Dishwasher having a door supply housing which holds dish washing supply for multiple wash cycles

• US 7,754,025 B1
• Filed: 06/06/2006
• Issued: 07/13/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Beverage Works, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Beverage Works, Inc.
• Inventors: Crisp, Harry Lee III
• Primary Examiner(s): Stinson; Frankie L
• Application Number:
  US11/422,514
• Time in Patent Office: 1,498 Days
• Field of Search: 134/94.1, 134/56.D, 134/99.2, 134/184, 134/198, 68/17.R, 682/07
• US Class Current: 134/56.00D
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2002/00 Food compositions, function of food ingredients or processes for food or foodstuffs
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0021 the components being mixed at the time of dispensing, i.e. post-mix dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0022 the apparatus comprising means for automatically controlling the amount to be dispensed
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0057 Carbonators
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0058 In-line carbonators
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0071 Carbonating by injecting CO2 in the liquid
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0078 Ingredient cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0412 the whole dispensing unit being fixed to the container
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/08 Details
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0857 Cooling arrangements cooling systems per se F25B
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0858 using compression systems
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0878 Safety, warning or controlling devices B67D1/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0888 Means comprising electronic circuitry (e.g. control panels, switching or controlling means)
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/12 Flow or pressure control devices or systems , e.g. valves, gas pressure control, level control in storage containers
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2001/082 arranged in parallel
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2210/00036 for use with or in refrigerators
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/346 by reading a code
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2400/06 Refrigerators with a vertical mullion

Abstract

A dishwasher having at least one door defining at least part of a washing area when the door is closed. The dishwasher has at least one supply housing supported by the door, and the supply housing is sized to hold an amount of liquid dish washing supply which is sufficient for a plurality of wash cycles. The dishwasher also has at least one dispenser supported by the door, and the dispenser has an outlet positioned on the door. Also, the dishwasher has an indicator operable to indicate how much of the liquid dish washing supply remains in the supply housing.

Claims

1. A dishwasher comprising:

a housing having a plurality of portions including a door, the housing defining at least part of a washing area, the door defining at least part of the washing area when the door is closed;

a support member connected to the housing, the support member configured to support a plurality of dishes in the washing area;

at least one supply housing positioned within one of the portions of the housing, the supply housing sized to hold an amount of liquid dish washing supply which is sufficient for a plurality of wash cycles, the supply housing have an outlet;

at least one dispenser supported by the door, the dispenser having;

(a) an inlet fluidly connected to the outlet of the supply housing to receive a portion of the liquid dish washing supply for each one of the wash cycles, and

(b) an outlet positioned on the door, the outlet operable to output each one of the received portions of the liquid dish washing supply to the washing area for each one of the wash cycles; and

an indicator supported by the housing, the indicator including;

(a) a display device configured to display;

(i) how much of the liquid dish washing supply remains in the supply housing after each of a plurality of the portions of the liquid dish washing supply is output by the dispenser for the plurality of wash cycles, and

(ii) a plurality of different images associated with a plurality of different brands of liquid dish washing supplies; and

(b) a touch screen configured to operate with the display device to receive an input from a user of one of said plurality of different displayed images to cause a selection of one of said plurality of different brands of liquid dish washing supplies.

2. The dishwasher of claim 1, wherein the at least one supply housing is configured to hold the liquid dish washing supply having a substance selected from the group consisting of a wash supply and a rinse supply.

3. The dishwasher of claim 1, wherein the supply housing includes a device selected from the group consisting of a supply container and a removable supply container.

4. The dishwasher of claim 1, wherein the indicator includes at least one light source.

5. The dishwasher of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of different displayed images is associated with a separate one of said plurality of different brands of liquid dish washing supplies.

6. The dishwasher of claim 5, wherein a first one of the displayed images is associated with a first brand of liquid dish washing supply and a first amount, and a second one of the displayed images is associated with a second, different brand of liquid dish washing supply and a second amount.

7. The dishwasher of claim 1, which includes at least one valve fluidly connected to the supply housing.

8. The dishwasher of claim 1, which includes a sensing device operatively coupled to the indicator, a portion of the sensing device positioned in or adjacent to the supply housing.

9. The dishwasher of claim 1, which includes a supply mover supported by the housing, the supply mover having a mechanism selected from the group consisting of at least one actuator and at least one pump.

10. The dishwasher of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of different displayed images, is associated with a separate one of said plurality of different brands of liquid dish washing supplies.

11. The dishwasher of claim 10, wherein a first one of the displayed images is associated with a first brand of liquid dish washing supply and a first amount, and a second one of the displayed images is associated with a second, different brand of liquid dish washing supply and a second amount.

12. A dishwasher comprising:

a housing having a plurality of portions including a door, the housing defining at least part of a washing area, the door defining at least part of the washing area when the door is closed;

a support member connected to the housing, the support member configured to support a plurality of dishes in the washing area;

at least one supply housing positioned within one of the portions of the housing, the supply housing sized to hold an amount of liquid dish washing supply which is sufficient for a plurality of wash cycles, the supply housing have an outlet;

at least one valve fluidly connected to the outlet of the supply housing;

at least one dispenser supported by the door, the dispenser having;

(a) an inlet fluidly connected to the outlet of the supply housing to receive a portion of the liquid dish washing supply for each one of the wash cycles, and

(b) an outlet positioned on the door, the outlet operable to output each one of the received portions of the liquid dish washing supply to the washing area for each one of the wash cycles; and

an indicator supported by the housing, the indicator including;

(a) a display device configured to display;

(i) how much of the liquid dish washing supply remains in the supply housing after each of a plurality of the portions of the liquid dish washing supply is output by the dispenser for the plurality of wash cycles, and

(ii) a plurality of different images associated with a plurality of different brands of liquid dish washing supplies; and

(b) a touch screen configured to operate with the display device to receive an input from a user of one of said plurality of different displayed images to cause a selection of one of said plurality of different brands of liquid dish washing supplies.

13. The dishwasher of claim 12, wherein the at least one supply housing is configured to hold the liquid dish washing supply having a substance selected from the group consisting of a wash supply and a rinse supply.

14. The dishwasher of claim 12, wherein the supply housing includes a device selected from the group consisting of a supply container and a removable supply container.

15. The dishwasher of claim 12, wherein the indicator includes at least one light source.

16. The dishwasher of claim 12, which includes a sensing device operatively coupled to the indicator, a portion of the sensing device positioned in or adjacent to the supply housing.

17. The dishwasher of claim 12, which includes a supply mover supported by the housing, the supply mover having a mechanism selected from the group consisting of at least one actuator and at least one pump.

18. A dishwasher comprising:

a housing having a plurality of portions including a door, the housing defining at least part of a washing area, the door defining at least part of the washing area when the door is closed;

a support member connected to the housing, the support member configured to support a plurality of dishes in the washing area;

means for holding an amount of liquid dish washing supply which is sufficient for a plurality of wash cycles, the holding means positioned within at least a portion of the housing;

means for receiving a portion of the liquid dish washing supply from the holding means for each one of the wash cycles, the receiving means supported by the door;

means for outputting each one of the portions to the washing area for each one of the wash cycles, the outputting means positioned on the door; and

means for indicating an amount of the liquid dish washing supply remaining in the supply housing after each of a plurality of the portions of the liquid dish washing supply is output by the dispenser for the plurality of wash cycles, wherein the indicating means includes;

(i) a display device configured to display said amount and a plurality of different images associated with a plurality of different brands of liquid dish washing supplies, and

(ii) a touch screen configured to operate with the display device to receive an input from a user of one of said plurality of different displayed images to cause a selection of one of said plurality of different brands of liquid dish washing supplies.

19. The dishwasher of claim 18, wherein the holding means is configured to hold liquid dish washing supply having a substance selected from the group consisting of a wash supply and a rinse supply.

20. The dishwasher of claim 18, wherein the holding means includes a device selected from the group consisting of a supply container and a removable supply container.

21. The dishwasher of claim 18, wherein the indicating means includes at least one light source.

22. The dishwasher of claim 21, wherein each of the plurality of different displayed images is associated with a separate one of said plurality of different brands of liquid dish washing supplies.

23. The dishwasher of claim 18, which includes means for sensing a level of the liquid dish washing supply in the holding means, a portion of the sensing means positioned in or adjacent to the holding means.

24. The dishwasher of claim 18, which includes means for moving liquid dish washing supply from the holding means to the receiving and outputting means, the moving means supported by the housing.

25. The dishwasher of claim 18, which includes means for controlling the amount of each one of the portions, the controlling means operatively coupled to the input means.