Abstract: An outer support body for a drawer-type dishwasher includes first and second U-shaped brackets. The first U-shaped bracket includes first and second leg members that are joined by a first cross member. Likewise, the second U-shaped bracket includes third and fourth leg members that are joined by a second cross member. The outer support body also includes side wall members that are secured to the first and third and second and fourth leg members respectively. A rear brace extends between and interconnects the side wall members at a position spaced from the second cross member. In addition, a drip pan is provided at a bottom portion of the outer support body between the side wall members.

Abstract: A dishwasher includes a drain pump assembly having a chopper assembly coupled to an impeller and driven by a synchronous motor. The chopper assembly includes an impeller housing that includes a central hub portion for pivotally supporting a plurality of rotatable chopper blades. An apertured plate is secured to the impeller housing and maintained in a spaced relationship from the chopper blades. The chopper assembly is coupled to the impeller through an axially sliding drive mechanism that facilitates assembly of the chopper assembly into the impeller housing. The synchronous motor drives the chopper blade in a first direction until encountering a hard soil particle whereupon the chopper blades can pivot so that the chopper assembly can continue to operate or, if the chopper blade becomes jammed, the synchronous motor can oscillate to hammer the hard soil particle until it becomes small enough to pass through the apertured plate.

Abstract: An improved water distribution system is provided for a dishwasher. The system includes one or more disks mounted in the dishwasher for rotation about a vertical axis, and one or more water nozzles in the dishwasher for directing a water jet onto the disks. The water jets are directed transverse to the axis of rotation of the disks so as to impart rotation to the disks, and thereby redirect the water jet to a radial direction for distribution in the washing chamber of the dishwasher. Thus, the linear kinetic energy of the water jet is transferred to radial kinetic energy by the rotating disk.

Abstract: A vertical height adjustment mechanism for a dish rack includes a slide member fixedly mounted relative to a support member, a housing secured to the dish rack, and a latch member. The housing includes a central guide channel that slidably receives the slide member. The latch member includes a support leg, an actuating arm and an intermediate portion joining the support leg and actuating arm. The sliding element includes an end portion that receives and retains the support leg of the latch when the dish rack is in the raised position.

Abstract: A dishwasher includes an outer housing, a drawer having front, rear, bottom and opposing side walls that collectively define a washing tub, a lid for selectively closing the washing tub and an operating mechanism that raises and lowers the lid as the drawer is shifted into and out of the outer housing. The operating mechanism includes a lifting slider slidably mounted in the outer housing operatively coupled to a lifting spring and a compression slider, also slidably mounted in the outer housing coupled to a compression spring. The lifting slider and compression slider are provided with corresponding lifting rollers and compression rollers that engage the lid. As the drawer is withdrawn from the outer housing, the lifting spring urges the lifting slider upward raising the lid and, as the drawer is inserted into the outer housing, the compression slider forces the lid downward onto the washing tub.

Abstract: A dishrack system for a drawer-type dishwasher having a tub including bottom, rear and opposing side walls includes a side portion and a readily removable base portion supported by the side portion. The side portion includes a base section having first and second leg members, and a back wall section. The leg members directly support the side portion upon the bottom wall of the tub, with the back wall section extending along one of the opposing side walls. The base portion includes a first end directly supported by the side portion and a second end which can be supported either directly by the bottom wall of the washing chamber or by another side portion. With this arrangement, the dishrack system occupies a full length and width of the tub, while the base portion can be removed without disturbing dishware items resting on the side portion(s).

Abstract: A dishwasher includes a tub defining a washing chamber within which is arranged a dishrack having provided thereon an adjustable tine row assembly. The dishrack includes a base portion formed by a first plurality of spaced support members, and a second plurality of spaced support members that extend generally perpendicularly to the first plurality of spaced support members. The first and second plurality of spaced support members form a lattice work that defines the base portion. The tine row assembly includes a first tine row element, a second tine row element and a slider element that interconnects the first and second tine row elements with at least one of the first plurality of spaced support members. In this manner, the first and second tine row elements are selectively shiftable along the base portion providing a consumer with a greater degree of flexibility when loading/arranging dishware on the dishrack.

Abstract: A drawer-type dishwasher includes a dispenser mounted to a basin slidably supported in an outer body of the dishwasher. The dispenser includes a main body portion, a reservoir formed in the main body portion for receiving detergent and a lid hingedly mounted for selectivity closing the reservoir. The reservoir includes front, rear, bottom and opposing side walls, with one of the front, rear and opposing side walls being provided with a drainage port which is adapted to be closed by the lid. The dispenser is provided with a manual actuator that enables a consumer to open the dispenser lid to add detergent. An automatic actuator is provided to open the dispenser lid, exposing the reservoir and the drainage port, at a predetermined point in a washing operation. In addition to detergent, the dispenser can be provided with a reservoir for retaining and releasing rinse aid.

Abstract: A way of providing information using an Internet appliance is disclosed. An apparatus comprises a storage unit to store an input time value and a controller to provide information received from a network in an audio format based on the input time value. A method comprises configuring an apparatus to provide information at a user input time value.