DISHWASHER DETERGENT DISPENSER

• US 20120090643A1
• Filed: 10/13/2010
• Published: 04/19/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Original Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Inventors: BERTSCH, ROGER J., LEE, TIMOTHY D., RAPPETTE, ANTONY M., RAZA, SYED R.
• Granted Patent: US 8,808,466 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 134/25.2
• 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 kitchenware for washing, a detergent dispenser includes a housing defining a chamber for receiving detergent. A lid is pivotally connected to the housing for selectively pivoting between a closed position for sealing the detergent chamber and an open position which permits washing fluid to enter the detergent chamber in connection with dispensing of detergent. The detergent chamber is provided with at least one washout port enabling washing fluid to enter the chamber, even if the lid can only pivot through a limited range to a partial open position due to an obstruction. A raised shield guard, which is spaced from the lid, extends in front of the lid to ensure that a potentially obstructing object within the washing chamber does not prevent the lid from moving to at least the partial open position during a wash cycle.

Claims

1. A dishwasher comprising:

a tub defining a washing chamber accommodating kitchenware to be washed with washing fluid during a washing operation; and

a detergent dispenser including;

a housing mounted within the dishwasher and exposed to the tub, said housing defining a detergent chamber for receiving detergent to be dispensed into the tub during the washing operation and being provided with at least one washout port opening into the detergent chamber;

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

a latch for releasably retaining the lid in the closed position; and

a shield member spaced from and extending across at least a portion of the lid to prevent the lid from being obstructed by kitchenware in the washing chamber, with the shield member enabling the lid to assume at least a partially open position between the closed and open positions during the washing operation and the at least one washout port enabling washing fluid to enter the detergent chamber through the at least one washout port to flush detergent from the detergent chamber.

2. The dishwasher according to claim 1, wherein the at least one washout port is located below the lid.

3. The dishwasher according to claim 2, wherein the detergent chamber is defined by a plurality of upstanding walls, the at least one washout port being formed in one of the plurality of upstanding walls.

4. The dishwasher according to claim 3, wherein the at least one washout port being defined by a cut-out formed in the one of the plurality of upstanding walls.

5. The dishwasher according to claim 4, wherein the at least one washout port is defined by a pair of spaced cut-outs formed in one of the plurality of upstanding walls.

6. The dishwasher according to claim 3, further comprising a seal mounted to an underside of the lid, said seal being seated against the plurality of upstanding walls when the lid is in the closed position, said seal becoming unseated from another one of the plurality of upstanding walls when the lid assumes the partially open position.

7. The dishwasher according to claim 6, wherein the another one of the plurality of upstanding walls is arranged opposite the one of the plurality of upstanding walls formed with the at least one washout port.

8. The dishwasher according to claim 2, wherein the lid is pivotally mounted for movement about a hinge axis between the open and closed positions, said at least one washout port being arranged directly adjacent the hinge axis.

9. The dishwasher according to claim 8, wherein the lid is pivoted from the closed position to the open position through an angle greater than 180°

.

10. The dishwasher according to claim 9, further comprising a spring biasing the lid to rotate about the hinge axis to the open position.

11. The dishwasher according to claim 1, wherein the lid shield includes a guard, which is spaced from the lid, extends along the lid and projects beyond the lid, for preventing kitchenware from obstructing the movement of the lid to at least the partially open position.

12. The dishwasher according to claim 11, wherein the lid shield includes a plateau portion from which the guard projects.

13. The dishwasher according to claim 11, wherein the lid shield is supported from the housing by a plurality of legs which are spaced to define slotted regions through which washing fluid can flow.

14. The dishwasher according to claim 13, wherein the latch includes a manual release portion which projects through one of the slotted regions.

15. The dishwasher according to claim 11, wherein the guard is integrally formed with the housing.

16. A method of loading and dispensing detergent in a dishwasher having a tub adapted to receive kitchenware to be washed during a washing operation and a detergent dispenser including a housing having a detergent chamber and a lid, said method comprising:

rotating the lid to an open position in which the detergent chamber is fully exposed;

adding an amount of detergent to the detergent chamber;

shifting the lid to a closed position in which the lid is completely covering the detergent chamber;

initiating the washing operation in the dishwasher;

shifting the lid from the closed position to at least a partially open position during the washing operation;

shielding the lid from being obstructed by kitchenware in the tub by a guard, which is spaced from the lid, extends along the lid and projects beyond the lid, thereby enabling the lid to assume at least the partially open position between the closed and open positions during the washing operation; and

flushing the detergent from the detergent chamber by directing washing fluid into the detergent chamber through at least one washout port provided in the housing.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the washing fluid is directed through multiple, spaced washout ports provided in the housing in order to flush the detergent from the detergent chamber.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the washing fluid is directed through at least one cut-out portion of a wall partially defining the detergent chamber and establishing the at least one washout port.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

seating the lid against a plurality of upstanding walls defining the detergent chamber when the lid is in the closed position and unseated from another wall defining the detergent chamber when the lid assumes the partially open position.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein shifting the lid to the open position in which the detergent chamber is fully exposed constitutes rotating the lid about a hinge axis through an angle greater than 180°

.

21. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

supporting the guard from the housing by a plurality of legs which are spaced to define slotted regions through which the washing fluid flushing out the detergent chamber flows.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

activating a latch having a manual release portion which projects through one of the slotted regions in rotating the lid to the open position.