Dishwasher with transforming door

• US 9,687,134 B2
• Filed: 11/20/2012
• Issued: 06/27/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Original Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Inventors: Hussain, Saadat, Kobos, Duane M., Cordill, Rexford W., Fischer, Marcus R., Baldwin, Mark W., Hemry, Mike S., Schaaf, Demetrius J., Tuller, Barry E., Viswanathan, Ameresh B., McIver, Justin D., Topp, Bryan M., Welsh, Anthony B., Moit, Elizabeth A., Dibkey, Brett
• Primary Examiner(s): Kornakov, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lorenzi, Marc
• Application Number:
  US13/681,547
• Publication Number:
  US 20130125939A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,680 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/0018 Controlling processes, i.e. processes to control the operation of the machine characterised by the purpose or target of the control for control of water softening or water softener regeneration A47L15/4229; for control of water level A47L15/4244; for control of bad smells or odours A47L15/4276; for control of water temperature A47L15/4287; for control of water pressure A47L15/4289; for control of condition of crockery or tableware A47L15/4295; for control of condition of washing water A47L15/4297
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/0021 Regulation of operational steps within the washing processes, e.g. optimisation or improvement of operational steps depending from the detergent nature or from the condition of the crockery
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/006 using wireless communication between internal components of the machine
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/0063 using remote monitoring or controlling of the dishwasher operation, e.g. networking systems
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/0084 of drawer-type
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/22 Rotary spraying devices
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4219 Water recirculation A47L15/0078 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4221 Arrangements for redirection of washing water, e.g. water diverters to selectively supply the spray arms A47L15/0078 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4257 Details of the loading door
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4259 Arrangements of locking or security/safety devices for doors, e.g. door latches, switch to stop operation when door is open
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4263 Door sealing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4293 Arrangements for programme selection, e.g. control panels; Indication of the selected programme, programme progress or other parameters of the programme, e.g. by using display panels
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/486 Blower arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/488 Connections of the tub with the ambient air, e.g. air intake or venting arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/507 Arrangements for extracting racks, e.g. roller supports
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2301/08 Other manual input
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2401/12 Water temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2401/18 Air temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2401/26 Loading door status, e.g. door latch opened or closed state
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2501/22 Loading doors, e.g. door latches, inflatable door seals
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2501/26 : Indication or alarm to the controlling device or to the user
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2501/30 : Regulation of machine operational steps within the washing process, e.g. performing an additional rinsing phase, shortening or stopping of the drying phase, washing at decreased noise operation conditions
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 : electric

Abstract

A dishwasher includes a door with at least a first part and a second part. The first part may be pivotally mounted to the dishwasher. The second part may be configured to be coupled to the first part for cooperative pivoting of the first part and the second part in one mode of operation. The second part may also be configured to move independently of the first part in another mode of operation.

Claims

1. A dishwasher configured to execute at least one cycle of operation for treating utensils, the dishwasher comprising:

a chassis;

a tub carried by the chassis and at least partially defining a first treating chamber and a second treating chamber separated from the first treating chamber by a partition and having an open face providing access to the first treating chamber and the second treating chamber;

a spray system having a first sprayer fluidly coupled to the first treating chamber providing treating fluid to the first treating chamber during the at least one cycle of operation and a second sprayer fluidly coupled to the second treating chamber providing treating fluid to the second treating chamber during the at least one cycle of operation, wherein the first and second sprayers are independently operable to perform independent cycles of operation in the first and second treating chambers;

a drawer carrying a utensil rack slidably coupled to the tub for slidable movement relative to the tub and provided in the second treating chamber; and

a door including;

a door frame pivotally mounted to the chassis and defining an opening within the door frame,

a first part mounted to the door frame for pivotal movement relative to a portion of the open face corresponding to the first treating chamber, and

a second part selectively coupled to one of the door frame and the drawer for movement relative to a portion of the open face corresponding to the second treating chamber;

wherein the door is operable in a full door mode, where the second part is connected to the first part and the second part pivotally moves with the first part to selectively open and close the portions of the open face corresponding to the first and second treating chambers, and a partial door mode, where the door frame is fixedly coupled to the chassis and uncoupled from the second part and the second part is coupled to the drawer wherein slidable movement of the second part selectively opens and closes the opening and permits slidable movement of the drawer through the opening in the door frame.

2. The dishwasher of claim 1, further comprising a handle formed as part of the second part facilitating slidable movement of the drawer when the door is in the partial door mode.

3. The dishwasher of claim 2 wherein a bottom wall of the drawer forms the partition dividing the tub into the first and second treating chambers.

4. The dishwasher of claim 1, further comprising a transformation assembly selectively connecting the second part to one of the first part and the drawer.

5. The dishwasher of claim 4 wherein the transformation assembly comprises a locking member located within the second part that slides between a first position, where the second part is locked to the first part, and a second position, where the second part is locked to the drawer.

6. The dishwasher of claim 5, further comprising an actuator located in the second part and coupled to the locking member for moving the locking member between the first and second positions.

7. The dishwasher of claim 5 wherein the locking member comprises at least one locking finger that extends from the second part into the first part in the first position to lock the second part to the first part in the full door mode.

8. The dishwasher of claim 7 wherein the drawer comprises at least one mounting pin, and the locking member comprises a key slot for holding the at least one mounting pin to lock the second part to the drawer in the partial door mode.

9. The dishwasher of claim 8 wherein the at least one mounting pin is mounted to the drawer.

10. The dishwasher of claim 1, wherein the first part is a lower door, and the second part is an upper door.

11. The dishwasher of claim 1 wherein the first and second sprayers are also operable to simultaneously perform the same cycle of operation in the first and second treating chambers.

12. The dishwasher of claim 1, further comprising a locking device locking the first part to the tub when the door is in the partial door mode and the first part closes the portion of the open face corresponding to the first treating chamber, thus preventing access to the first treating chamber when the door is in the partial door mode.

13. The dishwasher of claim 12 wherein the locking device comprises at least one electromagnetic latch selectively coupling the first part to the tub.