Patents by Inventor Sarah M. Galea
Sarah M. Galea 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).
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Publication number: 20240118011Abstract: An appliance ice-making compartment includes a housing which defines an inlet aperture and an outlet aperture. A first ice tray is disposed at a first height within the housing. A second ice tray is disposed at a second height within the housing where the first height is closer to a top of the housing compared to the second height. The second ice tray is closer to the inlet aperture compared to the first ice tray. An inlet duct is in fluid communication with the inlet aperture and configured to direct air toward the first ice tray and the second ice tray.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 5, 2023Publication date: April 11, 2024Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: Sarah M. Galea, Jacob C. Ickes, Vikas C. Mruthyunjaya
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Patent number: 11879680Abstract: An appliance ice-making compartment includes a housing which defines an inlet aperture and an outlet aperture. A first ice tray is disposed at a first height within the housing. A second ice tray is disposed at a second height within the housing where the first height is closer to a top of the housing compared to the second height. The second ice tray is closer to the inlet aperture compared to the first ice tray. An inlet duct is in fluid communication with the inlet aperture and configured to direct air toward the first ice tray and the second ice tray.Type: GrantFiled: August 6, 2021Date of Patent: January 23, 2024Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Sarah M. Galea, Jacob C. Ickes, Vikas C Mruthyunjaya
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Publication number: 20230304717Abstract: A refrigeration appliance includes an appliance body defining a plurality of compartments, and an ice making system in a first compartment of the plurality of compartments with an ice making compartment disposed therein. The refrigeration appliance also includes a water fill tube extending from a second compartment of the plurality of compartments to the first compartment to supply water to the ice making compartment, the water fill tube having a body with an inner surface defining a cavity for flowing water and an outer surface. The body includes at least a portion with a thermally conductive filler dispersed in a polymer material. The refrigeration appliance also includes a heating device configured to supply heat to the water fill tube, where the thermally conductive filler conducts heat along and through a thickness of the body to melt ice and prevent ice build-up in the water fill tube.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 22, 2022Publication date: September 28, 2023Inventors: Sarah M. GALEA, Chad M. ROTTER
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Publication number: 20230235946Abstract: A refrigerator comprising: a cabinet; a door operably connected to the cabinet, the door having a closed position relative to the cabinet and an opened position relative to the cabinet, and the door transitions from the closed position to the opened position in a non-circular path; a liquid outlet disposed at the cabinet; and a liquid receiver disposed at the door, the liquid receiver configured to receive liquid exiting the liquid outlet when the door is in the closed position but not in the opened position. The refrigerator can further include a gasket adjacent to the liquid receiver and a gasket adjacent to the liquid outlet. When the door is in the closed position, the gasket of the door can cooperate with the gasket of the cabinet to form a sealed channel to seal liquid transfer from the liquid outlet to the liquid receiver for use at the door.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 31, 2023Publication date: July 27, 2023Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: Gustavo Frattini, Sarah M. Galea, Daniel E. Lottinville, Vikas C. Mruthyunjaya, Abhay Naik
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Patent number: 11644231Abstract: A refrigerator comprising: a cabinet; a door operably connected to the cabinet, the door having a closed position relative to the cabinet and an opened position relative to the cabinet, and the door transitions from the closed position to the opened position in a non-circular path; a liquid outlet disposed at the cabinet; and a liquid receiver disposed at the door, the liquid receiver configured to receive liquid exiting the liquid outlet when the door is in the closed position but not in the opened position. The refrigerator can further include a gasket adjacent to the liquid receiver and a gasket adjacent to the liquid outlet. When the door is in the closed position, the gasket of the door can cooperate with the gasket of the cabinet to form a sealed channel to seal liquid transfer from the liquid outlet to the liquid receiver for use at the door.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2018Date of Patent: May 9, 2023Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Gustavo Frattini, Sarah M. Galea, Daniel E. Lottinville, Vikas C. Mruthyunjaya, Abhay Naik
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Publication number: 20210364219Abstract: An appliance ice-making compartment includes a housing which defines an inlet aperture and an outlet aperture. A first ice tray is disposed at a first height within the housing. A second ice tray is disposed at a second height within the housing where the first height is closer to a top of the housing compared to the second height. The second ice tray is closer to the inlet aperture compared to the first ice tray. An inlet duct is in fluid communication with the inlet aperture and configured to direct air toward the first ice tray and the second ice tray.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 6, 2021Publication date: November 25, 2021Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: Sarah M. Galea, Jacob C. Ickes, Vikas C. Mruthyunjaya
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Patent number: 11112163Abstract: A refrigerator includes a cabinet and a refrigeration system having an evaporator. An ice-making compartment is positioned within the cabinet and includes a housing defining an inlet aperture on an upper portion of the housing and an outlet aperture. An ice storage bin is positioned in a lower portion of the housing. An ice tray is positioned above the ice storage bin. An inlet duct is in fluid communication with the inlet aperture and is configured to direct air into the housing from the evaporator. The inlet duct includes a first branch having a plurality of first branch channels to direct air to a plurality of first branch locations on a first surface of the ice tray. A second branch of the inlet duct directs air to a second surface of the ice tray. An outlet duct is in fluid communication with the outlet aperture and is configured to direct air from the housing to the evaporator.Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 2019Date of Patent: September 7, 2021Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Sarah M. Galea, Jacob C. Ickes, Vikas C. Mruthyunjaya
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Publication number: 20210041158Abstract: A refrigerator comprising: a cabinet; a door operably connected to the cabinet, the door having a closed position relative to the cabinet and an opened position relative to the cabinet, and the door transitions from the closed position to the opened position in a non-circular path; a liquid outlet disposed at the cabinet; and a liquid receiver disposed at the door, the liquid receiver configured to receive liquid exiting the liquid outlet when the door is in the closed position but not in the opened position. The refrigerator can further include a gasket adjacent to the liquid receiver and a gasket adjacent to the liquid outlet. When the door is in the closed position, the gasket of the door can cooperate with the gasket of the cabinet to form a sealed channel to seal liquid transfer from the liquid outlet to the liquid receiver for use at the door.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 20, 2018Publication date: February 11, 2021Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: Gustavo Frattini, Sarah M. Galea, Daniel E. Lottinville, Vikas C. Mruthyunjaya, Abhay Naik
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Publication number: 20200232697Abstract: A refrigerator includes a cabinet and a refrigeration system having an evaporator. An ice-making compartment is positioned within the cabinet and includes a housing defining an inlet aperture on an upper portion of the housing and an outlet aperture. An ice storage bin is positioned in a lower portion of the housing. An ice tray is positioned above the ice storage bin. An inlet duct is in fluid communication with the inlet aperture and is configured to direct air into the housing from the evaporator. The inlet duct includes a first branch having a plurality of first branch channels to direct air to a plurality of first branch locations on a first surface of the ice tray. A second branch of the inlet duct directs air to a second surface of the ice tray. An outlet duct is in fluid communication with the outlet aperture and is configured to direct air from the housing to the evaporator.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 18, 2019Publication date: July 23, 2020Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: Sarah M. Galea, Jacob C. Ickes, Vikas C. Mruthyunjaya