Patent Publication Number: US-11663931-B2

Title: Magnetic dishwasher status indicator

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     This invention pertains to appliances, and more especially to automatic dishwashers. More particularly, this invention pertains to a magnetic status indicator that provides for indicating whether the contents within the dishwasher are dirty or clean. Status indicator devices are often utilized with adjustable covers to conceal and/or reveal labels that indicate whether the contents of the dishwasher are dirty or clean. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY 
     According to one embodiment of the present invention, a magnetic dishwasher status indicator includes a frame, a magnetic slider, a slider magnet within the magnetic slider, an indicator base, a pair of base magnets within the indicator base, and an adhesive base cover. 
     In one embodiment, the magnetic dishwasher status indicator, includes a magnetic slider to alternately cover and reveal a status indicator label to reveal whether dishes are clean or dirty, the magnet slider including a slider magnet to provide for snapping into place via a pair of magnets within the indicator base. 
     In a typical embodiment, the magnetic dishwasher status indicator is affixed to the surface of a dishwasher or other appliance so that the magnetic slider is positionable to cover one of the respective DIRTY/CLEAN status indicator labels while the remaining status indicator label remains uncovered. In this way, a quick glance at the magnetic dishwasher status indicator provides instant knowledge whether the dishes contained within the dishwasher are clean or dirty. The magnetic slider is easily adjustable between the two positions via a slider magnet within the magnetic slider in conjunction with the pair of base magnets within the indicator base. 
     The combination of the slider magnet and one of the respective base magnets provide for maintaining the magnetic slider in position over the respective indicator label, so that the attraction between the slider magnet and the respective base magnet holds the magnetic slider in place over the respective indicator label. 
     The indicated status is changed via moving the magnetic slider back and forth along the surface of the indicator base to hide and/or reveal the respective indicator label. When the magnetic slider is moved along the surface of the indicator base the slider magnet within the magnetic slider and the respective base magnet within the indicator base operate to snap the magnetic slider into the new position over the respective base magnet. After snapping into place, the magnetic slider is held in position via the magnetic attraction between the slider magnet and the respective base magnet. That is, the attraction between the slider magnet and the respective base magnet holds the magnetic slider in place over the respective indicator label. 
     Other systems, methods, features and advantages of the present invention will be or become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following drawings and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features and advantages be included within this description and be within the scope of the present disclosure. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above-mentioned features will become more clearly understood from the following detailed description read together with the drawings in which: 
         FIG.  1    is a perspective view illustrating a magnetic status indicator; 
         FIG.  2    is an exploded perspective view of the magnetic status indicator of  FIG.  1   ; 
         FIG.  3   -A is a front view of the magnetic status indicator of  FIG.  1    and illustrating a status via the magnetic slider position; 
         FIG.  3   -B is a front view of the magnetic status indicator of  FIG.  1    and illustrating operation of the magnetic slider; 
         FIG.  3   -C is a front view of the magnetic status indicator of  FIG.  1    and illustrating a status via the magnetic slider position; 
         FIG.  4   -A is a front view of the magnetic status indicator of  FIG.  1   ; 
         FIG.  4   -B is a side view of the magnetic status indicator of  FIG.  1   ; 
         FIG.  5   -A is a top view of the magnetic slider of the magnetic status indicator of  FIG.  1   ; 
         FIG.  5   -B is a side view of the magnetic slider of the magnetic status indicator of  FIG.  1   ; 
         FIG.  5   -C is an end view of the magnetic slider of the magnetic status indicator of  FIG.  1   ; 
         FIG.  5   -D is a side view of the slider magnet of the magnetic slider of the magnetic status indicator of  FIG.  1   ; 
         FIG.  5   -E is a rear view of the magnetic slider of the magnetic status indicator of  FIG.  1   ; 
         FIG.  6   -A is a top view of the indicator base of the magnetic status indicator of  FIG.  1   ; 
         FIG.  6   -B is a side view of the indicator base of the magnetic status indicator of  FIG.  1   ; 
         FIG.  6   -C is a bottom view of the indicator base of the magnetic status indicator of  FIG.  1   ; 
         FIG.  6   -D is a view of the base magnets base of the magnetic status indicator of  FIG.  1   ; and 
         FIG.  7    is a view illustrating the base cover adhesive portion for the base of the magnetic status indicator. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     A magnetic status indicator for a dishwasher, having a slider to alternately cover and reveal a status indicating whether dishes are clean or dirty, the slider including a magnet providing for snapping into place via a pair of magnets within the base of the indicator, is disclosed. The magnetic status indicator provides for indicating whether the contents within the dishwasher are dirty or clean. 
     The magnetic dishwasher status indicator, includes a magnetic slider to alternately cover and reveal a status indicator label to reveal whether dishes are clean or dirty, the magnet slider including a slider magnet to provide for snapping into place via a pair of magnets within the indicator base. 
     In a typical embodiment, the magnetic dishwasher status indicator is affixed to the surface of a dishwasher or other appliance so that the magnetic slider is positionable to cover one of the respective DIRTY/CLEAN status indicator labels while the remaining status indicator label remains uncovered. In this way, a quick glance at the magnetic dishwasher status indicator provides instant knowledge whether the dishes contained within the dishwasher are clean or dirty. The magnetic slider is easily adjustable between the two positions via a slider magnet within the magnetic slider in conjunction with the pair of base magnets within the indicator base. 
     The combination of the slider magnet and one of the respective base magnets provide for maintaining the magnetic slider in position over the respective indicator label, so that the attraction between the slider magnet and the respective base magnet holds the magnetic slider in place over the respective indicator label. 
     The indicated status is changed via moving the magnetic slider back and forth along the surface of the indicator base to hide and/or reveal the respective indicator label. When the magnetic slider is moved along the surface of the indicator base the slider magnet within the magnetic slider and the respective base magnet within the indicator base operate to snap the magnetic slider into the new position over the respective base magnet. After snapping into place, the magnetic slider is held in position via the magnetic attraction between the slider magnet and the respective base magnet. That is, the attraction between the slider magnet and the respective base magnet holds the magnetic slider in place over the respective indicator label. 
       FIG.  1    is a perspective view illustrating a magnetic status indicator  100 , and  FIG.  2    is an exploded diagram of the magnetic status indicator  100 . The magnetic status indicator  100  is attachable magnetically to a metal surface and includes a magnetic slider  120  to provide or reveal an indication of whether the contents (dishes, etc.) within the dishwasher are clean or dirty. In the illustrated embodiment, the magnetic status indicator  100  includes a frame  110 , a magnetic slider  120 , a slider magnet  128 , an indicator base  130 , a pair of base magnets  136   a  and  136   b,  and an adhesive base cover  140 . 
     In a typical embodiment, the magnetic status indicator  100  is affixed to the surface of a dishwasher or other appliance so that the magnetic slider  120  is positionable to cover one of the respective DIRTY/CLEAN status indicator labels  132   a  or  132   b  while the remaining status indicator label remains uncovered. In this way, a quick glance at the magnetic status indicator  100  provides instant knowledge whether the dishes contained within the dishwasher are clean or dirty. The magnetic slider  120  is easily adjustable between the two positions via a slider magnet  128  within the magnetic slider  120  in conjunction with the pair of base magnets  136   a  and  136   b  within the indicator base  130 . 
     The combination of the slider magnet  128  and one of the respective base magnets  136   a  or  136   b  provide for maintaining the magnetic slider  120  in position over the respective indicator label  132   a  or  132   b.  That is, the attraction between the slider magnet  128  and the respective base magnet  136   a  or  136   b  holds the magnetic slider  120  in place over the respective indicator label  132   a  or  132   b.    
     In the illustrated embodiment, the magnetic status indicator  100 , the frame  110 , the magnetic slider  120 , and the indicator base  130  are made from a metal or metal alloy type material suitable for providing a rigid structure capable of providing the herein described operability. In other embodiments, it is envisioned that the various components of the magnetic status indicator  100 , are made from various materials such as metal, metallic alloys, rigid plastic, and/or any other material suitable for providing the rigid structures as described herein. That is, the magnetic status indicator, the frame  110 , the magnetic slider  120 , and the indicator base  130  respectively are each made from either metal, a metallic alloy, a rigid plastic, and/or any other material suitable for providing the rigid structures as described herein for securing the various magnets and providing the herein described operability. 
       FIG.  3   -A is a front view of the magnetic status indicator  100  and illustrating a status via the magnetic slider  120  position,  FIG.  3   -B is a front view of the magnetic status indicator  100  and illustrating operation of the magnetic slider  120 , and  FIG.  3   -C is a front view of the magnetic status indicator  100  and again illustrating a status via the magnetic slider  120  position. The status, whether DIRTY or CLEAN, of the contents within the dishwasher are indicated via the positioning of the magnetic slider  120 . Specifically, the magnetic slider  120  is positioned to cover one of the indicator labels  132   a  or  132   b  while leaving the remaining indicator label  132   a  or  132   b  revealed or visible. The indicator label  132   a  or  132   b  that is visible is indicative of the status for the dishwasher contents, that is, either DIRTY or CLEAN. 
     The indicated status is changed via moving the magnetic slider  120  back and forth along the surface of the indicator base  130  to hide and/or reveal the respective indicator label  132   a  or  132   b.  When the magnetic slider  120  is moved along the surface of the indicator base  130  the slider magnet  128  within the magnetic slider  120  and the respective base magnet  136   a  or  136   b  within the indicator base  130  operate to snap the magnetic slider  120  into the new position over the respective base magnet  136   a  or  136   b.  After snapping into place, the magnetic slider  120  is held in position via the magnetic attraction between the slider magnet  128  and the respective base magnet  136   a  or  136   b.  That is, the attraction between the slider magnet  128  and the respective base magnet  136   a  or  136   b  holds the magnetic slider  120  in place over the respective indicator label  132   a  or  132   b.    
       FIG.  4   -A is a front view of the magnetic status indicator  100  and  FIG.  4   -B is a side view of the magnetic status indicator  100 . As noted above, the status of the dishwasher contents are indicated via the positioning of the magnetic slider  120 . In the illustrated example, the magnetic slider  120  covers or conceals the indicator label  132   a  (DIRTY) so that the corresponding indicator label  132   b  (CLEAN) is visible. The indicator label  132   b  thus indicates that the contents of the dishwasher are or are believed to be CLEAN. In the illustrated example, the magnetic slider  120  is held in position via the magnetic attraction between the slider magnet  128  and the base magnet  136   a.  That is, the attraction between the slider magnet  128  and the base magnet  136   a  holds the magnetic slider  120  in place over the indicator label  132   a.    
     The indicated status is adjusted or changed via moving the magnetic slider  120  along the surface of the indicator base  130  to cover the indicator label  132   b  and reveal the corresponding indicator label  132   a  to indicate that contents are DIRTY. When the magnetic slider  120  is moved to the right along the surface of the indicator base  130 , the attraction between the slider magnet  128  and the base magnet  136   a  within the indicator base  130  is broken so that the magnetic slider  120  is no longer held in position over the indicator label  132   a.  As the magnetic slider  120  moves toward and to cover the indicator label  132   b,  the magnetic attraction between the slider magnet  128  and the base magnet  136   b  within the indicator base  130  causes the magnetic slider  120  to snap into position and cover the indicator label  132   b  (CLEAN) so that the indicator label  132   a  (DIRTY) becomes visible. 
     After snapping into place, the magnetic slider  120  is held in position via the magnetic attraction between the slider magnet  128  and the base magnet  136   b.  That is, the attraction between the slider magnet  128  and the base magnet  136   b  holds the magnetic slider  120  in place over the indicator label  132   b.    
     The status of the magnetic status indicator  100  can be changed again by reversing this process and moving the magnetic slider  120  back and forth along the surface of the indicator base  130 . 
       FIG.  5   -A is a top view of the magnetic slider  120 ,  FIG.  5   -B is a side view of the magnetic slider  120 , and  FIG.  5   -C is an end view of the magnetic slider  120 .  FIG.  5   -D is a side view of the slider magnet  128  and  FIG.  5   -E is a rear view of the magnetic slider  120 . The magnetic slider  120  is an essentially flat rectangular structure having tabs or grips  122   a  and  122   b  at either end of a slider base  124 . The respective grips  122   a  and  122   b  provide for pushing or sliding the magnetic slider  120  in a direction parallel to its length. That is, the magnetic slider  120  is slideable along the surface of the indicator base  130  on which it resides. The tabs or grips  122   a  and  122   b  protrude upward at each end of the slider base  124  so that the tabs  122   a  and  122   b  are readily accessible above the frame  110  of the magnetic status indicator  100 . 
     The slider magnet  128  fits within a slider magnet opening  126  on the underside or rear of the magnetic slider  120 . The slider magnet opening  126  is a circular opening having a depth sufficient for the slider magnet  128  to fit within the magnetic slider  120  and still allow for the magnetic slider to move along the surface of the indicator base  120 . The slider magnet opening  126  is substantially centered along the length and width of the underside of the magnetic slider  120 . The slider magnet  128  is secured in place within the slider magnet opening  126  via an adhesive such as is common for securing a magnet to a metal, metallic alloy, or other material as described herein. 
       FIG.  6   -A is a top view of the indicator base  130  and  FIG.  6   -B is a side view of the indicator base  130 .  FIG.  6   -C is a bottom view of the indicator base  130 ,  FIG.  6   -D is a view of the base magnets  136   a  and  136   b.  The indicator base  130  includes an indicator label  132   a  and an indicator label  132   b  along its surface. The indicator base  130  also includes respective risers  138   a  and  138   b  along its length just away from the edge on each side. 
     In the illustrated examples, the indicator label  132   a  is labeled DIRTY and the indicator label  132   b  is labeled CLEAN. Of course, the respective labels can be reversed, if desired. Likewise, the respective labels can be depicted in any suitable language as appropriate. In the illustrated example, the indicator labels  132   a  and  132   b  are made of a covering affixed, applied or secured to the surface of the indicator base  130 . Any type covering or paint that is suitable for a metal surface can be suitable for the indicator labels  132   a  and  132   b.    
     The risers  138   a  and  138   b  along the length of the indicator base  130  provide a narrow section to provide slight spacing between the magnetic slider  120  and the surface of the indicator base  130 . This spacing provides better mobility of the magnetic slider  120  along the length of the indicator base  130  while also protecting the indicator labels  132   a  and  132   b  from being potentially scratched by the movement of the magnetic slider  120  along the length. 
     The underside of the indicator base  130  is illustrated in  FIG.  6   -C and includes two base magnet openings  134   a  and  134   b.  Each base magnet opening  134   a  and  134   b  respectively are circular openings having a depth sufficient for the respective base magnet  136   a  and  136   b  to fit within the indicator base  130 . Each base magnet opening  134   a  and  134   b  are substantially centered along the width of the indicator base  130 . Each base magnet opening  134   a  and  134   b  are positioned along the length of the indicator base so that the corresponding base magnet  136   a  and  136   b  are positioned respectively underneath the indicator labels  132   a  and  132   b.  Each base magnet  136   a  and  136   b  is secured in place within the respective base magnet opening  134   a  and  134   b  via an adhesive such as is common for securing a magnet to a metal, metallic alloy, or other material as described herein. 
       FIG.  7    is a view illustrating the base cover adhesive portion  140  for the base of the magnetic status indicator  100 . The base cover adhesive portion  140  is an adhesive and is applied to the underside of the indicator base  130 . The base cover adhesive portion  140  provides a covering for the base magnet openings  134   a  and  134   b  and also for additional securing of the base magnets  136   a  and  136   b  in place within the base magnet openings  134   a  and  134   b.    
     In one embodiment, the magnetic status indicator  100  is applied to the surface of an appliance or dishwasher having a metal surface. The base magnets within the indicator base  130  provide for securing the magnetic status indicator  100  in position to a metallic surface. 
     Alternatively, the base covering is also secureable to a dishwasher or other appliance via hook and loop type fasteners. In one embodiment, hook and loop fasteners are applied to the rear of the magnetic status indicator  100  and also to the surface of the respective appliance or dishwasher. In such an embodiment, the magnetic status indicator  100  can be applied to a non-metallic or non-magnetic surface. 
     From the foregoing description, it will be recognized by those skilled in the art that a magnetic status indicator  100  affixable to the surface of a dishwasher or other appliance has been provided. The magnetic status indicator  100  includes a magnetic slider  120  that is positionable to cover one of the respective DIRTY/CLEAN status indicator labels  132   a  or  132   b  while the remaining status indicator label remains uncovered. In this way, a quick glance at the magnetic status indicator  100  provides instant knowledge whether the dishes contained within the dishwasher are clean or dirty. The magnetic slider  120  is easily adjustable between the two positions via a slider magnet  128  within the magnetic slider  120  in conjunction with the pair of base magnets  136   a  and  136   b  within the indicator base  130 . 
     The combination of the slider magnet  128  and one of the respective base magnets  136   a  or  136   b  provide for maintaining the magnetic slider  120  in position over the respective indicator label  132   a  or  132   b.  That is, the attraction between the slider magnet  128  and the respective base magnet  136   a  or  136   b  holds the magnetic slider  120  in place over the respective indicator label  132   a  or  132   b.    
     While the present invention has been described with reference to certain embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted without departing from the scope of the present invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the present invention without departing from its scope. Therefore, it is intended that the present invention not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but that the present invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.