IP Library Granted Patent US 9,936,854
Granted Patent B2
US 9,936,854 · App. 14/794,103 · Granted Apr 10, 2018

Bottle washer assembly for dishwasher appliance

Inventor: Joel Charles Boyer (Louisville, KY)
Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
A47L15/505A47L15/4278A47L15/503A47L15/508B05B1/32
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,936,854
App. No.
14/794,103
Granted
Apr 10, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

Bottle washer assemblies for dishwasher appliances are provided. A bottle washer assembly includes a main conduit defining a main passage for flowing wash fluid therethrough. The bottle washer assembly further includes a spray tine, the spray tine including a conduit defining a passage for flowing wash fluid therethrough. The passage is in selective fluid communication with the main passage. The conduit is movable between a first position wherein wash fluid flow into the passage is permitted and a second position wherein wash fluid flow into the passage is restricted relative to the wash fluid flow in the first position.

Claims (41)

1. A bottle washer assembly for a dishwasher appliance, the bottle washer assembly comprising:

a main conduit defining a main passage for flowing wash fluid therethrough;

a spray tine, the spray tine comprising a conduit defining a passage along an inner surface for flowing wash fluid therethrough, the passage in selective fluid communication with the main passage; and

an auxiliary conduit extending between the main conduit and the conduit, the auxiliary conduit defining an auxiliary passage in fluid communication with the main passage and selective fluid communication with the passage,

wherein the conduit is movable between a first position wherein wash fluid flow into the passage is permitted and a second position wherein wash fluid flow into the passage is restricted relative to the wash fluid flow in the first position, and

wherein the spray tine includes an outer surface opposite the inner surface and extending from a first end to a second end, at least a portion of the outer surface including a plurality of ribs and being rotatably positioned within the auxiliary conduit at the first end, wherein one or more ribs of the plurality of ribs are in contact with the auxiliary conduit in the second position, wherein the portion of the outer surface including the plurality of ribs is positioned within the auxiliary conduit in the second position, and wherein at least two ribs of the plurality of ribs are positioned at opposite sides of the passage and prevent wash fluid flow into the passage above the auxiliary passage in the second position.

2. The bottle washer assembly of claim 1 , wherein the conduit is rotatable between the first position and the second position.

3. The bottle washer assembly of claim 2 , wherein a rotational axis about which the conduit is rotatable extends generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the main conduit.

4. The bottle washer assembly of claim 2 , wherein the conduit is rotatable approximately 90 degrees between the first position and the second position.

5. The bottle washer assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a first detent configured to seat the conduit in the first position and a second detent configured to seat the conduit in the second position.

6. The bottle washer assembly of claim 5 , wherein the first detent and second detent are protrusions.

7. The bottle washer assembly of claim 1 , wherein wash fluid flow into the passage is generally prevented in the second position.

8. The bottle washer assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one spray tine further comprises a cap, the cap defining a plurality of outlet apertures.

9. The bottle washer assembly of claim 1 , further comprising at least one clip.

10. The bottle washer assembly of claim 1 , wherein the spray tine is a plurality of spray tines.

11. A dishwasher appliance, comprising:

a tub defining a wash chamber;

a rack assembly disposed within the wash chamber of the tub;

a first spray assembly positioned adjacent the rack assembly; and

a second spray assembly positioned adjacent the rack assembly, wherein the second spray assembly is a bottle washer assembly, the bottle washer assembly comprising:

a main conduit defining a main passage for flowing wash fluid therethrough;

a spray tine, the spray tine comprising a conduit defining a passage along an inner surface for flowing wash fluid therethrough, the passage in selective fluid communication with the main passage; and

an auxiliary conduit extending between the main conduit and the conduit, the auxiliary conduit defining an auxiliary passage in fluid communication with the main passage and selective fluid communication with the passage,

wherein the conduit is movable between a first position wherein wash fluid flow into the passage is permitted and a second position wherein wash fluid flow into the passage is restricted relative to the wash fluid flow in the first position, and

wherein the spray tine includes an outer surface opposite the inner surface and extending from a first end to a second end, at least a portion of the outer surface including a plurality of ribs and being rotatably positioned within the auxiliary conduit at the first end, wherein one or more ribs of the plurality of ribs are in contact with the auxiliary conduit in the second position, wherein the portion of the outer surface including the plurality of ribs is positioned within the auxiliary conduit in the second position, and wherein at least two ribs of the plurality of ribs are positioned at opposite sides of the passage and prevent wash fluid flow into the passage above the auxiliary passage in the second position.

12. The dishwasher appliance of claim 11 , wherein the conduit is rotatable between the first position and the second position.

13. The dishwasher appliance of claim 11 , further comprising a first detent configured to seat the conduit in the first position and a second detent configured to seat the conduit in the second position.

14. The dishwasher appliance of claim 11 , wherein wash fluid flow into the passage is generally prevented in the second position.

15. The dishwasher appliance of claim 11 , wherein the at least one spray tine further comprises a cap, the cap defining a plurality of outlet apertures.

16. The dishwasher appliance of claim 11 , further comprising at least one clip.

17. A dishwasher appliance, comprising:

a tub defining a wash chamber;

a rack assembly disposed within the wash chamber of the tub;

a first spray assembly positioned adjacent the rack assembly; and

a second spray assembly positioned adjacent the rack assembly, wherein the second spray assembly is a bottle washer assembly, the bottle washer assembly comprising:

a main conduit defining a main passage for flowing wash fluid therethrough;

a spray tine, the spray tine comprising a conduit defining a passage for flowing wash fluid therethrough, the passage in selective fluid communication with the main passage; and

an auxiliary conduit extending between the main conduit and the conduit, the auxiliary conduit defining an auxiliary passage in fluid communication with the main passage and selective fluid communication with the passage,

wherein the conduit is movable between a first position wherein wash fluid flow into the passage is permitted and a second position wherein wash fluid flow into the passage is restricted relative to the wash fluid flow in the first position,

wherein the spray tine includes an outer surface opposite the inner surface and extending from a first end to a second end, at least a portion of the outer surface including a plurality of ribs and being rotatably positioned within the auxiliary conduit at the first end, wherein one or more ribs of the plurality of ribs are in contact with the auxiliary conduit in the second position, wherein the portion of the outer surface including the plurality of ribs is positioned within the auxiliary conduit in the second position, wherein at least two ribs of the plurality of ribs are positioned at opposite sides of the passage and prevent wash fluid flow into the passage above the auxiliary passage in the second position, and

wherein the outer surface includes a radial first detent protrusion configured to seat the conduit in the first position and a radial second detent protrusion configured to seat the conduit in the second position.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 13, 2016
From: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
To: HAIER US APPLIANCE SOLUTIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 038964/0862 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 8, 2015
From: BOYER, JOEL CHARLES
To: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
Reel/Frame 036024/0346 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20170007094A1 · Jan 12, 2017