Patents by Inventor Eric A. Hill
Eric A. Hill 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).
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Patent number: 12528588Abstract: A variable chiller exhaust system incorporate a plurality of chillers, each driller having an inlet receiving air from a crown in an aircraft fuselage and an outlet connected to a manifold. A plurality of check valves are connected to the manifold and configured to maintain a differential back pressure on the plurality of chillers of 2? water pressure or less. The check valves vent into the crown. An exhaust conduit is connected to direct air from the manifold to a variable speed fan. An outflow valve exhausts air from the variable speed fan to an exterior of the fuselage.Type: GrantFiled: January 27, 2023Date of Patent: January 20, 2026Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Eric A. Hill, Brian C. Christenson, John C. Pizzichemi
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Publication number: 20250064265Abstract: A stand mixer includes a base configured for resting on a surface and a mixing head coupled to the base so as to be moveable between a lowered, operative position and a raised, non-use position. A locking mechanism is engageable between the base and the mixing head and has a solenoid having an operative end moveable between a rest condition and an actuated condition and a swing arm pivotably mounted with respect to the solenoid. The swing arm is moveable between a locked position, wherein the swing arm is engaged between the mixing head and the base, and a release position, wherein the swing arm is disengaged from the base. The solenoid acts on a lever end of the swing arm to move the swing arm into the release position when the solenoid is in the actuated condition.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 19, 2024Publication date: February 27, 2025Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: Brandon T. Mock, Ryan James Rutter, Eric A. Hill
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Publication number: 20250040763Abstract: A countertop appliance is provided that has a motor and an actuator for setting an operational criteria of the motor, such as motor speed. The position of the actuator can be set physically by a user adjacent to the countertop appliance or via a signal received from a remote device, such as a smartphone or a home automation device. If a signal is received remotely, the physical position of the actuator is updated to show the updated operational criteria of the motor for the countertop appliance. An option feature of a confirmation interface is provided on a housing for the countertop appliance in which a user adjacent to the countertop appliance can confirm or reject an update to the operational criteria of the motor.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 6, 2024Publication date: February 6, 2025Inventors: ERIC A. HILL, RICHARD J. HUGHES, BRANDON T. MOCK, RYAN JAMES RUTTER
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Patent number: 12215451Abstract: A laundry appliance includes a cabinet defining a front opening in a front panel. The front opening is defined by a lip having a curved edge. The lip defines a plurality of apertures spaced-apart around the front opening. A tub is disposed within the cabinet. The tub defines an access opening aligned with the front opening. A drum is disposed within the tub. A bellows assembly extends between the cabinet and the tub. The bellows assembly includes a projection coupled to the curved edge of the cabinet. A deflector has a rim and a chute wherein the chute extends toward the drum. The rim is configured to snap-fit over the projection of the bellows assembly. The rim includes a plurality of hooks where each hook is configured to extend through an aperture and interlock with the cabinet.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2023Date of Patent: February 4, 2025Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Darryl C. Bodine, Donald Erickson, Gregg P. Fitzgerald, Eric A. Hill, Patrick A. McCormick, Stephen D. Ostdiek, Anna C. Schelling, Robert J. Schneider, Mohaideen Abdul Khadaar Sikkandar Batcha, Todd J. Tunzi, Andrew C. Kubasiak
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Publication number: 20250031906Abstract: A kitchen appliance includes a body, a power cord extending outward from the body, and a cord holder configured to receive the power cord via wrapping of the power cord about the cord holder. The cord holder is operable between an attached condition and a detached condition. In the attached condition, the cord holder is attached to the body via magnetic attraction. In the detached condition, the cord holder is detached from the body.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 24, 2023Publication date: January 30, 2025Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: Eric A. Hill, Brandon T. Mock, Ryan J. Rutter
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Publication number: 20240344261Abstract: A laundry appliance includes a body that houses a motor that selectively operates a drum for processing laundry, wherein the body includes an aperture for selectively accessing the drum. A door panel provides selective access to the aperture. A controller is configured to operate at least the motor. A user interface is in communication with the controller for selecting a laundry-processing operation to be performed. An outer panel at least partially conceals the body from view. An outer selector is positioned proximate the outer panel, wherein the outer selector is in communication with the controller via the user interface.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 24, 2024Publication date: October 17, 2024Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: Kevin B. Ayers, Seth E. Bixby, Donald E. Erickson, Eric A. Hill, Dennis Kehl, Andrew C. Kubasiak, Sayer J. Murphy, Trevor R. Haney
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Patent number: 12018423Abstract: A laundry appliance includes a body that houses a motor that selectively operates a drum for processing laundry, wherein the body includes an aperture for selectively accessing the drum. A door panel provides selective access to the aperture. A controller is configured to operate at least the motor. A user interface is in communication with the controller for selecting a laundry-processing operation to be performed. An outer panel at least partially conceals the body from view. An outer selector is positioned proximate the outer panel, wherein the outer selector is in communication with the controller via the user interface.Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 2021Date of Patent: June 25, 2024Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Kevin B. Ayers, Seth E. Bixby, Donald E. Erickson, Eric A. Hill, Dennis Kehl, Andrew C. Kubasiak, Sayer J. Murphy, Trevor R. Haney
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Publication number: 20230374717Abstract: A laundry appliance includes a cabinet defining a front opening in a front panel. The front opening is defined by a lip having a curved edge. The lip defines a plurality of apertures spaced-apart around the front opening. A tub is disposed within the cabinet. The tub defines an access opening aligned with the front opening. A drum is disposed within the tub. A bellows assembly extends between the cabinet and the tub. The bellows assembly includes a projection coupled to the curved edge of the cabinet. A deflector has a rim and a chute wherein the chute extends toward the drum. The rim is configured to snap-fit over the projection of the bellows assembly. The rim includes a plurality of hooks where each hook is configured to extend through an aperture and interlock with the cabinet.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 26, 2023Publication date: November 23, 2023Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: Darryl C. Bodine, Donald Erickson, Gregg P. Fitzgerald, Eric A. Hill, Patrick A. McCormick, Stephen D. Ostdiek, Anna C. Schelling, Robert J. Schneider, Mohaideen Abdul Khadaar Sikkandar Batcha, Todd J. Tunzi, Andrew C. Kubasiak
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Patent number: 11761134Abstract: A laundry appliance includes a cabinet defining a front opening in a front panel. The front opening is defined by a lip having a curved edge. The lip defines a plurality of apertures spaced-apart around the front opening. A tub is disposed within the cabinet. The tub defines an access opening aligned with the front opening. A drum is disposed within the tub. A bellows assembly extends between the cabinet and the tub. The bellows assembly includes a projection coupled to the curved edge of the cabinet. A deflector has a rim and a chute wherein the chute extends toward the drum. The rim is configured to snap-fit over the projection of the bellows assembly. The rim includes a plurality of hooks where each hook is configured to extend through an aperture and interlock with the cabinet.Type: GrantFiled: August 1, 2022Date of Patent: September 19, 2023Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Darryl C. Bodine, Gregg P. Fitzgerald, Eric A. Hill, Patrick A. McCormick, Stephen D. Ostdiek, Anna C. Schelling, Robert J. Schneider, Mohaideen Abdul Khadaar Sikkandar Batcha, Todd J. Tunzi
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Publication number: 20230166846Abstract: A variable chiller exhaust system incorporate a plurality of chillers, each driller having an inlet receiving air from a crown in an aircraft fuselage and an outlet connected to a manifold. A plurality of check valves are connected to the manifold and configured to maintain a differential back pressure on the plurality of chillers of 2? water pressure or less. The check valves vent into the crown. An exhaust conduit is connected to direct air from the manifold to a variable speed fan. An outflow valve exhausts air from the variable speed fan to an exterior of the fuselage.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 27, 2023Publication date: June 1, 2023Inventors: Eric A. Hill, Brian C. Christenson, John C. Pizzichemi
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Patent number: 11591093Abstract: A variable chiller exhaust system incorporate a plurality of chillers, each chiller having an inlet receiving air from a crown in an aircraft fuselage and an outlet connected to a manifold. A plurality of check valves are connected to the manifold and configured to maintain a differential back pressure on the plurality of chillers of 2? water pressure or less. The check valves vent into the crown. An exhaust conduit is connected to direct air from the manifold to a variable speed fan. An outflow valve exhausts air from the variable speed fan to an exterior of the fuselage.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 2020Date of Patent: February 28, 2023Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Eric A. Hill, Brian C. Christenson, John C. Pizzichemi
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Publication number: 20220372686Abstract: A laundry appliance includes a cabinet defining a front opening in a front panel. The front opening is defined by a lip having a curved edge. The lip defines a plurality of apertures spaced-apart around the front opening. A tub is disposed within the cabinet. The tub defines an access opening aligned with the front opening. A drum is disposed within the tub. A bellows assembly extends between the cabinet and the tub. The bellows assembly includes a projection coupled to the curved edge of the cabinet. A deflector has a rim and a chute wherein the chute extends toward the drum. The rim is configured to snap-fit over the projection of the bellows assembly. The rim includes a plurality of hooks where each hook is configured to extend through an aperture and interlock with the cabinet.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 1, 2022Publication date: November 24, 2022Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: Darryl C. Bodine, Donald Erickson, Gregg P. Fitzgerald, Eric A. Hill, Patrick A. McCormick, Stephen D. Ostdiek, Anna C. Schelling, Robert J. Schneider, Mohaideen Abdul Khadaar Sikkandar Batcha, Todd J. Tunzi
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Publication number: 20220042233Abstract: A laundry appliance includes a body that houses a motor that selectively operates a drum for processing laundry, wherein the body includes an aperture for selectively accessing the drum. A door panel provides selective access to the aperture. A controller is configured to operate at least the motor. A user interface is in communication with the controller for selecting a laundry-processing operation to be performed. An outer panel at least partially conceals the body from view. An outer selector is positioned proximate the outer panel, wherein the outer selector is in communication with the controller via the user interface.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 27, 2021Publication date: February 10, 2022Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: Kevin B. Ayers, Seth E. Bixby, Donald E. Erickson, Eric A. Hill, Dennis Kehl, Andrew C. Kubasiak, Sayer J. Murphy, Trevor R. Haney
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Patent number: 11193229Abstract: A laundry appliance includes a body that houses a motor that selectively operates a drum for processing laundry, wherein the body includes an aperture for selectively accessing the drum. A door panel provides selective access to the aperture. A controller is configured to operate at least the motor. A user interface is in communication with the controller for selecting a laundry-processing operation to be performed. An outer panel at least partially conceals the body from view. An outer selector is positioned proximate the outer panel, wherein the outer selector is in communication with the controller via the user interface.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2019Date of Patent: December 7, 2021Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Kevin B. Ayers, Seth E. Bixby, Donald E. Erickson, Eric A. Hill, Dennis Kehl, Andrew C. Kubasiak, Sayer J. Murphy, Trevor R. Haney
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Publication number: 20210339872Abstract: A variable chiller exhaust system incorporate a plurality of chillers, each chiller having an inlet receiving air from a crown in an aircraft fuselage and an outlet connected to a manifold. A plurality of check valves are connected to the manifold and configured to maintain a differential back pressure on the plurality of chillers of 2? water pressure or less. The check valves vent into the crown. An exhaust conduit is connected to direct air from the manifold to a variable speed fan. An outflow valve exhausts air from the variable speed fan to an exterior of the fuselage.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 29, 2020Publication date: November 4, 2021Inventors: Eric A. Hill, Brian C. Christenson, John C. Pizzichemi
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Publication number: 20200370222Abstract: A laundry appliance includes a cabinet defining a front opening in a front panel. The front opening is defined by a lip having a curved edge. The lip defines a plurality of apertures spaced-apart around the front opening. A tub is disposed within the cabinet. The tub defines an access opening aligned with the front opening. A drum is disposed within the tub. A bellows assembly extends between the cabinet and the tub. The bellows assembly includes a projection coupled to the curved edge of the cabinet. A deflector has a rim and a chute wherein the chute extends toward the drum. The rim is configured to snap-fit over the projection of the bellows assembly. The rim includes a plurality of hooks where each hook is configured to extend through an aperture and interlock with the cabinet.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 13, 2020Publication date: November 26, 2020Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: Darryl C. Bodine, Donald Erickson, Gregg P. Fitzgerald, Eric A. Hill, Andrew C. Kubasiak, Patrick A. McCormick, Stephen D. Ostdiek, Anna C. Schelling, Robert J. Schneider, Mohaideen Abdul Khadaar Sikkandar Batcha, Todd J. Tunzi
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Publication number: 20200121158Abstract: A laundry appliance includes a body that houses a motor that selectively operates a drum for processing laundry, wherein the body includes an aperture for selectively accessing the drum. A door panel provides selective access to the aperture. A controller is configured to operate at least the motor. A user interface is in communication with the controller for selecting a laundry-processing operation to be performed. An outer panel at least partially conceals the body from view. An outer selector is positioned proximate the outer panel, wherein the outer selector is in communication with the controller via the user interface.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 31, 2019Publication date: April 23, 2020Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: Kevin B. Ayers, Seth E. Bixby, Donald E. Erickson, Eric A. Hill, Dennis Kehl, Andrew C. Kubasiak, Sayer J. Murphy, Trevor R. Haney
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Publication number: 20180160877Abstract: A method of operating a dish treating appliance includes a user interface disposed along the top edge of a door for selectively opening and closing access to a treating chamber. The user interface can be illuminated and operating the user interface can include operating a user input mode when the door is open and a status mode when the door is closed.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 9, 2018Publication date: June 14, 2018Inventors: Joel Fletty, Eric A. Hill
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Publication number: 20180142945Abstract: A refrigerator includes a main body with first and second doors rotatably mounted to the main body. The second door is positioned below the first door with a gap disposed therebetween. A mullion assembly includes a mullion member rotatably mounted to the main body at an independent hinge assembly disposed adjacent to the gap between the first and second doors. The mullion member is operable between open and closed positions and is releasably coupled to a lower edge of the first door and an upper edge of the second door when the first and second doors are in the closed position. The first and second doors cooperate to provide access to a compartment while the mullion assembly provides a hinged sealing surface for the first and second doors at an intermediate height disposed along a length of the compartment.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 22, 2016Publication date: May 24, 2018Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: Darryl C. Bodine, Eric A. Hill, Todd J. Tunzi
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Patent number: 9955844Abstract: A method of operating a dish treating appliance includes a user interface disposed along the top edge of a door for selectively opening and closing access to a treating chamber. The user interface can be illuminated and operating the user interface can include operating a user input mode when the door is open and a status mode when the door is closed.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2016Date of Patent: May 1, 2018Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Joel Fletty, Eric A. Hill