Patents by Inventor Matthew M. Hansen

Matthew M. Hansen 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: 10602909
    Abstract: A dishwasher has an interior with a tub and a dish rack slidably attached to the tub. The dish rack has vertically-oriented side rail and a height adjustment system. The adjustment system includes height adjustment mechanisms alongside the walls of the dish rack for vertically shifting the dish rack between lowered and raised positions relative to the tub. Each of the adjustment mechanisms includes an adjuster arm fixed vertically relative to the tub, with a locking boss at the first end, and a locking clip on the adjuster arm having at least one locking tab adapted to couple with the locking boss to prevent the rack from shifting vertically relative to the adjuster arm. The locking clip has a pair of interference ribs engaging a pair of side rails to prevent rotational movement of the rack with respect to the dishwasher.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Kapil Gupta, Richard Lawrence Kretz, Ronald M. Nowell, Matthew M. Hansen
  • Patent number: 10575709
    Abstract: A rack assembly for an automatic dishwasher having opposing side portions, at least two axles extending outwardly from each of the opposing side portions, and a roller wheel mounted to each axle. Each roller wheel roller wheel has a hub adapted to be fixedly attached to the axle, and a wheel rotatably mounted to the hub. A plurality of separators that define pockets is integrally molded with one of the hub or the wheel. Each pocket is adapted to contain one ball bearing such that no two adjacent ball bearings make contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Ronald M. Nowell, Jr., Daniel W. Southworth, Matthew M. Hansen, Joseph T. Ferencevich
  • Publication number: 20190269297
    Abstract: Disclosed is a dishwasher having an interior with a tub, a dish rack slidably attached to the tub, the dish rack having a plurality of vertically-oriented side rails, and a height adjustment system including first and second height adjustment mechanisms provided alongside walls of the dish rack for vertically shifting the dish rack between lowered and raised positions relative to the tub. Each of first and second height adjustment mechanisms includes an adjuster arm fixed vertically relative to the tub, having at least one locking boss at the first end, and a locking clip on the adjuster arm having at least one locking tab adapted to couple with the locking boss to prevent the rack from shifting vertically relative to the adjuster arm. The locking clip has a pair of interference ribs engaging a pair of side rails to prevent rotational movement of the rack with respect to the dishwasher.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2018
    Publication date: September 5, 2019
    Inventors: Kapil Gupta, Richard Lawrence Kretz, Ronald M. Nowell, Matthew M. Hansen
  • Publication number: 20190208983
    Abstract: A rack assembly for an automatic dishwasher having opposing side portions, at least two axles extending outwardly from each of the opposing side portions, and a roller wheel mounted to each axle. Each roller wheel roller wheel has a hub adapted to be fixedly attached to the axle, and a wheel rotatably mounted to the hub. A plurality of separators that define pockets is integrally molded with one of the hub or the wheel. Each pocket is adapted to contain one ball bearing such that no two adjacent ball bearings make contact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2019
    Publication date: July 11, 2019
    Inventors: Ronald M. Nowell, JR., Daniel W. Southworth, Matthew M. Hansen, Joseph T. Ferencevich
  • Patent number: 10292567
    Abstract: A rack assembly for an automatic dishwasher having opposing side portions, at least two axles extending outwardly from each of the opposing side portions, and a roller wheel mounted to each axle. Each roller wheel roller wheel has a hub adapted to be fixedly attached to the axle, and a wheel rotatably mounted to the hub. A plurality of separators that define pockets is integrally molded with one of the hub or the wheel. Each pocket is adapted to contain one ball bearing such that no two adjacent ball bearings make contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Ronald M. Nowell, Jr., Daniel W. Southworth, Matthew M. Hansen, Joseph T. Ferencevich
  • Publication number: 20180256006
    Abstract: A rack assembly for an automatic dishwasher having opposing side portions, at least two axles extending outwardly from each of the opposing side portions, and a roller wheel mounted to each axle. Each roller wheel roller wheel has a hub adapted to be fixedly attached to the axle, and a wheel rotatably mounted to the hub. A plurality of separators that define pockets is integrally molded with one of the hub or the wheel. Each pocket is adapted to contain one ball bearing such that no two adjacent ball bearings make contact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2018
    Publication date: September 13, 2018
    Inventors: Ronald M. Nowell, JR., Daniel W. Southworth, Matthew M. Hansen, Joseph T. Ferencevich
  • Patent number: 10022037
    Abstract: A dish rack is supported for vertical movement relative to a dishwasher tub between lowered and raised positions. To raise the rack, spring biased locking levers provided on side walls of the dish rack are pivoted to cause wing members of the locking levers to release locking tabs, extending in a cantilevered fashion from locking straps secured to the rack, from locking openings provided in adjuster arms which are fixed vertically relative to the tub, thereby disengaging the locking straps from the adjuster arms to enable the rack to be lifted to the raised position. To lower the rack, the locking levers are again pivoted to reposition support members of the locking straps into positions offset from the adjuster arms, thereby enabling the rack to be guided to the lowered position where the locking tabs automatically engage the adjuster arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Kevin T. Kutto, Ronald M. Nowell, Jr., Kapil Gupta, Matthew M. Hansen, Sujay S. Dabade, Harshal J. Bhajak, Richard Lawrence Kretz
  • Patent number: 10022038
    Abstract: In one aspect, a dishwasher includes a tub at least partially defining a treating chamber and defining an access opening, a dishrack, and a guide rail assembly slidably mounting the dishrack to the tub. The guide rail assembly has a guide rail mounted to the dishrack or to the tub and has upper and lower tracks, which are spaced from each other by a predetermined height, and at least one pair of wheels comprising upper and lower wheels, which are rotatably mounted to the other of the dishrack or the tub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew M. Hansen, Ronald M. Nowell, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10010239
    Abstract: An apparatus for the rack assembly of a dishwasher that includes opposing side portions, at least two axles extending outwardly from each of the opposing side portions, and a roller wheel mounted to each axle, wherein each roller wheel has ball bearings that enable at least a portion of the roller wheel to rotate about the axle. The rack assembly apparatus may be used for the upper or lower rack of the dishwasher. In case of the lower rack, the assembly may roll on the surface of the door. In case of the upper rack, the assembly may roll along guide rails.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Ronald M. Nowell, Jr., Daniel W. Southworth, Matthew M. Hansen, Joseph T. Ferencevich
  • Publication number: 20180103828
    Abstract: In one aspect, a dishwasher includes a tub at least partially defining a treating chamber and defining an access opening, a dishrack, and a guide rail assembly slidably mounting the dishrack to the tub. The guide rail assembly has a guide rail mounted to the dishrack or to the tub and has upper and lower tracks, which are spaced from each other by a predetermined height, and at least one pair of wheels comprising upper and lower wheels, which are rotatably mounted to the other of the dishrack or the tub.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2016
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Inventors: MATTHEW M. HANSEN, RONALD M. NOWELL, JR.
  • Publication number: 20180035866
    Abstract: An apparatus for the rack assembly of a dishwasher that includes opposing side portions, at least two axles extending outwardly from each of the opposing side portions, and a roller wheel mounted to each axle, wherein each roller wheel has ball bearings that enable at least a portion of the roller wheel to rotate about the axle. The rack assembly apparatus may be used for the upper or lower rack of the dishwasher. In case of the lower rack, the assembly may roll on the surface of the door. In case of the upper rack, the assembly may roll along guide rails.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2016
    Publication date: February 8, 2018
    Inventors: Ronald M. Nowell, JR., Daniel W. Southworth, Matthew M. Hansen, Joseph T. Ferencevich
  • Publication number: 20160331204
    Abstract: A dish rack is supported for vertical movement relative to a dishwasher tub between lowered and raised positions. To raise the rack, spring biased locking levers provided on side walls of the dish rack are pivoted to cause wing members of the locking levers to release locking tabs, extending in a cantilevered fashion from locking straps secured to the rack, from locking openings provided in adjuster arms which are fixed vertically relative to the tub, thereby disengaging the locking straps from the adjuster arms to enable the rack to be lifted to the raised position. To lower the rack, the locking levers are again pivoted to reposition support members of the locking straps into positions offset from the adjuster arms, thereby enabling the rack to be guided to the lowered position where the locking tabs automatically engage the adjuster arms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2016
    Publication date: November 17, 2016
    Inventors: Kevin T. Kutto, Ronald M. Nowell, JR., Kapil Gupta, Matthew M. Hansen, Sujay S. Dabade, Harshal J. Bhajak, Richard Lawrence Kretz