# US 2019/0167064 A1 · Dishwasher with Tine Sprayer Rings

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- Number: US 2019/0167064 A1
- Document ID: US20190167064A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/830,871
- Filed: 2017-12-04
- Published: 2019-06-06
- Earliest claimed: 2017-12-04
- Assignees: Midea Group Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: Midea Group Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Mark W. Wilson
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190167064A1

## CPC

- A47L 15/16: with rigidly-mounted spraying devices
- A47L 15/4282: {Arrangements to change or modify spray pattern or direction}
- A47L 15/22: Rotary spraying devices
- A47L 15/4221: {Arrangements for redirection of washing water, e.g. water diverters to selectively supply the spray arms (A47L15/0078 takes precedence)}
- A47L 15/4259: {Arrangements of locking or security/safety devices for doors, e.g. door latches, switch to stop operation when door is open}
- A47L 15/4285: {Water-heater arrangements (steam generating arrangements A47L15/4234)}
- A47L 15/4287: {Temperature measuring or regulating arrangements}
- A47L 15/4293: {Arrangements for programme selection, e.g. control panels; Indication of the selected programme, programme progress or other parameters of the programme, e.g. by using display panels}
- A47L 15/44: Devices for adding cleaning agents; {Devices for dispensing cleaning agents, rinsing aids or deodorants}
- A47L 15/46: Devices for the automatic control of the different phases of cleaning {; Controlling devices (A47L15/449 takes precedence)}
- A47L 15/486: {Blower arrangements}
- A47L 15/505: {Inserts, e.g. for holding baby bottles, stemware or cups}
- A47L 15/507: {Arrangements for extracting racks, e.g. roller supports}
- A47L 15/508: {Hydraulic connections for racks}
- A47L 2301/00: Manual input in controlling methods of washing or rinsing machines for crockery or tableware, i.e. information entered by a user
- A47L 2401/12: Water temperature
- A47L 2401/24: Spray arms status, e.g. detection of spray arm rotation
- A47L 2401/26: Loading door status, e.g. door latch opened or closed state
- A47L 2401/34: Other automatic detections
- A47L 2501/01: Water supply, e.g. opening or closure of the water inlet valve
- A47L 2501/02: Water discharge, e.g. opening or closure of discharge valve
- A47L 2501/03: Water recirculation, e.g. control of distributing valves for redirection of water flow
- A47L 2501/05: Drain or recirculation pump, e.g. regulation of the pump rotational speed or flow direction
- A47L 2501/06: Water heaters
- A47L 2501/07: Consumable products, e.g. detergent, rinse aids or salt
- A47L 2501/12: Air blowers
- A47L: DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING (brushes A46B; cleaning quantities of bottles or of other hollow articles of one kind B08B9/00; laundry D06F); SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL (cleaning in general B08)

## Abstract

A dishwasher utilizing one or more sprayer rings disposed proximate to one or more tines of a dishwasher rack, where the sprayer ring(s) are in fluid communication with a fluid supply that is configured to supply a fluid to the one or more sprayer rings to spray fluid onto utensils disposed within the wash tub.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A dishwasher, comprising:
a wash tub;
one or more racks positioned within the wash tub, wherein the one or more racks further comprise one or more tines;
one or more sprayer rings disposed proximate the one or more tines;
a fluid supply in fluid communication with the one or more sprayer rings and configured to supply a fluid to the one or more sprayer rings to spray the fluid onto utensils disposed within the wash tub.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The dishwasher of claim 1, wherein the one or more sprayer rings circumscribe the one or more tines.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The dishwasher of claim 2, wherein the one or more sprayer rings includes a plurality of tiered sprayer rings circumscribing a same tine among the one or more tines.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The dishwasher of claim 1, wherein the one or more sprayer rings are positioned under the one or more tines.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The dishwasher of claim 1, wherein the one or more sprayer rings are positioned adjacent the one or more tines.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The dishwasher of claim 1, wherein the one or more sprayer rings are affixed to the one or more tines.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The dishwasher of claim 6, wherein the one or more one or more sprayer rings are affixed to the one or more tines through one or more fasteners.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The dishwasher of claim 6, wherein the one or more sprayer rings are affixed to the one or more tines though an adhesive.

### Claim 9 (depends on 6)

The dishwasher of claim 6, wherein the one or more sprayer rings are affixed to the one or more tines through one or more attachment dips.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The dishwasher of claim 1, wherein each of the one or more sprayer rings includes at least one nozzle.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The dishwasher of claim 10, wherein the at least one nozzle is vertically oriented.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The dishwasher of claim 10, wherein the at least one nozzle is horizontally oriented.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The dishwasher of claim 1, further comprising a controller coupled to the fluid supply.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The dishwasher of claim 13, wherein the controller is configured to control the fluid supply to selectively spray fluid through the one or more sprayer rings.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The dishwasher of claim 1, wherein the dishwasher further comprises a dock and a docking port,
wherein the docking port is positioned on a wall of the wash tub, and
wherein the one or more sprayer rings are in fluid communication with the dock through a supply tube, wherein the supply tube and the dock are supported by a rack among the one or more racks, and wherein the dock engages with the docking port when the rack is in an operative position.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The dishwasher of claim 1, wherein the dishwasher further comprises a hose extending from a fluid supply to the one or more sprayer rings.

### Claim 17

A dishwasher, comprising:
a wash tub;
a docking port positioned on a wall of the wash tub;
a supply tube, wherein the supply tube comprises a first end and a second end;
a dock coupled to the first end of the supply tube and capable of coupling the supply tube to the docking port;
one or more sprayer rings in fluid communication with the second end of the fluid supply; and
a fluid supply in fluid communication with the one or more sprayer rings through the docking port, the dock and the supply tube and configured to supply a fluid to the one or more sprayer rings to spray the fluid onto utensils disposed within the wash tub.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The dishwasher of claim 17, wherein the one or more sprayer rings circumscribe one or more tines disposed on a rack positioned within the wash tub.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The dishwasher of claim 18, wherein the one or more sprayer rings includes a plurality of tiered sprayer rings circumscribing a same tine among the one or more tines.

### Claim 20 (depends on 18)

The dishwasher of claim 18, wherein the one or more sprayer rings are positioned under the one or more tines.

### Claim 21 (depends on 18)

The dishwasher of claim 18, wherein the one or more sprayer rings are positioned adjacent the one or more tines.

### Claim 22 (depends on 18)

The dishwasher of claim 18, wherein the one or more sprayer rings are affixed to the one or more tines.

### Claim 23 (depends on 17)

The dishwasher of claim 17, wherein each of the one or more sprayer rings includes at least one nozzle.

### Claim 24 (depends on 23)

The dishwasher of claim 23, wherein the at least one nozzle is vertically oriented.

### Claim 25 (depends on 23)

The dishwasher of claim 23, wherein the at least one nozzle is horizontally oriented.

### Claim 26 (depends on 17)

The dishwasher of claim 17, further comprising a controller coupled to the fluid supply.

### Claim 27 (depends on 26)

The dishwasher of claim 26, wherein the controller is configured to control the fluid supply to selectively spray fluid through the one or more sprayer rings.

### Claim 28

A dishwasher, comprising:
a wash tub;
a supply tube;
a sprayer ring, wherein the sprayer ring comprises a ring-shaped body and one or more nozzles, and wherein the sprayer ring is in fluid communication with the supply tube; and
a fluid supply in fluid communication with the sprayer ring through the supply tube and configured to supply a fluid to sprayer ring to spray the fluid onto utensils disposed within the wash tub.