Patents by Inventor Kenyon A. Hapke

Kenyon A. Hapke 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).

  • Vending machine lock system
    Patent number: 7758088
    Abstract: A motorized lock for a vending machine provides a simple lever mechanism that provides two separate points of engagement between the door and the machine to resist tampering and provide for more even pull in of a gasketed door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenyon A. Hapke
  • Automatic door for dishwasher
    Patent number: 7731806
    Abstract: Automatic sealing of a dishwasher door is obtained through an electric actuator that moves the door from a close position adjacent to the opening of the washing chamber to a seal position in which the washing chamber is sealed typically against a gasket or the like. The actuator eliminates the need for the user to provide the force necessary to seal the gasket and/or can be used for improved venting of the washing chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenyon A. Hapke
  • Appliance lock using a motor driven linear actuator with helical spring drive
    Patent number: 7705253
    Abstract: An electrical linear actuator employs a reversible motor driving a helical wire spring. The coils of the spring engage a follower that moves along the axis of the spring with rotation of the motor to provide linear motion. This actuator may be used as a linear drive in an appliance lock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey J. Krieger, Joel C. Bragg, James D. Spors, Michael K. Hintz, Michael S. Osvatic, Kenyon A. Hapke
  • GASKET-COMPENSATING LATCH MECHANISM
    Publication number: 20100052338
    Abstract: A latch for an appliance or the like provides a floating bolt assembly spring biasing a door against a sealing gasket in different positions depending on gasket compliance. A lock provides a stop that may adjustably bridge a distance between the latch frame and the floating bolt assembly as the gasket ages thereby providing positive locking of the door over the life of the appliance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2008
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Applicant: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Michael S. Osvatic, Kenyon A. Hapke
  • Magnetic appliance latch
    Patent number: 7654590
    Abstract: An electrically operable door latch employs a permanent magnet for retaining an appliance door closed against the force of a resilient seal. An electromagnet bucks the magnetic attraction of the permanent magnet allowing the latch to be electronically releasable. A simple mechanism and inherent force limits are obtained by a direct magnetic attraction between a strike plate and the latch, one on the door and one on the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenyon A. Hapke
  • VENDING MACHINE LOCK SYSTEM
    Publication number: 20090151410
    Abstract: A motorized lock for a vending machine provides a simple lever mechanism that provides two separate points of engagement between the door and the machine to resist tampering and provide for more even pull in of a gasketed door.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2009
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Inventor: Kenyon A. Hapke
  • Washing machine lid lock with magnetic lid sensor
    Patent number: 7493783
    Abstract: A magnetic lid closure sensor uses a magnet sensor element mounted within the washing machine housing below the closed lid. Flux directors conduct flux from a magnet in the lid to the magnet sensor. A lock mechanism employs a hook engaging an aperture in the lid so that opening of the lid does not impart a torque to the hook such as would disengage it, allowing the hook to be activated and deactivated with a simple bi-directional solenoid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenyon A. Hapke, Michael Osvatic
  • HUMIDITY REDUCING EXHAUST DUCT FOR DISHWASHER
    Publication number: 20080264455
    Abstract: A vent system for a dishwasher provides a mixing chamber receiving high humidity air from a downdraft dishwasher vent system or the like and mixes this air with dry air before discharging it from the dishwasher to reduce the humidity of the discharged air moderating condensation problems
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2007
    Publication date: October 30, 2008
    Inventors: Mark Edward Brewer, Walter G. Stelzer, Kenyon A. Hapke
  • APPLIANCE LATCH WITH POWER FAILURE UNLOCK
    Publication number: 20080256999
    Abstract: A lock for a washing machine or the like provides fast actuation through a solenoid driven bolt that remains stably in the locked position after power is no longer applied to the solenoid. The possibility of power failure preventing subsequent access to the washing machine is avoided through the use of a slower actuation time, thermal actuator storing sufficient energy to unlock the bolt after a time delay when power is lost.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2008
    Publication date: October 23, 2008
    Inventors: Kenyon A. Hapke, Michael S. Osvatic
  • APPLIANCE LOCK USING A MOTOR DRIVEN LINEAR ACTUATOR WITH HELICAL SPRING DRIVE
    Publication number: 20080099314
    Abstract: An electrical linear actuator employs a reversible motor driving a helical wire spring. The coils of the spring engage a follower that moves along the axis of the spring with rotation of the motor to provide linear motion. This actuator may be used as a linear drive in an appliance lock.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2006
    Publication date: May 1, 2008
    Inventors: Jeffrey J. Krieger, Joel C. Bragg, James D. Spors, Michael K. Hintz, Michael S. Osvatic, Kenyon A. Hapke
  • Vending machine lock system
    Publication number: 20080061564
    Abstract: A motorized lock for a vending machine provides a simple lever mechanism that provides two separate points of engagement between the door and the machine to resist tampering and provide for more even pull in of a gasketed door.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2006
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Inventor: Kenyon A. Hapke
  • Appliance latch having a rotating latch hook mounted on a linear slide
    Patent number: 7306266
    Abstract: An appliance door latch provides a rotating hook supported on a linear carriage that may move along a line toward and away from a strike. A release of the strike from the rotating hook requires a compression of springs biasing the linear carriage which are then retained in a compressed state by a catch surface on the rotating hook. Re-engagement of the strike with the rotating hook releases the catch surface, causing the springs to pull the rotating hook and strike inward to aid in compressing a door gasket or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenyon A. Hapke, Jarod Michael Sulik
  • Washing machine lid lock with magnetic lid sensor
    Patent number: 7251961
    Abstract: A magnetic lid closure sensor uses a magnet sensor element mounted within the washing machine housing below the closed lid. Flux directors conduct flux from a magnet in the lid to the magnet sensor. A lock mechanism employs a hook engaging an aperture in the lid so that opening of the lid does not impart a torque to the hook such as would disengage it, allowing the hook to be activated and deactivated with a simple bi-directional solenoid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: Ark-Les Corporation
    Inventors: Kenyon A. Hapke, Michael Osvatic
  • LOW POWER CONSUMPTION LOCK FOR APPLIANCE LATCH
    Publication number: 20070144880
    Abstract: A transportation-robust bi-stable latch mechanism preserves low actuation forces by means of an auxiliary mechanism blocking the effects of shock forces during transportation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2007
    Publication date: June 28, 2007
    Inventors: Joel Bragg, Kenyon Hapke, Michael Hintz, Randy McDonald, Michael Osvatic, Jarod Sulik
  • Washing machine lid lock with magnetic lid sensor
    Publication number: 20060288742
    Abstract: A magnetic lid closure sensor uses a magnet sensor element mounted within the washing machine housing below the closed lid. Flux directors conduct flux from a magnet in the lid to the magnet sensor. A lock mechanism employs a hook engaging an aperture in the lid so that opening of the lid does not impart a torque to the hook such as would disengage it, allowing the hook to be activated and deactivated with a simple bi-directional solenoid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2006
    Publication date: December 28, 2006
    Inventors: Kenyon Hapke, Michael Osvatic
  • Dishwasher with counter-convection air flow
    Publication number: 20060231122
    Abstract: A dishwasher provides forced air flow in a counter-convectional direction so as to exhaust air out of a bottom portion of the washing volume in contrast to normal convective air flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2005
    Publication date: October 19, 2006
    Inventors: Walter Stelzer, Mark Brewer, Kenyon Hapke
  • Agitator for removing wrinkles from clothing
    Patent number: 7103996
    Abstract: An agitator mechanism for a clothes finishing cabinet provides a pendulum mounted hanger bar that may reciprocate under the application of a periodic force by an actuator without rigid connection between the cabinet housing and the hanger bar. Quiet operation is obtained by mounting an actuator motor directly on the hanger bar to be isolated by sound absorbing hanger support materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: Ark-Les Corporation
    Inventor: Kenyon A. Hapke
  • Magnetic appliance latch
    Publication number: 20060145485
    Abstract: An electrically operable door latch employs a permanent magnet for retaining an appliance door closed against the force of a resilient seal. An electromagnet bucks the magnetic attraction of the permanent magnet allowing the latch to be electronically releasable. A simple mechanism and inherent force limits are obtained by a direct magnetic attraction between a strike plate and the latch, one on the door and one on the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2006
    Publication date: July 6, 2006
    Inventor: Kenyon Hapke
  • Appliance latch having a rotating latch hook mounted on a linear slide
    Publication number: 20050194795
    Abstract: An appliance door latch provides a rotating hook supported on a linear carriage that may move along a line toward and away from a strike. A release of the strike from the rotating hook requires a compression of springs biasing the linear carriage which are then retained in a compressed state by a catch surface on the rotating hook. Re-engagement of the strike with the rotating hook releases the catch surface, causing the springs to pull the rotating hook and strike inward to aid in compressing a door gasket or the like.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2005
    Publication date: September 8, 2005
    Inventors: Kenyon Hapke, Jarod Sulik
  • Fast engage, slow release electrical actuator
    Patent number: 6940373
    Abstract: A fast engage, slow release electrical actuator combines an electromagnetic actuator with a thermal actuator, the latter which retains the electromagnetic actuator after the former has been actuated to delay the release thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Assignee: Ark-Les Corporation
    Inventors: Michael K. Hintz, Michael S. Osvatic, Kenyon A. Hapke