Patents by Inventor Michael Jon Vriezema

Michael Jon Vriezema 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: 20240110327
    Abstract: A drain system for a laundry appliance is provided. The laundry appliance may be configured as a clothes dryer having a heat exchanger to cool and condense moisture-laden air received from the laundry drum. The drain system utilizes a drain structure to catch condensate from the heat exchanger and evacuate the condensate to a sump area. A blower and blower channel moves the dry air from the heat exchanger back to the drum. To prevent negative pressure in the blower channel from moving the condensate to the sump area, an air channel between the blower channel and sump area provides air flow communication.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2023
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Daniel A. Schurr, Michael Jon Vriezema
  • Patent number: 11866882
    Abstract: A drain system for a laundry appliance is provided. The laundry appliance may be configured as a clothes dryer having a heat exchanger to cool and condense moisture-laden air received from the laundry drum. The drain system utilizes a drain structure to catch condensate from the heat exchanger and evacuate the condensate to a sump area. A blower and blower channel moves the dry air from the heat exchanger back to the drum. To prevent negative pressure in the blower channel from moving the condensate to the sump area, an air channel between the blower channel and sump area provides air flow communication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel A. Schurr, Michael Jon Vriezema
  • Publication number: 20230041533
    Abstract: A drain system for a laundry appliance is provided. The laundry appliance may be configured as a clothes dryer having a heat exchanger to cool and condense moisture-laden air received from the laundry drum. The drain system utilizes a drain structure to catch condensate from the heat exchanger and evacuate the condensate to a sump area. A blower and blower channel moves the dry air from the heat exchanger back to the drum. To prevent negative pressure in the blower channel from moving the condensate to the sump area, an air channel between the blower channel and sump area provides air flow communication.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2022
    Publication date: February 9, 2023
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Daniel A. Schurr, Michael Jon Vriezema
  • Patent number: 11530508
    Abstract: A drain system for a laundry appliance is provided. The laundry appliance may be configured as a clothes dryer having a heat exchanger to cool and condense moisture-laden air received from the laundry drum. The drain system utilizes a drain structure to catch condensate from the heat exchanger and evacuate the condensate to a sump area. A blower and blower channel moves the dry air from the heat exchanger back to the drum. To prevent negative pressure in the blower channel from moving the condensate to the sump area, an air channel between the blower channel and sump area provides air flow communication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel A. Schurr, Michael Jon Vriezema
  • Publication number: 20200199803
    Abstract: A drain system for a laundry appliance is provided. The laundry appliance may be configured as a clothes dryer having a heat exchanger to cool and condense moisture-laden air received from the laundry drum. The drain system utilizes a drain structure to catch condensate from the heat exchanger and evacuate the condensate to a sump area. A blower and blower channel moves the dry air from the heat exchanger back to the drum. To prevent negative pressure in the blower channel from moving the condensate to the sump area, an air channel between the blower channel and sump area provides air flow communication.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2020
    Publication date: June 25, 2020
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Daniel A. Schurr, Michael Jon Vriezema
  • Patent number: 10655266
    Abstract: A lint removal system for a laundry appliance includes a lint washing assembly adapted to deliver wet lint to a disposal area. An impeller is disposed within a continuous processing chamber of a pump casing, the impeller operable to deliver a fluid from the disposal area to a drain outlet. A blade assembly is disposed within the continuous processing chamber, the blade assembly rotationally operable to process the wet lint from the disposal area to define lint particles that are delivered with the fluid to the drain outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Arun Rajendran, Michael Jon Vriezema
  • Patent number: 10604882
    Abstract: A drain system for a laundry appliance is provided. The laundry appliance may be configured as a clothes dryer having a heat exchanger to cool and condense moisture-laden air received from the laundry drum. The drain system utilizes a drain structure to catch condensate from the heat exchanger and evacuate the condensate to a sump area. A blower and blower channel moves the dry air from the heat exchanger back to the drum. To prevent negative pressure in the blower channel from moving the condensate to the sump area, an air channel between the blower channel and sump area provides air flow communication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel A. Schurr, Michael Jon Vriezema
  • Publication number: 20190024295
    Abstract: A drain system for a laundry appliance is provided. The laundry appliance may be configured as a clothes dryer having a heat exchanger to cool and condense moisture-laden air received from the laundry drum. The drain system utilizes a drain structure to catch condensate from the heat exchanger and evacuate the condensate to a sump area. A blower and blower channel moves the dry air from the heat exchanger back to the drum. To prevent negative pressure in the blower channel from moving the condensate to the sump area, an air channel between the blower channel and sump area provides air flow communication.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2017
    Publication date: January 24, 2019
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Daniel A. Schurr, Michael Jon Vriezema
  • Publication number: 20180148883
    Abstract: A lint removal system for a laundry appliance includes a lint washing assembly adapted to deliver wet lint to a disposal area. An impeller is disposed within a continuous processing chamber of a pump casing, the impeller operable to deliver a fluid from the disposal area to a drain outlet. A blade assembly is disposed within the continuous processing chamber, the blade assembly rotationally operable to process the wet lint from the disposal area to define lint particles that are delivered with the fluid to the drain outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2016
    Publication date: May 31, 2018
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Arun Rajendran, Michael Jon Vriezema