Patent Application
20170280964
Automatic dishwashers for use in a typical household include a tub defining a treating chamber and a spraying system for recirculating liquid throughout the tub to remove soils from the dishes and utensils. Two common configurations are a door-type, where a pivoting door provides access to a treating chamber where dishes are washed or a drawer-type where a drawer provides access to the as well as defining a major portion of the treating chamber. In either configuration, a rack for holding dishes to be cleaned is typically provided within the treating chamber.
A problem with some conventional door assemblies arises with fit and finish. For example, it is difficult to align a crown of the door assembly flush with side panels of the door, as shown schematically in
The present invention includes, in one embodiment, a dishwasher door assembly comprising a front panel having a front wall and spaced side walls extending from the front wall to define a substantially U-shaped cross section with an upper edge partially defining an upper opening, an inner panel spanning the side walls and having an upper edge partially defining the upper opening, a crown overlying the upper opening and having opposing upper and lower surfaces bounded by front and inner edges connected by spaced side edges, and tabs extending downward from the lower surface and spaced inward from the side edges by an amount substantially equal to the thickness of the upper edge along the side walls to define overhangs from the tabs to the side edges; wherein when the crown is mounted to the front panel, the tabs are received within the upper opening and in abutment with the side walls, the overhangs overlie the corresponding upper edge along the side wall, and the side edges are substantially flush with the side walls.
In another embodiment, the invention may include a dishwasher door assembly comprising a front panel having a front wall and spaced side walls extending from the front wall to define a substantially U-shaped cross section with an upper edge partially defining an upper opening, a crown overlying the upper opening and having a front edge and spaced side edges extending from the front edge, and tabs extending downward from a lower surface of the crown and into the upper opening and in abutment with the side walls, the tabs spaced inward from the side edges an amount such that the crown overlies the upper edge and the side edges are substantially flush with the side walls.
In
A chassis 12 may define an interior of the dishwasher 10 and may include a frame, with or without panels mounted to the frame. An open-faced tub 14 may be provided within the chassis 12 and may at least partially define a treating chamber 16, having an open face, for washing dishes. A door assembly 18 may be movably mounted to the dishwasher 10 for movement between opened and closed positions to selectively open and close the open face of the tub 14. Thus, the door assembly provides accessibility to the treating chamber 16 for the loading and unloading of dishes or other washable items.
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 20 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 28 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.
The dishwasher door assembly 18 may also include a crown spacer 50. A controller 52 may also be included in the crown spacer 50, which may be operably coupled with various components of the dishwasher 10 to implement a cycle of operation. The controller 52 may be located within the crown spacer 50 as illustrated, or it may alternatively be located somewhere within the chassis 12. The controller 52 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 52 and receive information.
In a first embodiment of the invention as shown in
The crown 64 comprises a crown top surface 86 and a crown bottom surface 88, both bounded by a front edge 90, an inner edge 92 and spaced side edges 94 extending between the front edge 90 and the inner edge 92. The crown top surface 86 may have a fascia 96 that includes the user interface or display 56. The crown 64 has depending spacer tabs 98 along each side edge, that are placed inward from the side edge, by a distance 102 substantially equal to the thickness 104 of the upper edge along the side walls (70) as shown in
The front edge of the crown and the rear edge of the front wall each may be curved and complementary such that the front edge overlaps the rear edge as shown in
In assembly, the inner panel 62 is fitted to the front panel 65 such that it spans the gap between the two side walls 70 of the front panel. The opening thus defined by the upper edges 108 of the side walls (70), the upper edge of the front panel 65 and the upper edge 80 of the inner panel (62), is referred to henceforth as the upper opening. The crown spacer 60 is then fitted into the upper opening and held in place by screws 112. Finally, the crown 64 is fitted over the front and the inner panels such that it covers the crown spacer 60. In this position, the spacer tabs 98 along the side edges 94 press against the side walls 70, thereby flexing the side walls 70 in a direction away from each other, reducing overhang. The interlocking tabs 106 snap into place once they go past the corresponding protrusions 78 on the crown spacer 60 when the crown 64 is fitted, thereby keeping the crown 64 in place.
A second embodiment of the invention is contemplated in
To the extent not already described, the different features and structures of the various embodiments may be used in combination with each other as desired. That one feature may not be illustrated in all of the embodiments is not meant to be construed that it may not be, but is done for brevity of description. Thus, the various features of the different embodiments may be mixed and matched as desired to form new embodiments, whether or not the new embodiments are expressly described. All combinations or permutations of features described herein are covered by this disclosure.
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.
