Dishwasher vent arrangement

Abstract

A vent arrangement for dishwashers for venting the hot humid air displaced from the interior of the dishwasher during drying cycles which minimizes the formation of condensate on the exterior surfaces in and about the vent exit opening. The vent exit opening is located in the uppermost region of the dishwasher door and of relatively large area to allow efficient convection drying action, while a plurality of vent exit opening ribs are disposed vertically within the vent exit opening, the vent exit ribs have a particular cross-sectional shape such as to minimize the formation of condensate. The cross-sectional shape includes flange portions laterally extending from a body portion along the frontal edge of each of the vent exit ribs, creating a T-shape to produce an air flow effect minimizing the contact of the vented air with the surface of the ribs and also acting to reduce the thermal mass of the ribs to further minimize condensation. The ribs are formed integrally with a molded plastic vent duct housing, the duct housing also having an upper interior surface and deflector lip configured to direct air flow downwardly as it exits through the opening to reduce condensation on the upper edge. A catch lip extends across the inner edge of the vent duct adjacent the vent exit opening to capture condensate formed on the duct upper surface. The vent exit rib flange shape and vertical disposition recessed within the vent exit opening guide any slight condensate which does form back into the interior of the dishwasher.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.