Abstract:
The invention provides a dining table including an integral dishwasher unit. A hinged access cover to the dishwasher is provided in the dining surface and adapted for being recessed below the dining surface while the user is dining. A tray that is stored in the dishwasher is moved upwardly and positioned flush with the dining surface for dining. A perforate chute extending from below the dining surface into the dishwasher is used for placing and retrieving dishes and for storing dishes during washing. A lower access door is used to place pots and other large utensils into a second compartment in the dishwasher. Each portion of the dishwasher has its own water distributor arm.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to the field of dishwasher apparatus, and more particularly to such apparatus in combination with a dining table or counter surface. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Most contemporary homes have an automatic dishwasher that is installed beneath a counter surface in the home&#39;s kitchen in place of a storage cabinet. With such a dishwasher arrangement, dishes must be removed from the eating table and carried to the dishwasher to be washed. Frequently, similar types of dishes, e.g. dinner plate, salad bowl, etc., are used for many meals. After the dishes are washed, and before a subsequent meal is eaten, the dishes must be moved again to the table. In this arrangement, not only does the dishwasher occupy kitchen space that could otherwise be used for storage but also one must move the dishes back and forth between the counter and the table. 
     In some homes, a dishwasher is portable, that is, not installed at all, but moveable around the kitchen floor. A portable dishwasher solves the storage space drawback of the built-in dishwasher noted above. but it occupies extra floor space. If the portable dishwasher is located near the kitchen sink, it again requires transporting the dishes to and from the table for washing. If the portable dishwasher is located near the table, then a power cord, a water line, and a waste line need to traverse from a wall source across the kitchen floor. 
     It is also known to position a dishwasher beneath the dining surface of a table in the kitchen, thus overcoming all the obstacles of the conventional built-in as well as portable dishwashers as discussed above. The typical dining table covers an open area of unused space. The dining table is, by definition, the venue for eating. Placing a dishwasher device under a dining table avoids the need to transport the dishes to and from the table, allows more space beneath the kitchen counter for storage, and does not require electric and water lines to traverse the kitchen floor, since they can be routed directly from below the table. 
     In addition to the benefits of a dishwasher that is built into a dining table noted above, such an arrangement would be of particular benefit to physically handicapped or elderly persons who would be likely to have more than average difficulty with moving the dishes between the table and the dishwasher. 
     Such a washing apparatus built into a dining table is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 1,952,568 to Schapp et al. for a Convertible Dishwashing Dinner Table. The Schapp et al. disclosure includes a series of eating trays that mount into the surface of the table. The trays may be formed with cavities to receive food. The user attaches utensils and dishes to clips on the trays and inverts the tray so that its eating surface faces down for being washed. The non-eating surface does not get washed. 
     A further washing apparatus in a dining table is taught in U.S. Pat. No. 2,782,426 to Townsend for a Table Having Reversible Tray Mounted Therein. The Townsend table incorporates trays into its top surface. The trays are moveable from an eating position to a washing position by rotating around a mounting shaft. Only the eating surface is subject to being washed. 
     An additional combination dining table and dishwashing apparatus is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 2,971,519 to Willson, titled Combined Dining Table And Dishwasher. The apparatus of Willson provides a dish and utensil compartment within a storage base of the table. A dishwashing unit operates to wash the dishes that are placed on holders in the compartment. The Willson patent does not incorporate a tray component. 
     A still further combination dishwasher and dining table is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,687,752 to Boylan, entitled “Dining Table Having Integral Dishwasher.” The device of the Boylan patent has a washing basin with a vertically shiftable rack assembly for carrying dishes. A shifting mechanism is coupled with the rack assembly for shifting the rack between a position below the table top to a position above the table top. A lid is carried up and down with the rack by the shifting mechanism. While the invention disclosed in the Boylan patent incorporates some of the basic features of the present invention, it provides a comparatively complex apparatus that has an added undesirable possibility of discharging water onto the table top if opened at the wrong time in its cycle. Boylan does not present an eating tray as part of the disclosed invention. 
     The present invention, in addition to addressing the need for storage space, saved steps, and utility lines across a kitchen floor also provides a more simple mechanism that is not likely to wet the dining table surface than the invention of the known prior patents. The present invention also provides an eating tray and a storage position therefor within the dishwasher unit so that both the surfaces of the eating tray are washed. 
     Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a dining table with an integral dishwasher that is simple to manufacture and operate. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a dining table with an integral dishwasher that allows the electric and water lines; to be hidden from view. 
     It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a dining table with an integral dishwasher that is unlikely to wet the dining surface if opened during its cleaning cycle. 
     It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a dining table with an integral dishwasher that incorporates an eating tray that is moveable between an eating position flush with the table top and a storage position within the dishwasher unit so that both surfaces of the tray are simultaneously washed. 
     These and other objects of the present invention will become more apparent through the disclosure of the invention to follow. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A dining table is provided with an integral dishwasher permanently installed beneath the dining surface. An access cover removeably resides in the dining surface to allow the user to place dishes into and remove dishes from the dishwasher unit. A dining tray is removeably stored within the dishwasher normally to be washed when dishes are washed. The dining tray is configured to replace the dishwasher access cover during dining times. The electrical, water, and waste utility lines are routed to the dishwasher unit from the floor beneath the dining table. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In order for the invention to become more clearly understood it will be disclosed in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective illustration of the dining table of the present invention including an integral dishwasher apparatus. 
     FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the dining table with an integral dishwasher of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 is an end view of the present invention with an access door to a pot cleaning basket in the open position. 
     FIG. 4 is an end view of the present invention with the access door closed. 
     FIG. 5 is a partial sectional view of the dining table with integral dishwasher taken in the direction of line  5 — 5  of FIG.  2  and showing an access cover partly open. 
     FIG. 6 is the view of FIG. 5, with the access cover fully removed and an eating tray positioned between a storage position within the dishwasher and an operative position at the dining surface. 
     FIG. 7 is the view of FIG. 6, with the eating tray in its operative position for eating, and dishes and utensils placed thereupon for use. 
     FIG. 8 is the view of FIG. 7, with the eating tray in its stored position and the access cover in place so as to enclose the dishwasher mechanism below. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     In accordance with the objects disclosed above, FIG. 1 illustrates table  10  of the present invention including an integral dishwasher. Table  10  is formed generally of a top portion comprised of dining surface  12  and utility panel  16  mounted on support base  14 . Since the present invention was developed for reasons of efficiency and ease of use, table  10  is substantially permanently mounted in a selected location, and water, a waste line, and electricity are appropriately connected to the enclosed dishwasher unit. Dining surface  12  contains sink  22  and control panel  16 , which has electrical outlet  26  and a series of dials  24  or switches for operating the dishwasher and an optional warming surface  18 . A heating coil  18 ′ is located beneath warming surface  18  (see FIG.  2 ). Additional optional controls, such as room lights or television, may be similarly installed in control panel  16 . It is to be noted that the rectangular shape of table  10  is shown as an example, and other shapes, such as circular, would satisfy the criteria of the invention. 
     Dining surface  12  is configured to accommodate at least 2 people. Accordingly, a first access cover  20   a  is in a position where a first person is to be seated at table  10 . A second access cover  20   b  (not shown) is stored beneath the plane of eating surface  12 , and eating tray  34   b  is positioned in its place. A pair of mirror image support hooks  21  extends below dining surface  12  in a position for receiving and holding access cover  20   a  in a storage position, as will be described below. Tray  34   b  is mounted substantially flush with the top of dining surface  12  and is illustrated with a typical set of dishes and utensils placed for use. Table  10  is sized to accommodate additional people seated near the left end of table  10 , as drawn. Access covers  20   a  and  20   b  are adapted to open and expose the operative portion of the dishwasher below, as will be described below. Sink  22  is equipped with an electrically heated water spigot  42  (as is known) for making instant coffee, tea or soup, in addition to the usual water connection  44 . A pot insertion door  28  is located at the left end of supporting base  14  for placing larger cooking and serving utensils into the dishwasher unit of the invention. 
     Referring now to FIG. 2, dining table  10  of the invention is shown in top plan view with certain of the internal components illustrated in dashed lines. Dish-washing water-distributor arm  30   a , tray-washing water-distributor arm  30   b  and pot-washing water-distributor arm  30   c  are positioned within support base  14  in separated locations along a substantially central line (not shown) that is parallel to the long dimension of the invention dining table with integral dishwasher. Tray-washing water-distributor arm  30   a  is relatively small and is positioned high, and dish-washing water-distributor arm  30   b  is relatively large and is positioned low, as will be seen below with respect to FIGS. 5-8. Hot surface  18 , in which heating element  18 ′ is enclosed, is located in dining surface  12 , in a location between access covers  20   a  and  20   b . Hot surface  18  is preferably of a different appearance than dining surface  12  for visibility and safety reasons. 
     Referring now to FIG. 3, a side elevation of the relation of angularly oriented chutes  36   a  and  36   b  is shown with pot insertion door  28  open. The upper side panels on the left and right sides (as shown) of support base  14  are oriented angularly to accommodate the shape of perforate chutes  36   a  and  36   b . Chutes  36   a  and  36   b  each provide a perforate storage housing for dishes and utensils. Chutes  36   a  and  36   b  are made of a mesh through which water can pass to permit thorough washing. A pair of eating trays  34   a  and  34   b  are shown in their stored locations between chutes  36   a  and  36   b  within support base  14 . When access covers  20   a  and  20   b  are open, one may reach through the opening formed and retrieve eating trays  34   a  and  34   b  respectively for use as will be more fully described below. Eating trays  34   a  and  34   b  are configured to be supported so as to reside substantially flush with the plane of dining surface  12  when in their operating locations. At the completion of a meal, eating trays  34   a  and  34   b  are placed in their storage locations adjacent dish washing chutes  36   a  and  36   b , where dishes are placed for washing. When all dishes and trays are in their respective positions for washing, access covers  20   a  and  20   b  are closed securely. The dishwasher unit is operated to wash trays  34   a  and  34   b  with the dishes that have been placed in chutes  36   a  and  36   b.    
     FIG. 4 shows an end view of dining table with integral dishwasher  10  as seen in FIG. 3, but with pot insertion door  28  closed. 
     FIGS. 5-8 illustrate the operation of the present invention through a series of sequential positions of access cover  20   a  and eating tray  34   a . In FIG. 5, access cover  20   a  is partly removed from its resting position flush with dining surface  12 . As will be seen here, access cover  20   a  is formed of outer part  40   a  and inner part  41   a . Outer part  40   a  and inner part  41   a  are connected to each other with connecting hinge  54  that is oriented so that its pin is adjacent the respective surfaces of parts  40   a  and  41   a  that are configured to be flush with dining surface  12  when access cover  20   a  is in its closed position. Inner part  41   a  is also connected to bar  58  by pivoting hinge  56 . Parts  40   a  and  41   a  are rotated around pivoting hinge  56  in the direction shown by arrow A. As outer part  40   a  moves downwardly beneath dining surface  12 , support hook  21  restricts the downward movement of outer part  40   a.    
     Referring now to FIG. 6, inner part  40   a  and outer part  41   a  are shown at the completion of their rotation, residing in their storage positions beneath the plane of dining surface  12  and being supported in parallel, horizontal positions on support hook  21 . At this stage, eating tray  34   a  is being moved from its storage and cleaning position within base  14 , upwardly and outwardly in the direction of arrow B. Eating tray  34   a  has a guide  46 , for example a roller, mounted to each of its lower corners (one shown) by bracket  48 . Guide  46  is formed with a circumferential groove that engages track  50  to guide the movement of eating tray  34   a . Track  50  is made of round rod material. in the preferred embodiment. Other forms of guide and track are available to accomplish similar control. A pair of stops  60  is mounted to the upper inner corner (one shown) of chute  36   a  and a pair of supports  60 ′ is mounted to the upper outer corner (one shown) of chute  36   a  to be at different heights relative to eating surface  12 . As illustrated in FIG. 6, guide  60  assists in guiding the movement of eating tray  34   a  out of its storage position. 
     FIG. 7 shows eating tray  34   a  as it is placed to provide continuity of eating surface  12 . A mortised edge M is formed on the inner edge of eating tray  34   a  and the mating edge of dining surface  12  to securely locate and support the rear of eating tray  34   a . In this position, the middle area of eating tray  34   a  rests on support  60 ′ and the front edge thereof rests on a mating mortised edge of inner part  41   a , thereby securely supporting eating tray  34   a  at three points. To position eating tray  34   a  flush with dining surface  12 , guide  46  has been pressed into a rearwardly extending spur portion of track  50  and is pressed against the lower surface of dining surface  12  so that dining surface  12  is substantially sandwiched between guide  46  and mortised edge M. 
     FIG. 8 illustrates dining table with integral dishwasher  10  as it is ready for a washing process. Eating tray  34   a  has been returned to its storage position with guide  46  near the lower end of track  50  and the upper end of eating tray  34   a  resting on stop  60 . Access cover  20   a  is positioned flush with dining surface  12  with mortised edges M of dining surface  12  and access cover  20   a  engaged. Access cover  20   a  is fitted with gasket material (not shown) so as to contain spraying water coming from water distribution arms  30   a . A typical set of dishes is shown in perforate chute  36   a . A locking mechanism (not shown) is provided to keep access cover  20   a  securely held in the illustrated position to prevent accidental opening during a washing cycle and so that if downward pressure exerted on the outer end thereof does not cause access cover  20   a  to dislodge. 
     When the dishwasher function operates, upper water distribution arm  30   a  sprays water in the direction of arrow C onto the exposed upper surface of eating tray  34   a , and lower water distribution arm  30   b  sprays water in the direction of arrows D onto the exposed lower surface of eating tray  34   a  and the dishes in chute  36   a . A further water distribution arm  30   c  sprays upwardly to wash pots in basket  32  (see FIG.  3 ). 
     The invention further recognizes that there are a substantial number of single person households. In such a single person situation, eating may most commonly be done at a kitchen counter rather than at a table. The present invention is readily built into a counter with a single access cover and a single chute for one-side use. Such a one-sided mechanism could similarly be built into a dining table if desired. 
     The above detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention sets forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor for carrying out the invention at the time of filing this application and is provided by way of example and not as a limitation. Accordingly, various modifications and variations obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art to which it pertains are deemed to lie within the scope and spirit of the invention as set forth in the following claims.