Patents by Inventor Ralph Tate, Jr.

Ralph Tate, Jr. 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: 8186781
    Abstract: A hinge for controlling the movement of a door on a refrigerator is disclosed, the hinge allowing the refrigerator to be installed flush to adjacent cabinets. The door translates and rotates in order to allow access to the refrigerator cabinet interior without contacting the adjacent cabinets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph Lee Coleman, Alan S. Lucas, Harish Kulkarni, Ralph Tate, Jr., Bozhi Yang
  • Publication number: 20100283367
    Abstract: A hinge for controlling the movement of a door on a refrigerator is disclosed, the hinge allowing the refrigerator to be installed flush to adjacent cabinets. The door translates and rotates in order to allow access to the refrigerator cabinet interior without contacting the adjacent cabinets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2009
    Publication date: November 11, 2010
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Joseph Lee Coleman, Alan S. Lucas, Harish Kulkarni, Ralph Tate, JR., Bozhi Yang
  • Patent number: 7823626
    Abstract: A refrigerated oven having a cooking chamber in which is provided a heating elements and a refrigeration unit chamber in which is provided a refrigeration unit. The refrigeration unit is fluidly connected to the cooking chamber. Both the heating element and the refrigeration unit are selectively operable to either cool or heat the cooking chamber to thereby cool or heat a food item located therein. The refrigeration unit as preferably modular refrigeration unit that the slid into and out of the refrigeration unit chamber. Preferably, the refrigeration unit includes an evaporator that is thermally isolate is from a condenser. The condenser as preferably conductively coupled to a base supporting the elements of the modular refrigeration unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Dianne D. Mueller, Ralph Tate, Jr., Brent A. Junge, Joseph L. Coleman, Jan M. Watson, Steven R. Cawley
  • Patent number: 7736179
    Abstract: A plug-in power supply for a refrigerator used to charge portable electronic devices includes an auxiliary power supply mounted in an auxiliary power supply compartment, and a removable module, having an electrical connector, mounted in an electrical connector cup. A portable electronic device is charged by placing the device in the connector cup and coupling the device to the electrical connector. Power is then supplied from the auxiliary power supply to the portable electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Lori Ann Cook, Ronald Wayne Guess, Douglas David Leclear, Frank Weston Maglinger, Patrick S. Streeter, Ralph Tate, Jr., Andrew Michael Tenbarge
  • Patent number: 7555815
    Abstract: A door hinge arrangement for a door is provided including a hinge bearing and a hinge pin adapted to be received in the hinge bearing and being rotatable in the hinge bearing about a vertical axis of the hinge pin. The hinge pin has a protruding cam portion extending perpendicular to the axis and the hinge bearing has a recess formed in a side wall to receive a length of the cam portion when the hinge pin is in a first angular orientation relative to the hinge bearing corresponding to a closed position. When the hinge pin is rotated relative to the hinge bearing to a second angular orientation, the cam acts against the recess to translate the axis of the pin from a first axial position to a second axial position, such that the hinge pin will first be translated laterally as the hinge pin is rotated, and then the hinge pin will be rotated about the second axial position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Ralph Tate, Jr., Joseph L. Coleman, Mural E. West, Randy Howell
  • Publication number: 20090064702
    Abstract: A plug-in power supply for a refrigerator used to charge portable electronic devices includes an auxiliary power supply mounted in an auxiliary power supply compartment, and a removable module, having an electrical connector, mounted in an electrical connector cup. A portable electronic device is charged by placing the device in the connector cup and coupling the device to the electrical connector. Power is then supplied from the auxiliary power supply to the portable electronic device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2008
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Lori Ann Cook, Ronald Wayne Guess, Douglas David Leclear, Frank Weston Maglinger, Patrick S. Streeter, Ralph Tate, JR., Andrew Michael Tenbarge
  • Patent number: 7191827
    Abstract: A refrigerator adapted for use in low ambient temperature conditions such as in an unheated garage or outdoors on a deck or patio. The refrigerator is provided with a low ambient heater to add heat to the refrigerated space when ambient temperatures outside the refrigerator are low enough that items stored in the refrigerator could freeze. The low ambient heater is controlled by an ambient thermostat located to sense temperatures outside the refrigerator. The low ambient heater and ambient thermostat are connected in the refrigerator control so that the ambient heater can not be energized when the cooling system is operating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Brent A. Junge, Allan R. Steinkuhl, John R. Wisnoski, Ralph Tate, Jr., Marco Stura
  • Patent number: 6904969
    Abstract: A method of operating a refrigerated oven to cook a food item therein comprises the steps of A) determining the temperature of the cooking chamber in the refrigerated oven, B) producing cooled air in the refrigeration unit of the refrigerator oven for a first period of time if the temperature of the cooking chamber is below a predetermined threshold temperature and delaying production of cooled air in the refrigeration unit if the temperature of the cooking chamber is not below the predetermined threshold temperature, C) circulating the cooled air through a refrigerated air path to the cooking chamber to prevent spoilage of the food item, and, D) heating the cooking chamber to cook the food item in the cooking chamber by cycling the heating element for a second time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2005
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Dianne D. Mueller, Dale Lukens, David J. Anderson, Ralph Tate, Jr., Thomas J. Leichliter
  • Patent number: 4694553
    Abstract: A cabinet structure wherein a deck member has deflectible side edge portions cooperating with the sidewalls of the cabinet structure to form a sealing cavity. A hot melt sealant is provided in the sealing cavity to form a barrier during the in situ formation of foamed insulation in the cabinet structure. The edge portions of the deck member are deflectible about hinge lines and are formed of sheet metal so as to define a facial engagement with the sidewalls of the cabinet without substantial bulging or deformation thereof, and permitting the sidewalls to be formed of prepainted sheet metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1987
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Ralph Tate, Jr., John T. Woods
  • Patent number: 4665708
    Abstract: An ice maker assembly and method of assembling the same wherein the electrical connections between electrical structure carried by the mold and an intermediate support, and contacts carried by a control means also mounted to the support are made solely as an incident of the assembly of the mold, support and control means. In the illustrated embodiment, the assembly is effected along a single axle. Illustratively, the electrical components so connected include a heater carried by the mold, a thermostat carried by the support for thermal transfer association with the mold in the assembled arrangment of the structure, and a grounding pin carried by the mold. The support is provided with suitable openings for passing the electrical connection components therethrough to have automatic electrical connection with complementary contact elements carried by the control means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1986
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1987
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Ralph Tate, Jr., Stephen W. Paddock
  • Patent number: 4649718
    Abstract: In an ice maker having a mold defining at least one upwardly opening ice body forming cavity and a peripheral wall defining a top, structure for providing at least approximately 3 mm. clearance between components mounted to the mold and the mold wall top for preventing water which may be deposited on the mold wall top from being drawing by capillarity downwardly between the wall and mounted component. The structure further defines a drain for draining any liquid which may be deposited in the clearance space. The invention comprehends the provision of such a clearance spacing illustratively between the housing of a control mounted to the ice maker mold, the ice stripper mounted to the ice maker mold, and the water supply trough mounted to the ice maker mold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1985
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1987
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: William J. Linstromberg, Ralph Tate, Jr., Robert H. O. Kraemer
  • Patent number: 4649712
    Abstract: A retention system for supporting a device on a first stationary member to have biased abutment with a cooperating second stationary member removably secured to the first stationary member. The system includes at least one resilient clip carried by the first stationary member and having a portion resiliently frictionally engaging the device so as to effectively retain the device in association with the first stationary member prior to the mounting of the second stationary member thereto. The spring clip further includes an end portion biasing the device outwardly from the first stationary member to be engaged by the second stationary member when the second stationary member is mounted to the first stationary member. The clip is removably retained in a slotted portion of the first stationary member for facilitated installation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1985
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1987
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Ralph Tate, Jr., Robert H. O. Kraemer
  • Patent number: 4649717
    Abstract: An ice maker assembly and method of assembling the same wherein the electrical connections between electrical structure carried by the mold and an intermediate support, and contacts carried by a control means also mounted to the support are made solely as an incident of the assembly of the mold, support and control means. In the illustrated embodiment, the assembly is effected along a single axis. Illustratively, the electrical components so connected include a heater carried by the mold, a thermostat carried by the support for thermal transfer association with the mold in the assembled arrangement of the structure, and a grounding pin carried by the mold. The support is provided with suitable openings for passing the electrical connection components therethrough to have automatic electrical connection with complementary contact elements carried by the control means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1985
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1987
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Ralph Tate, Jr., Stephen W. Paddock
  • Patent number: 4640432
    Abstract: A cabinet structure wherein a deck member has deflectible side edge portions cooperating with the sidewalls of the cabinet structure to form a sealing cavity. A hot melt sealant is provided in the sealing cavity to form a barrier during the in situ formation of foamed insulation in the cabinet structure. The edge portions of the deck member are deflectible about hinge lines and are formed of sheet metal so as to define a facial engagement with the sidewalls of the cabinet without substantial bulging or deformation thereof, and permitting the sidewalls to be formed of prepainted sheet metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1984
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1987
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Ralph Tate, Jr., John T. Woods
  • Patent number: 4550576
    Abstract: Sealing structure for preventing air flow across exposed metal portions of a center rail assembly in a refrigeration apparatus. The air flow preventing seals include sealing pads mounted to the side edges of a divider wall received in channels in the cabinet liner for preventing air flow through a front end of the channel. A second air flow preventing seal is provided in the form of a rope extending about each of the opposite ends of a center rail bracket received in inwardly opening roll-formed flange channels defined by the metal outer shell. The third air flow preventing seal is provided in the form of a sealing strip compressed between the front face of the center rail bracket and the rear face of an overlying cover so as to isolate hinge mounting portions at opposite ends of the center rail mounting bracket. The different seals cooperate with each other in preventing undesirable air flow from one compartment to another across metal surfaces in heat transfer association with the outer metal shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1984
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1985
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Ralph Tate, Jr., John T. Woods
  • Patent number: 4404813
    Abstract: A door mounted electronic control assembly for a refrigeration apparatus, including a housing, an electronic circuit, structure for preventing the condensation of moisture on the circuit, and structure for mounting electrical components such as a temperature sensor for exposure to air within the refrigeration apparatus. The housing defines a heat retaining space in which the electronic circuit having heat generating components is disposed. Structure is provided to prevent heat from the heat retaining space from adversely affecting the operation of a temperature sensor that is carried on a spaced portion of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1981
    Date of Patent: September 20, 1983
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen W. Paddock, Ralph Tate, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4330310
    Abstract: A refrigeration apparatus having a cabinet including a divider mullion wall is provided with a mullion rail assembly mounted to the front outer edge of the mullion wall. The mullion rail assembly includes an insulating elongated member carrying a magnetically attractable strip for cooperation with the magnetic door gasket. The strip is spaced inwardly from the outer edges of the insulating elongated member so as to be thermally insulated from the refrigerated compartment of the apparatus. The strip may be secured at one end to the cabinet and the insulating elongated member may be secured at one end to another portion of the cabinet to permit relative displacement between the strip and elongated member for facilitated installation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 1980
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1982
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Ralph Tate, Jr., John T. Woods, Joseph G. Schapker