Dishwasher with drinkware spray container

• US 10,342,409 B2
• Filed: 12/16/2016
• Issued: 07/09/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Midea Group Co., Ltd
• Original Assignee: Midea Group Co., Ltd
• Inventors: Wilson, Mark W., Wetzel, Timothy Martin, Hoppe, Christopher G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ko, Jason Y
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tate-Sims, Cristi J
• Application Number:
  US15/382,090
• Publication Number:
  US 20180168427A1
• Time in Patent Office: 935 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/0063 using remote monitoring or controlling of the dishwasher operation, e.g. networking systems
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/16 with rigidly-mounted spraying devices
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/22 Rotary spraying devices
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4225 Arrangements or adaption of recirculation or discharge pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4285 Water-heater arrangements steam generating arrangements A47L15/4234
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4287 Temperature measuring or regulating arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4293 Arrangements for programme selection, e.g. control panels; Indication of the selected programme, programme progress or other parameters of the programme, e.g. by using display panels
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/44 Devices for adding cleaning agents; Devices for dispensing cleaning agents, rinsing aids or deodorants
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/501 Baskets, e.g. for conveyor-type, in-sink type or hood-type machines
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/504 Arrangements for changing the height of racks
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/505 Inserts, e.g. for holding baby bottles, stemware or cups
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/508 Hydraulic connections for racks

Abstract

A dishwasher includes a drinkware spray container capable of directing a spray of fluid against one or more drinkware articles retained by the spray container. The drinkware spray container may be configured as a cup tree including a vertical member or trunk and a plurality of branches that extend from the trunk and support a drinkware article, with nozzles disposed on the branches to direct a spray of fluid into the supported drinkware articles. The drinkware spray container may also be configured as a drinkware basket including a container body defining one or more compartments along with one or more spray members capable of directing a spray of fluid onto interior surfaces of drinkware article retained within the container body.

Claims

1. A dishwasher, comprising:

a wash tub;

a pump configured to recirculate fluid within the wash tub; and

a cup tree, including;

an inlet in fluid communication with the pump;

a vertical member extending generally vertically in the wash tub and including a fluid conduit in fluid communication with the inlet; and

a plurality of branches extending from the vertical member and in fluid communication with the fluid conduit, each branch configured to support a drinkware article, and each branch including a plurality of nozzles configured to direct a spray of fluid onto an interior surface of a supported drinkware article.

2. The dishwasher of claim 1, further comprising a rack disposed in the wash tub and configured to support a plurality of utensils to be washed, wherein the rack includes a manifold including a fluid inlet in fluid communication with the pump, and wherein the inlet of the cup tree is configured to receive fluid through the manifold when the vertical member of the cup tree is supported in the rack.

3. The dishwasher of claim 2, wherein the manifold includes a docking port in fluid communication with the fluid inlet, wherein the inlet of the cup tree includes a connector configured to removably and mechanically couple with the docking port, and wherein the manifold further includes a valve coupled to the docking port and configured to seal the docking port when the connector is detached from the docking port.

4. The dishwasher of claim 3, wherein the manifold includes a plurality of docking ports in fluid communication with the fluid inlet and disposed at a plurality of locations in the rack, and wherein the cup tree is configured to be docked in multiple locations among the plurality of locations in the rack.

5. The dishwasher of claim 1, wherein the vertical member includes a plurality of nozzles and is configured to support a drinkware article.

6. The dishwasher of claim 1, wherein the plurality of branches are disposed at a plurality of elevations to support a plurality of levels of drinkware articles.

7. The dishwasher of claim 1, wherein at least a subset of the plurality of branches disposed at a common elevation are radially arranged about the vertical member.

8. The dishwasher of claim 1, wherein a first branch among the plurality of branches includes a drinkware support extending from the first branch and supporting a supported drinkware article in a spaced apart relationship from the first branch.

9. A cup tree for use in a dishwasher, comprising:

an inlet configured to receive fluid from a pump of the dishwasher;

a vertical member including a fluid conduit in fluid communication with the inlet and configured to extend generally vertically when supported in the dishwasher; and

a plurality of branches extending from the vertical member and in fluid communication with the fluid conduit, each branch configured to support a drinkware article, and each branch including a plurality of nozzles configured to direct a spray of fluid onto an interior surface of a supported drinkware article.

10. A dishwasher, comprising:

a wash tub;

a pump configured to recirculate fluid within the wash tub; and

a drinkware basket, including;

a container body including a plurality of side walls, the container body defining a compartment for retaining a drinkware article;

a spray member integrated into or otherwise coupled to the container body, disposed within the compartment, and including one or more nozzles configured to direct a spray of fluid onto an interior surface of the drinkware article; and

an inlet in fluid communication with the pump and the one or more nozzles of the spray member.

11. The dishwasher of claim 10, further comprising a rack disposed in the wash tub and configured to support a plurality of utensils to be washed, wherein the rack includes a manifold including a fluid inlet in fluid communication with the pump, and wherein the inlet of the drinkware basket is configured to receive fluid through the manifold when the drinkware basket is supported in the rack.

12. The dishwasher of claim 11, wherein the manifold includes a docking port in fluid communication with the fluid inlet, wherein the inlet of the drinkware basket includes a connector configured to removably and mechanically couple with the docking port, and wherein the manifold further includes a valve coupled to the docking port and configured to seal the docking port when the connector is detached from the docking port.

13. The dishwasher of claim 12, wherein the manifold includes a plurality of docking ports in fluid communication with the fluid inlet and disposed at a plurality of locations in the rack, and wherein the drinkware basket is configured to be docked in multiple locations among the plurality of locations in the rack.

14. The dishwasher of claim 10, wherein the spray member projects upwardly into the drinkware article when the drinkware article is placed upside down in the compartment.

15. The dishwasher of claim 14, wherein the spray member includes a plurality of side nozzles configured to direct a spray of fluid toward a side wall of the drinkware article and one or more end nozzles configured to direct a spray of fluid toward a bottom of the drinkware article.

16. The dishwasher of claim 10, wherein the container body further includes one or more interior walls, wherein the plurality of side walls and the one or more interior walls define a plurality of compartments, and wherein the drinkware basket includes a plurality of spray members disposed within respective compartments among the plurality of compartments and including one or more nozzles configured to direct a spray of fluid onto an interior surface of a drinkware article retained in the respective compartment.

17. The dishwasher of claim 10, wherein the drinkware basket further includes an adjustable stemware support configured to support a stem of the drinkware article.

18. The dishwasher of claim 17, wherein the drinkware article is a first drinkware article, and wherein the adjustable stemware support is further configured to additionally support a second drinkware article above the first drinkware article.

19. The dishwasher of claim 17, wherein the adjustable stemware support includes a drinkware support member configured to pivot about a substantially horizontal axis between engaged and unengaged positions, and further configured to move along a substantially vertical axis to adjust an elevation thereof.

20. A drinkware basket for use in a dishwasher, comprising:

a container body including a plurality of side walls, the container body defining a compartment for retaining a drinkware article;

a spray member integrated into or otherwise coupled to the container body, disposed within the compartment, and including one or more nozzles configured to direct a spray of fluid onto an interior surface of the drinkware article; and

an inlet in fluid communication with the one or more nozzles of the spray member and configured to receive fluid from a pump of the dishwasher.