Patents by Inventor Dale E. Mueller
Dale E. Mueller 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: 20170030000Abstract: A fabric treating appliance includes a rotatable basket defining a treating chamber for receiving a load of laundry items for treatment. A float valve can be incorporated into the basket structure, selectively opening or closing the valve based upon the liquid level in a tub. As liquid fills the tub, the float valve will rise until it moves into a closed position, permitting the basket and treating chamber to fill with liquid. As the tub drain, the float valve can fall, opening the valve and permitting liquid to drain from the basket or treating chamber. The opened or closed positions can be selectively operated by opening or closing a pump or sump and allowing a tub to drain or fill, respectively.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 27, 2015Publication date: February 2, 2017Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: BENJAMIN E. ALEXANDER, BRENT M. BURGESS, MICHAEL K. CLUSKEY, CHRISTOPHER A. JONES, DALE E. MUELLER, ZACHARY BOHENICK
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Publication number: 20170030002Abstract: A laundry treating appliance includes a rotatable basket defining a treating chamber for receiving a load of laundry items for treatment, and an annular balance rings defining an annular chamber within, coupled with the basket for rotation therewith. The basket can further comprise a pair of walls comprising a perforated inner wrapper and an outer wall defining a space therebetween. The space fluidly couples to the annular chamber, permitting liquid to flow from the treating chamber, into the space and into the annular chamber to provide a restoring force to the system. The annular balance ring can further comprise a plurality of passages, fluidly coupling the treating chamber to the annular chamber.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 27, 2015Publication date: February 2, 2017Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: BENJAMIN E. ALEXANDER, BRENT M. BURGESS, CHRISTOPHER A. JONES, AARON A. LINDEN, DALE E. MUELLER, MICHELE A. PAUSTIAN, BRENNER M. SHARP
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Patent number: 9556549Abstract: A washing machine for treating laundry comprising a basket rotatable about a first rotational axis, having a peripheral side wall extending upwardly from a bottom wall to at least partially define a treating chamber; a clothes mover proximate the bottom wall, having a base with a centrally located hub concentric with a second rotational axis about which the clothes mover reciprocally rotates; and at least one vane having an elongated body extending away from the hub and projecting upwardly from the clothes mover to terminate in a tip.Type: GrantFiled: August 6, 2015Date of Patent: January 31, 2017Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Darryl C. Bodine, David W. Carr, Dale E. Mueller, Basak Oguz, Jon D. Strait
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Publication number: 20170022647Abstract: A fabric treating appliance includes a rotatable basket defining a treating chamber for receiving a load of laundry items for treatment. The basket comprises a dual wall, having an inner wall and an outer wall, defining a space therebetween. Liquid within the treating chamber can flow through a plurality of liquid extraction perforations and into the space between the walls, where the liquid can drain downwardly out through an opening in the outer wall and into a tub.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 20, 2015Publication date: January 26, 2017Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: BENJAMIN E. ALEXANDER, BRENT M. BURGESS, MICHAEL K. CLUSKEY, CHRISTOPHER A. JONES, DALE E. MUELLER
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Patent number: 9518349Abstract: A method and apparatus for operating a laundry treating appliance having a tub and a rotatably wash basket, the method comprising draining at least a portion of a wash liquid, accelerating the wash basket, enabling the wash basket to decelerate and supplying a rinse liquid during at least a portion of the deceleration of the wash basket.Type: GrantFiled: August 10, 2012Date of Patent: December 13, 2016Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Scott A. Merkle, Dale E. Mueller
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Publication number: 20160230327Abstract: A washing machine for treating laundry comprising a basket rotatable about a first rotational axis, having a peripheral side wall extending upwardly from a bottom wall to at least partially define a treating chamber; a clothes mover proximate the bottom wall, having a base with a centrally located hub concentric with a second rotational axis about which the clothes mover reciprocally rotates; and at least one vane having an elongated body extending away from the hub and projecting upwardly from the clothes mover to terminate in a tip.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 18, 2016Publication date: August 11, 2016Inventors: DAVID W. CARR, DALE E. MUELLER, BASAK OGUZ, JON D. STRAIT
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Patent number: 9347166Abstract: A washing machine for treating laundry comprising a basket rotatable about a first rotational axis, having a peripheral side wall extending upwardly from a bottom wall to at least partially define a treating chamber; a clothes mover proximate the bottom wall, having a base with a centrally located hub concentric with a second rotational axis about which the clothes mover reciprocally rotates; and at least one vane having an elongated body extending away from the hub and projecting upwardly from the clothes mover to terminate in a tip.Type: GrantFiled: June 12, 2012Date of Patent: May 24, 2016Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: David W. Carr, Dale E. Mueller, Basak Oguz, Jon D. Strait
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Publication number: 20150337474Abstract: A washing machine for treating laundry comprising a basket rotatable about a first rotational axis, having a peripheral side wall extending upwardly from a bottom wall to at least partially define a treating chamber; a clothes mover proximate the bottom wall, having a base with a centrally located hub concentric with a second rotational axis about which the clothes mover reciprocally rotates; and at least one vane having an elongated body extending away from the hub and projecting upwardly from the clothes mover to terminate in a tip.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 6, 2015Publication date: November 26, 2015Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: DARRYL C. BODINE, DAVID W. CARR, DALE E. MUELLER, BASAK OGUZ, JON D. STRAIT
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Patent number: 9115452Abstract: A laundry treating appliance may include a drum and an impeller. The impeller may have a raised center, a bottom plate, a transition region between the bottom plate and the raised center, a center post extending upward from the raised center, and a plurality of radial protrusions extending along the raised center, the bottom plate, and the transition region.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2012Date of Patent: August 25, 2015Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: David W. Carr, Joseph L. Moulton, Dale E. Mueller, Jon D. Strait
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Publication number: 20150176166Abstract: A method of controlling a laundry treating appliance having a rotatable wash basket defining a treating chamber for receiving laundry items for treatment according to an automatic cycle of operation, the method comprising supplying liquid to the wash basket, draining liquid from the wash basket by gravity, and filling the wash basket to a predetermined fill level based on an amount of laundry, a type of laundry, a selected cycle of operation, or combinations thereof.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 9, 2015Publication date: June 25, 2015Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: BENJAMIN E. ALEXANDER, BRENT M. BURGESS, MICHAEL K. CLUSKEY, DONALD E. ERICKSON, CHRISTOPHER A. JONES, AARON A. LINDEN, KENNETH L. MCCONNELL, BRADLEY D. MORROW, DALE E. MUELLER, MICHELE A. PAUSTIAN, BRENNER M. SHARP, CHRISTINE L. STRAIN, DEAN L. TIETZ, LAUREN M. LALONDE
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Publication number: 20150033803Abstract: A laundry mover for a laundry treating appliance may include a protrusion located on an upper side of the laundry mover and forming an open-bottom cavity. The protrusion may have at least one opening fluidly communicating the cavity with a portion of the treating chamber above the protrusion. A diverter may be located on a lower side of the laundry mover such that rotation of the laundry mover brings the diverter into contact with liquid in a portion of the treating chamber underneath the laundry mover, and the diverter directs the liquid through the cavity to expel the liquid through the at least one opening.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 5, 2013Publication date: February 5, 2015Applicant: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: DAVID W. CARR, DALE E. MUELLER, MARY E. ZEITLER
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Publication number: 20140096568Abstract: A laundry treating appliance may include a drum and an impeller. The impeller may have a raised center, a bottom plate, a transition region between the bottom plate and the raised center, a center post extending upward from the raised center, and a plurality of radial protrusions extending along the raised center, the bottom plate, and the transition region.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 8, 2012Publication date: April 10, 2014Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: DAVID W. CARR, JOSEPH L. MOULTON, DALE E. MUELLER, JON D. STRAIT
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Publication number: 20140041129Abstract: A method and apparatus for operating a laundry treating appliance having a tub and a rotatably wash basket, the method comprising draining at least a portion of a wash liquid, accelerating the wash basket, enabling the wash basket to decelerate and supplying a rinse liquid during at least a portion of the deceleration of the wash basket.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 10, 2012Publication date: February 13, 2014Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: SCOTT A. MERKLE, DALE E. MUELLER
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Publication number: 20130326822Abstract: A washing machine for treating laundry comprising a basket rotatable about a first rotational axis, having a peripheral side wall extending upwardly from a bottom wall to at least partially define a treating chamber; a clothes mover proximate the bottom wall, having a base with a centrally located hub concentric with a second rotational axis about which the clothes mover reciprocally rotates; and at least one vane having an elongated body extending away from the hub and projecting upwardly from the clothes mover to terminate in a tip.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 12, 2012Publication date: December 12, 2013Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: DAVID W. CARR, DALE E. MUELLER, BASAK OGUZ, JON D. STRAIT
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Patent number: 7934281Abstract: Methods for laundering a textile wash load in a washing apparatus comprising the steps of pre-treating a textile wash load using methods that include a detection step selected from an airlock detection step, a water log detection step and combinations thereof.Type: GrantFiled: November 14, 2005Date of Patent: May 3, 2011Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Flavio Erasmo Bernardino, Mary Ellen Zeitler, Dale E. Mueller, Erik K. Farrington, Leon H. Spindler
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Patent number: 7793525Abstract: A clothes mover in a washing machine comprises a body mounted for reciprocal rotational movement about a generally vertical axis and at least one vane, which comprises a base mounted to the body and a tail extending from the base and having an upper edge that transitions into a tip. The tail can be free of the body for side-to-side flexing and can be configured such that a portion of the tail extending between the upper edge and the tip can flex from a generally vertical position toward the body. The body can be made of a first material, and the vane can be made of a second material different from the first material.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 2005Date of Patent: September 14, 2010Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Viktor N. Kopyrin, Robert J. Pinkowski, James J. Visin, Raveendran Vaidhyanathan, Mary E. Zeitler, Dale E. Mueller
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Patent number: 6964360Abstract: A clothes hanger is provided. The clothes hanger includes a first main arm connected with a second main arm. Each main arm forms an adjustment element and a primary track. The clothes hanger also includes first and second adjustable arms each movably and pivotally connected with one respective main arm. Each adjustable arm includes a locator element engageable with a respective adjustment element and a primary sliding member received in each primary track.Type: GrantFiled: July 17, 2003Date of Patent: November 15, 2005Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Casey J. Tubman, David G. Cockrell, Michael A. Dirlam, Dale E. Mueller
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Patent number: 6065171Abstract: A detergent dispensing method and apparatus for an automatic vertical axis washer. The washer includes a tub ring having a louvered area creating a drop zone through which wash additives are directly dispensed into the wash tub. In addition, the washer further includes a tub ring splash shield and D-ring splash shield. The tub ring and D-ring splash shields, along with the tub ring with the louvered area, act to direct wash additives into the wash tub and to further prevent wash fluid from escaping from the wash cycle.Type: GrantFiled: February 19, 1999Date of Patent: May 23, 2000Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Casey J. Tubman, Dale E. Mueller, Theodore D. Ernst, James W. Titus
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Patent number: 5791167Abstract: A washplate deflector for an automatic washer having a wash basket and a moveable washplate positioned within the basket. The deflector is mounted to the periphery of the washplate and abuts the wash basket, preventing clothing disposed in the wash basket from being caught between the washplate and the wash basket.Type: GrantFiled: May 16, 1997Date of Patent: August 11, 1998Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Vicki Lyn Wyatt, Dale E. Mueller, Gerald L. Kretchman, James W. Titus
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Patent number: 5582039Abstract: A tub ring is provided which forms an opening to a rotatable wash basket of a washing machine. The tub ring includes a clothes diverter which guides and deflects clothes in the basket downward, away from the opening, so that the clothes are wetted quickly. Preferably, the diverter guides the clothes into a flow from an inlet nozzle, which can also be formed in the tub ring. Additionally, dispensers for wash additives can be formed in the tub ring.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 1995Date of Patent: December 10, 1996Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Dale E. Mueller, Gerald L. Kretchman, R. Bruce Sherer