Drip shield for a drawer-type dishwasher
AssigneeMaytag Corporation
InventorsRodney M. Welch, Thomas J. Wuestefeld
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A drip shield is mounted to a drawer of a drawer-type dishwasher so as to extend along an outer rear surface of the drawer and catch droplets of washing fluid falling from a lid of the dishwasher. The drip shield includes a shelf that extends between up-turned wall portions. The shelf is angled away from the tub so that any droplets of washing fluid that may fall onto the drip shield will migrate away from the drawer. The shelf is also formed such that first and second end portions are positioned higher than a central or intermediate portion. This construction forces the droplets of washing fluid to collect in a centralized drain point from where the droplets of water can be guided to a controlled location.
Claims22
A dishwasher comprising:
- an outer support body;
- a drawer slidably supported for movement into and out of the outer support body, said drawer including front, rear, opposing side and bottom walls that collectively define a washing chamber;
- at least one wash system component arranged within the outer support body, said at least one of wash system component being adapted to generate a flow of the washing fluid through the washing chamber during a washing operation;
- a lid assembly mounted to the outer support body for selectively sealing the washing chamber during the washing operation;
- and
- a drip shield including a main body portion having first and second laterally opposed end portions separated by a central shelf portion, said drip shield being attached to and extending beyond the rear wall for catching washing fluid which drops from the lid assembly when the drawer is shifted from within the outer support body following the washing operation, wherein the drip shield further includes a drain for removing washing fluid caught by the drip shield.
A dishwasher comprising:
- an outer support body;
- a drawer slidably supported in the outer support body, said drawer including front, rear, opposing side and bottom walls that collectively define a washing chamber;
- at least one wash system component arranged within the outer support body, said at least one wash system component being adapted to generate a flow of the washing fluid through the washing chamber during a washing operation;
- a lid assembly mounted to the outer support body for selectively sealing the washing chamber during the washing operation;
- and
- a drip shield including a main body portion having first and second laterally opposed end portions separated by a central shelf portion, said drip shield being attached to and extending beyond a lower portion of the rear wall for collecting washing fluid which drops from the lid assembly when the drawer is shifted out from the outer support body.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.