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: 11353217
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Robert S. Donarski, John F. Hines, James C. Johncock
  • Patent number: 10973359
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Robert S. Donarski, Nicholas E. Crow, Jason Schneemann
  • Patent number: 10782027
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Zachary J. Bruin-Slot, Robert S. Donarski, Karen M. Embury, John P. Levandowski
  • Publication number: 20200284439
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2020
    Publication date: September 10, 2020
    Applicant: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Robert S. DONARSKI, John F. HINES, James C. JOHNCOCK
  • Patent number: 10697644
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Robert S. Donarski, John F. Hines, James C. Johncock
  • Publication number: 20190125121
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2018
    Publication date: May 2, 2019
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Robert S. Donarski, Nicholas E. Crow, Jason Schneemann
  • Publication number: 20190113239
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2017
    Publication date: April 18, 2019
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Zachary J. Bruin-Slot, Robert S. Donarski, Karen M. Embury, John P. Levandowski
  • Patent number: 10206532
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Robert S. Donarski, Nicholas E. Crow, Jason Schneemann
  • Publication number: 20180195735
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2018
    Publication date: July 12, 2018
    Applicant: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Robert S. DONARSKI, John F. HINES, James C. JOHNCOCK
  • Patent number: 9920934
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Robert S. Donarski, John F. Hines, James C. Johncock
  • Publication number: 20180014684
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2017
    Publication date: January 18, 2018
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Robert S. Donarski, Nicholas E. Crow, Jason Schneemann
  • Patent number: 9788679
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Robert S. Donarski, Nicholas E. Crow, Jason Schneemann
  • Publication number: 20160374499
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2015
    Publication date: December 29, 2016
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Robert S. Donarski, Nicholas E. Crow, Jason Schneemann
  • Patent number: 9445456
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventor: Robert S. Donarski
  • Patent number: 9006614
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventor: Robert S. Donarski
  • Publication number: 20130306613
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2012
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventor: ROBERT S. DONARSKI
  • Publication number: 20130146581
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2011
    Publication date: June 13, 2013
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Robert S. Donarski, John F. Hines, James C. Johncock
  • Patent number: 8344291
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventor: Robert S. Donarski
  • Patent number: 8274020
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Robert S. Donarski, Steven M. Swayne
  • Patent number: 8258437
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Robert S. Donarski, Stephen A. Pickard, Steven M. Swayne