Patents by Inventor Nicole M. Ernat
Nicole M. Ernat 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).
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Patent number: 11953141Abstract: A method for forming a super-insulating material for a vacuum insulated structure includes disposing glass spheres within a rotating drum. A plurality of interstitial spaces are defined between the glass spheres. A binder material is disposed within the rotating drum. The glass spheres and the at least one binder material are rotated within the rotating drum, wherein the binder material is mixed during a first mixing stage with the glass spheres. A first insulating material is disposed within the rotating drum. The binder material, the first insulating material and the glass spheres are mixed to define an insulating base. A second insulating material is disposed within the rotating drum. The secondary insulating material is mixed with the insulating base to define a homogenous form of the super-insulating material, wherein the first and second insulating materials occupy substantially all of the interstitial spaces.Type: GrantFiled: April 18, 2023Date of Patent: April 9, 2024Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Lakshya J. Deka, Nicole M. Ernat
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Publication number: 20230250917Abstract: A method for forming a super-insulating material for a vacuum insulated structure includes disposing glass spheres within a rotating drum. A plurality of interstitial spaces are defined between the glass spheres. A binder material is disposed within the rotating drum. The glass spheres and the at least one binder material are rotated within the rotating drum, wherein the binder material is mixed during a first mixing stage with the glass spheres. A first insulating material is disposed within the rotating drum. The binder material, the first insulating material and the glass spheres are mixed to define an insulating base. A second insulating material is disposed within the rotating drum. The secondary insulating material is mixed with the insulating base to define a homogenous form of the super-insulating material, wherein the first and second insulating materials occupy substantially all of the interstitial spaces.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 18, 2023Publication date: August 10, 2023Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: Lakshya J. Deka, Nicole M. Ernat
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Patent number: 11674632Abstract: A method for forming a super-insulating material for a vacuum insulated structure includes disposing glass spheres within a rotating drum. A plurality of interstitial spaces are defined between the glass spheres. A binder material is disposed within the rotating drum. The glass spheres and the at least one binder material are rotated within the rotating drum, wherein the binder material is mixed during a first mixing stage with the glass spheres. A first insulating material is disposed within the rotating drum. The binder material, the first insulating material and the glass spheres are mixed to define an insulating base. A second insulating material is disposed within the rotating drum. The secondary insulating material is mixed with the insulating base to define a homogenous form of the super-insulating material, wherein the first and second insulating materials occupy substantially all of the interstitial spaces.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2022Date of Patent: June 13, 2023Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Lakshya J. Deka, Nicole M. Ernat
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Publication number: 20220275902Abstract: A method for forming a super-insulating material for a vacuum insulated structure includes disposing glass spheres within a rotating drum. A plurality of interstitial spaces are defined between the glass spheres. A binder material is disposed within the rotating drum. The glass spheres and the at least one binder material are rotated within the rotating drum, wherein the binder material is mixed during a first mixing stage with the glass spheres. A first insulating material is disposed within the rotating drum. The binder material, the first insulating material and the glass spheres are mixed to define an insulating base. A second insulating material is disposed within the rotating drum. The secondary insulating material is mixed with the insulating base to define a homogenous form of the super-insulating material, wherein the first and second insulating materials occupy substantially all of the interstitial spaces.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 18, 2022Publication date: September 1, 2022Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: Lakshya J. Deka, Nicole M. Ernat
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Patent number: 11365843Abstract: A method for forming a super-insulating material for a vacuum insulated structure includes disposing glass spheres within a rotating drum. A plurality of interstitial spaces are defined between the glass spheres. A binder material is disposed within the rotating drum. The glass spheres and the at least one binder material are rotated within the rotating drum, wherein the binder material is mixed during a first mixing stage with the glass spheres. A first insulating material is disposed within the rotating drum. The binder material, the first insulating material and the glass spheres are mixed to define an insulating base. A second insulating material is disposed within the rotating drum. The secondary insulating material is mixed with the insulating base to define a homogenous form of the super-insulating material, wherein the first and second insulating materials occupy substantially all of the interstitial spaces.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2017Date of Patent: June 21, 2022Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Lakshya J. Deka, Nicole M. Ernat
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Publication number: 20210002162Abstract: A low-density insulating material for use in a vacuum insulated structure for an appliance includes a plurality of microspheres that includes a plurality of leached microspheres. Each leached microsphere has an outer wall and an interior volume. The outer wall has a hole that extends through the outer wall and to the interior volume. A binder engages outer surfaces of the plurality of leached microspheres, wherein the binder cooperates with the plurality of leached microspheres to form at least one microsphere aggregate. The interior volume of each leached microsphere defines an insulating space that includes an insulating gas. The insulating space of each leached microsphere is at least partially defined by the binder.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 9, 2018Publication date: January 7, 2021Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: Lakshya J. Deka, Nicole M. Ernat, Ashish Nigam, Shayta Roy
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Publication number: 20200318776Abstract: A method for forming a super-insulating material for a vacuum insulated structure includes disposing glass spheres within a rotating drum. A plurality of interstitial spaces are defined between the glass spheres. A binder material is disposed within the rotating drum. The glass spheres and the at least one binder material are rotated within the rotating drum, wherein the binder material is mixed during a first mixing stage with the glass spheres. A first insulating material is disposed within the rotating drum. The binder material, the first insulating material and the glass spheres are mixed to define an insulating base. A second insulating material is disposed within the rotating drum. The secondary insulating material is mixed with the insulating base to define a homogenous form of the super-insulating material, wherein the first and second insulating materials occupy substantially all of the interstitial spaces.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 7, 2017Publication date: October 8, 2020Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: Lakshya J. Deka, Nicole M. Ernat
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Patent number: 10648609Abstract: A structural cabinet for an appliance includes an outer wrapper and an inner liner defining an insulating cavity therebetween. A first insulating structural layer is disposed against an inner surface of the outer wrapper. A second insulating structural layer is disposed against the inward surface of the inner liner. A core insulating material is disposed between the first and second structural insulating layers, wherein the first and second insulating structural layers reinforce the outer wrapper and inner liner, respectively, and resist deflection when the core insulating material is in a compressed state within the insulating cavity.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 2017Date of Patent: May 12, 2020Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Nicole M. Ernat, Ashish Nigam
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Publication number: 20190162355Abstract: A structural cabinet for an appliance includes an outer wrapper and an inner liner defining an insulating cavity therebetween. A first insulating structural layer is disposed against an inner surface of the outer wrapper. A second insulating structural layer is disposed against the inward surface of the inner liner. A core insulating material is disposed between the first and second structural insulating layers, wherein the first and second insulating structural layers reinforce the outer wrapper and inner liner, respectively, and resist deflection when the core insulating material is in a compressed state within the insulating cavity.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 28, 2017Publication date: May 30, 2019Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: Nicole M. Ernat, Ashish Nigam