Patents by Inventor Dennis E. Winders

Dennis E. Winders 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: 8608263
    Abstract: A storage/dispensing compartment includes a front wall portion, a rear wall portion, a bottom wall portion and opposing side wall portions that collectively define a storage zone. The storage/dispensing compartment further includes a mounting element that is arranged on an underside of the bottom wall portion. The mounting element cooperates with a mounting member to position and secure the storage compartment in a storage cavity of a chiller compartment arranged on a refrigerator door. The storage/dispensing compartment, constructed in accordance with one embodiment, includes first and second, laterally arranged storage zones, each having respective inlet and outlet portions and a plurality of divider walls. The divider walls establish a serpentine path that extends from the inlet portion to the outlet portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Michael J. Eveland, Russ B. Peter, Dennis E. Winders
  • Patent number: 7309116
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes a dairy compartment for supporting items on an inner liner of a fresh food door. The compartment includes a first end section, a second end section and an intermediate section. The intermediate section includes an item support platform and a rear wall. An aperture is formed in one of the central web and the rear wall adjacent the second end. An anchor is mounted to another of the central web and the rear wall adjacent the second end section. The anchor extends through the aperture to hang the compartment on the inner liner of the door with the item support portion in a substantially non-horizontal orientation. The compartment is then rotated such that the item support portion placed in a substantially horizontal orientation whereupon the first end is supported by a lug member formed on the inner liner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher S. Garrett, Dennis E. Winders
  • Patent number: 7284392
    Abstract: An improved icemaker is provided for a refrigerator. The improvements include tilting the ice mold to assure that the ice cavity nearest the thermostat is filled with water; controlling air flow to the mold to promote rapid freezing of water in the mold cavities; raising the perimeter walls of the mold to minimize water spillage; and providing hooks on the mold for routing electrical wires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2007
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Ronald K. Anderson, Troy Michael Anderson, Thomas Carl Anell, Xiaoyong Fu, James H. Jenkins, Jr., Bruce Arthur Kopf, Ryan D. Schuchart, Andrew G. Strohm, Scott Robert Voll, Dennis E. Winders
  • Patent number: 7266973
    Abstract: An improved icemaker is provided for a refrigerator. The improvements include tilting the ice mold to assure that the ice cavity nearest the thermostat is filled with water; controlling air flow to the mold to promote rapid freezing of water in the mold cavities; raising the perimeter walls of the mold to minimize water spillage; and providing hooks on the mold for routing electrical wires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Ronald K. Anderson, Troy Michael Anderson, Thomas Carl Anell, Xiaoyong Fu, James H. Jenkins, Jr., Bruce Arthur Kopf, Ryan D. Schuchart, Andrew G. Strohm, Scott Robert Voll, Dennis E. Winders
  • Patent number: 7266957
    Abstract: An improved icemaker is provided for a refrigerator. The improvements include tilting the ice mold to assure that the ice cavity nearest the thermostat is filled with water; controlling air flow to the mold to promote rapid freezing of water in the mold cavities; raising the perimeter walls of the mold to minimize water spillage; and providing hooks on the mold for routing electrical wires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Ronald K. Anderson, Troy Michael Anderson, Thomas Carl Anell, Xiaoyong Fu, James H. Jenkins, Jr., Bruce Arthur Kopf, Ryan D. Schuchart, Andrew G. Strohm, Scott Robert Voll, Dennis E. Winders
  • Patent number: 6983615
    Abstract: A chiller compartment is provided that secures to the inside of a refrigerator door. The chiller compartment includes a pair of french doors that are connected by a linkage that causes the doors to simultaneously open or close. The french doors of the chiller compartment open and close automatically when the refrigerator door is open and shut. The chiller compartment also includes a tray of sufficient height to secure tall beverages or food items and prevent such items from toppling out of the chiller compartment while the refrigerator door is opened or closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2006
    Assignee: Maytag Corporation
    Inventors: Dennis E. Winders, Eric S. Svenby, Jonathan J. Tiemeier, David J. Olberding, Michael J. Eveland, Todd E. Kniffen, Ravi Kumar Sawhney, Timothy Mark Nugent, John Frank Zinni, Raymond J. Chekal
  • Patent number: 6918259
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes a fresh food stirring fan assembly arranged within a fresh food compartment. The stirring fan assembly functions to recirculate air in order to minimize temperature stratification in the fresh food compartment. The stirring fan assembly preferably incorporates a filter to remove airborne debris and absorb odors. In accordance with one preferred embodiment of the invention, the fresh food stirring fan is operated whenever a damper controlling an inlet flow of cooling air to the fresh food compartment is in a closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2005
    Inventors: Troy M. Anderson, Gregory S. Carr, James H. Jenkins, Jr., Mark W. Mooberry, Todd E. Pritts, Todd J. Tunzi, Dennis E. Winders
  • Patent number: 6782710
    Abstract: A kid's zone compartment assembly for a refrigerator includes a compartment frame, a top tray, a cover for the top tray, a lower tray, and two tall package retainers. The top tray cover is pivotally hinged to the top tray. The cover is molded and configured in the likeness of a character, particularly an animal caricature. The various compartment components are carried by the compartment frame which, in turn, is supported by a fresh food compartment door liner of the refrigerator. The overall assembly defines a special place for the storage of food items dedicated for access by a child.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Maytag Corporation
    Inventors: Michael J. Eveland, Tamara Kappler, Todd E. Kniffen, Timothy M. Nugent, David J. Olberding, Robert Pohl, Ravi K. Sawhney, Eric Svenby, Dennis E. Winders, John Frank Zinni
  • Patent number: 6694770
    Abstract: A chiller compartment is provided that secures to the inside of a refrigerator door. The chiller compartment includes a pair of French doors that are connected by a linkage that causes the doors to simultaneously open or close. The doors retract within the chiller compartment when opened, thereby protecting the doors should the refrigerator door be closed while the chiller compartment doors are left open. The chiller compartment also includes a tray of sufficient height to secure tall beverages or food items and prevent such items from toppling out of the chiller compartment while the refrigerator door is opened or closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: Maytag Corporation
    Inventors: Dennis E. Winders, Eric S. Svenby, Jonathan J. Tiemeier, David J. Olberding, Michael J. Eveland, Todd E. Kniffen, Ravi Kumar Sawhney, Timothy Mark Nugent, John Frank Zinni
  • Publication number: 20040011075
    Abstract: A kid's zone compartment assembly for a refrigerator includes a compartment frame, a top tray, a cover for the top tray, a lower tray, and two tall package retainers. The top tray cover is pivotally hinged to the top tray. The cover is molded and configured in the likeness of a character, particularly an animal caricature. The various compartment components are carried by the compartment frame which, in turn, is supported by a fresh food compartment door liner of the refrigerator. The overall assembly defines a special place for the storage of food items dedicated for access by a child.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2002
    Publication date: January 22, 2004
    Inventors: Michael J. Eveland, Tamara Kappler, Todd E. Kniffen, Timothy M. Nugent, David J. Olberding, Robert Pohl, Ravi K. Sawhney, Eric Svenby, Dennis E. Winders, John Frank Zinni
  • Publication number: 20030024265
    Abstract: A chiller compartment is provided that secures to the inside of a refrigerator door. The chiller compartment includes a pair of French doors that are connected by a linkage that causes the doors to simultaneously open or close. The doors retract within the chiller compartment when opened, thereby protecting the doors should the refrigerator door be closed while the chiller compartment doors are left open. The chiller compartment also includes a tray of sufficient height to secure tall beverages or food items and prevent such items from toppling out of the chiller compartment while the refrigerator door is opened or closed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2002
    Publication date: February 6, 2003
    Inventors: Dennis E. Winders, Eric S. Svenby, Jonathan J. Tiemeier, David J. Olberding, Michael J. Eveland, Todd E. Kniffen, Ravi Kumar Sawhney, Timothy Mark Nugent, John Frank Zinni
  • Patent number: D527749
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: Maytag Corporation
    Inventors: Michael J. Eveland, Russ B. Peter, Dennis E. Winders
  • Patent number: D474485
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Assignee: Maytag Corporation
    Inventors: Michael J. Eveland, Tamara Kappler, Todd E. Kniffen, Timothy M. Nugent, David J. Olberding, Robert Pohl, Ravi K. Sawhney, Eric Svenby, Dennis E. Winders, John Frank Zinni
  • Patent number: 5041501
    Abstract: Novel polymer blends are provided comprising a linear low density copolymer of ethylene with an olefin containing 4 to 10 carbon atoms (LLDPE) compounded with a minor amount of an at least partially isotactic, partially crystalline butene-1 polymer comprising at least about 80 wt. % of polymerized butene-1. The blends can be fabricated with better processability and reduced blocking into blown films having improved impact properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 20, 1991
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation
    Inventor: Pradeep P. Shirodkar