Patents by Inventor Doug A. Heims

Doug A. Heims 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).

  • Water bottle fill button for refrigerators
    Patent number: 6651449
    Abstract: An ice and water dispenser for refrigerator doors is provided that includes an ice dispensing actuator pad that causes dispenser to deliver ice when activated. The dispenser also includes a water dispensing lever that causes the dispenser to deliver water when pushed. The ice and water dispenser includes a control panel that allows the user to control the dispensing operation, such as whether to dispense crushed or cube ice. Because of the arrangement of the ice and water dispensing actuators, the user can insert a glass into the dispensing cavity and dispense both ice and water simultaneously. Further, because of the arrangement of the ice and water dispensing actuators, the user can fill oversize cups, water bottles, or pitchers without having to awkwardly reach around the cup to manually activate the water dispensing lever or push the ice dispensing actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignee: Maytag Corporation
    Inventors: Doug A. Heims, Tim Bergmann, David A. Stauffer, Michael J. Eveland, Todd E. Kniffen, Ravi Kumar Sawhney, John Frank Zinni, Timothy Mark Nugent
  • Water bottle fill button for refrigerators
    Publication number: 20030019236
    Abstract: An ice and water dispenser for refrigerator doors is provided that includes an ice dispensing actuator pad that causes dispenser to deliver ice when activated. The dispenser also includes a water dispensing lever that causes the dispenser to deliver water when pushed. The ice and water dispenser includes a control panel that allows the user to control the dispensing operation, such as whether to dispense crushed or cube ice. Because of the arrangement of the ice and water dispensing actuators, the user can insert a glass into the dispensing cavity and dispense both ice and water simultaneously. Further, because of the arrangement of the ice and water dispensing actuators, the user can fill oversize cups, water bottles, or pitchers without having to awkwardly reach around the cup to manually activate the water dispensing lever or push the ice dispensing actuator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2002
    Publication date: January 30, 2003
    Inventors: Doug A. Heims, Tim Bergmann, David A. Stauffer, Michael J. Eveland, Todd E. Kniffen, Ravi Kumar Sawhney, John Frank Zinni, Timothy Mark Nugent