Patent ID: 7367134
Filing Date: 2008-05-06
Classification: A47L,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A vent for a dishwasher comprising: a vent housing providing a conduit having a conduit wall for passage of moist air from the inside the dishwasher to an outlet outside the dishwasher; a valve plate having rotatable pivot elements allowing pivoting of the valve plate to block and unblock the conduit; an electrical actuator contacting the valve plate to move the valve plate to block and unblock the conduit; and wherein the electrical actuator is a linear actuator providing an operator moving along a line and contacting a cam surface on the valve plate to pivot the valve plate with movement of the operator along the cam surface; wherein the line along which the operator moves is substantially perpendicular to motion of the valve plate as it blocks and unblocks the conduit with pivoting.