Most domestic dishwashers for use in a typical household include a wash tub and a lower rack and an upper rack for storing utensils during a wash cycle in which the stored utensils are cleaned. In some dishwashers, some type of handle is provided on the front portion of either or both racks to allow a user to grasp and pull out the rack.
In one embodiment, a dishwasher comprises a tub at least partially defining a wash chamber and having an open face providing access to the wash chamber and a sump, a door selectively closing the open face; a dish rack for supporting dishes in a dishwasher located within the wash chamber, and a modular handle comprising a U-shaped front piece, a back support, and two end caps. At least a portion of the dish rack is received between the U-shaped front piece and back support.
In another embodiment, a dishwasher rack assembly comprises a bottom wall formed by a plurality of wire members, a sidewall formed by a plurality of wire members and having an upper perimeter edge, a modular handle comprising a U-shaped stainless steel nameplate, a back support, and two end caps. At least a portion of the dish rack is received between the U-shaped front piece and back support.
In another embodiment, a dishwasher rack assembly comprises a bottom wall formed by a plurality of wire members, a sidewall formed by a plurality of wire members and having an upper perimeter edge, a modular handle comprising a U-shaped stainless steel nameplate, a center support, a back support, and two end caps. At least a portion of the dish rack is received between the U-shaped front piece and the center support.
In the drawings:
In
It should be appreciated that the door assembly 18 may be secured to the lower front edge of the chassis 12 or to the lower front edge of the tub 14 via a hinge assembly (not shown) configured to pivot the door assembly 18. When the door assembly 18 is closed, user access to the treating chamber 16 may be prevented, whereas user access to the treating chamber 16 may be permitted when the door assembly 18 is open.
Dish holders, illustrated in the form of upper and lower dish racks 26, 28, are located within the treating chamber 16 and receive dishes for washing. The upper and lower racks 26, 28 are typically mounted for slidable movement in and out of the treating chamber 16 for ease of loading and unloading. Other dish holders may be provided, such as a silverware basket. As used in this description, the term “dish(es)” is intended to be generic to any item, single or plural, that may be treated in the dishwasher 10, including, without limitation, dishes, plates, pots, bowls, pans, glassware, and silverware.
A spray system is provided for spraying liquid in the treating chamber 16 and is provided in the form of a first lower spray assembly 34, a second lower spray assembly 36, a rotating mid-level spray arm assembly 38, and/or an upper spray arm assembly 40. Upper sprayer 40, mid-level rotatable sprayer 38 and lower rotatable sprayer 34 are located, respectively, above the upper rack 26, beneath the upper rack 26, and beneath the lower rack 24 and are illustrated as rotating spray arms. The second lower spray assembly 36 is illustrated as being located adjacent the lower dish rack 28 toward the rear of the treating chamber 16. The second lower spray assembly 36 is illustrated as including a vertically oriented distribution header or spray manifold 44. Such a spray manifold is set forth in detail in U.S. Pat. No. 7,594,513, issued Sep. 29, 2009, and titled “Multiple Wash Zone Dishwasher,” which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
A recirculation system is provided for recirculating liquid from the treating chamber 16 to the spray system. The recirculation system may include a sump 30 and a pump assembly 31. The sump 30 collects the liquid sprayed in the treating chamber 16 and may be formed by a sloped or recess portion of a bottom wall of the tub 14. The pump assembly 31 may include both a drain pump 32 and a recirculation pump 33. The drain pump 32 may draw liquid from the sump 30 and pump the liquid out of the dishwasher 10 to a household drain line (not shown). The recirculation pump 33 may draw liquid from the sump 30 and the liquid may be simultaneously or selectively pumped through a supply tube 42 to each of the assemblies 34, 36, 38, 40 for selective spraying. While not shown, a liquid supply system may include a water supply conduit coupled with a household water supply for supplying water to the treating chamber 16.
A heating system including a heater 46 may be located within the sump 30 for heating the liquid contained in the sump 30.
A controller 50 may also be included in the dishwasher 10, which may be operably coupled with various components of the dishwasher 10 to implement a cycle of operation. The controller 50 may be located within the door 18 as illustrated, or it may alternatively be located somewhere within the chassis 12. The controller 50 may also be operably coupled with a control panel or user interface 56 for receiving user-selected inputs and communicating information to the user. The user interface 56 may include operational controls such as dials, lights, switches, and displays enabling a user to input commands, such as a cycle of operation, to the controller 50 and receive information.
As illustrated schematically in
A wire frame rack 160 for the upper rack assembly 26 may be viewed in detail in the perspective view in
The wire frame rack 160 may include a modular handle 190 secured to the wire frame rack 160. The handle 190 may be mounted to the peripheral wire elements 176 on the front wall 170 for easy accessibility.
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The end caps 299 may include at least one protrusion 303. The protrusions 303 may have a variety of shapes including, but not limited to, cylinders or rectangular cuboids. The U-shaped front plate 292 may include a lower lip 305 and an upper lip 307. The center fastening piece 301 is slidably received by the U-shaped front plate 292 such that the lip lower lip 305 and the upper lip 307 of the U-shaped front plate 292 capture the center fastening piece 301. The center fastening piece 301 may include at least one recess or hole 309 to engage with the protrusions 303 to act as an engagement feature. Alternately, the center fastening piece 301 may include at least one protrusion, and the end caps 299 may include at least one recess or hole. Other known snap fit mechanisms may also be used.
The center fastening piece 301 may include a first cylindrical or tapered opening 317 and a second cylindrical or tapered opening 319 configured to engage a screw or other suitable fastening member as the screw is turned (not shown). The rear body 300 may include a first cylindrical passageway and a second cylindrical passageway (not shown) to allow the screw or other suitable fastening member to pass through the rear body 300. The rear body may also include a first recessed portion 310 and a second recessed portion 312. The first recessed portion 310 corresponds to the first cylindrical passageway 304, and the second recessed portion 312 corresponds to the second cylindrical passageway 306 to allow fastening members to pass through the rear body 300 to engage the cylindrical or tapered openings 317, 319 in the center fastening piece 301 such that the screw does not extend past a rear surface 315 of the rear body 300. When the center fastening piece 301 is received by the U-shaped front plate 292, the first and second cylindrical passageways 310, 312 substantially align with the first and second cylindrical passageways 310, 312 such that the fastening member passes through the first and second cylindrical passageways 310, 312 to engage the first and second cylindrical or tapered openings 317, 319 on the center fastening piece 301. The rear body 300 may engage with the center fastening piece 301 when the center fastening piece 301 is inserted into the U-shaped front plate 292. The end caps 299 may engage the center fastening piece 301 either before or after the rear body 300 engages with the center fastening piece 301.
The end caps 199 may include at least one front curved opening 314. The rear body 300 may include at least one rear curved opening 316. When assembled, the front curved openings 314 correspond to the rear curved openings 316 to create an upper opening and a lower opening (not shown), both designed to engage the wire rack 160. The upper opening may be designed to fit more tightly around the peripheral wire elements 176 of the wire rack 160, while the lower opening may be larger such that it floats around peripheral wire elements 176 of the wire rack 160.
While the invention has been specifically described in connection with certain specific embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that this is by way of illustration and not of limitation. Reasonable variation and modification are possible within the scope of the forgoing disclosure and drawings without departing from the spirit of the invention which is defined in the appended claims.