Abstract: A water inlet, vent stack, blower and blower housing combined assembly for use in an automatic dishwasher. The combined assembly comprises a water inlet nozzle having an inlet end connectable to a valve-controlled water source, and a discharge end. A vent stack is provided in the form of an open top chamber having sides, ends and a bottom, with a lateral conduit extending from the lower portion of one side to be sealingly engaged about an opening in the dishwasher vat. A blower housing is located beneath the vent stack, and a duct is located along side the vent stack. The lower end of the duct is connected to the blower housing and the upper end thereof is connected to and encloses the open upper end of the vent stack. The water inlet nozzle extends through an opening in the upper end of the duct with its discharge end extending into the vent stack. A motor and fan are mounted on a motor plate, in turn mounted on a blower plate. The blower plate is affixed to the blower housing.

Abstract: A rack structure for an automatic dishwasher. The rack structure comprises a plurality of wire members welded together to form a rectangular, openwork rack having a bottom, upstanding front and rear walls and upwardly and outwardly sloping side walls. At least one pair of removable fences is provided, each fence comprising a plurality of upstanding wire members with a horizontal wire member welded thereto and spaced upwardly from the bottom ends thereof. Means are provided to removably mount the fences within the rack structure in parallel spaced relationship to each other and to the rack structure side walls. The fence mounting means may be so configured as to provide more than one predetermined position in which each fence may be mounted so as to render adjustable the distance between adjacent fences and the distance between each rack structure side wall and the adjacent one of the fences. Means may also be provided to lock each fence in its selected predetermined position in the fence mounting means.

Abstract: In an appliance of the type having a cabinet with a chamber therein and an access door for the chamber, an improved latch mechanism for opening, closing and latching the appliance door. The latch mechanism comprises a strike mounted on one of the appliance cabinet and the appliance door and a support plate affixed to the other of the appliance cabinet and the appliance door. A latch lever is mounted on the support plate and is rotatable between open and closed positions. The latch lever carries a link non-rotatively affixed thereto and a bolt pivotally affixed to the link. The bolt is swingable with respect to the link between a normal position and a latching position. Means are provided to bias the bolt to its normal position. The strike has surfaces thereon to shift the bolt from its normal position to its latching position upon the closing of the door and the rotation of the latch lever to its closed position.

Abstract: A utility basket for use in the upper or lower rack of a dishwasher. The utility basket comprises an elongated, narrow structure having side walls, end walls and a bottom. A gate is hingedly affixed within the utility basket to one of the side walls thereof. The gate is swingable between first and second positions. In its first position the gate lies against the side wall to which it is hinged and the entire utility basket is available to receive long flatware such as cooking spoons, spatulas and the like. In its second position the gate extends transversely of the utility basket serving as a partition to divide the utility basket into a first ordinary table utensil receiving portion and a second, shorter small wares receiving portion for small items such as measuring spoons, jar lids and the like. Means are provided to maintain the gate in its first and its second positions.