Sound sealing system for a dishwasher

• US 20050076938A1
• Filed: 10/09/2003
• Published: 04/14/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Maytag Corporation (Whirlpool Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Maytag Corporation (Whirlpool Corporation)
• Inventors: Tuller, Barry E., Neff, Mark B., McAlexander, Randy D., Jordan, Marty R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,334,589 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 134/183
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4209 Insulation arrangements, e.g. for sound damping or heat insulation
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4263 Door sealing arrangements

Abstract

A dishwasher includes a frontal frame, a tub having a plurality of walls collectively define a washing chamber, and a door pivotally mounted to the frontal frame for sealing the washing chamber. During a washing operation, sound generated by operation of a mechanical pump escapes from below the dishwasher. To minimize sound from escaping and to provide a more enjoyable environment, a sound sealing system is mounted at a bottom portion of the dishwasher door. The sound seal system includes a sound tray that extends across the frontal frame below a bottom edge portion of the door. The sound tray can be directly, pivotally attached to the door, or an additional flexible seal is employed to span and seal a gap between the sound tray and the bottom portion of the door.

Claims

1. A dishwasher comprising:

a frontal frame adapted to be positioned upon a supporting surface;

a tub including bottom, opposing side, rear and top walls that collectively define a washing chamber, said tub also including a front opening leading into the washing chamber, while being supported by the frontal frame;

a door having a bottom portion, said door being pivotally mounted relative to the frontal frame for selectively sealing the front opening of the tub;

a sound tray extending across the frontal frame below the bottom portion of the door, said sound tray having a first edge portion which is spaced from the bottom portion of the door so as to define a gap between the sound tray and the bottom portion of the door; and

a flexible seal connected to one of the door and the sound tray and extending across the gap between the sound tray and the bottom portion of the door, wherein the flexible seal substantially lowers the level of sound, generated by mechanical components during a washing operation, from emanating from the dishwasher.

2. The dishwasher according to claim 1, wherein the sound tray is substantially L-shaped in cross-section.

3. The dishwasher according to claim 2, wherein the sound tray includes a horizontally extending top portion leading from the first edge portion to a vertical front portion extending substantially perpendicularly from the top portion.

4. The dishwasher according to claim 2, wherein the flexible seal is fixedly secured to the horizontal top surface of the sound tray, said seal being adapted to span the gap and engage against the bottom edge portion of the door.

5. The dishwasher according to claim 2, wherein the bottom edge portion of the door includes a terminal flange section, said flexible seal having a first end being fixedly secured to the horizontal top surface of the sound tray leading to a second end through an intermediate portion, said intermediate portion spanning the gap with the second end engaging against the terminal flange section of the door.

6. The dishwasher according to claim 2, wherein the flexible seal includes a first end fixedly secured to the horizontal top surface of the sound tray leading to a second end through an intermediate portion, said intermediate portion spanning the gap with the second end sealing against the bottom edge portion of the door.

7. The dishwasher according to claim 1, wherein the sound tray is substantially Z-shaped in cross-section.

8. The dishwasher according to claim 7, wherein the sound tray is defined by an angled sealing portion extending from the first edge portion to a substantially horizontal top portion leading to a substantially vertical face portion that extends substantially perpendicularly from the top portion.

9. The dishwasher according to claim 7, wherein the flexible seal includes a first end fixedly secured to the bottom edge portion of the door leading to a second end through an intermediate portion, said intermediate portion spanning through the gap with the second end sealing against the sealing surface of the sound tray.

10. The dishwasher according to claim 1, wherein the flexible seal includes a first end portion secured to the door, a second end portion secured to the sound tray, and an intermediate portion interconnecting the first and second end portions, said intermediate portion spanning the gap.

11. A dishwasher comprising:

a frontal frame adapted to be positioned upon a supporting surface;

a tub including bottom, opposing side, rear and top walls that collectively define a washing chamber, said tub also including a front opening leading into the washing chamber being supported by the frontal frame;

a door having a bottom portion, said door being pivotally mounted relative to the frontal frame for selectively sealing the front opening of the tub; and

means for attenuating sound escaping from the dishwasher during a washing operation, said attenuating means extending across the frontal frame at the bottom portion of the door to significantly reduce a level of sound generated by the dishwasher during a washing operation.

12. The dishwasher according to claim 11, wherein the attenuating means includes a sound tray and a flexible seal, said sound tray being positioned below the bottom portion of the door so as to define a gap between the bottom portion of the door and the sound tray, said flexible seal extending across the gap.

13. The dishwasher according to claim 12, wherein the flexible seal is fixed to one of the sound tray and the door.

14. The dishwasher according to claim 13, wherein the sound tray is substantially L-shaped in cross-section.

15. The dishwasher according to claim 14, wherein the flexible seal includes a first end, a second end and an intermediate portion, said first end being fixed to the sound tray with said intermediate portion extending across the gap.

16. The dishwasher according to claim 15, wherein the bottom edge portion of the door includes a terminal flange section, said second end of the flexible seal sealing against the terminal flange section of the door.

17. The dishwasher according to claim 13, wherein the sound tray is substantially Z-shaped in cross-section.

18. The dishwasher according to claim 17, wherein the flexible seal includes a first end fixedly secured to the bottom portion of the door, a second end, and an intermediate portion, said intermediate portion spanning the gap with the second end sealing against the sound tray.

19. The dishwasher according to claim 13, wherein the flexible seal includes a first end, a second end, and an intermediate portion, said intermediate portion spanning the gap, with the first end being secured to the door and the second end being secured to the sound tray.

20. The dishwasher according to claim 11, wherein the attenuating means includes a sound tray pivotally attached to the bottom portion of the door.

21. The dishwasher according to claim 20, further comprising:

a control mechanism interconnected to the door, wherein the dishwasher attenuating means further includes an actuating member interconnected between the sound tray and the control mechanism.

22. The dishwasher according to claim 21, wherein the control mechanism includes a cable, said actuating member having a first end pivotally attached to the sound tray and a second end attached to the cable.