Dishwasher

• US 8,978,227 B2
• Filed: 10/08/2012
• Issued: 03/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BSH Hausgeraete GmbH (Robert Bosch GmbH)
• Original Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgerã¤Te GmbH (Robert Bosch GmbH)
• Inventors: Haltmayer, Werner, Herrmann, Mathias, Kasbauer, Stefan, Kther, Claus, Weissenburger, Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): Cozart, Jermie
• Assistant Examiner(s): Salone, Bayan
• Application Number:
  US13/646,753
• Publication Number:
  US 20130031767A1
• Time in Patent Office: 890 Days
• Field of Search: 294/28, 68/3.R, 134/200, 134/56.D, 312/228
• US Class Current: 29/428
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4272 Supporting arrangements for the tub
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4274 Arrangement of electrical components, e.g. control units or cables A47L15/4293 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

A dishwasher comprising a wash compartment with a base wall that has a retaining contour, and an electronic control module supported by the retaining contour and which controls appliance components in the dishwasher.

Claims

1. A method for assembling a dishwasher that includes a wash compartment with a base wall that has a retaining contour, and an electronic control module supported by the retaining contour and which controls appliance components in the dishwasher, the method comprising:

providing a base wall of a wash compartment, an upper face of the base wall at least partially defining an interior of the wash compartment;

inserting an electronic control module into a position such that the electronic control module is beneath the base wall and a peripheral face of the electronic control module is between positioning stops formed on a lower face of the base wall; and

subsequently, tilting the electronic control module into a final assembly position against at least one locking element thereby causing the locking element to be resiliently moved into a locking position in which the locking element locks the electronic control module in the final assembly position.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the lower face faces downward when the dishwasher is in an installed position and faces upward during an original assembling of the dishwasher including the original inserting and tilting.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of tilting the electronic control module includes resiliently moving the at least one locking element outwardly in a depth direction.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the positioning stops include at least one first side positioning stop and at least one second side positioning stop arranged to limit movement of the electronic control module in first and second side directions.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the positioning stops include a first depth stop to limit movement of the electronic control module in a first depth direction.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising a second depth stop to limit movement of the electronic control module in a second depth direction.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the second depth stop is disposed on a downwardly protruding portion of the base wall.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the first and second depth stops comprise ribs.

9. The method of claim 4, wherein the at least one first side positioning stop comprises two first side positioning stops.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the at least one second side positioning stop comprises two second side positioning stops.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the positioning stops include:

a first depth stop extending from a lower face of the base wall to limit movement of the electronic control module in a first depth direction;

a second depth stop to limit movement of the electronic control module in a second depth direction; and

at least one first side stop extending from the lower face of the base wall to limit movement of the electronic control module in a first side direction.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one locking element is an elastic locking element disposed opposite the base wall, the elastic locking element being configured to resiliently move to an unlocking position against a restoring force upon engagement by the electronic control module, the elastic locking element being configured to spring back from the unlocking position and into a locking position to lock the electronic control module into a final assembly position.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the at least one elastic locking element protrudes from a flexible support plate.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the support plate includes cutouts to reduce rigidity of the support plate.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the at least one elastic locking element engages an undercut on the electronic control module to lock the electronic control module into the final assembly position.

16. A method for assembling a dishwasher that includes a wash compartment with a base wall at least partially defining an assembly space beneath the base wall, and an electronic control module configured to be received in the assembly space and control appliance components in the dishwasher, the method comprising:

providing a first depth stop extending from a lower face of the base wall to limit movement of the electronic control module in a first depth direction;

providing at least one first side stop extending from the lower face of the base wall to limit movement of the electronic control module in a first side direction;

providing at least one supporting frame attached to the base wall at a side portion thereof, the supporting frame configured to support the dishwasher via appliance feet;

inserting the electronic control module into a position such that the electronic control module is beneath the base wall of the wash compartment; and

locking the electronic control module in a final assembly position with at least one locking element that is connected to the supporting frame,

wherein an upper face of the base wall at least partially defines an interior of the wash compartment.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the at least one supporting frame includes two supporting frames, the supporting frames being attached to the base wall at respective opposing side portions thereof such that the assembly space is configured as open from a front face of the assembly.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the at least one locking element is an elastic locking element configured to resiliently move to an unlocking position against a restoring force upon engagement by the electronic control module, the elastic locking element being configured to spring back from the unlocking position and into a locking position to lock the electronic control module into the final assembly position.