Patents by Inventor Gregory G. Hortin
Gregory G. Hortin 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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Publication number: 20230075734Abstract: A system include a server configured to: receive a request from a computing device to unlock a delivery box; determine whether the request is authenticated; and send an unlock signal to the delivery box in response to the request being authenticated, such that when the unlock signal is sent to the delivery box, the delivery box is remotely unlocked in response thereto. The delivery box may include a container comprising an interior configured to hold an item; an access door configured to close the container; a system configured to be activated to disinfect/sanitize the interior. The controller is connected to a network and a user is configured to control the controller over the network.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 22, 2021Publication date: March 9, 2023Applicant: HOME VALET, INC.Inventors: John M. SIMMS, John M. SIMMS, JR., Michael SEELEY, Patrick J. BOARMAN, Michael E. STAGG, Nicolas DANIELS, Steve YANKOVICH, Gregory G. HORTIN
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Patent number: 10352596Abstract: An icemaker is mounted remotely from a freezer compartment. The icemaker includes an ice mold. A thermoelectric device is provided and includes a warm side and an opposite cold side. A flow pathway is connected in communication between the cold side of the thermoelectric device and the icemaker. In one aspect, a fan is operatively positioned to move air from the fresh food compartment across the warm side of the thermoelectric device and a pump moves fluid from the cold side of the thermoelectric device to the icemaker. Cold air, such as from a refrigerator compartment, may be used to dissipate heat from the warm side of the thermoelectric device for providing cold fluid to and for cooling the ice mold of the icemaker.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 2017Date of Patent: July 16, 2019Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Patrick J. Boarman, Brian K. Culley, Gregory G. Hortin, Mark E. Thomas
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Patent number: 10047996Abstract: An ice maker is provided herein that includes an evaporator plate. A first side of the evaporator plate is adapted to form a first clear ice sheet and a second side of the evaporator plate is adapted to form a second clear ice sheet. A staging area is arranged downstream from the evaporator plate and adapted to receive the first and second clear ice sheets after formation. The first and second clear ice sheets are fused in the staging area to form a unitary ice sheet. A first mold assembly having a first mold form and a second mold assembly having a second mold form are positioned within the staging area on opposite sides of the unitary ice sheet when the unitary ice sheet is received in the staging area. A mold cavity is adapted to shape the unitary clear ice sheet to form one or more clear ice structures.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 2016Date of Patent: August 14, 2018Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Patrick J. Boarman, Brian K. Culley, Gregory G. Hortin
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Publication number: 20180172104Abstract: A fluid valve damper is provided with a core, body and a valve. The body houses a fluid and a portion of the core. The valve is rotationally attached to the core and may include at least one wing shaped to mate with at least one lip of the core. The valve is disposed between the core and the body. The core may rotate: (1) in a first direction to create a passage between the lip of the valve and the wing of the core for fluid to flow therethrough, and (2) in a second direction so that the wing of the core contacts and mates with the lip of the valve so that further rotation of the core in the second direction forces the core and the valve to rotate together while disallowing fluid to flow between the passage.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 28, 2017Publication date: June 21, 2018Applicant: ENVOLVE ENGINEERING, LLCInventors: Garett L. STRANDEMO, Gregory G. Hortin
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Patent number: 9981839Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for conditioning a liquid stream with a liquid dispensing system associated with a refrigerator, preparing an enhanced beverage using one or more of the individually conditioned liquid streams and a liquid enhancement device and minimizing the potential for back contamination of the liquid dispensing system are provided.Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 2008Date of Patent: May 29, 2018Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Tiemen Van Dillen, Lukasz D. Skalski, Luca Gamberoni, Ronald L. Voglewede, Nihat O. Cur, Gregory G. Hortin
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Publication number: 20180010828Abstract: An icemaker is mounted remotely from a freezer compartment. The icemaker includes an ice mold. A thermoelectric device is provided and includes a warm side and an opposite cold side. A flow pathway is connected in communication between the cold side of the thermoelectric device and the icemaker. In one aspect, a fan is operatively positioned to move air from the fresh food compartment across the warm side of the thermoelectric device and a pump moves fluid from the cold side of the thermoelectric device to the icemaker. Cold air, such as from a refrigerator compartment, may be used to dissipate heat from the warm side of the thermoelectric device for providing cold fluid to and for cooling the ice mold of the icemaker.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 20, 2017Publication date: January 11, 2018Inventors: Patrick J. Boarman, Brian K. Culley, Gregory G. Hortin, Mark E. Thomas
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Publication number: 20170314833Abstract: A refrigerator that has a fresh food compartment, a freezer compartment, and a door that provides access to the fresh food compartment is disclosed. An icemaker is mounted remotely from the freezer compartment. The icemaker includes an ice mold with an icemaking cycle having a liquid to ice phase change. A thermoelectric device has a cold side and a warm side. A controller is in operable communication with an input to the thermoelectric device. A sensor is in operable communication with the input to the thermoelectric device and the controller. A feedback response from the input to the thermoelectric device monitors the liquid to ice phase change of the icemaking cycle.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 18, 2017Publication date: November 2, 2017Inventors: Patrick J. BOARMAN, Gregory G. Hortin
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Patent number: 9791186Abstract: An icemaker is mounted remotely from a freezer compartment. The icemaker includes an ice mold. A thermoelectric device is provided and includes a warm side and an opposite cold side. A flow pathway is connected in communication between the cold side of the thermoelectric device and the icemaker. In one aspect, a fan is operatively positioned to move air from the fresh food compartment across the warm side of the thermoelectric device and a pump moves fluid from the cold side of the thermoelectric device to the icemaker. Cold air, such as from a refrigerator compartment, may be used to dissipate heat from the warm side of the thermoelectric device for providing cold fluid to and for cooling the ice mold of the icemaker.Type: GrantFiled: October 5, 2015Date of Patent: October 17, 2017Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Patrick J. Boarman, Brian K. Culley, Gregory G. Hortin, Mark E. Thomas
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Patent number: 9766005Abstract: A refrigerator that has a fresh food compartment, a freezer compartment, and a door that provides access to the fresh food compartment is disclosed. An icemaker is mounted remotely from the freezer compartment. The icemaker includes an ice mold. A thermoelectric device is provided and includes a warm side and an opposite cold side. A fluid pathway is connected in communication between the cold side of the thermoelectric device and the icemaker. A pump moves fluid from the cold side of the thermoelectric device to the icemaker. Cold fluid or air may be taken from the freezer compartment to dissipate heat from the warm side of the thermoelectric device for providing cold fluid to and for cooling the ice mold or cool/warm fluid to other cooling or warming applications in the refrigerator compartment or on the refrigerator compartment door.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 2012Date of Patent: September 19, 2017Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Patrick J. Boarman, Brian K. Culley, Gregory G. Hortin
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Patent number: 9752813Abstract: A refrigerator that has a fresh food compartment, a freezer compartment, and a door that provides access to the fresh food compartment is disclosed. An icemaker is mounted remotely from the freezer compartment. The icemaker includes an ice mold with an icemaking cycle having a liquid to ice phase change. A thermoelectric device has a cold side and a warm side. A controller is in operable communication with an input to the thermoelectric device. A sensor is in operable communication with the input to the thermoelectric device and the controller. A feedback response from the input to the thermoelectric device monitors the liquid to ice phase change of the icemaking cycle.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2017Date of Patent: September 5, 2017Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Patrick J. Boarman, Gregory G. Hortin
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Publication number: 20170131013Abstract: A refrigerator that has a fresh food compartment, a freezer compartment, and a door that provides access to the fresh food compartment is disclosed. An icemaker is mounted remotely from the freezer compartment. The icemaker includes an ice mold with an icemaking cycle having a liquid to ice phase change. A thermoelectric device has a cold side and a warm side. A controller is in operable communication with an input to the thermoelectric device. A sensor is in operable communication with the input to the thermoelectric device and the controller. A feedback response from the input to the thermoelectric device monitors the liquid to ice phase change of the icemaking cycle.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 24, 2017Publication date: May 11, 2017Inventors: Patrick J. BOARMAN, Gregory G. Hortin
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Patent number: 9593870Abstract: An apparatus that has a housing with an icemaker disposed within the housing is disclosed. The icemaker includes an ice mold. A thermoelectric device is provided having a warm side and an opposite cold side. The cold side is thermally coupled to the icemaker. A flow pathway is configured in communication with the warm side of the thermoelectric device. A heat carrier is communicated through the flow pathway. The heat carrier transfers heat from the warm side of the thermoelectric device to support operations of the apparatus. The apparatus may be configured as a refrigerator wherein the refrigerator is configured to transfer the heat carrier from the warm side of the thermoelectric device to a compartment of the refrigerator.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 2012Date of Patent: March 14, 2017Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Patrick J. Boarman, Brian K. Culley, Gregory G. Hortin, Mark E. Thomas
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Patent number: 9587872Abstract: A refrigerator that has a fresh food compartment, a freezer compartment, and a door that provides access to the fresh food compartment is disclosed. An icemaker is mounted remotely from the freezer compartment. The icemaker includes an ice mold with an icemaking cycle having a liquid to ice phase change. A thermoelectric device has a cold side and a warm side. A controller is in operable communication with an input to the thermoelectric device. A sensor is in operable communication with the input to the thermoelectric device and the controller. A feedback response from the input to the thermoelectric device monitors the liquid to ice phase change of the icemaking cycle.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 2012Date of Patent: March 7, 2017Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Patrick J. Boarman, Gregory G. Hortin
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Publication number: 20170030624Abstract: An ice maker is provided herein that includes an evaporator plate. A first side of the evaporator plate is adapted to form a first clear ice sheet and a second side of the evaporator plate is adapted to form a second clear ice sheet. A staging area is arranged downstream from the evaporator plate and adapted to receive the first and second clear ice sheets after formation. The first and second clear ice sheets are fused in the staging area to form a unitary ice sheet. A first mold assembly having a first mold form and a second mold assembly having a second mold form are positioned within the staging area on opposite sides of the unitary ice sheet when the unitary ice sheet is received in the staging area. A mold cavity is adapted to shape the unitary clear ice sheet to form one or more clear ice structures.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 13, 2016Publication date: February 2, 2017Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: Patrick J. Boarman, Brian K. Culley, Gregory G. Hortin
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Patent number: 9556011Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for conditioning a liquid stream with a liquid dispensing system associated with a refrigerator, preparing an enhanced beverage using one or more of the individually conditioned liquid streams and a liquid enhancement device and minimizing the potential for back contamination of the liquid dispensing system are provided.Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 2008Date of Patent: January 31, 2017Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Tiemen Van Dillen, Lukasz D. Skalski, Luca Gamberoni, Ronald L. Voglewede, Nihat O. Cur, Gregory G. Hortin
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Patent number: 9359224Abstract: A filtration system for an appliance includes a water source coupled with the appliance to provide an intake water flow. A filter unit is coupled with water source to receive the intake water flow and dispense a filtered water flow. An isolation valve is coupled between the water source and the filter unit and movable between a first position and a second position. A distribution valve is coupled with an ice maker and a water dispenser of the appliance. The distribution valve receives the filtered water flow when the isolation valve is in the first position, and the distribution valve receives the intake water flow via a bypass line when the isolation valve is in the second position. The isolation valve is configured to move to the second position upon expiration of the service life of the filter unit.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2013Date of Patent: June 7, 2016Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Mark M Senninger, Gregory G Hortin, Verne H Myers, Joseph R Peters, Nihat Cur
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Publication number: 20160025390Abstract: An icemaker is mounted remotely from a freezer compartment. The icemaker includes an ice mold. A thermoelectric device is provided and includes a warm side and an opposite cold side. A flow pathway is connected in communication between the cold side of the thermoelectric device and the icemaker. In one aspect, a fan is operatively positioned to move air from the fresh food compartment across the warm side of the thermoelectric device and a pump moves fluid from the cold side of the thermoelectric device to the icemaker. Cold air, such as from a refrigerator compartment, may be used to dissipate heat from the warm side of the thermoelectric device for providing cold fluid to and for cooling the ice mold of the icemaker.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 5, 2015Publication date: January 28, 2016Inventors: Patrick J. Boarman, Brian K. Culley, Gregory G. Hortin, Mark E. Thomas
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Patent number: 9169112Abstract: An appliance includes a dispenser for dispensing a mixture of a diluent and a consumable. The mixture may be a beverage wherein the diluent is water and the consumable is a flavorant. The dispenser includes a pressure sensor for measuring the pressure of the diluent at the inlet. The rate at which the consumable is added to the diluent is dependent upon the pressure of the diluent at the inlet. The consumable may be provided in a single container, or a user may specify a particular type of consumable from a plurality of containers provided on a rotation carousel.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2010Date of Patent: October 27, 2015Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Kevin M. Chase, Nihat Cur, Gregory G. Hortin, Michael E. Stagg, Tiemen Van Dillen, John R. Wisnoski
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Patent number: 9151524Abstract: An icemaker is mounted remotely from a freezer compartment. The icemaker includes an ice mold. A thermoelectric device is provided and includes a warm side and an opposite cold side. A flow pathway is connected in communication between the cold side of the thermoelectric device and the icemaker. In one aspect, a fan is operatively positioned to move air from the fresh food compartment across the warm side of the thermoelectric device and a pump moves fluid from the cold side of the thermoelectric device to the icemaker. Cold air, such as from a refrigerator compartment, may be used to dissipate heat from the warm side of the thermoelectric device for providing cold fluid to and for cooling the ice mold of the icemaker.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 2012Date of Patent: October 6, 2015Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Patrick J. Boarman, Brian K. Culley, Gregory G. Hortin, Mark E. Thomas
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Patent number: 9115918Abstract: An icemaker is mounted remotely from a freezer compartment. The icemaker includes an ice mold. A thermoelectric device is provided and includes a warm side and an opposite cold side. A flow pathway is connected in communication between the cold side of the thermoelectric device and the icemaker. In one aspect, a fan is operatively positioned to move air from the fresh food compartment across the warm side of the thermoelectric device and a pump moves fluid from the cold side of the thermoelectric device to the icemaker. Cold air, such as from a refrigerator compartment, may be used to dissipate heat from the warm side of the thermoelectric device for providing cold fluid to and for cooling the ice mold of the icemaker.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 2012Date of Patent: August 25, 2015Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Patrick J. Boarman, Brian K. Culley, Gregory G. Hortin, Mark E. Thomas