Dishwasher with collet straw carrier
AssigneeMidea Group Co., Ltd.
InventorsBassam Fawaz, Robert M. Digman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A carrier for one or more straws of an appliance such as a dish washing appliance. The carrier and/or rack may be in fluid communication with one or more spray elements when in a stowed position within a dishwasher tub. The one or more carriers may route fluid from the one or more spray elements to wash an interior and/or an exterior of at least one straw. The carrier may include one or more bridges projecting inwardly towards the one or more straws defining one or more pathways for received fluid. The body of the carrier may include one or more adjustable portions. The carrier may be adjustable to engage one or more straws of varying lengths/diameters. The carrier may include one or more fixed portions. The carrier may include one or more biasing mechanisms.
Claims24
A dishwasher rack for a dish washing appliance comprising:
- one or more collet straw carriers having one or more fixed portions and one or more adjustable portions defining one or more receptacles configured to each receive an end of a straw, and wherein an axis of the one or more receptacles are perpendicular to a direction of travel of the dishwasher rack;
- one or more biasing mechanisms, wherein the one or more biasing mechanisms urges the one or more adjustable portions relative to the one or more fixed portions to releasably engage an end of a straw within the one or more receptacles;
- and
- wherein the one or more adjustable portions include two of more pivoting members hingedly connected to the one or more fixed portions.
A dish washing appliance comprising:
- a dishwasher rack;
- one or more spray elements disposed with the dishwasher rack, wherein the one or more spray elements is in fluid communication with a fluid supply to direct fluid from the fluid supply into the dishwasher rack;
- one or more collet straw carriers positioned within the dishwasher rack and downstream of the one or more spray elements, wherein the carrier includes a fixed portion, an adjustable portion, and one or more biasing mechanisms, wherein the fixed portion and the adjustable portion define a receptacle configured to receive an end of a straw, and wherein the one or more biasing mechanisms urges the adjustable portion relative to the fixed portion to releasably engage an end of a straw within the receptacle;
- wherein the adjustable portion includes a plurality of members, wherein the plurality of members define an outlet of the receptacle configured to receive one end of a straw;
- wherein the outlet includes a diameter;
- and
- wherein the plurality of members are positionable between a first position and a second position, wherein the diameter of the outlet is larger in the second position than in first second position, and the bias mechanism includes a larger spring force when the plurality of members are in the second position than the first position.
A dishwasher rack for a dish washing appliance comprising:
- one or more collet straw carriers having one or more fixed portions and one or more adjustable portions defining one or more receptacles configured to each receive an end of a straw, and wherein an axis of the one or more receptacles are perpendicular to a direction of travel of the dishwasher rack;
- one or more biasing mechanisms, wherein the one or more biasing mechanisms urges the one or more adjustable portions relative to the one or more fixed portions to releasably engage an end of a straw within the one or more receptacles;
- and
- a bottom side, and wherein the fixed portion includes a manifold adjacent the bottom side, and wherein the manifold includes one or more drains.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.