Refrigerated automatic fruit and vegetable washer

An automatic fruit and vegetable washer adapted be removably received and stored in a vegetable crisper compartment of a refrigerator, comprising:

• a generally rectangular cabinet sized and shaped to be removably received and stored in a vegetable crisper compartment of a refrigerator and having an interior defined by top and bottom walls, a back wall and lateral side walls, and a door with a watertight seal for sealing the interior against water leakage;
• at least one set of rails mounted on said interior lateral side walls of said cabinet;
• at least one open mesh basket slidably received and supported on said rails, said basket sized and shaped to hold a plurality of fruits and/or vegetables;
• water spray means in said cabinet interior positioned to direct a spray of water onto the contents of said basket;
• water inlet means on said cabinet connected in fluid communication with said water spray means for connecting a water inlet hose in fluid communication with said water spray means;
• and
• water drain means in said bottom wall including means for connecting a water drain hose in fluid communication with said interior for conducting water therefrom.

The combination of a refrigerator and an automatic fruit and vegetable washer, comprising:

• a refrigerator having an electrical system, a gas refrigeration system with the associated compressor, cooling coil, and fan, and a chilled water dispensing system with water conduit;
• and
• a fruit and vegetable washer compartment in said refrigerator, comprising:
• a generally rectangular compartment having an interior defined by top and bottom walls, a back wall and lateral side walls, and a door with a watertight seal for sealing the interior against water leakage;
• at least one set of rails mounted on said interior lateral side walls of said cabinet;
• at least one open mesh basket slidably received and supported on said rails, said basket sized and shaped to hold a plurality of fruits and/or vegetables;
• water inlet means connected in fluid communication with said refrigerator water conduit including water inlet valve means for controlling water supplied thereto;
• water spray means in said interior connected with said water inlet valve means and positioned to direct a spray of water onto the contents of said basket;
• water drain means in said bottom wall for conducting water therefrom.
• timing control means connected with said water inlet valve means and with said refrigerator electrical system for selecting desired time intervals for directing a spray of water onto the contents of said basket;
• air duct means with damper means connected in fluid communication between said interior and said refrigerator fan for circulating air in said refrigerator through said interior to maintain the contents of said basket at a cool temperature;
• and
• thermostat means in said interior connected with said refrigerator electrical system circuit and said refrigeration system for regulating the temperature in said compartment interior.