Patents by Inventor Paul B. Allard
Paul B. Allard 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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Publication number: 20220299257Abstract: An appliance includes an outer wrapper, an inner liner, a trim breaker having a wrapper channel that receives a wrapper edge of the outer wrapper and a liner channel that receives a liner edge of the inner liner, and an insulation material disposed within an insulating cavity defined therebetween. A multi-component thermal encapsulation material defines pre-mix, application and sealing states. The pre-mix state is defined by the distinct components of the thermal encapsulation material being separated from one another, the application state defined by the distinct components combined together into an uncured state of the thermal encapsulation material, and the sealing state defined by the thermal encapsulation material disposed within the wrapper and liner channels and surrounding the wrapper and liner edges, respectively, in the sealing state that defines a hermetic seal between the trim breaker and the outer wrapper and the inner liner.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 8, 2022Publication date: September 22, 2022Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: Paul B. Allard, Lakshya J. Deka, Gustavo Frattini, Lynne F. Hunter, Hua Liu, Abhay Naik, Eric J. Vasko, Jerry M. Visin
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Publication number: 20220299252Abstract: A method of forming an insulated door panel includes folding side flanges of a metallic sheet to define side edges of a structural outer panel that extend from a front panel. A gap is defined between each set of adjacent side edges. Interior blocks are secured to an interior of the structural outer panel proximate each gap to define adhesive cavities. Exterior blocks are positioned at an exterior surface of the structural outer panel at each gap to further define the adhesive cavities. An adhesive is disposed within each adhesive cavity and is contained therein by the interior and exterior blocks. The adhesive is cured to a solid sealing member that adheres the interior blocks to the interior surface of the structural outer panel to form a sealed structural panel. The exterior blocks are removed and each solid sealing member defines a hermetic seal at each gap.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 7, 2022Publication date: September 22, 2022Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: Paul B. Allard, Gustavo Frattini, Hua Liu
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Patent number: 11435130Abstract: A door panel for a refrigerating appliance includes an inner liner. An outer wrapper is attached to the inner liner and defines an insulating structure with an insulating cavity disposed therein. An insulating material is defined within the insulating cavity. A dispenser structure is defined within a central portion of the inner liner and the outer wrapper. The dispenser structure defines an insulated dispenser portion therein. A dispenser conduit extends from an interior area disposed above the dispenser structure to an external dispensing cavity and passing through the insulated dispenser portion.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2020Date of Patent: September 6, 2022Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Paul B. Allard, Sarah Galea, Dustin M. Miller, Vikas C. Mruthyunjaya, Abhay Naik, Sanjesh Kumar Pathak
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Patent number: 11427998Abstract: An insulated structure comprises a first panel and a second panel coupled to the first panel. The first and second panels define an insulating cavity therebetween. A port is defined by the second panel. The port is an opening into the insulating cavity. A connector is coupled to the second panel. A tube is coupled to the connector and extends parallel along the second panel.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2021Date of Patent: August 30, 2022Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Paul B. Allard, Jeffrey Beckner, Sunil S. Ekshinge, Abhay Naik, Manjunathraddi Navalgund, Rafael D. Nunes, Sanjesh Kumar Pathak
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Patent number: 11402148Abstract: A method of forming an insulated door panel includes folding side flanges of a metallic sheet to define side edges of a structural outer panel that extend from a front panel. A gap is defined between each set of adjacent side edges. Interior blocks are secured to an interior of the structural outer panel proximate each gap to define adhesive cavities. Exterior blocks are positioned at an exterior surface of the structural outer panel at each gap to further define the adhesive cavities. An adhesive is disposed within each adhesive cavity and is contained therein by the interior and exterior blocks. The adhesive is cured to a solid sealing member that adheres the interior blocks to the interior surface of the structural outer panel to form a sealed structural panel. The exterior blocks are removed and each solid sealing member defines a hermetic seal at each gap.Type: GrantFiled: May 4, 2021Date of Patent: August 2, 2022Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Paul B. Allard, Gustavo Frattini, Hua Liu
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Patent number: 11402149Abstract: An appliance includes an outer wrapper, an inner liner, a trim breaker having a wrapper channel that receives a wrapper edge of the outer wrapper and a liner channel that receives a liner edge of the inner liner, and an insulation material disposed within an insulating cavity defined therebetween. A multi-component thermal encapsulation material defines pre-mix, application and sealing states. The pre-mix state is defined by the distinct components of the thermal encapsulation material being separated from one another, the application state defined by the distinct components combined together into an uncured state of the thermal encapsulation material, and the sealing state defined by the thermal encapsulation material disposed within the wrapper and liner channels and surrounding the wrapper and liner edges, respectively, in the sealing state that defines a hermetic seal between the trim breaker and the outer wrapper and the inner liner.Type: GrantFiled: October 3, 2016Date of Patent: August 2, 2022Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Paul B. Allard, Lakshya J. Deka, Gustavo Frattini, Lynne F. Hunter, Hua Liu, Abhay Naik, Eric J. Vasko, Jerry M. Visin
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Patent number: 11397044Abstract: A method of making an insulated cabinet for a refrigerator comprises: welding sheet metal to form an external wrapper, the external wrapper including an interior and welded areas with an outboard-facing side; welding sheet metal to form a first liner configured to be disposed within the interior of the external wrapper, the first liner including welded areas with an inboard-facing side; applying an adhesive to the outboard-facing side of the welded areas of the external wrapper; applying an adhesive to the inboard-facing side of the welded areas of the first liner; and disposing the first liner within the interior of the external wrapper, leaving a space between the first liner and the external wrapper.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2017Date of Patent: July 26, 2022Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Paul B. Allard, Tao Liu, Hua Liu, Abhay Naik
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Patent number: 11391506Abstract: A refrigerator cabinet is provided that includes an inner liner and an external wrapper. The inner liner is positioned within the external wrapper such that a gap is defined between the external wrapper and inner liner. The external wrapper includes a machine compartment including: a top wall, an interior wall, a bottom wall, a first side wall and a second side wall. A foot is defined by the external wrapper and is positioned below the machine compartment. The foot is at least partially defined by the bottom wall and at least partially supports the refrigerator cabinet.Type: GrantFiled: August 18, 2016Date of Patent: July 19, 2022Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Jeffrey P. Beckner, Paul B. Allard, Lynne F. Hunter, Gustavo Frattini, Abhay Naik
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Publication number: 20220196200Abstract: An appliance includes a panel having a raised landing outwardly extending from a first surface of the panel. A vacuum port is disposed on the raised landing. A system of channels is disposed over the first surface of the panel and outwardly extends therefrom. The system of channels substantially covers the first surface of the panel. The first surface of the panel is covered with a filter member that covers the system of channels. The raised landing, and vacuum port thereof, is fluidically coupled to the system of channels at multiple connecting locations.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 8, 2022Publication date: June 23, 2022Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: Paul B. Allard, Jeffrey Beckner, Sunil S. Ekshinge, Abhay Naik, Sanjesh Pathak
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Publication number: 20220186873Abstract: A vacuum insulated structure includes a first panel having an inner surface defining an area. The first panel includes a vacuum port. A trim breaker interconnects the first panel with a second panel in an air-tight manner to define a vacuum cavity therebetween. A first filter member is disposed on and substantially covers the area of the inner surface of the first panel and the vacuum port of the first panel. A second filter member substantially covers the first filter member to define a channel therebetween. The channel includes an area commensurate with the area of the inner surface of the first panel. The first panel may also include a mesh member covered by a filter member to define a channel therebetween to improve evacuation time using the channel to evacuate the vacuum cavity.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 3, 2022Publication date: June 16, 2022Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: Paul B. Allard, Sunil S. Ekshinge, Sanjesh Kumar Pathak
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Patent number: 11320193Abstract: A refrigeration appliance door is provided that includes a door wrapper forming an exterior of the appliance door. The door wrapper defines a wrapper flange defining a plurality of wrapper protrusions. A door liner defines a liner flange. The liner flange defines a plurality of liner protrusions. The door wrapper and the door liner are in a spaced apart configuration. A trim breaker defines a wrapper groove, a liner groove and a gasket groove. The wrapper flange is centered within the wrapper groove and the liner flange is centered within the liner groove. An adhesive is positioned within each of the wrapper and liner grooves. A portion of a gasket is positioned within the gasket groove of the trim breaker.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2016Date of Patent: May 3, 2022Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Jerry M. Visin, Lynne F. Hunter, Paul B. Allard
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Patent number: 11313611Abstract: A door panel includes an outer panel having a generally planar body portion with inner and outer surfaces and a sidewall with a front edge. An inner panel includes a generally planar body portion with inner and outer surfaces and a sidewall with a front edge. A trim breaker interconnects the outer panel and the inner panel to form a vacuum cavity therebetween. The trim breaker includes first and second upright members interconnected by upper and lower cross members. The trim breaker further includes an inner channel and an outer channel spaced-apart from one another around the trim breaker. The outer channel is outwardly disposed around the inner channel. The front edge of the inner panel is received in the inner channel of the trim breaker, and the front edge of the outer panel is received in the outer channel of the trim breaker.Type: GrantFiled: May 1, 2019Date of Patent: April 26, 2022Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Paul B. Allard, Jeffrey Beckner, Kamil EL Sayed, Lynne F. Hunter, Sai B. Krishna, Dustin M. Miller, Abhay Naik, Karen J. Querfurth, Daniel Lottinville
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Publication number: 20220120490Abstract: A refrigerator includes an insulated cabinet structure and a cooling system. A door assembly includes a perimeter structure that is movably mounted to the insulated cabinet structure and an outer door that is movably mounted to the perimeter structure whereby the outer door can be moved between open and closed positions relative to the perimeter structure when the perimeter structure is in its closed position The outer door may comprise a vacuum insulated structure including porous core material disposed in a cavity of the outer door.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 30, 2021Publication date: April 21, 2022Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: Abhay Naik, Lakshya Deka, Paul B. Allard, Jerry M. Visin
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Patent number: 11300238Abstract: A vacuum insulated structure includes a first panel having an inner surface defining an area. The first panel includes a vacuum port. A trim breaker interconnects the first panel with a second panel in an air-tight manner to define a vacuum cavity therebetween. A first filter member is disposed on and substantially covers the area of the inner surface of the first panel and the vacuum port of the first panel. A second filter member substantially covers the first filter member to define a channel therebetween. The channel includes an area commensurate with the area of the inner surface of the first panel. The first panel may also include a mesh member covered by a filter member to define a channel therebetween to improve evacuation time using the channel to evacuate the vacuum cavity.Type: GrantFiled: January 21, 2019Date of Patent: April 12, 2022Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Paul B. Allard, Sunil S. Ekshinge, Sanjesh Kumar Pathak
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Patent number: 11300239Abstract: An appliance includes a panel having a raised landing outwardly extending from a first surface of the panel. A vacuum port is disposed on the raised landing. A system of channels is disposed over the first surface of the panel and outwardly extends therefrom. The system of channels substantially covers the first surface of the panel. The first surface of the panel is covered with a filter member that covers the system of channels. The raised landing, and vacuum port thereof, is fluidically coupled to the system of channels at multiple connecting locations.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2021Date of Patent: April 12, 2022Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Paul B. Allard, Jeffrey Beckner, Sunil S. Ekshinge, Abhay Naik, Sanjesh Pathak
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Publication number: 20220107046Abstract: An appliance includes a metallic outer wrapper having sidewalls, a wrapper backwall and a machine wall. At least one metallic inner liner has liner walls and a liner backwall, wherein the metallic outer wrapper and the at least one metallic inner liner are coupled together at a trim breaker to define a structural cabinet having a hermetically sealed interior cavity defined between the metallic outer wrapper and the at least one metallic inner liner. The trim breaker defines a front face of the structural cabinet. At least one trim breaker conduit extends through the wrapper and liner backwalls wherein the trim breaker conduit defines a conduit through the structural cabinet, and wherein the structural cabinet is hermetically sealed at the trim breaker conduit.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 16, 2021Publication date: April 7, 2022Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: Paul B. Allard, Mohamed Alshourbagy, Lakshya J. Deka, Eric J. Dherde, Gustavo Frattini, Alberto R. Gomes, Lynne F. Hunter, Giulia Marinello, Abhay Naik, Sanjesh Kumar Pathak, Jerry M. Visin
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Publication number: 20220107236Abstract: An appliance includes a metallic liner and an outer metallic wrapper. An insulating cavity is defined between the metallic liner and outer metallic wrapper. The appliance further includes a pressure sensing device disposed within the cavity. The pressure sensing device is located to detect a pressure status and transmit the pressure status through at least one of the metallic liner and outer metallic wrapper.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 15, 2021Publication date: April 7, 2022Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: Paul B. Allard, Sai B. Krishna, Abhay Naik, Sanjesh Kumar Pathak
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Patent number: 11248979Abstract: An appliance includes a metallic liner and an outer metallic wrapper. An insulating cavity is defined between the metallic liner and outer metallic wrapper. The appliance further includes a pressure sensing device disposed within the cavity. The pressure sensing device is located to detect a pressure status and transmit the pressure status through at least one of the metallic liner and outer metallic wrapper.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2019Date of Patent: February 15, 2022Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Paul B. Allard, Sai B. Krishna, Abhay Naik, Sanjesh Kumar Pathak
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Patent number: 11248734Abstract: An appliance includes a metallic outer wrapper having sidewalls, a wrapper backwall and a machine wall. At least one metallic inner liner has liner walls and a liner backwall, wherein the metallic outer wrapper and the at least one metallic inner liner are coupled together at a trim breaker to define a structural cabinet having a hermetically sealed interior cavity defined between the metallic outer wrapper and the at least one metallic inner liner. The trim breaker defines a front face of the structural cabinet. At least one trim breaker conduit extends through the wrapper and liner backwalls wherein the trim breaker conduit defines a conduit through the structural cabinet, and wherein the structural cabinet is hermetically sealed at the trim breaker conduit.Type: GrantFiled: October 7, 2020Date of Patent: February 15, 2022Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Paul B. Allard, Mohamed Alshourbagy, Lakshya J. Deka, Eric J. Dherde, Gustavo Frattini, Alberto R. Gomes, Lynne F. Hunter, Giulia Marinello, Abhay Naik, Sanjesh Kumar Pathak, Jerry M. Visin
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Patent number: 11243021Abstract: A refrigerator includes an insulated cabinet structure and a cooling system. A door assembly includes a perimeter structure that is movably mounted to the insulated cabinet structure and an outer door that is movably mounted to the perimeter structure whereby the outer door can be moved between open and closed positions relative to the perimeter structure when the perimeter structure is in its closed position The outer door may comprise a vacuum insulated structure including porous core material disposed in a cavity of the outer door.Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 2018Date of Patent: February 8, 2022Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Abhay Naik, Lakshya Deka, Paul B. Allard, Jerry M. Visin