IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,375,874
Granted Patent B2
US 11,375,874 · App. 16/833,984 · Granted Jul 5, 2022

Dishwasher with a dish rack and utensil caddy

Inventors: Mark S. Feddema (Kalamazoo, MI); William J. Snell (Elkhart, IN); Sachie Kakehi (St. Joseph, MI)
Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
A47L15/502A47L15/4221A47L15/4246A47L15/46
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,375,874
App. No.
16/833,984
Granted
Jul 5, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

An automatic dishwasher configured to implement an automatic treating cycle of operation, comprising a tub defining a dish treating chamber, a dish rack located within the dish treating chamber, and a utensil caddy removably mounted to the dish rack. The utensil rack including a first set of utensil holders provided on a first side wall of the utensil caddy and a second set of utensil holders provided on a second side wall of the utensil caddy.

Claims (24)

1. An automatic dishwasher configured to implement an automatic treating cycle of operation, comprising:

a tub defining a dish treating chamber;

a dish rack located within the dish treating chamber and comprising a bottom wall defining at least one plane;

a utensil caddy, removably mounted to the dish rack, and comprising a periphery defining an interior with an open top, the periphery having at least first and second opposing side walls, the first side wall abutting and laying parallel to the bottom wall, and the second side wall movable relative to the utensil caddy between a first position, in opposition to the first side wall, and a second position, abutting the bottom wall;

a first set of utensil holders provided on the first side wall comprising loops extending from the first side wall, and

a second set of utensil holders provided on the second side wall comprising pairs of spaced pins defining a slot to receive at least one of a blade or handle of a utensil.

2. The automatic dishwasher of claim 1 wherein the first set of utensil holders is different from the second set of utensil holders.

3. The automatic dishwasher of claim 2 wherein the second set of utensil holders is only operationally functional when the second side wall is in the second position.

4. The automatic dishwasher of claim 2 wherein the first set of utensil holders is nested within the second set of utensil holders when the second side wall is in the first position.

5. The automatic dishwasher of claim 4 wherein the first set of utensil holders are operationally functional when the second side wall is in the first position.

6. The automatic dishwasher of claim 5 wherein the second set of utensil holders are operationally non-functional when the second side wall is in the first position.

7. The automatic dishwasher of claim 2 wherein the second set of utensil holders is provided on both the first and second side walls.

8. The automatic dishwasher of claim 1 wherein the slot is configured to receive a blade of a knife and the second set of utensil holders further comprises a handle seat corresponding to the slot, with the handle seat configured to hold the handle of a knife.

9. The automatic dishwasher of claim 1 wherein the first set of utensil holders are configured to hold utensils in a first longitudinal direction and the second set of utensil holders are configured to hold utensils in a second longitudinal direction, which is different than the first longitudinal direction.

10. The automatic dishwasher of claim 1 further comprising a first set of cup seats provided in the bottom wall.

11. The automatic dishwasher of claim 10 further comprising a dedicated sprayer emitting spray into the cup seats to define a spray zone.

12. The automatic dishwasher of claim 11 wherein the second side wall has a second set of utensil holders which lie within the spray zone when the second side wall is in the second position.

13. The automatic dishwasher of claim 12 wherein the second set of utensil holders lie outside of the spray zone when the second side wall is in the first position.

14. The automatic dishwasher of claim 12 wherein the second side wall overlies all of the cup seats in the first set of cup seats when the second side wall is in the second position.

15. The automatic dishwasher of claim 10 further comprising a second set of cup seats, with the first set of cup seats located between the utensil caddy and the second set of cup seats.

16. The automatic dishwasher of claim 15 wherein the second side doesn't overlie the second set of cup seats when the second side wall is in the second position.

17. The automatic dishwasher of claim 16 further comprising a first sprayer, carried by the dish rack, and emitting a spray into the first set of cup seats to define a spray zone.

18. The automatic dishwasher of claim 17 further comprising a second sprayer, carried by the dish rack, and emitting a spray into the second set of cup seats.

19. The automatic dishwasher of claim 10 wherein the second side wall overlies at least some of the cup seats in the first set of cup seats.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 2, 2025
From: BALINSKI, STEVEN B.; BRIGHTBILL, DAVID JASON; RODERICK, FREDERICK THOMAS; FERENCEVICH, JOSEPH T.; ROTH, RYAN KEVIN; NAIK, SUJIT S.
To: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 072454/0807 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 30, 2020
From: FEDDEMA, MARK S.; SNELL, WILLIAM J.; KAKEHI, SACHIE
To: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 052259/0094 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20210298561A1 · Sep 30, 2021
Cited By (5)
US 50,967 US 1,092,881 US 12,414,670 US 12,543,922 US 12,642,422