Dishwasher drain assemblies having overmolded volutes

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10799084-B2
Application number	US-201816050505-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 31, 2018
Priority date	Nov 24, 2014
Publication date	Oct 13, 2020
Grant date	Oct 13, 2020

Abstract

An air vent for a dishwasher drain assembly having an overmolded volute is disclosed. The air vent has a surface with a first aperture defined therethrough and at least a portion of the surface sloping downward toward the first aperture. A flexible member having a shape is positioned across the portion of surface. The flexible member flexes toward and sealably engages the first aperture when a force presses the flexible member, and the flexible member is positioned away from the first aperture allowing air to pass through the first aperture when the force does not press the flexible member.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An air vent for a dishwasher drain assembly comprising:
a surface having an indention with a shape and a first aperture positioned within the indentation and defined therethrough, at least a portion of the surface sloping downward toward the first aperture, and a pair of apertures positioned within the indentation on each side of the first aperture; and
a member having a shape corresponding to the shape of the indentation and positioned across the portion of the surface, the member moving toward and sealably engaging the first aperture when a force presses the member, and the member positioned away from the first aperture allowing air to pass through the first aperture when the force does not press the member.

2. The air vent of claim 1 wherein the member is shaped to allow air to pass around the member when the force does not press the member.

3. The air vent of claim 1 wherein the member is flush with the surface when sealably engaged with the first aperture.

4. The air vent of claim 1 wherein the member further comprises a pair of posts slideable in the pair of apertures.

5. The air vent of claim 1 further comprising a cylindrical body surrounding the surface.

6. The air vent of claim 5 wherein the cylindrical body comprises an L-shaped peripheral wall.

7. An air vent for a dishwasher drain assembly comprising:
a body having a front surface; the front surface comprising:
an indentation having a shape;
a first aperture positioned in the indentation defining a fluid passageway;
a second aperture positioned in the indentation defining an air passageway;
a third aperture positioned in the indentation adjacent the second aperture and defining an air passageway;
a member having a shape corresponding to the shape of the indentation and positioned across a portion of the body, the member sealably engaging the second and third apertures when a force presses the member, and the member positioned away from the second and third apertures allowing air through the second and third apertures when the force does not press the member.

8. The air vent of claim 7 wherein the body is cylindrical.

9. The air vent of claim 7 wherein the second aperture is positioned within the indentation.

10. The air vent of claim 7 wherein the member is flush with the front surface when sealably engaged the second aperture.

11. The air vent of claim 7 wherein the member further comprises at least one post slideable in the third aperture.

12. The air vent of claim 7 wherein at least a portion of the front surface slopes downward toward the second aperture.

13. The air vent of claim 7 wherein the second aperture is positioned above the first aperture.

14. The air vent of claim 7 wherein the first aperture is downward turned.

15. The air vent of claim 8 wherein the cylindrical body comprises an L-shaped peripheral wall.

Assignees

• Whirlpool Co

Inventors

• Welch Rodney M

Classifications

• A47L15/0052

  Noise reduction · CPC title

• F04D29/4293

  Details of fluid inlet or outlet · CPC title

• A47L15/4225

  Arrangements or adaption of recirculation or discharge pumps · CPC title

• A47L15/4223 Primary

  Devices for water discharge, e.g. devices to prevent siphoning, non-return valves · CPC title