Patents by Inventor Dennis Winders

Dennis 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: 10677522
    Abstract: Flexible system and method of temperature control options for an enclosed space in a refrigerator appliance. A surface at or near the enclosable space includes a universal receiver. Different temperature control modules complementarily fit into the receiver. The manufacturer or user selects between modules of different types for different temperature control features. One module can be simply mechanical adjustment which is mechanically translated to a damper. Another option would be an electronic or electrical interface for the user that would send a signal to a controller that would electrically actuator damper control for temperature control in the enclosed space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: David Stauffer, Dennis Winders
  • Publication number: 20140145579
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes a refrigerator cabinet, a refrigerator compartment disposed within the refrigerator compartment, a drawer within the refrigerator compartment, a cover on a top of the drawer, a plurality of apertures in the cover, and controls on the cover for controlling temperature within the drawer. The cover is configured to be positioned between a user interface assembly and a user interface cover with screws through the apertures in a first configuration wherein the controls are electronic controls for controlling temperature within the drawer. The cover is further configured to be snapped to a control housing using the plurality of apertures for alignment in a second configuration wherein the controls are manual controls for controlling the temperature within the drawer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2012
    Publication date: May 29, 2014
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: TROY M. ANDERSON, RONALD E. HALTMEYER, TREVOR L. HAWKINS, CHAD J. ROTTER, DAVID A. STAUFFER, TODD J. TUNZI, DENNIS WINDERS
  • Publication number: 20070157655
    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 of the invention, 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: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2006
    Publication date: July 12, 2007
    Inventors: Michael Eveland, Russ Peter, Dennis Winders
  • Publication number: 20060266065
    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: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2006
    Publication date: November 30, 2006
    Applicant: MAYTAG CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ronald Anderson, Troy Anderson, Thomas Anell, Xiaoyong Fu, James Jenkins, Bruce Kopf, Ryan Schuchart, Andrew Strohm, Scott Voll, Dennis Winders
  • Publication number: 20060266055
    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: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2005
    Publication date: November 30, 2006
    Applicant: Maytag Corporation
    Inventors: Ronald Anderson, Troy Anderson, Thomas Anell, Xiaoyong Fu, James Jenkins, Bruce Kopf, Ryan Schuchart, Andrew Strohm, Scott Voll, Dennis Winders
  • Publication number: 20060266067
    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: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2006
    Publication date: November 30, 2006
    Applicant: MAYTAG CORPORATION
    Inventors: RONALD ANDERSON, TROY ANDERSON, THOMAS ANELL, XIAOYONG FU, JAMES JENKINS, BRUCE KOPF, RYAN SCHUCHART, ANDREW STROHM, SCOTT VOLL, DENNIS WINDERS
  • Publication number: 20060266066
    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: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2006
    Publication date: November 30, 2006
    Applicant: MAYTAG CORPORATION
    Inventors: RONALD ANDERSON, TROY ANDERSON, THOMAS ANELL, XIAOYONG FU, JAMES JENKINS, BRUCE KOPF, RYAN SCHUCHART, ANDREW STROHM, SCOTT VOLL, DENNIS WINDERS
  • Publication number: 20060152122
    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: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2005
    Publication date: July 13, 2006
    Inventors: Christopher Garrett, Dennis Winders
  • Publication number: 20050044878
    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: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2003
    Publication date: March 3, 2005
    Applicant: Maytag Corporation
    Inventors: Dennis Winders, Eric Svenby, Jonathan Tiemeir, David Olberding, Michael Eveland, Todd Kniffen, Ravi Sawhney, Timothy Nugent, John Zinni, Raymond Chekal
  • Publication number: 20050022549
    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: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2003
    Publication date: February 3, 2005
    Inventors: Troy Anderson, Gregory Carr, James Jenkins, Mark Mooberry, Todd Pritts, Todd Tunzi, Dennis Winders