# US 8,740,320 B2 · Dishwasher with ergonomic closure device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,740,320 B2 - Document ID: US8740320B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/400,602 - Filed: 2012-02-21 - Published: 2013-05-09 - Granted: 2014-06-03 - Earliest claimed: 2011-11-07 - Assignees: BSH Home Appliances Corporation - Applicants: Lindsay Eng - Inventors: Lindsay Eng - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8740320B2 ## CPC - A47L 15/4257: {Details of the loading door} - A47L: DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING (brushes A46B; cleaning quantities of bottles or of other hollow articles of one kind B08B9/00; laundry D06F); SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL (cleaning in general B08) ## Abstract A dishwasher comprises a compartment to hold items to be washed and/or dried, the compartment including a front opening; a closure device to sealingly close the opening, the closure device being movable between open and closed positions; and an insert having a front side with a portion that is flush or substantially flush with a front surface of the closure device. The insert includes a recessed handle that is inwardly recessed into the front face of the closure device. The handle is elongated in a horizontal sense and to such an extent that the handle is accessible by a user when standing at a position laterally adjacent the dishwasher, (e.g., in front of a sink) to better avoid the need for the user to lean over to access the center of the dishwasher. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A dishwasher comprising: a compartment to hold items to be washed and/or dried, the compartment including a front opening; a closure device to sealingly close the opening, the closure device being movable between open and closed positions, and comprising a one piece shell with a substantially U-shaped front profile with upstanding arm portions that are not connected by the one piece shell along an upper edge of the upstanding arm portion; and an insert having a front side with a portion that is flush or substantially flush with a front face of the closure device, the insert including a recessed handle that is inwardly recessed into the front face of the closure device, the handle being elongated in a horizontal sense and to such an extent that the handle and a release mechanism are accessible by a user when standing at a position laterally adjacent the dishwasher, wherein a width of the handle spans a majority of a width of the closure device and a portion of the release mechanism that is accessible by the user spans the majority of the width of the closure device. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The dishwasher as claimed in claim 1, wherein the closure device is a door hinged to the compartment to pivot about a horizontal axis that is generally parallel to the recessed handle, to move the door between the open and closed positions. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The dishwasher as claimed in claim 2, wherein the door has a recess to accommodate the insert. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The dishwasher as claimed in claim 2, wherein the insert is accommodated between the upstanding arm portions. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The dishwasher as claimed in claim 4, wherein a top portion of the insert is generally aligned and coextensive with a top portion of each of the arms. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The dishwasher as claimed in claim 1, wherein the insert includes a display and a control panel to control operation of the dishwasher. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The dishwasher as claimed in claim 6, wherein the display and the control panel are mounted on a surface of the insert that is angled inwardly relative to the front face of the closure device. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The dishwasher as claimed in claim 7, wherein a lower edge of the surface and the front face of the closure device intersect where the surface begins to angle inwardly. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The dishwasher as claimed in claim 6, wherein the handle and release mechanism are wider than the display. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The dishwasher as claimed in claim 6, wherein the control panel has a plurality of buttons, and the handle has a width that spans the plurality of buttons. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The dishwasher as claimed in claim 1, wherein a width of the handle spans a majority of a width of the closure device. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The dishwasher as claimed in claim 1, wherein a width of the handle is about 50-90% of a width of the closure device. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The dishwasher as claimed in claim 1, wherein a width of the handle is about 60-95% of a width of the insert. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The dishwasher as claimed in claim 1, wherein the closure device is a drawer that is slidable between the open and closed positions. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The dishwasher as claimed in claim 1, wherein the width of the portion of the release mechanism that is accessible by the user is the same as the width of the handle. ### Claim 16 A dishwasher comprising: a compartment to hold items to be washed and/or dried, the compartment including a front opening; a door to sealingly close the opening, the door being pivotably attached to the compartment to allow pivoting about an axis between open and closed positions, the door including a main body and a one piece shell attached to the main body, the shell having a top portion with a generally U-shape and including upstanding arm portions that are not connected by the one piece shell along an upper edge of the upstanding arm portions; and a recessed handle inwardly recessed into a front face of the shell, the handle being elongated in a horizontal sense, generally parallel to the axis, and to such an extent that the handle is accessible by a user when standing at a position laterally adjacent the dishwasher, the handle being positioned between the upstanding arm portions of the U-shape. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The dishwasher as claimed in claim 16, further comprising a display and a control panel to control operation of the dishwasher. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The dishwasher as claimed in claim 17, wherein the display and the control panel are mounted on a surface below the handle, the surface being angled inwardly relative to the front face of the door. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The dishwasher as claimed in claim 17, wherein the handle is wider than the display. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The dishwasher as claimed in claim 16, wherein a width of the handle spans a majority of a width of the door. ### Claim 21 (depends on 16) The dishwasher as claimed in claim 16, further comprising a release mechanism that has a width the same as the handle. ### Claim 22 (depends on 16) The dishwasher as claimed in claim 16, further comprising a release mechanism that has a width the same as the handle and wherein a width of the handle spans a majority of a width of the door. ### Claim 23 (depends on 16) The dishwasher as claimed in claim 16, wherein an uppermost edge of the upstanding arm portions define an uppermost edge of the one piece shell. ### Claim 24 (depends on 16) The dishwasher as claimed in claim 16, further comprising a release mechanism that has a portion that is accessible by the user, the portion spanning a majority of a width of the door, and wherein a width of the handle spans the majority of the width of the door.