Patents by Inventor Michael Stephen Hendrickson

Michael Stephen Hendrickson 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: 9091010
    Abstract: A washer and a control for an automatic washer to operate the washer through a wash cycle selected based upon a range of conditions of a fabric load to be washed. The control has a plurality of selectable stain type entrées, each with a particular dedicated wash cycle. The control also has dispensing control over at least two wash liquor additives, one being a detergent and the other being an oxidizing agent. The control operates the dedicated wash cycles, as selected, using both the detergent and the oxidizing agent, however, the detergent and the oxidizing agent may be dispensed in different orders and at different times and in different amounts, depending on the stain type selected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Joel Adam Luckman, Timothy Nicholas Aykroyd, Tremitchell Wright, Michael Stephen Hendrickson, Colleen M. Doyle, Joseph W. Adams, Robert D. Riehle
  • Patent number: 8756738
    Abstract: A wash cycle for a clothes washer with a wash zone defined within a rotating drum having an outer wall, for receiving a fabric load. The steps include dispensing a volume of a first wash liquor to the wash zone, rotating the drum to move the fabric load toward the outer wall and recirculating the first wash liquor through the fabric load and wash zone, all during a first time period. The fabric load is flexed during a second time period. The cycle continues with dispensing a volume of a second, different wash liquor to the wash zone, rotating the drum to move the fabric load toward the outer wall and recirculating the second liquor through the fabric load and wash zone during a third time period. One of the two wash liquors is an oxidizing agent wash liquor. Then the remainder of the wash cycle is completed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Joel Adam Luckman, Michael Stephen Hendrickson, Tremitchell Wright, Katherine E. Warner
  • Patent number: 8555677
    Abstract: A treatment aid dispensing apparatus for an automatic treatment appliance includes a bulk treatment aid dispenser, a sensor coupled with the bulk treatment aid dispenser, and a controller coupled with the sensor and the bulk treatment aid dispenser. A quantity of an undiluted treatment aid can be determined by the controller prior to dispensing from the bulk treatment aid dispenser based upon information from the sensor indicative of a sensed concentration of the undiluted treatment aid. The controller can process the information from the sensor and control the operation of the bulk treatment aid dispenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Stephen Hendrickson, Dennis L. Kehl, Ayomide Fawole
  • Publication number: 20130219630
    Abstract: A wash cycle for a clothes washer with a wash zone defined within a rotating drum having an outer wall, for receiving a fabric load. The steps include dispensing a volume of a first wash liquor to the wash zone, rotating the drum to move the fabric load toward the outer wall and recirculating the first wash liquor through the fabric load and wash zone, all during a first time period. The fabric load is flexed during a second time period. The cycle continues with dispensing a volume of a second, different wash liquor to the wash zone, rotating the drum to move the fabric load toward the outer wall and recirculating the second liquor through the fabric load and wash zone during a third time period. One of the two wash liquors is an oxidizing agent wash liquor. Then the remainder of the wash cycle is completed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2012
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: JOEL ADAM LUCKMAN, MICHAEL STEPHEN HENDRICKSON, TREMITCHELL WRIGHT, KATHERINE E. WARNER
  • Patent number: 8505341
    Abstract: A household cleaning appliance includes a bulk dispensing system configured to receive a removable cartridge containing multiple doses of treating chemistry and configured to deliver a charge of treating chemistry from the cartridge to a treating chamber and a water supply configured to be selectively coupled to the bulk dispensing system to flush at least a portion of the bulk dispensing system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Stephen Hendrickson, Michael T. Dalton
  • Patent number: 8490440
    Abstract: A control for an automatic washer to operate the washer through a wash cycle determined based upon various soils and stains in the substrate load to be washed with a wash liquor in a wash zone of the washer. The control has a plurality of stain/soil type entrées, which can be at least one of selected and detected, and cleaned with a particular wash cycle. The control has dispensing control over at least one wash liquor additive. The control has a user input to permit the user to customize the operation of the control with regard to the dispensing of the various wash liquor additive and a timing mechanism. The control has operational control over the particular wash cycles using the dispensing control to dispense additives to the wash liquor at selected times during the wash cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy Nicholas Aykroyd, Colleen M. Doyle, Tremitchell Wright, Joel Adam Luckman, Janice M. Kaeding, Michael Stephen Hendrickson
  • Patent number: 8397544
    Abstract: An apparatus with a single water flow path suitable for a household cleaning appliance having both a non-bulk dispensing system and a bulk dispensing system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventor: Michael Stephen Hendrickson
  • Patent number: 8397328
    Abstract: An apparatus and method of using an automatic washing machine to determine a concentration of a wash aid in a wash liquid, and implementing a controlled flushing of the wash aid in response to the determined concentration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Stephen Hendrickson, Colleen M. Doyle, Frank Nekic, Joel Adam Luckman, Ayomide Fawole
  • Patent number: 8388695
    Abstract: An automatic washing machine can be operated in accordance with a selected wash cycle by determining a concentration of a wash aid prior to a dispensing of the wash aid into at least one of a tub and a drum, and selecting an operating parameter of the automatic washing machine in response to the determined concentration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Stephen Hendrickson, Colleen M. Doyle, Frank Nekic, Dennis L. Kehl, Joel Adam Luckman, Ayomide Fawole
  • Publication number: 20120304706
    Abstract: An automatic treatment machine includes a treatment chamber, a bulk treatment aid dispenser fluidly coupled with the treatment chamber, and optionally a water supply fluidly coupled with at least one of the dispenser and the treatment chamber. A method for dispensing a treatment aid from the bulk treatment aid dispenser into the automatic treatment machine in accordance with a selected treatment cycle includes selecting a treatment cycle, determining a concentration of the treatment aid, determining a volume of the treatment aid to be dispensed based upon the determined concentration, dispensing the determined volume of the treatment aid from the bulk treatment aid dispenser, and initiating the selected treatment cycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2012
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: MICHAEL STEPHEN HENDRICKSON, DENNIS L. KEHL, AYOMIDE FAWOLE
  • Patent number: 8281439
    Abstract: A control for an automatic washer to operate the washer through a wash cycle determined based upon various soils and stains in the substrate load to be washed with a wash liquor in a wash zone of the washer. The control has a plurality of stain/soil type entrées, which can be at least one of selected and detected, and cleaned with a particular wash cycle. The control has dispensing control over at least one wash liquor additive. The control has operational control over activators and deactivators for members of the additives group. The control has operational control over the particular wash cycles using the dispensing control to dispense additives to the wash liquor at selected times during the wash cycle and operating the activators and deactivators at selected times during the wash cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Zaki Yusuf, Joel Adam Luckman, Tremitchell Wright, Janice M. Kaeding, Timothy Nicholas Aykroyd, Michael Stephen Hendrickson, Colleen M. Doyle, Robert D. Riehle
  • Patent number: 8266748
    Abstract: An automatic treatment machine includes a treatment chamber, a bulk treatment aid dispenser fluidly coupled with the treatment chamber, and optionally a water supply fluidly coupled with at least one of the dispenser and the treatment chamber. A method for dispensing a treatment aid from the bulk treatment aid dispenser into the automatic treatment machine in accordance with a selected treatment cycle includes selecting a treatment cycle, determining a concentration of the treatment aid, determining a volume of the treatment aid to be dispensed based upon the determined concentration, dispensing the determined volume of the treatment aid from the bulk treatment aid dispenser, and initiating the selected treatment cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Stephen Hendrickson, Dennis L. Kehl, Ayomide Fawole
  • Patent number: 8261391
    Abstract: A wash cycle for a clothes washer, the clothes washer having a wash zone defined within a rotating drum having an outer wall, for receiving a load of fabric. The steps include dispensing a volume of a first wash liquor to the wash zone, rotating the drum to move the fabric load toward the outer wall and recirculating the first wash liquor through the fabric load and wash zone, all during a first period of time. The fabric load is then flexed during a second period of time. The cycle continues with the steps of dispensing a volume of a second, different wash liquor to the wash zone, rotating the drum to move the fabric load toward the outer wall and recirculating the second liquor through the fabric load and wash zone during a third period of time. One of the two wash liquors is an oxidizing agent wash liquor. Then the remainder of the wash cycle is completed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Joel Adam Luckman, Michael Stephen Hendrickson, Tremitchell Wright, Katherine E. Warner
  • Publication number: 20120216836
    Abstract: A household cleaning appliance includes a bulk dispensing system configured to receive a removable cartridge containing multiple doses of treating chemistry and configured to deliver a charge of treating chemistry from the cartridge to a treating chamber and a water supply configured to be selectively coupled to the bulk dispensing system to flush at least a portion of the bulk dispensing system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2012
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: MICHAEL STEPHEN HENDRICKSON, MICHAEL T. DALTON
  • Patent number: 8246756
    Abstract: A household cleaning appliance includes a bulk dispensing system configured to receive a removable cartridge containing multiple doses of treating chemistry and configured to deliver a charge of treating chemistry from the cartridge to a treating chamber and a water supply configured to be selectively coupled to the bulk dispensing system to flush at least a portion of the bulk dispensing system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Stephen Hendrickson, Michael T. Dalton
  • Publication number: 20120012137
    Abstract: A household cleaning appliance includes a bulk dispensing system configured to receive a removable cartridge containing multiple doses of treating chemistry and configured to deliver a charge of treating chemistry from the cartridge to a treating chamber and a water supply configured to be selectively coupled to the bulk dispensing system to flush at least a portion of the bulk dispensing system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: MICHAEL STEPHEN HENDRICKSON, MICHAEL T. DALTON
  • Publication number: 20120011662
    Abstract: A control for an automatic washer to operate the washer through a wash cycle determined based upon various soils and stains in the substrate load to be washed with a wash liquor in a wash zone of the washer. The control has a plurality of stain/soil type entrées, which can be at least one of selected and detected, and cleaned with a particular wash cycle. The control has dispensing control over at least one wash liquor additive. The control has operational control over activators and deactivators for members of the additives group. The control has operational control over the particular wash cycles using the dispensing control to dispense additives to the wash liquor at selected times during the wash cycle and operating the activators and deactivators at selected times during the wash cycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2011
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: ZAKI YUSUF, JOEL ADAM LUCKMAN, TREMITCHELL WRIGHT, JANICE M. KAEDING, TIMOTHY NICHOLAS AYKROYD, MICHAEL STEPHEN HENDRICKSON, COLLEEN M. DOYLE, ROBERT D. RIEHLE
  • Patent number: 8052805
    Abstract: A method for flushing at least a portion of a bulk dispensing system in a household cleaning appliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Stephen Hendrickson, Michael T. Dalton
  • Patent number: 8047024
    Abstract: A control for an automatic washer to operate the washer through a wash cycle determined based upon various soils and stains in the substrate load to be washed with a wash liquor in a wash zone of the washer. The control has a plurality of stain/soil type entrées, which can be at least one of selected and detected, and cleaned with a particular wash cycle. The control has dispensing control over at least one wash liquor additive. The control has operational control over activators and deactivators for members of the additives group. The control has operational control over the particular wash cycles using the dispensing control to dispense additives to the wash liquor at selected times during the wash cycle and operating the activators and deactivators at selected times during the wash cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Zaki Yusuf, Joel Adam Luckman, Tremitchell Wright, Janice M. Kaeding, Timothy Nicholas Aykroyd, Michael Stephen Hendrickson, Colleen M. Doyle, Robert D. Riehle
  • Patent number: 7904985
    Abstract: A substrate treating appliance utilizing a plurality of different chemistries for different cycles or different wash loads with a plurality of receptacles for receiving a plurality of cartridges containing the different chemistries. Each receptacle has one half of a lock and key connection arrangement providing a unique interconnection configuration at each receptacle, relative to the remaining receptacles, permitting only a selected type of chemistry cartridge to be accepted at a particular receptacle. A connection effected between the cartridge and the receptacle occurs by rotation of the cartridge relative to the receptacle between an insertion orientation and a locking orientation. Each receptacle is shaped to receive a cylindrical mouth wall of a particular type of chemistry cartridge. Each receptacle may also be uniquely sized, relative to the remaining receptacles, to accept only a selected type of chemistry cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Stephen Hendrickson, Timothy Nicholas Aykroyd, Tremitchell Wright, Joel Adam Luckman, Colleen M. Doyle