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).
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Publication number: 20240074617Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 7, 2022Publication date: March 7, 2024Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: Dan Christian Barfuss, JR., Timothy E. Heater, Naveen Jayabalan
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Patent number: 11920285Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 16, 2022Date of Patent: March 5, 2024Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Prabhjee Anand, Timothy E. Heater
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Patent number: 11767633Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 19, 2020Date of Patent: September 26, 2023Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Ryan R. Bellinger, Seth E. Bixby, Timothy E. Heater, Jacob C. Ickes, Sayer J. Murphy, Giuseppe Netti, Michael T. Roche
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Patent number: 11629752Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 6, 2020Date of Patent: April 18, 2023Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Robert T. Carr, Timothy E. Heater, Arren J. McCormick, Paul S. Paget, Jeremy T. Wolters, Ping Zhang
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Publication number: 20230018734Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 16, 2022Publication date: January 19, 2023Inventors: PRABHJEE ANAND, TIMOTHY E. HEATER
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Patent number: 11466396Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 29, 2020Date of Patent: October 11, 2022Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Prabhjee Anand, Timothy E. Heater
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Publication number: 20210392918Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 9, 2021Publication date: December 23, 2021Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: 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
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Publication number: 20210364035Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: May 19, 2020Publication date: November 25, 2021Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: Christopher J. Eaton, Timothy E. Heater, Paul S. Paget
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Publication number: 20210246936Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: February 6, 2020Publication date: August 12, 2021Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: Robert T. Carr, Timothy E. Heater, Arren J. McCormick, Paul S. Paget, Jeremy T. Wolters, Ping Zhang
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Publication number: 20210010180Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 29, 2020Publication date: January 14, 2021Inventors: PRABHJEE ANAND, TIMOTHY E. HEATER
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Publication number: 20210002811Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: May 19, 2020Publication date: January 7, 2021Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: Ryan R. Bellinger, Seth E. Bixby, Timothy E. Heater, Jacob C. Ickes, Sayer J. Murphy, Giuseppe Netti, Michael T. Roche
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Patent number: 10815603Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 22, 2018Date of Patent: October 27, 2020Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Prabhjee Anand, Timothy E. Heater
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Patent number: 10731287Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 16, 2017Date of Patent: August 4, 2020Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Timothy E. Heater, Nicholas E. Mawhorr, Jaroslav Ridilla, Justin Zirbes
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Patent number: 10689792Abstract: A washing machine can have at least one heating element and be configured to perform a cycle of operation. A method of operation of the washing machine can include signaling a relay circuit to switch operation of the at least one heating element. A washing machine and a dryer can each have at least one heating element and be configured to perform a cycle of operation. The washing machine and dryer can be connected to a shared power source. A method of sharing power between the washing machine and the dryer can include allocating power between the washing machine and the dryer.Type: GrantFiled: August 21, 2018Date of Patent: June 23, 2020Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Peter I. Bilionis, Timothy E. Heater
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Patent number: 10612296Abstract: A laundry appliance door assembly with a wire cover to protect the wire conductor that passes through the door hinge where it has a tendency to get pulled and damaged when the door is in motion. The wire cover includes a wire cover and a wire conduit coaxially connected together allowing the wire cover to rotate relative to the wiring conduit while within alignment of the hinge rotational axis. The wire cover comprises two lateral halves for ease of installation where it is designed to encase the wire conductor that passes through the door hinge.Type: GrantFiled: April 4, 2019Date of Patent: April 7, 2020Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: William Frantz, Timothy E. Heater, Ndjeka K. Luhahi, Nicholas E. Mawhorr, Jose Aldo Ramirez, Scott T. Thalls
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Patent number: 10494755Abstract: A clothes dryer having a primary drying chamber with an air flow system having an inlet in the rear wall and an outlet on the front wall to define a primary air flow path through the primary drying chamber between the inlet and the outlet. A door movable between opened/closed positions to selectively open/close the primary drying chamber. A secondary drying chamber located adjacent the front wall to at least partially block access through the access opening without preventing rotation of the tub in the primary drying chamber. The secondary drying chamber also defining a secondary flow path through the drying basket to the front wall outlet. A scoop located within the primary drying chamber that deflects at least some of the air in the primary flow path to the secondary flow path.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2017Date of Patent: December 3, 2019Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Timothy E. Heater, Nicholas E. Mawhorr, Lisa M. Pawloski, Anna C. Schelling
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Publication number: 20190226272Abstract: A laundry appliance door assembly with a wire cover to protect the wire conductor that passes through the door hinge where it has a tendency to get pulled and damaged when the door is in motion. The wire cover includes a wire cover and a wire conduit coaxially connected together allowing the wire cover to rotate relative to the wiring conduit while within alignment of the hinge rotational axis. The wire cover comprises two lateral halves for ease of installation where it is designed to encase the wire conductor that passes through the door hinge.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 4, 2019Publication date: July 25, 2019Inventors: WILLIAM FRANTZ, TIMOTHY E. HEATER, NDJEKA K. LUHAHI, NICHOLAS E. MAWHORR, JOSE ALDO RAMIREZ, SCOTT T. THALLS
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Patent number: 10294712Abstract: A laundry appliance door assembly with a wire cover to protect the wire conductor that passes through the door hinge where it has a tendency to get pulled and damaged when the door is in motion. The wire cover includes a wire cover and a wire conduit coaxially connected together allowing the wire cover to rotate relative to the wiring conduit while within alignment of the hinge rotational axis. The wire cover comprises two lateral halves for ease of installation where it is designed to encase the wire conductor that passes through the door hinge.Type: GrantFiled: November 14, 2016Date of Patent: May 21, 2019Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: William Frantz, Timothy E. Heater, Ndjeka K. Luhahi, Nicholas E. Mawhorr, Jose Aldo Ramirez, Scott T. Thalls
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Publication number: 20190145142Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: November 16, 2017Publication date: May 16, 2019Inventors: TIMOTHY E. HEATER, NICHOLAS E. MAWHORR, JAROSLAV RIDILLA, JUSTIN ZIRBES
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Patent number: 10253441Abstract: A door assembly for a laundry treating appliance that comprises an inner door subassembly, an intermediate door frame, an outer door screen; and a user interface controller. The intermediate door frame is adhered to the inner door subassembly and to the outer door screen. The user interface controller is affixed to the intermediate door through an aperture in the inner door subassembly to control a user interface that is viewable through and accessible on the outer door screen.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2018Date of Patent: April 9, 2019Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Prabhjee Anand, Yogesh Dhanabalan Chandrasekaran, Timothy E. Heater, Ndjeka K. Luhahi, Jose Aldo Ramirez, Scott T. Thalls