Patent ID: 6092540
Filing Date: 2000-07-25
Classification: A47L

Abstract:
A sink side dishwasher comprising an oscillating spray arm equipped with nozzles, a soap dispenser, a dish rack, and a washing housing:the oscillating spray arm being held by a sleeve connector at one end thereof and by a ball bearing ring at the other end thereof, two metal washers, one at each end of the sleeve connector, being attached to the spray arm to prevent it from sliding out of position, the sleeve connector defining an inner wall wherein two notched-out channels are provided to accommodate two o-rings that hold the spray arm, permit smooth oscillation thereof, and restrict water loss, the sleeve connector being further designed so that it can be opened in half for maintenance when necessary by means of removable bolts provided through side wedges of the sleeve connector, a rubber cushion provided between the side wedges when the sleeve connector is closed, another rubber cushion provided between the sleeve connector and an incoming water tube for holding the incoming water tube firmly, the sleeve connector being secured to the floor of the washing housing, gears fixed the other end of the spray arm to be actuated by the gears of a D.C. motor to perform the oscillation of the spray arm;the oscillating spray arm being equipped with eight nozzles with each nozzle shaped like a teaspoon at a top thereof and being provided with screws at a bottom thereof for securing the nozzles to the spray arm;the soap dispenser being cylindrical, measuring 2.5"" in diameter and 2.5"" high, and being affixed to a PVC water tube, two holes provided at the bottom of the soap dispenser, one hole defining a water inlet hole and measuring 3 mm in diameter and the other hole defining a soap outlet hole and measuring 1.5 mm in diameter, a soap container measuring 1"" in diameter and 1.5"" high built directly on the outlet hole, a 1/4"" thick piston device, with a rubber cushion attached to the bottom of the piston device, located inside the soap container, whereby once water enters the dispenser through the inlet hole, pressure is formed by the piston device such that water, mixed with a liquid soap provided within the soap container, will gradually exit through the outlet hole to further mix with additional water flowing through the water tube, a water pump connected to the water tube to supply the mixed water and soap to the oscillating spray arm as well as to any additional spray arms within the washing housing to start a wash cycle, the rubber cushion on the piston device serving to seal the outlet hole to prevent any residue soap from flowing through the outlet hole during a subsequent rinse cycle, a screw cover being provided on top of the soap dispenser that allows filling of the soap dispenser as well as to help confine the piston device at a correct position by means of a piston rod that cooperates with the cover, a small triangular-shaped blocking piece being positioned inside the water tube between the inlet hole and the outlet hole that is used to increase the pressure of the water going into the soap dispenser through the inlet hole and to decrease the pressure of the water flowing through the water tube past the outlet hole so that the mixed water and soap can exit the soap container more smoothly, the dish rack including two center compartments and two side compartments with the center compartments being three inches higher than the side compartments; andthe washing housing having an inside dimension of 19""D.times.16""W.times.15""H, the washing housing having a floor built at a 5-degree slope and a front door with two drain holes under the front door, the drain holes being connected to flexible hoses that drain water to the sink, the front door designed to face the sink such that it can be opened and laid on a counter top to become a flat surface on which the dish rack rests during loading and unloading, a latch switch installed at a top edge of the front door to prevent the dishwasher from running when the door is in an open position, the washing housing having sidewalls which are each equipped with a rail to hold the dish rack and for allowing the convenience of sliding the dish rack into and out of the washing housing.