Patents by Inventor Richard A. Sunshine

Richard A. Sunshine 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).

  • Publication number: 20170233921
    Abstract: A laundry system includes a washing machine having a first wash chamber and a washing module below the first wash chamber. The washing module includes a drawer and a rotatably-mounted wash basket defining a second wash chamber with a low capacity relative to a capacity of the first wash chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2017
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Inventors: KRISTINA K. UNDERLY, DONALD M. TOMASI, DANIEL C. CONRAD, RICHARD A. SUNSHINE, JAMES W. KENDALL, AMERESH B. VISWANATHAN, LORRAINE L. ACHTERBERG, COLLEEN M. DOYLE
  • Publication number: 20170226678
    Abstract: A laundry system includes first and second front-loading laundry appliances, a washing module above the first laundry appliance, and a non-tumble drying module above the second laundry appliance. The washing module includes a tub and a wash basket, and has a low capacity relative to a capacity of the first laundry appliance. The non-tumble drying module includes a drying chamber and a drying rack in the drying chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2017
    Publication date: August 10, 2017
    Inventors: KRISTINA K. UNDERLY, DONALD M. TOMASI, DANIEL C. CONRAD, RICHARD A. SUNSHINE, JAMES W. KENDALL, AMERESH B. VISWANATHAN, LORRAINE L. ACHTERBERG, COLLEEN M. DOYLE
  • Publication number: 20170167066
    Abstract: A modular laundry system includes at least one laundry appliance and at least one laundry module below the laundry appliance. Both the laundry appliance and the laundry module have a single width. The laundry module has a height that is less than the height of the laundry appliance and performs a washing function to wash laundry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2017
    Publication date: June 15, 2017
    Inventors: KRISTINA K. UNDERLY, DONALD M. TOMASI, DANIEL C. CONRAD, RICHARD A. SUNSHINE, JAMES W. KENDALL, AMERESH B. VISWANATHAN, LORRAINE L. ACHTERBERG, COLLEEN M. DOYLE
  • Patent number: 9611578
    Abstract: A modular laundry system includes at least one laundry appliance and at least one laundry module below the laundry appliance. Both the laundry appliance and the laundry module have a single width. The laundry module has a height that is less than the height of the laundry appliance and performs a washing function to wash laundry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Kristina K. Underly, Donald M. Tomasi, Daniel C. Conrad, Richard A. Sunshine, James W. Kendall, Ameresh B. Viswanathan, Lorraine L. Achterberg, Colleen M. Doyle
  • Publication number: 20170088995
    Abstract: A laundry module performs a washing function to wash laundry and has a height that is less than the height of a laundry appliance. The laundry module can be part of a modular laundry system including the laundry appliance. The laundry module can be vertically arranged with the laundry appliance, such as by supporting the laundry appliance thereupon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2016
    Publication date: March 30, 2017
    Inventors: KRISTINA K. UNDERLY, DONALD M. TOMASI, DANIEL C. CONRAD, RICHARD A. SUNSHINE, JAMES W. KENDALL, AMERESH B. VISWANATHAN, LORRAINE L. ACHTERBERG, COLLEEN M. DOYLE
  • Publication number: 20170073869
    Abstract: A modular laundry system includes at least one laundry appliance and at least one laundry module below the laundry appliance. Both the laundry appliance and the laundry module have a single width. The laundry module has a height that is less than the height of the laundry appliance and performs a washing function to wash laundry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2015
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: KRISTINA K. UNDERLY, DONALD M. TOMASI, DANIEL C. CONRAD, RICHARD A. SUNSHINE, JAMES W. KENDALL, AMERESH B. VISWANATHAN, LORRAINE L. ACHTERBERG, COLLEEN M. DOYLE
  • Publication number: 20170037557
    Abstract: A laundry system for treating fabric items according to the invention includes a front-loading washing machine for washing a first load of fabric items and a horizontal laundry module for washing a second load of fabric items stacked vertically adjacent to the front-loading washing machine and having a low capacity relative to a capacity of the front-load washing machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2016
    Publication date: February 9, 2017
    Inventors: COLLEEN DOYLE, JAMES KENDALL, LORRAINE L. ACHTERBERG, AMERESH VISWANATHAN, KRISTINA UNDERLY, DONALD TOMASI, DANIEL CONRAD, RICHARD SUNSHINE
  • Publication number: 20170037556
    Abstract: A laundry module performs a washing function to wash a load of fabric items and has a drawer supporting a tub and wash basket, and a control panel mounted on the drawer to enable a user to select a wash cycle from among a plurality of wash cycles. The laundry module can be part of a modular laundry system including a laundry appliance. The laundry module can be vertically arranged with a laundry appliance, such as by supporting the laundry appliance thereupon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2016
    Publication date: February 9, 2017
    Inventors: COLLEEN DOYLE, JAMES KENDALL, LORRAINE L. ACHTERBERG, AMERESH VISWANATHAN, KRISTINA UNDERLY, DONALD TOMASI, DANIEL CONRAD, RICHARD SUNSHINE
  • Patent number: 9546442
    Abstract: A laundry module performs a washing function to wash laundry and has a height that is less than the height of a laundry appliance. The laundry module can be part of a modular laundry system including the laundry appliance. The laundry module can be vertically arranged with the laundry appliance, such as by supporting the laundry appliance thereupon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Kristina K. Underly, Donald M. Tomasi, Daniel C. Conrad, Richard A. Sunshine, James W. Kendall, Ameresh B. Viswanathan, Lorraine L. Achterberg, Colleen M. Doyle
  • Patent number: 9027371
    Abstract: An appliance system that includes an appliance group containing at least two appliances, a first appliance designed to perform a first consumer function related to the first appliance and a second appliance that is separate from the first appliance and designed to perform a second consumer function related to the second appliance. The appliance system also includes a thermal energy generator, typically a heat pump, where the thermal energy heats at least one thermal energy bearing fluid and is operably connected to the first and second appliances to deliver thermal energy to the first and second appliances simultaneously or at different times via one or more of the thermal energy bearing fluids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Bruce C. Beihoff, Nihat O. Cur, Kirk M. Dunsbergen, Joel A. Luckman, Richard A. Sunshine, Tao Xie
  • Patent number: 8915104
    Abstract: An appliance system that includes an appliance group containing at least two appliances, a first appliance designed to perform a first consumer function related to the first appliance and a second appliance that is separate from the first appliance and designed to perform a second consumer function related to the second appliance. The appliance system also includes a thermal energy generator, typically a heat pump, where the thermal energy heats at least one thermal energy bearing fluid and is operably connected to the first and second appliances to deliver thermal energy to the first and second appliances simultaneously or at different times via one or more of the thermal energy bearing fluids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Inventors: Bruce C. Beihoff, Nihat O. Cur, Kirk M. Dunsbergen, Joel A. Luckman, Richard A. Sunshine, Tao Xie
  • Publication number: 20140033556
    Abstract: A laundry treating appliance and a method for operating a laundry treating appliance having a rotatable drum defining a chamber for receiving laundry. The operation of the laundry treating appliance may be based on the mechanical energy due to the falling action of the laundry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2013
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Applicant: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: FARHAD ASHRAFZADEH, RYAN R. BELLINGER, DUANE M. KOBOS, RICHARD A. SUNSHINE
  • Patent number: 8578532
    Abstract: A laundry treating appliance and a method for operating a laundry treating appliance having a rotatable drum defining a chamber for receiving laundry. The operation of the laundry treating appliance may be based on the mechanical energy due to the falling action of the laundry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Farhad Ashrafzadeh, Ryan R. Bellinger, Duane M. Kobos, Richard A. Sunshine
  • Patent number: 8459067
    Abstract: A laundry system comprises a first laundry appliance, a second laundry appliance, and a vertical laundry module. The vertical laundry module can have a housing with a width less than the width of each of the first and second laundry appliances. The vertical laundry module can have a drawer that slidably opens from a face of the housing and/or a door that opens from the face of the housing. The vertical laundry module can further have an exterior hanging element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: James W. Kendall, Lorraine L. Achterberg, Ameresh Babu Viswanathan, Colleen M. Doyle, Richard A. Sunshine
  • Patent number: 8413470
    Abstract: A laundry system comprises a first laundry appliance, a second laundry appliance, and a vertical laundry module. The vertical laundry module can have a housing with a width less than the width of each of the first and second laundry appliances. The vertical laundry module can have a drawer that slidably opens from a face of the housing and/or a door that opens from the face of the housing. The vertical laundry module can further have a functional element that can be a laundry care function or a non-laundry care function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: James W. Kendall, Lorraine L. Achterberg, Ameresh Babu Viswanathan, Colleen M. Doyle, Richard A. Sunshine
  • Patent number: 8381552
    Abstract: A laundry system comprises a first laundry appliance, a second laundry appliance, and a vertical laundry module. The vertical laundry module can have a housing with a width less than the width of each of the first and second laundry appliances. The vertical laundry module can have a drawer that slidably opens from a face of the housing and a backsplash extending above an upper surface of the housing. The backsplash can further have a functional element that can be a storage compartment, a light, a control panel, or a power outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: James W. Kendall, Lorraine L. Achterberg, Ameresh Babu Viswanathan, Colleen M. Doyle, Richard A. Sunshine
  • Patent number: 8375750
    Abstract: A laundry system comprises a first laundry appliance, a second laundry appliance, and a vertical laundry module. The vertical laundry module can have a housing with a width less than the width of each of the first and second laundry appliances. The vertical laundry module can have a drawer that slidably opens from a face of the housing and a hanging rod positioned in drawer. The vertical laundry module can further have a functional element that performing drying, refreshing, and/or sanitizing, and a control panel for controlling the operation of the functional element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: James W. Kendall, Lorraine L. Achterberg, Ameresh Babu Viswanathan, Colleen M. Doyle, Richard A. Sunshine
  • Patent number: 8322169
    Abstract: A laundry system comprises a first laundry appliance, a second laundry appliance, and a vertical laundry module. The vertical laundry module can have a housing with a width less than the width of each of the first and second laundry appliances and a stain treatment assembly. The stain treatment assembly can include a screen slidable mounted to the housing of the vertical module for supporting a fabric item and a wand extendable from the housing for applying a stain treatment agent to the fabric item on the screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: James W. Kendall, Lorraine L. Achterberg, Ameresh Babu Viswanathan, Colleen M. Doyle, Richard A. Sunshine
  • Patent number: 8176798
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for operating a laundry treating appliance that has a rotating treating chamber, which is rotatable about a rotation axis by a motor operably coupled to the rotating treating chamber, with the operation of the motor being controlled by an underdamped control scheme to determine a laundry load size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Farhad Ashrafzadeh, Kurt J. Mitts, Richard A. Sunshine
  • Publication number: 20110252835
    Abstract: An appliance system that includes an appliance group containing at least two appliances, a first appliance designed to perform a first consumer function related to the first appliance and a second appliance that is separate from the first appliance and designed to perform a second consumer function related to the second appliance. The appliance system also includes a thermal energy generator, typically a heat pump, where the thermal energy heats at least one thermal energy bearing fluid and is operably connected to the first and second appliances to deliver thermal energy to the first and second appliances simultaneously or at different times via one or more of the thermal energy bearing fluids.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2011
    Publication date: October 20, 2011
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: BRUCE C. BEIHOFF, NIHAT O. CUR, KIRK M. DUNSBERGEN, JOEL A. LUCKMAN, RICHARD A. SUNSHINE, TAO XIE