Patents by Inventor Lawrence J. Ertz

Lawrence J. Ertz 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: 11719479
    Abstract: A refrigerator having an ice and water dispenser has a seal to sealingly engage the ice compartment when the refrigerator door is closed. The seal is flexible to accommodate manufacturing tolerance. The seal may be impregnated with a friction reducing agent to increase life of the seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Michael A. Bowen, Bruce A. Kopf, Dean A. Martin, Chad J. Rotter, Scott W. Leimkuehler, Lawrence J. Ertz
  • Publication number: 20210364215
    Abstract: A refrigerator having an ice and water dispenser has a seal to sealingly engage the ice compartment when the refrigerator door is closed. The seal is flexible to accommodate manufacturing tolerance. The seal may be impregnated with a friction reducing agent to increase life of the seal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2021
    Publication date: November 25, 2021
    Inventors: Michael A. BOWEN, Bruce A. KOPF, Dean A. MARTIN, Chad J. ROTTER, Scott W. LEIMKUEHLER, Lawrence J. ERTZ
  • Patent number: 11098941
    Abstract: A refrigerator having an ice and water dispenser has a seal to sealingly engage the ice compartment when the refrigerator door is closed. The seal is flexible to accommodate manufacturing tolerance. The seal may be impregnated with a friction reducing agent to increase life of the seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael A. Bowen, Bruce A. Kopf, Dean A. Martin, Chad J. Rotter, Scott W. Leimkuehler, Lawrence J. Ertz
  • Publication number: 20190032983
    Abstract: A refrigerator having an ice and water dispenser has a seal to sealingly engage the ice compartment when the refrigerator door is closed. The seal is flexible to accommodate manufacturing tolerance. The seal may be impregnated with a friction reducing agent to increase life of the seal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Publication date: January 31, 2019
    Inventors: MICHAEL A. BOWEN, Bruce A. Kopf, Dean A. Martin, Chad J. Rotter, Scott W. Leimkuehler, Lawrence J. Ertz
  • Patent number: 10107539
    Abstract: A refrigerator having an ice and water dispenser has a seal to sealingly engage the ice compartment when the refrigerator door is closed. The seal is flexible to accommodate manufacturing tolerance. The seal may be impregnated with a friction reducing agent to increase life of the seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Michael A. Bowen, Bruce A. Kopf, Dean A. Martin, Chad J. Rotter, Scott W. Leimkuehler, Lawrence J. Ertz
  • Publication number: 20170010035
    Abstract: A refrigerator having an ice and water dispenser has a seal to sealingly engage the ice compartment when the refrigerator door is closed. The seal is flexible to accommodate manufacturing tolerance. The seal may be impregnated with a friction reducing agent to increase life of the seal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2016
    Publication date: January 12, 2017
    Inventors: MICHAEL A. BOWEN, BRUCE A. KOPF, DEAN A. MARTIN, CHAD J. ROTTER, SCOTT W. LEIMKUEHLER, LAWRENCE J. ERTZ
  • Patent number: 9423167
    Abstract: A refrigerator having an ice and water dispenser has a seal to sealingly engage the ice compartment when the refrigerator door is closed. The seal is flexible to accommodate manufacturing tolerance. The seal may be impregnated with a friction reducing agent to increase life of the seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Michael A. Bowen, Bruce A. Kopf, Dean A. Martin, Chad J. Rotter, Scott W. Leimkuehler, Lawrence J. Ertz
  • Publication number: 20140352347
    Abstract: A refrigerator having an ice and water dispenser has a seal to sealingly engage the ice compartment when the refrigerator door is closed. The seal is flexible to accommodate manufacturing tolerance. The seal may be impregnated with a friction reducing agent to increase life of the seal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2014
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Applicant: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: MICHAEL A. BOWEN, BRUCE A. KOPF, DEAN A. MARTIN, CHAD J. ROTTER, SCOTT W. LEIMKUEHLER, LAWRENCE J. ERTZ
  • Patent number: 8844311
    Abstract: A refrigerator having an ice and water dispenser has a seal to sealingly engage the ice compartment when the refrigerator door is closed. The seal is flexible to accommodate manufacturing tolerance. The seal may be impregnated with a friction reducing agent to increase life of the seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Michael A. Bowen, Lawrence J. Ertz, Bruce A. Kopf, Dean A. Martin, Scott W. Leimkuehler, Chad J. Rotter
  • Patent number: 8562089
    Abstract: A retainer including a front wall, a back wall, and opposing side walls defining a ring having a central opening is removably attached to a liner of a refrigerator door at a position spaced above a shelving unit. With this arrangement, a tall food item supported on the shelving unit and having an upper portion which projects through the central opening is prevented from falling when the refrigerator door is opened. A divider may be slidably attached to the retainer or shelving unit for laterally retaining the tall food items on the shelving unit in a snug configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Clint J. Collins, Lawrence J. Ertz, Jonathan J. Tiemeier
  • Patent number: 8474928
    Abstract: The invention relates generally to an articulating drawer for a bottom mount freezer refrigerator. The drawer can be slidably mounted in the freezer compartment on slides that can include pivots to pivotally mount a drawer front on the slides. A support mechanism can mount a food storage basket for movement with the drawer front and movable slides and can move the food storage basket upward when the door is moved to the open position. The support mechanism can include a pair of guide plates connected to the slides having a guide surface arranged to be engaged by a food storage basket guide surface follower and a pair of links each connected to the drawer front at one end and having a first link pivot at a distal end arranged to pivotally connect to a food storage basket pivot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Lawrence J. Ertz, Pawan Mansukhlal Gandhi, Todd E. Kniffen
  • Publication number: 20120248958
    Abstract: The invention relates generally to an articulating drawer for a bottom mount freezer refrigerator. The drawer can be slideably mounted in the freezer compartment on slides that can include pivots to pivotally mount a drawer front on the slides. A support mechanism can mount a food storage basket for movement with the drawer front and movable slides and can move the food storage basket upward when the door is moved to the open position. The support mechanism can include a pair of guide plates connected to the slides having a guide surface arranged to be engaged by a food storage basket guide surface follower and a pair of links each connected to the drawer front at one end and having a first link pivot at a distal end arranged to pivotally connect to a food storage basket pivot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2012
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: LAWRENCE J. ERTZ, PAWAN MANSUKHLAL GANDHI, TODD E. KNIFFEN
  • Patent number: 8231190
    Abstract: The invention relates generally to an articulating drawer for a bottom mount freezer refrigerator. The drawer can be slideably mounted in the freezer compartment on slides that can include pivots to pivotally mount a drawer front on the slides. A support mechanism can mount a food storage basket for movement with the drawer front and movable slides and can move the food storage basket upward when the door is moved to the open position. The support mechanism can include a pair of guide plates connected to the slides having a guide surface arranged to be engaged by a food storage basket guide surface follower and a pair of links each connected to the drawer front at one end and having a first link pivot at a distal end arranged to pivotally connect to a food storage basket pivot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Lawrence J. Ertz, Pawan Mansukhlal Gandhi, Todd E. Kniffen
  • Publication number: 20110271706
    Abstract: A refrigerator having an ice and water dispenser has a seal to sealingly engage the ice compartment when the refrigerator door is closed. The seal is flexible to accommodate manufacturing tolerance. The seal may be impregnated with a friction reducing agent to increase life of the seal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2011
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Applicant: MAYTAG CORPORATION
    Inventors: MICHAEL A. BOWEN, LAWRENCE J. ERTZ, BRUCE A. KOPF, DEAN A. MARTIN, SCOTT W. LEIMKUEHLER, CHAD J. ROTTER
  • Patent number: 8020949
    Abstract: A kitchen appliance includes a door having an outer panel portion and an inner panel portion, with a plurality of mounting members being spaced about the outer panel portion of the door. A glass panel assembly, including a glass panel and a plurality of mounting elements, is detachably mounted to the door through the interengagement of the plurality of mounting elements with the plurality of mounting members. The mounting elements are adhesively secured to the glass panel. Neither the plurality of mounting members nor the plurality of mounting elements are readily visible normally when viewing the kitchen appliance such that the glass panel appears to float relative to the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Norman B. Davis, Lawrence J. Ertz, Jon Freesmeier, Steven M. Haring, Chad Jonathan Rotter, Barry E. Tuller
  • Patent number: 7980089
    Abstract: A refrigerator having an ice and water dispenser has a seal to sealingly engage the ice compartment when the refrigerator door is closed. The seal is flexible to accommodate manufacturing tolerance. The seal may be impregnated with a friction reducing agent to increase life of the seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Michael A. Bowen, Lawrence J. Ertz, Bruce A. Kopf, Dean A. Martin, Scott W. Leimkuehler, Chad J. Rotter
  • Publication number: 20100270895
    Abstract: A kitchen appliance includes a door having an outer panel portion and an inner panel portion, with a plurality of mounting members being spaced about the outer panel portion of the door. A glass panel assembly, including a glass panel and a plurality of mounting elements, is detachably mounted to the door through the interengagement of the plurality of mounting elements with the plurality of mounting members. The mounting elements are adhesively secured to the glass panel. Neither the plurality of mounting members nor the plurality of mounting elements are readily visible normally when viewing the kitchen appliance such that the glass panel appears to float relative to the door.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2010
    Publication date: October 28, 2010
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: NORMAN B. DAVIS, LAWRENCE J. ERTZ, JON FREESMEIER, STEVEN M. HARING, CHAD JONATHAN ROTTER, BARRY E. TULLER
  • Patent number: 7770985
    Abstract: A kitchen appliance includes a door having an outer panel portion and an inner panel portion, with a plurality of mounting members being spaced about the outer panel portion of the door. A glass panel assembly, including a glass panel and a plurality of mounting elements, is detachably mounted to the door through the interengagement of the plurality of mounting elements with the plurality of mounting members. The mounting elements are adhesively secured to the glass panel. Neither the plurality of mounting members nor the plurality of mounting elements are readily visible normally when viewing the kitchen appliance such that the glass panel appears to float relative to the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Maytag Corporation
    Inventors: Norman B. Davis, Lawrence J. Ertz, Jon Freesmeier, Steven M. Haring, Chad Jonathan Rotter, Barry E. Tuller
  • Patent number: 7703297
    Abstract: A refrigerator having an ice and water dispenser. The dispenser includes an ice chute door actuated by an electric motor for reducing energy consumption over traditional solenoid activated doors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Maytag Corporation
    Inventors: Michael A. Bowen, Lawrence J. Ertz, Bruce A. Kopf, Dean A. Martin, Scott W. Leimkuehler, Chad J. Rotter
  • Patent number: D694295
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Michael A. Bowen, Lawrence J. Ertz, Bruce A. Kopf, Dean A. Martin, Scott W. Leimkuehler, Chad J. Rotter