Patents by Inventor Jeffrey J. Smale

Jeffrey J. Smale 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: 8833100
    Abstract: Refrigeration devices that have a water dispensing system to dispense water to an exterior water dispenser from a water supply line have need of a water vessel for storing water under pressure within the refrigeration device until dispensed. The water vessel has an inlet for receiving water from the water supply line and an outlet for dispensing water to the exterior water dispenser. A plurality of pressure resistant walls are formed between the inlet and the outlet to form an internal volume to reservoir water within the water vessel. The water vessel is constructed to reservoir water within the vessel under hydrostatic pressure from the water supply line until dispensed through the outlet when requested by the exterior water dispenser and/or the icemaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Eric R. Meyerholtz, Manoj K. Shrestha, Jeffrey J. Smale, Larry A. Lutz
  • Patent number: 7578141
    Abstract: A refrigerator having an in-door water dispenser and a water routing system is provided with a cabinet. A door is reversibly hinged to the cabinet at either a first edge or a second edge. A water supply line leads from a water reservoir and has a first connection at a first top front corner of the cabinet and a second connection at a second top front corner. A feeder line leads from the dispenser to a top surface of the door with an end at one of the first door edge and the second door edge. When the door is hinged along the first edge, the end of the feeder line is connected to the first connection and when the door is hinged along the second edge, the end of the feeder line is connected to the second connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Sooraj Puthiyaveetil, Sinuhé Argumedo, Jeffrey Neil Wilson, Frank W. Klitzing, Matthew P. Dieg, Kevin R. Leatherwood, Jeffrey J. Smale, Mark G. Steffenhagen
  • Publication number: 20080156015
    Abstract: Refrigeration devices that have a water dispensing system to dispense water to an exterior water dispenser from a water supply line have need of a water vessel for storing water under pressure within the refrigeration device until dispensed. The water vessel has an inlet for receiving water from the water supply line and an outlet for dispensing water to the exterior water dispenser. A plurality of pressure resistant walls are formed between the inlet and the outlet to form an internal volume to reservoir water within the water vessel. The water vessel is constructed to reservoir water within the vessel under hydrostatic pressure from the water supply line until dispensed through the outlet when requested by the exterior water dispenser and/or the icemaker.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2007
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Inventors: ERIC R. MEYERHOLTZ, MANOJ K. SHRESTHA, JEFFREY J. SMALE, LARRY A. LUTZ