Patents by Inventor Luiz Afranio Alves Ferreira

Luiz Afranio Alves Ferreira 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: 9861199
    Abstract: An adjustable shelf system for a household appliance includes at least one shelf assembly having at least one support structure, wherein each support structure of the shelf assembly includes upper and lower coupling elements outwardly extending from the support structures. A track member is coupled to a sidewall of an internal compartment of the appliance. The track member includes an outer surface with at least one longitudinal channel disposed therein. The longitudinal channel further includes a plurality of spaced-apart receiving notches disposed along a vertical length the channel. The upper and lower coupling elements of the support structures are configured to be received in the longitudinal channels of the track members and nested within the receiving notches thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Luiz Afranio Alves Ferreira, Gean Ricardo Hay, Edson Isaltino Bento
  • Publication number: 20160270536
    Abstract: An adjustable shelf system for a household appliance includes at least one shelf assembly having at least one support structure, wherein each support structure of the shelf assembly includes upper and lower coupling elements outwardly extending from the support structures. A track member is coupled to a sidewall of an internal compartment of the appliance. The track member includes an outer surface with at least one longitudinal channel disposed therein. The longitudinal channel further includes a plurality of spaced-apart receiving notches disposed along a vertical length the channel. The upper and lower coupling elements of the support structures are configured to be received in the longitudinal channels of the track members and nested within the receiving notches thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2016
    Publication date: September 22, 2016
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Luiz Afranio Alves Ferreira, Gean Ricardo Hay, Edson Isaltino Bento
  • Publication number: 20160201972
    Abstract: The present invention refers to an air circulation system, particularly intended to be applied in household appliances of refrigerator type, comprising the innovative technical and functional features, which are capable of improving air flow circulation inside these apparatuses as well as optimizing the space occupied by the fan. More preferably, the present invention refers to an air flow circulation system comprising a refrigerating equipment (R) containing at least one air passage channel (A), within which there is a radial fan (1) disposed in a inclined form at an angle (a) so as to divide said air passage channel (A) in a suction duct (2) and sprinkling duct (3).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2014
    Publication date: July 14, 2016
    Inventors: Rodrigo Alexandre Sigwalt, Luiz Afranio Alves Ferreira, Ederson Adriano dos Santos, Julio Cesar Schmidt
  • Publication number: 20150345856
    Abstract: The present invention refers to electrical appliances and refers to a lighting system aiming to solve the technical problem of inadequate lighting apparatus of the doors of the appliances and minimize the shadow regions formed by the known lighting patterns and currently used. To this end, the invention provides a lighting system comprising at least one light source cooperating with the inner distal portion of door, said light source arranged to project spotlight at an angle comprised in the range between 90 and 120 degrees, and wherein the projection of spotlight cooperates with spotlight of light source of inner compartment of cabinet to eliminate the shadow areas arising from said light source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2015
    Publication date: December 3, 2015
    Inventors: Luiz Afranio Alves FERREIRA, Emerson HECK, Márcio José Espindola DEMÉTRIO
  • Patent number: 8944541
    Abstract: A vacuum panel cabinet structure comprising a frame having side and back framing members defining a frame opening and panel receptacles, framing edges, at least one outwardly expanded framing member, and an inner surface. A plurality of vacuum panels disposed in the panel receptacles. A barrier layer disposed on the vacuum panels. An outer enclosure having at least one extruded channel engaging the at least one outwardly expanded framing member, at least one outwardly contoured hinge, and an inward surface defining a frame receptacle into which the frame is disposed. A liner having at least four sidewalls, a back panel, a liner outer facing surface, and a liner perimetrical flange, wherein the liner outer facing surface is disposed within the frame opening proximate the frame inner surface. The liner perimetrical flange is disposed to the outer enclosure and includes a hermetically sealed infrastructure notch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Paul B. Allard, Nihat Cur, Luiz Afrânio Alves Ferreira, James W. Kendall, Steven J. Kuehl, Axel J. Ramm, Guolian Wu
  • Publication number: 20130257256
    Abstract: A vacuum panel cabinet structure comprising a frame having side and back framing members defining a frame opening and panel receptacles, framing edges, at least one outwardly expanded framing member, and an inner surface. A plurality of vacuum panels disposed in the panel receptacles. A barrier layer disposed on the vacuum panels. An outer enclosure having at least one extruded channel engaging the at least one outwardly expanded framing member, at least one outwardly contoured hinge, and an inward surface defining a frame receptacle into which the frame is disposed. A liner having at least four sidewalls, a back panel, a liner outer facing surface, and a liner perimetrical flange, wherein the liner outer facing surface is disposed within the frame opening proximate the frame inner surface. The liner perimetrical flange is disposed to the outer enclosure and includes a hermetically sealed infrastructure notch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Paul B. Allard, Nihat Cur, Luiz Afrânio Alves Ferreira, James W. Kendall, Steven J. Kuehl, Axel J. Ramm, Guolian Wu
  • Patent number: 8297726
    Abstract: A mechanism, and refrigeration appliance containing a mechanism, for providing displacement of a shelf of a refrigeration appliance, which has at least one refrigeratable cabinet with a base and two side walls substantially perpendicular to the base. The mechanism has at least one supporting device associated to the side wall of the refrigeratable cabinet by a side bar having a longitudinal portion that is substantially parallel to the base. The association between the supporting device and the side bar is able to provide mechanical support to the shelf. The mechanism also comprises a pivoting arm provided with at least one first end which is connected articulatedly to the shelf and a second end connected articulatedly to the supporting device, which associates the shelf to the supporting device. The pivoting arm is able to move angularly so as to allow the displacement of the shelf in relation to the supporting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Whirlpool S.A.
    Inventors: Axel Júlio Ramm, Luiz Afrânio Alves Ferreira, Lauro Ferando Souza Ignácui Júnior
  • Publication number: 20110012493
    Abstract: A mobile shelf is horizontal and displaceably mounted in rails fixed to the cabinet of refrigerator or freezer, inwardly to a refrigerator chamber. The shelf comprises an actuator device operatively associated to the shelf and cabinet. The actuator device is driven to an inoperative armed position, achieved when the shelf is displaced backwards, to a retracted position, and an operative distended position, in which the shelf is displaced forward, to a forward position. The actuator device is actuated, from the inoperative armed position to an operative distended position, when applying a manual instantaneous axial force backwards, against the shelf.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2008
    Publication date: January 20, 2011
    Inventors: Luiz Afranio Alves Ferreira, Gean Ricardo Hay, Marcos Heinzle
  • Publication number: 20100109498
    Abstract: The present invention refers to a system that is able to provide movement over three stable stages of a set of shelves of a refrigeration appliance. The said refrigeration appliance comprises at least one refrigeratable cabinet. The said set of shelves comprises at least one front shelf and one rear shelf associable to each other. The said set of shelves is associated to the refrigeratable cabinet by means of at least one side bar provided with a first accommodating portion and a second accommodating portion that are substantially flat. The front shelf is supportable by the first accommodating portion and the rear shelf is supportable by the second accommodating portion. The first accommodating portion has a difference in height in relation to the second accommodating portion as to allow an horizontally aligned juxtaposition between the front shelf and the rear shelf.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2009
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Inventors: Axel Julio Ramm, Marcos Henrique Hermann, Luiz Afranio Alves Ferreira
  • Publication number: 20100066227
    Abstract: The present invention refers to a mechanism that is able to provide a displacement of a shelf (5) of a refrigeration appliance (1). The said refrigeration appliance (1) comprises at least one refrigeratable cabinet (2) provided with a base (3) and two side walls (4) that are substantially perpendicular to the base (3). The side walls (4) are substancitantially parallel and opposite to each other. The shelf (5) is disposed substantially parallel to the base (3). The mechanism comprises at least one supporting device (6) associated to the side wall (4) of the refrigeratable cabinet (2) by means of a side bar (8). The side bar (8) has a longitudinal portion (9) that is substantially parallel to the base (3), wherein the association between the supporting device (6) and the side bar (8) is able to provide mechanical support to the shelf (5). The mechanism also comprises a pivoting arm (10) which associates the shelf (5) to the supporting device (6).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2009
    Publication date: March 18, 2010
    Inventors: Axel Julio Ramm, Luiz Afranio Alves Ferreira, Lauro Ferando Souza Ignacui Junior
  • Publication number: 20080196441
    Abstract: An air blowing arrangement for a combined refrigerator of the forced ventilation type and that comprises: a cabinet formed by an outer case and by two inner cases spaced from each other by a thermal insulating filler and defining a freezing compartment and a refrigerating compartment; and an air diffusing element defining at least one air distributing duct, having an air inlet in communication with the interior of the inner case of the freezing compartment and a plurality of air outlets opened to the interior of the refrigerating compartment. The air diffusing element is disposed in the interior of the thermal insulating filler and seated against the rear wall of the inner case of the refrigerating compartment, said rear wall being provided with a plurality of windows aligned with respective air inlet openings of the air distributing duct.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2006
    Publication date: August 21, 2008
    Inventors: Luiz Afranio Alves Ferreira, Moacyr Marangone Mezavila, Adriano Cargnin, Lauro Fernando Souza Ignacio Jr