Patents by Inventor Tremitchell Wright

Tremitchell Wright 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: 7851429
    Abstract: A wash cycle is provided for a clothes washer, the clothes washer having a wash zone for receiving a substrate load to be cleaned. The wash cycle includes a step of providing a wash liquor for applying to the substrate load. Another step is loading the wash zone with the substrate load. Another step is mixing metal ions with an inactive bleaching agent as catalyst agents to catalyze an activation reaction to produce an active bleaching agent. Another step is combining the active bleaching agent with the wash liquor. Another step is applying the wash liquor with the active bleaching agent to the substrate load. Another step is capturing the metal ions prior to a disposal of the wash liquor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Tremitchell Wright, Zaki Yusuf, Joel Adam Luckman, Robert D. Riehle
  • Patent number: 7837741
    Abstract: The present invention provides a safe method for cleaning fabric articles, comprising the step of treating the fabric articles with a working cyclosiloxane dry cleaning solvent to remove contaminants from the articles, wherein the working solvent is contacted and mixed with a solidifying catalyst in case of an increased temperature event. The present invention also provides a dry cleaning system suitable for carrying out the method of the invention. Since said method has improved safety, it is very suitable for in-home use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Fred Kerpels, Joel A. Luckman, Pieter E. Overdevest, Tremitchell Wright
  • Publication number: 20100186176
    Abstract: A method of revitalizing a fabric in a laundry treating appliance by applying a processing aid to the fabric and reducing the fluid content of the fabric.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2010
    Publication date: July 29, 2010
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tremitchell Wright, Karl D. McAllister, Alexander V. Minkin, Joel A. Luckman, Janice M. Kaeding
  • Patent number: 7735345
    Abstract: A fabric treatment appliance comprises a cabinet; a laundry treatment chamber located in the cabinet for receiving fabric; an automatic laundry processing system in the cabinet for providing at least one of mechanical energy, thermal energy, and chemical energy to the fabric in the laundry treatment chamber to perform a laundry treatment process; and a manual treatment system incorporated into the cabinet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Tremitchell Wright, Karl D. McAllister, Donald M. Tomasi, Janice M. Kaeding, Alexander V. Minkin, Kristina K Underly, Gary J. Irving, Fredrick E. Chernetski, Vicki Lyn Wyatt, Thomas E. Kubash
  • Publication number: 20100102051
    Abstract: A consumable holder includes a source of a consumable, at least one appliance coupling point configured to convey the consumable to an appliance configured to use the consumable in a cycle of operation on an article, and electronics adapted to connect to a process control apparatus in the appliance. The electronics can thus cause a consumable to affect a resource or an article in an appliance using the process control apparatus when the consumable holder is coupled to the appliance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2008
    Publication date: April 29, 2010
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: MATTHEW P. EBROM, MARK E. GLOTZBACH, MICHAEL S. HENDRICKSON, JANICE M. KAEDING, JOEL A. LUCKMAN, RICHARD A. MCCOY, TREMITCHEL WRIGHT
  • Patent number: 7695524
    Abstract: The invention relates to a non-aqueous washing machine, methods of using the machine, methods of washing, and recycling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Tremitchell Wright, Daniel C. Conrad, Christopher C. Deboer, Michael Thomas Dalton, Joel A. Luckman, Andrew J. Leitert, Brooke Lindsay-Steel Lau, Karl David McAllister
  • Patent number: 7665227
    Abstract: A method of revitalizing a fabric comprises directing a flow of air through a chamber while tumbling the fabric to dehydrate the fabric; removing particulates from the air flowing through the chamber; directing a treatment fluid into the chamber and onto the fabric; and tumbling the fabric while at least intermittently contacting the fabric with a low absorbency textured surface. In another embodiment, a method comprises placing the fabric in a chamber having a low absorbency textured surface; extracting fluid from the fabric to dehydrate the fabric; inserting treatment fluid into the chamber to apply the treatment fluid to the fabric; and extracting fluid from the fabric to dehydrate the fabric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Tremitchell Wright, Karl D. McAllister, LD Metcalfe, Janice M. Kaeding
  • Patent number: 7534304
    Abstract: The invention relates to a non-aqueous washing machine, methods of using the machine, methods of washing, and recycling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel C. Conrad, Tremitchell Wright, Michael T. Dalton, Kurt Estes, Mark B. Kovich, Andrew J. Leitert, Brooke Lindsay-Steel Lau, Cinnamon S. Brown-Green, Holli Krumbein, Kenyata Joi Maki, Joel A. Luckman, Karl David McAllister, Vicki Lyn Wyatt-Smith
  • Patent number: 7497877
    Abstract: An improved solvent cleaning process of cleaning a non-aqueous solvent used in a dry cleaning process for fabrics including consecutive wash cycles for washing respective fabrics batches, including a basic solvent refining cycle and a first advanced solvent refining cycle, the basic solvent refining cycle including a step of separating solvent into a first solvent fraction and a second solvent fraction which is less clean than the first fraction, wherein the basic and first advanced solvent refining cycles are independently effected when solvent to be cleaned fulfils a respective predetermined condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Machial Goedhart, Joel Luckman, Hank Robert Reinhoudt, Jan Hendrik Verbeek, Vicki Lyn Wyatt-Smith, Brian W. May, Mark B. Kovich, Tremitchell Wright, Daniel C. Conrad
  • Publication number: 20080276963
    Abstract: A wash cycle used in a clothes washer with a wash zone for receiving a load of fabric defined within a rotating drum having an outer wall. The wash cycle includes a step of dispensing a detergent wash liquor into the wash zone, washing the fabric load in the wash zone with the detergent wash liquor, dispensing an oxidizing agent wash liquor into the wash zone and washing the fabric load in the wash zone with the oxidizing agent wash liquor. The washing steps include steps of sensing for an oversuds condition. If an oversuds condition is detected, steps are undertaken to reduce the oversuds condition during the step of washing the fabric load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2007
    Publication date: November 13, 2008
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael Stephen Hendrickson, Timothy Nicholas Aykroyd, Joel Adam Luckman, Colleen M. Doyle, Tremitchell Wright
  • Publication number: 20080189872
    Abstract: Methods for washing fabric loads without water or using water only as a co-solvent are disclosed. One method of non-aqueous clothes washing includes the steps of disposing clothing in a wash container, delivering a wash liquor to the fabric load, the wash liquor comprising a substantially non-reactive, non-aqueous, non-oleophilic, apolar working fluid and at least one washing additive, applying mechanical energy to the clothing and wash liquor for a sufficient amount of time to provide fabric cleaning and, thereafter, substantially removing the wash liquor from the fabric load. The working fluid may be selected from the group consisting of perfluorocarbons, hydrofluoroethers, fluorinated hydrocarbons and fluoroinerts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2004
    Publication date: August 14, 2008
    Inventors: Tremitchell Wright, Daniel Conrad, Mark Kovich
  • Publication number: 20080083432
    Abstract: A method of laundering a fabric load is disclosed including the steps of processing a fabric load in an aqueous-based working fluid, substantially replacing the aqueous-based working fluid with a non-aqueous working fluid of the type which extracts some of the aqueous-based working fluid from the fabric load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2007
    Publication date: April 10, 2008
    Applicant: Whirpool Corporation
    Inventors: Tremitchell Wright, Joel Luckman
  • Publication number: 20070163093
    Abstract: A method of revitalizing a fabric comprises directing a flow of air through a chamber while tumbling the fabric to dehydrate the fabric; removing particulates from the air flowing through the chamber; directing a treatment fluid into the chamber and onto the fabric; and tumbling the fabric while at least intermittently contacting the fabric with a low absorbency textured surface. In another embodiment, a method comprises placing the fabric in a chamber having a low absorbency textured surface; extracting fluid from the fabric to dehydrate the fabric; inserting treatment fluid into the chamber to apply the treatment fluid to the fabric; and extracting fluid from the fabric to dehydrate the fabric.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2006
    Publication date: July 19, 2007
    Inventors: Tremitchell Wright, Karl D. McAllister, LD Metcalfe, Janice M. Kaeding
  • Publication number: 20070163098
    Abstract: A fabrics revitalizing system comprises a rotatable drum having an inside surface defining an interior for holding a fabric load; at least one opening into the interior for enabling user access to the interior, a closure adapted to selectively close the opening to the interior; and a low absorbency textured surface disposed on at least one of the inside surface and the closure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2006
    Publication date: July 19, 2007
    Inventors: Donald M. Tomasi, LD Metcalfe, Karl D. McAllister, Tremitchell Wright, Janice M. Kaeding
  • Publication number: 20070163095
    Abstract: An appliance comprises a rotatable drum; at least one opening into the drum; a closure adapted to selectively close the opening to the drum; a low absorbency textured surface disposed on at least one of the inside surface of the drum and the closure; a motor in driving engagement with the drum and configured to selectively rotate the drum and cause movement of the fabric load within the drum; a fluid delivery system in fluid communication with the interior of the drum; and a fluid removal system in fluid communication with the interior of the drum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2006
    Publication date: July 19, 2007
    Inventors: Karl D. McAllister, Tremitchell Wright, Donald M. Tomasi, Ld Metcalfe, Alexander V. Minkin, Fredrick E. Chernetski, Janice M. Kaeding
  • Publication number: 20070163096
    Abstract: A fabric revitalizing appliance comprises a fabric treatment chamber; a dehydration system for dehydrating a fabric load within the fabric treatment chamber; and a fluid management system. The fluid management system comprises a fluid storage system configured to store at least one fluid; a fluid conditioning system configured to create a conditioned fluid from the fluid of the fluid storage system; a fluid transport system fluidly connecting the fluid storage system and the fluid conditioning system; and a fluid delivery system fluidly coupled to the fluid conditioning system and configured to deliver the conditioned fluid to the fabric treatment chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2006
    Publication date: July 19, 2007
    Inventors: Karl D. McAllister, Bruce C. Beihoff, Alexander V. Minkin, Joel A. Luckman, Tremitchell Wright
  • Publication number: 20070163094
    Abstract: A method of revitalizing a fabric comprises placing the fabric in a chamber; directing a mist into the chamber to wet the fabric with the mist; directing a flow of air into the chamber and out of the chamber; removing particulates from the flow of air out of the chamber; and removing the fluid from the fabric in the chamber to reduce fluid content to approximately 0% to 5% by weight of the fabric.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2006
    Publication date: July 19, 2007
    Inventors: Tremitchell Wright, Karl D. McAllister, Alexander V. Minkin, Joel A. Luckman, Janice M. Kaeding
  • Publication number: 20070163097
    Abstract: A pad system for use in a fabrics revitalizing system having a fabric treatment chamber can comprise a low absorbency textured surface and an attachment system configured to attach the textured surface to an inside surface of the fabric treatment chamber. The pad system can further include a fluid dispensing system configured to dispense fluid from the textured surface. Optionally, the textured surface can be a substantially non-absorbent textured surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2006
    Publication date: July 19, 2007
    Inventors: LD Metcalfe, Tremitchell Wright, Donald M. Tomasi, Karl D. McAllister, Joel A. Luckman, Daniel C. Conrad, Janice M. Kaeding
  • Publication number: 20070151041
    Abstract: A method for revitalizing a fabric load with a revitalization system comprises selecting a revitalization program from a plurality of programs and operating the revitalization system in accordance with the selected revitalization program. The programs can include at least one of a fluid insertion step; a fabric relative motion step; a fluid extraction step; a fabric refreshing step; a fabric reshaping step; a light cleaning step; a water extraction operation, a relative motion operation; a fabric air flow operation; a cooling operation; a fluid insertion operation; and a fabric fluid absorption operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2006
    Publication date: July 5, 2007
    Inventors: Karl D. McAllister, Tremitchell Wright, Donald M. Tomasi, Bruce C. Beihoff, Alexander V. Minkin, Joel A. Luckman
  • Publication number: 20070151311
    Abstract: A system for treating a fabric load comprises a chamber having an interior for holding a fabric load; a low absorbency textured surface disposed within the chamber; at least one opening into the chamber for enabling user access to the interior of the chamber; a fabric movement system for causing movement of the fabric load within the chamber; a fluid delivery system in fluid communication with the interior of the chamber; and a fluid removal system in fluid communication with the interior of the chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2006
    Publication date: July 5, 2007
    Inventors: Karl D. McAllister, Tremitchell Wright, Donald M. Tomasi, LD Metcalfe, Alexander V. Minkin, Fredrick E. Chernetski, Janice M. Kaeding