Patents by Inventor ERIC J. SCHUH

ERIC J. SCHUH 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: 11946188
    Abstract: A retrofit auxiliary device that supports operations of at least one cleaning appliance. The retrofit auxiliary device including at least one fluid channel and a device controller. The device controller being communicatively coupled to the at least one cleaning appliance to monitor or control the operation of the at least one cleaning appliance, and a user display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Benjamin E. Alexander, Joel M. Sells, Eric J. Schuh
  • Publication number: 20230220604
    Abstract: A retrofit auxiliary device that supports operations of at least one cleaning appliance. The retrofit auxiliary device including at least one fluid channel and a device controller. The device controller being communicatively coupled to the at least one cleaning appliance to monitor or control the operation of the at least one cleaning appliance, and a user display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2023
    Publication date: July 13, 2023
    Inventors: BENJAMIN E. ALEXANDER, JOEL M. SELLS, ERIC J. SCHUH
  • Patent number: 11624140
    Abstract: A retrofit auxiliary device for supporting washing operations in various makes and models of multiple household appliances is described wherein the retrofit auxiliary device can monitor appliance health, regulate appliance function, and send the user useful data. Each of the multiple household appliances has a water line and a power line operably coupled to an appliance controller with at least one pre-programmed cycle of operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Benjamin E. Alexander, Joel M. Sells, Eric J. Schuh
  • Patent number: 11357385
    Abstract: A retrofit auxiliary device for distributing cleaning resources to a household cleaning appliance having a treating chamber is described wherein the device can connect to various household cleaning appliances of different makes and models and can learn the flow of water and detergent during various stages of operation and then perform the dispensing itself.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Benjamin E. Alexander, Joel M. Sells, Eric J. Schuh
  • Publication number: 20210214877
    Abstract: A retrofit auxiliary device for supporting washing operations in various makes and models of multiple household appliances is described wherein the retrofit auxiliary device can monitor appliance health, regulate appliance function, and send the user useful data. Each of the multiple household appliances has a water line and a power line operably coupled to an appliance controller with at least one pre-programmed cycle of operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2021
    Publication date: July 15, 2021
    Inventors: BENJAMIN E. ALEXANDER, JOEL M. SELLS, ERIC J. SCHUH
  • Patent number: 10988888
    Abstract: A retrofit auxiliary device for supporting washing operations in various makes and models of multiple household appliances is described wherein the retrofit auxiliary device can monitor appliance health, regulate appliance function, and send the user useful data. Each of the multiple household appliances has a water line and a power line operably coupled to an appliance controller with at least one pre-programmed cycle of operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Benjamin E. Alexander, Joel M. Sells, Eric J. Schuh
  • Publication number: 20200008647
    Abstract: A retrofit auxiliary device for distributing cleaning resources to a household cleaning appliance having a treating chamber is described wherein the device can connect to various household cleaning appliances of different makes and models and can learn the flow of water and detergent during various stages of operation and then perform the dispensing itself.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2019
    Publication date: January 9, 2020
    Inventors: BENJAMIN E. ALEXANDER, JOEL M. SELLS, ERIC J. SCHUH
  • Publication number: 20200002875
    Abstract: A retrofit auxiliary device for supporting washing operations in various makes and models of multiple household appliances is described wherein the retrofit auxiliary device can monitor appliance health, regulate appliance function, and send the user useful data. Each of the multiple household appliances has a water line and a power line operably coupled to an appliance controller with at least one pre-programmed cycle of operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2019
    Publication date: January 2, 2020
    Inventors: BENJAMIN E. ALEXANDER, JOEL M. SELLS, ERIC J. SCHUH
  • Patent number: 10456008
    Abstract: A retrofit auxiliary device for distributing cleaning resources to a household cleaning appliance having a treating chamber is described wherein the device can connect to various household cleaning appliances of different makes and models and can learn the flow of water and detergent during various stages of operation and then perform the dispensing itself.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Benjamin E. Alexander, Joel M. Sells, Eric J. Schuh
  • Patent number: 10422071
    Abstract: A retrofit auxiliary laundry device for supporting laundry operations in various makes and models of household appliances is described wherein the device can monitor appliance health, regulate appliance function, and send the user useful data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Benjamin E. Alexander, Joel M. Sells, Eric J. Schuh
  • Publication number: 20190218704
    Abstract: A retrofit auxiliary laundry device for supporting laundry operations in various makes and models of household appliances is described wherein the device can monitor appliance health, regulate appliance function, and send the user useful data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2019
    Publication date: July 18, 2019
    Inventors: BENJAMIN E. ALEXANDER, JOEL M. SELLS, ERIC J. SCHUH
  • Patent number: 10273625
    Abstract: A retrofit auxiliary laundry device for supporting laundry operations in various makes and models of laundry treating appliances is described wherein the device can monitor appliance health, regulate appliance function, and send the user useful data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Benjamin E. Alexander, Joel M. Sells, Eric J. Schuh
  • Patent number: 10147571
    Abstract: A knob assembly includes a repositionable knob having an outer surface and an inner surface defining an interior, light-transmissive indicia provided on the knob and viewable from the outer surface, at least one light source located relative to the repositionable knob and emitting light into the interior of the knob to backlight the light-transmissive indicia, a position sensor providing a position output indicative of the position of the repositionable knob, and a controller configured to receive the position output and control the at least one light source to maintain a predetermined backlighting of the indicia.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew P. Ebrom, Neomar Giacomini, Eric J. Schuh, Miguel F. Thimann
  • Publication number: 20180146835
    Abstract: A retrofit auxiliary device for distributing cleaning resources to a household cleaning appliance having a treating chamber is described wherein the device can connect to various household cleaning appliances of different makes and models and can learn the flow of water and detergent during various stages of operation and then perform the dispensing itself.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2016
    Publication date: May 31, 2018
    Inventors: BENJAMIN E. ALEXANDER, JOEL M. SELLS, ERIC J. SCHUH
  • Publication number: 20180148881
    Abstract: A retrofit auxiliary laundry device for supporting laundry operations in various makes and models of laundry treating appliances is described wherein the device can monitor appliance health, regulate appliance function, and send the user useful data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2016
    Publication date: May 31, 2018
    Inventors: BENJAMIN E. ALEXANDER, JOEL M. SELLS, ERIC J. SCHUH
  • Patent number: 9982866
    Abstract: A console assembly for an appliance has a console shell having a front surface with integrated light reflector cups, and a printed circuit board (PCB) mounted to the console shell and having light emitting diodes (LEDs) emitting light into at least some of the integrated light reflector cups.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew P. Ebrom, Eric J. Schuh, Sithaarth T. Subramaniyam, Sugosh Venkataraman, Udayakumar Arumugam, Guilherme Martinhon
  • Patent number: 9985629
    Abstract: A method for locking out a portion of a touch screen interface in response to an inadvertent touch comprises steps to detect multiple touches on the portion of the touch screen interface; determine that the multiple touches are incompatible; initiate a lockout time period in response to the determination and reinitiate the lockout time period in response to a subsequent touch during the lockout time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventor: Eric J. Schuh
  • Patent number: 9940857
    Abstract: A console assembly for an appliance has a light transmissive indicia assembly having at least one indicator and one operator control, a printed circuit assembly (PCA) mounted to the indicia assembly with touch circuit and light emitting diodes (LEDs) mounted to both sides of the PCA, and a light reflector disposed adjacent to the PCA and the LEDs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy E. Heater, Eric J. Schuh, Sithaarth T. Subramaniyam
  • Patent number: 9933131
    Abstract: In one aspect, a device has a controller and a fascia assembly, with a fascia, and a printed circuit board (PCB) mounted to the fascia. The PCB has a plurality of holes, and a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs), wherein one LED is mounted adjacent to each hole. The device also includes a wiring harness coupling the controller to the PCB wherein the LEDs may be energized according to signals received from the controller; and a console adjacent the PCB. The console has a plurality of light reflecting cups arranged therein so that each light reflecting cup covers an LED and the adjacent hole to reflect light from the LEDs through the holes so that the light is visible through the fascia assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew P. Ebrom, Eric J. Schuh, Sithaarth T. Subramaniyam, Sugosh Venkataraman, Shivayogi Annigeri, Michael E. Gatt, Ajay Ram Narayana Pillai, Mihir Ponkshe
  • Patent number: 9720249
    Abstract: Light collimators and methods for human machine interfaces are disclosed. An example human machine interface includes a top surface having a decorative element to be illuminated, a light source, and a plurality of parallel light collimators that collimate visible light emitted by the light source and direct the collimated light toward the bottom side of the decorative element. An example method of illuminating a decorative element of a human machine interface includes emitting light, passing the light through a plurality of collimators defined in the human machine interface, and directing the collimated light toward the decorative element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Neomar Giacomini, Mark E. Glotzbach, Brian N. Radford, Eric J. Schuh