Dishwasher with collet straw carrier

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12539016-B2
Application number	US-202318192373-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 29, 2023
Priority date	Mar 29, 2023
Publication date	Feb 3, 2026
Grant date	Feb 3, 2026

Abstract

A carrier for one or more straws of an appliance such as a dish washing appliance. The carrier and/or rack may be in fluid communication with one or more spray elements when in a stowed position within a dishwasher tub. The one or more carriers may route fluid from the one or more spray elements to wash an interior and/or an exterior of at least one straw. The carrier may include one or more bridges projecting inwardly towards the one or more straws defining one or more pathways for received fluid. The body of the carrier may include one or more adjustable portions. The carrier may be adjustable to engage one or more straws of varying lengths/diameters. The carrier may include one or more fixed portions. The carrier may include one or more biasing mechanisms.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1 . A collet straw carrier for a dish washing appliance comprising:
a fixed portion and an adjustable portion defining a receptacle configured to receive an end of a straw; one or more biasing mechanisms, wherein the one or more biasing mechanisms urges the adjustable portion relative to the fixed portion to releasably engage an end of a straw within the receptacle; and wherein the adjustable portion is hingedly connected to the fixed portion.

2 . The collet straw carrier of claim 1 wherein the one or more biasing mechanisms urge the adjustable portion radially inward relative to the fixed portion towards an end of a straw in the receptacle.

3 . The collet straw carrier of claim 1 further comprising an axial stop within the receptacle.

4 . The collet straw carrier of claim 1 wherein the adjustable portion is configurable between a first position at a first radius and a second position at a second radius larger than the first radius.

5 . The collet straw carrier of claim 4 wherein the one or more biasing mechanisms have a larger spring force when the adjustable portion is in the second position than the first position.

6 . The collet straw carrier of claim 1 includes a first end and an opposing second end, and the adjustable portion is on the second end and the fixed portion is on the first end.

7 . The collet straw carrier of claim 1 wherein the adjustable portion includes two of more pivoting members hingedly connected to the fixed portion.

8 . The collet straw carrier of claim 1 wherein the adjustable portion includes a circumferential groove receiving the one or more biasing mechanisms.

9 . The collet straw carrier of claim 1 wherein the adjustable portion is slidably connected to the fixed portion.

10 . The collet straw carrier of claim 9 wherein the fixed portion includes one or more slots slidably receiving one or more sliding members of the adjustable portion.

11 . The collet straw carrier of claim 10 wherein the one or more sliding members slide perpendicular to an axis of the receptacle.

12 . The collet straw carrier of claim 9 wherein the one or more sliding members and/or one or more slots are elongated and extend for a length along an axis of the receptacle.

13 . The collet straw carrier of claim 1 wherein the one or more bias mechanisms extend circumferentially about an axis of the receptacle.

14 . The collet straw carrier of claim 1 further comprising a funnel defining an inlet of the receptacle.

15 . A dish washing appliance comprising:
a dishwasher tub; one or more spray elements disposed in the dishwasher tub, wherein the one or more spray elements is in fluid communication with a fluid supply to direct fluid from the fluid supply into the dishwasher tub; one or more collet straw carriers positioned downstream of the one or more spray elements, wherein the carrier includes a fixed portion, an adjustable portion, and one or more biasing mechanisms, wherein the fixed portion and the adjustable portion define a receptacle configured to receive an end of a straw, and wherein the one or more biasing mechanisms urges the adjustable portion relative to the fixed portion to releasably engage an end of a straw within the receptacle; and wherein the adjustable portion is hingedly connected to the fixed portion.

16 . The dish washing appliance of claim 15 wherein the adjustable portion is slidably connected to the fixed portion.

17 . The dish washing appliance of claim 15 wherein the bias mechanism extends circumferentially about an axis of the receptacle.

18 . The dish washing appliance of claim 15 further comprising a funnel defining an inlet of the receptacle.

19 . The dish washing appliance of claim 15 wherein the one or more biasing mechanisms urges the adjustable portion radially inward relative to the fixed portion towards an end of a straw in the receptacle.

20 . The dish washing appliance of claim 15 further comprising an axial stop within the receptacle.

21 . The dish washing appliance of claim 15 wherein the adjustable portion is configurable between a first position at a first radius and a second position at a second radius larger than the first radius.

22 . The dish washing appliance of claim 21 wherein the one or more biasing mechanisms have a larger spring force when the adjustable portion is in the second position than the first position.

23 . A method of releasably engaging one or more straws with a collet straw carrier within a dish washing appliance comprising the steps of:
providing at least one collet straw carrier within a dishwasher tub, wherein the carrier includes one or more fixed portions and one or more adjustable portions, and wherein the one or more adjustable portions move relative to the one or more fixed portions; varying a radial position of the one or more adjustable portions relative to the one or more fixed portions; releasably engaging an end of a straw; and pivoting the one or more adjustable portions relative to the one or more fixed portions.

24 . The method of claim 23 further comprising sliding the one or more adjustable portions relative to the one or more fixed portions.

25 . The method of claim 23 further comprising biasing the one or more adjustable portions relative to the one or more fixed portions.

Assignees

• Midea Group Co Ltd

Inventors

• Fawaz Bassam
• Digman Robert M

Classifications

• A47L15/508 Primary

  Hydraulic connections for racks · CPC title

• A47L15/14

  with stationary crockery baskets and spraying devices within the cleaning chamber {(for drinking glasses A47L15/0065)} · CPC title

• A47L15/50 Primary

  Racks {; Baskets} · CPC title