Patents by Inventor Lorraine J. Westlake

Lorraine J. Westlake 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).

  • Publication number: 20240361067
    Abstract: An appliance includes an outer wrapper and an inner liner placed within the outer wrapper and spaced apart from the outer wrapper to define an insulating space. A trim breaker extends between the inner liner and the outer wrapper to define a structural cabinet. The trim breaker defines a front face of the cabinet. The trim breaker defines a gas conduit disposed within a wall of the structural cabinet proximate the insulating space. The gas conduit is adapted to define selective communication between the insulating space and an exterior of the structural cabinet. An insulating material is disposed within the insulating space, wherein the gas conduit is substantially free of the insulating material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2024
    Publication date: October 31, 2024
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Alberto R. Gomes, Lynne F. Hunter, Abhay Naik, Lorraine J. Westlake
  • Publication number: 20240337432
    Abstract: An insulating structure for an appliance includes a trim breaker, a wrapper, and a liner. The wrapper and liner coupled to the trim breaker and at least partially defining a structural cabinet. A barrier is positioned between the liner and the wrapper. The barrier is also coupled to the trim breaker. An inner compressible gasket is proximate the liner, and an outer gasket is proximate the wrapper. The inner gasket and the outer compressible gasket are coupled to the barrier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2024
    Publication date: October 10, 2024
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Devidas B. Raskar, Lorraine J. Westlake
  • Patent number: 12055341
    Abstract: An appliance includes an outer wrapper and an inner liner placed within the outer wrapper and spaced apart from the outer wrapper to define an insulating space. A trim breaker extends between the inner liner and the outer wrapper to define a structural cabinet. The trim breaker defines a front face of the cabinet. The trim breaker defines a gas conduit disposed within a wall of the structural cabinet proximate the insulating space. The gas conduit is adapted to define selective communication between the insulating space and an exterior of the structural cabinet. An insulating material is disposed within the insulating space, wherein the gas conduit is substantially free of the insulating material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2024
    Assignee: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Alberto R. Gomes, Lynne F. Hunter, Abhay Naik, Lorraine J. Westlake
  • Patent number: 12031771
    Abstract: An insulating structure for an appliance includes a trim breaker, a wrapper, and a liner. The wrapper and liner coupled to the trim breaker and at least partially defining a structural cabinet. A barrier is positioned between the liner and the wrapper. The barrier is also coupled to the trim breaker. An inner compressible gasket is proximate the liner, and an outer gasket is proximate the wrapper. The inner gasket and the outer compressible gasket are coupled to the barrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Devidas B. Raskar, Lorraine J. Westlake
  • Publication number: 20240200862
    Abstract: A vacuum insulated refrigerator structure includes an outer wrapper having a first opening and a first edge extending around the first opening. A liner has a second opening and second edge extending around the second opening. The liner is disposed inside the wrapper with the first and second edges being spaced apart to form a gap therebetween. An insulating thermal bridge extends across the gap, and an airtight vacuum cavity is formed between the wrapper and the liner. The thermal bridge includes elongated first and second channels having sealant disposed therein, and the first and second edges are disposed in the first and second channels, respectively. Porous core material may be disposed in the vacuum cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2024
    Publication date: June 20, 2024
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Abhay Naik, Lorraine J. Westlake, Lakshya J. Deka
  • Patent number: 11946689
    Abstract: A vacuum insulated refrigerator structure includes an outer wrapper having a first opening and a first edge extending around the first opening. A liner has a second opening and second edge extending around the second opening. The liner is disposed inside the wrapper with the first and second edges being spaced apart to form a gap therebetween. An insulating thermal bridge extends across the gap, and an airtight vacuum cavity is formed between the wrapper and the liner. The thermal bridge includes elongated first and second channels having sealant disposed therein, and the first and second edges are disposed in the first and second channels, respectively. Porous core material may be disposed in the vacuum cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Abhay Naik, Lorraine J. Westlake, Lakshya J. Deka
  • Publication number: 20230266053
    Abstract: An insulating structure for an appliance includes a trim breaker, a wrapper, and a liner. The wrapper and liner coupled to the trim breaker and at least partially defining a structural cabinet. A barrier is positioned between the liner and the wrapper. The barrier is also coupled to the trim breaker. An inner compressible gasket is proximate the liner, and an outer gasket is proximate the wrapper. The inner gasket and the outer compressible gasket are coupled to the barrier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2023
    Publication date: August 24, 2023
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Devidas B. Raskar, Lorraine J. Westlake
  • Publication number: 20230228477
    Abstract: An appliance includes an outer wrapper and an inner liner placed within the outer wrapper and spaced apart from the outer wrapper to define an insulating space. A trim breaker extends between the inner liner and the outer wrapper to define a structural cabinet. The trim breaker defines a front face of the cabinet. The trim breaker defines a gas conduit disposed within a wall of the structural cabinet proximate the insulating space. The gas conduit is adapted to define selective communication between the insulating space and an exterior of the structural cabinet. An insulating material is disposed within the insulating space, wherein the gas conduit is substantially free of the insulating material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2023
    Publication date: July 20, 2023
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Alberto R. Gomes, Lynne F. Hunter, Abhay Naik, Lorraine J. Westlake
  • Patent number: 11686525
    Abstract: An insulating structure for an appliance includes a trim breaker, a wrapper, and a liner. The wrapper and liner coupled to the trim breaker and at least partially defining a structural cabinet. A barrier is positioned between the liner and the wrapper. The barrier is also coupled to the trim breaker. An inner compressible gasket is proximate the liner, and an outer gasket is proximate the wrapper. The inner gasket and the outer compressible gasket are coupled to the barrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Devidas B. Raskar, Lorraine J. Westlake
  • Patent number: 11650003
    Abstract: An appliance includes an outer wrapper and an inner liner placed within the outer wrapper and spaced apart from the outer wrapper to define an insulating space. A trim breaker extends between the inner liner and the outer wrapper to define a structural cabinet. The trim breaker defines a front face of the cabinet. The trim breaker defines a gas conduit disposed within a wall of the structural cabinet proximate the insulating space. The gas conduit is adapted to define selective communication between the insulating space and an exterior of the structural cabinet. An insulating material is disposed within the insulating space, wherein the gas conduit is substantially free of the insulating material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Alberto R. Gomes, Lynne F. Hunter, Abhay Naik, Lorraine J. Westlake
  • Patent number: 11480385
    Abstract: A vacuum insulated cabinet structure includes first and second cover members having pre-deformed portions and perimeter portions. The perimeter portions of the first and second cover members are disposed along first and second planar levels and the pre-deformed portions of the first and second cover members include portions thereof extending outwardly relative to the first and second planar levels. A thermal bridge interconnects the first cover member and the second cover member at the perimeter portions thereof to define an insulating cavity therebetween. The insulating cavity is a sealed cavity having a vacuum drawn therefrom. The pre-deformed portions of the first and second cover members move inwardly towards the first and second planar levels under a force of the vacuum within the insulating cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Eric J. Dherde, Lorraine J. Westlake
  • Publication number: 20220214099
    Abstract: An insulating structure for an appliance includes a trim breaker, a wrapper, and a liner. The wrapper and liner coupled to the trim breaker and at least partially defining a structural cabinet. A barrier is positioned between the liner and the wrapper. The barrier is also coupled to the trim breaker. An inner compressible gasket is proximate the liner, and an outer gasket is proximate the wrapper. The inner gasket and the outer compressible gasket are coupled to the barrier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2022
    Publication date: July 7, 2022
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Devidas B. Raskar, Lorraine J. Westlake
  • Patent number: 11320194
    Abstract: An insulating structure for an appliance includes a trim breaker, a wrapper, and a liner. The wrapper and liner coupled to the trim breaker and at least partially defining a structural cabinet. A barrier is positioned between the liner and the wrapper. The barrier is also coupled to the trim breaker. An inner compressible gasket is proximate the liner, and an outer gasket is proximate the wrapper. The inner gasket and the outer compressible gasket are coupled to the barrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Devidas B. Raskar, Lorraine J. Westlake
  • Publication number: 20220074645
    Abstract: An appliance includes an outer wrapper and an inner liner placed within the outer wrapper and spaced apart from the outer wrapper to define an insulating space. A trim breaker extends between the inner liner and the outer wrapper to define a structural cabinet. The trim breaker defines a front face of the cabinet. The trim breaker defines a gas conduit disposed within a wall of the structural cabinet proximate the insulating space. The gas conduit is adapted to define selective communication between the insulating space and an exterior of the structural cabinet. An insulating material is disposed within the insulating space, wherein the gas conduit is substantially free of the insulating material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2021
    Publication date: March 10, 2022
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Alberto R. Gomes, Lynne F. Hunter, Abhay Naik, Lorraine J. Westlake
  • Publication number: 20220055262
    Abstract: An insulation compaction device includes an insulating structure of an appliance and has an insulating media disposed within an insulating cavity. An operable piston selectively engages the insulating structure and operates to define a selected cavity volume of the insulating cavity and a selected insulation density of the insulating media. A valve is attached to the insulating structure and in a passive state releases gas from the insulating cavity to the exterior during operation of the operable piston. Selective operation of a pump mechanism places the valve in an active state to extract gas from the insulating cavity and define a cavity pressure of the insulating cavity that is less than an equalized pressure. The operable piston and the pump mechanism are at least one of sequentially and simultaneously operable to define a selected piston chamber environment defined by the selected cavity volume and the cavity pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2021
    Publication date: February 24, 2022
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Gregory E. Bauman, Lynne F. Hunter, Ryan D. Kannegieter, Sai B. Krishna, Subrata Shannigrahi, Aaron M. Stewart, Eric J. Dherde, Lorraine J. Westlake
  • Patent number: 11231223
    Abstract: An appliance includes an outer wrapper and an inner liner placed within the outer wrapper and spaced apart from the outer wrapper to define an insulating space. A trim breaker extends between the inner liner and the outer wrapper to define a structural cabinet. The trim breaker defines a front face of the cabinet. The trim breaker defines a gas conduit disposed within a wall of the structural cabinet proximate the insulating space. The gas conduit is adapted to define selective communication between the insulating space and an exterior of the structural cabinet. An insulating material is disposed within the insulating space, wherein the gas conduit is substantially free of the insulating material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Alberto R. Gomes, Lynne F. Hunter, Abhay Naik, Lorraine J. Westlake
  • Publication number: 20210310723
    Abstract: A vacuum insulated cabinet structure includes first and second cover members having pre-deformed portions and perimeter portions. The perimeter portions of the first and second cover members are disposed along first and second planar levels and the pre-deformed portions of the first and second cover members include portions thereof extending outwardly relative to the first and second planar levels. A thermal bridge interconnects the first cover member and the second cover member at the perimeter portions thereof to define an insulating cavity therebetween. The insulating cavity is a sealed cavity having a vacuum drawn therefrom. The pre-deformed portions of the first and second cover members move inwardly towards the first and second planar levels under a force of the vacuum within the insulating cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2021
    Publication date: October 7, 2021
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Eric J. Dherde, Lorraine J. Westlake
  • Publication number: 20210254886
    Abstract: A vacuum insulated cabinet structure includes first and second cover members having pre-deformed portions and perimeter portions. The perimeter portions of the first and second cover members are disposed along first and second planar levels and the pre-deformed portions of the first and second cover members include portions thereof extending outwardly relative to the first and second planar levels. A thermal bridge interconnects the first cover member and the second cover member at the perimeter portions thereof to define an insulating cavity therebetween. The insulating cavity is a sealed cavity having a vacuum drawn therefrom. The pre-deformed portions of the first and second cover members move inwardly towards the first and second planar levels under a force of the vacuum within the insulating cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2021
    Publication date: August 19, 2021
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Eric J. Dherde, Lorraine J. Westlake
  • Patent number: 11002477
    Abstract: A vacuum insulated cabinet structure includes first and second cover members having pre-deformed portions and perimeter portions. The perimeter portions of the first and second cover members are disposed along first and second planar levels and the pre-deformed portions of the first and second cover members include portions thereof extending outwardly relative to the first and second planar levels. A thermal bridge interconnects the first cover member and the second cover member at the perimeter portions thereof to define an insulating cavity therebetween. The insulating cavity is a sealed cavity having a vacuum drawn therefrom. The pre-deformed portions of the first and second cover members move inwardly towards the first and second planar levels under a force of the vacuum within the insulating cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Eric J. Dherde, Lorraine J. Westlake
  • Publication number: 20210116168
    Abstract: A vacuum insulated refrigerator structure includes an outer wrapper having a first opening and a first edge extending around the first opening. A liner has a second opening and second edge extending around the second opening. The liner is disposed inside the wrapper with the first and second edges being spaced apart to form a gap therebetween. An insulating thermal bridge extends across the gap, and an airtight vacuum cavity is formed between the wrapper and the liner. The thermal bridge includes elongated first and second channels having sealant disposed therein, and the first and second edges are disposed in the first and second channels, respectively. Porous core material may be disposed in the vacuum cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2020
    Publication date: April 22, 2021
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Abhay Naik, Lorraine J. Westlake, Lakshya J. Deka