Granted Patent B2

US 12,514,366 · App. 18/460,191 · Granted Jan 6, 2026

Inventor: Justin James Brolley (New Albany, IN)

Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.

A47B88/467A47B88/477A47B88/487A47L15/507A47B2088/401A47B88/493A47B2210/0094A47L15/502

Abstract

Claims (79)

1 . A dishwashing appliance defining a vertical direction, a lateral direction, and a transverse direction, the dishwashing appliance comprising:

a tub defining a wash chamber;

a rack assembly to load articles within the dishwashing appliance; and

a slide assembly mounted to the tub to transition the rack assembly between an extended loading position and a retracted position, the slide assembly comprising:

an inner rail attached to the tub,

an outer rail slidably attached to the inner rail, the outer rail extended between a first end and a second end approximately along the transverse direction, the outer rail comprising a first outer edge at the first end and a second outer edge at the second end, the outer rail defining one or more slots through top lip or a bottom lip of the outer rail,

a soft close mechanism comprising an actuator to dampen movement of the slide assembly, and

a mount assembly comprising:

an end cap attached to the first end of the outer rail to cover the first outer edge of the outer rail, the end cap comprising one or more extrusions positioned within a corresponding slot defined through the top lip or the bottom lip of the outer rail to lock the end cap in place relative to the outer rail, and

a first mount body formed integrally with and positioned below the end cap, the first mount body comprising a housing cavity, wherein a portion of the soft close mechanism is mounted to the first mount body within the housing cavity of the first mount body.

2 . The dishwashing appliance of claim 1 , wherein the end cap comprises an end cap body,

wherein the end cap body comprises a mount wall, a first lip, and a second lip,

wherein the mount wall of the end cap body is extended between a first edge and a second edge approximately along the vertical direction,

wherein the one or more extrusions comprises a first extrusion positioned at the first edge of the mount wall and a second extrusion positioned at the second edge of the mount wall,

wherein the mount wall of the end cap body comprises a tongue positioned within a groove of the outer rail,

wherein the first lip of the end cap body is positioned at the first edge of the mount wall, and

wherein the second lip of the end cap body is positioned at the second edge of the mount wall.

3 . The dishwashing appliance of claim 2 , wherein the first mount body is attached to the first lip of the end cap.

4 . The dishwashing appliance of claim 1 , wherein the mount assembly further comprises a second mount body, wherein the second mount body comprises a housing cavity, wherein the soft close mechanism comprises a first end and a second end spaced apart approximately along the transverse direction, wherein the first end of the soft close mechanism is mounted to the first mount body within the housing cavity of the first mount body, and wherein the second end of the soft close mechanism is mounted to the second mount body within the housing cavity of the second mount body.

5 . The dishwashing appliance of claim 4 , wherein the mount assembly further comprises a second mount attached to the outer rail, the second mount comprising a main body comprising a mount wall, one or more tabs protruding from the mount wall, a first lip, and a second lip.

6 . The dishwashing appliance of claim 5 , wherein the outer rail comprises a plurality of slots defined therethrough, wherein the plurality of slots are positioned between the first end of the outer rail and the second end of the outer rail, and wherein each tab of the one or more tabs engaged with a discrete slot of the plurality of slots.

7 . The dishwashing appliance of claim 5 , wherein the second mount body is attached to the first lip of the second mount.

8 . The dishwashing appliance of claim 5 , wherein the second mount body comprises a first wall,

wherein the mount wall comprises a first edge,

wherein the first wall is extended from and in line with the first edge of the mount wall,

wherein the soft close mechanism comprises a first portion and a second portion,

wherein the second portion of the soft close mechanism comprises a saddle coupled to the actuator, and

wherein the first portion of the soft close mechanism is mounted to the first wall.

9 . The dishwashing appliance of claim 8 , wherein the second mount body is in a vertical orientation,

wherein the second mount body comprises a second wall,

wherein the first lip of the main body comprises a proximal end attached to the first end of the mount wall and a distal end,

wherein the second wall of the second mount body is extended from the distal end of the first lip,

wherein the second wall is approximately parallel to the first wall,

wherein the first wall and the second wall define a housing cavity,

wherein the first portion of the soft close mechanism is mounted to the first wall and the second wall within the housing cavity, and

wherein the second portion of the soft close mechanism is mounted outside of the housing cavity.

10 . The dishwashing appliance of claim 8 , wherein the second mount body is in a horizontal orientation,

wherein the second mount body comprises a second wall,

wherein the first wall comprises a proximal end attached to the first end of the mount wall and a distal end,

wherein the second wall of the second mount body is extended from the distal end of the first wall,

wherein the second wall is approximately perpendicular to the first wall,

wherein the first wall and the second wall define a housing cavity,

wherein the first portion of the soft close mechanism is mounted to the first wall and the second wall within the housing cavity, and

wherein the second portion of the soft close mechanism is mounted outside of the housing cavity.

11 . A slide assembly comprising:

an inner rail;

an outer rail slidably attached to the inner rail, the outer rail extended between a first end and a second end, the outer rail comprising a first outer edge at the first end and a second outer edge at the second end, the outer rail defining one or more slots through top lip or a bottom lip of the outer rail;

a soft close mechanism comprising an actuator to dampen movement of the slide assembly; and

a mount assembly comprising:

an end cap attached to the first end of the outer rail to cover the first outer edge of the outer rail, the end cap comprising one or more extrusions positioned within a corresponding slot defined through the top lip or the bottom lip of the outer rail to lock the end cap in place relative to the outer rail, and

a first mount body formed integrally with and positioned below the end cap, the first mount body comprising a housing cavity, wherein a portion of the soft close mechanism is mounted to the first mount body within the housing cavity of the first mount body.

12 . The slide assembly of claim 11 , wherein the end cap comprises an end cap body, wherein the end cap body comprises a mount wall, a first lip, and a second lip, wherein the mount wall of the end cap body is extended between a first edge and a second edge, wherein the one or more extrusions comprises a first extrusion positioned at the first edge of the mount wall and a second extrusion positioned at the second edge of the mount wall, wherein the mount wall of the end cap body comprises a tongue positioned within a groove of the outer rail, wherein the first lip of the end cap body is positioned at the first edge of the mount wall, and wherein the second lip of the end cap body is positioned at the second edge of the mount wall.

13 . The slide assembly of claim 12 , wherein the first mount body is attached to the first lip of the end cap.

14 . The slide assembly of claim 11 , wherein the mount assembly further comprises a second mount body, wherein the second mount body comprises a housing cavity, wherein the soft close mechanism comprises a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the soft close mechanism is mounted to the first mount body within the housing cavity of the first mount body, and wherein the second end of the soft close mechanism is mounted to the second mount body within the housing cavity of the second mount body.

15 . The slide assembly of claim 14 , wherein the mount assembly further comprises a second mount attached to the outer rail, the second mount comprising a main body comprising a mount wall, one or more tabs protruded from the mount wall, a first lip, and a second lip.

16 . The slide assembly of claim 15 , wherein the outer rail comprises a plurality of slots defined therethrough, wherein the plurality of slots positioned between the first end and the second end, and wherein each tab of the one or more tabs engaged with a discrete slot of the plurality of slots.

17 . The slide assembly of claim 15 , wherein the second mount body is attached to the first lip of the second mount.

18 . The slide assembly of claim 16 , wherein the second mount body comprises a first wall,

wherein the mount wall comprises a first edge,

wherein the first wall is extended from and in line with the first edge of the mount wall,

wherein the soft close mechanism comprises a first portion and a second portion,

wherein the second portion of the soft close mechanism comprises a saddle coupled to the actuator, and

wherein the first portion of the soft close mechanism is mounted to the first wall.

19 . The slide assembly of claim 18 , wherein the second mount body is in a vertical orientation,

wherein the second mount body comprises a second wall,

wherein the first lip of the main body comprises a proximal end attached to the first end of the mount wall and a distal end,

wherein the second wall of the second mount body is extended from the distal end of the first lip,

wherein the second wall is approximately parallel to the first wall,

wherein the first wall and the second wall define a housing cavity,

wherein the first portion of the soft close mechanism is mounted to the first wall and the second wall within the housing cavity, and

wherein the second portion of the soft close mechanism is mounted outside of the housing cavity.

20 . The slide assembly of claim 18 , wherein the second mount body is in a horizontal orientation,

wherein the second mount body comprises a second wall,

wherein the first wall comprises a proximal end attached to the first end of the mount wall and a distal end,

wherein the second wall of the second mount body is extended from the distal end of the first wall,

wherein the second wall is approximately perpendicular to the first wall,

wherein the first wall and the second wall define a housing cavity,

wherein the first portion of the soft close mechanism is mounted to the first wall and the second wall within the housing cavity, and

wherein the second portion of the soft close mechanism is mounted outside of the housing cavity.

Assignments (1)

Continuity (1)

References Cited (59)