The present embodiments relate to a method and apparatus for an appliance door, with particular embodiments shown for a dishwasher door for a dishwasher appliance.
Typical dish washing or dishwasher appliances have a detergent dispenser on the interior of the door that are used by consumers to load detergent before closing the door and beginning the wash cycle. However, this practice often requires the consumer to retrieve the detergent from a cabinet or remote location. Opening the cabinet, drawer, and/or dishwasher door may interfere with each other. Thus, there is a need for the dishwasher door to be capable of storing one or more detergent items, in a variety of forms or constructions (e.g. tablets, pods, packets, gel, liquid container(s), pills, etc.), allowing the user to store, use, and refill the detergent item(s) in a storage compartment.
In some embodiments of the invention, for example, a dish washing appliance may comprise a housing having a dishwasher tub. In various embodiments, the dish washing appliance may comprise a door operably connected to the housing between an open position and a closed position. Moreover, in various embodiments, when in the open position a user may have access to the dishwasher tub. In some embodiments, the door may include one or more dispensers positionable between an open position to dispense one or more detergent items into the dishwasher tub and a closed position to hold one or more detergent items until dispensed in the open position. In addition, in various embodiments, the door includes one or more storage compartments out of registry with the one or more dispensers. In some embodiments, the one or more storage compartments may be positionable between an open position and a closed position. In various embodiments, when the one or more storage compartments are in the open position the user may refill and remove one or more detergent items from the one or more storage compartments. In some embodiments, when the one or more storage compartments are in the closed position the user may store one or more detergent items within the door.
In various embodiments, the one or more storage compartments may be located at an outer periphery of a front side of the door. In some embodiments, the one or more storage compartments may be positioned in a top side of the door. Moreover, in some embodiments, the one or more storage compartments may be positioned in a lateral side of the door. In various embodiments, the one or more storage compartments may be positioned in a front side of the door. In some embodiments, the one or more storage compartments may be positioned in an interior side of the door that may be in fluid communication with the dishwasher tub. In various embodiments, the one or more storage compartments may include a safety mechanism. Moreover, in some embodiments, the dish washing appliance may comprise a gasket sealing the one or more storage compartments in the closed position.
In some embodiments, a dish washing door for use with a dish washing appliance may comprise a front side. In various embodiments, the dish washing door may include an interior side in fluid communication with a dishwasher tub. In some embodiments, the dish washing door may include an outer periphery surrounding the front side. In addition, in some embodiments, the outer periphery may include a top side and a bottom side interconnected by a pair of lateral sides. In various embodiments, the dishwashing door may include a dispenser positionable between an open position to dispense one or more detergent items into the dishwasher tub and a closed position to hold one or more detergent items until dispensed in the open position. In some embodiments, the dish washing door may include one or more storage compartments out of registry with the dispenser for storing one or more detergent items. Moreover, in some embodiments, the one or more storage compartments may be positionable between an open position and a closed position. In various embodiments, wherein when the one or more storage compartments are in the open position the user may refill and remove one or more detergent items from the one or more storage compartments. In some embodiments, when the one or more storage compartments are in the closed position the user may store one or more detergent items within the door.
In various embodiments, the one or more storage compartments may be positioned in the top side. In some embodiments, the one or more storage compartments may be positioned in at least one of the pair of lateral sides. Moreover, in various embodiments, the one or more storage compartments may be positioned in the front side. In some embodiments, the one or more storage compartments may include a safety mechanism. In addition, in some embodiments, the one or more storage compartments may be positioned in the interior side. In various embodiments, the dish washing door may include a gasket sealing the one or more storage compartments in the closed position.
In addition, in various embodiments, a method of transferring a detergent item from a remote storage compartment of a dish washing door out of registry with a dispenser comprising the step of providing a storage compartment within a dish washing door. In some embodiments, the method may include providing a dispenser with the dish washing door out of registry with the storage compartment. In various embodiments, the method may include opening the storage compartment within the dish washing door. In some embodiments, the method may include removing a detergent item from the storage compartment. In addition, in various embodiments, the method may include closing the storage compartment within the dish washing door. In some embodiments, the method may include positioning a detergent item into the dispenser when the dispenser in is an open position.
In various embodiments, the method of opening the storage compartment may further include overcoming a safety mechanism. In some embodiments, the method of opening the storage compartment may further include the step of initially opening the dish washing door relative to a dish washing tub. In various embodiments, the method of opening the storage compartment may further include the step of at least one of pivoting and sliding the storage compartment from the dish washing door. In some embodiments, the dish washing door may include an outer periphery surrounding a front side and an interior side, wherein the outer periphery includes a top side and a bottom side interconnected by a pair of lateral sides, and wherein the storage compartment may be positioned in at least one of the top side, the front side, the interior side, and the pair of lateral sides.
These and other advantages and features, which characterize the embodiments, are set forth in the claims annexed hereto and form a further part hereof. However, for a better understanding of the embodiments, and of the advantages and objectives attained through its use, reference should be made to the drawings and to the accompanying descriptive matter, in which there are described example embodiments. This summary is merely provided to introduce a selection of concepts that are further described below in the detailed description, and is not intended to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter, nor to define the field of endeavor.
In the drawings, like reference characters generally refer to the same parts throughout the different views. Also, the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead generally being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention.
Numerous variations and modifications will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art, as will become apparent from the description below. Therefore, the invention is not limited to the specific implementations discussed herein.
The embodiments discussed hereinafter will focus on the implementation of the hereinafter-described techniques within a front-load residential dish washing machine such as dish washing appliance 10, such as the type that may be used in single-family or multi-family dwellings, or in other similar applications. However, it will be appreciated that the herein-described apparatus and methods may also be used in connection with other types of dish washing machines in some embodiments. For example, the herein-described apparatus and techniques may be used in commercial applications in some embodiments. Moreover, the herein-described apparatus and methods may be used in connection with other dish washing machine configurations. And even other appliances, such as, for example, ovens, refrigerators, washing machines, and the like.
Embodiments for a dish washing machine are shown herein for ease of understanding. For example, a front-load dish washing machine that includes a front-mounted door or drawer 12 in a cabinet or housing 11 that includes one or more storage compartments 20. More specifically, the storage compartment(s) may store one or more detergent items 1. Implementation of the herein-described apparatus and techniques within a variety of appliances would be well within the abilities of one of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the instant disclosure, so the invention is not limited to the front-load dish washing implementation discussed further herein.
Turning now to the drawings, wherein like numbers denote like parts throughout the several views,
As shown in the figures, the dish washing appliance 10 may be provided with one or more storage compartments 20. More specifically, the dishwasher door 12 includes the one or more storage compartments 20 for storage of one or more detergent items 1. The storage compartment 20 may be positionable between an open or deployed position (e.g. illustrated in solid lines in
Although the storage compartment 20 remains connected with the door in the embodiments shown during the closed and open positions of the storage compartment. It should be understood, that the storage compartment 20, or portions thereof, may be separated from the door 12 when refilling, cleaning, or removing a detergent item 1 for use, etc. Stated alternatively, the storage compartment 20 or portions thereof may be removable. The storage compartment or portions thereof may be preloaded, such as a refill package or portion of the compartment/cavity with detergent items, and inserted into engagement with the dishwasher door or remaining portion of the storage compartment once the previous storage compartment is depleted from detergent use and removed (e.g. swapped out).
The detergent items 1 may be a variety of quantities, shape, sizes, materials, and constructions. For example, the one or more detergent items/dose may be a tablet, gel-pack, or pod. The term detergent item may be used interchangeably for a variety of treating chemistries for the dish washing appliance, such as rinse aid, detergent, or combinations thereof The detergent item may be, but is not limited to, a solid, powder, liquid, or gel treating chemistries within, or not within, a pack, container, bottle, or dosing structure.
The one or more storage compartments 20 may be included in a variety of positions/locations within the dish washing or dishwasher door 12. The door 12 may include a front face or side 12a surrounded by an outer periphery 12b. The outer periphery 12b may include a top side 12c and a bottom side 12d interconnected by a pair or lateral sides 12e. An interior side 12f of the door 12 is adjacent the volume or tub space of the appliance or tub 14. The interior side 12f may define a portion of or close a portion of the opening 13 of the dishwasher tub 14 when in the closed position. The interior side may be in fluid communication with the tub 14 or internal volume defined by the tub and/or door. The outer periphery 12b may also be described as the portion of the door between or surrounding the interior side 12f and the front side 12a of the door 12. Portions of the door 12 may include one or more gaskets or engage one or more gaskets 40 of the housing 11 and/or dishwasher tub 14 when in the closed position. For example, the gasket 40 may engage a portion of the interior side 12f when the dishwasher door is in the closed position. In some embodiments, the front side 12a or other portions thereof may include a console or insert assembly 50 (see
An embodiment of a dispenser or dispenser assembly 30 is shown in
The one or more storage compartments may be a variety of shapes, sizes, quantities, construction, materials, and be in a variety of positions within the dishwasher door. For example, the cavity 22 defining the storage of the detergent items may be a variety of shapes and sizes. The embodiment of the cavity 22 in
The one or more storage compartments may include one or more gaskets 24 that may be used to seal the cavity 22 or storage compartment in the closed position. In the open position, the storage compartment may be unsealed. One example of the storage compartment and/or door that may include a gasket 24 (e.g. O-ring) is shown in the embodiment of
It should be understood, that the one or more storage compartments may include a safety mechanism or feature. A safety mechanism may reduce access to individuals who are not desired to have access to the contents or detergent items 1 of the storage compartment or access during one or more positions of the door 12. A variety of safety mechanisms may be used to maintain the storage compartment in the closed position. For example, as shown in
One implementation of the one or more storage compartments 20 is shown in
Another implementation of the storage compartment 120 included with the dishwasher door 12 is shown in
Another embodiment shown in
Another embodiment of the storage compartment 320 within the door 12 is shown in
As shown in
Another implementation of the storage compartment with the door is shown in
In use, the user may supply the detergent item 1 from the remote storage compartment 20-620 of a dishwasher door 12 that is out of registry with the dispensing assembly or dispenser 30. The user may load, fill, or refill the one or more storage compartments/cavity when the storage compartment is in the open position. In some embodiments, the dishwasher door 12 may be closed and allow the storage compartment to be opened. In other embodiments, the dishwasher door 12 may be open, or in another position away from the closed position, in order to open the storage compartment. Moreover the embodiments of the door may allow the storage compartment to be opened in both the closed and open positions. In some embodiments, the user may overcome a safety mechanism to open the storage compartment. With the storage compartment open, the user may remove the detergent item from the storage compartment. The user may manual take hold of the detergent item from the cavity or storage compartment (See
Although the storage compartment is shown in the figures, it should be understood that the storage compartment may be a variety of sizes, shapes, quantities, and construction within the door and still be within the scope of the teachings herein. For example, the storage compartment may be located in a variety of positions within the door and still be within the scope of the invention.
While several embodiments have been described and illustrated herein, those of ordinary skill in the art will readily envision a variety of other means and/or structures for performing the function and/or obtaining the results and/or one or more of the advantages described herein, and each of such variations and/or modifications is deemed to be within the scope of the embodiments described herein. More generally, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that all parameters, dimensions, materials, and configurations described herein are meant to be exemplary and that the actual parameters, dimensions, materials, and/or configurations will depend upon the specific application or applications for which the teachings is/are used. Those skilled in the art will recognize, or be able to ascertain using no more than routine experimentation, many equivalents to the specific embodiments described herein. It is, therefore, to be understood that the foregoing embodiments are presented by way of example only and that, within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereto, embodiments may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described and claimed. Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to each individual feature, system, article, material, and/or method described herein. In addition, any combination of two or more such features, systems, articles, materials, and/or methods, if such features, systems, articles, materials, and/or methods are not mutually inconsistent, is included within the scope of the present disclosure.
All definitions, as defined and used herein, should be understood to control over dictionary definitions, definitions in documents incorporated by reference, and/or ordinary meanings of the defined terms.
The indefinite articles “a” and “an,” as used herein in the specification and in the claims, unless clearly indicated to the contrary, should be understood to mean “at least one.”
The phrase “and/or,” as used herein in the specification and in the claims, should be understood to mean “either or both” of the elements so conjoined, i.e., elements that are conjunctively present in some cases and disjunctively present in other cases. Multiple elements listed with “and/or” should be construed in the same fashion, i.e., “one or more” of the elements so conjoined. Other elements may optionally be present other than the elements specifically identified by the “and/or” clause, whether related or unrelated to those elements specifically identified. Thus, as a non-limiting example, a reference to “A and/or B”, when used in conjunction with open-ended language such as “comprising” can refer, in one embodiment, to A only (optionally including elements other than B); in another embodiment, to B only (optionally including elements other than A); in yet another embodiment, to both A and B (optionally including other elements); etc.
As used herein in the specification and in the claims, “or” should be understood to have the same meaning as “and/or” as defined above. For example, when separating items in a list, “or” or “and/or” shall be interpreted as being inclusive, i.e., the inclusion of at least one, but also including more than one, of a number or list of elements, and, optionally, additional unlisted items. Only terms clearly indicated to the contrary, such as “only one of” or “exactly one of,” or, when used in the claims, “consisting of,” will refer to the inclusion of exactly one element of a number or list of elements. In general, the term “or” as used herein shall only be interpreted as indicating exclusive alternatives (i.e. “one or the other but not both”) when preceded by terms of exclusivity, such as “either,” “one of,” “only one of,” or “exactly one of.” “Consisting essentially of,” when used in the claims, shall have its ordinary meaning as used in the field of patent law.
As used herein in the specification and in the claims, the phrase “at least one,” in reference to a list of one or more elements, should be understood to mean at least one element selected from any one or more of the elements in the list of elements, but not necessarily including at least one of each and every element specifically listed within the list of elements and not excluding any combinations of elements in the list of elements. This definition also allows that elements may optionally be present other than the elements specifically identified within the list of elements to which the phrase “at least one” refers, whether related or unrelated to those elements specifically identified. Thus, as a non-limiting example, “at least one of A and B” (or, equivalently, “at least one of A or B,” or, equivalently “at least one of A and/or B”) can refer, in one embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one, A, with no B present (and optionally including elements other than B); in another embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one, B, with no A present (and optionally including elements other than A); in yet another embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one, A, and at least one, optionally including more than one, B (and optionally including other elements); etc.
It should also be understood that, unless clearly indicated to the contrary, in any methods claimed herein that include more than one step or act, the order of the steps or acts of the method is not necessarily limited to the order in which the steps or acts of the method are recited.
In the claims, as well as in the specification above, all transitional phrases such as “comprising,” “including,” “carrying,” “having,” “containing,” “involving,” “holding,” “composed of,” and the like are to be understood to be open-ended, i.e., to mean including but not limited to. Only the transitional phrases “consisting of” and “consisting essentially of” shall be closed or semi-closed transitional phrases, respectively, as set forth in the United States Patent Office Manual of Patent Examining Procedures, Section 2111.03.
It is to be understood that the embodiments are not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Unless limited otherwise, the terms “connected,” “coupled,” “in communication with,” and “mounted,” and variations thereof herein are used broadly and encompass direct and indirect connections, couplings, and mountings. In addition, the terms “connected” and “coupled” and variations thereof are not restricted to physical or mechanical connections or couplings.
The foregoing description of several embodiments of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise steps and/or forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching.