IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,256,879
Granted Patent B2
US 12,256,879 · App. 18/511,316 · Granted Mar 25, 2025

Dishwasher with tray

Inventors: Fabio Cardano (Galliate, IT); Umit Can Koralay (Milan, IT); Giuseppina Arresta (Ternate, IT); Mark Steven Feddema (Kalamazoo, MI); Hrushikesh Chandrakant Prabhu (Pune, IN)
Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
A47L15/502A47L15/504
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,256,879
App. No.
18/511,316
Granted
Mar 25, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A reversible tray for a dishwasher a reversible tray carried by the dish rack and removably disposed within the dish rack to flip between a first position and a second position.

Claims (23)

1. A dishwasher for treating dishes according to a cycle of operation, the dishwasher comprising:

a tub at least partially defining a treating chamber;

at least an upper dish rack and a lower dish rack received within the treating chamber for supporting dishes; and

a reversible tray carried by one of the upper or lower dish rack and removably disposed within the upper or lower dish rack to flip between a first position and a second position, the reversible tray having a first sidewall and a second sidewall and a base wall angled with respect to the first and second sidewalls, wherein the base wall divides the reversible tray into a primary container and a secondary container, the primary container configured to receive dishes when in the first position and the secondary container configured to receive dishes when in the second position.

2. The dishwasher of claim 1 further comprising a lower dish rack received within the treating chamber, and having a least a portion with a seat for supporting dishes.

3. The dishwasher of claim 2 wherein the dish rack is an upper dish rack located above the lower dish rack and has an opening overlying the seat of the lower dish rack.

4. The dishwasher of claim 3 wherein in the first position, the reversible tray defines a first height with the seat, and in the second position, the reversible tray defines a second height with the seat, the second height being greater than the first height.

5. The dishwasher of claim 1 wherein the first sidewall, second sidewall, and base wall together define at least one container.

6. The dishwasher of claim 5 wherein the first and second sidewalls define opposing peripheral edges of the at least one container.

7. The dishwasher of claim 6 wherein the opposing peripheral edges include a primary edge defining a perimeter of the primary container and a secondary edge defining a perimeter of the secondary container.

8. The dishwasher of claim 7 wherein the primary edge is vertically spaced from an upper rim of the dish rack to define the first position.

9. The dishwasher of claim 8 wherein the secondary edge is level with the upper rim of the dish rack to define the second position.

10. The dishwasher of claim 6 wherein the opposing peripheral edges include at least one protrusion.

11. The dishwasher of claim 10 wherein the upper dish rack includes tines spaced apart to receive the at least one protrusion.

12. The dishwasher of claim 1 wherein the first sidewall has a first depth and the second sidewall has a second depth, the first depth being greater than the second depth.

13. The dishwasher of claim 1 wherein the reversible tray is removable during a cycle of operation to define an open space in the upper dish rack.

14. A reversible tray for a dishwasher having an upper dish rack and a lower dish rack, the reversible tray carried by one of the upper or lower dish rack and removably disposed within the upper or lower dish rack to flip between a first position and a second position, the reversible tray having a first sidewall and a second sidewall and a base wall angled with respect to the first and second sidewalls, wherein the base wall divides the reversible tray into a primary container and a secondary container, the primary container configured to receive dishes when in the first position and the secondary container configured to receive dishes when in the second position.

15. The reversible tray of claim 14 wherein in the first position, the reversible tray defines a first height between the upper dish rack and the lower dish rack, and in the second position, the reversible tray defines a second height between the upper dish rack and the lower dish rack, the second height being greater than the first height.

16. The reversible tray of claim 14 wherein the reversible tray is a cutlery tray.

17. The reversible tray of claim 14 wherein the primary container defines a first volume and the secondary container defines a second volume less than the first volume.

18. The reversible tray of claim 14 wherein the reversible tray is removable during a cycle of operation to define an open space in the dish rack.

19. The reversible tray of claim 14 wherein the first sidewall, second sidewall, and base wall together define at least one container and the first and second sidewalls define opposing peripheral edges of the at least one container.

20. The reversible tray of claim 19 wherein the opposing peripheral edges include a primary edge defining a perimeter of the primary container and a secondary edge defining a perimeter of the secondary container.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 16, 2023
From: CARDANO, FABIO; KORALAY, UMIT CAN; ARRESTA, GIUSEPPINA; FEDDEMA, MARK STEVEN; PRABHU, HRUSHIKESH CHANDRAKANT
To: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 065587/0936 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation 17695395 · Mar 15, 2022
Related Publication 20240081610A1 · Mar 14, 2024
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