Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.

Justin Daniel Ryan

Steven Chadwick Koepke

Nathaniel Lee Min Sheeran

Adam Christopher Hofmann

Abhisek Agrawal

Ethan Dale Welzbacker

A dishwasher appliance includes a third rack assembly which includes a wire framework that defines a perimeter of the third rack assembly and a wire insert that removably couples to the wire framework. The wire insert includes a front portion and a back portion. The front portion forms a slot along the transverse direction, and the back portion forms a slot in the vertical direction. The slot of the back portion is removably couplable to the wire framework with respect to the vertical direction and the slot of the front portion is removably couplable to the wire framework.

Systems for rack component assembly in dishwashing appliances

A dishwasher includes a tub that includes a tub side wall. The dishwasher appliance also includes a slide assembly mounted to the tub side wall. The slide assembly includes a universal inner member that includes a front slot, a back slot, and a center tab. The front slot and the back slot each defined the universal inner member. The center tab is located between the front slot and the back slot approximately along a first direction. The slide assembly also includes a slide apparatus attached to the universal inner member.

Universal inner member for a slide assembly of a dishwasher appliance

A dishwasher appliance includes a tub defining a wash chamber and a wash conduit in the wash chamber. A third rack assembly is slidably positioned in the wash chamber above the second rack assembly with a third spray assembly positioned within the third rack assembly. The third spray assembly is configured to direct wash fluid at articles located in the third rack assembly. The third spray assembly includes a protrusion positioned at a bottom portion of the third spray assembly. The protrusion is attachable to the third rack assembly in order to mount the third spray assembly to the third rack assembly.

Systems for mounting spray assemblies in dishwasher appliances

A dishwasher appliance includes a tub that defines a wash chamber, a third rack assembly slidably positioned in the wash chamber above a second rack assembly, and a third spray assembly positioned within the third rack assembly. The third spray assembly is configured to direct wash fluid at articles located in the third rack assembly. The dishwasher appliance also includes a caddy that is positionable on the third spray assembly. The caddy includes a plurality of mounting projections at a bottom side of the caddy. The mounting projections are configured to engage the third spray assembly in order to locate the caddy on the third spray assembly.

Systems for caddy positioning in dishwasher appliances

A dishwasher appliance and a wash assembly for tubular articles in a dishwasher includes a base forming a conduit, a nozzle fluidly coupled to the conduit and configured to fit within a reusable straw such that the nozzle provides a dedicated flow of wash fluid to the inside of the straw. The wash assembly includes a retainer system to removably secure the straw to the wash assembly. The retainer system may include a resilient clip secured to the nozzle and deformable to accept and release the straw.

Straw holder assembly for a dishwasher appliance

A dishwasher appliance includes a tub defining a wash chamber. A second rack assembly is slidably positioned in the wash chamber above the first rack assembly. A third rack assembly is slidably positioned in the wash chamber above the second rack assembly. A third spray assembly is positioned over the third rack assembly and configured to direct wash fluid at articles located in the third rack assembly. The third rack assembly includes a wire framework defining the shape of the third rack assembly. The wire framework incudes a boundary wall at a first side portion and a boundary wall at a second side portion. A wire insert includes a wire floor portion. The wire insert is configured to translate along one of the lateral direction and the transverse direction. The wire framework includes one or more detents configured to provide positional feedback when the plurality of hooks of the wire insert pass over the detents.

Systems for positional feedback in racks of dishwasher appliances

A dishwasher appliance includes a tub defining a wash chamber. A first rack assembly is slidably positioned within the wash chamber. A first spray assembly is positioned in the wash chamber and configured to direct wash fluids at the first rack assembly. A second rack assembly is slidably positioned in the wash chamber above the first rack assembly. A second spray assembly is positioned in the wash chamber and configured to direct wash fluids at the second rack assembly. A third rack assembly is slidably positioned in the wash chamber above the second rack assembly. A third spray assembly is positioned over the third rack assembly and configured to direct wash fluid at articles located in the third rack assembly. The third rack assembly includes a wire framework defining a perimeter of the third rack assembly. An insert includes a floor portion that is defined between a first boundary wall and a second boundary wall. The insert configured to translate in one of a lateral direction and a transverse direction relative to the wire framework.

Systems for rack storage in dishwashing appliances

A dishwasher appliance includes a tub defining a wash chamber. A first rack assembly is slidably positioned within the wash chamber. A first spray assembly is positioned in the wash chamber and configured to direct wash fluids at the first rack assembly. A second rack assembly is slidably positioned in the wash chamber above the first rack assembly. A second spray assembly is positioned in the wash chamber and configured to direct wash fluids at the second rack assembly. A third rack assembly is slidably positioned in the wash chamber above the second rack assembly. A third spray assembly is positioned over the third rack assembly and configured to direct wash fluid at articles located in the third rack assembly. The third rack assembly includes a wire framework defining a perimeter of the third rack assembly. A wire insert includes a wire floor portion that is defined between a first boundary wall and a second boundary wall. The first boundary wall and the second boundary wall can removably couple to the wire framework.

Systems for racks in dishwashing appliances

A dishwasher appliance includes a tub defining a wash chamber. A first rack assembly is slidably positioned within the wash chamber. A first spray assembly is positioned in the wash chamber and configured to direct wash fluids at the first rack assembly. A second rack assembly is slidably positioned in the wash chamber above the first rack assembly. A second spray assembly is positioned in the wash chamber and configured to direct wash fluids at the second rack assembly. A third rack assembly is slidably positioned in the wash chamber above the second rack assembly. A third spray assembly is positioned over the third rack assembly and configured to direct wash fluid at articles located in the third rack assembly. The third rack assembly includes a wire framework defining the perimeter of the third rack assembly. A wire insert is configured to removably couple to the wire framework. The wire insert includes a wire floor portion. The wire insert further includes a wire handle extending from the wire floor portion.

Systems for rack operability in dishwashing appliances

A dishwasher includes a tub defining a wash chamber, a spray body positioned within the wash chamber of the tub, and a wash rack positioned within the wash chamber of the tub above the spray body along the vertical direction. The wash rack includes an expanded metal basket comprising a base panel and a plurality of side panels extending upwardly from the base panel, the expanded metal basket defining a basket volume, the base panel comprising a plurality of strands, and a plurality of integral tines extending from the base panel, wherein each of the plurality of integral tines is bent at a junction of the plurality of strands. Methods of making and using the wash rack are also provided.

Wash rack for a dishwasher and method of making a wash rack

A variable position diverter that provides wash fluid to selected combinations of outlet ports and spray assemblies. The diverter includes a housing having a plurality of outlet ports and a valve disk having a plurality of apertures. The valve disk is rotated relative to the housing to align one or more of the plurality of apertures with one or more of the plurality of outlet ports to selectively control the flow of wash fluid through a plurality of spray assemblies. Selectively diverting wash fluid in this manner can improve wash performance and reduce cycle time while meeting government regulations regarding water usage.

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Louisville, KY, United States of America

Justin Daniel Ryan