Patents by Inventor Kenneth L. McConnell

Kenneth L. McConnell 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: 11932979
    Abstract: A laundry treating appliance for treating laundry items according to an automatic cycle of operation can include a cabinet defining an interior and having an access opening providing access to the interior. A tub can be located within the interior and can at least partially define a liquid chamber. A drum is rotatably mounted within the liquid chamber and at least partially defines a treating chamber. A clothes mover is located within the treating chamber and rotatable about a vertical axis. The clothes mover can include a base and a barrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jonathan A. Andrejczuk, Adam Gary, Philip J. Czarnecki, Benjamin D. Lowell, Sayer J. Murphy, James Jeffery, Eric W. Merrow, Emmanuel F. Gonzaga, Thomas R. Scott, Donald E. Erickson, Bradley D. Morrow, Jason S. Burnette, Kevin Peralta, Corinne M. Gorenchan, Kenneth L. McConnell
  • Patent number: 11680359
    Abstract: A drawer-style laundry treating appliance includes a cabinet defining an interior and having an open face. A drawer body is slidably received within the cabinet for movement through the open face between a closed position wherein the drawer body is received within the interior and an opened position wherein the drawer body is at least partially withdrawn from the interior. A tub is located within the interior, carried by the drawer body, and has a tub opening accessible when the drawer body is in the opened position, the tub further at least partially defining a treating chamber accessible through the tub opening. A tub cover selectively closes the tub opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth L. McConnell, Kevin Gene Schneider
  • Publication number: 20210180239
    Abstract: A drawer-style laundry treating appliance includes a cabinet defining an interior and having an open face. A drawer body is slidably received within the cabinet for movement through the open face between a closed position wherein the drawer body is received within the interior and an opened position wherein the drawer body is at least partially withdrawn from the interior. A tub is located within the interior, carried by the drawer body, and has a tub opening accessible when the drawer body is in the opened position, the tub further at least partially defining a treating chamber accessible through the tub opening. A tub cover selectively closes the tub opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2020
    Publication date: June 17, 2021
    Inventors: KENNETH L. MCCONNELL, KEVIN GENE SCHNEIDER
  • Publication number: 20210062382
    Abstract: A laundry treating appliance for treating laundry items according to an automatic cycle of operation can include a cabinet defining an interior and having an access opening providing access to the interior. A tub can be located within the interior and can at least partially define a liquid chamber. A drum is rotatably mounted within the liquid chamber and at least partially defines a treating chamber. A clothes mover is located within the treating chamber and rotatable about a vertical axis. The clothes mover can include a base and a barrel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2020
    Publication date: March 4, 2021
    Inventors: Jonathan A. ANDREJCZUK, Adam GARY, Philip J. CZARNECKI, Benjamin D. LOWELL, Sayer J. MURPHY, James JEFFERY, Eric W. MERROW, Emmanuel F. GONZAGA, Thomas R. SCOTT, Donald E. ERICKSON, Bradley D. MORROW, Jason S. BURNETTE, Kevin PERALTA, Corinne M. GORENCHAN, Kenneth L. McCONNELL
  • Patent number: 10791669
    Abstract: Accessory attachments systems for use with turf vehicles are described and illustrated. Such systems permit outdoor maintenance tools to be secured and transported by the vehicle, e.g., in locations conveniently accessible by an operator of the vehicle without leaving the operator platform (e.g., seat), and removed from the vehicle when desired. In some embodiments, the system includes one or more connectors each having: a mounting portion adapted to be removably secured to a panel attached to the vehicle; and a tool holding portion adapted to receive and hold an outdoor maintenance tool. The mounting portion of each connector may attach to any one of a plurality of receivers formed on panels secured to various locations on the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: THE TORO COMPANY
    Inventors: Philip C. Dretzka, Jeffrey W. Stern, Steven R. Porter, C. Mark Atterbury, Kenneth L. McConnell, Curtis E. Wersal
  • Publication number: 20190008090
    Abstract: Accessory attachments systems for use with turf vehicles are described and illustrated. Such systems permit outdoor maintenance tools to be secured and transported by the vehicle, e.g., in locations conveniently accessible by an operator of the vehicle without leaving the operator platform (e.g., seat), and removed from the vehicle when desired. In some embodiments, the system includes one or more connectors each having: a mounting portion adapted to be removably secured to a panel attached to the vehicle; and a tool holding portion adapted to receive and hold an outdoor maintenance tool. The mounting portion of each connector may attach to any one of a plurality of receivers formed on panels secured to various locations on the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2018
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Inventors: Philip C. Dretzka, Jeffrey W. Stern, Steven R. Porter, C. Mark Atterbury, Kenneth L. McConnell, Curtis E. Wersal
  • Patent number: 9828714
    Abstract: A laundry treating appliance having a cabinet, a static wash tub fixed in position relative to the cabinet, a wash basket mounted within the wash tub for rotation about a vertical axis and having at least one drain hole, a drive motor within the cabinet for rotating the wash basket, a catch basin fixed to the wash tub and spaced from the drive motor, a recirculation pump, and a closure between the drive motor and the catch basin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Donald E. Erickson, John M. Hunnell, Lauren M. Lalonde, Kenneth L. McConnell, Bradley D. Morrow, David Scharich, III, Brenner M. Sharp, Christine L. Strain, Dean L. Tietz
  • Publication number: 20150176166
    Abstract: A method of controlling a laundry treating appliance having a rotatable wash basket defining a treating chamber for receiving laundry items for treatment according to an automatic cycle of operation, the method comprising supplying liquid to the wash basket, draining liquid from the wash basket by gravity, and filling the wash basket to a predetermined fill level based on an amount of laundry, a type of laundry, a selected cycle of operation, or combinations thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2015
    Publication date: June 25, 2015
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: BENJAMIN E. ALEXANDER, BRENT M. BURGESS, MICHAEL K. CLUSKEY, DONALD E. ERICKSON, CHRISTOPHER A. JONES, AARON A. LINDEN, KENNETH L. MCCONNELL, BRADLEY D. MORROW, DALE E. MUELLER, MICHELE A. PAUSTIAN, BRENNER M. SHARP, CHRISTINE L. STRAIN, DEAN L. TIETZ, LAUREN M. LALONDE
  • Publication number: 20150052953
    Abstract: A laundry treating appliance having a cabinet, a static wash tub fixed in position relative to the cabinet, a wash basket mounted within the wash tub for rotation about a vertical axis and having at least one drain hole, a drive motor within the cabinet for rotating the wash basket, a catch basin fixed to the wash tub and spaced from the drive motor, a recirculation pump, and a closure between the drive motor and the catch basin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2013
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Applicant: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: DONALD E. ERICKSON, JOHN M. HUNNELL, LAUREN M. LALONDE, KENNETH L. MCCONNELL, BRADLEY D. MORROW, DAVID SCHARICH, III, BRENNER M. SHARP, CHRISTINE L. STRAIN, DEAN L. TIETZ
  • Patent number: 5606882
    Abstract: A lock assembly having a key plug with an axis, a first housing defining a receptacle for the key plug and guiding movement of the key plug in the receptacle around the key plug axis, a latch assembly including a first movable latch element, structure cooperating between the first housing and the latch assembly for supporting the latch assembly in an operative position on the first housing wherein the first latch element is movable between first and second positions relative to the first housing, a retaining element, structure for mounting the retaining element to the key plug for movement relative to the key plug between first and second positions, with the key plug being movable into the key plug receptacle to an operative position and removable from the key plug receptacle with the retaining element in its first position, and structure cooperating between the retaining element and latch assembly for preventing withdrawal of the key plug from the first housing receptacle with the key plug in its operative p
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 4, 1997
    Assignee: Tri/Mark Corporation
    Inventors: Marvin L. Larsen, Kenneth L. McConnell
  • Patent number: 5410899
    Abstract: A lock unit with an escutcheon assembly to be mounted on a movable closure and a retainer clip to maintain the escutcheon assembly in an operative position on the movable closure. The escutcheon assembly defines a first shoulder. The clip has a biasing portion defining a second shoulder for bearing on the first escutcheon assembly shoulder and a third shoulder for bearing on a surface of a movable closure on which the escutcheon assembly is mounted with the escutcheon assembly in its operative position and the retainer clip and escutcheon assembly in assembled relationship. The biasing portion of the retainer clip is in compression between the second and third shoulders to positively maintain the escutcheon assembly in its operative position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 2, 1995
    Assignee: Tri/Mark Corporation
    Inventor: Kenneth L. McConnell
  • Patent number: 4993695
    Abstract: A flexible strut device for supporting a pair of lifter wheels for a sugar beet harvester includes a mounting bracket secured to the tool bar of the sugar beet harvester. A fixed fulcrum plate is secured to the mounting bracket and is secured to a movable fulcrum plate by connector assemblies. A flexible strut having a pair of lifter wheels journaled thereon is secured to the movable fulcrum plate. The connector assemblies include horizontally disposed compression sleeves which yieldably urge the fixed and movable plate to a normal operating position and permit the movable fulcrum plate, the flexible strut and lifter wheels to be deflected upwardly or downwardly against the bias of the compression sleeves in response to the lifter wheels striking an object, such as a stone or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 19, 1991
    Inventors: Howard W. Taylor, Warren L. Stinar, Kenneth L. McConnell
  • Patent number: D369084
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 23, 1996
    Assignee: Tri/Mark Corp.
    Inventors: Kenneth L. McConnell, Mark B. Brown, Bruce A. Bennett
  • Patent number: D371500
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1996
    Assignee: Tri/Mark Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth L. McConnell, Mark B. Brown
  • Patent number: D784899
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: Exmark Manufacturing Company, Incorporated
    Inventors: Kenneth L. McConnell, Joseph J. Oliver
  • Patent number: D792477
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: Exmark Manufacturing Company, Incorporated
    Inventors: Kenneth L. McConnell, Sandra J. Johnson, Joseph J. Oliver
  • Patent number: D832162
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: Exmark Manufacturing Company, Incorporated
    Inventors: Kenneth L. McConnell, Joseph J. Oliver