Patents by Inventor Kimberly J. Hood

Kimberly J. Hood 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: 7516629
    Abstract: A laundry appliance can be selectively operated in either manual or automatic modes of operation. In the automatic mode, a laundering operation is initiated upon receiving a single cycle input parameter from the user, preferably through a LCD touch screen display, while relying on additional operating cycle parameters established by factory preset settings or prior consumer established preferences. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, a consumer need merely select a single cycle parameter, such as a type of stain adapted to be removed, and the appliance will start based on temperature and other setting parameters taken from memory. However, even with the automatic start feature activated, the user will still be able to adjust pre-established cycle parameters by changing default values after the cycle has started.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Jan D. Behrens, Nedra A. Herr, Kimberly J. Hood, Kristi R. Lafrenz, Brian L. Ness, Brett C. Oleson, Stephen D. Schober, Lashelle D. Woods
  • Patent number: 6934592
    Abstract: A household appliance is provided with a visual display, as well as a control system which enables the visual display to be used in an advertising mode of operation. The advertising mode can be selectively operated in either automatic or interactive formats. In the automatic format, a series of screens are successively displayed on the screen in order to advertise various features and advantages of the appliance. In the interactive format, the consumer can enter desired selections through the screen as if the appliance was actually in use. The appliance then simulates an operation cycle based on the selections made. The selections are preferably stored in a volatile memory location such that the control system reverts back to default settings and options, either after a preset idle period or upon establishing an OFF condition for the appliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignee: Maytag Corporation
    Inventors: Kimberly J. Hood, Brian L. Ness, Brett A. Noser, Douglas A. Ochsner, Brett C. Oleson, Stephen D. Schober, Lashelle D. Woods
  • Patent number: 6671916
    Abstract: A laundry appliance can be selectively operated in either manual or automatic modes of operation. In the automatic mode, a laundering operation is initiated upon receiving a single cycle input parameter from the user, preferably through a LCD touch screen display, while relying on additional operating cycle parameters established by factory preset settings or prior consumer established preferences. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, a consumer need merely select a single cycle parameter and the appliance will start based on temperature and other setting parameters taken from memory. However, even with the automatic start feature activated, the user will still be able to adjust pre-established cycle parameters by changing default values after the cycle has started.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Maytag Corporation
    Inventors: Nedra A. Herr, Kimberly J. Hood, Michael D. Lafrenz, Brian L. Ness, Brett C. Oleson
  • Publication number: 20030154560
    Abstract: A laundry appliance can be selectively operated in either manual or automatic modes of operation. In the automatic mode, a laundering operation is initiated upon receiving a single cycle input parameter from the user, preferably through a LCD touch screen display, while relying on additional operating cycle parameters established by factory preset settings or prior consumer established preferences. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, a consumer need merely select a single cycle parameter, such as a type of stain adapted to be removed, and the appliance will start based on temperature and other setting parameters taken from memory. However, even with the automatic start feature activated, the user will still be able to adjust pre-established cycle parameters by changing default values after the cycle has started.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2003
    Publication date: August 21, 2003
    Inventors: Jan D. Behrens, Nedra A. Herr, Kimberly J. Hood, Kristi R. Lafrenz, Brian L. Ness, Brett C. Oleson, Stephen D. Schober, Lashelle D. Woods
  • Patent number: 6553594
    Abstract: A washing machine includes a control system which regulates a heater based on selected cycle operations and selected cycle operations based on heater related parameters. User cycle selections, along with sensed operating parameters including the level and temperature of a washing medium, are used to control the activation state of the heater to control the washing medium to within a preset range of a target temperature. Preferably, the heater is de-activated after a predetermined period of activation has been reached, whenever a door of the washing machine is opened, and during certain selected operating cycle portions, including a bleach fill and latter time cycle portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Maytag Corporation
    Inventors: John F. Broker, Kimberly J. Hood, Brett C. Oleson, Evan R. Vande Haar, Stephen J. McCauley
  • Publication number: 20030051296
    Abstract: A washing machine includes a control system which regulates a heater based on selected cycle operations and selected cycle operations based on heater related parameters. User cycle selections, along with sensed operating parameters including the level and temperature of a washing medium, are used to control the activation state of the heater to control the washing medium to within a preset range of a target temperature. Preferably, the heater is de-activated after a predetermined period of activation has been reached, whenever a door of the washing machine is opened, and during certain selected operating cycle portions, including a bleach fill and latter time cycle portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2001
    Publication date: March 20, 2003
    Applicant: Maytag Corporation
    Inventors: John F. Broker, Kimberly J. Hood, Brett C. Oleson, Evan R. Vande Haar, Stephen J. McCauley
  • Publication number: 20030024057
    Abstract: A laundry appliance can be selectively operated in either manual or automatic modes of operation. In the automatic mode, a laundering operation is initiated upon receiving a single cycle input parameter from the user, preferably through a LCD touch screen display, while relying on additional operating cycle parameters established by factory preset settings or prior consumer established preferences. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, a consumer need merely select a single cycle parameter and the appliance will start based on temperature and other setting parameters taken from memory. However, even with the automatic start feature activated, the user will still be able to adjust pre-established cycle parameters by changing default values after the cycle has started.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2001
    Publication date: February 6, 2003
    Inventors: Nedra A. Herr, Kimberly J. Hood, Michael D. Lafrenz, Brian L. Ness, Brett C. Oleson
  • Publication number: 20030028259
    Abstract: A household appliance is provided with a visual display, as well as a control system which enables the visual display to be used in an advertising mode of operation. The advertising mode can be selectively operated in either automatic or interactive formats. In the automatic format, a series of screens are successively displayed on the screen in order to advertise various features and advantages of the appliance. In the interactive format, the consumer can enter desired selections through the screen as if the appliance was actually in use. The appliance then simulates an operation cycle based on the selections made. The selections are preferably stored in a volatile memory location such that the control system reverts back to default settings and options, either after a preset idle period or upon establishing an OFF condition for the appliance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2001
    Publication date: February 6, 2003
    Inventors: Kimberly J. Hood, Brian L. Ness, Brett A. Noser, Douglas A. Ochsner, Brett C. Oleson, Stephen D. Schober, Lashelle D. Woods