Plastic access panel for a dishwasher
First Claim
1. An automatic dishwasher and an access panel arrangement, said access panel arrangement positioned beneath and flush with a door of said automatic dishwasher, and secured to said dishwasher, said access panel arrangement further comprising:
- a frame member for removably receiving said decorative panel, said frame member having a flat wall, said flat wall facing upwardly when said access panel arrangement is attached to said dishwasher, said flat wall having a front edge and a rear edge; and
a cover member removably secured to said flat wall of said frame member without separate fastener elements,said cover member having a portion projecting forwardly of said front edge of said flat wall,said cover member being pivotally mounted to said frame member and movable with respect to said frame member about an axis defined by the rear edge of said flat wall between open and closed positions, andsaid decorative panel being removable from said frame member when said cover member is in said open position and restrained against removal from said frame member when said cover member is in said closed position.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An access panel arrangement is provided having one or more decorative panels, a frame for removably receiving those panels within a groove engaging a portion of the panel periphery, and a cover attached to the frame and movable between open positions in which the panels can be removed from the frame and closed positions in which the panels are restrained within the frame. The cover is attached to the frame by a plurality of tab and slot pairs, at least one of which is close fitting and provides lateral alignment of the cover to the frame. These tab and slot pairs are dimensioned to permit relative rotation such that the cover is hingedly connected to the frame in a free-floating manner. Snap fit latches are provided to retain the cover in a closed position, but are sufficiently resilient to release the cover and permit movement to an open position and a closed position in response to hand pressures without the use of tools. The frame also provides a snap fit or interlocking connection for a lower vent panel and is preferably integrally molded from plastic materials.
34 Citations
9 Claims
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1. An automatic dishwasher and an access panel arrangement, said access panel arrangement positioned beneath and flush with a door of said automatic dishwasher, and secured to said dishwasher, said access panel arrangement further comprising:
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a frame member for removably receiving said decorative panel, said frame member having a flat wall, said flat wall facing upwardly when said access panel arrangement is attached to said dishwasher, said flat wall having a front edge and a rear edge; and a cover member removably secured to said flat wall of said frame member without separate fastener elements, said cover member having a portion projecting forwardly of said front edge of said flat wall, said cover member being pivotally mounted to said frame member and movable with respect to said frame member about an axis defined by the rear edge of said flat wall between open and closed positions, and said decorative panel being removable from said frame member when said cover member is in said open position and restrained against removal from said frame member when said cover member is in said closed position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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Specification