Whirlpool Corporation

Freeosk, Inc.

Freeosk Marketing, Inc.

Greycell, LLC

Crayella, Inc.

Tony Lee Koenigsknecht

Kevin Michael Chase

Ronald L Voglewede

Scott Alan Albright

Albert John Kohn

Matthew Patrick Eichorn

Matthew Edward Young

Anderson Bortoletto

Jerold Michael Visin

Nathan Thomas Mirabito

Kendall Harris Bruns

Kate E Presnell

Andrew W Baur

Randell Lee Jeffery

Robert K Blake

Jonathan Charles Shoemaker

Robert Dean Chadderdon

William Emrich

Janice Hara

Nihat O Cur

Douglas David Leclear

Marcus Roland Fischer

Jordan Robert Fountain

Peter Richmond

Ginger Elayne Patera

Larry T Bashark

James C L Guarino

Brandon Michael Dawson

Thomas Dell Spicer

Marc G Uphues

Paul Joseph Gray

Jonathan C Valentine

Stephen Joseph Koza

Richard Paul Schmidtling

John A Williams

James Patrick Gelder

Martin P Winik

Matthew Patrick Eichom

David Edward Shepherd

Ken Eric Maisonville

Brian David Hooks

Peter Jonathan Resnick

Erin MacDonald

Njemile Vinson

Amy Lauren Siwek

Michael Adam Jones

Ryan Dean McCollum

Matthew Russel Schwartz

Randall Lee Jeffrey

Larry Thomas Bashark

A dispensation system having a hopper that is located remote to the remainder of the dispensation system. The hopper can be located remote from a delivery system and a conveyor or other transmitting device can connect the hopper to the delivery system. The hopper can therefore be located in an area that is more accessible or less valued than the area in which the products or objects are dispensed, allowing a more efficient product distribution system.

Remote hopper system

Methods, systems and devices for evaluating a product sampling event. The disclosed methods, systems and devices receive from a user a user identification specific to the user and compare the user identification to a user data set stored on a computer-readable medium. A sample is then delivered based on a predetermined condition, and a product value is changed after the step of causing delivery of the sample of the product. It can then be determined whether the user purchased the product after delivery of the sample of the product and, based on that determination, a sampling event value can be assigned. The user's preferences can also be used to provide a more custom sample with a user's order for example, with online or home delivery shopping.

Method for measuring effectiveness of sampling activity and providing pre-market product feedback

A system, device and method for dispensing a product includes a delivery system that includes at least one auger with internal flighting that is either integral with or attached to an internal wall of a barrel portion of the auger. The auger rotates and the spiral flighting within the auger transmits a product from a bulk loading station to a product dispensation area. Thus, products can be bulk loaded into a device rather than having to be loaded one-by-one into a dispensing device. The spiral flighting reduces pinch points associated with conventional auger systems.

Product dispensing device

Display

Methods, systems, and devices are disclosed for optimizing the delivery of products through an automated product dispensation system. The disclosed systems implement different dispensation parameters based on the size, shape, and other criteria for the different products that are dispensed through the device. The disclosed methods first identify the product being dispensed, and then determine the parameters at which the product should be dispensed for maximum efficiency.

Optimization system

Methods, systems and devices for evaluating a product sampling event. The disclosed methods, systems and devices receive from a user a user identification specific to the user and compare the user identification to a user data set stored on a computer-readable medium. A sample is then delivered based on a predetermined condition, and a product value is changed after the step of causing delivery of the sample of the product. It can then be determined whether the user purchased the product after delivery of the sample of the product and, based on that determination, a sampling event value can be assigned.

An appliance including an ice manipulation reservoir capable of receiving ice having a base, wherein the base includes a first level and a second level, with the first level descending gradually to the second level. A first ice modification member is disposed inside the ice manipulation reservoir adjacent the first level of the base, and a second ice modification member is disposed inside the ice manipulation reservoir adjacent the second level of the base. A motor is operably connected with the ice manipulation reservoir and includes an output shaft. An impeller is connected with the output shaft proximate to the plurality of ice modification members, with the impeller being operable between a first directional rotation, and a second directional rotation.

Modular bucket and door architecture to deliver three ice functions

A clear ice making system and method utilizes an ice forming tray pivotally connected to opposing side walls of an icemaker housing. Ice forming fingers of a dedicated evaporator extend into fluid within the ice forming tray, and are cooled by communication with the refrigerant circulating system of the refrigerator. A motor oscillates the ice forming tray about a longitudinal axis at a frequency of about 0.4-0.6 hertz as fluid channels freezes on the ice forming fingers over time, forming clear ice pieces. During an ice dispensing event, the motor pivots the ice making tray about the longitudinal axis such that fluid remaining within the ice making tray drains into a fluid reservoir below. The ice forming fingers are then heated to release the clear ice pieces for transfer from the fresh food compartment to the freezer compartment of the refrigerator.

Icemaker with swing tray

An interchangeable flighting insert is disclosed to maximize the efficiency of singularly delivering objects, such as products, to a user through a product dispensation device. The flighting insert can be removably coupled to an auger of the product dispensation device, thereby allowing variation of the flighting characteristics based on the object to be dispensed. The same auger can therefore use a first flighting for certain products, and a second flighting for different products.

Interchangeable insert for an auger

An appliance including a module-receiving cavity disposed in the appliance. Also included is a removable module disposed in the module-receiving cavity, and at least one ice modification member disposed inside the removable module. A motor is operably connected with the removable module and includes an output shaft that extends into the removable module. An impeller is connected with the output shaft proximate to the at least one ice modification member, the impeller being operable between a first ice manipulating condition defined by a first directional rotation of the impeller, and a second ice manipulating condition defined by a second directional rotation of the impeller. An ice chute is located proximate the ice modification member for dispensing ice.

An ice making, transferring and storing system includes an icemaker located in the fresh food compartment and an ice storage bin, located in one of the fresh food and freezer compartments, for receiving ice from the icemaker. A first ice transfer mechanism delivers ice from the icemaker to the ice storage bin. An ice dispenser is located in one of the fresh food and freezer doors. A second ice transfer mechanism selectively delivers ice from the ice storage bin to the ice dispenser.

Ice making, transferring, storing and dispensing system for a refrigerator

A refrigerator including a cabinet having a cabinet door pivotally connected thereto. A primary ice bin is disposed on one of the cabinet and the cabinet door and includes a primary gate operable between a closed position and an open position. A secondary ice bin is disposed on the other of the cabinet and the cabinet door. The secondary ice bin includes a secondary gate operable between a closed position and an open position. The secondary gate operably engages with the primary gate to form an ice overflow route when the primary gate and the secondary gate are in the open position. An ice maker is disposed inside the cabinet and adapted to dispense ice into the primary ice storage bin.

High capacity ice storage in a freezer compartment

An appliance dispenser includes a housing defining a recess. The housing includes a receptacle support member and a fixed funnel. An ice dispensing passage extends through the fixed funnel and operably connected with an ice bin. A variable funnel includes a proximal end and a distal end. The proximal end is adjacent the fixed funnel. The distal end is movable between a retracted position and an extended position.

Ice guide funnel

An appliance includes a cabinet and a cabinet door and an ice maker. A primary ice bin is disposed in the cabinet door of the appliance. A secondary ice bin is disposed in the cabinet of the appliance. A routing device is disposed inside the cabinet. The routing device includes a stationary base that supports an adjustable ramp. The ramp is operable between a first position that directs ice to the primary ice bin and a second position that directs ice to the secondary ice bin.

Rotating ramp and method for filling an ice bin

Growing community of inventors

Chicago, IL, United States of America

Tony Lee Koenigsknecht