Patents by Inventor Richard Lawrence Kretz

Richard Lawrence Kretz 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: 11864711
    Abstract: A dishwasher having a tub at least partially defining a treating chamber has a chassis supporting the tub. The chassis has a base and defines a space below the tub, and a terminal box having at least one enclosure wall defining an interior is located within the space. A wire connection box is located within the interior of the terminal box. The wire connection box includes a housing and multiple terminals, and is configured to receive and couple the electrical connection for the dishwasher and the electrical mains power line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Richard Lawrence Kretz, Harry Wayne Dickson
  • Patent number: 11589726
    Abstract: An automatic dishwasher can include a tub having a bottom and at least partially defining an open face treating chamber, a base supporting the bottom of the tub and defining a mechanical area beneath the bottom of the tub, at least one sprayer emitting liquid into the treating chamber, and a rotating inlet filter assembly fluidly coupling the treating chamber to the at least one sprayer. A mounting bracket can be provided to secure the rotating inlet filter assembly to the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Venkata S. Dirisala, Richard Lawrence Kretz, Jr., Daniel J. Lesko
  • Publication number: 20210369078
    Abstract: A dishwasher having a tub at least partially defining a treating chamber has a chassis supporting the tub. The chassis has a base and defines a space below the tub, and a terminal box having at least one enclosure wall defining an interior is located within the space. A wire connection box is located within the interior of the terminal box. The wire connection box includes a housing and multiple terminals, and is configured to receive and couple the electrical connection for the dishwasher and the electrical mains power line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2021
    Publication date: December 2, 2021
    Inventors: Richard Lawrence Kretz, Harry Wayne Dickson
  • Patent number: 11109738
    Abstract: A dishwasher having a tub at least partially defining a treating chamber, a chassis supporting the tub and defining a space below the tub, a terminal box located within the space and having at least one enclosure wall defining an interior, and a wire connection box located within the interior wherein the wire connection box includes a housing and multiple terminals inset within the housing and wherein the wire connection box is configured to receive an electrical connection for the dishwasher coupled to an electrical mains power line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Richard Lawrence Kretz, Harry Wayne Dickson
  • Publication number: 20200305681
    Abstract: An automatic dishwasher can include a tub having a bottom and at least partially defining an open face treating chamber, a base supporting the bottom of the tub and defining a mechanical area beneath the bottom of the tub, at least one sprayer emitting liquid into the treating chamber, and a rotating inlet filter assembly fluidly coupling the treating chamber to the at least one sprayer. A mounting bracket can be provided to secure the rotating inlet filter assembly to the base.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2019
    Publication date: October 1, 2020
    Inventors: Venkata S. Dirisala, Richard Lawrence Kretz, JR., Daniel J. Lesko
  • Patent number: 10765293
    Abstract: A dishwasher includes a tub at least partially defining a treating chamber, at least one dish rack in the treating chamber, and a rack height adjustment assembly. The rack height adjustment assembly includes an adjuster plate slidably coupled to the at least one dish rack and fixed vertically relative to the tub, the adjuster plate including at least one adjuster detent, a locking lever having a catch end that is biased to engage the adjuster detent to hold the dish rack in place in either a lowered or raised position, the locking lever being pivotally movable relative to the at least one dish rack between an engaging position where the catch end engages the adjuster detent and a release position where the catch end does not engage the adjuster detent and the dish rack is vertically movable between the lowered and raised positions, and an actuator configured to move the locking lever to the release position when the actuator is moved from an undepressed position to a depressed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew Martin Kenneth Hansen, Ronald M. Nowell, Jr., Richard Lawrence Kretz, Kapil Gutpa, Darryl C. Bodine, Jerry M. Visin, Ameresh B. Viswanathan
  • Publication number: 20200121159
    Abstract: A dishwasher includes a tub at least partially defining a treating chamber, at least one dish rack in the treating chamber, and a rack height adjustment assembly. The rack height adjustment assembly includes an adjuster plate slidably coupled to the at least one dish rack and fixed vertically relative to the tub, the adjuster plate including at least one adjuster detent, a locking lever having a catch end that is biased to engage the adjuster detent to hold the dish rack in place in either a lowered or raised position, the locking lever being pivotally movable relative to the at least one dish rack between an engaging position where the catch end engages the adjuster detent and a release position where the catch end does not engage the adjuster detent and the dish rack is vertically movable between the lowered and raised positions, and an actuator configured to move the locking lever to the release position when the actuator is moved from an undepressed position to a depressed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Publication date: April 23, 2020
    Inventors: Matthew Martin Kenneth Hansen, Ronald M. Nowell, JR., Richard Lawrence Kretz, Kapil Gutpa, Darryl C. Bodine, Jerry M. Visin, Ameresh B. Viswanathan
  • Patent number: 10602909
    Abstract: A dishwasher has an interior with a tub and a dish rack slidably attached to the tub. The dish rack has vertically-oriented side rail and a height adjustment system. The adjustment system includes height adjustment mechanisms alongside the walls of the dish rack for vertically shifting the dish rack between lowered and raised positions relative to the tub. Each of the adjustment mechanisms includes an adjuster arm fixed vertically relative to the tub, with a locking boss at the first end, and a locking clip on the adjuster arm having at least one locking tab adapted to couple with the locking boss to prevent the rack from shifting vertically relative to the adjuster arm. The locking clip has a pair of interference ribs engaging a pair of side rails to prevent rotational movement of the rack with respect to the dishwasher.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Kapil Gupta, Richard Lawrence Kretz, Ronald M. Nowell, Matthew M. Hansen
  • Patent number: 10582829
    Abstract: A dishwasher includes a tub at least partially defining a treating chamber, at least one dish rack in the treating chamber, and a rack height adjustment assembly. The rack height adjustment assembly includes an adjuster plate slidably coupled to the at least one dish rack and fixed vertically relative to the tub, the adjuster plate including at least one adjuster detent, a locking lever having a catch end that is biased to engage the adjuster detent to hold the dish rack in place in either a lowered or raised position, the locking lever being pivotally movable relative to the at least one dish rack between an engaging position where the catch end engages the adjuster detent and a release position where the catch end does not engage the adjuster detent and the dish rack is vertically movable between the lowered and raised positions, and an actuator configured to move the locking lever to the release position when the actuator is moved from an undepressed position to a depressed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew Martin Kenneth Hansen, Ronald M. Nowell, Jr., Richard Lawrence Kretz, Kapil Gupta, Darryl C. Bodine, Jerry M. Visin, Ameresh B. Viswanathan
  • Publication number: 20200060510
    Abstract: A dishwasher having a tub at least partially defining a treating chamber, a chassis supporting the tub and defining a space below the tub, a terminal box located within the space and having at least one enclosure wall defining an interior, and a wire connection box located within the interior wherein the wire connection box includes a housing and multiple terminals inset within the housing and wherein the wire connection box is configured to receive an electrical connection for the dishwasher coupled to an electrical mains power line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2018
    Publication date: February 27, 2020
    Inventors: Richard Lawrence Kretz, Harry Wayne Dickson
  • Publication number: 20190269297
    Abstract: Disclosed is a dishwasher having an interior with a tub, a dish rack slidably attached to the tub, the dish rack having a plurality of vertically-oriented side rails, and a height adjustment system including first and second height adjustment mechanisms provided alongside walls of the dish rack for vertically shifting the dish rack between lowered and raised positions relative to the tub. Each of first and second height adjustment mechanisms includes an adjuster arm fixed vertically relative to the tub, having at least one locking boss at the first end, and a locking clip on the adjuster arm having at least one locking tab adapted to couple with the locking boss to prevent the rack from shifting vertically relative to the adjuster arm. The locking clip has a pair of interference ribs engaging a pair of side rails to prevent rotational movement of the rack with respect to the dishwasher.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2018
    Publication date: September 5, 2019
    Inventors: Kapil Gupta, Richard Lawrence Kretz, Ronald M. Nowell, Matthew M. Hansen
  • Publication number: 20190125161
    Abstract: A dishwasher includes a tub at least partially defining a treating chamber, at least one dish rack in the treating chamber, and a rack height adjustment assembly. The rack height adjustment assembly includes an adjuster plate slidably coupled to the at least one dish rack and fixed vertically relative to the tub, the adjuster plate including at least one adjuster detent, a locking lever having a catch end that is biased to engage the adjuster detent to hold the dish rack in place in either a lowered or raised position, the locking lever being pivotally movable relative to the at least one dish rack between an engaging position where the catch end engages the adjuster detent and a release position where the catch end does not engage the adjuster detent and the dish rack is vertically movable between the lowered and raised positions, and an actuator configured to move the locking lever to the release position when the actuator is moved from an undepressed position to a depressed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2017
    Publication date: May 2, 2019
    Inventors: Matthew Martin Kenneth Hansen, Ronald M. Nowell, JR., Richard Lawrence Kretz, Kapil Gupta, Darryl C. Bodine, Jerry M. Visin, Ameresh B. Viswanathan
  • Patent number: 10136795
    Abstract: A dish rack assembly includes a dish rack having spaced wire frame elements at least partially defining a side wall, a height adjuster comprising an arm located on an exterior of the side wall and a retaining clip mounted to the arm and located on an interior of the side wall that can limit the relative movement of the dish rack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Ronald M. Nowell, Jr., Kapil Gupta, Richard Lawrence Kretz
  • Publication number: 20180220868
    Abstract: A dish rack assembly includes a dish rack having spaced wire frame elements at least partially defining a side wall, a height adjuster comprising an arm located on an exterior of the side wall and a retaining clip mounted to the arm and located on an interior of the side wall that can limit the relative movement of the dish rack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2017
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Inventors: Ronald M. Nowell, JR., Kapil Gupta, Richard Lawrence Kretz
  • Patent number: 10022037
    Abstract: A dish rack is supported for vertical movement relative to a dishwasher tub between lowered and raised positions. To raise the rack, spring biased locking levers provided on side walls of the dish rack are pivoted to cause wing members of the locking levers to release locking tabs, extending in a cantilevered fashion from locking straps secured to the rack, from locking openings provided in adjuster arms which are fixed vertically relative to the tub, thereby disengaging the locking straps from the adjuster arms to enable the rack to be lifted to the raised position. To lower the rack, the locking levers are again pivoted to reposition support members of the locking straps into positions offset from the adjuster arms, thereby enabling the rack to be guided to the lowered position where the locking tabs automatically engage the adjuster arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Kevin T. Kutto, Ronald M. Nowell, Jr., Kapil Gupta, Matthew M. Hansen, Sujay S. Dabade, Harshal J. Bhajak, Richard Lawrence Kretz
  • Publication number: 20160331204
    Abstract: A dish rack is supported for vertical movement relative to a dishwasher tub between lowered and raised positions. To raise the rack, spring biased locking levers provided on side walls of the dish rack are pivoted to cause wing members of the locking levers to release locking tabs, extending in a cantilevered fashion from locking straps secured to the rack, from locking openings provided in adjuster arms which are fixed vertically relative to the tub, thereby disengaging the locking straps from the adjuster arms to enable the rack to be lifted to the raised position. To lower the rack, the locking levers are again pivoted to reposition support members of the locking straps into positions offset from the adjuster arms, thereby enabling the rack to be guided to the lowered position where the locking tabs automatically engage the adjuster arms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2016
    Publication date: November 17, 2016
    Inventors: Kevin T. Kutto, Ronald M. Nowell, JR., Kapil Gupta, Matthew M. Hansen, Sujay S. Dabade, Harshal J. Bhajak, Richard Lawrence Kretz