Dishwasher with shielded dispenser

• US 20050039778A1
• Filed: 08/22/2003
• Published: 02/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Maytag Corporation (Whirlpool Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Maytag Corporation (Whirlpool Corporation)
• Inventors: Cantave, Herve J., Raudabaugh, James H.
• Granted Patent: US 7,207,341 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 134/25.200
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4409 by tipping containers or opening their lids, e.g. with the help of a programmer

Abstract

In a dishwasher having a washing chamber capable of accommodating upper and lower racks, a detergent dispensing assembly includes a housing defining a compartment for receiving detergent. A lid is pivotally connected to the housing for selectively pivoting between closed and dispensing positions. A shield, which is spaced away from the lid, extends in front of the lid to ensure that an object within the washing chamber does not prevent the lid from freely moving between the closed and dispensing positions during a wash cycle.

Claims

1. In a dishwasher including a tub defining a washing chamber accommodating a shiftable rack, and a door, having an interior panel, pivotally mounted to the tub for selectively accessing the washing chamber, a dispensing assembly comprising:

a housing provided on the interior panel and defining a detergent compartment for receiving detergent;

a lid pivotally mounted for movement between a closed position in which the detergent compartment is covered and a dispensing position in which the detergent compartment is exposed; and

a shield member being spaced from and extending across at least a portion of the lid to assure the lid is not obstructed by kitchenware in the dishwasher when moving from the closed position to the dispensing position during a wash cycle.

2. The dispensing assembly according to claim 1, wherein the shield member includes leg portions extending away from the lid and a cross portion which interconnects the leg portions at a position spaced from a front surface of the lid.

3. The dispensing assembly according to claim 2, wherein the leg portions and the cross portion form a U-shaped member that extends about the detergent compartment.

4. The dispensing assembly according to claim 1, wherein the shield member is mounted for pivotal movement relative to the housing between a shielding position and a loading position.

5. The dispensing assembly according to claim 1, wherein the lid and shield member are movable to a fully open position for loading of the detergent compartment.

6. The dispensing assembly according to claim 5, wherein the shield member and the lid pivot about a common axis.

7. The dispensing assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a latch for retaining the lid and shield member in the closed position.

8. The dispensing assembly according to claim 4, wherein the shield member further includes tabs which are positioned beneath the lid when the lid is in the closed position for holding the shield member in its shielding position.

9. A dishwasher comprising:

a tub defining a washing chamber including an open frontal portion;

at least one rack shiftably mounted within the washing chamber, said at least one rack being adapted to support kitchenware;

a door, including an interior panel, pivotally mounted for movement between a closed condition, wherein the door substantially seals the open frontal portion, and an opened condition, wherein the door is lowered for loading or unloading of the at least one rack;

a dispensing assembly arranged on the interior panel of the door, said dispensing assembly including a detergent compartment and a lid, said lid being movable, relative to the detergent compartment, between a closed position in which the lid substantially seals the detergent compartment, and a dispensing position exposing the detergent compartment; and

a shield member extending across at least a portion of the dispensing assembly directly adjacent the lid, said shield member providing the lid with unobstructed movement between the closed and dispensing positions.

10. The dishwasher according to claim 9, wherein the shield member includes leg portions extending away from the lid and a cross portion which interconnects the leg portions at a position spaced from a front surface of the lid.

11. The dishwasher according to claim 10, wherein the leg portions and the cross portion form a U-shaped member that extends about the detergent compartment.

12. The dishwasher according to claim 9, wherein the shield member is mounted for pivotal movement relative to the detergent compartment between a shielding position and a loading position.

13. The dishwasher according to claim 9, wherein the lid and shield member are movable to a fully open position for loading of the detergent compartment.

14. The dishwasher according to claim 12, wherein the shield member and the lid pivot about a common axis.

15. The dishwasher according to claim 9, further comprising a latch for retaining the lid and shield member in the closed position.

16. The dishwasher according to claim 14, wherein the shield member further includes tabs, which are positioned beneath the lid when the lid is in the closed position, for holding the shield member in its shielding position.

17. The dishwasher according to claim 9, wherein the shield member is mounted to the dispensing assembly.

18. A method of loading and dispensing detergent in a dishwasher having a dispensing assembly including a detergent compartment, a lid, and a shield member, said method comprising:

rotating the shield member and lid to a position in which the detergent compartment is fully exposed;

adding an effective amount of detergent to the detergent compartment;

rotating the shield member and the lid to a position in which the lid is covering the detergent compartment and the shield member extends across at least a portion of the dispensing assembly adjacent to the lid;

activating a wash cycle; and

shifting the lid from the closed position to the dispensing position during the wash cycle, with the shield member providing the lid with unobstructed movement.

19. The method according to claim 20, further comprising:

retaining the shield member in a shielding position when the lid is in the closed position.