Patents by Inventor Randell L. Jeffery
Randell L. Jeffery 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: 11852355Abstract: A cooking appliance includes a heating surface and an interface console elevated above the heating surface. The interface console includes a viewing window forming an outer surface and an inner surface, opposite the outer surface, and a display device configured to transmit light through the viewing window. The display device is aligned with the viewing window in a spaced-apart configuration forming an insulating passage between the display device and the interior surface. An air intake is in connection with the insulating passage. The insulating passage provides an air flow path extending from a ventilation passage of the cooking appliance, and the ventilation passage extends away from the heating surface and communicates environmental air to the insulating passage.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 2023Date of Patent: December 26, 2023Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Kevin Dolezan, Vinod Jadhav, Shekhar D. Jirafe, Tyler Douglas Mathews, Fernando A. Ribas Junior, Rahul Wadke, James R. Chisholm, Randell L. Jeffery
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Publication number: 20230221004Abstract: A cooking appliance includes a heating surface and an interface console elevated above the heating surface. The interface console includes a viewing window forming an outer surface and an inner surface, opposite the outer surface, and a display device configured to transmit light through the viewing window. The display device is aligned with the viewing window in a spaced-apart configuration forming an insulating passage between the display device and the interior surface. An air intake is in connection with the insulating passage. The insulating passage provides an air flow path extending from a ventilation passage of the cooking appliance, and the ventilation passage extends away from the heating surface and communicates environmental air to the insulating passage.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 6, 2023Publication date: July 13, 2023Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: Kevin Dolezan, Vinod Jadhav, Shekhar D. Jirafe, Tyler Douglas Mathews, Fernando A. Ribas Junior, Rahul Wadke, James R. Chisholm, Randell L. Jeffery
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Patent number: 11622665Abstract: A household appliance includes a housing; a treating chamber located within the housing and having an access opening; a closure element movable relative to the access opening between opened and closed positions to selectively provide access to the treating chamber through the access opening; a controller associated with the housing and implementing a treating cycle on at least one item in the treating chamber; and a human-machine interface. The HMI includes a first portion associated with the housing and a second portion associated with the closure element. The first portion includes non-touch sensitive indicia. The second portion includes an electrically conductive layer having a touch-sensitive area corresponding to the indicia of the first portion and is arranged to be in register with a corresponding selection area when the closure element is in the closed position.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2020Date of Patent: April 11, 2023Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Darryl C. Bodine, Randell L. Jeffery, Eric Schuh
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Patent number: 11619393Abstract: A display apparatus for a cooking appliance includes a first substrate. The first substrate forms an interface surface of the interface console and is designed to be exposed to a heat source of a cooking appliance. A display device is configured to transmit light through the first substrate and is aligned with the first substrate in a spaced-apart configuration. The spaced-apart configuration forms an insulated passage with an interior cavity between the display device and an interior surface of the first substrate. An air intake is in connection with the insulated passage. The interior cavity provides an air flow path extending from an inlet positioned away from the heat source and draws environmental air from the inlet and through the insulated passage.Type: GrantFiled: May 6, 2021Date of Patent: April 4, 2023Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Kevin Dolezan, Vinod Jadhav, Shekhar D. Jirafe, Tyler Douglas Mathews, Fernando A. Ribas Junior, Rahul Wadke, James R. Chisholm, Randell L. Jeffery
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Publication number: 20220357041Abstract: A display apparatus for a cooking appliance includes a first substrate. The first substrate forms an interface surface of the interface console and is designed to be exposed to a heat source of a cooking appliance. A display device is configured to transmit light through the first substrate and is aligned with the first substrate in a spaced-apart configuration. The spaced-apart configuration forms an insulated passage with an interior cavity between the display device and an interior surface of the first substrate. An air intake is in connection with the insulated passage. The interior cavity provides an air flow path extending from an inlet positioned away from the heat source and draws environmental air from the inlet and through the insulated passage.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 6, 2021Publication date: November 10, 2022Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: Kevin Dolezan, Vinod Jadhav, Shekhar D. Jirafe, Tyler Douglas Mathews, Fernando A. Ribas Junior, Rahul Wadke, James R. Chisholm, Randell L. Jeffery
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Publication number: 20210103355Abstract: A household appliance includes a housing; a treating chamber located within the housing and having an access opening; a closure element movable relative to the access opening between opened and closed positions to selectively provide access to the treating chamber through the access opening; a controller associated with the housing and implementing a treating cycle on at least one item in the treating chamber; and a human-machine interface. The HMI includes a first portion associated with the housing and a second portion associated with the closure element. The first portion includes non-touch sensitive indicia. The second portion includes an electrically conductive layer having a touch-sensitive area corresponding to the indicia of the first portion and is arranged to be in register with a corresponding selection area when the closure element is in the closed position.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 18, 2020Publication date: April 8, 2021Inventors: DARRYL C. BODINE, RANDELL L. JEFFERY, ERIC SCHUH
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Patent number: 10908762Abstract: A household appliance includes a housing; a treating chamber located within the housing and having an access opening; a closure element movable relative to the access opening between opened and closed positions to selectively provide access to the treating chamber through the access opening; a controller associated with the housing and implementing a treating cycle on at least one item in the treating chamber; and a human-machine interface. The HMI includes a first portion associated with the housing and a second portion associated with the closure element. The first portion includes non-touch sensitive indicia. The second portion includes an electrically conductive layer having a touch-sensitive area corresponding to the indicia of the first portion and is arranged to be in register with a corresponding selection area when the closure element is in the closed position.Type: GrantFiled: July 14, 2016Date of Patent: February 2, 2021Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Darryl C. Bodine, Randell L. Jeffery, Eric Schuh
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Patent number: 9702619Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method of illumination relative to an appliance. A programmable controller activates one or more light sources automatically based on a trigger or sensed condition. The controller dynamically adjusts the one or more light sources in a closed loop fashion.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2013Date of Patent: July 11, 2017Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: James W. Kendall, Randell L. Jeffery, Michael S. Seeley
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Publication number: 20170168603Abstract: A touch screen user interface display has a capacitive touch screen with at least one sensing field. A conductive physical element that is external to the capacitive touch screen and electrically coupled to the at least one sensing field of the capacitive touch screen is provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 10, 2015Publication date: June 15, 2017Inventors: MARK E. GLOTZBACH, RANDELL L. JEFFERY, ERIC J. SCHUH
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Publication number: 20170115052Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method of illumination relative to an appliance. A programmable controller activates one or more light sources automatically based on a trigger or sensed condition. The controller dynamically adjusts the one or more light sources in a closed loop fashion.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 9, 2017Publication date: April 27, 2017Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: James W. Kendall, Randell L. Jeffery, Michael S. Seeley
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Publication number: 20170023930Abstract: A household appliance includes a housing; a treating chamber located within the housing and having an access opening; a closure element movable relative to the access opening between opened and closed positions to selectively provide access to the treating chamber through the access opening; a controller associated with the housing and implementing a treating cycle on at least one item in the treating chamber; and a human-machine interface. The HMI includes a first portion associated with the housing and a second portion associated with the closure element. The first portion includes non-touch sensitive indicia. The second portion includes an electrically conductive layer having a touch-sensitive area corresponding to the indicia of the first portion and is arranged to be in register with a corresponding selection area when the closure element is in the closed position.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 14, 2016Publication date: January 26, 2017Inventors: DARRYL C. BODINE, RANDELL L. JEFFERY, ERIC SCHUH
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Patent number: 9182162Abstract: An apparatus, method, and system for automatically turning off an electrically powered actuator in a refrigeration mechanism upon detection of an unwanted condition. In one aspect of the invention, the electrically powered actuator can be the motor of an ice maker/dispenser. The detection can be accomplished by sensing the presence of an object along or near an ice dispensing pathway from the ice maker/dispenser. The unwanted condition could be the presence of the object for more than a preset time period. This would allow to distinguish between an unwanted object such as silverware or clogged ice versus a wanted object such as flowing ice cubes, crushed ice, or shaved ice.Type: GrantFiled: October 4, 2007Date of Patent: November 10, 2015Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Brian Keith Culley, Patrick J. Boarman, Ronald L. Voglewede, Randell L. Jeffery
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Publication number: 20150296087Abstract: An appliance is configured to establish a communications link through the appliance between a user and a service representative as part of installing, diagnosing and servicing the appliance.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 17, 2015Publication date: October 15, 2015Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: RANDELL L. JEFFERY, RICHARD A. MCCOY
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Patent number: 9103061Abstract: An appliance is configured to establish a communications link through the appliance between a user and a service representative as part of installing, diagnosing and servicing the appliance.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2008Date of Patent: August 11, 2015Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Randell L. Jeffery, Richard A. McCoy
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Publication number: 20150035432Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method of illumination relative to an appliance. A programmable controller activates one or more light sources automatically based on a trigger or sensed condition. The controller dynamically adjusts the one or more light sources in a closed loop fashion.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 31, 2013Publication date: February 5, 2015Applicant: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: JAMES W. KENDALL, RANDELL L. JEFFERY, MICHAEL S. SEELEY
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Patent number: 8820100Abstract: An apparatus, method, and system for automatically turning off an electrically powered actuator in a refrigeration mechanism upon detection of an unwanted condition. In one aspect of the invention, the electrically powered actuator can be the motor of an ice maker/dispenser. The detection can be accomplished by sensing the presence of an object along or near an ice dispensing pathway from the ice maker/dispenser. The unwanted condition could be the presence of the object for more than a preset time period. This would allow to distinguish between an unwanted object such as silverware or clogged ice versus a wanted object such as flowing ice cubes, crushed ice, or shaved ice.Type: GrantFiled: November 1, 2007Date of Patent: September 2, 2014Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Brian Keith Culley, Patrick J. Boarman, Ronald L. Voglewede, Randell L. Jeffery
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Patent number: 8713949Abstract: A refrigerator includes a sensing system for detecting a level and quality of ice cubes in an ice cube storage bin. The sensing system employs a digital image capture device that is coupled to a digital image analyzing system which scans digital images of the ice cube storage bin captured by the digital image capture device to determine a level of ice cubes in the ice cube storage bin. Digital images of the ice cubes are contrasted against a reference image which provides a point of comparison for determining the level of ice cubes in the ice cube storage bin and controlling ice production cycles of the ice maker. The sensing system also analyzes edge portions of the ice cubes to determine ice cube quality.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2007Date of Patent: May 6, 2014Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Kevin M. Chase, Randell L. Jeffery, Matthew J. Nibbelink, Kitman Chan, Jordan Cohen, Andrew Gilgallon, Dan Medore, Surisack Phouapanya
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Patent number: 8245735Abstract: A refrigerator includes a dispenser having a dispenser well, a control for regulating a product dispensing operation, and a select fill sensor system for automatically initiating and terminating the dispensing operation. The sensor system includes a touch sensor mounted in the dispenser well and configured to sense the selection of a desired product level. A feedback array indicates the product level selected and tracks the product level within a container during the dispensing operation. The control automatically initiates a product dispensing operation based on the selection of a product level and the presence of the container in the dispenser well, and automatically terminates the dispensing operation when the product level in the container reaches the selected product level. In this manner, a hands-free dispenser is provided that can be utilized regardless of the shape or size of container utilized.Type: GrantFiled: January 21, 2008Date of Patent: August 21, 2012Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Kevin M. Chase, Ronald L. Voglewede, Jonathan C. Valentine, Peter J. Richmond, Randell L. Jeffery, Martin P. Winik, Tony L. Koenigsknecht
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Patent number: 8033134Abstract: A refrigerator includes a refrigerator cabinet, a refrigerator compartment disposed within the refrigerator cabinet, a freezer compartment disposed within the refrigerator cabinet, and a battery. There is at least one fan disposed within the refrigerator cabinet and electrically connected to the battery. The battery powers the at least one fan during a power outage to thereby circulate air from the freezer compartment to the refrigerator compartment. The at least one fan may be a direct current operated fan. The refrigerator may also include an inverter and the at least one fan may then be an alternating current operated fan electrically connected to the inverter. The battery may be disposed within the refrigerator cabinet or may be external to the refrigerator cabinet.Type: GrantFiled: August 16, 2007Date of Patent: October 11, 2011Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Andrew David Litch, Rodrigo Alexandre Sigwalt, Anderson Bortoletto, Vincent Paul Anderson, Michael E. Stagg, Ronald Wayne Guess, Jill C. Moeller, Randell L. Jeffery, Matthew J. Nibbelink
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Publication number: 20100062722Abstract: A method includes providing a first data collection unit and a second data collection unit, each of the first test data collection unit and the second data collection unit comprising a wireless transceiver and adapted for wireless communication therebetween, physically moving the first data collection unit to each of a plurality of different locations within the use environment associated with use of the home appliance, establishing a radio frequency link between the first data collection unit and the second data collection unit at each of the plurality of different locations within the use environment, characterizing quality of the radio frequency link at each of the plurality of different locations, the quality of the radio frequency link being at least partially based on the path loss within the use environment, and determining an aggregate characterization of the first data collection unit within the use environment using the quality of the radio frequency link at each of the plurality of different locatiType: ApplicationFiled: September 2, 2009Publication date: March 11, 2010Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: KURT A. DYKEMA, WARREN GUTHRIE, RANDELL L. JEFFERY, RICHARD A. MCCOY, MICHAEL A. MORRELL, ANDREW D. WHIPPLE