Patents by Inventor Michael P. Conti
Michael P. Conti 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: 9408497Abstract: A partially transparent cooking appliance includes first and second plates defining an externally accessible cavity therebetween. The first and second plates are at least partially translucent. A base is pivotally coupled with the first and second plates. The first and second plates are operable between a horizontal position and a vertical position relative to the base and an electrically resistive coating disposed on at least a portion of the first and second plates. The electrically resistive coating is in thermal communication with the cavity. A cam mechanism is operably coupled with at least one of the first and second plates. The first and second plates are operable between first and second distances relative to one another and a user interface is disposed on an exterior surface of an outer plate. The user interface is in electrical communication with the electrically resistive coating.Type: GrantFiled: August 21, 2013Date of Patent: August 9, 2016Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Michael P. Conti, Fredrick A. Millett
-
Publication number: 20160174771Abstract: A cooking and processing appliance includes a container having a lid and a stirring mechanism for rotating at least one processing attachment of a plurality of processing attachments, a housing having a receptacle for receiving the container and having a motor in communication with the stirring mechanism, a heating structure disposed within the housing and a wall of the container, a heating activation system included within the housing and the container, wherein the heating structure defines a heating-active state when the container is received within the receptacle, a mixing activation system, wherein the motor defines a mixing active state when the container is received within the receptacle and the lid is in a closed position and a control in communication with the heating structure and the stirring mechanism.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 19, 2015Publication date: June 23, 2016Applicant: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Kaitlyn M. Benoit, Michael P. Conti, Wan Liang, Jeffrey Loebig
-
Patent number: 9370280Abstract: A blender includes a container having a plurality of ribs projecting into a processing zone of the container. The plurality of spaced ribs each include a width and a depth that taper from a top end section adjacent a teardrop shaped opening of the container to a more narrow bottom end section adjacent a bottom wall of the container. A side wall of the container continuously tapers from the teardrop shaped opening to a substantially square shaped bottom end portion including first, second, third and fourth side wall sections connected to one another at respective rounded corners. A blade assembly is coupled to the container and includes a plurality of blades angled at different planes with respect to a horizontal plane. The blender container further includes a handle adapted to receive a handle of a similar blender container, such that like blender containers can be nested for storage.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2014Date of Patent: June 21, 2016Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventor: Michael P. Conti
-
Publication number: 20160128517Abstract: A food processor includes a base and a bowl with a removable lid. Food items are advanced into the bowl through a feed tube formed in the lid where they are cut by a cutting assembly driven by a motor. The cutting assembly is adjustable to vary the thickness of the cut food items. An adjustment assembly positioned in the base is operable to adjust the cutting thickness of the cutting assembly while the cutting assembly is driven by the motor.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 19, 2016Publication date: May 12, 2016Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: KEVIN JAMES BEBER, DAVID J. GUSHWA, YUNG LEONG HIN, JEFFREY CARL LOEBIG, EUAN SKINNER MACLEOD, QU ZHI JIE, MICHAEL P. CONTI, THOMAS ALLEN GILLETTE, BRENT A. ROWLAND
-
Patent number: 9265381Abstract: A food processor includes a base and a bowl with a removable lid. Food items are advanced into the bowl through a feed tube formed in the lid where they are cut by a cutting assembly driven by a motor. The cutting assembly is adjustable to vary the thickness of the cut food items. An adjustment assembly positioned in the base is operable to adjust the cutting thickness of the cutting assembly while the cutting assembly is driven by the motor.Type: GrantFiled: September 1, 2011Date of Patent: February 23, 2016Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Kevin James Beber, David J. Gushwa, Yung Leong Hin, Jeffrey Carl Loebig, Euan Skinner Macleod, Qu Zhi Jie, Michael P. Conti, Thomas Allen Gillette, Brent A. Rowland
-
Patent number: 9241595Abstract: A cooking appliance kit includes a housing having a plurality of walls defining a heating cavity. A cooking vessel is configured to be inserted into the heating cavity. The cooking vessel includes a first rounded end, a second rounded end, and an intermediate necked portion that defines first and second wells that at least partially intersect. First and second distinct heater plates are disposed in the first and second wells, respectively. First and second drive arms are removable coupled to the housing in an operable communication with the drive system. The first drive arm includes a flipping wand and the second drive arm includes a stirring wand.Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 2013Date of Patent: January 26, 2016Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Fred Bournay, Jr., Nicholas L. Stuart, Paul S. Paget, Michael P. Conti, Terence M. Duncan
-
Patent number: 9237825Abstract: A cooking appliance kit includes a housing having a plurality of walls defining a heating cavity and a cooking vessel that is configured to be inserted into the heating cavity. The cooking vessel includes a first rounded end, a second rounded end, and an intermediate necked portion that define first and second wells that at least partially intersect. First and second distinct heater plates are disposed in the first and second wells, respectively. An arcuate dividing wall is disposed in the heating cavity and is removably engaged with the intermediate necked portion between the first and second distinct heater plates. The arcuate dividing wall defines a circular cooking zone and a crescent cooking zone. A drive arm is removably coupled to the housing and extends over the circular cooking zone. The drive arm includes one of a flipping wand and a stirring wand.Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 2013Date of Patent: January 19, 2016Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Nicholas L. Stuart, Paul S. Paget, Michael P. Conti, Terence M. Duncan
-
Patent number: 9167938Abstract: A food processor attachment assembly for a stand mixer includes a coupling hub adapted to be received in an attachment hub of the stand mixer. A gear housing includes a gearing mechanism disposed therein to translate an output drive from the attachment hub to the coupling hub to drive an output shaft along a vertical rotational axis. The output drive is accessible at a coupling portion for attaching to various food processing discs as housed within a top housing assembly. The output drive is further accessible for coupling to the food processing attachment at a lower coupling portion for powering food processing attachments within a bowl assembly.Type: GrantFiled: November 8, 2013Date of Patent: October 27, 2015Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Kaitlyn M. Benoit, Jason M. Cassar, Michael P. Conti, Jason L. Hollinger, Everett Sidney Kettle, Zachary A. Lownds, Casey L. McCuan, Leif A. Norland
-
Publication number: 20150257433Abstract: A juicing system with a drive mechanism and a juicer assembly, where the juicer assembly includes a main housing defining a cavity. An auger having a top portion and a bottom portion is within the cavity. The auger is operably connected at one of the top portion or the bottom portion to the drive mechanism to rotate the auger. A rotatable cutting blade is disposed at the top portion of the auger to cut food inserted into the cavity. A juicing basket is disposed within the cavity, radially outwardly from the auger. The juicing basket has at least one screen with apertures therethrough of varying sizes. Food is pressed by the auger against the juicing basket to squeeze juice and pulp through the apertures. The pulp exits through a pulp chute, having a upper portion, lower portion, and check valve therebetween which is easily removable for cleaning and clog removal.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 27, 2015Publication date: September 17, 2015Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: KAITLYN M. BENOIT, FRED BOURNAY, JR., MICHAEL P. CONTI, JASSON M. CASSAR
-
Patent number: 9049965Abstract: A food processor includes a base and a bowl with a removable lid. Food items are advanced into the bowl through a feed tube formed in the lid where they are cut by a cutting assembly driven by a motor. The cutting assembly is adjustable to vary the thickness of the cut food items. An adjustment assembly positioned in the base is operable to adjust the cutting thickness of the cutting assembly while the cutting assembly is driven by the motor.Type: GrantFiled: August 20, 2013Date of Patent: June 9, 2015Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Kevin James Beber, Daivd J. Gushwa, Yung Leong Hin, Jeffrey Carl Loebig, Euan Skinner MacLeod, Qu Zhi Jie, Michael P. Conti, Thomas Allen Gillette, Brent A. Rowland
-
Patent number: 9033269Abstract: A food processor of one design includes a housing including a motor and a coupling for rotating a food processing implement. The housing receives a feed chute assembly with a receiving chute for food to be processed. The feed chute assembly also includes an aligned discharge chute communicating with a processing implement, such that food is processed linearly from the receiving chute to the discharge chute. The housing has an open front for receiving containers for food processed by said food processor. This results in a smaller food processor which is capable of directly feeding processed food into a container separate from the food processor itself.Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 2013Date of Patent: May 19, 2015Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Duane M. Kobos, Jeremy T. Wolters, Anthony S. Roberts, Michael P. Conti
-
Publication number: 20150117141Abstract: A blending appliance includes a housing with a jar receiving area defined between an upper housing and a support base. A blender jar includes a base portion and a receptacle portion, and is configured to be laterally received within the jar receiving area of the housing. A magnetic coupling system includes an upper magnetic coupler disposed in the base portion of the blender jar and a lower magnetic coupler disposed in the support base of the housing. The upper and lower magnetic couplers are magnetically coupled to one another for driving a blade assembly disposed in the receptacle portion of the blender jar. A brake mechanism is disposed on the upper magnetic coupler and is configured to stop rotation of the upper magnetic coupler when the blender jar is removed from the jar receiving area.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 7, 2014Publication date: April 30, 2015Applicant: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: BERNARD J. BROTZKI, MICHAEL P. CONTI, STEVEN C. DREES, EDWARD HANEY, PAUL S. PAGET, MITCHELL L. ROBERTSON, TIMOTHY PATRICK VANANTWERP, JEREMY T. WOLTERS
-
Publication number: 20150117139Abstract: A blender jar for use with a blending appliance includes a receptacle portion defined between an open top and a base portion. A flexibly resilient lid is removeably received at the open top and includes a central aperture which opens into the receptacle portion of the blender jar. In assembly, the lid is configured to seal against an upper housing of the blending appliance in which the blender jar is laterally received. The blender jar includes a bearing assembly having radial bearings disposed around a shaft which are biased by a biasing mechanism within a bearing housing. The blender jar may also include a removable base collar having a heating element disposed therein.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 7, 2014Publication date: April 30, 2015Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: MICHAEL P. CONTI, EDWARD HANEY, JEREMY T. WOLTERS
-
Publication number: 20150053094Abstract: A partially transparent cooking appliance includes first and second plates defining an externally accessible cavity therebetween. The first and second plates are at least partially translucent. A base is pivotally coupled with the first and second plates. The first and second plates are operable between a horizontal position and a vertical position relative to the base and an electrically resistive coating disposed on at least a portion of the first and second plates. The electrically resistive coating is in thermal communication with the cavity. A cam mechanism is operably coupled with at least one of the first and second plates. The first and second plates are operable between first and second distances relative to one another and a user interface is disposed on an exterior surface of an outer plate. The user interface is in electrical communication with the electrically resistive coating.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 21, 2013Publication date: February 26, 2015Applicant: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: MICHAEL P. CONTI, FREDRICK A. MILLETT
-
Patent number: 8943954Abstract: A food processor having a dicing tool and a cleaning tool to clean out the dicing tool.Type: GrantFiled: October 4, 2011Date of Patent: February 3, 2015Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Michael P. Conti, Keeley Kabala, Kevin James Beber, David J. Gushwa
-
Patent number: 8944357Abstract: A food processing device including a base having a motor positioned therein, a removable bowl coupled to the base, and a removable lid coupled to the bowl so as to define a processing chamber. The food processing device includes a multifunctional food processing tool that is positioned in the processing chamber and driven by the motor. The food processing tool includes a pair of adjustable blades. The food processing device includes an adjustment assembly operable to change the pitch of the adjustable blades while the food processing tool is driven by the motor.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2012Date of Patent: February 3, 2015Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Michael P. Conti, David J. Gushwa, Mitchell L. Robertson
-
Publication number: 20140262669Abstract: A clutch mechanism includes first and second shafts having a drive system disposed therebetween, wherein the first shaft is coupled to a drive mechanism. A fixed clutch plate is disposed on the second shaft and includes a plurality of ramped members disposed thereon. An attachment shaft includes a slip clutch plate disposed on a first end and having a plurality of ramped members adapted to releasably couple with the plurality of ramped members disposed on the fixed clutch plate. The slip clutch plate is operable between engaged and disengaged positions relative to the fixed clutch plate and a biasing mechanism is disposed on the attachment shaft and configured to bias the slip clutch plate towards the engaged position. The biasing mechanism is further configured to be overcome when a torque force of a predetermined load is realized on the attachment shaft.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 14, 2014Publication date: September 18, 2014Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: MICHAEL P. CONTI, EVERETT SIDNEY KETTLE, LEIF A. NORLAND, MITCHELL L. ROBERTSON, CASEY L. MCCUAN
-
Patent number: D742171Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2014Date of Patent: November 3, 2015Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventor: Michael P. Conti
-
Patent number: D742689Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2014Date of Patent: November 10, 2015Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventor: Michael P. Conti
-
Patent number: D742690Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2014Date of Patent: November 10, 2015Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventor: Michael P. Conti