Patents by Inventor Joel M. Sells
Joel M. Sells 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: 20240125037Abstract: A fabric treating appliance includes a cabinet defining an interior and having a top wall defining an access opening. A cover is provided that is movable relative to the cabinet between an open position and a closed position to selectively close the access opening. A tub is located within the interior and includes and open top aligned with the access opening. A rotatable basket is located within the tub and has a loading opening aligned with the open top and the access opening. A top wall extends between the cabinet and the tub. A scrubbing tool seat recessed in the top wall.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 22, 2023Publication date: April 18, 2024Inventors: SCOTT E. CARPENTER, BRADLEY D. MORROW, JOEL M. SELLS, BRYCE WHITWORTH
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Patent number: 11946188Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 14, 2023Date of Patent: April 2, 2024Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Benjamin E. Alexander, Joel M. Sells, Eric J. Schuh
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Publication number: 20240059474Abstract: A food-storage container includes a container body defining a storage area and a rim. A removable lid is connectable to the rim to seal the storage area. The lid defines a vent hole. A latch assembly of the container has a latch and a vent flap. The latch is pivotally attached to the lid and is configured to engage with the container body to secure the lid to the rim when in a latched position. The vent flap is pivotal relative to the latch between an open position in which the flap is spaced from the vent hole and a sealing position in which the flap seals the vent hole.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 17, 2022Publication date: February 22, 2024Inventors: Brent BURGESS, Scott E. CARPENTER, Christopher HARTNETT, Zachary Saylor, Joel M. Sells
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Publication number: 20230342109Abstract: A laundry appliance includes a cabinet. A door is coupled to the cabinet. The door is operable between an opened position and a closed position. An audio interface is disposed on the door. The audio interface includes a microphone for receiving a voice command and a speaker for projecting an audio output. A visual interface is disposed on the door. The visual interface is configured to display a message in response to at least one of the voice command and the audio output. A microcontroller is disposed on the door. The microcontroller is operably coupled to the audio interface and the visual interface. A proximity sensor is configured to communicate sensed information to the microcontroller. The microcontroller is configured to activate at least one of the audio interface and the visual interface in response to the sensed information.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 30, 2023Publication date: October 26, 2023Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: Marcus R. Fischer, Alexander Halbleib, James Mann, Joel M. Sells
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Patent number: 11782677Abstract: A laundry appliance includes a cabinet. A door is coupled to the cabinet. The door is operable between an opened position and a closed position. An audio interface is disposed on the door. The audio interface includes a microphone for receiving a voice command and a speaker for projecting an audio output. A visual interface is disposed on the door. The visual interface is configured to display a message in response to at least one of the voice command and the audio output. A microcontroller is disposed on the door. The microcontroller is operably coupled to the audio interface and the visual interface. A proximity sensor is configured to communicate sensed information to the microcontroller. The microcontroller is configured to activate at least one of the audio interface and the visual interface in response to the sensed information.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2021Date of Patent: October 10, 2023Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Marcus R. Fischer, Alexander Halbleib, James Mann, Joel M. Sells
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Patent number: 11767632Abstract: A laundry treating appliance includes a chassis defining an interior. A rotatable treating chamber is located within the interior and has an access opening. A cover is movably mounted to the chassis for selective movement between opened and closed positions to open and close the access opening. The laundry treating appliance further comprises a spray arm assembly having a spray head.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2022Date of Patent: September 26, 2023Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Scott E. Carpenter, Paul M. Dunn, Marcus R. Fischer, Gregory R. Fulmer, Joel M. Sells, Thomas D. Spicer
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Publication number: 20230220604Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 14, 2023Publication date: July 13, 2023Inventors: BENJAMIN E. ALEXANDER, JOEL M. SELLS, ERIC J. SCHUH
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Patent number: 11624140Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 30, 2021Date of Patent: April 11, 2023Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Benjamin E. Alexander, Joel M. Sells, Eric J. Schuh
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Patent number: 11624137Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to a laundry treating appliance including a chassis defining an interior and a treating chamber located within the interior. A dispenser of the laundry treating appliance can include at least one treating chemistry reservoir fluidly coupled to the treating chamber. The laundry treating appliance can further include a treating tool.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2021Date of Patent: April 11, 2023Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Marcus A. Cannon, Scott E. Carpenter, Joel M. Sells
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Publication number: 20220290356Abstract: A laundry treating appliance includes a chassis defining an interior. A rotatable treating chamber is located within the interior and has an access opening. A cover is movably mounted to the chassis for selective movement between opened and closed positions to open and close the access opening. The laundry treating appliance further comprises a spray arm assembly having a spray head.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 31, 2022Publication date: September 15, 2022Inventors: Scott E. CARPENTER, Paul M. DUNN, Marcus R. FISCHER, Gregory R. FULMER, Joel M. SELLS, Thomas D. SPICER
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Publication number: 20220282417Abstract: An automatic laundry treating appliance having at least one sensor configured to detect the height of laundry in a treating chamber of the automatic laundry treating appliance is disclosed. Based upon the output of the sensors, a human-perceptible signal is generated to indicate whether the laundry load is below, within or above an optimal range for the laundry load. Further, the automatic laundry treating appliance may communicate to the user after completion of a drying function information related to whether the amount of laundry treated during the drying function exceeded an upper limit for an optimal amount of laundry based upon data acquired during the drying function.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 4, 2021Publication date: September 8, 2022Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: Kurt L. Masciovecchio, Joel M. Sells, Joel Dennison, Luke Paul, Ryan Johnson, Bonnie VanVolkinburg
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Patent number: 11371180Abstract: A laundry treating appliance includes a chassis defining an interior. A rotatable treating chamber is located within the interior and has an access opening. A cover is movably mounted to the chassis for selective movement between opened and closed positions to open and close the access opening. The laundry treating appliance further comprises a spray arm assembly having a spray head.Type: GrantFiled: November 25, 2019Date of Patent: June 28, 2022Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Scott E. Carpenter, Paul M. Dunn, Marcus R. Fischer, Gregory R. Fulmer, Joel M. Sells, Thomas D. Spicer
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Patent number: 11357385Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 23, 2019Date of Patent: June 14, 2022Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Benjamin E. Alexander, Joel M. Sells, Eric J. Schuh
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Publication number: 20220043629Abstract: A laundry appliance includes a cabinet. A door is coupled to the cabinet. The door is operable between an opened position and a closed position. An audio interface is disposed on the door. The audio interface includes a microphone for receiving a voice command and a speaker for projecting an audio output. A visual interface is disposed on the door. The visual interface is configured to display a message in response to at least one of the voice command and the audio output. A microcontroller is disposed on the door. The microcontroller is operably coupled to the audio interface and the visual interface. A proximity sensor is configured to communicate sensed information to the microcontroller. The microcontroller is configured to activate at least one of the audio interface and the visual interface in response to the sensed information.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 26, 2021Publication date: February 10, 2022Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: Marcus R. Fischer, Alexander Halbleib, James Mann, Joel M. Sells
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Patent number: 11182123Abstract: A laundry appliance includes a cabinet. A door is coupled to the cabinet. The door is operable between an opened position and a closed position. An audio interface is disposed on the door. The audio interface includes a microphone for receiving a voice command and a speaker for projecting an audio output. A visual interface is disposed on the door. The visual interface is configured to display a message in response to at least one of the voice command and the audio output. A microcontroller is disposed on the door. The microcontroller is operably coupled to the audio interface and the visual interface. A proximity sensor is configured to communicate sensed information to the microcontroller. The microcontroller is configured to activate at least one of the audio interface and the visual interface in response to the sensed information.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2020Date of Patent: November 23, 2021Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Marcus R. Fischer, Alexander Halbleib, James Mann, Joel M. Sells
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Publication number: 20210269956Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to a laundry treating appliance including a chassis defining an interior and a treating chamber located within the interior. A dispenser of the laundry treating appliance can include at least one treating chemistry reservoir fluidly coupled to the treating chamber. The laundry treating appliance can further include a treating tool.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 19, 2021Publication date: September 2, 2021Inventors: MARCUS A. CANNON, SCOTT E. CARPENTER, JOEL M. SELLS
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Publication number: 20210214877Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 30, 2021Publication date: July 15, 2021Inventors: BENJAMIN E. ALEXANDER, JOEL M. SELLS, ERIC J. SCHUH
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Patent number: 11060224Abstract: A laundry treating appliance includes a chassis defining an interior. A rotatable treating chamber is located within the interior. The laundry treating appliance further includes a dispenser having at least one treating chemistry reservoir fluidly coupled to the treating chamber and at least one tool docking station fluidly coupled to the treating chamber. A treating tool has an internal treating chemistry reservoir and is configured to dock with the tool docking station to fluidly couple the internal treating chemistry reservoir with the treating chamber.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2019Date of Patent: July 13, 2021Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Marcus A. Cannon, Scott E. Carpenter, Joel M. Sells
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Patent number: 10988888Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 9, 2019Date of Patent: April 27, 2021Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Benjamin E. Alexander, Joel M. Sells, Eric J. Schuh
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Publication number: 20200348905Abstract: A laundry appliance includes a cabinet. A door is coupled to the cabinet. The door is operable between an opened position and a closed position. An audio interface is disposed on the door. The audio interface includes a microphone for receiving a voice command and a speaker for projecting an audio output. A visual interface is disposed on the door. The visual interface is configured to display a message in response to at least one of the voice command and the audio output. A microcontroller is disposed on the door. The microcontroller is operably coupled to the audio interface and the visual interface. A proximity sensor is configured to communicate sensed information to the microcontroller. The microcontroller is configured to activate at least one of the audio interface and the visual interface in response to the sensed information.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 9, 2020Publication date: November 5, 2020Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: Marcus R. Fischer, Alexander Halbleib, James Mann, Joel M. Sells