Patents by Inventor Seth E. Bixby

Seth E. Bixby 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: 12781420
    Abstract: A laundry appliance includes a processing chamber positioned within a cabinet. A blower delivers process air through an airflow path and through the processing chamber. An accessory port is positioned on an exterior surface of the cabinet and coupled with the airflow path. The accessory port selectively redirects the process air through an accessory airflow path to define accessory process air. An accessory tool that selectively engages the accessory port to define the accessory airflow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2026
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Ryan R. Bellinger, Seth E. Bixby, Timothy Eric Heater, Jacob C. Ickes, Sayer J. Murphy, Giuseppe Netti, Michael T. Roche
  • Publication number: 20260337863
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a laundry appliance includes positioning common components that define a standard framework for a plurality of appliance trims; selecting an appliance trim to define a selected trim; attaching a set of modular components to dedicated locations within the standard framework to define one of a vented airflow path and a recirculating airflow path of the selected trim; attaching a set of dedicated components that correspond to the selected trim, wherein the standard framework has a first group of connection areas that correspond to the vented airflow path and a second group of connection areas that correspond to the recirculating airflow path; and attaching selected trim components to the standard framework, the set of modular components and the set of dedicated components to define the selected trim, the selected trim components corresponding to the selected trim.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2025
    Publication date: October 29, 2026
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Pawan Arora, Timothy Noah Blatchley, Mark Jason Christensen, Nolan Robert Maryanski, Jun young Park, Pedro Angel Rouin, Wesley Paul Traylor, Seth E. Bixby
  • Publication number: 20260317986
    Abstract: A laundry appliance includes a tub disposed within an outer cabinet, a drum that is rotationally operable within the tub, and a plurality of delicates cartridges that are selectively attached to the drum. Each cartridge of the plurality of delicates cartridges has a dedicated door for accessing an interior volume of the cartridge. The plurality of delicates cartridges are selectively and individually separable from the drum for inserting and removing articles from respective interior volumes of the plurality of delicates cartridges.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2025
    Publication date: October 15, 2026
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Anthony J. Chupp, Marco Ali Curti Espinosa, Vivek Dadarao Dhoran, Shubham Nandkumar Kaldate, Yash Magdum, Casey L. McCuan, Sergio Moreno Liñán, Sachin Goverdhanrao Nilawar, Jun young Park, Jonathan D. Pugh, Ravindra B. Salunkhe, Chaitanya Bhimrao Salve, Seth E. Bixby
  • Publication number: 20260152894
    Abstract: A removable fluid pumping and filtration apparatus for a laundry treatment machine is provided. The apparatus includes a plurality of selectively attachable and detachable stackable sections, the sections including a handle section and one or more further sections; wherein, when attached together in stacked arrangement to form an agitator, the plurality of sections collectively define: a cylindrical body, a hollow interior of the body, first and second opening about the exterior circumference of the body to define a water flow path into and out of the hollow interior, and placement within the hollow interior for a removable filter along the water flow path, and wherein the handle section including an area to grip onto and rotate the removable fluid pumping and filtration apparatus to facilitate insertion and removal of the agitator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2026
    Publication date: June 4, 2026
    Inventors: Seth E. BIXBY, Sayer J. MURPHY, Thomas D. SPICER, Eric J. VASKO, Heather A. HELLMUTH, Michael A. LEDFORD, Meagan K. VANDERVELDE
  • Publication number: 20260125844
    Abstract: A laundry appliance includes a cabinet. A blower is disposed within the cabinet that delivers accessory air through an accessory airflow path. An accessory bar assembly is in fluid communication with the accessory airflow path. The accessory bar assembly is configured to suspend articles therefrom and to provide the accessory air for conditioning the articles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2025
    Publication date: May 7, 2026
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Seth E. Bixby, Mark Jason Christensen, Marco Ali Curti Espinosa, Yu Liu, Sergio Moreno, Sayer James Murphy, Jonathan D. Pugh, Bruno T. Ramasco, Nicholas C. Schooley, Meagan Kathleen VanderVelde
  • Patent number: 12559878
    Abstract: A removable fluid pumping and filtration apparatus for a laundry treatment machine is provided. The apparatus includes a plurality of selectively attachable and detachable stackable sections, the sections including a handle section and one or more further sections; wherein, when attached together in stacked arrangement to form an agitator, the plurality of sections collectively define: a cylindrical body, a hollow interior of the body, first and second opening about the exterior circumference of the body to define a water flow path into and out of the hollow interior, and placement within the hollow interior for a removable filter along the water flow path, and wherein the handle section including an area to grip onto and rotate the removable fluid pumping and filtration apparatus to facilitate insertion and removal of the agitator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2024
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2026
    Assignee: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Seth E. Bixby, Sayer J. Murphy, Thomas D. Spicer, Eric J. Vasko, Heather A. Hellmuth, Michael A. Ledford, Meagan K. Vandervelde
  • Patent number: 12534846
    Abstract: A laundry appliance includes a cabinet. A blower is disposed within the cabinet that delivers accessory air through an accessory airflow path. An accessory bar assembly is in fluid communication with the accessory airflow path. The accessory bar assembly is configured to suspend articles therefrom and to provide the accessory air for conditioning the articles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2026
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Seth E. Bixby, Mark Jason Christensen, Marco Ali Curti Espinosa, Yu Liu, Sergio Moreno, Sayer James Murphy, Jonathan D. Pugh, Bruno T. Ramasco, Nicholas C. Schooley, Meagan Kathleen VanderVelde
  • Patent number: 12157964
    Abstract: A laundry appliance includes an outer cabinet having a top panel that defines an aperture for accessing an interior of the cabinet. A tub is positioned within the outer cabinet and below the aperture. A rotating drum disposed within the tub. A pretreat basin is selectively positioned in an installed position relative to the top panel and above the drum. The pretreat basin has an outer frame and a pivoting central portion that rotationally operates within the outer frame between a sealed position defined by the pivoting central portion being in alignment with the outer frame and a rotated position defined by the pivoting central portion being rotated out of alignment with the outer frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2024
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Seth E. Bixby, Sayer J. Murphy, Giuseppe Netti, Jun Young Park, Jeremy D. Watkins
  • Publication number: 20240344261
    Abstract: A laundry appliance includes a body that houses a motor that selectively operates a drum for processing laundry, wherein the body includes an aperture for selectively accessing the drum. A door panel provides selective access to the aperture. A controller is configured to operate at least the motor. A user interface is in communication with the controller for selecting a laundry-processing operation to be performed. An outer panel at least partially conceals the body from view. An outer selector is positioned proximate the outer panel, wherein the outer selector is in communication with the controller via the user interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2024
    Publication date: October 17, 2024
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kevin B. Ayers, Seth E. Bixby, Donald E. Erickson, Eric A. Hill, Dennis Kehl, Andrew C. Kubasiak, Sayer J. Murphy, Trevor R. Haney
  • Publication number: 20240254680
    Abstract: A removable fluid pumping and filtration apparatus for a laundry treatment machine is provided. The apparatus includes a plurality of selectively attachable and detachable stackable sections, the sections including a handle section and one or more further sections; wherein, when attached together in stacked arrangement to form an agitator, the plurality of sections collectively define: a cylindrical body, a hollow interior of the body, first and second opening about the exterior circumference of the body to define a water flow path into and out of the hollow interior, and placement within the hollow interior for a removable filter along the water flow path, and wherein the handle section including an area to grip onto and rotate the removable fluid pumping and filtration apparatus to facilitate insertion and removal of the agitator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2024
    Publication date: August 1, 2024
    Inventors: Seth E. BIXBY, Sayer J. MURPHY, Thomas D. SPICER, Eric J. VASKO, Heather A. HELLMUTH, Michael A. LEDFORD, Meagan K. VANDERVELDE
  • Patent number: 12018423
    Abstract: A laundry appliance includes a body that houses a motor that selectively operates a drum for processing laundry, wherein the body includes an aperture for selectively accessing the drum. A door panel provides selective access to the aperture. A controller is configured to operate at least the motor. A user interface is in communication with the controller for selecting a laundry-processing operation to be performed. An outer panel at least partially conceals the body from view. An outer selector is positioned proximate the outer panel, wherein the outer selector is in communication with the controller via the user interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2024
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Kevin B. Ayers, Seth E. Bixby, Donald E. Erickson, Eric A. Hill, Dennis Kehl, Andrew C. Kubasiak, Sayer J. Murphy, Trevor R. Haney
  • Patent number: 11982039
    Abstract: A removable fluid pumping and filtration apparatus for a laundry treatment machine is provided. The apparatus includes a plurality of selectively attachable and detachable stackable sections, the sections including a handle section and one or more further sections; wherein, when attached together in stacked arrangement to form an agitator, the plurality of sections collectively define: a cylindrical body, a hollow interior of the body, first and second opening about the exterior circumference of the body to define a water flow path into and out of the hollow interior, and placement within the hollow interior for a removable filter along the water flow path, and wherein the handle section including an area to grip onto and rotate the removable fluid pumping and filtration apparatus to facilitate insertion and removal of the agitator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Seth E. Bixby, Sayer J. Murphy, Thomas D. Spicer, Eric J. Vasko, Heather A. Hellmuth, Michael A. Ledford, Meagan K. Vandervelde
  • Patent number: D1022359
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Seth E. Bixby, Samuel B. Breneman, Richard K. Gresens, John W. McConnell, Patrick J. Schiavone
  • Patent number: D1062122
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2025
    Assignee: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Seth E. Bixby, Chloe P. Condon, James D. Jeffery, Sayer J. Murphy, Jonathan D. Pugh, Ryan J. Rutter, Eric J. Vasko, David Walter, III
  • Patent number: D1102687
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2024
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2025
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Luis Alarcon, Seth E. Bixby, Marco Ali Curti Espinosa, Richard K. Gresens, Brandon Hengesbach, Sayer J. Murphy, Andres Palomino, Nicholas Schooley
  • Patent number: D1104379
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2025
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Seth E. Bixby, Richard K. Gresens, John W. McConnell, Patrick J. Schiavone, Samuel B. Breneman
  • Patent number: D1104380
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2024
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2025
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Seth E. Bixby, Samuel B. Breneman, Richard K. Gresens, John W. McConnell, Patrick J. Schiavone
  • Patent number: D1113021
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2026
    Assignee: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Luis Antonio Alarcon, Seth E. Bixby, Marcos Lima Nogueira Costa, Marco Ali Curti Espinosa, Sayer J. Murphy, Jun Young Park, Bruno T. Ramasco, Joel R. Shinaberry, Andrew C. Kubasiak
  • Patent number: D1120548
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2026
    Assignee: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Luis Antonio Alarcon, Seth E. Bixby, Marcos Lima Nogueira Costa, Marco Ali Curti Espinosa, Sayer J. Murphy, Jun Young Park, Bruno T. Ramasco, Joel R. Shinaberry, Andrew C. Kubasiak
  • Patent number: D1133349
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2024
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2026
    Assignee: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Seth E. Bixby, Chloe P. Condon, James D. Jeffery, Sayer J. Murphy, Jonathan D. Pugh, Ryan J. Rutter, Eric J. Vasko, David Walter, III