Patents by Inventor Thomas M. O'Brien

Thomas M. O'Brien 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: 11805965
    Abstract: A dish rack is supported for both selective movement into and out of a washing chamber of a dishwasher tub and vertically relative to the tub, with the vertical adjustment being made by manually grasping and shifting at least one frontal cross bar extending about a front wall of the dish rack to cause pivoting of first and second lever members extending along sides of the dish rack. The side lever members cooperate with latching mechanisms to lift and retain the dish rack in a select raised position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Harshal J. Bhajak, Joseph T. Ferencevich, Gerald J. McNerney, Thomas M. O'Brien, Mihir Ponkshe, Amit K. Sharma
  • Publication number: 20220192410
    Abstract: Provided are kitchen devices for cooking eggs using various cooking methods. For example, kitchen devices provided herein comprise a storage component configured to store a plurality of raw eggs, a cracking component configured receive a raw egg of the plurality of raw eggs from the storage component and crack the raw egg, forming a cracked egg, a cooking component configured to receive the cracked egg from the cracking component and cook the cracked egg, forming a cooked egg, and a warming component configured to receive the cooked egg from the cooking component and warm the cooked egg.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2021
    Publication date: June 23, 2022
    Inventors: Lance LENTINI, Ivan GALIC, Keller WALDRON, Connor WHITE, Thomas M. O'BRIEN
  • Publication number: 20220022725
    Abstract: A dish rack is supported for both selective movement into and out of a washing chamber of a dishwasher tub and vertically relative to the tub, with the vertical adjustment being made by manually grasping and shifting at least one frontal cross bar extending about a front wall of the dish rack to cause pivoting of first and second lever members extending along sides of the dish rack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2021
    Publication date: January 27, 2022
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: HARSHAL J. BHAJAK, JOSEPH T. FERENCEVICH, GERALD J. MCNERNEY, THOMAS M. O'BRIEN, MIHIR PONKSHE, AMIT K. SHARMA
  • Patent number: 11160434
    Abstract: A dish rack is supported for both selective movement into and out of a washing chamber of a dishwasher tub and vertically relative to the tub, with the vertical adjustment being made by manually grasping and shifting at least one frontal cross bar extending about a front wall of the dish rack to cause pivoting of first and second lever members extending along sides of the dish rack. The side lever members cooperate with latching mechanisms to lift and retain the dish rack in a select raised position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Harshal J. Bhajak, Joseph T. Ferencevich, Gerald J. McNerney, Thomas M. O'Brien, Mihir Ponkshe, Amit K. Sharma
  • Patent number: 10986976
    Abstract: A dishwasher includes a tub at least partially defining a treating chamber with an access opening and having a top wall. A door is movable between opened and closed positions to selectively close the access opening. A receiving collar is coupled to one of the tub or the door and has an opening and a deflecting surface accessible through the opening. A strike plate is coupled to the other of the tub or the door and received within the opening in the receiving collar in an insertion direction. The strike plate has at least one biasing element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Charles E. Nearpass, Michael E. Gatt, Thomas M. O'Brien, Jason A. Cackley
  • Publication number: 20190387951
    Abstract: A dishwasher includes a tub at least partially defining a treating chamber with an access opening and having a top wall. A door is movable between opened and closed positions to selectively close the access opening. A receiving collar is coupled to one of the tub or the door and has an opening and a deflecting surface accessible through the opening. A strike plate is coupled to the other of the tub or the door and received within the opening in the receiving collar in an insertion direction. The strike plate has at least one biasing element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2018
    Publication date: December 26, 2019
    Inventors: Charles E. Nearpass, Michael E. Gatt, Thomas M. O'Brien, Jason A. Cackley
  • Patent number: 10499790
    Abstract: Support structures for dishwashers are disclosed. An example dishwasher for treating dishes according to a cycle of operation includes a tub defining a treating chamber with an opening, a frame coupled to and structurally supporting at least a portion of the tub, a dish rack mount coupled to the frame, and a dish rack coupled to the dish rack mount, wherein the weight of the dish rack is substantially borne by the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Harshal J. Bhajak, Rexford W. Cordill, Steven J. Kuehl, Thomas M. O'Brien, Donald J. Wilson
  • Publication number: 20190307312
    Abstract: A dish rack is supported for both selective movement into and out of a washing chamber of a dishwasher tub and vertically relative to the tub, with the vertical adjustment being made by manually grasping and shifting at least one frontal cross bar extending about a front wall of the dish rack to cause pivoting of first and second lever members extending along sides of the dish rack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2019
    Publication date: October 10, 2019
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: HARSHAL J. BHAJAK, JOSEPH T. FERENCEVICH, GERALD J. MCNERNEY, THOMAS M. O'BRIEN, MIHIR PONKSHE, AMIT K. SHARMA
  • Patent number: 10376129
    Abstract: A dishwasher with a tub defining a treating chamber, a chassis supporting the tub, and a set of leveling assemblies mounted to the chassis. A leveling assembly can include a leveling foot having a threaded shaft and a nut having a threaded interior and a flexible or moveable portion configured to receive a portion of the threaded shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: William K. Kangas, Thomas M. O'Brien
  • Patent number: 10342408
    Abstract: A dish rack is supported for both selective movement into and out of a washing chamber of a dishwasher tub and vertically relative to the tub, with the vertical adjustment being made by manually grasping and shifting at least one frontal cross bar extending above a front wall of the dish rack to cause pivoting of first and second lever members extending along sides of the dish rack. The side lever members cooperate with latching mechanisms to lift and retain the dish rack in a select raised position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Harshal J. Bhajak, Joseph T. Ferencevich, Gerald J. McNerney, Thomas M. O'Brien, Mihir Ponkshe, Amit K. Sharma
  • Patent number: 10285561
    Abstract: A dishwasher with a tub defining a treating chamber having an access opening. A closure selectively closes the access opening and a base supports the tub. The base can include a set of spaced panels and a set of spaced beams connecting the set of panels. The base can be formed by inserting the set of spaced beams within the set of spaced panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas M. O'Brien, William K. Kangas
  • Publication number: 20180325351
    Abstract: A dishwasher with a tub defining a treating chamber having an access opening. A closure selectively closes the access opening and a base supports the tub. The base can include a set of spaced panels and a set of spaced beams connecting the set of panels. The base can be formed by inserting the set of spaced beams within the set of spaced panels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2018
    Publication date: November 15, 2018
    Inventors: Thomas M. O'Brien, William K. Kangas
  • Patent number: 10092162
    Abstract: A dishwasher with a tub defining a treating chamber having an access opening. A closure selectively closes the access opening and a base supports the tub. The base can include a set of spaced panels and a set of spaced beams connecting the set of panels. The base can be formed by inserting the set of spaced beams within the set of spaced panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas M. O'Brien, William K. Kangas
  • Publication number: 20180192849
    Abstract: A dishwasher with a tub defining a treating chamber having an access opening. A closure selectively closes the access opening and a base supports the tub. The base can include a set of spaced panels and a set of spaced beams connecting the set of panels. The base can be formed by inserting the set of spaced beams within the set of spaced panels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2017
    Publication date: July 12, 2018
    Inventors: Thomas M. O'Brien, WIlliam K. Kangas
  • Publication number: 20180125324
    Abstract: A dishwasher with a tub defining a treating chamber, a chassis supporting the tub, and a set of leveling assemblies mounted to the chassis. A leveling assembly can include a leveling foot having a threaded shaft and a nut having a threaded interior and a flexible or moveable portion configured to receive a portion of the threaded shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2016
    Publication date: May 10, 2018
    Inventors: WILLIAM K. KANGAS, THOMAS M. O'BRIEN
  • Publication number: 20170209018
    Abstract: Support structures for dishwashers are disclosed. An example dishwasher for treating dishes according to a cycle of operation includes a tub defining a treating chamber with an opening, a frame coupled to and structurally supporting at least a portion of the tub, a dish rack mount coupled to the frame, and a dish rack coupled to the dish rack mount, wherein the weight of the dish rack is substantially borne by the frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2017
    Publication date: July 27, 2017
    Applicant: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Harshal J. BHAJAK, Rexford W. CORDILL, Steven J. KUEHL, Thomas M. O'BRIEN, Donald J. WILSON
  • Publication number: 20170127906
    Abstract: A dish rack is supported for both selective movement into and out of a washing chamber of a dishwasher tub and vertically relative to the tub, with the vertical adjustment being made by manually grasping and shifting at least one frontal cross bar extending above a front wall of the dish rack to cause pivoting of first and second lever members extending along sides of the dish rack. The side lever members cooperate with latching mechanisms to lift and retain the dish rack in a select raised position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2017
    Publication date: May 11, 2017
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: HARSHAL J. BHAJAK, JOSEPH T. FERENCEVICH, GERALD J. MCNERNEY, THOMAS M. O'BRIEN, MIHIR PONKSHE, AMIT K. SHARMA
  • Patent number: 9635995
    Abstract: Support structures for dishwashers are disclosed. An example dishwasher for treating dishes according to a cycle of operation includes a tub defining a treating chamber with an opening, a frame coupled to and structurally supporting at least a portion of the tub, a dish rack mount coupled to the frame, and a dish rack coupled to the dish rack mount, wherein the weight of the dish rack is substantially borne by the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Harshal J. Bhajak, Rexford W. Cordill, Steven J. Kuehl, Thomas M. O'Brien, Donald J. Wilson
  • Patent number: 9596975
    Abstract: A dish rack is supported for both selective movement into and out of a washing chamber of a dishwasher tub and vertically relative to the tub, with the vertical adjustment being made by manually grasping and shifting at least one frontal cross bar extending above a front wall of the dish rack to cause pivoting of first and second lever members extending along sides of the dish rack. The side lever members cooperate with latching mechanisms to lift and retain the dish rack in a select raised position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Harshal J. Bhajak, Joseph T. Ferencevich, Gerald J. McNerney, Thomas M. O'Brien, Mihir Ponkshe, Amit K. Sharma
  • Publication number: 20160256032
    Abstract: Support structures for dishwashers are disclosed. An example dishwasher for treating dishes according to a cycle of operation includes a tub defining a treating chamber with an opening, a frame coupled to and structurally supporting at least a portion of the tub, a dish rack mount coupled to the frame, and a dish rack coupled to the dish rack mount, wherein the weight of the dish rack is substantially borne by the frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2016
    Publication date: September 8, 2016
    Applicant: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Harshal J. Bhajak, Rexford W. Cordill, Steven J. Kuehl, Thomas M. O'Brien, Donald J. Wilson