Patents by Inventor Eric K. Farrington

Eric K. Farrington 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).

  • Publication number: 20250367780
    Abstract: A belt sander includes a handle and a main housing having a first lateral sidewall, a second lateral sidewall opposite the first lateral sidewall, and a front end perpendicular to the first lateral sidewall. The belt sander further includes a drive unit disposed within the main housing between the first lateral sidewall and the second lateral sidewall, and a belt drive system driven by the drive unit. The belt sander further includes a first light disposed on the first lateral sidewall and a first lens for projecting light onto a first area of the workpiece that runs alongside the first lateral sidewall. The belt sander further includes a second light disposed on the front end and a second lens for projecting light onto a second area of the workpiece that is adjacent the driven wheel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2025
    Publication date: December 4, 2025
    Inventors: James C. Sitter, Jeffrey S. Holly, Joseph G. Bloomfield, David A. Bierdeman, Logan M. Hietpas, Adam N. Carter, Nikos A. Gainacopulos, Eric K. Farrington, Christopher M. Didier, Benjamin J. Ludy
  • Patent number: 12397390
    Abstract: A belt sander for sanding a workpiece and defining a center of gravity within a first plane. The belt sander includes a housing, a handle defining a second plane, and a drive unit disposed within the housing. The drive unit includes a motor disposed adjacent a first sidewall of the housing, a pulley system disposed adjacent a second sidewall of the housing opposite the first sidewall, and a transmission disposed between the motor and the pulley system. The belt sander further includes a belt drive system driven by the drive unit and including a drive wheel, a driven wheel, and a platen. The platen defines a third plane extending perpendicular therefrom. The transmission and pulley system are disposed on one side of the first plane and the motor is disposed on an opposite side of the first plane. The motor is intersected by the second and third planes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2025
    Assignee: MILWAUKEE ELECTRIC TOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: James C. Sitter, Jeffrey S. Holly, Joseph G. Bloomfield, David A. Bierdeman, Logan M. Hietpas, Adam N. Carter, Nikos A. Gainacopulos, Eric K. Farrington, Christopher M. Didier, Benjamin J. Ludy
  • Publication number: 20240342851
    Abstract: The present invention provides, in one aspect, a rotating power tool including a housing, a drive unit within the housing having an electric motor defining a rotational axis, and a drive shaft coupled to the electric motor to receive torque therefrom configured to rotate about the rotational axis, the drive shaft having an eccentric portion. The drive unit further includes an accessory tool configured to orbit about the rotational axis in response to rotation of the eccentric portion of the drive shaft, the accessory tool defining a rotational imbalance. The rotating power tool further includes a dynamic mass balancing system including an actively adjustable counterbalance mass to attenuate vibration caused by the rotational imbalance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2022
    Publication date: October 17, 2024
    Inventors: Eric K. Farrington, Troy C. Thorson
  • Publication number: 20240100732
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a power tool including a motor housing and an electric motor situated within the motor housing. The electric motor is configured to provide rotational energy to rotate an output device of the power tool about an output axis. The power tool also includes a cover configured to cover at least a portion of a surface of the motor housing that faces the output device. The power tool further includes a first lighting device located within the cover and a second lighting device located within the cover. The first lighting device and the second lighting device are located around the output axis and are separated from each other by at least 130 degrees about the output axis. The power tool also includes first power wires configured to provide power to the first lighting device from a power source of the power tool.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2023
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Inventors: Peter Roloff, James C. Sitter, Leonard F. Mikat-Stevens, Eric K. Farrington, Jack Glennon, Daniel J. Tomcheck, Caleb M. Schober, David Hoffman
  • Patent number: 11713530
    Abstract: A laundry treating appliance having a rotatable basket that defines a treating chamber, a tub for mounting the rotatable basket, a drive assembly mounted to the tub for rotating the basket and a drive motor mounted to the tub for driving the drive assembly. The tub has a lower region comprising a central cavity and a second cavity. The drive assembly is nested in the central cavity and the drive motor is nested in the second cavity for reducing the vertical stack of tub and the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Eric K. Farrington, Karl David Mcallister, Brenner M. Sharp
  • Publication number: 20220324079
    Abstract: A belt sander for sanding a workpiece and defining a center of gravity within a first plane. The belt sander includes a housing, a handle defining a second plane, and a drive unit disposed within the housing. The drive unit includes a motor disposed adjacent a first sidewall of the housing, a pulley system disposed adjacent a second sidewall of the housing opposite the first sidewall, and a transmission disposed between the motor and the pulley system. The belt sander further includes a belt drive system driven by the drive unit and including a drive wheel, a driven wheel, and a platen. The platen defines a third plane extending perpendicular therefrom. The transmission and pulley system are disposed on one side of the first plane and the motor is disposed on an opposite side of the first plane. The motor is intersected by the second and third planes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2022
    Publication date: October 13, 2022
    Inventors: James C. Sitter, Jeffrey S. Holly, Joseph G. Bloomfield, David A. Bierdeman, Logan M. Hietpas, Adam N. Carter, Nikos A. Gainacopulos, Eric K. Farrington, Christopher M. Didier, Benjamin J. Ludy
  • Patent number: 11053624
    Abstract: A laundry treating appliance having a tub defining an interior, a basket located within the interior and rotatably mounted within the tub and having an upper and lower basket base portion, a balance ring mounted to the upper edge of the basket peripheral wall, a clothes mover rotatably mounted within the basket, a drive system comprising a motor operably coupled to the basket and the clothes mover and configured to selectively oscillate or rotate the basket or the clothes mover and a first and second drive shaft, and a drive attachment mechanism configured to couple the basket to the second drive shaft, with the drive attachment mechanism comprising a bushing assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Eric K. Farrington, Steven Fricke, Nicholas C. Fugal, Christine L. Strain, Philip R. Thompson, Robert C. Williams
  • Publication number: 20210198831
    Abstract: A laundry treating appliance having a rotatable basket that defines a treating chamber, a tub for mounting the rotatable basket, a drive assembly mounted to the tub for rotating the basket and a drive motor mounted to the tub for driving the drive assembly. The tub has a lower region comprising a central cavity and a second cavity. The drive assembly is nested in the central cavity and the drive motor is nested in the second cavity for reducing the vertical stack of tub and the motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2021
    Publication date: July 1, 2021
    Inventors: ERIC K. FARRINGTON, KARL DAVID MCALLISTER, BRENNER M. SHARP
  • Patent number: 10988885
    Abstract: A laundry treating appliance having a rotatable basket that defines a treating chamber, a tub for mounting the rotatable basket, a drive assembly mounted to the tub for rotating the basket and a drive motor mounted to the tub for driving the drive assembly. The tub has a lower region comprising a central cavity and a second cavity. The drive assembly is nested in the central cavity and the drive motor is nested in the second cavity for reducing the vertical stack of tub and the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Eric K. Farrington, Karl David McAllister, Brenner M. Sharp
  • Publication number: 20200208323
    Abstract: A laundry treating appliance having a rotatable basket that defines a treating chamber, a tub for mounting the rotatable basket, a drive assembly mounted to the tub for rotating the basket and a drive motor mounted to the tub for driving the drive assembly. The tub has a lower region comprising a central cavity and a second cavity. The drive assembly is nested in the central cavity and the drive motor is nested in the second cavity for reducing the vertical stack of tub and the motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2018
    Publication date: July 2, 2020
    Inventors: ERIC K. FARRINGTON, KARL DAVID MCALLISTER, BRENNER M. SHARP
  • Publication number: 20190194853
    Abstract: A laundry treating appliance having a tub defining an interior, a basket located within the interior and rotatably mounted within the tub and having an upper and lower basket base portion, a balance ring mounted to the upper edge of the basket peripheral wall, a clothes mover rotatably mounted within the basket, a drive system comprising a motor operably coupled to the basket and the clothes mover and configured to selectively oscillate or rotate the basket or the clothes mover and a first and second drive shaft, and a drive attachment mechanism configured to couple the basket to the second drive shaft, with the drive attachment mechanism comprising a bushing assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2019
    Publication date: June 27, 2019
    Inventors: ERIC K. FARRINGTON, STEVEN FRICKE, NICHOLAS C. FUGAL, CHRISTINE L. STRAIN, PHILIP R. THOMPSON, ROBERT C. WILLIAMS
  • Patent number: 10240272
    Abstract: A laundry treating appliance having a tub defining an interior, a basket located within the interior and rotatably mounted within the tub and having an upper and lower basket base portion, a balance ring mounted to the upper edge of the basket peripheral wall, a clothes mover rotatably mounted within the basket, a drive system comprising a motor operably coupled to the basket and the clothes mover and configured to selectively oscillate or rotate the basket or the clothes mover and a first and second drive shaft, and a drive attachment mechanism configured to couple the basket to the second drive shaft, with the drive attachment mechanism comprising a bushing assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Eric K. Farrington, Steven Fricke, Nicholas C. Fugal, Christine L. Strain, Philip R. Thompson, Robert C. Williams
  • Publication number: 20170327989
    Abstract: A laundry treating appliance having a tub defining an interior, a basket located within the interior and rotatably mounted within the tub and having an upper and lower basket base portion, a balance ring mounted to the upper edge of the basket peripheral wall, a clothes mover rotatably mounted within the basket, a drive system comprising a motor operably coupled to the basket and the clothes mover and configured to selectively oscillate or rotate the basket or the clothes mover and a first and second drive shaft, and a drive attachment mechanism configured to couple the basket to the second drive shaft, with the drive attachment mechanism comprising a bushing assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2016
    Publication date: November 16, 2017
    Inventors: ERIC K. FARRINGTON, STEVEN FRICKE, NICHOLAS C. FUGAL, CHRISTINE L. STRAIN, PHILIP R. THOMPSON, ROBERT C. WILLIAMS
  • Patent number: 6658902
    Abstract: A dynamic balancer for an automatic washer includes an annular hollow first chamber. A first fluid is held within the first chamber and only partly fills the first chamber. An annular hollow second chamber is disposed adjacent to the first chamber and includes a plurality of objects disposed therein which are movable along the chamber. A second fluid is also held in the second chamber and, in combination with the solid bodies, only partly fills the second chamber. The first fluid in the first chamber produces a first balancing characteristic of the dynamic balancer. The movable objects within the second chamber produce a second balancing characteristic of the dynamic balancer. The second fluid held in the second chamber also produces a third balancing characteristic of the dynamic balancer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel W. Southworth, Eric K. Farrington, Gregory M. Garstecki
  • Publication number: 20030110814
    Abstract: A dynamic balancer for an automatic washer includes an annular hollow first chamber. A first fluid is held within the first chamber and only partly fills the first chamber. An annular hollow second chamber is disposed adjacent to the first chamber and includes a plurality of objects disposed therein which are movable along the chamber. A second fluid is also held in the second chamber and, in combination with the solid bodies, only partly fills the second chamber. The first fluid in the first chamber produces a first balancing characteristic of the dynamic balancer. The movable objects within the second chamber produce a second balancing characteristic of the dynamic balancer. The second fluid held in the second chamber also produces a third balancing characteristic of the dynamic balancer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2003
    Publication date: June 19, 2003
    Inventors: Daniel W. Southworth, Eric K. Farrington, Gregory M. Garstecki
  • Patent number: 6550292
    Abstract: A dynamic balancer for an automatic washer includes an annular hollow first chamber. A first fluid is held within the first chamber and only partly fills the first chamber. An annular hollow second chamber is disposed adjacent to the first chamber and includes a plurality of objects disposed therein which are movable along the chamber. A second fluid is also held in the second chamber and, in combination with the solid bodies, only partly fills the second chamber. The first fluid in the first chamber produces a first balancing characteristic of the dynamic balancer. The movable objects within the second chamber produce a second balancing characteristic of the, dynamic balancer. The second fluid held in the second chamber also produces a third balancing characteristic of the dynamic balancer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel W. Southworth, Eric K. Farrington, Gregory M. Garstecki
  • Patent number: 6430971
    Abstract: A wash basket alignment system for an automatic washing machine having a wash basket with a drive block partially inserted through a central aperture in the bottom wall of the wash plate. A spin drive tube extends longitudinally through the central aperture in the drive block and through the wash plate bottom wall. A hold down nut is threadingly engaged to the drive block from the inside chamber of the wash basket to position the wash basket within the wash tub. Concentric alignment of the wash basket along a central longitudinal axis decreases basket runout. Therefore, the drive block has a spherical outside surface where it abuts the conical shaped outer surface of the wash basket. The radius of the spherical outside surface intersects the central axis at a point. This configuration facilitates the sliding or moving of this juncture from a first position out of concentricity to a second position that is concentric about the longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2002
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Ali Kaylan, James R. Ollis, Eric K. Farrington
  • Patent number: 5678430
    Abstract: An automatic washer having an enclosure surrounding an imperforate tub including an access opening and a perforate wash basket rotatably disposed within the tub about a horizontal axis wherein the tub access opening is provided with a flexible tub door for selectively closing the tub access opening. The flexible tub door is slidably supported by the tub for selectively closing the access opening wherein the tub door is positionable in a closed position and an open position. A spring is interconnected with the tub door for biasing the tub door toward an open position. A door catch is provided for engaging the tub door in a fully closed position against the biasing force of the spring and means are provided for selectively actuating the door catch such that the tub door may be selectively engaged in the closed position or released for movement to a fully open position. During the tub door closing operation, the rotatable wash basket is coupled to the tub door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 21, 1997
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Jean-Paul D. Merlin, Brenner Martin Sharp, Eric K. Farrington, Vonda K. Johnston
  • Patent number: 5546772
    Abstract: An automatic washer having an enclosure surrounding an imperforate tub including an access opening and a perforate wash basket rotatably disposed within the tub about a horizontal axis wherein the tub access opening is provided with a flexible tub door for selectively closing the tub access opening. The flexible tub door is slidably supported by the tub for selectively closing the access opening wherein the tub door is positionable in a closed position and an open position. A spring is interconnected with the tub door for biasing the tub door toward an open position. A door catch is provided for engaging the tub door in a fully closed position against the biasing force of the spring and means are provided for selectively actuating the door catch such that the tub door may be selectively engaged in the closed position or released for movement to a fully open position. During the tub door closing operation, the rotatable wash basket is coupled to the tub door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 20, 1996
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Jean-Paul D. Merlin, Brenner M. Sharp, Eric K. Farrington, Vonda K. Johnston
  • Patent number: 5373715
    Abstract: An automatic washing machine having a imperforate stationery tub and further having a rotatable plastic wash basket, for receiving a clothes load, disposed within the stationary tub. The rotatable plastic wash basket further includes a cylindrical outer wall having an upper end open for receiving the clothes load. A base integral with the cylindrical outer wall is provided for forming a bottom of the rotatable basket. An annular core member is disposed within the base of the plastic wash basket such that the base encapsules and interlocks with the annular core member. In addition, a hub member is disposed centrally in the annular core member and is drivingly connectable with a drive shaft for drivingly rotating said rotatable wash basket. The annular core member has a substantially triangular radial cross-section such that the base is optimally configured to form a solid triangular radial cross-section for providing strength and rigidity to the wash basket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 20, 1994
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Brenner M. Sharp, Eric K. Farrington, Jefrey A. Lynn