Abstract:
A dishwasher is provided, comprising a base portion adapted to support a tub portion. A control unit is configured to be in communication with at least one dishwasher operational component and with at least one control switch device remotely disposed with respect to the base portion. The control unit is responsive to the at least one control switch device to control the at least one dishwasher operational component. The control unit is disposed about the base portion and is selectively accessible from a forward side thereof. An associated method is also provided.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/888,478, filed Feb. 6, 2007, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    Embodiments of the present invention relate to dishwashers and, more particularly, to a dishwasher having an accessible control unit, and a method associated therewith. 
         [0004]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0005]    Typically, when installing a dishwasher in an under-counter cabinet, the electrical supply from the house wiring to the dishwasher is first attached to the designated terminals of the dishwasher (usually disposed within the dishwasher base) before the dishwasher is installed in the cabinet. The electrical power is then directed through the terminals to the electronic control unit (ECU) of the dishwasher, wherein the ECU may be mounted within the base in conjunction with the terminals, or in the door assembly of the dishwasher. As such, it may only be possible to gain access to the terminals of the ECU only when the dishwasher is removed from the cabinet. Further, disassembly of the dishwasher may be necessary if access to the ECU is required for service, diagnostics, and/or replacement. Thus, the dishwasher must often be removed from the cabinet for connecting/disconnecting electrical power, and extensive disassembly/assembly of the dishwasher may be required to access the ECU. Accordingly, a dishwasher having improved access to the ECU thereof would be desirable. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The above and other needs are met by the present invention which, in one embodiment, provides a dishwasher, comprising a base portion adapted to support a tub portion. A control unit is configured to be in communication with at least one dishwasher operational component and with at least one control switch device remotely disposed with respect to the base portion. The control unit is responsive to the at least one control switch device to control the at least one dishwasher operational component. The control unit is disposed about the base portion and is selectively accessible from a forward side thereof. 
         [0007]    Another aspect of the present invention comprises a method of forming a dishwasher. Such a method comprises disposing a control unit about a base portion of the dishwasher, wherein the base portion is adapted to support a tub portion, such that the control unit is selectively accessible from a forward side of the base portion. The control unit is configured to be in communication with at least one dishwasher operational component and with at least one control switch device remotely disposed with respect to the base portion, such that the control unit is responsive to the at least one control switch device to control the at least one dishwasher operational component. 
         [0008]    Aspects of the present invention thus provide significant advantages as further detailed herein. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S) 
         [0009]    Having thus described the invention in general terms, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, and wherein: 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  schematically illustrates an exploded perspective view of a dishwasher device having an accessible control unit according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2A  schematically illustrates a perspective view of a dishwasher device having an accessible control unit pivotably mounted to a base portion thereof, with the control unit in an open accessible position, according to the embodiment of the present invention shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2B  is a side elevation of a dishwasher device having an accessible control unit, with the control unit in an open accessible position, according to the embodiment of the present invention shown in  FIG. 2A ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a dishwasher device having an accessible control unit, with the control unit in a closed inaccessible position, according to the embodiment of the present invention shown in  FIG. 2A ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  schematically illustrates an exploded perspective of an accessible control unit having a barrier member associated therewith, according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 5A  schematically illustrates a perspective front view of an accessible control unit having a barrier member associated therewith, according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 5B  schematically illustrates a perspective rear view of an accessible control unit having a barrier member associated therewith, according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a dishwasher device having an accessible control unit with a barrier member associated therewith, with the control unit in a closed inaccessible position, according to the embodiment of the present invention shown in  FIGS. 5A and 5B ; and 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional side elevation view of a dishwasher device having an accessible control unit with a barrier member associated therewith, with the control unit in a closed inaccessible position, according to the embodiment of the present invention shown in  FIGS. 5A and 5B . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0019]    The present invention now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which some, but not all embodiments of the inventions are shown. Indeed, these inventions may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout. 
         [0020]      FIGS. 1 ,  2 A,  2 B, and  3  illustrate one embodiment of a dishwasher device according to the present invention, the dishwasher device being generally indicated by the numeral  100 . Such a dishwasher device  100  generally comprises a tub  120  supported by a base  140 , wherein both the tub  120  and the base  140  define respective forward ends, each adapted to face outwardly from any cabinet in which the dishwasher device  100  is installed. In some instances, the front end defines an access opening of the tub  120 , through which dishware is loaded and unloaded with respect to the dishwasher device  100 . 
         [0021]    Such dishwasher devices  100  are typically electronically-controlled, implementing an electronic control unit  160  (“ECU”) for interacting with various components (i.e., circulation pump, drain pump, water valve) of the dishwasher device  100  to control a dishwashing process. In such instances, the performed functions (i.e., wash, rinse, drain) or cycles (i.e., heated dry) may be selected by a user via one or more appropriate selector devices (not shown), such as one or more switches, buttons, knobs, or any combinations thereof. The selector devices may be disposed remotely with respect to the ECU  160 . For example, such selector devices may be disposed about the upper end of the door (not shown) of the dishwasher device  100  for facilitating interaction therewith by a user. However, the electrical supply from the house wiring to the dishwasher device  100  must also be engaged with designated electrical terminals of the dishwasher device  100 , as well as with the ECU  160 , before the dishwasher device  100  is installed. 
         [0022]    As such, in one aspect of the present invention, the base  140  is configured so as to define a compartment  180  about the forward end thereof, wherein the compartment  180  is configured to receive the ECU  160 . With the compartment  180  disposed about the forward end of the base  140 , the electrical supply from the house wiring, as well as the connections (i.e., wires) connecting the ECU  160  to the selector devices, may be directed through or connected to the compartment  180 , as shown in  FIG. 1 . As such, the dishwasher device  100  may be installed, for example, within a cabinet structure, prior to the electrical connections to the dishwasher device  100  being established. However, in some instances, the electrical connections may be established elsewhere about the dishwasher device  100 , and then appropriate power leads (i.e., wires) directed to or through the compartment  180 . With the dishwasher device  100  being configured to receive the ECU  160  in the compartment  180  about the forward end of the base  140 , the ECU  160  is readily accessible without requiring removal of the dishwasher device  100  from the cabinet, or extensive disassembly of the dishwasher device  100 . In this manner, service, diagnosis, and/or replacement of the ECU  160  is facilitated. 
         [0023]    The ECU  160  is mounted within a housing  200 , which may be formed as one or more portions  200 A,  200 B configured to contain the ECU  160 . For example, the housing  200  may be injection-molded in two complementary portions  200 A,  200 B of a thermoplastic material, wherein the ECU  160  is disposed in one portion  200 A of the housing  200 , and the other portion  200 B of the housing  200  cooperates therewith to enclose the ECU  160 . In such a manner, the ECU  160  is protected, for example, from water and dirt ingress. The housing  200  may further include provisions for allowing the wiring (i.e., a wiring harness) extending from or through the receptacle  180  to engage the ECU  160  within the housing  200 . Once the ECU  160  is connected to the wiring, representing the electrical power connections, as well as the communication connections with the selector devices (i.e., both input and output connections), the housing  200  may be mounted within the compartment  180 . 
         [0024]    In one instance, opposing lateral ends of the housing  200  may have pins  220  extending therefrom, wherein the pins  220  are configured to engage complementary receptacles  240  defined by the lateral edges of the compartment  180 . In this manner, the housing  200  becomes pivotably mounted with respect to the compartment  180  along a pivoting side of the housing  200 . Further, in some instances, the ECU  160  may be disposed within the housing  200  such that a first electrical connector portion (not shown) operably engaged and associated with the ECU  160  is accessible through the pivoting side of the housing. When the housing  200  is so engaged with the compartment  180 , a second electrical connector portion (not shown) can be engaged with or otherwise connected to the first electrical connector portion about the pivoting side of the housing  200  and any excess length of wire(s) extending to the housing  200  may be retracted into the base  140 . Once assembled in such a manner, the housing  200  containing the ECU  160  is pivotable with respect to the compartment  180 . As such, once engaged with the compartment  180  via the pins  220  and receptacles  240 , the housing  200  becomes pivotable between an open accessible position (see, e.g.,  FIGS. 2A and 2B ) and a closed inaccessible position (see, e.g.,  FIG. 3 ). Accordingly, in the open accessible position as shown in  FIGS. 2A and 2B , one portion  200 B of the housing  200  may be opened or removed so as to allow access to the ECU  160  therein for repair or replacement. Once the portion  200 B of the housing  200  is replaced in a closed configuration containing the ECU  160 , the housing  200  may be pivoted into a position whereby the housing  200  is substantially received within the compartment  180  and the ECU  160  is essentially inaccessible. The housing  200  in the inaccessible position may be secured with respect to the compartment  180  by appropriate fasteners  260 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0025]    If access to the ECU  160  is required for service, diagnosis, and/or replacement, the fasteners  260  can be removed and the housing  200  pivoted outwardly of the compartment  180  to the accessible position ( FIGS. 2A and 2B ) such that the ECU  160  can be accessed. In such a manner, access to the ECU  160  is possible without disassembling or uninstalling the dishwasher device  100 . 
         [0026]      FIGS. 4 ,  5 A,  5 B,  6 , and  7  illustrate another embodiment of dishwasher device  100  according to the present invention. In such embodiments, the ECU  160  (or control unit, control device, or circuit board) is mounted within a housing  200 , which may be formed as one or more portions  200 A,  200 B configured to contain the ECU  160 . For example, the housing  200  may be injection-molded in two complementary portions  200 A,  200 B of a thermoplastic material, wherein the ECU  160  is disposed in one portion  200 A of the housing  200 , and the other portion  200 B of the housing  200  cooperates therewith to enclose the ECU  160 . In such a manner, the ECU  160  is protected, for example, from water and dirt ingress. A barrier member  210  may be configured to operably engage the housing  200 , for example, about the pivoting side thereof, and to extend at least partially along the pivoting side of the housing  200  such that at least a portion of the barrier member  210  is disposed between the housing  200  and the base  140 . In this manner, the barrier member  210  may provide, for example, a flame barrier between the high voltage connectors (i.e., wiring) of the ECU  160  (control unit) and base  140 , as may be needed, for example, in the event of a malfunction of the ECU  160 . 
         [0027]    In some instances, the barrier member  210  may be configured to “snap onto” or otherwise engage the housing  200 , for example, the housing portion  200 A, via engagement features  212  associated therewith, as shown in  FIG. 5A . The barrier member  210  may be further adapted to be at least partially received within compartment  180  along with housing portions  200 A and  200 B, as shown in  FIG. 6 .  FIG. 7  further shows that, according to some embodiments, the barrier member  210  may be configured to extend at least partially along the pivoting side of the housing  200  and have a first portion  214  configured to extend at least partially between the housing  200  and a bottom portion  142  of the base  140 , when the housing  200  is mounted within compartment  180 . As further shown in  FIG. 7 , a second portion  216  of the barrier member  210  may extend from the first portion  214  to engage the housing  200 , for example, through engagement features  212 . 
         [0028]    In some instances, the barrier member  210  may be further configured, for instance, to further include or otherwise form at least one securement member for securing or holding a second electrical connector portion (not shown), extending from and associated with the electrical power connections, as well as the communication connections with the selector devices (i.e., both input and output connections), to the first electrical connector portion associated with the ECU  160 . In this manner, the wiring harness/power wiring connectors may be retained in place relative to the ECU  160  (control unit) disposed within the housing  200 . For example, one or more tab portions  218  may be configured to project from the barrier member  210  and to cooperate with the first portion  214  of the barrier member  210  to form the at least one securement member for retaining the wiring harness/power wiring connectors in place relative to the ECU  160  in housing  200 . 
         [0029]    Many modifications and other embodiments of the inventions set forth herein will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which these inventions pertain having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is to be understood that the inventions are not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed and that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.