Abstract:
A powered utensil basket is provided that captures a jet stream emanating from a nozzle located along a rear wall of a wash-tank type pot and pan washing machine. The nozzle directs the jet stream towards a bottom wall of the utensil basket. The jet stream is diverted from the bottom wall of the utensil upward and forward toward a front wall of the basket where it is diverted upward and rearward toward a rear wall of the basket. At the rear wall of the basket, the jet stream is again diverted downward towards the bottom wall where the jet stream is then diverted forward again towards the front wall. This diversion of the jet stream creates a washing action within the utensil basket that is substantially similar to the washing action of the washing machine.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to a utensil basket for use with a pot and pan washing machine. The present invention is a powered utensil basket, in that it captures a jet stream to maintain a washing action within the basket.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Pot and pan washing machines, of the type used in restaurants, institutions and other eating facilities often involve a large wash tank or basin in which water is circulated about the pots and pans to provide a washing action. One such machine is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,773,436 issued to Cantrell et al., the specification of which is incorporated herein by reference. The machine of Cantrell includes a wash tank with jets located at an elevated position along the rear wall of the wash tank. The tank is filled with water to a level above the position of the jets. Pots and pans are placed in the wash tank, and a pump is activated to draw water from within the wash tank and direct it through the jets to create a jet stream. Each jet directs its jet stream toward the bottom wall of the wash tank, the bottom wall then deflects the jet stream upward and towards the front wall of the tank. The front wall then deflects the upward moving jet stream towards the rear wall of the tank, and the rear wall deflects the jet stream downward and back towards the front wall along the bottom wall. The combination of deflections of the jet stream from the bottom, front and rear walls provides a rolling washing action within the wash tank.  
           [0003]    Although a machine that employs a wash tank and jet stream of the type described above is extremely useful for washing pots and pans, it is less desirable for washing smaller items such as utensils. The wash tank is often of considerable depth making it difficult to retrieve utensils that have been loosely sprawled across the bottom of the tank. Also, the water within the wash tank is often left in the wash tank and reused for several loads, increasing the difficulty of retrieving small items from the bottom of the wash tank.  
           [0004]    An alternative to sprawling utensils loosely across the bottom of the wash tank, is to contain the utensils within a utensil basket located within the wash tank. A utensil basket maintains all of the small items within a single area for easy retrieval upon completion of the washing cycle. Additionally, the utensil basket can be removable from the wash tank, further increasing the ease of emptying the utensils from the tank.  
           [0005]    Although the use of prior art utensil baskets does allow for easy collection and removal of utensils from a wash-tank type washing machine, they do not efficiently utilize the full washing action of the jet stream. Prior art utensil baskets often comprise a wire mesh frame which can be mounted to or hung from a side of the wash tank. Being positioned along a side of the wash tank, and having indiscriminate dimensions, these prior art baskets only utilize a small portion of the washing action created by the jet stream thus decreasing the effectiveness of the machine in fully cleaning the utensils placed within the basket. Therefore, it is desirable to provide a utensil basket that more fully utilizes the washing action of the jet stream in a wash-tank type washing machine.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    A principal object of the present invention is to provide an improved utensil basket for use in a wash-tank type washing machine. Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved utensil basket that utilizes a substantial portion of the washing action within a wash-tank type washing machine. It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an improved utensil basket that utilizes a substantial portion of the washing action within a wash-tank type washing machine by substantially capturing a jet stream within the utensil basket.  
           [0007]    According to the above objects, the instant invention features an improved utensil basket for placement within the wash tank of a pot and pan washing machine. The basket comprises a bottom wall, a front wall, a rear wall, and two side walls. The walls are dimensioned to capture the jet stream within the utensil basket and to fully utilize the rolling washing action of the jet stream. The walls can be constructed of a substantially solid material that provides for deflection and containment of the jet stream, or, alternatively, the walls can be constructed of wire mesh and utilize the walls of the wash tank to provide for the deflection of the jet stream.  
           [0008]    Whether the walls of the utensil basket are solid or mesh, their dimensions should correspond to the dimensions of the walls of the wash tank to fully utilize the same washing action as that created by deflection of the jet stream within the wash tank. Nevertheless, correspondence of wall dimensions is only important to the walls which are used to deflect the jet stream and provide the rolling wash action. For example, the utensil basket of the preferred embodiment is designed for the washing machine of U.S. Pat. No. 4,773,436. This washing machine utilizes the bottom, front and rear walls of the wash tank to deflect the jet stream and create the rolling action, it does not utilize the side walls of the tank for jet stream deflection. Thus, the dimensions of the bottom, front and rear walls of the utensil basket should correspond to dimensions of the bottom, front and rear walls of the wash tank, while correspondence between the dimensions of the side walls of the utensil basket and those of the wash tank are less important.  
           [0009]    The utensil basket of the preferred embodiment utilizes walls that are substantially solid, thus, the deflection of the jet stream is provided by the basket walls rather than by the wash tank walls. The rear wall of the preferred embodiment includes an intake aperture for receiving the jet stream traveling in a first direction from a jet located on the rear wall of the wash tank. The bottom wall of the preferred embodiment includes a drain hole comprising perforations. The perforations are large enough to allow water to drain out of the utensil basket when the basket is removed from the wash tank, but small enough to allow a substantial amount of the jet stream to be deflected by the bottom wall of the basket. The substantially solid sidewalls of the preferred embodiment assist in containment of the jet stream by minimizing the amount of peel-off from the jet stream, thus resulting in a highly concentrated washing action within the utensil basket.  
           [0010]    The jet stream enters the utensil basket at a predetermined angle and the jet stream is then deflected by the bottom wall upward and toward the front wall of the basket and so forth, in the same manner described above with respect to the deflection of the jet stream by the walls of the wash tank. These deflections of the jet stream create a washing action captured within the utensil basket which is virtually identical to the washing action within the wash tank.  
           [0011]    As the predetermined angle of the jet stream is based upon the dimensions of the wash tank, the dimensions of the utensil basket should substantially correspond to the dimensions of the deflecting walls of the wash tank. It may be desirable to reduce the dimensions of the utensil basket, either for easier removal, or to intensify the wash action within the utensil basket. If either the length (distance from the rear wall to the front wall) or height (depth) of the basket is reduced from the dimensions of the wash tank, an appropriate reduction ratio should be employed to ensure preservation of the washing action.  
           [0012]    For example the angle each of the nozzles in U.S. Pat. No. 4,773,436 is such that the jet stream will hit the bottom wall of the wash tank at a location near the front wall of the wash tank to allow the jet stream to deflect from the bottom wall, rise and circulate rearwardly from the front wall. Reduction of the basket depth (height) will alter the point of impact of the jet stream along the length of the basket, such that the distance from the rear wall to the point of impact along the length of the bottom will be reduced in proportion to the reduction of the depth. Thus simple geometry can be employed to determine the appropriate reduction ratio to use to maintain substantially the same angles of deflection within the utensil basket as are present within the wash tank.  
           [0013]    The basket of the preferred embodiment captures the washing action created by a single jet of the washing machine. The basket can be positioned to utilize either one of the jets positioned along either side of the wash tank to maximize to amount of usable space available within the tank for washing pots and pans. Additionally, the utensil basket can be removably mounted within the wash tank to provide for ease of emptying and also to increase space within the wash tank for pots and pans when utensils are not being washed.  
           [0014]    The foregoing and other objects are intended to be illustrative of the invention and are not meant in a limiting sense. Many possible embodiments of the invention may be made and will be readily evident upon a study of the following specification and accompanying drawings comprising a part thereof. Various features and subcombinations of invention may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations. Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein is set forth by way of illustration and example, an embodiment of this invention.  
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0015]    Preferred embodiments of the invention, illustrative of the best modes in which the applicant has contemplated applying the principles, are set forth in the following description and are shown in the drawings and are particularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth in the appended claims.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 1 is a perspective view from the rear side of the inventive utensil basket.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 2 is a partial cutaway perspective side view of the inventive utensil basket mounted within a wash tank.  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0018]    Preferred embodiments of the present invention are hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawings.  
         [0019]    Referring to FIG. 1, a preferred embodiment of the inventive utensil basket for use in a wash-tank type washing machine is shown. Utensil basket  10  can be constructed of any suitable material such as stainless steel, or, for a lighter weight basket, a plastic material may be used. The preferred embodiment of utensil basket  10  includes an open top design having a base and four perimeter walls extending vertically from the base.  
         [0020]    Base or bottom wall  30  is generally rectangular in shape and can be constructed as a single piece or as multiple segments joined together. Rear wall  20  extends vertically from a first end located along the perimeter of bottom wall  30 . Front wall  40  extends vertically from a second end of the perimeter of bottom wall  30  opposite rear wall  20 . Opposing side walls  50  and  55  extend vertically along opposing sides of the perimeter of bottom wall  30 . Side walls  50  and  55  connect rear wall  20  to front wall  40 .  
         [0021]    Bottom wall  30  of the preferred embodiment is substantially solid, but includes a drain hole to permit water drainage out of basket  10 . It is desirable to allow the water to easily drain from basket  10  when the basket is removed from the wash tank, or when the water in the wash tank is emptied. As is shown in FIG. 1, the drain hole of the preferred embodiment consists of a series of holes or perforations through bottom wall  30 . Perforations  35  are of appropriate size and location to permit adequate drainage of basket  10  while simultaneously allowing bottom wall  30  to deflect a substantial portion of the jet stream and capture the rolling wash action of the washing machine within basket  10 .  
         [0022]    Rear wall  20  extends vertically in a direction substantially perpendicular to base  30 . As is shown in FIG. 2, the lower portion of rear wall  20  is slightly angled to conform to the contour of the rear wall of the wash tank for which the basket has been designed. The upper portion of rear wall  20  includes inlet aperture  25 . Mounting flange  70  extends horizontally in a substantially perpendicular direction from rear wall  20 . Slit  75  extends vertically through mounting flange  70  in a direction substantially perpendicular to flange  70 .  
         [0023]    Front wall  40  is solid and extends vertically in a direction substantially perpendicular to base  30  to conform to the contour of the front wall of the wash tank for which basket  10  has been designed. Opposing side walls  50  and  55  are solid and extend vertically in a direction substantially perpendicular to base  30 . Horizontal cross-member  60  extends between front wall  40  and rear wall  20 . Horizontal cross-members  65  extend between side walls  50  and  55 . Cross-members  60  and  65  divide basket  10  into multiple compartments to allow for support and separation of utensils placed within the basket. The cross-members are constructed to have a substantially small cross-section to prevent deflection of the jet stream by the cross-members. The cross-members can be permanently connected to the walls of basket  10 , or they can be made removable and adjustable to allow for manipulation of compartment sizes and shapes.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 2 shows utensil basket  10  mounted within wash tank  80 , shown partially cut-away. Side wall  55  of utensil basket  10  has been partially cut-away in FIG. 2 to show the directions of jet stream  100  and wash action  110  within basket  10 .  
         [0025]    The top portion of the rear wall of wash tank  80  includes horizontally extending groove  90  for receiving mounting flange  70  of basket  10 . Vertical rib  95  extends perpendicular to flange  70  for engagement with slit  75 . Basket  10  is releasably mounted within the wash tank through the use of mount  70 , groove  90 , rib  95 , and slit  75 . Basket  10  is placed within tank  80 , mounting flange  70  rests on horizontal groove  90 , and rib  95  extends through slit  75  to prevent movement of the basket along horizontal groove  90 . Rear wall  20  of basket  10  is contoured to the shape of the rear wall of tank  80  such that rear wall  20  fits snugly against the rear wall of the wash tank to support the weight of basket  10 . In the preferred embodiment, the lower portion of rear wall  20  of utensil basket  10  is slightly angled to conform to the contour of intake grate  107  located along the lower portion of rear wall  20 . Intake grate  107  is the subject of U.S. patent application Ser. No. xx/xxx,xxx filed on even date herewith, the specification of which is incorporated herein by reference.  
         [0026]    In operation, tank  80  is filled with water and a cleaning agent. Operating water level  120  is preferably above the top of nozzle  105 . When basket  10  is correctly mounted within wash tank  80 , intake aperture  25  will correspond to nozzle  105 . Water is drawn from wash tank  80  through intake grate  107  by a pump. The pump then expels the water through nozzle  105  to create jet stream  100 . Nozzle  105  is angled to direct jet stream  100  through inlet aperture  25 , into basket  10 , and toward the front portion of bottom wall  30 . Bottom wall  30  then deflects jet stream  100  upward and towards front wall  40 . Front wall  40  then deflects the upward moving jet stream towards rear wall  20  of the basket, and the rear wall deflects the jet stream downward and back towards the front wall along bottom wall  30 . The combination of deflections of the jet stream from the bottom, front and rear walls provides a rolling, washing action  110  within utensil basket  10 , this wash action is essentially identical to the wash action described with respect to the washing machine of U.S. Pat. No. 4,773,436.  
         [0027]    Length L of basket  10  corresponds to the length between the front and rear walls of the wash tank, and height H of the front and rear walls of the basket corresponds to the height of the wash tank. Width W is governed by the size of nozzle  105  and by the amount of wash action that is desired to be captured within basket  10 . Width W of the basket can be increased to encompass multiple nozzles within the wash tank if increased wash action is desired.  
         [0028]    It may be desirable to reduce the overall size of the utensil basket for several reasons. First of all, using the same dimensions as the wash tank may be too cumbersome for a removable basket, and also take up more space within the tank than necessary to wash utensils. Additionally, reduction of the dimensions of basket  10  will result in increasing the intensity of the jet stream as it travels through the basket along the path of wash action  110 .  
         [0029]    Length L and height H of basket  10  do not have to be identical to the length and height of wash tank  80 ; however, it is preferred that the dimensions correspond to each other to ensure that the wash action within basket  10  is virtually identical to the wash action of the washing machine. For example, note that utensil basket  10  does not rest on the bottom wall of wash tank  80 , making submersion height H′ of the portion of basket  10  below water level  120  less than the height of the portion of the wash tank below water level  120 . Therefore, in the preferred embodiment, length L of the utensil basket will be proportionally reduced using a reduction ratio to maintain the same angles of deflection of jet stream  100  within utensil basket  10  as are present in the wash tank.  
         [0030]    The reduction ratio is determined by simple geometry based upon the angle of impact of jet stream  100  with bottom wall  30 . The reduction ratio can be a direct proportion, whereby as submersion height H′ is reduced by a given percentage, length L will be reduced by the same percentage. Alternatively, the reduction ratio may be more complex, taking into account the effects of the increased intensity of the impact of jet stream  100  with the walls of basket  10 . For example, as submersion height H′ is reduced, the point of impact of jet stream  100  with bottom wall  30  will become increasing closer to nozzle  105 . The closer the point of impact to the nozzle, the greater the amount of energy, or higher the intensity, of jet stream  100 . This increased intensity may result in undesirable splashing or overflow of the jet stream from the utensil basket due to the angles of deflection. Thus, it may be desirable to adjust some of the deflection angles within basket  10  while still maintaining the rolling effect of wash action  110 .  
         [0031]    The height of sidewalls  50  and  55  is not as important to the proper deflection of the jet stream within the utensil basket of the preferred embodiment as the other dimensions discussed above. Nevertheless, it is preferred that the height of the sidewalls be such that water level  120  will be above the top of side walls  50  and  55 . This will allow water to peel over the top of side walls  50  and  55  as water is forced into basket  10  by nozzle  105  thereby maintaining an equal water level throughout the wash tank and the utensil basket.  
         [0032]    As the jet stream moves through the water that is already present in the utensil basket, portions of the jet stream will tend to peel off into the surround fluid, reducing the effectiveness of the wash action. The use of solid sidewalls assists in containment of the jet stream. Width W of the utensil basket can be varied to provide the desired amount of restriction of the jet stream within basket  10 . Reducing width W will function to guide the jet stream along a more confined path, significantly decreasing the peeling off of the jet stream into the surrounding fluid.  
         [0033]    In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness and understanding, but no unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirements of the prior art, because such terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed. Moreover, the description and illustration of the inventions is by way of example, and the scope of the invention is not limited to the exact details shown or described.  
         [0034]    Certain changes may be made in embodying the above invention and in the construction thereof, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is intended that all matter contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not meant in a limiting sense.  
         [0035]    Although the powered utensil basket of the instant invention has been described and shown in association with a pot and pan washing machine having jets located along the rear wall of the wash tank, the scope of invention is not intended to be so limited. The jets of the wash tank could be located along any single wall, or along multiple walls. In such instances the dimensions of the utensil basket would be reconfigured to appropriately capture the wash action created by the jet stream. Additionally, the jet stream of the instant invention may be deflected in a manner other than that described herein. The walls from which the jet stream may be deflected is not absolutely decisive of the invention, so long as the essence of capturing a wash action within the utensil basket is maintained.  
         [0036]    The inlet aperture can be located within any wall of the utensil basket, or even through the open top, to correspond to the location of the jet nozzles within the wash tank. A top wall can also be included on the utensil basket, if desired.  
         [0037]    While the preferred embodiment shows the use of a mount to attach the utensil basket to the wash tank, the basket may be merely placed with the wash tank without the use of any mount, so long as appropriate dimensions are utilized to capture the jet stream. Additionally, alternative mounts may be developed to appropriately attach the basket to the wash tank.  
         [0038]    Having now described the features, discoveries and principles of the invention, the manner in which the inventive utensil basket is constructed and used, the characteristics of the construction, and advantageous, new and useful results obtained, the new and useful structures, devices, elements, arrangements, parts and combinations, are set forth in the appended claims.  
         [0039]    It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.