Patents by Inventor Timothy A. Fulton
Timothy A. Fulton 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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Patent number: 10066868Abstract: Disclosed in this application is a u-shaped grommet for use in a refrigerator. The grommet is fixed so as to allow wires to be routed towards an opening in the liner of the refrigerator, pass through the opening in the liner, and exit the grommet in the opposite direction as the wires entered. The grommet is preferably molded to the wires so that the combined product is inseparable from the wiring which it protects. The grommet is also described as a single piece grommet, although multiple piece grommets are anticipated. Further disclosed in this application is an improved pass-through hinge for routing utilities, including water and electricity, from the door to the body of the refrigerator. The improved hinge features a hollow hinge pin through which utilities may be routed, thereby overcoming the deficiencies of the current state of the art.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2017Date of Patent: September 4, 2018Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Stevan R. Dolinsek, Timothy A. Fulton, Daryl L. Harmon, Chad J. Rotter, David A. Stauffer
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Publication number: 20170299252Abstract: Disclosed in this application is a u-shaped grommet for use in a refrigerator. The grommet is fixed so as to allow wires to be routed towards an opening in the liner of the refrigerator, pass through the opening in the liner, and exit the grommet in the opposite direction as the wires entered. The grommet is preferably molded to the wires so that the combined product is inseparable from the wiring which it protects. The grommet is also described as a single piece grommet, although multiple piece grommets are anticipated. Further disclosed in this application is an improved pass-through hinge for routing utilities, including water and electricity, from the door to the body of the refrigerator. The improved hinge features a hollow hinge pin through which utilities may be routed, thereby overcoming the deficiencies of the current state of the art.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 28, 2017Publication date: October 19, 2017Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: STEVAN R. DOLINSEK, TIMOTHY A. FULTON, DARYL L. HARMON, CHAD J. ROTTER, DAVID A. STAUFFER
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Patent number: 9719717Abstract: Disclosed in this application is a u-shaped grommet for use in a refrigerator. The grommet is fixed so as to allow wires to be routed towards an opening in the liner of the refrigerator, pass through the opening in the liner, and exit the grommet in the opposite direction as the wires entered. The grommet is preferably molded to the wires so that the combined product is inseparable from the wiring which it protects. The grommet is also described as a single piece grommet, although multiple piece grommets are anticipated. Further disclosed in this application is an improved pass-through hinge for routing utilities, including water and electricity, from the door to the body of the refrigerator. The improved hinge features a hollow hinge pin through which utilities may be routed, thereby overcoming the deficiencies of the current state of the art.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 2014Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Stevan R. Dolinsek, Timothy A. Fulton, Daryl L. Harmon, Chad J. Rotter, David A. Stauffer
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Patent number: 8857206Abstract: A refrigerator includes refrigerator cabinet, a door attached to the refrigerator cabinet, an ice and water dispenser mounted at the door for dispensing ice and water through the door, the ice and water dispenser including a multifunction dispensing actuation pad having a plurality of actuation points and wherein ice or water is dispensed upon selectively applying a pressure to one of the plurality of actuation points on the dispensing actuation pad. A method of operating a refrigerator includes the steps of providing a refrigerator and selectively applying pressure to at least one of a plurality of actuation points on a dispensing actuation pad of the refrigerator to select an ice and water dispenser function.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 2009Date of Patent: October 14, 2014Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Timothy A. Fulton, Daryl L. Harmon
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Publication number: 20140167591Abstract: Disclosed in this application is a u-shaped grommet for use in a refrigerator. The grommet is fixed so as to allow wires to be routed towards an opening in the liner of the refrigerator, pass through the opening in the liner, and exit the grommet in the opposite direction as the wires entered. The grommet is preferably molded to the wires so that the combined product is inseparable from the wiring which it protects. The grommet is also described as a single piece grommet, although multiple piece grommets are anticipated. Further disclosed in this application is an improved pass-through hinge for routing utilities, including water and electricity, from the door to the body of the refrigerator. The improved hinge features a hollow hinge pin through which utilities may be routed, thereby overcoming the deficiencies of the current state of the art.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 25, 2014Publication date: June 19, 2014Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: STEVAN R. DOLINSEK, TIMOTHY A. FULTON, DARYL L. HARMON, CHAD J. ROTTER, DAVID A. STAUFFER
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Patent number: 8690273Abstract: Disclosed in this application is a u-shaped grommet for use in a refrigerator. The grommet is fixed so as to allow wires to be routed towards an opening in the liner of the refrigerator, pass through the opening in the liner, and exit the grommet in the opposite direction as the wires entered. The grommet is preferably molded to the wires so that the combined product is inseparable from the wiring which it protects. The grommet is also described as a single piece grommet, although multiple piece grommets are anticipated. Further disclosed in this application is an improved pass-through hinge for routing utilities, including water and electricity, from the door to the body of the refrigerator. The improved hinge features a hollow hinge pin through which utilities may be routed, thereby overcoming the deficiencies of the current state of the art.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2010Date of Patent: April 8, 2014Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Stevan R. Dolinsek, Timothy A. Fulton, Daryl L. Harmon, Chad J. Rotter, David A. Stauffer
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Patent number: 8560229Abstract: A sensor is used to detect movement of a mobile device. For example, data received from an accelerometer may be averaged together and compared to a threshold value. If the average of the data is greater than a threshold value, the mobile device may be assumed to be moving. This information may be used to control the frequency of data collection by, for example, a GPS receiver in order to maximize utility and minimize power use.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2010Date of Patent: October 15, 2013Assignee: Google Inc.Inventors: Timothy Fulton Park, Steven Lee
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Patent number: 8312735Abstract: A door assembly for an appliance includes a door having an interior side and an exterior side. The door is operable between an open position and a closed position. An ice maker is adjacent to the interior side of the door when the door is in the closed position. A frame defines an aperture extending from the interior side to the exterior side. An ice bucket is disposed in the aperture and is operable between a lowered position, wherein a reservoir portion of the bucket is accessible when the door is closed, and a raised position, wherein the reservoir portion of the bucket is inaccessible when the door is closed. An ice dispenser is disposed below the ice bucket.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2009Date of Patent: November 20, 2012Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventor: Timothy A. Fulton
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Patent number: 8109112Abstract: A variable ice storage assembly for a refrigerator includes a storage cavity adapted to receive ice from an ice maker. The storage assembly is positioned between a light emitter and a receiver of an ice level sensor. The storage assembly can be utilized in a non-reflecting configuration wherein the ice level sensor functions in a standard manner, or a reflecting configuration wherein the sensing level is effectively lowered within the storage assembly. In the reflecting configuration, first and second mirrored inserts, supported by respective insert portions on the storage assembly, cooperate with first and second reflecting plates on the storage assembly to redirect light from the emitter in a circuitous path. A user may position the mirrored inserts at various angles, depending on the level of ice desired within the storage assembly. The storage assembly may be utilized alone, or as in insert within an ice bucket.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 2008Date of Patent: February 7, 2012Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Lindsey A. Smith, Timothy A. Fulton
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Patent number: 8075074Abstract: The present invention provides a refrigerator having a cabinet with a refrigeration compartment defined by surrounding walls and an open side. There is at least one cabinet door arranged to move relative to the cabinet to selectively open and close the open side. At least one component is located in the cabinet door requiring information to be transmitted between the cabinet and the door. A first mating hub is located on one of the surrounding walls of the refrigeration compartment. A second mating hub is carried on the cabinet door, such that when the cabinet door is moved into a closed position relative to the cabinet, the first and second mating hubs will be arranged in alignment. The hubs have terminal connections for transmitting information from one hub to the other when aligned.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 2006Date of Patent: December 13, 2011Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventor: Timothy A. Fulton
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Publication number: 20110234074Abstract: Disclosed in this application is a u-shaped grommet for use in a refrigerator. The grommet is fixed so as to allow wires to be routed towards an opening in the liner of the refrigerator, pass through the opening in the liner, and exit the grommet in the opposite direction as the wires entered. The grommet is preferably molded to the wires so that the combined product is inseparable from the wiring which it protects. The grommet is also described as a single piece grommet, although multiple piece grommets are anticipated. Further disclosed in this application is an improved pass-through hinge for routing utilities, including water and electricity, from the door to the body of the refrigerator. The improved hinge features a hollow hinge pin through which utilities may be routed, thereby overcoming the deficiencies of the current state of the art.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 26, 2010Publication date: September 29, 2011Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: Stevan R. DOLINSEK, Timothy A. FULTON, Daryl L. HARMON, Chad J. ROTTER, David A. STAUFFER
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Publication number: 20110132021Abstract: A refrigerator includes refrigerator cabinet, a door attached to the refrigerator cabinet, an ice and water dispenser mounted at the door for dispensing ice and water through the door, the ice and water dispenser including a multifunction dispensing actuation pad having a plurality of actuation points and wherein ice or water is dispensed upon selectively applying a pressure to one of the plurality of actuation points on the dispensing actuation pad. A method of operating a refrigerator includes the steps of providing a refrigerator and selectively applying pressure to at least one of a plurality of actuation points on a dispensing actuation pad of the refrigerator to select an ice and water dispenser function.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 7, 2009Publication date: June 9, 2011Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: TIMOTHY A. FULTON, DARYL L. HARMON
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Publication number: 20090229284Abstract: A door assembly for an appliance includes a door having an interior side and an exterior side. The door is operable between an open position and a closed position. An ice maker is adjacent to the interior side of the door when the door is in the closed position. A frame defines an aperture extending from the interior side to the exterior side. An ice bucket is disposed in the aperture and is operable between a lowered position, wherein a reservoir portion of the bucket is accessible when the door is closed, and a raised position, wherein the reservoir portion of the bucket is inaccessible when the door is closed. An ice dispenser is disposed below the ice bucket.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 12, 2009Publication date: September 17, 2009Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventor: TIMOTHY A. FULTON
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Patent number: 7584245Abstract: Web service generation is described, including introspecting an original web service, importing a definition associated with the original web service from an address, and building the web service using the definition and a template associated with the definition. A web service wrapping tool is also described, including an interpreter configured to introspect a first web service to retrieve a definition from an address, a generator configured to generate a class for the web service using the definition and a template, and a builder configured to build a second web service using the class generated by the generator. Also described is a system for generating a web service, including a template defining the web service, an interpreter configured to receive and interpret an address to determine a definition associated with the web service, and a generator configured to generate the web service using the definition and the template.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2004Date of Patent: September 1, 2009Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventor: Timothy Fulton Park
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Publication number: 20090211292Abstract: A variable ice storage assembly for a refrigerator includes a storage cavity adapted to receive ice from an ice maker. The storage assembly is positioned between a light emitter and a receiver of an ice level sensor. The storage assembly can be utilized in a non-reflecting configuration wherein the ice level sensor functions in a standard manner, or a reflecting configuration wherein the sensing level is effectively lowered within the storage assembly. In the reflecting configuration, first and second mirrored inserts, supported by respective insert portions on the storage assembly, cooperate with first and second reflecting plates on the storage assembly to redirect light from the emitter in a circuitous path. A user may position the mirrored inserts at various angles, depending on the level of ice desired within the storage assembly. The storage assembly may be utilized alone, or as in insert within an ice bucket.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 25, 2008Publication date: August 27, 2009Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: LINDSEY A. SMITH, TIMOTHY A. FULTON
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Publication number: 20070220916Abstract: The present invention provides a refrigerator having a cabinet with a refrigeration compartment defined by surrounding walls and an open side. There is at least one cabinet door arranged to move relative to the cabinet to selectively open and close the open side. At least one component is located in the cabinet door requiring information to be transmitted between the cabinet and the door. A first mating hub is located on one of the surrounding walls of the refrigeration compartment. A second mating hub is carried on the cabinet door, such that when the cabinet door is moved into a closed position relative to the cabinet, the first and second mating hubs will be arranged in alignment. The hubs have terminal connections for transmitting information from one hub to the other when aligned.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 24, 2006Publication date: September 27, 2007Inventor: Timothy Fulton
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Publication number: 20070102447Abstract: A ready to attach actuation device module is provided for use with a dispenser, such as an ice or water dispenser in a refrigerator. The module includes an electrical actuation device, a wiring lead extending from the actuation device and an electrical connector attached at an end of the wiring lead. A housing encloses the actuation device and at least a portion of the wiring lead. The module incorporates an attachment mechanism which is engageable with the dispenser. The housing includes all stylings for the actuation device module.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 10, 2005Publication date: May 10, 2007Inventors: Timothy Fulton, Gary Wilson