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US 9,402,525 B2Granted
Dishwasher-dining table having rotatable tabletop
AssigneeStephen R. Ellebracht
InventorStephen Robert Ellebracht
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Abstract
The invention is directed to a novel dishwasher-dining table combination appliance having a rotatable, invertible top dining insert panel that allows for cleaning dining utensils and the like without having to remove them from a table. The invention provides for a compact, self-contained, system useful in a variety of locations and applications where reductions in the length of time required for cleaning, storing and replacing dining utensils on a table are advantageous.
Claims15
A dishwasher-dining table housing having inside and outside surfaces, comprising:
- (a.) a first vertical housing portion having a rectangular, circular or ellipsoidal cross-section, having upper and lower end, the lower end adapted for contacting a floor, support or additional base portion;
- (b.) a second housing portion having an inverted frustum shape with smaller and larger cross section ends, the smaller cross section end connected to the lower housing upper end;
- (c.) a third housing portion having a substantially vertical wall with upper and lower ends, the lower end connected to the larger frustum end and having the same cross section shape as the larger frustum end housing portion;
- (d.) a table top housing portion, having a lower surface connected to the third housing portion upper end, an upper surface defining a table top, the top housing portion further defined by an opening with the top housing portion terminating in a flange at the opening with an interference seal mounted on the flange, wherein housing portions a, b, c, d, in order, are connected;
- (e.) a single dining panel having only two parallel, opposite surfaces, fitted within and substantially flush to the table top surface with at least one utensil retaining device mounted on at least one panel surface wherein the single dining panel and housing portions are proportioned to accommodate two or more diners;
- (f.) a flexible interference seal mounted around substantially the entire perimeter of the flange or dining panel, the interference seal having a partially shaped edge profile whereby a slidably reversible, leak resistant connection between the flange and dining panel is maintained, wherein the dining table is mechanically stabilized to form a stable dining surface by only a mechanical interference fitment between the interference seal, and the flange and the dining panel;
- (g.) at least one hinge to connect the dining panel to the top portion, wherein, the dining panel insert is rotatable around the hinge to invert and reversibly seal the panel within the top portion opening to prevent washing fluid leakage when washing dishes;
- and
- (h.) at least one horizontal bulkhead mounted inside and integrated with the first vertical housing portion such to fluidly seal a lower portion of the housing, the bulkhead having defined therein at least one opening to pass a utility connection, the first vertical housing portion, and the bulkhead further adapted to receive and mount a rotatory arm, spray-dispersing, dishwashing mechanism for connecting to the utility connection.
6 more elements
A dishwasher-dining table, comprising:
- a housing having inside and outside surfaces, the housing comprising:
- (a.) a frustum-shaped lower base portion having a larger lower cross section for contact with a support surface or floor, a smaller upper end cross section;
- (b.) a first vertical housing portion having a rectangular, circular or ellipsoidal cross-section, having upper and lower ends, the lower end connected to the lower base portion upper end;
- (c.) a second housing portion having an inverted frustum shape with lower smaller and larger upper cross section ends, the smaller cross section end connected to the first vertical housing portion upper end;
- (d.) a third housing portion having a substantially vertical wall with upper and lower ends, the lower end connected to the larger frustum end, having the same cross section shape as the larger frustum end;
- (e.) a table top housing portion, having a lower surface connected to and covering the third housing portion upper end, having an upper surface defining a table top, the top housing portion further defined by an opening with the top housing portion terminating in a flange at the opening;
- wherein housing portions a, b, c, d in order, are connected;
- (f.) a single dining panel having only two parallel and opposite surfaces, fitted within and substantially flush with the table top portion surface, having at least one utensil retaining device mounted thereon, wherein the single dining panel, housing portions are proportioned to accommodate two or more diners;
- (g.) at least one hinge to connect the dining panel insert to the top portion, wherein, the panel can be rotated around the hinge axis to expose and reversibly seal the opposite parallel side of the dining panel insert to prevent washing fluid leakage when washing dishes or utensils;
- (h.) at least one horizontal bulkhead mounted inside and integrated with the first vertical housing portion such to fluidly seal a lower portion of the housing, the bulkhead having defined therein at least one opening to pass a utility connection, the first vertical housing portion and the bulkhead further adapted to receive and mount a rotatory arm, spray-dispersing;
- dishwashing mechanism for connecting to the utility connection
- (i.) at least one hinged sealable access door defined by an opening in at least one portion of the inverted frustum portion, a dishwasher control module mounted on the door and a detergent dispenser mounted on the door inside surface;
- (j.) at least one rotatory arm, spray-dispersing dishwasher mechanism mounted to the horizontal bulkhead in the first vertical portion, in dishwashing relationship to the top insert panel inverted surface portion, and
- (k.) a flexible interference seal mounted around substantially the entire perimeter of the flange or dining panel, the interference seal having a partially shaped edge profile whereby a slidably reversible, leak resistant connection between the flange and dining panel is maintained, wherein the dining table is mechanically stabilized to form a stable dining surface by only a mechanical interference fitment between the interference seal, the flange, and the dining panel.
11 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.