DISHWASHER WITH SPRAYER
First Claim
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1. A dishwasher for treating utensils according to an automatic cycle of operation, comprising:
- a tub at least partially defining a treating chamber for receiving utensils for treatment according to the automatic cycle of operation;
a rotatable sprayer for spraying liquid into the treating chamber and having a body with an exterior and an inner surface defining an interior wherein the interior forms at least a portion of a liquid passage and at least one outlet that extends from the interior to the exterior;
a slidable valve body located within the interior, adjacent the inner surface having the at least one outlet, the slidable valve body including a flexible membrane having at least one opening and a frame supportingly coupled to at least a portion of the flexible membrane and the flexible membrane conforms to a shape of the inner surface of the rotatable sprayer such that the flexible membrane is configured to sealingly abut the inner surface of the rotatable sprayer to form a liquid seal between the rotatable sprayer and the flexible membrane; and
a driver system coupling the rotatable sprayer to the frame;
wherein, during use, rotation of the rotatable sprayer acts as an input to the driver system, which in turn drives the flexible membrane relative to the rotatable sprayer such that the valve body is moved from a first position wherein the flexible membrane blocks a fluid coupling of the at least one outlet and the interior and a second position wherein at least one outlet is fluidly coupled with the interior via the at least one opening to provide for a flow of liquid from the interior through the at least one opening and through the outlet to emit a spray of liquid from the rotatable sprayer into the treating chamber.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A dishwasher includes a tub at least partially defining a treating chamber and a sprayer for spraying liquid to the treating chamber. The sprayer may include a liquid passage and at least one outlet extending from an interior to an exterior of the sprayer and in fluid communication with the liquid passage. A membrane may have at least one opening and may be in fluid communication with the liquid passage to control the flow of liquid through the at least one outlet.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A dishwasher for treating utensils according to an automatic cycle of operation, comprising:
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a tub at least partially defining a treating chamber for receiving utensils for treatment according to the automatic cycle of operation; a rotatable sprayer for spraying liquid into the treating chamber and having a body with an exterior and an inner surface defining an interior wherein the interior forms at least a portion of a liquid passage and at least one outlet that extends from the interior to the exterior; a slidable valve body located within the interior, adjacent the inner surface having the at least one outlet, the slidable valve body including a flexible membrane having at least one opening and a frame supportingly coupled to at least a portion of the flexible membrane and the flexible membrane conforms to a shape of the inner surface of the rotatable sprayer such that the flexible membrane is configured to sealingly abut the inner surface of the rotatable sprayer to form a liquid seal between the rotatable sprayer and the flexible membrane; and a driver system coupling the rotatable sprayer to the frame; wherein, during use, rotation of the rotatable sprayer acts as an input to the driver system, which in turn drives the flexible membrane relative to the rotatable sprayer such that the valve body is moved from a first position wherein the flexible membrane blocks a fluid coupling of the at least one outlet and the interior and a second position wherein at least one outlet is fluidly coupled with the interior via the at least one opening to provide for a flow of liquid from the interior through the at least one opening and through the outlet to emit a spray of liquid from the rotatable sprayer into the treating chamber. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A dishwasher for treating utensils according to an automatic cycle of operation, comprising:
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a tub at least partially defining a treating chamber for receiving utensils for treatment according to the automatic cycle of operation; a rotatable sprayer for spraying liquid into the treating chamber and having a body with an exterior and an inner surface defining an interior wherein the interior forms at least a portion of a liquid passage and multiple outlets extending from the interior to the exterior; a slidable valve body located within the interior, adjacent the inner surface having the multiple outlets, the slidable valve body including a flexible membrane having a set of openings; a driver system coupling the rotatable sprayer to the flexible membrane; and wherein the flexible membrane sealingly abuts the inner surface of the rotatable sprayer to form a liquid seal between the rotatable sprayer and the flexible membrane during use and rotation of the rotatable sprayer acts as an input to the driver system, which in turn drives the flexible membrane relative to the rotatable sprayer such that the valve body is moved from a first position wherein the set of openings in the flexible membrane fluidly couples a first subset of the multiple outlets to define a first spray from the rotatable sprayer and a second position wherein the set of openings in the flexible membrane fluidly couples a second subset of the multiple outlets and where the second subset is different from the first subset to define a second spray from the rotatable sprayer. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification