Patents by Inventor Lynne F. Hunter
Lynne F. Hunter 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).
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Patent number: 10845116Abstract: A flush-mount refrigerator is provided that includes a cabinet defining a compartment and including a pair of side walls that extends forwardly of the compartment. A pair of doors is coupled to the cabinet and positioned on either side of a centerline of the cabinet. The pair of doors are spaced apart by a predetermined spacing. A storage feature is positioned within the compartment of the cabinet and movable between an extended position and a recessed position when one or both of the pair of doors is in an open position. A hinge assembly is coupled to the cabinet and to one of the pair of doors. The hinge assembly includes a six-link mechanism that keeps the door within a predefined distance of at least one side wall when the door is moved from a closed position to the open position.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 2019Date of Patent: November 24, 2020Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Lynne F. Hunter, Aaron M. Stewart, Daniel Lottinville
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Patent number: 10830526Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 26, 2016Date of Patent: November 10, 2020Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Alberto R. Gomes, Lynne F. Hunter, Abhay Naik, Lorraine J. Westlake
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Patent number: 10830525Abstract: A refrigerator is provided herein. The refrigerator includes a cabinet defining a compartment. A door is configured to seal the compartment and is operable between open and closed positions. A hinge assembly is operably coupled to the cabinet and to the door. The hinge assembly includes a first link coupled to the cabinet. A second link is pivotable about the first link. A third link is pivotable about the second link and a fourth link. The fourth link is further coupled to the door. A fifth link is pivotable about the second link and the fourth link. A sixth link is pivotable about an intermediate portion of the fifth link and the first link. The sixth link is disposed through a void defined by the fifth link.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 2017Date of Patent: November 10, 2020Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Daniel Lottinville, Lynne F. Hunter
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Patent number: 10830384Abstract: An appliance includes a metallic outer wrapper having sidewalls, a wrapper backwall and a machine wall. At least one metallic inner liner has liner walls and a liner backwall, wherein the metallic outer wrapper and the at least one metallic inner liner are coupled together at a trim breaker to define a structural cabinet having a hermetically sealed interior cavity defined between the metallic outer wrapper and the at least one metallic inner liner. The trim breaker defines a front face of the structural cabinet. At least one trim breaker conduit extends through the wrapper and liner backwalls wherein the trim breaker conduit defines a conduit through the structural cabinet, and wherein the structural cabinet is hermetically sealed at the trim breaker conduit.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 2016Date of Patent: November 10, 2020Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Paul B. Allard, Mohamed Alshourbagy, Lakshya J. Deka, Eric J. Dherde, Gustavo Frattini, Alberto R. Gomes, Lynne F. Hunter, Giulia Marinello, Abhay Naik, Sanjesh Kumar Pathak, Jerry M. Visin
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Publication number: 20200348072Abstract: A door panel includes an outer panel having a generally planar body portion with inner and outer surfaces and a sidewall with a front edge. An inner panel includes a generally planar body portion with inner and outer surfaces and a sidewall with a front edge. A trim breaker interconnects the outer panel and the inner panel to form a vacuum cavity therebetween. The trim breaker includes first and second upright members interconnected by upper and lower cross members. The trim breaker further includes an inner channel and an outer channel spaced-apart from one another around the trim breaker. The outer channel is outwardly disposed around the inner channel. The front edge of the inner panel is received in the inner channel of the trim breaker, and the front edge of the outer panel is received in the outer channel of the trim breaker.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 1, 2019Publication date: November 5, 2020Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: Paul B. Allard, Jeffrey Beckner, Kamil EL Sayed, Lynne F. Hunter, Sai B. Krishna, Dustin M. Miller, Abhay Naik, Karen J. Querfurth, Daniel Lottinville
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Publication number: 20200348073Abstract: A cabinet structure is provided herein that includes an exterior wrapper defining an opening and at least one liner disposed inside the opening of the wrapper with a front edge of the wrapper disposed laterally outward relative to a front edge of the liner. An insulation cavity is disposed between the wrapper and the liner. A trim breaker is coupled to the exterior wrapper and the liner. A hinge bracket is disposed outwardly of the trim breaker. A hinge support has a first portion disposed along the trim breaker and a second portion extending rearwardly from the first portion. An encapsulation member is disposed rearwardly of the trim breaker and defines an encapsulation cavity that is separated from the insulation cavity.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 20, 2017Publication date: November 5, 2020Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: LYNNE F. HUNTER, DANIEL LOTTINVILLE
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Publication number: 20200309443Abstract: A refrigerator includes a wall covering assembly having a top wall spaced-apart from a top wall of a liner, and a rear wall spaced-apart from a rear wall of the liner. The wall covering assembly includes a pattern of ports for providing outwardly directed cooled air to the refrigerator cabinet from a duct assembly. The duct assembly is configured to deliver cooled air through the ventilated portion of the wall covering assembly and also deliver cooled air to a front portion of the refrigerator cabinet via a downwardly directed air curtain. The air curtain disrupts the outward flow of air from the ventilated portion of the wall covering assembly before the cooled air reaches a gasket assembly disposed around the refrigerator doors. Angled venting slots disposed on the wall covering assembly direct air towards inner surfaces of the doors without disruption from the air curtain.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 8, 2016Publication date: October 1, 2020Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: Giulia Marinello, Lynne F. Hunter, Sanjesh Kumar Pathak, Alberto R. Gomes, Joseph M. Keres
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Publication number: 20200292226Abstract: A refrigerator is provided herein including a cabinet and a door. At least one hinge assembly is configured to hinge the door to the cabinet. The at least one hinge assembly includes a mounting block coupled to the door, a hinge bracket coupled to the cabinet, and a hinge pin disposed between the mounting block and the hinge bracket and coupled thereto such that the entirety of the hinge pin is external to the door.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 20, 2017Publication date: September 17, 2020Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: Lynne F. Hunter, Daniel Lottinville, Karen J. Querfurth
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Patent number: 10753669Abstract: An appliance includes a cabinet having an outer wrapper, an inner liner and a trim breaker defining a joint therebetween. The outer wrapper, inner liner and trim breaker define an insulating cavity. A vacuum insulated structure is disposed within the insulating cavity. A metallic frame is in communication with the outer wrapper and includes an upper hinge mount and a lower hinge mount that are connected by a vertical frame member. The metallic frame is at least partially disposed within the insulating cavity. A door panel is rotationally mounted to the cabinet via an upper hinge mounted to the upper hinge mount and a lower hinge mounted to the lower hinge mount.Type: GrantFiled: May 3, 2016Date of Patent: August 25, 2020Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Eric J. Dherde, Michael A. Fiori, Lynne F. Hunter
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Publication number: 20200124343Abstract: An appliance mounting device is provided herein. The appliance includes a vacuum insulated structure having a liner positioned within a wrapper, wherein the liner and wrapper cooperate to define an interior cavity. The appliance further includes an insulating material positioned within the interior cavity and a hanger coupled to an adapter plate and a support member. The support member is configured to couple to an interior surface of the vacuum insulated structure while maintaining a vacuum in the interior cavity and a holding member is coupled to a first side of the adapter plate and configured to receive a positioning member.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 22, 2018Publication date: April 23, 2020Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: Lynne F. Hunter, Raffaella Gropallo, Giulia Marinello
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Patent number: 10612834Abstract: A vacuum insulated refrigerator structure being formed from a wrapper extending around a liner is provided. The liner is positioned inside of the wrapper to form a gap there between, and to form a cavity between the wrapper and the liner. An insulating thermal bridge is formed from molding one or more extruded rails to one or more corner pieces in an injection molding device. The insulating thermal bridge is coupled across the gap wherein the insulating thermal bridge includes elongated first and second channels wherein the first and second edges are inserted into the elongated first and second channels, respectively. A curable sealant is contacted to the elongated first and second channels and the cavity is at least partially filled with a porous material between the wrapper and the liner. A vacuum is formed in the cavity and the cavity is sealed to maintain the vacuum.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2016Date of Patent: April 7, 2020Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Paul B. Allard, Gustavo Frattini, Alberto Regio Gomes, Lynne F. Hunter, Dustin M. Miller, Abhay Naik, Berhanu Allo
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Patent number: 10598424Abstract: An appliance is provided herein. The appliance includes a cabinet having a wrapper, a liner, and a trim breaker. The wrapper, the liner, and the trim breaker define an insulating cavity therebetween. An insulating material is disposed within the insulating cavity. A frame includes an upper frame portion, a vertical frame portion, and a lower frame portion. The frame is at least partially disposed within the insulating cavity. An upper hinge mount is disposed on the upper frame portion. A lower hinge mount is disposed on the lower frame portion. The lower frame portion has a closed outer periphery. A door is rotationally mounted to the cabinet via an upper hinge mounted to the upper hinge mount and a lower hinge mounted to the lower hinge mount.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 2016Date of Patent: March 24, 2020Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Eric J. Dherde, Michael A. Fiori, Lynne F. Hunter
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Patent number: 10563905Abstract: A refrigerating appliance includes a cabinet having an inner liner, an outer wrapper and a plastic trim breaker extending therebetween. A door panel is operable relative to the cabinet between open and closed positions. The door panel has a seal that magnetically engages a contact surface of the cabinet to define the closed position of the door panel. A ferromagnetic plate extends over a portion of the plastic trim breaker to define the contact surface. A heat loop is disposed between the trim breaker and the ferromagnetic plate, in thermal communication with the contact surface. The heat loop extends from the trim breaker to a machine compartment of the cabinet. The ferromagnetic plate includes a looped edge that defines a heating chase. The heat loop is positioned within the heating chase and extends to the machine compartment.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2018Date of Patent: February 18, 2020Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Paul B. Allard, Lynne F. Hunter, Daniel Lottinville, Giulia Marinello, Dustin M. Miller, Sanjesh Kumar Pathak
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Publication number: 20200033049Abstract: A vacuum insulated refrigerator structure includes a shell having a liner and a wrapper where the shell defines an internal vacuum cavity, and a refrigerator and/or freezer compartment. The vacuum insulated refrigerator structure additionally includes an elongated pass-through defining an elongated internal space having a central portion disposed in the internal vacuum cavity. The elongated pass-through has opposite end portions that are sealingly connected to the shell, each opposite end portion having an opening that permits access to the elongated internal space from the outside of the shell. The vacuum insulated refrigerator structure also includes a vacuum core material fill positioned in the internal vacuum cavity and one or more utility lines disposed in one or more elongated internal passageways extending out of the openings at the opposite end portions of the elongated pass-through.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 13, 2016Publication date: January 30, 2020Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: Eric J. Dherde, Michael A. Fiori, Gustavo Frattini, Giulia Marinello, Lynne F. Hunter, Sunil S. Ekshinge, Sanjesh Kumar Pathak
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Publication number: 20200002987Abstract: A refrigerator is provided herein. The refrigerator includes a cabinet defining a compartment. A door is configured to seal the compartment and is operable between open and closed positions. A hinge assembly is operably coupled to the cabinet and to the door. The hinge assembly includes a first link coupled to the cabinet. A second link is pivotable about the first link. A third link is pivotable about the second link and a fourth link. The fourth link is further coupled to the door. A fifth link is pivotable about the second link and the fourth link. A sixth link is pivotable about an intermediate portion of the fifth link and the first link. The sixth link is disposed through a void defined by the fifth link.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 25, 2017Publication date: January 2, 2020Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: Daniel Lottinville, Lynne F. Hunter
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Publication number: 20190308393Abstract: An operable panel for an appliance includes a metallic outer wrapper having a perimetrical wrapper edge that partially defines a perimetrical breaker channel, an inner liner and a plurality of corner brackets disposed proximate the perimetrical wrapper edge. Each corner bracket cooperates with the perimetrical wrapper edge to fully define the perimetrical breaker channel. A trim breaker is adhered to the metallic outer wrapper and the corner brackets at the perimetrical breaker channel and having a liner channel that receives a portion of the inner liner. The trim breaker extends between the inner liner and the outer wrapper. An insulation material is disposed within an insulating cavity defined between the inner liner and the outer wrapper.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 28, 2016Publication date: October 10, 2019Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: Paul B. Allard, Lakshya J. Deka, Eric J. Dherde, Gustavo Frattini, Alberto R. Gomes, Lynne F. Hunter, Dustin M. Miller, Abhay Naik, Karen J. Querfurth, Jerry M. Visin
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Publication number: 20190310011Abstract: A refrigerator includes a vacuum insulated cabinet and a surround lighting feature. The vacuum insulated cabinet includes a liner disposed within a wrapper, which are interconnected by a thermal bridge to form a vacuum cavity therebetween. A wall covering assembly includes a top wall disposed adjacent to and spaced-apart from a top wall of the liner. The wall covering assembly also includes a rear wall disposed adjacent to and spaced-apart from a rear wall of the liner. In assembly, the liner and the wall covering assembly cooperate to define a refrigerator compartment. A cavity is formed between liner and the wall covering assembly. A surround lighting assembly is disposed around an opening into the refrigerator compartment and is powered by a wiring system concealed by the wall covering assembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 26, 2016Publication date: October 10, 2019Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: Giulia Marinello, Alberto R. Gomes, Lynne F. Hunter, Julia B. Burke, Daniel Chow, Abhay Naik
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Publication number: 20190293339Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 26, 2016Publication date: September 26, 2019Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: Alberto R. Gomes, Lynne F. Hunter, Abhay Naik, Lorraine J. Westlake
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Publication number: 20190285335Abstract: A flush-mount refrigerator is provided that includes a cabinet defining a compartment and including a pair of side walls that extends forwardly of the compartment. A pair of doors is coupled to the cabinet and positioned on either side of a centerline of the cabinet. The pair of doors are spaced apart by a predetermined spacing. A storage feature is positioned within the compartment of the cabinet and movable between an extended position and a recessed position when one or both of the pair of doors is in an open position. A hinge assembly is coupled to the cabinet and to one of the pair of doors. The hinge assembly includes a six-link mechanism that keeps the door within a predefined distance of at least one side wall when the door is moved from a closed position to the open position.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 20, 2019Publication date: September 19, 2019Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: Lynne F. Hunter, Aaron M. Stewart, Daniel Lottinville
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Publication number: 20190249918Abstract: A refrigerator includes a liner and a wall covering assembly to create a false wall within a refrigerator cabinet. The wall covering assembly includes a top wall spaced-apart from a top wall of the liner, and a rear wall spaced-apart from a rear wall of the liner. The rear wall of the wall covering assembly includes a ventilated portion for providing outwardly directed air to the refrigerator cabinet. A duct assembly is disposed between the wall covering assembly and the liner and is configured to deliver air through the ventilated portion of the wall covering assembly and also deliver air in the form of a downwardly directed air curtain at the front portion of the refrigerator cabinet. The air curtain disrupts the outward flow of air from the ventilated portion of the wall covering assembly at the front portion of the refrigerator cabinet.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 8, 2016Publication date: August 15, 2019Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: Giulia Marinello, Lynne F. Hunter, Sanjesh Kumar Pathak, Alberto R. Gomes