Patents by Inventor Donald Mark Tomasi

Donald Mark Tomasi 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: 6784673
    Abstract: A condition sensor for a fabric treating apparatus, such as a clothes dryer. A condition sensor is connected to a base wherein the condition sensor is operative to sense a condition such as moisture content for a multi-layered load placed within the dryer. The condition sensor comprises at least one support connected to the base wherein the at least one support has at least one extension attached thereto. A pair of capacitance sensors are attached to the at least one extension with the pair of capacitance sensors being arranged to build up charge through the condition sensor based on the moisture of the load content positioned in the dryer. A circuit is arranged to receive, read and generate signals in response to the charge of the capacitance sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Donald Mark Tomasi, Thomas R. Olson, Shawn R. Oltz, James I. Czech
  • Patent number: 6732447
    Abstract: A shoe drying device having two arms and an airflow channel extending therethrough. A spring exerts an outward force on the arms. Each arm includes a member for holding a shoe at an end thereof. During a drying cycle, convection air enters through an air inlet towards the center of the device, flows through the airflow channel, and exits through air outlets in the members for holding a shoe at the ends of the arms. This facilitates more even drying of shoes held in the members for holding shoes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Donald Mark Tomasi, James I. Czech, Michael R. MacKay
  • Publication number: 20040051540
    Abstract: A condition sensor for a fabric treating apparatus, such as a clothes dryer. A condition sensor is connected to a base wherein the condition sensor is operative to sense a condition such as moisture content for a multi-layered load placed within the dryer. The condition sensor comprises at least one support connected to the base wherein the at least one support has at least one extension attached thereto. A pair of capacitance sensors are attached to the at least one extension with the pair of capacitance sensors being arranged to build up charge through the condition sensor based on the moisture of the load content positioned in the dryer. A circuit is arranged to receive, read and generate signals in response to the charge of the capacitance sensors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2002
    Publication date: March 18, 2004
    Inventors: Donald Mark Tomasi, Thomas R. Olson, Shawn R. Oltz, James I. Czech
  • Patent number: 6604298
    Abstract: A drying apparatus for use in a drying device, having a surface and a first mechanism to at least partially hold an article relative to the surface. A second mechanism associated with the surface is operable to cooperatively engage with an air exit in the drying device, and is in air communication with an interior of the first mechanism. An airflow channel is formed between a portion of the drying device, the article, the interior of the first mechanism, the second mechanism, and an air exit in the drying device, facilitating more even drying of the article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2003
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Donald Mark Tomasi, James I. Czech, David E. Scott, Brooke Lindsay-Steel Lau
  • Publication number: 20030084585
    Abstract: A shoe drying device having two arms and an airflow channel extending therethrough. A spring exerts an outward force on the arms. Each arm includes a member for holding a shoe at an end thereof. During a drying cycle, convection air enters through an air inlet towards the center of the device, flows through the airflow channel, and exits through air outlets in the members for holding a shoe at the ends of the arms. This facilitates more even drying of shoes held in the members for holding shoes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2001
    Publication date: May 8, 2003
    Inventors: Donald Mark Tomasi, James I. Czech, Michael R. MacKay
  • Publication number: 20030084590
    Abstract: A drying apparatus for use in a drying device, having a surface and a first mechanism to at least partially hold an article relative to the surface. A second mechanism associated with the surface is operable to cooperatively engage with an air exit in the drying device, and is in air communication with an interior of the first mechanism. An airflow channel is formed between a portion of the drying device, the article, the interior of the first mechanism, the second mechanism, and an air exit in the drying device, facilitating more even drying of the article.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2001
    Publication date: May 8, 2003
    Inventors: Donald Mark Tomasi, James I. Czech, David E. Scott, Brooke Lindsay-Steel Lau