Dishwasher With A Dish Rack
Patent No. US12232681 (titled "Dishwasher With A Dish Rack") was filed by Whirlpool Corp on Dec 11, 2023.
What is this patent about?
’681 is related to the field of dishwashers, specifically focusing on the design and configuration of dish racks within automatic dishwashers. The background acknowledges the common use of upper and lower dish racks, sometimes supplemented by a third-level rack for silverware and utensils. Utensil caddies are also known, typically attached to the lower rack or door. The patent addresses the need for improved versatility and washing efficiency in utensil and dish organization within the dishwasher.
The underlying idea behind ’681 is to create a more adaptable dish rack by incorporating a bottom wall with both a planar section for utensils and an angled, depressed section for cups . This allows for simultaneous accommodation of both types of items, or for prioritizing one over the other depending on the load. A key element is the integration of a movable utensil caddy that can be positioned to either maximize cup space or provide dedicated utensil holding areas.
The claims of ’681 focus on an automatic dishwasher with a tub and a dish rack. Claim 1 emphasizes a bottom wall with a substantially horizontal-planar portion for utensil holders and an angled second planar portion for supporting utensils using spaced pins and slots. Claim 14 highlights a dish rack with a first horizontal planar portion for utensil holders and a second angled portion defining a depression for supporting cups .
In practice, the invention allows users to configure the dish rack based on the specific items being washed. The movable utensil caddy can be positioned to either maximize the number of cups that can be accommodated or to provide a dedicated space for utensils. The angled depression in the bottom wall creates a natural cup seat, while the planar portion provides a stable base for utensil holders. The combination of these features enhances the flexibility of the dish rack and allows for more efficient use of space within the dishwasher.
Traditional dish racks often have fixed configurations, limiting their ability to adapt to different types of loads. ’681 differentiates itself by providing a reconfigurable dish rack that can be optimized for either cups or utensils. The use of both a planar and angled surface on the bottom wall, combined with the movable utensil caddy, allows for a more versatile and efficient dishwashing experience compared to prior art designs with fixed utensil caddies and uniformly shaped rack bottoms.
How does this patent fit in bigger picture?
Technical landscape at the time
In the early 2020s when ’681 was filed, dishwashers commonly included upper and lower dish racks, sometimes with a third, smaller rack for utensils. At a time when utensil caddies were typically implemented as separate, removable units placed in the lower rack or on the door, space optimization within the dishwasher tub was a key consideration.
Novelty and Inventive Step
The examiner allowed the claims because the closest prior art (Bengston) does not teach a dish rack with a first portion supporting utensil holders and a second portion that is connected to, extends from, and is angled away from the first portion. The examiner also agreed that it would not have been obvious to modify the prior art to include these features. Similarly, for another claim, the examiner found that the prior art did not teach a depression extending lower than the first portion relative to the peripheral wall, where the first portion supports utensil holders and the second portion defines a cup seat in the depression, and that it would not have been obvious to modify the prior art to include this feature.
Claims
This patent contains 19 claims, with claims 1 and 14 being independent. The independent claims are directed to an automatic dishwasher with a specific dish rack configuration including angled portions and utensil holders. The dependent claims generally add further details and features to the dish rack and sprayers within the dishwasher, building upon the structure defined in the independent claims.
Key Claim Terms New
Definitions of key terms used in the patent claims.
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Date
Description
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US12232681
- Application Number
- US18535327
- Filing Date
- Dec 11, 2023
- Status
- Granted
- Expiry Date
- Mar 30, 2040
- External Links
- Slate, USPTO, Google Patents