Patents by Inventor Timothy E. Heater

Timothy E. Heater 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).

  • Publication number: 20250325145
    Abstract: A stand mixer includes a base defining an interior with an opening to the interior and a mixing head being supported over an upper mounting area of the base and defining a mounting tongue extending through the opening to the interior of the base. The stand mixer further includes a coupling assembly including a pin body extending between opposite first and second ends and a pivot frame including first and second support receptacles respectively receiving the first and second ends of the pin body and a frame body connecting the first and second support receptacles. The frame body is secured to the base within the interior thereof, and the pin body is secured to the mounting tongue of the mixing head to pivotably couple the mixing head to the base with the mixing head being rotatable on the base between a lowered position and a raised position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2024
    Publication date: October 23, 2025
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Timothy E. Heater, Joseph W. Snyder, Jeremy T. Wolters, Benjamin B. Edinger, Michael Johnson, Michael Stinchcomb
  • Patent number: 12408797
    Abstract: A stand mixer includes a motor output shaft and a locking planetary output. The locking planetary output has a center shaft operably connected with the output shaft for driven rotation about a fixed axis, an agitator shaft mounted to the center shaft such that the agitator shaft moves around the fixed axis of the center shaft in a planetary arrangement, and a planetary gear centrally arranged about the fixed axis of the center shaft. A gear unit is rotatably fixed on the agitator shaft and is slidably mounted therewith to be moveable between a first position, in which the gear unit is engaged with the planetary gear, and a second position in which the gear unit is disengaged from the planetary gear and is engaged with a locking member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2025
    Assignee: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Dan Christian Barfuss, Jr., Timothy E. Heater, Naveen Jayabalan
  • Publication number: 20250143349
    Abstract: An ice cream making assembly includes a mixing bowl having an outer housing and an inner liner defining a wall cavity therebetween. The mixing bowl further includes a radiator fin unit received within a portion of the wall cavity and a phase-change medium filling a further portion of the wall cavity surrounding at least a portion of the radiator fin unit. The radiator fin unit defines an outer chamfer extending generally along an outer cross-sectional profile of the wall cavity and a tapered inner profile extending along inner cross-sectional profile of the wall cavity and in at least partial contact with the inner liner. The assembly further includes a dasher including first and second mixing arms extending outwardly from an anchor end of the axle and upwardly and outwardly to generally follow an angled inner profile of the food-product receiving cavity defined by the liner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2024
    Publication date: May 8, 2025
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Prabhjee Anand, Richard D. Arnold, Bryan Scott Burkhart, Christopher J. Eaton, Patrick David Feltman, Timothy E. Heater, Brandon Tyler Mock, Jon Patrick Morris, Nicholas Hill Schutte, Rohit Ranjan Singh
  • Patent number: 12193454
    Abstract: An ice cream making assembly includes a mixing bowl having an outer housing and an inner liner defining a wall cavity therebetween. The mixing bowl further includes a radiator fin unit received within a portion of the wall cavity and a phase-change medium filling a further portion of the wall cavity surrounding at least a portion of the radiator fin unit. The radiator fin unit defines an outer chamfer extending generally along an outer cross-sectional profile of the wall cavity and a tapered inner profile extending along inner cross-sectional profile of the wall cavity and in at least partial contact with the inner liner. The assembly further includes a dasher including first and second mixing arms extending outwardly from an anchor end of the axle and upwardly and outwardly to generally follow an angled inner profile of the a food-product receiving cavity defined by the liner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Prabhjee Anand, Richard D. Arnold, Bryan Scott Burkhart, Christopher J. Eaton, Patrick David Feltman, Timothy E. Heater, Brandon Tyler Mock, Jon Patrick Morris, Nicholas Hill Schutte, Rohit Ranjan Singh
  • Publication number: 20250000302
    Abstract: A blender having a blender jar with one or more protrusions in the interior thereof for creating additional turbulent flow within the blender jar. The protrusions can be formed as three-dimensional objects having a perimeter integrally formed with a portion of an upstanding wall of the blender jar and can also be formed integrally with a base portion of the blender jar and can extend vertically higher than a blade path defined by a rotatable blade disposed adjacent to the base portion of the blender jar.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2023
    Publication date: January 2, 2025
    Inventors: BRANDON W. CATTES, KATHRYN E. D'ALESSANDRO, TIMOTHY E. HEATER, ANDREW LEITERT, MARK A. REDFERN, JEREMY T. WOLTERS
  • Patent number: 12168996
    Abstract: A bearing assembly for a blender jar assembly includes a blender jar having a bottom wall that defines an opening. A retainer is positioned within the blender jar and defines a receiving space in communication with the opening. A jar collar is positioned exterior of the blender jar and is operably coupled with the retainer. A bearing housing is positioned within the receiving space and is spaced apart from the retainer by a first spacing. A nut is operably coupled with the bearing housing and is at least partially received by the receiving space. The nut is spaced apart from the retainer by a second spacing. A gasket is positioned to maintain at least one of the first and second spacings of the bearing housing and the nut relative to the retainer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2024
    Assignee: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Christopher J. Eaton, Timothy E. Heater, Paul S. Paget
  • Publication number: 20240175193
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a door assembly for a laundry treating appliance having an inner door subassembly comprising an inner door frame, an intermediate door frame attached to the inner door frame, and an outer door screen attached to the intermediate door frame, and one or more mechanical fasteners extending from a front to a back of the inner door frame for mounting a handle or a hinge. The method including adhesively bonding a handle cover or hinge cover to the inner door frame to cover the one or more mechanical fasteners on the back of the inner door frame; affixing a user interface controller to the intermediate door frame through an aperture in the inner door subassembly, and adhering a touch film having an integrated flexible printed circuit board with touch buttons to the interior surface of the outer door screen. The touch film being communication with and configured to control the user interface controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2024
    Publication date: May 30, 2024
    Inventors: PRABHJEE ANAND, TIMOTHY E. HEATER
  • Publication number: 20240074617
    Abstract: A stand mixer includes a motor output shaft and a locking planetary output. The locking planetary output has a center shaft operably connected with the output shaft for driven rotation about a fixed axis, an agitator shaft mounted to the center shaft such that the agitator shaft moves around the fixed axis of the center shaft in a planetary arrangement, and a planetary gear centrally arranged about the fixed axis of the center shaft. A gear unit is rotatably fixed on the agitator shaft and is slidably mounted therewith to be moveable between a first position, in which the gear unit is engaged with the planetary gear, and a second position in which the gear unit is disengaged from the planetary gear and is engaged with a locking member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2022
    Publication date: March 7, 2024
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Dan Christian Barfuss, JR., Timothy E. Heater, Naveen Jayabalan
  • Patent number: 11920285
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a door assembly for a laundry treating appliance having an inner door subassembly comprising an inner door frame, an intermediate door frame attached to the inner door frame, and an outer door screen attached to the intermediate door frame, and one or more mechanical fasteners extending from a front to a back of the inner door frame for mounting a handle or a hinge. The method including adhesively bonding a handle cover or hinge cover to the inner door frame to cover the one or more mechanical fasteners on the back of the inner door frame; affixing a user interface controller to the intermediate door frame through an aperture in the inner door subassembly, and adhering a touch film having an integrated flexible printed circuit board with touch buttons to the interior surface of the outer door screen. The touch film being communication with and configured to control the user interface controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Prabhjee Anand, Timothy E. Heater
  • Patent number: 11767633
    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: May 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Ryan R. Bellinger, Seth E. Bixby, Timothy E. Heater, Jacob C. Ickes, Sayer J. Murphy, Giuseppe Netti, Michael T. Roche
  • Patent number: 11629752
    Abstract: A blender assembly includes a blender jar having a bottom wall. The bottom wall includes first and second surfaces opposing one another and an interior edge defining an opening. A bearing housing is positioned at least partially within the opening and is spaced apart from the first surface of the bottom wall and the interior edge of the bottom wall. A nut is operably coupled with the bearing housing and is spaced apart from a second surface of the bottom wall. A gasket assembly is positioned to maintain a spacing of the bearing housing and the nut relative to the bottom wall. The gasket assembly is positioned over the interior edge of the bottom wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Robert T. Carr, Timothy E. Heater, Arren J. McCormick, Paul S. Paget, Jeremy T. Wolters, Ping Zhang
  • Publication number: 20230018734
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a door assembly for a laundry treating appliance having an inner door subassembly comprising an inner door frame, an intermediate door frame attached to the inner door frame, and an outer door screen attached to the intermediate door frame, and one or more mechanical fasteners extending from a front to a back of the inner door frame for mounting a handle or a hinge. The method including adhesively bonding a handle cover or hinge cover to the inner door frame to cover the one or more mechanical fasteners on the back of the inner door frame; affixing a user interface controller to the intermediate door frame through an aperture in the inner door subassembly, and adhering a touch film having an integrated flexible printed circuit board with touch buttons to the interior surface of the outer door screen. The touch film being communication with and configured to control the user interface controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2022
    Publication date: January 19, 2023
    Inventors: PRABHJEE ANAND, TIMOTHY E. HEATER
  • Patent number: 11466396
    Abstract: A laundry treating appliance having a door assembly with an inner door frame. One or more mechanical fasteners extending the inner door frame so secure one of a hinge or handle to the door frame. Hinge and handle covers are adhesively bonded to the inner door frame to cover the one or more mechanical fasteners. A user interface controller is affixed to the door frame through an aperture in an inner door subassembly. A touch film having an integrated flexible printed circuit board with touch buttons is in communication with and configured to control the user interface controller. The touch film is adhered to the interior surface of the outer screen door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Prabhjee Anand, Timothy E. Heater
  • Publication number: 20210392918
    Abstract: An ice cream making assembly includes a mixing bowl having an outer housing and an inner liner defining a wall cavity therebetween. The mixing bowl further includes a radiator fin unit received within a portion of the wall cavity and a phase-change medium filling a further portion of the wall cavity surrounding at least a portion of the radiator fin unit. The radiator fin unit defines an outer chamfer extending generally along an outer cross-sectional profile of the wall cavity and a tapered inner profile extending along inner cross-sectional profile of the wall cavity and in at least partial contact with the inner liner. The assembly further includes a dasher including first and second mixing arms extending outwardly from an anchor end of the axle and upwardly and outwardly to generally follow an angled inner profile of the a food-product receiving cavity defined by the liner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2021
    Publication date: December 23, 2021
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Prabhjee Anand, Richard D. Arnold, Bryan Scott Burkhart, Christopher J. Eaton, Patrick David Feltman, Timothy E. Heater, Brandon Tyler Mock, Jon Patrick Morris, Nicholas Hill Schutte, Rohit Ranjan Singh
  • Publication number: 20210364035
    Abstract: A bearing assembly for a blender jar assembly includes a blender jar having a bottom wall that defines an opening. A retainer is positioned within the blender jar and defines a receiving space in communication with the opening. A jar collar is positioned exterior of the blender jar and is operably coupled with the retainer. A bearing housing is positioned within the receiving space and is spaced apart from the retainer by a first spacing. A nut is operably coupled with the bearing housing and is at least partially received by the receiving space. The nut is spaced apart from the retainer by a second spacing. A gasket is positioned to maintain at least one of the first and second spacings of the bearing housing and the nut relative to the retainer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2020
    Publication date: November 25, 2021
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Christopher J. Eaton, Timothy E. Heater, Paul S. Paget
  • Publication number: 20210246936
    Abstract: A blender assembly includes a blender jar having a bottom wall. The bottom wall includes first and second surfaces opposing one another and an interior edge defining an opening. A bearing housing is positioned at least partially within the opening and is spaced apart from the first surface of the bottom wall and the interior edge of the bottom wall. A nut is operably coupled with the bearing housing and is spaced apart from a second surface of the bottom wall. A gasket assembly is positioned to maintain a spacing of the bearing housing and the nut relative to the bottom wall. The gasket assembly is positioned over the interior edge of the bottom wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2020
    Publication date: August 12, 2021
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Robert T. Carr, Timothy E. Heater, Arren J. McCormick, Paul S. Paget, Jeremy T. Wolters, Ping Zhang
  • Publication number: 20210010180
    Abstract: A laundry treating appliance having a door assembly with an inner door frame. One or more mechanical fasteners extending the inner door frame so secure one of a hinge or handle to the door frame. Hinge and handle covers are adhesively bonded to the inner door frame to cover the one or more mechanical fasteners. A user interface controller is affixed to the door frame through an aperture in an inner door subassembly. A touch film having an integrated flexible printed circuit board with touch buttons is in communication with and configured to control the user interface controller. The touch film is adhered to the interior surface of the outer screen door.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2020
    Publication date: January 14, 2021
    Inventors: PRABHJEE ANAND, TIMOTHY E. HEATER
  • Publication number: 20210002811
    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: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2020
    Publication date: January 7, 2021
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ryan R. Bellinger, Seth E. Bixby, Timothy E. Heater, Jacob C. Ickes, Sayer J. Murphy, Giuseppe Netti, Michael T. Roche
  • Patent number: 10815603
    Abstract: An appliance having a door with an interior surface having a compound curvature, a section thereof configured to enable viewing a user interface on the interior surface through the door. The user interface includes a touch film adhered to the interior surface by application of a roller to activate a pressure sensitive adhesive between the touch film and the interior surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Prabhjee Anand, Timothy E. Heater
  • Patent number: 10731287
    Abstract: A laundry treating appliance can include a chassis defining an interior, with a tub and a drum provided in the interior to define a treating chamber for treating articles according to a cycle of operation. A door can selectively open an access opening in the chassis for accessing the treating chamber. The door can include a hinge assembly having a first hinge arm and a second hinge arm coupled to an actuator arm. Operation of a handle assembly can actuate the actuator arm and can selectively couple the first hinge arm at a first hinge or the second hinge arm at a second hinge to open the door in a first or second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy E. Heater, Nicholas E. Mawhorr, Jaroslav Ridilla, Justin Zirbes