Patents by Inventor Dianne D. Mueller

Dianne D. 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).

  • Patent number: 7823626
    Abstract: A refrigerated oven having a cooking chamber in which is provided a heating elements and a refrigeration unit chamber in which is provided a refrigeration unit. The refrigeration unit is fluidly connected to the cooking chamber. Both the heating element and the refrigeration unit are selectively operable to either cool or heat the cooking chamber to thereby cool or heat a food item located therein. The refrigeration unit as preferably modular refrigeration unit that the slid into and out of the refrigeration unit chamber. Preferably, the refrigeration unit includes an evaporator that is thermally isolate is from a condenser. The condenser as preferably conductively coupled to a base supporting the elements of the modular refrigeration unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Dianne D. Mueller, Ralph Tate, Jr., Brent A. Junge, Joseph L. Coleman, Jan M. Watson, Steven R. Cawley
  • Patent number: 6904969
    Abstract: A method of operating a refrigerated oven to cook a food item therein comprises the steps of A) determining the temperature of the cooking chamber in the refrigerated oven, B) producing cooled air in the refrigeration unit of the refrigerator oven for a first period of time if the temperature of the cooking chamber is below a predetermined threshold temperature and delaying production of cooled air in the refrigeration unit if the temperature of the cooking chamber is not below the predetermined threshold temperature, C) circulating the cooled air through a refrigerated air path to the cooking chamber to prevent spoilage of the food item, and, D) heating the cooking chamber to cook the food item in the cooking chamber by cycling the heating element for a second time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2005
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Dianne D. Mueller, Dale Lukens, David J. Anderson, Ralph Tate, Jr., Thomas J. Leichliter
  • Publication number: 20030070789
    Abstract: A refrigerated oven comprising a cooking chamber in which is provided a heating elements and a refrigeration unit chamber in which is provided a refrigeration unit. The refrigeration unit is fluidly connected to the cooking chamber. Both the heating element and the refrigeration unit are selectively operable to either cool or heat the cooking chamber to thereby cool or heat a food item located therein. The refrigeration unit as preferably modular refrigeration unit that the slid into and out of the refrigeration unit chamber. Preferably, the refrigeration unit includes an evaporator that is thermally isolate is from a condenser. The condenser as preferably conductively coupled to a base supporting the elements of the modular refrigeration unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2001
    Publication date: April 17, 2003
    Inventors: Dianne D. Mueller, Ralph Tate, Brent A. Junge, Joseph L. Coleman, Jan M. Watson, Steven R. Cawley
  • Publication number: 20030070799
    Abstract: A method for cooking food in a refrigerated oven comprising a cool cycle, bake cycle, and warm cycle. The cool cycle maintains the food placed in the refrigerated oven at a temperature suitable to prevent the spoiling of the food prior to the initiation of the bake cycle. The food is cooked during the bake cycle. The warm cycle maintains the cooked food at a temperature suitable for serving on removal from the cooking chamber. In optional cool cycle can precede the warm cycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2001
    Publication date: April 17, 2003
    Inventors: Dianne D. Mueller, Dale Lukens, David J. Anderson, Ralph Tate, Thomas J. Leichliter