Patents by Inventor Linda A. Zummer

Linda A. Zummer 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: 4987637
    Abstract: A canister vacuum cleaner includes a floor cleaning unit having a rotatable brush driven by a brush motor and a remotely disposed canister having a vacuum or suction motor for providing suction to perform cleaning operations. The floor cleaning unit is mechanically and pneumatically interconnected with the canister through a rigid wand and a wand handle and hose assembly. The wand handle and hose assembly includes a wand handle, disposed between the rigid wand and a flexible hose, with a three-position electrical control switch mounted thereon. The control switch enables the deenergization of both the brush motor and the vacuum motor in a first position, enables the energization of the vacuum motor only in a second position and enables the energization of both the vacuum motor and the brush motor in a third position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 29, 1991
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Linda A. Zummer, Donald E. Janke, James R. Giordano
  • Patent number: 4812810
    Abstract: A fiber optic door ajar sensor for a domestic appliance such as a refrigerator/freezer having refrigerator compartment and freezer compartment doors includes a light transmitter and a light receiver. In one embodiment, a U-shaped loop of fiber optic cable is positioned relative to the transmitter and the receiver so that changes in the amount of light transmitted from the transmitter via the fiber optic cable to the receiver enables the receiver to determine whether one of the doors is open or slightly ajar. Another embodiment of the door ajar sensor includes a fiber optic cable having one end adjacent to one of the doors and a distal or transmitting end adjacent to a light receiver. When the door is opened or left ajar, ambient light is transmitted via the fiber optic cable to the receiver. The receiver responds to a preselected amount of light received via the fiber optic cable by providing a door open indication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 14, 1989
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel S. Query, Linda A. Zummer