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).

  • Publication number: 20200348905
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2020
    Publication date: November 5, 2020
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Marcus R. Fischer, Alexander Halbleib, James Mann, Joel M. Sells
  • Publication number: 20200181828
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2019
    Publication date: June 11, 2020
    Inventors: SCOTT E. CARPENTER, PAUL M. DUNN, MARCUS R. FISCHER, GREGORY R. FULMER, JOEL M. SELLS, THOMAS D. SPICER
  • Publication number: 20200123690
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2019
    Publication date: April 23, 2020
    Inventors: MARCUS A. CANNON, SCOTT E. CARPENTER, JOEL M. SELLS
  • 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
  • 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: 8704138
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for cooking with steam in a cooking appliance by forming the steam from atomized particles of water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Joel M. Sells, Matthew G. Voglewede, Marco Poma, Shawn F. Olsson
  • Patent number: 8697166
    Abstract: A method of operating a household oven to bake a casserole with the introduction of steam and controlling the steam to maintain a predetermined level of humidity to control the level of browning of the casserole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Karen M. Embury, Joel M. Sells, Jason R. Savage
  • Patent number: 8207477
    Abstract: A method of operating a household oven to cook vegetables using steam during a cooking cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Karen M. Embury, Joel M. Sells, Jason R. Savage
  • Patent number: 8037879
    Abstract: A heat distributing tray for use in a barbecue grill includes a corrugated unitary body of heat conducting material having alternating solid and grated walls which define channels. More specifically, the body includes first and second side portions defined by both solid walls which extend at gradually decreasing angles with respect to a common horizontal plane and varying length grated walls interconnecting the solid walls. In use, the tray is placed over one or more heating elements in a barbecue housing, with radiant and convective heat from the heating element being optimally distributed throughout the entire interior portion of the barbecue grill due to the relative structure and configuration of the solid walls in relation to the grated walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Ryan S. Murrin, Joel M. Sells
  • Publication number: 20110068093
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for cooking with steam in a cooking appliance by forming the steam from atomized particles of water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2010
    Publication date: March 24, 2011
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: JOEL M. SELLS, MATTHEW G. VOGLEWEDE, MARCO POMA, SHAWN F. OLSSON
  • Patent number: 7867534
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for cooking with steam in a cooking appliance by forming the steam from atomized particles of water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Joel M. Sells, Matthew G. Voglewede, Marco Poma, Shawn F. Olsson
  • Publication number: 20100178395
    Abstract: A method of operating a household oven to bake a casserole with the introduction of steam and controlling the steam to maintain a predetermined level of humidity to control the level of browning of the casserole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2010
    Publication date: July 15, 2010
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Karen M. EMBURY, Joel M. SELLS, Jason R. SAVAGE
  • Publication number: 20100101558
    Abstract: A heat distributing tray for use in a barbecue grill includes a corrugated unitary body of heat conducting material having alternating solid and grated walls which define channels. More specifically, the body includes first and second side portions defined by both solid walls which extend at gradually decreasing angles with respect to a common horizontal plane and varying length grated walls interconnecting the solid walls. In use, the tray is placed over one or more heating elements in a barbecue housing, with radiant and convective heat from the heating element being optimally distributed throughout the entire interior portion of the barbecue grill due to the relative structure and configuration of the solid walls in relation to the grated walls.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2008
    Publication date: April 29, 2010
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: RYAN S. MURRIN, JOEL M. SELLS
  • Publication number: 20090136640
    Abstract: A method of operating a household oven to bake a casserole with the introduction of steam and controlling the steam to maintain a predetermined level of humidity to control the level of browning of the casserole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2007
    Publication date: May 28, 2009
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Karen M. Embury, Joel M. Sells, Jason R. Savage