Kitchenware washers and methods of manufacturing the same

• US 7,527,062 B2
• Filed: 04/22/2005
• Issued: 05/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Duke Manufacturing Company
• Original Assignee: Steelkor, LLC
• Inventors: Bigott, James W
• Primary Examiner(s): Stinson; Frankie L
• Application Number:
  US11/113,406
• Publication Number:
  US 20060237047A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,474 Days
• Field of Search: 134/56.R, 134/56.D, 134/110, 134/111, 134/184, 134/189, 134/190, 134/191, 134/199, 134/200, 462/6, 462/7, 462/8, 462/9, 463/0, 463/1, 463/2, 463/4, 463/5
• US Class Current: 134/184
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/0092 specially adapted to wash large items like pots, trays, baking trays, cooking grids
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/08 by application of a pressure effect produced by pumps

Abstract

A kitchenware washing assembly includes at least one wall defining at least a portion of a tank for holding fluid for washing kitchenware. The kitchenware washing assembly also includes at least one pump and at least one chamber in fluid communication with the tank. The kitchenware washing assembly is formed such that at least part of the chamber is formed unitary with the wall of the tank.

Claims

1. A kitchenware washing assembly comprising a first side wall defining at least a portion of a tank for holding fluid for washing kitchenware, at least two pumps, at least one chamber defining an opening in the first side wall of the tank and in fluid communication with the tank, a cover disposed at least partially over said opening, and at least two inlets formed in the at least one chamber for receiving fluid from out of the tank, one of the at least two pumps in fluid communication with one of the at least two inlets, another of the at least two pumps in fluid communication with another of the at least two inlets, at least part of the chamber being formed unitarily in the first side wall of the tank.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein a substantial portion of the chamber is formed unitarily in the first side wall of the tank.

3. The assembly of claim 2, wherein the chamber comprises at least one chamber wall formed of unitary construction with the first side wall of the tank.

4. The assembly of claim 3, wherein the chamber comprises two end walls.

5. The assembly of claim 3, wherein the chamber wall that is formed of unitary construction with the first side wall of the tank is offset from the tank and extends generally longitudinally relative to the wall of the tank.

6. The assembly of claim 2, wherein the tank comprises second, third, and fourth side walls and a bottom, wherein the chamber comprises at least one wall formed of unitary construction with the first side wall without welding the at least one wall of the chamber to the first side wall, and wherein the first side wall is formed of unitary construction with the bottom and the second side wall without welding the first side wall to the bottom and second side wall.

7. The assembly of claim 6, wherein the chamber is an inlet chamber, wherein the assembly further comprises an outlet chamber, and wherein a substantial portion of the outlet chamber is formed unitarily in the third side wall.

10. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the first side wall of the tank includes a bent section defining the part of the chamber formed unitarily in the first side wall of the tank.

11. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the second side wall is generally opposite the first side wall, wherein the chamber is formed of unitary construction in the first side wall, and wherein the first side wall is unitarily formed with the bottom and the bottom is unitarily formed with the second side wall.

12. The assembly of claim 11, wherein the tank further comprises at least two additional chambers in fluid communication with the tank, the fourth side wall is generally opposite the third side wall, one of said additional chambers being formed at least partially unitarily in the third side wall for defining one of the at least two outlets, another of said additional chambers being formed at least partially unitarily in the fourth side wall for defining another of the at least two outlets.

8. The assembly of clam 7, further comprising a second outlet chamber, and wherein a substantial portion of the second outlet chamber is formed unitarily in the fourth wall.

9. The assembly of claim 8, wherein the third and fourth walls are generally opposing walls.

13. A kitchenware washing assembly comprising first, second, third, and fourth side walls and a bottom defining a tank for holding fluid for washing kitchenware, at least two pumps, at least one chamber positioned on the first side wall of the tank and defining an opening in the first side wall of the tank in fluid communication with the tank, at least two inlets disposed for receiving fluid from the at least one chamber, and at least two outlets for dispensing fluid into the tank, at least part of the chamber being monolithically formed with the first side wall of the tank to have a unitary construction therewith and to extend from the tank without a separate connection to first side wall of the tank, the third side wall defining an acute angle with the bottom of the tank, and the fourth side wall defining an acute angle with the bottom of the tank.

14. The assembly of claim 13, wherein at least part of the chamber is monolithically formed to extend from the tank without being welded to the first side wall of the tank.