Door assembly for a dishwasher

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9538900-B2
Application number	US-201314134380-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 19, 2013
Priority date	Dec 19, 2013
Publication date	Jan 10, 2017
Grant date	Jan 10, 2017

Abstract

A dishwasher includes a treating chamber for receiving dishes for treatment according to a cycle of operation and a door assembly selectively moveable to close an access opening to the treating chamber, the door assembly having an interior door panel, an exterior door panel, a window assembly and a window assembly support frame provided on the interior door panel to support the window assembly.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A door assembly for a dishwasher comprising a treating chamber for receiving dishes for treatment according to a cycle of operation and the door assembly selectively moveable to close an access opening to the treating chamber, the door assembly comprising:
an interior door panel capable of being adjacent the treating chamber and having a first side, a second side opposite the first side, and a first window opening;
an exterior door panel, opposite the interior door panel and having a second window opening at least partially aligned with the first window opening;
a window assembly comprising first and second spaced window panes defining an intervening sealed chamber;
a trim bezel mounted to the first side of the interior door panel;
a window assembly support frame provided on the second side of the interior door panel and where the window assembly support frame is configured to support the window assembly such that an entire weight of the window assembly, including both the first and second spaced window panes, is carried by the interior door panel and the window assembly is at least partially aligned with the first and second window openings; and
a seal fluidly sealing at least one of the window assembly or the window assembly support frame to the trim bezel.

2. The door assembly of claim 1 wherein the seal comprises a first portion configured to form a seal between the trim bezel and the window assembly support frame and a second portion configured to form a seal between the trim bezel and the window assembly.

3. The door assembly according to claim 1 wherein the seal comprises at least one of a gasket, a foam sealant, a silicone sealant, or combinations thereof providing the sealing function.

4. The door assembly according to claim 1 wherein the window assembly support frame is coupled with an exterior face of the interior door panel.

5. The door assembly according to claim 4 wherein the window assembly further comprises a seal fluidly sealing the window assembly to the window assembly support frame.

6. The door assembly according to claim 1 wherein the intervening sealed chamber comprises a vacuum chamber.

7. The door assembly according to claim 1 further comprising at least one spacer element between the first and second window panes defining the intervening sealed chamber.

8. The door assembly according to claim 7 wherein the at least one spacer element is integrally formed with the window assembly support frame.

9. The door assembly according to claim 1 , further comprising a trim bezel coupled with the exterior door panel adjacent the second window opening.

10. The door assembly according to claim 9 wherein the trim bezel is integrally formed with the window assembly support frame.

11. The door assembly according to claim 1 wherein the window assembly support frame comprises at least one structural support element.

12. The door assembly according to claim 11 wherein the at least one structural support element is integrally formed with the window assembly support frame.

13. A door assembly for a dishwasher comprising a treating chamber for receiving dishes for treatment according to a cycle of operation and the door assembly selectively moveable to close an access opening to the treating chamber, the door assembly comprising:
an interior door panel having a first side, a second side opposite the first side, a first window opening and configured to be placed adjacent the treating chamber;
an exterior door panel, opposite the interior door panel and having a second window opening at least partially aligned with the first window opening;
a window assembly comprising first and second spaced window panes defining an intervening sealed chamber;
a trim bezel mounted to the first side of the interior door panel;
a window assembly support frame provided on the second side of the interior door panel and where the window assembly support frame is configured to support the window assembly such that an entire weight of the window assembly, including both the first and second spaced window panes, is carried by the interior door panel and where the window assembly support frame is configured to support the window assembly such that the window assembly extends from the second side of the interior door panel and where the window assembly is at least partially aligned with the first and second window openings; and
a seal fluidly sealing at least one of the window assembly or the window assembly support frame to the trim bezel.

14. The door assembly according to claim 13 , further comprising at least one spacer element between the first and second window panes defining the intervening sealed chamber, wherein the at least one spacer element is integrally formed with the window assembly support frame.

15. The door assembly according to claim 13 wherein the intervening sealed chamber comprises a vacuum chamber.

16. The door assembly according to claim 13 wherein the window assembly support frame comprises at least one structural support element integrally formed with the window assembly support frame.

Assignees

• Whirlpool Co

Inventors

• Kutto Kevin T
• Millett Frederick A
• Welsh Anthony B

Classifications

• A47L15/4263 Primary

  Door sealing arrangements · CPC title

• A47L15/4257

  Details of the loading door · CPC title

• A47L15/4265 Primary

  Arrangements of door covering/decoration panels or plinths, e.g. for integrated dishwashers · CPC title