Dining table having integral dishwasher

A dishwasher comprising:

• a washing basin having side and bottom walls and an open top;
• a rack assembly for carrying dishes, and that is vertically shiftable between a lower cleaning position wherein the rack assembly is disposed within the basin below the open top and an upper loading position wherein the rack assembly is disposed above the open top of the basin;
• a shifting mechanism coupled with the rack assembly for selectively shifting the assembly between the cleaning position and loading position;
• a lid member for covering the open top of the basin when the rack assembly is in the cleaning position;
• and
• a cleaning means for cleaning the dishes carried in the rack assembly when the assembly is in the cleaning position,
• said shifting mechanism including a number of upright, externally threaded columns received within corresponding internally threaded tubes,
• said tubes being coupled with the lid member whereby relative rotation between the tubes and the columns vertically shifts the lid member,
• said rack assembly being coupled with the lid member for shifting movement therewith.

In combination:

• a table including a substantially horizontal surface having a central opening;
• and
• a dishwasher positioned within the opening,
• said dishwasher including
• a washing basin a having side and bottom walls and an open top,
• a rack assembly for carrying dishes, and that is vertically shiftable between a lower cleaning position wherein the rack assembly is disposed within the basin below the open top and an upper loading position wherein the rack assembly is disposed above the open top of the basin,
• a shifting mechanism coupled with the rack assembly for selectively shifting the assembly between the cleaning position and loading position,
• a lid member for covering the open top of the basin when the rack assembly is in the cleaning position, and
• a cleaning means for cleaning the dishes carried in the rack assembly when the assembly is in the cleaning position,
• said lid member being coupled with the shifting mechanism for shifting movement with the rack assembly,
• said lid member presenting an undersurface and a generally flat top surface which is coplanar with the dining surface when the rack assembly is in the cleaning position,
• said lid member including a bar suspending from the undersurface to support the rack assembly
• said rack assembly including a pair of vertically spaced wire frames,
• said frames being rotatably supported on the bar.

A dishwasher comprising:

• a washing basin having side and bottom walls and an open top;
• a lid member vertically shiftable into and out of a covering relationship with the open top of the basin;
• a shifting mechanism connected to the lid member for selectively shifting the lid member into and out of said covering relationship;
• a rack assembly for carrying dishes,
• said rack assembly being carried by said lid member for vertical shifting between a lower cleaning position wherein the lid member is in said covering relationship and the rack assembly is disposed within the basin below the open top, and an upper loading position wherein the lid member is out of said covering relationship and the rack assembly is disposed above the open top of the basin;
• and
• a cleaning means for cleaning the dishes carried in the rack assembly when the assembly is in the cleaning position.

In combination:

• a table including a substantially horizontal dining surface having a central opening;
• and
• a dishwasher positioned within the opening,
• said dishwasher including
• a washing basin having side and bottom walls and an open top,
• a lid member vertically shiftable into and out of a covering relationship with the open top of the basin,
• a shifting mechanism connected to the lid member for selectively shifting the lid member into and out of said covering relationship,
• a rack assembly for carrying dishes,
• said rack assembly being carried by said lid member for vertical shifting between a lower cleaning position wherein the lid member is in said covering relationship and the rack assembly is disposed within the basin below the open top, and an upper loading position wherein the lid member is out of said covering relationship and the rack assembly is disposed above the open top of the basin, and
• a cleaning means for cleaning the dishes carried in the rack assembly when the assembly is in the cleaning position.

In combination:

• a table including a substantially horizontal dining surface having a central opening;
• and
• a dishwasher positioned within the opening,
• said dishwasher including
• a washing basin having side and bottom walls and an open top completely circumscribed by the dining surface,
• a rack assembly for carrying dishes, and that is vertically shiftable between a lower cleaning position wherein the rack assembly is disposed within the basin below the open top and an upper loading position wherein the rack assembly is disposed above the open top of the basin,
• a lid member intercoupled with the rack assembly for vertical shifting therewith such that the member is in a covering relationship with the open top of the basin when the rack assembly is in the cleaning position,
• said lid member having a top surface that is substantially flush with the dining surface when the member is in said covering relationship, and
• a shifting mechanism coupled with the rack assembly for selectively shifting the assembly between the cleaning position and loading position,
• a cleaning means for cleaning the dishes carried in the rack assembly when the assembly is in the cleaning position.