Patent Application
20220313057
The present disclosure relates generally to dishwashers and more particularly to docking features found on a water feed tube of a dishwasher.
The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art.
Many residential and commercial kitchens have dishwashing appliances, such as a dishwasher. Dishwashers typically include an interior dish washing compartment that is accessed through a door. One or more dishwasher racks for holding and organizing pots, pans, dishes, and utensils are typically provided in the dish washing compartment, which can slid in and out of the dish washing compartment for easier loading and unloading. During operation of the dishwasher, the door is closed and water and/or a mixture of water and dishwashing soap or detergent is sprayed inside the dish washing compartment to remove food build-up, rinse, and sanitize the pots, pans, dishes, and utensils placed inside the dish washing compartment. Many dishwashers use rotating spray arms to distribute wash and rinse water combined with dishwashing soap, detergent, and/or drying aids evenly throughout the dish washing compartment.
Many dishwashers use at least two spray arms, where one spray arm is located along the top of the dishwashing compartment and another spray arm is located in the middle of the dishwashing compartment. A water feed tube, that runs along at least a back wall of the dishwashing compartment is often used to supply water and/or a mixture of water and dishwashing soap or detergent to the spray arms. The upper spray arm is typically mounted to a top wall of the dishwashing compartment or directly to the water feed tube. The lower spray arm is typically mounted to one of the dishwasher racks using a spray arm manifold. Because the dishwasher racks can typically slide in and out relative to the water feed tube, the spray arm manifold is typically designed to mate with a port on the water feed tube when the dishwasher rack is slid inside the dish washing compartment. To ensure proper mating and alignment, additional docking features are sometimes provided.
Typically, both the port and the docking features associated with the connection interface between the spray arm manifold and the water feed tube are provided on a separate component that attaches to the water feed tube. This separate component is utilized because the geometry of the docking features that are typically used is difficult and expensive to manufacture using the same manufacturing processes used to create the water feed tube.
This section provides a general summary of the disclosure, and is not a comprehensive disclosure of its full scope or all of its features.
In accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure, a water feed tube assembly for a dishwasher is provided where the water feed tube assembly includes a water feed tube with front, back, and side walls. The water feed tube includes one or more inlets and outlets. At least one of the outlets is positioned in the front wall of the water feed tube. The water feed tube also includes a manifold docking retainer positioned adjacent to the outlet on the front wall of the water feed tube. The manifold docking retainer is integral with the water feed tube and includes first and second ears. The first and second ears are positioned on and extend integrally from the side walls of the water feed tube such that the first and second ears of the manifold docking retainer are configured to receive first and second docking arms of a spray arm manifold.
In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, the spray arm manifold includes mounting features that attach the spray arm manifold to a dishwasher rack. The dishwasher rack is configured to slide towards and away from the outlet on the front wall of the water feed tube between extended and retracted positions. The spray arm manifold includes a manifold inlet, a manifold outlet, and a manifold passageway extending between the manifold inlet and the manifold outlet. The spray arm manifold also includes a manifold dock positioned adjacent to the manifold inlet and a first spray arm mount positioned adjacent to the manifold outlet.
The manifold dock includes a manifold inlet cavity. The first and second docking arms of the spray arm manifold are arranged to each side of the manifold inlet cavity, such that the manifold inlet cavity is configured to mate with the outlet on the front wall of the water feed tube when the dishwasher rack is slid to the retracted position, which feeds a supply of water and/or a mixture of water and dishwashing soap or detergent to the spray arm manifold.
In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, the water feed tube includes a lower segment, an upper segment, and a middle segment that extends between the upper and lower segments. The lower segment of the water feed tube includes at least one inlet. The middle segment of the water feed tube includes a front wall, a back wall, and at least one outlet on the front wall of the middle segment. A first spray arm is rotatably mounted to the first spray arm mount on the spray arm manifold such that the first spray arm is supported on and rotatable relative to the spray arm manifold. The manifold docking retainer is positioned on the middle segment of the water feed tube adjacent to the outlet and is integral with the middle segment of the water feed tube. In addition to the first and second ears, which extend integrally from the side walls of the middle segment of the water feed tube, the manifold docking retainer includes first and second knobs that are positioned to be received in the inlet cavity of the spray arm manifold when the dishwasher rack is slid to the retracted position.
Advantageously, the design, arrangement, and geometry of the manifold docking retainer described herein allows the spray arm manifold docking features, such as the first and second ears and the first and second knobs, to be integrally formed with the water feed tube using the same manufacturing process used to create the water feed tube. This eliminates the cost and the manufacturing and assembly complexities associated with providing docking features on a separate part. The manifold docking retainer described herein also provides improved docking functionality and eliminates a potential failure mode, where a separate part containing the docking features separates (i.e., unsnaps and pulls away from) the water feed tube.
Other advantages of the present disclosure will be readily appreciated, as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:
Referring to the Figures, wherein like numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views, a water feed tube assembly 20 for a dishwasher 22 is illustrated.
Example embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings. Example embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough, and will fully convey the scope to those who are skilled in the art. Numerous specific details are set forth such as examples of specific components, devices, and methods, to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that specific details need not be employed, that example embodiments may be embodied in many different forms and that neither should be construed to limit the scope of the disclosure. In some example embodiments, well-known processes, well-known device structures, and well-known technologies are not described in detail.
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular example embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” may be intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. The terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “including,” and “having,” are inclusive and therefore specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. The method steps, processes, and operations described herein are not to be construed as necessarily requiring their performance in the particular order discussed or illustrated, unless specifically identified as an order of performance. It is also to be understood that additional or alternative steps may be employed.
When an element or layer is referred to as being “on,” “engaged to,” “connected to,” or “coupled to” another element or layer, it may be directly on, engaged, connected or coupled to the other element or layer, or intervening elements or layers may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly on,” “directly engaged to,” “directly connected to,” or “directly coupled to” another element or layer, there may be no intervening elements or layers present. Other words used to describe the relationship between elements should be interpreted in a like fashion (e.g., “between” versus “directly between,” “adjacent” versus “directly adjacent,” etc.). As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.
Although the terms first, second, third, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms may be only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another region, layer or section. Terms such as “first,” “second,” and other numerical terms when used herein do not imply a sequence or order unless clearly indicated by the context. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer or section discussed below could be termed a second element, component, region, layer or section without departing from the teachings of the example embodiments.
For purposes of description herein the terms “up,” “down,” “above,” “below,” “upper,” “lower,” “top,” “bottom,” and derivatives thereof shall relate to the assembly as oriented in
With reference to
With additional reference to
As best seen in
With additional reference to
The spray arm manifold 36 includes mounting features 76 that attach to the middle dishwasher rack 32. The spray arm manifold 36 further includes a manifold inlet 78, a manifold outlet 80, and a manifold passageway 82 extending between the manifold inlet 78 and the manifold outlet 80. A manifold dock 84 is positioned adjacent to the manifold inlet 78 and the first spray arm mount 54 is positioned adjacent to the manifold outlet 80. The manifold dock 84 includes an inlet cavity 86 and first and second docking arms 88, 90 that are arranged to each side of the inlet cavity 86. The first spray arm 52 is rotatably attached to the spray arm manifold 36 at the first spray arm mount 54 and the first spray arm passageway 60 is connected in fluid communication with the manifold outlet 80.
The spray tube 38, which is rotatably supported on the top dishwasher rack 30, is configured to mate with the second outlet 70 in the water feed tube 24 when the top dishwasher rack 30 is slid to the retracted position, at which point the spray tube 38 becomes connected in fluid communication with the middle segment 44 of the water feed tube 24. The upper segment 42 of the water feed tube 24 includes a third outlet 92 and the second spray arm mount 58 is positioned adjacent to the third outlet 92. The second spray arm 56 is rotatably attached to the upper segment 42 of the water feed tube 24 at the first spray arm mount 54 and the second spray arm passageway 62 is connected in fluid communication with the third outlet 92 of the upper segment 42 of the water feed tube 24.
Although other configurations are possible, in the illustrated example, the water feed tube 24 includes a first conduit 94, a second conduit 96, and a third conduit 98 that are arranged next to one another and are integrally formed as part of a one-piece water feed tube 24. Collectively, the first, second, and third conduits 94, 96, 98 define the front, back, and side walls 64, 66, 102, 104, 106, 108 of the middle segment 44 of the water feed tube 24. The first conduit 94 is arranged in fluid communication with and extends between the first inlet 46 in the lower segment 40 of the water feed tube 24 and the first outlet 68 in the middle segment 44 of the water feed tube 24. Thus, the first conduit 94 extends along the lower segment 40 of the water feed tube 24 and at least part of the middle segment 44 of the water feed tube 24, but not the upper segment 42 of the water feed tube 24. The second conduit 96 is arranged in fluid communication with and extends between the second inlet 48 in the lower segment 40 of the water feed tube 24 and the second outlet 70 in the middle segment 44 of the water feed tube 24. Thus, the second conduit 96 extends along the lower segment 40 of the water feed tube 24 and at least part of the middle segment 44 of the water feed tube 24, but not the upper segment 42 of the water feed tube 24. The third conduit 98 is arranged in fluid communication with and extends between the third inlet 50 in the lower segment 40 of the water feed tube 24 and the third outlet 92 in the upper segment 42 of the water feed tube 24. Thus, the third conduit 98 extends along the lower, upper, and middle segments 40, 42, 44 of the water feed tube 24.
In the illustrated example, the third conduit 98 in the water feed tube 24 is arranged between the first and second conduits 94, 96 and the middle segment 44 of the water feed tube 24 includes a window 100 that forms a space between the second and third conduits 96, 98. In accordance with this arrangement, the first and third conduits 94, 98 are positioned to one side of the window 100 and the second conduit 96 is positioned to an opposite side of the window 100. Thus, the first conduit 94 defines a first side wall 102 along the right side of the middle segment 44 of the water feed tube 24 when viewing the water feed tube 24 from the front (as shown in
With additional reference to
As shown in
As best seen in
The design, arrangement, location, and geometry of the first and second knobs 112, 114, the first outlet 68, and the first and second ears 116, 118 allows the manifold docking retainer 110 to be integrally formed with the water feed tube 24 using the same manufacturing process used to create the water feed tube 24. Previously, the docking features associated with the connection interface between the water feed tube 24 and the spray arm manifold 36 were provided on a separate, injection molded part. Unlike previous docking features, the first and second knobs 112, 114, the first outlet 68, and the first and second ears 116, 118 of the manifold docking retainer 110 described herein may be formed using either a blow-molding process or by three-dimensional printing, which may also be used to manufacture the rest of the water feed tube 24. In other words, the first and second knobs 112, 114, the first outlet 68, and the first and second ears 116, 118 of the manifold docking retainer 110 described herein are specially designed to be compatible with blow-molding (i.e., are blow-mold friendly) and/or three-dimensional printing. The design of the integral manifold docking retainer 110 described herein therefore eliminates the cost and the manufacturing and assembly complexities associated with providing docking features on a separate part.
Many modifications and variations of the apparatus and assemblies described in the present disclosure are possible in light of the above teachings and may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described while within the scope of the appended claims. These antecedent recitations should be interpreted to cover any combination in which the inventive novelty exercises its utility.
