller
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Publication number: 20180171531Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: February 14, 2018Publication date: June 21, 2018Inventor: CHRISTOPH J. MILLER
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Patent number: 9938654Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 15, 2016Date of Patent: April 10, 2018Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventor: Christoph J. Miller
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Publication number: 20180080161Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 1, 2017Publication date: March 22, 2018Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: Steven Fricke, Tarun Sai Yadav Godha, James B. Hull, Peter A. Wagoner, Eric J. Walsh, Christoph J. Miller
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Patent number: 9873969Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 18, 2014Date of Patent: January 23, 2018Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Donald E. Erickson, George W. Malheiros, Christoph J. Miller
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Publication number: 20180010279Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 15, 2017Publication date: January 11, 2018Inventors: DONALD E. ERICKSON, GEORGE W. MALHEIROS, CHRISTOPH J. MILLER
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Patent number: 9797081Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 8, 2016Date of Patent: October 24, 2017Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Christoph J. Miller, John L. Patera
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Patent number: 9765467Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 18, 2014Date of Patent: September 19, 2017Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Donald E. Erickson, George W. Malheiros, Christoph J. Miller
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Publication number: 20170152625Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: November 7, 2016Publication date: June 1, 2017Inventors: DOUGLAS MIKKELSEN, CHRISTOPH J. MILLER, ERIC J. WALSH
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Publication number: 20170152622Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: November 7, 2016Publication date: June 1, 2017Inventors: DOUGLAS MIKKELSEN, CHRISTOPH J. MILLER, ERIC J. WALSH