Patents by Inventor David E. Levi

David E. Levi 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).

  • Patent number: 8336535
    Abstract: A cooking appliance includes an oven cavity accessed through first and second French-style doors that are connected to the appliance through a door linkage system. The door linkage system establishes a particular timing of door openings and closings to minimize potential wear of a door gasket. That is, each of the doors has an associated gasket for use in sealing the oven cavity when the doors are closed. One of the doors is provided with an annular gasket, while the other door essentially incorporates a less that fully annular, preferably 3-sided or a three-quarter gasket. With this arrangement, each of the gaskets has three sides adapted to seal against a cabinet shell portion of the appliance, while the fourth side of the first gasket is adapted to seal against an extension provided on the other door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher A. Larsen, David E. Levi, Mark A. Pickering
  • Patent number: 8327835
    Abstract: A cooking appliance having first and second oven doors that combine to extend across and close off a frontal opening of a cooking chamber includes a latching mechanism for locking the first and second oven doors in a closed position. The latching mechanism includes a fixed support plate and a motor having an output shaft to which is rotatably mounted an eccentric drive member. Preferably, the motor is fixedly mounted to the support plate. The latching mechanism further includes first and second latch members each having a first end portion pivotally attached to the eccentric drive member extending to a second end portion defining a hook element. When the motor is activated, a guide mechanism directs the second end portions of the first and second latch members to a locking position leading the hook members into engagement with the first and second doors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher A. Larsen, David E. Levi
  • Publication number: 20100206289
    Abstract: A cooking appliance having first and second oven doors that combine to extend across and close off a frontal opening of a cooking chamber includes a latching mechanism for locking the first and second oven doors in a closed position. The latching mechanism includes a fixed support plate and a motor having an output shaft to which is rotatably mounted an eccentric drive member. Preferably, the motor is fixedly mounted to the support plate. The latching mechanism further includes first and second latch members each having a first end portion pivotally attached to the eccentric drive member extending to a second end portion defining a hook element. When the motor is activated, a guide mechanism directs the second end portions of the first and second latch members to a locking position leading the hook members into engagement with the first and second doors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2010
    Publication date: August 19, 2010
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: CHRISTOPHER A. LARSEN, DAVID E. LEVI
  • Patent number: 7735480
    Abstract: A cooking appliance having first and second oven doors that combine to extend across and close off a frontal opening of a cooking chamber includes a latching mechanism for locking the first and second oven doors in a closed position. The latching mechanism includes a fixed support plate and a motor having an output shaft to which is rotatably mounted an eccentric drive member. Preferably, the motor is fixedly mounted to the support plate. The latching mechanism further includes first and second latch members each having a first end portion pivotally attached to the eccentric drive member extending to a second end portion defining a hook element. When the motor is activated, a guide mechanism directs the second end portions of the first and second latch members to a locking position leading the hook members into engagement with the first and second doors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Maytag Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher A. Larsen, David E. Levi
  • Publication number: 20070246036
    Abstract: A cooking appliance includes an oven cavity accessed through first and second French-style doors that are connected to the appliance through a door linkage system. The door linkage system establishes a particular timing of door openings and closings to minimize potential wear of a door gasket. That is, each of the doors has an associated gasket for use in sealing the oven cavity when the doors are closed. One of the doors is provided with an annular gasket, while the other door essentially incorporates a less that fully annular, preferably 3-sided or a three-quarter gasket. With this arrangement, each of the gaskets has three sides adapted to seal against a cabinet shell portion of the appliance, while the fourth side of the first gasket is adapted to seal against an extension provided on the other door.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2006
    Publication date: October 25, 2007
    Inventors: Christopher A. Larsen, David E. Levi, Mark A. Pickering
  • Patent number: 6881054
    Abstract: A gas cooking appliance includes a combination radiant/convection cooking system mounted below a bottom wall portion of an oven cavity. The combination cooking system includes a gas burner in the form of a ring element having a central portion within which is positioned a convection fan. In addition to the convection fan, a forced air combustion fan supplies a combustion airflow to the gas burner. The oven preferably includes a glass panel arranged in a bottom wall portion of the oven cavity, above the gas burner. Arranged about the central opening are a plurality of vented openings for introducing the convective airflow into the oven cavity. The glass panel provides both a conductive heat surface transmitting at least a portion of the radiate heat energy into the oven cavity and a viewing surface allowing a consumer to view the operation of the gas burner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2005
    Assignee: Maytag Corporation
    Inventors: David E. Levi, Mark A. Pickering, Lloyd A. Smith, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6831255
    Abstract: An electric oven includes a cabinet within which is arranged an oven cavity. Arranged below a bottom portion of the oven cavity is a combination convection/radiant bake cooking system adapted to derive heat energy from a single heat source. The oven preferably includes a central opening in the bottom portion within which is arranged a glass panel. Arranged about a periphery of the central opening are a plurality of vented openings adapted to introduce a convective airflow into the oven cavity. The glass panel provides both a conductive heat surface transmitting radiant heat energy into the oven cavity and a viewing surface allowing a consumer to view the operation of the heat source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: Maytag Corporation
    Inventors: David E. Levi, Mark A. Pickering, Lloyd A. Smith, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6234161
    Abstract: A gas cooking appliance, having burner units mounted on an upper cooktop and an oven cavity arranged below the burner units, incorporates a fan for generating a flow of cooling air within the appliance, with the cooling air extending along an at least back and top wall portions of the oven cavity. The cooling air exits the appliance through a frontal gap formed between a door of the oven cavity and an upper frontal portion of the appliance. The burner units have associated combustion air inlets which are isolated from the flow of cooling air by being disposed in a chamber formed by sealing an isolation pan beneath the cooktop. The cooktop is formed with a plurality of openings for permitting a flow of combustion air to be drawn into the chamber for mixing with a regulated flow of combustion gas. With this arrangement, the gas burner units are isolated from the flow of cooling air within the appliance to enhance the operation of the burner units, particularly during low or simmer settings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2001
    Assignee: Maytag Corporation
    Inventors: David E. Levi, Donald E. McCloud, James C. McFarland, Jimmy C. Roden, Eddie M. Brock, Jeffrey D. Ware
  • Patent number: 4512331
    Abstract: An improved oven seal arrangement is provided comprising an elongated flexible seal having retainer and seal portions. A channel or gap is formed in one of the oven front or oven door for receiving the retainer portion and the seal portion is captured between the oven door and the oven front.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1984
    Date of Patent: April 23, 1985
    Assignee: The Maytag Company
    Inventor: David E. Levi
  • Patent number: 4413611
    Abstract: A burner box divided into two chambers by a partition having two orifice hoods and an electrical connector rigidly mounted thereto, the hoods and connector facing into one of the chambers which functions as a compartment for removably inserting a modular gas burner cartridge. The cartridge may include a pan having two burners and an igniter attached therein. The positioning of the cartridge is such that the mixer heads of the burners align with the respective orifice hoods and the igniter couples to the connector. The connector has a recessed entrance for the high voltage receptacle so that a tapered ceramic insulator sleeve of the igniter conductor terminal fits therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1981
    Date of Patent: November 8, 1983
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Lee J. Berlik, S. Thomas Barnes, David E. Levi