Patents by Inventor Robert S. Donarski
Robert S. Donarski 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: 11353217Abstract: A method of operating an electric oven includes generating a door-closed signal if the oven door is in a closed position. The electric broiling element is activated to perform a closed-door broil operation in response to generation of the door-closed signal. The temperature within the cooking chamber of the electric oven is determined during the closed-door broil operation and the electric broiling element is deactivated if the temperature within the cooking chamber exceeds a shutoff temperature.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 2020Date of Patent: June 7, 2022Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Robert S. Donarski, John F. Hines, James C. Johncock
-
Patent number: 10973359Abstract: A steam generator system for a cooking appliance includes an in-line heating element coupled to a heating tube, wherein water from a water reservoir is gravitationally fed into the heating tube for heating by the in-line heating element to produce a hot water and steam mixture. A first supply line is coupled to the heating tube to carry the mixture to a separator without the need for moving or complex pump parts. The separator separates steam and hot water from the mixture of the two. A second supply line is coupled to the separator at a first end and opens into the cooking cavity of the cooking appliance at a second end. The second supply line is configured to supply steam separated at the separator to the cooking cavity via a steam outlet disposed in the cooking cavity.Type: GrantFiled: December 26, 2018Date of Patent: April 13, 2021Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Robert S. Donarski, Nicholas E. Crow, Jason Schneemann
-
Patent number: 10782027Abstract: A cooking appliance is provided herein. A heating element is configured to generate heat for cooking a food item. A user interface is configured to allow selection of a cooking program for cooking the food item and includes a sear feature that is selectable while a selected cooking program is underway. Selection of the sear feature increases a cooking temperature to a maximum cooking temperature without otherwise interrupting the selected cooking program that is underway.Type: GrantFiled: October 17, 2017Date of Patent: September 22, 2020Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Zachary J. Bruin-Slot, Robert S. Donarski, Karen M. Embury, John P. Levandowski
-
Publication number: 20200284439Abstract: A method of operating an electric oven includes generating a door-closed signal if the oven door is in a closed position. The electric broiling element is activated to perform a closed-door broil operation in response to generation of the door-closed signal. The temperature within the cooking chamber of the electric oven is determined during the closed-door broil operation and the electric broiling element is deactivated if the temperature within the cooking chamber exceeds a shutoff temperature.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 27, 2020Publication date: September 10, 2020Applicant: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Robert S. DONARSKI, John F. HINES, James C. JOHNCOCK
-
Patent number: 10697644Abstract: An electric oven broils foodstuffs with either its oven door opened or closed. The operating parameters of the oven's broiling elements are altered based on the position of the door.Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 2018Date of Patent: June 30, 2020Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Robert S. Donarski, John F. Hines, James C. Johncock
-
Publication number: 20190125121Abstract: A steam generator system for a cooking appliance includes an in-line heating element coupled to a heating tube, wherein water from a water reservoir is gravitationally fed into the heating tube for heating by the in-line heating element to produce a hot water and steam mixture. A first supply line is coupled to the heating tube to carry the mixture to a separator without the need for moving or complex pump parts. The separator separates steam and hot water from the mixture of the two. A second supply line is coupled to the separator at a first end and opens into the cooking cavity of the cooking appliance at a second end. The second supply line is configured to supply steam separated at the separator to the cooking cavity via a steam outlet disposed in the cooking cavity.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 26, 2018Publication date: May 2, 2019Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: Robert S. Donarski, Nicholas E. Crow, Jason Schneemann
-
Publication number: 20190113239Abstract: A cooking appliance is provided herein. A heating element is configured to generate heat for cooking a food item. A user interface is configured to allow selection of a cooking program for cooking the food item and includes a sear feature that is selectable while a selected cooking program is underway. Selection of the sear feature increases a cooking temperature to a maximum cooking temperature without otherwise interrupting the selected cooking program that is underway.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 17, 2017Publication date: April 18, 2019Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: Zachary J. Bruin-Slot, Robert S. Donarski, Karen M. Embury, John P. Levandowski
-
Patent number: 10206532Abstract: A steam generator system for a cooking appliance includes an in-line heating element coupled to a heating tube, wherein water from a water reservoir is gravitationally fed into the heating tube for heating by the in-line heating element to produce a hot water and steam mixture. A first supply line is coupled to the heating tube to carry the mixture to a separator without the need for moving or complex pump parts. The separator separates steam and hot water from the mixture of the two. A second supply line is coupled to the separator at a first end and opens into the cooking cavity of the cooking appliance at a second end. The second supply line is configured to supply steam separated at the separator to the cooking cavity via a steam outlet disposed in the cooking cavity.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2017Date of Patent: February 19, 2019Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Robert S. Donarski, Nicholas E. Crow, Jason Schneemann
-
Publication number: 20180195735Abstract: An electric oven broils foodstuffs with either its oven door opened or closed. The operating parameters of the oven's broiling elements are altered based on the position of the door.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 13, 2018Publication date: July 12, 2018Applicant: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Robert S. DONARSKI, John F. HINES, James C. JOHNCOCK
-
Patent number: 9920934Abstract: A method of operating an electric oven includes generating a door-open signal if an oven door is in an open position. An electric broiling element is activated to perform an open-door broil operation in response to generation of the door-open signal. The temperature within a cooking chamber is determined during the open-door broil operation and the electric broiling element is deactivated if the temperature within the cooking chamber exceeds a first shutoff temperature. The method also includes generating a door-closed signal if the oven door is in a closed position. The electric broiling element is activated to perform a closed-door broil operation in response to generation of the door-closed signal. The temperature within the cooking chamber of the electric oven is determined during the closed-door broil operation and the electric broiling element is deactivated if the temperature within the cooking chamber exceeds a second shutoff temperature.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2011Date of Patent: March 20, 2018Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Robert S. Donarski, John F. Hines, James C. Johncock
-
Publication number: 20180014684Abstract: A steam generator system for a cooking appliance includes an in-line heating element coupled to a heating tube, wherein water from a water reservoir is gravitationally fed into the heating tube for heating by the in-line heating element to produce a hot water and steam mixture. A first supply line is coupled to the heating tube to carry the mixture to a separator without the need for moving or complex pump parts. The separator separates steam and hot water from the mixture of the two. A second supply line is coupled to the separator at a first end and opens into the cooking cavity of the cooking appliance at a second end. The second supply line is configured to supply steam separated at the separator to the cooking cavity via a steam outlet disposed in the cooking cavity.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 26, 2017Publication date: January 18, 2018Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: Robert S. Donarski, Nicholas E. Crow, Jason Schneemann
-
Patent number: 9788679Abstract: A steam generator system for a cooking appliance includes an in-line heating element coupled to a heating tube, wherein water from a water reservoir is gravitationally fed into the heating tube for heating by the in-line heating element to produce a hot water and steam mixture. A first supply line is coupled to the heating tube to carry the mixture to a separator without the need for moving or complex pump parts. The separator separates steam and hot water from the mixture of the two. A second supply line is coupled to the separator at a first end and opens into the cooking cavity of the cooking appliance at a second end. The second supply line is configured to supply steam separated at the separator to the cooking cavity via a steam outlet disposed in the cooking cavity.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2015Date of Patent: October 17, 2017Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Robert S. Donarski, Nicholas E. Crow, Jason Schneemann
-
Publication number: 20160374499Abstract: A steam generator system for a cooking appliance includes an in-line heating element coupled to a heating tube, wherein water from a water reservoir is gravitationally fed into the heating tube for heating by the in-line heating element to produce a hot water and steam mixture. A first supply line is coupled to the heating tube to carry the mixture to a separator without the need for moving or complex pump parts. The separator separates steam and hot water from the mixture of the two. A second supply line is coupled to the separator at a first end and opens into the cooking cavity of the cooking appliance at a second end. The second supply line is configured to supply steam separated at the separator to the cooking cavity via a steam outlet disposed in the cooking cavity.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 29, 2015Publication date: December 29, 2016Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: Robert S. Donarski, Nicholas E. Crow, Jason Schneemann
-
Patent number: 9445456Abstract: A cooking appliance including a plurality of separately controlled cooking areas, a first heating element positioned below one of the plurality of separately controlled cooking areas, a second heating element positioned below the same separately controlled cooking area as the first heating element, and an infinite switch electrically coupled with the first heating element and operable to energize the first heating element to supply heat to the separately controlled cooking area when the infinite switch is located at a first position. The switch has an operational tolerance, and the first heating element is sized such that the separately controlled cooking area is maintained below a target cooking temperature when the infinite switch is located at the first position and is operating at an upper limit of the operational tolerance.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 2012Date of Patent: September 13, 2016Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventor: Robert S. Donarski
-
Patent number: 9006614Abstract: A cooking appliance have at least one burner operable in an ON condition for producing heat and an OFF condition for not producing heat and a Hot Surface Indicator having an illumination source that may be operated when the burner is not producing heat as well as a method for illuminating the Hot Surface Indicator.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 2012Date of Patent: April 14, 2015Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventor: Robert S. Donarski
-
Publication number: 20130306613Abstract: A cooking appliance have at least one burner operable in an ON condition for producing heat and an OFF condition for not producing heat and a Hot Surface Indicator having an illumination source that may be operated when the burner is not producing heat as well as a method for illuminating the Hot Surface Indicator.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 17, 2012Publication date: November 21, 2013Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventor: ROBERT S. DONARSKI
-
Publication number: 20130146581Abstract: An electric oven is configured to broil foodstuffs with either its oven door opened or closed. The operating parameters of the oven's broiling elements are altered based on the position of the door.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 12, 2011Publication date: June 13, 2013Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: Robert S. Donarski, John F. Hines, James C. Johncock
-
Patent number: 8344291Abstract: A cooking appliance including a plurality of separately controlled cooking areas, a first heating element positioned below one of the plurality of separately controlled cooking areas, a second heating element positioned below the same separately controlled cooking area as the first heating element, and an infinite switch electrically coupled with the first heating element and operable to energize the first heating element to supply heat to the separately controlled cooking area when the infinite switch is located at a first position. The switch has an operational tolerance, and the first heating element is sized such that the separately controlled cooking area is maintained below a target cooking temperature when the infinite switch is located at the first position and is operating at an upper limit of the operational tolerance.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 2010Date of Patent: January 1, 2013Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventor: Robert S. Donarski
-
Patent number: 8274020Abstract: A cooking appliance and method of operating the same is disclosed. The method includes energizing each of a first heating element, a second heating element, and a third heating element to a maximum power level to supply heat to a separately controlled cooking area, maintaining the second heating element at the maximum power level after a predetermined time interval has elapsed, and selectively energizing the first heating element and the third heating element to the maximum power level after the predetermined time interval has elapsed.Type: GrantFiled: May 4, 2010Date of Patent: September 25, 2012Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Robert S. Donarski, Steven M. Swayne
-
Patent number: 8258437Abstract: A cooking appliance has a cooktop including a plurality of separately controlled cooking areas. A first heating element and a second heating element are positioned below one of the separately controlled cooking areas. A control switch is coupled to the first heating element and the second heating element and is operable to selectively energize the first heating element and the second heating element.Type: GrantFiled: August 27, 2009Date of Patent: September 4, 2012Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Robert S. Donarski, Stephen A. Pickard, Steven M. Swayne