Patents by Inventor Todd Tunzi
Todd Tunzi 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: 9726422Abstract: A shelving assembly includes ladder rails mounted within spaced elongated pockets formed in the rear wall of a refrigerator compartment. Each ladder rail presents a front, side, rear wall portions. Adjacent the front wall portion, a vertical slot is defined, at least in part, by an in-turned portion of the front wall portion. Offset from the slot, the in-turned portion is formed with a plurality of vertically spaced and rearwardly projecting hooks. Each shelf of the assembly includes arms, each having an anchoring pin and a support foot. In mounting the shelf, the support foot and the anchoring pin of each arm are placed through a cutout formed in the front wall portion of a respective ladder, the shelf is arranged in a desired vertical position with the arm sliding within the slot, and then the anchoring pin is supported upon a respective one of the hooks.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2016Date of Patent: August 8, 2017Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventor: Todd Tunzi
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Publication number: 20170174493Abstract: A dispensing mechanism for an appliance includes an operable paddle having a lower portion and an upper portion pivotally attached to a dispenser wall between outward and inward positions. An actuator has a switch positioned proximate a pivot defined by a first end of an actuator lever. A second end of the actuator lever is positioned proximate the lower portion of the operable paddle, wherein operation of the operable paddle to the inward position engages the lower portion of the operable paddle with the bottom portion of the actuator lever and operates the actuator lever from an idle state to a use state. Movement of the bottom portion of the actuator lever operates the switch from a deactivated state to an activated state, wherein the activated state of the switch activates the at least one of the ice dispenser and the water dispenser.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 17, 2015Publication date: June 22, 2017Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: Jose R. Aranda, Daniel H. Quinlan, Todd Tunzi
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Publication number: 20170122652Abstract: A refrigerator cabinet including a plurality of U-shaped shelves is provided. Each of the plurality of U-shaped shelves includes left, right and back portions located in a horizontal fashion with one shelf above another. A mounting structure is provided for supporting the U-shaped shelves; and a removable shelf is located within one or more of the U-shaped shelves. In addition, a tuck shelf is mounted in at least one of the plurality of U-shaped shelves, the tuck shelf being disposed either against at least a back portion of the at least one U-shaped shelf or between the removable shelf and a portion of the at least one U-shaped shelf that is closest to a user of the refrigerator.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 17, 2017Publication date: May 4, 2017Applicant: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Julia B. Burke, Daniel Chow, Juan F. Flores, Todd Tunzi
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Patent number: 9593879Abstract: A refrigerator cabinet including a plurality of U-shaped shelves is provided. Each of the plurality of U-shaped shelves includes left, right and back portions located in a horizontal fashion with one shelf above another. A mounting structure is provided for supporting the U-shaped shelves; and a removable shelf is located within one or more of the U-shaped shelves. In addition, a tuck shelf is mounted in at least one of the plurality of U-shaped shelves, the tuck shelf being disposed either against at least a back portion of the at least one U-shaped shelf or between the removable shelf and a portion of the at least one U-shaped shelf that is closest to a user of the refrigerator.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2015Date of Patent: March 14, 2017Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Julia B. Burke, Daniel Chow, Juan F. Flores, Todd Tunzi
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Publication number: 20160290712Abstract: A shelving assembly includes ladder rails mounted within spaced elongated pockets formed in the rear wall of a refrigerator compartment. Each ladder rail presents a front, side, rear wall portions. Adjacent the front wall portion, a vertical slot is defined, at least in part, by an in-turned portion of the front wall portion. Offset from the slot, the in-turned portion is formed with a plurality of vertically spaced and rearwardly projecting hooks. Each shelf of the assembly includes arms, each having an anchoring pin and a support foot. In mounting the shelf, the support foot and the anchoring pin of each arm are placed through a cutout formed in the front wall portion of a respective ladder, the shelf is arranged in a desired vertical position with the arm sliding within the slot, and then the anchoring pin is supported upon a respective one of the hooks.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 15, 2016Publication date: October 6, 2016Applicant: Whirlpool CorporationInventor: Todd Tunzi
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Publication number: 20160273828Abstract: A refrigerator cabinet including a plurality of U-shaped shelves is provided. Each of the plurality of U-shaped shelves includes left, right and back portions located in a horizontal fashion with one shelf above another. A mounting structure is provided for supporting the U-shaped shelves; and a removable shelf is located within one or more of the U-shaped shelves. In addition, a tuck shelf is mounted in at least one of the plurality of U-shaped shelves, the tuck shelf being disposed either against at least a back portion of the at least one U-shaped shelf or between the removable shelf and a portion of the at least one U-shaped shelf that is closest to a user of the refrigerator.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 17, 2015Publication date: September 22, 2016Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: Julia B. Burke, Daniel Chow, Juan F. Flores, Todd Tunzi
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Publication number: 20160273750Abstract: A height-adjustable shelving system for an appliance includes an appliance having a plurality of walls that define an interior cavity. The appliance has an electrical system that extends into at least one of the walls of the appliance. A shelf is selectively disposed within the cavity and includes a lighting fixture. A shelf support system in communication with the electrical system includes at least one rotatable body operable between a plurality of support positions, the at least one rotatable body removably receiving and supporting the shelf, wherein each of the support positions of the rotatable body corresponds to a different shelf height. The removable engagement between the shelf and the rotatable body in any of the plurality of support positions places the lighting fixture in communication with the electrical system.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 17, 2015Publication date: September 22, 2016Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: Julia B. Burke, Daniel Chow, Juan F. Flores, Michael T. Moore, Douglas Pohl, Todd Tunzi
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Patent number: 9448007Abstract: A shelving assembly includes ladder rails mounted within spaced elongated pockets formed in the rear wall of a refrigerator compartment. Each ladder rail presents a front, side, rear wall portions. Adjacent the front wall portion, a vertical slot is defined, at least in part, by an in-turned portion of the front wall portion. Offset from the slot, the in-turned portion is formed with a plurality of vertically spaced and rearwardly projecting hooks. Each shelf of the assembly includes arms, each having an anchoring pin and a support foot. In mounting the shelf, the support foot and the anchoring pin of each arm are placed through a cutout formed in the front wall portion of a respective ladder, the shelf is arranged in a desired vertical position with the arm sliding within the slot, and then the anchoring pin is supported upon a respective one of the hooks.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2015Date of Patent: September 20, 2016Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventor: Todd Tunzi
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Publication number: 20160265816Abstract: A pantry box system for a refrigerating appliance includes a pantry mullion having an interstitial space defined therein, a pantry wall extending perpendicularly from the pantry mullion, a base positioned substantially parallel with the pantry mullion. The pantry mullion, pantry wall and base define an insertable pantry compartment having an internal pantry volume. A pantry drawer is in operable communication with the internal pantry volume, and is operable through a drawer aperture defined in the pantry wall between open and closed positions. The pantry drawer includes an exterior drawer panel that conceals the drawer aperture when the at least one pantry drawer in in the closed position. A pantry box cooling system is configured to deliver cooling to the insertable pantry compartment from an external location, wherein the pantry box cooling system includes a control that independently controls a pantry temperature of the insertable pantry compartment.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 11, 2015Publication date: September 15, 2016Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: Thomas A. Gillette, Duane M. Kobos, Todd Tunzi
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Publication number: 20160109173Abstract: A shelving assembly includes ladder rails mounted within spaced elongated pockets formed in the rear wall of a refrigerator compartment. Each ladder rail presents a front, side, rear wall portions. Adjacent the front wall portion, a vertical slot is defined, at least in part, by an in-turned portion of the front wall portion. Offset from the slot, the in-turned portion is formed with a plurality of vertically spaced and rearwardly projecting hooks. Each shelf of the assembly includes arms, each having an anchoring pin and a support foot. In mounting the shelf, the support foot and the anchoring pin of each arm are placed through a cutout formed in the front wall portion of a respective ladder, the shelf is arranged in a desired vertical position with the arm sliding within the slot, and then the anchoring pin is supported upon a respective one of the hooks.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 30, 2015Publication date: April 21, 2016Inventor: Todd Tunzi
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Patent number: 9261305Abstract: A shelving assembly includes ladder rails mounted within spaced elongated pockets formed in the rear wall of a refrigerator compartment. Each ladder rail presents a front, side, rear wall portions. Adjacent the front wall portion, a vertical slot is defined, at least in part, by an in-turned portion of the front wall portion. Offset from the slot, the in-turned portion is formed with a plurality of vertically spaced and rearwardly projecting hooks. Each shelf of the assembly includes arms, each having an anchoring pin and a support foot. In mounting the shelf, the support foot and the anchoring pin of each arm are placed through a cutout formed in the front wall portion of a respective ladder, the shelf is arranged in a desired vertical position with the arm sliding within the slot, and then the anchoring pin is supported upon a respective one of the hooks.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2013Date of Patent: February 16, 2016Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventor: Todd Tunzi
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Publication number: 20140252939Abstract: A shelving assembly includes ladder rails mounted within spaced elongated pockets formed in the rear wall of a refrigerator compartment. Each ladder rail presents a front, side, rear wall portions. Adjacent the front wall portion, a vertical slot is defined, at least in part, by an in-turned portion of the front wall portion. Offset from the slot, the in-turned portion is formed with a plurality of vertically spaced and rearwardly projecting hooks. Each shelf of the assembly includes arms, each having an anchoring pin and a support foot. In mounting the shelf, the support foot and the anchoring pin of each arm are placed through a cutout formed in the front wall portion of a respective ladder, the shelf is arranged in a desired vertical position with the arm sliding within the slot, and then the anchoring pin is supported upon a respective one of the hooks.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 7, 2013Publication date: September 11, 2014Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventor: TODD TUNZI
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Publication number: 20060260352Abstract: A refrigerator is provided with a fresh food compartment and a door for the fresh food compartment having an organizer with a plurality of openings formed in the door for holding individual food and beverage containers. The openings include a cradle for supporting a sidewall of each container so as to hold the container in an inclined orientation. The openings are vertically aligned adjacent the ice dispenser chute of the door.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 13, 2006Publication date: November 23, 2006Applicant: Maytag CorporationInventors: Troy Anderson, Scott Leimkuehler, Joseph Nurre, Lester Ott, Doug Roush, Eric Silbaugh, Todd Tunzi
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Publication number: 20050022549Abstract: A refrigerator includes a fresh food stirring fan assembly arranged within a fresh food compartment. The stirring fan assembly functions to recirculate air in order to minimize temperature stratification in the fresh food compartment. The stirring fan assembly preferably incorporates a filter to remove airborne debris and absorb odors. In accordance with one preferred embodiment of the invention, the fresh food stirring fan is operated whenever a damper controlling an inlet flow of cooling air to the fresh food compartment is in a closed position.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 31, 2003Publication date: February 3, 2005Inventors: Troy Anderson, Gregory Carr, James Jenkins, Mark Mooberry, Todd Pritts, Todd Tunzi, Dennis Winders