Patents by Inventor Steven Fricke
Steven Fricke 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: 20240337063Abstract: A laundry appliance includes a tub having a rear wall that includes a plurality of structural ribs. A drive hub has a bearing housing insert injection molded into the rear wall. A stator is attached to the drive hub at stator fastening portions exposed through the rear wall of the tub. A reinforcing cap is fixed to the structural ribs of the rear wall of the tub. The bearing housing of the drive hub extends rearwards through a portion of the reinforcing cap. The stator fastening portions are exposed through the reinforcing cap.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 14, 2024Publication date: October 10, 2024Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: Steven Fricke, Tarun Sai Yadav Godha, James B. Hull, Peter A. Wagoner, Eric J. Walsh, Christoph J. Miller
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Patent number: 12031260Abstract: A laundry appliance includes a tub having a rear wall that includes a plurality of structural ribs. A drive hub has a bearing housing insert injection molded into the rear wall. A stator is attached to the drive hub at stator fastening portions exposed through the rear wall of the tub. A reinforcing cap is fixed to the structural ribs of the rear wall of the tub. The bearing housing of the drive hub extends rearwards through a portion of the reinforcing cap. The stator fastening portions are exposed through the reinforcing cap.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2022Date of Patent: July 9, 2024Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Steven Fricke, Tarun Sai Yadav Godha, James B. Hull, Peter A. Wagoner, Eric J. Walsh, Christoph J. Miller
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Patent number: 11970811Abstract: A hub for an overmolded basket base assembly of a laundry appliance is provided. The hub includes a central core defining an opening along an axis configured to receive a drive shaft. The hub further includes a disc, extending radially outwardly from the core about the axis, the disc configured to be overmolded in polymeric material that forms an overmolded plastic base, the disc including a plurality of posts arranged around the core and extending upward from a top surface of the disc to form a circumferentially-extending array to align the hub when applying torque to the hub.Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 2021Date of Patent: April 30, 2024Assignee: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: Jesse de Freitas Goncalves, Kenneth McConnell, Steven Fricke, Marcos H. Herrmann, Bradley D. Morrow, Eric J. Walsh, Christine L. Strain, Peter A. Wagoner
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Patent number: 11708656Abstract: A method of operating a laundry treating appliance, such as a washing machine, having a cabinet defining an interior and defining an access opening. A lid can be movably mounted relative to the cabinet to selectively open or close the access opening. A tub can be located within the interior and the tub can contain a rotatably mounted drum, such as a horizontally rotatable drum, including a flexible fabric material.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 2022Date of Patent: July 25, 2023Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Donald Erickson, Steven Fricke, Christian Gianni, Thomas Kessler, Praveen Poojary, Erica Roberts, Jaime Rodriguez, Peter Wagoner
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Publication number: 20230073346Abstract: A method of operating a laundry treating appliance, such as a washing machine, having a cabinet defining an interior and defining an access opening. A lid can be movably mounted relative to the cabinet to selectively open or close the access opening. A tub can be located within the interior and the tub can contain a rotatably mounted drum, such as a horizontally rotatable drum, including a flexible fabric material.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 9, 2022Publication date: March 9, 2023Inventors: DONALD ERICKSON, STEVEN FRICKE, CHRISTIAN GIANNI, THOMAS KESSLER, PRAVEEN POOJARY, ERICA ROBERTS, JAIME RODRIGUEZ, PETER WAGONER
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Publication number: 20230002950Abstract: A laundry appliance includes a tub having a rear wall that includes a plurality of structural ribs. A drive hub has a bearing housing insert injection molded into the rear wall. A stator is attached to the drive hub at stator fastening portions exposed through the rear wall of the tub. A reinforcing cap is fixed to the structural ribs of the rear wall of the tub. The bearing housing of the drive hub extends rearwards through a portion of the reinforcing cap. The stator fastening portions are exposed through the reinforcing cap.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 9, 2022Publication date: January 5, 2023Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: Steven Fricke, Tarun Sai Yadav Godha, James B. Hull, Peter A. Wagoner, Eric J. Walsh, Christoph J. Miller
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Publication number: 20220389636Abstract: A hub for an overmolded basket base assembly of a laundry appliance is provided. The hub includes a central core defining an opening along an axis configured to receive a drive shaft. The hub further includes a disc, extending radially outwardly from the core about the axis, the disc configured to be overmolded in polymeric material that forms an overmolded plastic base, the disc including a plurality of posts arranged around the core and extending upward from a top surface of the disc to form a circumferentially-extending array to align the hub when applying torque to the hub.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 8, 2021Publication date: December 8, 2022Inventors: Jesse de FREITAS GONCALVES, Kenneth McCONNELL, Steven FRICKE, Marcos H. HERRMANN, Bradley D. MORROW, Eric J. WALSH, Christine L. STRAIN, Peter A. WAGONER
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Patent number: 11512421Abstract: A laundry treating appliance, such as a washing machine, having a cabinet defining an interior and defining an access opening. A lid can be movably mounted relative to the cabinet to selectively open or close the access opening. A tub can be located within the interior and the tub can contain a rotatably mounted drum, such as a horizontally rotatable drum, including a flexible fabric material.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2020Date of Patent: November 29, 2022Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Donald Erickson, Steven Fricke, Christian Gianni, Thomas Kessler, Praveen Poojary, Erica Roberts, Jaime Rodriguez, Peter Wagoner
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Patent number: 11473231Abstract: A laundry appliance includes a tub having a rear wall that includes a plurality of structural ribs. A drive hub has a bearing housing insert injection molded into the rear wall. A stator is attached to the drive hub at stator fastening portions exposed through the rear wall of the tub. A reinforcing cap is fixed to the structural ribs of the rear wall of the tub. The bearing housing of the drive hub extends rearwards through a portion of the reinforcing cap. The stator fastening portions are exposed through the reinforcing cap.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 2020Date of Patent: October 18, 2022Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Steven Fricke, Tarun Sai Yadav Godha, James B. Hull, Peter A. Wagoner, Eric J. Walsh, Christoph J. Miller
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Patent number: 11053624Abstract: A laundry treating appliance having a tub defining an interior, a basket located within the interior and rotatably mounted within the tub and having an upper and lower basket base portion, a balance ring mounted to the upper edge of the basket peripheral wall, a clothes mover rotatably mounted within the basket, a drive system comprising a motor operably coupled to the basket and the clothes mover and configured to selectively oscillate or rotate the basket or the clothes mover and a first and second drive shaft, and a drive attachment mechanism configured to couple the basket to the second drive shaft, with the drive attachment mechanism comprising a bushing assembly.Type: GrantFiled: February 7, 2019Date of Patent: July 6, 2021Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Eric K. Farrington, Steven Fricke, Nicholas C. Fugal, Christine L. Strain, Philip R. Thompson, Robert C. Williams
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Publication number: 20210108352Abstract: A laundry treating appliance, such as a washing machine, having a cabinet defining an interior and defining an access opening. A lid can be movably mounted relative to the cabinet to selectively open or close the access opening. A tub can be located within the interior and the tub can contain a rotatably mounted drum, such as a horizontally rotatable drum, including a flexible fabric material.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 22, 2020Publication date: April 15, 2021Inventors: DONALD ERICKSON, STEVEN FRICKE, CHRISTIAN GIANNI, THOMAS KESSLER, PRAVEEN POOJARY, ERICA ROBERTS, JAIME RODRIGUEZ, PETER WAGONER
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Patent number: 10907290Abstract: A laundry treating appliance, such as a washing machine, having a cabinet defining an interior and defining an access opening. A lid can be movably mounted relative to the cabinet to selectively open or close the access opening. A tub can be located within the interior and the tub can contain a rotatably mounted drum, such as a horizontally rotatable drum, including a flexible fabric material.Type: GrantFiled: January 16, 2018Date of Patent: February 2, 2021Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Donald Erickson, Steven Fricke, Christian Gianni, Thomas Kessler, Praveen Poojary, Erica Roberts, Jaime Rodriguez, Peter Wagoner
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Publication number: 20200283943Abstract: A laundry appliance includes a tub having a rear wall that includes a plurality of structural ribs. A drive hub has a bearing housing insert injection molded into the rear wall. A stator is attached to the drive hub at stator fastening portions exposed through the rear wall of the tub. A reinforcing cap is fixed to the structural ribs of the rear wall of the tub. The bearing housing of the drive hub extends rearwards through a portion of the reinforcing cap. The stator fastening portions are exposed through the reinforcing cap.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 27, 2020Publication date: September 10, 2020Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: Steven Fricke, Tarun Sai Yadav Godha, James B. Hull, Peter A. Wagoner, Eric J. Walsh, Christoph J. Miller
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Patent number: 10704180Abstract: A laundry appliance includes a tub having a rear wall that includes a plurality of structural ribs. A drive hub has a bearing housing insert injection molded into the rear wall. A stator is attached to the drive hub at stator fastening portions exposed through the rear wall of the tub. A reinforcing cap is fixed to the structural ribs of the rear wall of the tub. The bearing housing of the drive hub extends rearwards through a portion of the reinforcing cap. The stator fastening portions are exposed through the reinforcing cap.Type: GrantFiled: September 1, 2017Date of Patent: July 7, 2020Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Steven Fricke, Tarun Sai Yadav Godha, James B. Hull, Peter A. Wagoner, Eric J. Walsh, Christoph J. Miller
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Publication number: 20190194853Abstract: A laundry treating appliance having a tub defining an interior, a basket located within the interior and rotatably mounted within the tub and having an upper and lower basket base portion, a balance ring mounted to the upper edge of the basket peripheral wall, a clothes mover rotatably mounted within the basket, a drive system comprising a motor operably coupled to the basket and the clothes mover and configured to selectively oscillate or rotate the basket or the clothes mover and a first and second drive shaft, and a drive attachment mechanism configured to couple the basket to the second drive shaft, with the drive attachment mechanism comprising a bushing assembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 7, 2019Publication date: June 27, 2019Inventors: ERIC K. FARRINGTON, STEVEN FRICKE, NICHOLAS C. FUGAL, CHRISTINE L. STRAIN, PHILIP R. THOMPSON, ROBERT C. WILLIAMS
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Patent number: 10240272Abstract: A laundry treating appliance having a tub defining an interior, a basket located within the interior and rotatably mounted within the tub and having an upper and lower basket base portion, a balance ring mounted to the upper edge of the basket peripheral wall, a clothes mover rotatably mounted within the basket, a drive system comprising a motor operably coupled to the basket and the clothes mover and configured to selectively oscillate or rotate the basket or the clothes mover and a first and second drive shaft, and a drive attachment mechanism configured to couple the basket to the second drive shaft, with the drive attachment mechanism comprising a bushing assembly.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 2016Date of Patent: March 26, 2019Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Eric K. Farrington, Steven Fricke, Nicholas C. Fugal, Christine L. Strain, Philip R. Thompson, Robert C. Williams
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Patent number: 10184203Abstract: A laundry treating appliance for treating a load of laundry according to an automatic cycle of operation includes a cabinet having at least one panel and a vessel, such as a tub or drum, suspended within the cabinet. An embossed pattern is provided on the at least one panel of the cabinet.Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 2016Date of Patent: January 22, 2019Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Adam J. Emery, Steven Fricke, James R. Sawyer, Dennis J. Tuckowski
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Publication number: 20180202094Abstract: A laundry treating appliance, such as a washing machine, having a cabinet defining an interior and defining an access opening. A lid can be movably mounted relative to the cabinet to selectively open or close the access opening. A tub can be located within the interior and the tub can contain a rotatably mounted drum, such as a horizontally rotatable drum, including a flexible fabric material.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 16, 2018Publication date: July 19, 2018Inventors: DONALD ERICKSON, STEVEN FRICKE, CHRISTIAN GIANNI, THOMAS KESSLER, PRAVEEN POOJARY, ERICA ROBERTS, JAIME RODRIGUEZ, PETER WAGONER
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Publication number: 20180080161Abstract: A laundry appliance includes a tub having a rear wall that includes a plurality of structural ribs. A drive hub has a bearing housing insert injection molded into the rear wall. A stator is attached to the drive hub at stator fastening portions exposed through the rear wall of the tub. A reinforcing cap is fixed to the structural ribs of the rear wall of the tub. The bearing housing of the drive hub extends rearwards through a portion of the reinforcing cap. The stator fastening portions are exposed through the reinforcing cap.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 1, 2017Publication date: March 22, 2018Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: Steven Fricke, Tarun Sai Yadav Godha, James B. Hull, Peter A. Wagoner, Eric J. Walsh, Christoph J. Miller
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Publication number: 20170327989Abstract: A laundry treating appliance having a tub defining an interior, a basket located within the interior and rotatably mounted within the tub and having an upper and lower basket base portion, a balance ring mounted to the upper edge of the basket peripheral wall, a clothes mover rotatably mounted within the basket, a drive system comprising a motor operably coupled to the basket and the clothes mover and configured to selectively oscillate or rotate the basket or the clothes mover and a first and second drive shaft, and a drive attachment mechanism configured to couple the basket to the second drive shaft, with the drive attachment mechanism comprising a bushing assembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 13, 2016Publication date: November 16, 2017Inventors: ERIC K. FARRINGTON, STEVEN FRICKE, NICHOLAS C. FUGAL, CHRISTINE L. STRAIN, PHILIP R. THOMPSON, ROBERT C. WILLIAMS