Patents by Inventor STEVEN L. PROCTOR

STEVEN L. PROCTOR 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: 9976786
    Abstract: A stand alone ice making appliance or an ice maker within an appliance is provided including a water inlet, a water inlet valve disposed within the water inlet configured to allow water passage when in an open position and configured to prevent water passage when in a closed position, a reservoir in fluid communication with the water inlet, a water level sensor disposed in the reservoir, and a control unit in electrical communication with the water level sensor and the water inlet valve. The control unit is configured to calculate a fluid flow rate using the time between the water inlet valve opening and the water level sensor communicating when a first predetermined water level has been reached within the reservoir, and use the calculated flow rate to calculate a total water inlet valve open time to fill the reservoir to a second predetermined water level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Brian J. Beuligman, Scott Daniel Boyd, Trevor Hawkins, Steven L. Proctor, Chad J. Rotter, William C. Montgomery
  • Patent number: 9568230
    Abstract: A stand alone ice making appliance or an ice maker within an appliance is provided where the ice maker includes a fluid inlet, a filtration element in fluid communication with the fluid inlet, a control housing configured to engage the filtration element, and a filter cover disposed adjacent the control housing and configured to support the filtration element, wherein the filter cover comprises a plurality of fluid draining slots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Scott Daniel Boyd, Trevor Hawkins, Steven L. Proctor, Chad J. Rotter, Michael A. Bowen, Umakant Suresh Katu
  • Publication number: 20160195323
    Abstract: A stand alone ice making appliance or an ice maker within an appliance is provided where the ice maker includes a fluid inlet, a filtration element in fluid communication with the fluid inlet, a control housing configured to engage the filtration element, and a filter cover disposed adjacent the control housing and configured to support the filtration element, wherein the filter cover comprises a plurality of fluid draining slots.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2016
    Publication date: July 7, 2016
    Inventors: Scott Daniel Boyd, Trevor Hawkins, Steven L. Proctor, Chad J. Rotter, Michael A. Bowen, Umakant Suresh Katu
  • Patent number: 9303911
    Abstract: A stand alone ice making appliance or an ice maker within an appliance is provided including a fluid supply inlet, a fluid reservoir that is configured to receive a fluid from the fluid supply inlet, a cooling plate that is in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir, a refrigeration device in thermal contact with the cooling plate that is configured to freeze a predetermined amount of fluid to form a section of ice, a cutter grid configured adjacent the cooling plate to divide the section of ice, wherein at least a portion of the ice produces an excess fluid, an ice storage area in communication with the cutter grid where the storage area has at least one vertical wall, and a fluid diverter configured adjacent the cutter grid that is configured to direct the excess fluid toward the at least one vertical wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Scott Daniel Boyd, Trevor Hawkins, Steven L. Proctor, Chad J. Rotter, Michael A. Bowen, Umakant Suresh Katu
  • Publication number: 20160069601
    Abstract: A stand alone ice making appliance or an ice maker within an appliance is provided including a water inlet, a water inlet valve disposed within the water inlet configured to allow water passage when in an open position and configured to prevent water passage when in a closed position, a reservoir in fluid communication with the water inlet, a water level sensor disposed in the reservoir, and a control unit in electrical communication with the water level sensor and the water inlet valve. The control unit is configured to calculate a fluid flow rate using the time between the water inlet valve opening and the water level sensor communicating when a first predetermined water level has been reached within the reservoir, and use the calculated flow rate to calculate a total water inlet valve open time to fill the reservoir to a second predetermined water level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2015
    Publication date: March 10, 2016
    Applicant: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Brian J. Beuligman, Scott Daniel Boyd, Trevor Hawkins, Steven L. Proctor, Chad J. Rotter, William C. Montgomery
  • Patent number: 9200824
    Abstract: A stand alone ice making appliance or an ice maker within an appliance is provided including a water inlet, a water inlet valve disposed within the water inlet configured to allow water passage when in an open position and configured to prevent water passage when in a closed position, a reservoir in fluid communication with the water inlet, a water level sensor disposed in the reservoir, and a control unit in electrical communication with the water level sensor and the water inlet valve. The control unit is configured to calculate a fluid flow rate using the time between the water inlet valve opening and the water level sensor communicating when a first predetermined water level has been reached within the reservoir, and use the calculated flow rate to calculate a total water inlet valve open time to fill the reservoir to a second predetermined water level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Brian J. Beuligman, Scott Daniel Boyd, Trevor Hawkins, Steven L. Proctor, Chad J. Rotter, William C. Montgomery
  • Publication number: 20140202181
    Abstract: A stand alone ice making appliance or an ice maker within an appliance is provided including a fluid supply inlet, a fluid reservoir that is configured to receive a fluid from the fluid supply inlet, a cooling plate that is in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir, a refrigeration device in thermal contact with the cooling plate that is configured to freeze a predetermined amount of fluid to form a section of ice, a cutter grid configured adjacent the cooling plate to divide the section of ice, wherein at least a portion of the ice produces an excess fluid, an ice storage area in communication with the cutter grid where the storage area has at least one vertical wall, and a fluid diverter configured adjacent the cutter grid that is configured to direct the excess fluid toward the at least one vertical wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2013
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: SCOTT DANIEL BOYD, TREVOR HAWKINS, STEVEN L. PROCTOR, CHAD J. ROTTER, MICHAEL A. BOWEN