Patents by Inventor Robert L. Werkmeister

Robert L. Werkmeister 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: 5346299
    Abstract: A storage module assembly for a refrigerator door having an outer shell and an inner liner, including a rear wall and side walls forming a recess in the liner. Each side walls has a series of vertically spaced apart ribs aligned with corresponding ribs on the facing side wall. The ribs extend outwardly from the liner bottom wall and each rib has a horizontal top wall with an upwardly projecting tab adjacent its distal end. The bottom wall of each rib has a short horizontal portion adjacent the liner rear wall and an upwardly inclined portion adjacent its distal end. The module includes side walls positionable adjacent the liner side walls. A pair of vertically spaced apart, generally horizontally extending rails project outwardly of each module side wall and each rail defines a downwardly opening recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 13, 1994
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Robert L. Werkmeister, Michael J. McCauley
  • Patent number: 4704237
    Abstract: An improved vacuum forming process for forming a deep drawn plastic article with a flange in an area of high forming stresses wherein a mold mounted on a base forms the shape of the article. A sheet of hot plastic material is placed over the mold and a vacuum is drawn to form the plastic sheet into the shape of the mold to form the article. The improvement is forming a character in the mold portion that forms the flange in the area of the high forming stress, said character having dimensions such that properly heated plastic sheet material will be imprinted with a predetermined clarity during the molding operation. A heated sheet of plastic material is placed over the mold and a vacuum is drawn to draw the plastic material around the mold including the mold portion that forms the flange in an area of high forming stresses. The plastic material is then solidified and removed from the mold. The flange is visually inspected to determine if the imprinted character has the predetermined clarity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1986
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1987
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Benson T. Taylor, Jr., Robert L. Werkmeister