Patents by Inventor Layne E. Heilman

Layne E. Heilman 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).

  • METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR COMMUNICATIVELY COUPLING INTERNAL COMPONENTS WITHIN APPLIANCES, AND APPLIANCES WITH EXTERNAL COMPONENTS AND ACCESSORIES
    Publication number: 20160218884
    Abstract: Example methods and apparatus for communicatively coupling internal components and accessories appliances, and appliances with external components and accessories are disclosed herein. A disclosed example method of operating a domestic appliance having at least one of an internal communications network and/or an external communications network among at least two components includes identifying the components, communicating the capabilities of each identified component, communicating the status of each identified component, providing a command interface for operating the components, facilitating communication between the components, and operating the appliance using the command interface and the facilitated communication.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 29, 2016
    Publication date: July 28, 2016
    Inventors: Matthew P. EBROM, Wallace J. ELSTON, Robert J. FELDBRUEGGE, Mark E. GLOTZBACH, Layne E. HEILMAN, Randell L. JEFFREY, Anthony E. JENKINS, David J. KMET, Timothy M. KNEZIC, Stephen D. KREFMAN, Richard A. McCOY, Christopher S. MOES, James P. O'SHAUGHNESSY, Randy A. VOSS, Andrew D. WHIPPLE
  • Laundry treating appliance with fluffing-state detection
    Patent number: 9353475
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of determining a fluffing state of laundry based on a determined temperature indicative of the surface of the laundry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Farhad Ashrafzadeh, James P. Carow, Layne E. Heilman, Shreecharan Kanchanavally
  • NETWORK FOR COMMUNICATING INFORMATION RELATED TO A CONSUMABLE TO AN APPLIANCE
    Publication number: 20160028556
    Abstract: An appliance network comprising a networked appliance and capable of communicating with a consumable such that information related to the consumable is communicated to the networked appliance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2015
    Publication date: January 28, 2016
    Inventors: MATTHEW P. EBROM, WALLACE J. ELSTON, III, MARK E. GLOTZBACH, LAYNE E. HEILMAN, ANTHONY E. JENKINS, STEPHEN D. KREFMAN, RICHARD A. MCCOY, JAMES P. O'SHAUGHNESSY, RANDY A. VOSS
  • Network for communicating information related to a consumable to an appliance
    Patent number: 9164867
    Abstract: An appliance network comprising a networked appliance and capable of communicating with a consumable such that information related to the consumable is communicated to the networked appliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew P. Ebrom, Wallace J. Elston, III, Mark E. Glotzbach, Layne E. Heilman, Anthony E. Jenkins, Stephen D. Krefman, Richard A. McCoy, James P. O'Shaughnessy, Randy A. Voss
  • LAUNDRY TREATING APPLIANCE WITH FLUFFING-STATE DETECTION
    Publication number: 20140366398
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of determining a fluffing state of laundry based on a determined temperature indicative of the surface of the laundry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2014
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Applicant: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: FARHAD ASHRAFZADEH, JAMES P. CAROW, LAYNE E. HEILMAN, SHREECHARAN KANCHANAVALLY
  • Appliance network for a networked appliance and a cooking sensor accessory
    Patent number: 8849430
    Abstract: An appliance network has a networked appliance configured to perform a food preparation operation on an article and a cooking sensor accessory in communication with the networked appliance and configured to sense a state of at least one of the article, the cooking sensor accessory, and the networked appliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Wallace J. Elston, III, Layne E. Heilman, Anthony E. Jenkins, Richard A. McCoy
  • Laundry treating appliance with fluffing-state detection
    Patent number: 8832966
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of determining a fluffing state of laundry based on a determined temperature indicative of the surface of the laundry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Whirpool Corporation
    Inventors: Farhad Ashrafzadeh, James P. Carow, Layne E. Heilman, Shreecharan Kanchanavally
  • Recipe wand and recipe book for use with a networked appliance
    Patent number: 8816828
    Abstract: A recipe wand reads meal plans and recipes for a recipe book, and with data about the appliance and one or more cycles of operation, sends data about a consumable to the appliance to automatically create and selectively commence a cycle of operation oh the consumable according to the recipe book.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew P. Ebrom, Wallace J. Elston, III, Layne E. Heilman, Anthony E. Jenkins, Richard A. McCoy, James P. O'Shaughnessy, Randy A. Voss
  • Appliance network for a networked appliance and a remote user interface
    Patent number: 8786412
    Abstract: An appliance network has messaging protocol to establish communication between a first networked appliance and a remote user interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew P. Ebrom, Wallace J. Elston, III, Layne E. Heilman, Anthony E. Jenkins, Richard A. McCoy
  • Variable airflow in laundry dryer having variable air inlet
    Patent number: 8732979
    Abstract: A laundry treating appliance and a method for operating the appliance to supply air into a treating chamber through an air inlet and controlling the supplied air by varying the effective area of the air inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Farhad Ashrafzadeh, Michael T. Dalton, Layne E. Heilman
  • System for product demonstration
    Patent number: 8688530
    Abstract: An appliance having a smart device in communication with multiple components of the appliance and a user interface of the appliance, the smart device having an updatable demonstration software that takes over control of the multiple components from the controller when executing the demonstration software to implement a demonstration of the appliance by controlling the actuation of the components and display related multimedia information on the multimedia user interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew P. Ebrom, Mark E. Glotzbach, Layne E. Heilman, Richard A. McCoy, Phillip A. Molloy
  • Smart current attenuator for energy conservation in appliances
    Patent number: 8615332
    Abstract: An appliance network having a first networked appliance, an energy controller, at least one of a smart dimmer and smart adapter, and a communication network coupling the first networked appliance, energy controller, and the at least one of the smart dimmer and smart adapter for communication therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Layne E. Heilman, Gale R. Horst, Richard A. McCoy
  • Method of product demonstration
    Patent number: 8571942
    Abstract: A method of demonstrating an appliance by customizing a multimedia presentation in real time based on the consumer information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew P. Ebrom, Mark E. Glotzbach, Layne E. Heilman, Richard A. McCoy, Phillip A. Molloy
  • Variable airflow in laundry dryer having variable air inlet
    Patent number: 8387274
    Abstract: A laundry treating appliance and a method for operating the appliance to supply air into a treating chamber through an air inlet and controlling the supplied air by varying the effective area of the air inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Farhad Ashrafzadeh, Michael T. Dalton, Layne E. Heilman
  • Method for controlling a cycle of operation in a laundry treating appliance
    Patent number: 8321983
    Abstract: A method for controlling a laundry treating appliance having a treating chamber for treating laundry may provide a wash liquid including an enzyme into the treating chamber to effect an enzymatic reaction having at least one constituent product, monitor the concentration of the at least one constituent product, and alter the control of the laundry treating appliance in response to the concentration reaching a plateau.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Claudio Civanelli, Layne E. Heilman, Sarah Ihne
  • METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A CYCLE OF OPERATION IN A LAUNDRY TREATING APPLIANCE
    Publication number: 20120079664
    Abstract: A method for controlling a laundry treating appliance having a treating chamber for treating laundry may provide a wash liquid including an enzyme into the treating chamber to effect an enzymatic reaction having at least one constituent product, monitor the concentration of the at least one constituent product, and alter the control of the laundry treating appliance in response to the concentration reaching a plateau.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2010
    Publication date: April 5, 2012
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: CLAUDIO CIVANELLI, LAYNE E. HEILMAN, SARAH IHNE
  • VARIABLE AIRFLOW IN LAUNDRY DRYER HAVING VARIABLE AIR INLET
    Publication number: 20120011738
    Abstract: A laundry treating appliance and a method for operating the appliance to supply air into a treating chamber through an air inlet and controlling the supplied air by varying the effective area of the air inlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2010
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: FARHAD ASHRAFZADEH, MICHAEL T. DALTON, LAYNE E. HEILMAN
  • Method and apparatus for remote service of an appliance
    Patent number: 8040234
    Abstract: An appliance network has a service key accessory to facilitate remote diagnosis and service of an appliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew P. Ebrom, Wallace J. Elston, III, Mark E. Glotzbach, Layne E. Heilman, Anthony E. Jenkins, Richard A. McCoy
  • LAUNDRY TREATING APPLIANCE WITH FLUFFING-STATE DETECTION
    Publication number: 20100205824
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of determining a fluffing state of laundry based on a determined temperature indicative of the surface of the laundry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2009
    Publication date: August 19, 2010
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: FARHAD ASHRAFZADEH, JAMES P. CAROW, LAYNE E. HEILMAN, SHREECHARAN KANCHANAVALLY
  • Method and Apparatus for Remote Service of an Appliance
    Publication number: 20080287121
    Abstract: An appliance network has a service key accessory to facilitate remote diagnosis and service of an appliance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Publication date: November 20, 2008
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Matthew P. Ebrom, Wallace J. Elston, III, Mark E. Glotzbach, Layne E. Heilman, Anthony E. Jenkins, Richard A. McCoy