Patents by Inventor NATHAN C. WIER

NATHAN C. WIER 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: 11470999
    Abstract: A method for operating a cooking system includes receiving information from a powered cooking accessory positioned within an interior cavity of an oven. The powered cooking accessory includes a body receivable within an interior of the oven, a first electronic device coupled with the body, and a device coupling extending from the body. The method further includes determining at least one characteristic of the powered cooking accessory and providing electrical power to the electronic device by an electrical coupling between the device coupling and a connection port within the interior cavity of the oven at a predetermined output level based on the at least one characteristic thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher A. Gregory, Nathan C. Wier
  • Patent number: 11460195
    Abstract: A cooking appliance includes sidewalls and a rear wall defining a heating cavity. At least one heat source is in thermal communication with the heating cavity. An oven cavity connector is disposed within an interior surface of the heating cavity. The oven cavity connector is in communication with the heating cavity. A first tray sliding structure is disposed proximate opposing vertical sidewalls of the heating cavity. A second tray sliding structure is disposed proximate the opposing vertical sidewalls and is vertically offset relative to the first tray sliding structure. A powered accessory tray has a connecting plug, the powered accessory tray being alternatively and selectively engaged with one of the first and second sliding tray structures, and the connecting plug is in selective communication with oven cavity connector when the powered accessory tray is engaged with any one of the first and second tray sliding structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Zachary J. Bruin-Slot, Christopher A. Gregory, Darrin H. McGee, Rafael G. Reyes, Nathan C. Wier
  • Publication number: 20210025597
    Abstract: A cooking appliance includes sidewalls and a rear wall defining a heating cavity. At least one heat source is in thermal communication with the heating cavity. An oven cavity connector is disposed within an interior surface of the heating cavity. The oven cavity connector is in communication with the heating cavity. A first tray sliding structure is disposed proximate opposing vertical sidewalls of the heating cavity. A second tray sliding structure is disposed proximate the opposing vertical sidewalls and is vertically offset relative to the first tray sliding structure. A powered accessory tray has a connecting plug, the powered accessory tray being alternatively and selectively engaged with one of the first and second sliding tray structures, and the connecting plug is in selective communication with oven cavity connector when the powered accessory tray is engaged with any one of the first and second tray sliding structures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2020
    Publication date: January 28, 2021
    Applicant: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Zachary J. Bruin-Slot, Christopher A. Gregory, Darrin H. McGee, Rafael G. Reyes, Nathan C. Wier
  • Patent number: 10837651
    Abstract: A cooking appliance includes sidewalls and a rear wall defining a heating cavity. At least one heat source is in thermal communication with the heating cavity. An oven cavity connector is disposed within an interior surface of the heating cavity. The oven cavity connector is in communication with the heating cavity. A first tray sliding structure is disposed proximate opposing vertical sidewalls of the heating cavity. A second tray sliding structure is disposed proximate the opposing vertical sidewalls and is vertically offset relative to the first tray sliding structure. A powered accessory tray has a connecting plug, the powered accessory tray being alternatively and selectively engaged with one of the first and second sliding tray structures, and the connecting plug is in selective communication with oven cavity connector when the powered accessory tray is engaged with any one of the first and second tray sliding structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Zachary J. Bruin-Slot, Christopher A. Gregory, Darrin H. McGee, Rafael G. Reyes, Nathan C. Wier
  • Publication number: 20200085237
    Abstract: A method for operating a cooking system includes receiving information from a powered cooking accessory positioned within an interior cavity of an oven. The powered cooking accessory includes a body receivable within an interior of the oven, a first electronic device coupled with the body, and a device coupling extending from the body. The method further includes determining at least one characteristic of the powered cooking accessory and providing electrical power to the electronic device by an electrical coupling between the device coupling and a connection port within the interior cavity of the oven at a predetermined output level based on the at least one characteristic thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2019
    Publication date: March 19, 2020
    Applicant: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher A. Gregory, Nathan C. Wier
  • Patent number: 10524614
    Abstract: A powered cooking accessory for use in an oven includes a body receivable within an interior of the oven and a first electronic device received within a portion of the body. The accessory further includes a device coupling extending from the body and having a power coupling exposed thereon and electrically connected with the electronic device. The device coupling has an identification element encoded with information regarding at least one characteristic of the accessory and is coupleable with the oven to receive electrical power from the oven and to communicate the information encoded with the identification element to the oven.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher A. Gregory, Nathan C. Wier
  • Patent number: 10024545
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes a system for power management of a plurality of heating sources for an electric range. The system includes a cooktop element, an oven element, and a switch in electrical connection with the cooktop element. The switch is configured to supply a first voltage or a second voltage to the cooktop element from a voltage source. The system further includes a controller in communication with the oven element and configured to control the at least one switch. The controller is configured to control the switch in a first state and a second state. In the first state, the controller controls the switch to supply the first voltage to the cooktop element in response to an off-state of the oven element. In the second state, the controller controls the switch to supply the second voltage to the cooktop element in response to an on-state of the oven element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: James C. Johncock, Anthony M. Wickey, Nathan C. Wier
  • Publication number: 20170089590
    Abstract: A cooking appliance includes sidewalls and a rear wall defining a heating cavity. At least one heat source is in thermal communication with the heating cavity. An oven cavity connector is disposed within an interior surface of the heating cavity. The oven cavity connector is in communication with the heating cavity. A first tray sliding structure is disposed proximate opposing vertical sidewalls of the heating cavity. A second tray sliding structure is disposed proximate the opposing vertical sidewalls and is vertically offset relative to the first tray sliding structure. A powered accessory tray has a connecting plug, the powered accessory tray being alternatively and selectively engaged with one of the first and second sliding tray structures, and the connecting plug is in selective communication with oven cavity connector when the powered accessory tray is engaged with any one of the first and second tray sliding structures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2015
    Publication date: March 30, 2017
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Zachary J. Bruin-Slot, Christopher A. Gregory, Darrin H. McGee, Rafael G. Reyes, Nathan C. Wier
  • Publication number: 20160095469
    Abstract: A powered cooking accessory for use in an oven includes a body receivable within an interior of the oven and a first electronic device received within a portion of the body. The accessory further includes a device coupling extending from the body and having a power coupling exposed thereon and electrically connected with the electronic device. The device coupling has an identification element encoded with information regarding at least one characteristic of the accessory and is coupleable with the oven to receive electrical power from the oven and to communicate the information encoded with the identification element to the oven.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2015
    Publication date: April 7, 2016
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Christopher A. Gregory, Nathan C. Wier
  • Publication number: 20150300651
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes a system for power management of a plurality of heating sources for an electric range. The system includes a cooktop element, an oven element, and a switch in electrical connection with the cooktop element. The switch is configured to supply a first voltage or a second voltage to the cooktop element from a voltage source. The system further includes a controller in communication with the oven element and configured to control the at least one switch. The controller is configured to control the switch in a first state and a second state. In the first state, the controller controls the switch to supply the first voltage to the cooktop element in response to an off-state of the oven element. In the second state, the controller controls the switch to supply the second voltage to the cooktop element in response to an on-state of the oven element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2014
    Publication date: October 22, 2015
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: JAMES C. JOHNCOCK, ANTHONY M. WICKEY, NATHAN C. WIER