Kitchenware washers and related methods
AssigneeSteelkor, L.L.C.
InventorJames W. Bigott
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A kitchenware washing assembly in one embodiment generally includes a tank having an inside for holding fluid for washing kitchenware, and a heater for heating fluid within the inside of the tank. At least one securing device releasably secures the heater within the tank. The securing device has a releasing portion located within the tank that allows the securing device to be released solely from within the tank. In this embodiment, the heater can thus be removed from and/or installed within the tank without having to crawl under the tank.
Claims25
A kitchenware washing assembly comprising:
- a tank having an inside for holding fluid for washing kitchenware;
- a heater for heating fluid, the heater including a base and a heating element coupled to the base;
- a chamber positioned at least partially on a side wall portion of the tank and generally defining an opening at least partially in the side wall portion of the tank such that the chamber is in fluid communication with the tank through said opening;
- a cover disposed at least partially over said opening;
- a fitting coupled to a wall portion of the chamber, the fitting having a shoulder disposed within the chamber;
- and
- at least one clamp configured to releasably couple at least a portion of the base of the heater and at least a portion of the shoulder of the fitting together to releasably secure the heater to the fitting within the chamber;
- wherein the at least one clamp includes a releasing portion located within the chamber that allows the at least one clamp to be released solely from within the chamber.
A method for installing a heater in a chamber of a kitchenware washing assembly using at least one clamp, the heater including a base and a heating element coupled to the base, the kitchenware washing assembly including a tank having an inside for holding fluid for washing kitchenware and a fitting coupled to a wall portion of the chamber and having a shoulder disposed within the chamber, the chamber being positioned at least partially on a side wall portion of the tank and defining an opening at least partially in the side wall portion of the tank such that the chamber is in fluid communication with the tank through said opening during operation of the kitchenware washing assembly, the method comprising releasably coupling at least a portion of the base of the heater and at least a portion of the shoulder of the fitting together with the at least one clamp, thereby securing the heater to the fitting within the chamber from a location solely within the chamber.
A kitchenware washing assembly comprising:
- a tank having an inside for holding fluid for washing kitchenware;
- a chamber disposed on a side wall portion of the tank and in fluid communication with the tank;
- a pump for providing a fluid flow along a flow path through the chamber between the tank and the pump;
- a heater for heating fluid during operation of the washing assembly, the heater including a base and a heating element coupled to the base;
- a fitting coupled to a wall portion of the chamber, the fitting having a shoulder disposed within the chamber;
- and
- at least one clamp configured to couple at least a portion of the base of the heater and at least a portion of the shoulder of the fitting together for releasably securing the heater at least partially to the fitting within the chamber and at least partially within the flow path between the tank and the pump, the at least one clamp having a releasing portion located within the chamber that allows the at least one clamp to be released solely from within the chamber;
- wherein at least one of the base of the heater and the shoulder of the fitting includes a tapered portion that cooperates with the at least one clamp to pull the base of the heater and the shoulder of the fitting together when the heater is secured to the fitting within the chamber by the at least one clamp.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.