In-sink dishwater with self-aligning liquid feed system
AssigneeWhirlpool Corporation
InventorsRalph E. Christman, Arnold L. Denne, Rud J. Lauer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A dish-cleaning appliance comprising a sink having a bowl defining a wash chamber with an open top for providing access to the wash chamber. A liquid recirculation system is provided for spraying liquid onto the dish rack to effect the cleaning of any dishes along the rack. A basket with a sprayer is disposed within the wash chamber. A self-aligning coupling fluidly connects a liquid conduit to the sprayer when the basket is seated.
Claims41
An in-sink dishwasher for use as a traditional sink and as a dishwasher, the in-sink dishwasher comprising:
- a sink having a bowl comprising a bottom wall from which excends a peripheral side wall, which collectively define a wash chamber with an open top for receiving dishes to be washed;
- a basket removably mounted within the wash chamber and sized to be inserted into the wash chamber through the open top to seat the basket in the wash chamber;
- a sprayer mounted to the basket and removably mounted within the wash chamber;
- the sprayer having a liquid inlet through which liquid is introduced into the sprayer for subsequent spraying throughout the wash chamber;
- a liquid conduit fluidly coupled to the wash chamber for supplying liquid to the wash chamber;
- and
- a self-aligning liquid coupling connecting the liquid conduit to the sprayer liquid inlet as the basket is seated within the wash chamber whereby as the basket is inserted into the wash chamber to seat the basket therein, the self-aligning coupling adjusts its position to ensure the coupling of the liquid conduit to the sprayer liquid inlet.
An in-sink dishwasher for use as a traditional sink and as a dishwasher, the in-sink dishwasher comprising:
- a sink having a bowl comprising a bottom wall from which extends a peripheral side wall, the bottom wall and side wall collectively define a wash chamber with an open top for receiving dishes to be washed;
- a basket removably mounted within the wash chamber and sized to be inserted into the wash chamber through the open top to seat the basket in the wash chamber;
- a sprayer having a liquid inlet through which water is introduced into the sprayer for subsequent spraying throughout the wash chamber;
- a liquid conduit fluidly coupled to the wash chamber for supplying liquid to the wash chamber;
- and
- a poppet valve comprising a nozzle having an outlet that aligns with the sprayer liquid inlet when the basket is seated within the wash chamber to fluidly couple the nozzle and the sprayer:
- and
- a deflector mounted on the sprayer to deflect the nozzle laterally to align the nozzle with the sprayer liquid inlet as the basket is seated.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.