Patent Description:
In general, a dishwasher includes a main body provided with a washing chamber therein, a rack disposed inside a washing tub to receive tableware, a plurality of nozzles, a sump unit installed below the washing tub to collect water used for washing and to be supplied to the nozzles, and the like.

The rack may include an upper rack and a lower rack disposed vertically, and the nozzle may include an upper nozzle disposed above the upper rack to inject water toward the tableware received in the upper rack, a lower nozzle disposed below the lower rack to inject water toward the tableware received in the lower rack, a middle nozzle disposed between the upper rack and the lower rack to simultaneously inject water onto the tableware received in the upper rack and the lower rack, and the like.

Each of the nozzles may include an injection port for injecting water. In general, the injection port may be formed to be inclined with respect to one surface of the nozzle to inject water toward a predetermined direction.

Water injected through the injection port may be injected in a substantially straight line. When water is injected in a substantially straight line, the range in which water is injected may be limited. When the range in which water is injected is limited, the washing region of the dishwasher may be limited.

<CIT> discloses a dishwasher including a nozzle. The nozzle includes a helical shaped element, which is provided with a flow opening, flanks and flank's transverse sides. The helical shaped element enables that the fluid volume does not laminarly flow from the outflow area or the flow opening but in any directions, essentially chaotically distributed.

It is an aspect of the invention to provide a dishwasher including a nozzle capable of widening a region in which washing water is injected.

In accordance with an aspect of the disclosure, a dishwasher is provided as defined in claim <NUM>.

The nozzle may include a plurality of holes formed by the guide portion and the leg portion, and the plurality of holes may be disposed in different directions to allow the washing water to be injected in various directions. The leg portion includes a plurality of the leg portions disposed to be spaced apart along a circumferential direction of the injection port. The plurality of leg portions include a first leg portion, a second leg portion provided to be longer than the first leg portion, and a third leg portion provided to be longer than the second leg portion.

The plurality of holes and the injection port may be disposed to be spaced apart from each other vertically.

The guide portion may be formed in a spiral shape in which a distance with a central axis of the guide portion is gradually closer.

The distance between the guide portion and the injection port may increase as the guide portion approaches a central axis of the guide portion.

The dishwasher may further include a rack disposed in the washing tub, a lower rotating nozzle disposed below the rack and configured to be rotatable, an upper rotating nozzle disposed above the rack and configured to be rotatable, a middle rotating nozzle disposed between the lower rotating nozzle and the upper rotating nozzle and configured to be rotatable, and an auxiliary nozzle configured to restrictively inject water into a partial region of the rack.

The nozzle may be provided on at least one of the lower rotating nozzle, the upper rotating nozzle, the middle rotating nozzle, and the auxiliary nozzle.

In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, a dishwasher is provided as defined in claim <NUM>.

The thickness of the guide portion in a radial direction of the guide hole may be provided to gradually become thinner along a circumferential direction of the guide hole.

A dishwasher including a nozzle capable of widening a region in which washing water is injected can be provided.

The embodiments described herein and the configurations shown in the drawings are only examples of embodiments of the invention.

The terms used herein are for the purpose of describing the embodiments and are not intended to restrict and/or to limit the disclosure. For example, the singular expressions herein may include plural expressions, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Also, the terms "comprises" or "has" are intended to indicate that there are features, numbers, steps, operations, elements, parts, or components thereof described in the specification, and do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, numbers, steps, operations, elements, parts, or components thereof.

It will be understood that although the terms first, second, etc. may be used herein to describe various components, these components should not be limited by these terms, and the terms are only used to distinguish one component from another. For example, without departing from the scope of the disclosure, the first component may be referred to as a second component, and similarly, the second component may also be referred to as a first component.

Hereinafter embodiments of the invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

<FIG> is a cross-sectional view of a dishwasher according to an embodiment of the disclosure, and <FIG> is a perspective view illustrating an arrangement of a sump unit and nozzles in the dishwasher according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

As illustrated in <FIG>, a dishwasher <NUM> according to an embodiment of the disclosure includes a main body <NUM> forming an outer appearance, a washing tub <NUM> provided inside the main body <NUM>. The washing tub <NUM> may form a washing chamber <NUM> in which washing of tableware is performed, a sump unit <NUM> provided below the washing tub <NUM> to collect water used for washing, and a door <NUM> to open and close an open front side of the washing tub <NUM>.

The washing tub <NUM> is provided with a pair of racks 22U and <NUM> disposed vertically to receive the tableware, respectively, and a plurality of rotating nozzles 23U, <NUM> and <NUM> and an auxiliary nozzle <NUM> to inject the water delivered from the sump unit <NUM> toward the tableware received in the pair of racks 22U and <NUM>.

The pair of racks 22U and <NUM> may include the upper rack 22U disposed at an upper portion of the washing chamber <NUM> and the lower rack <NUM> disposed at a lower portion of the washing chamber <NUM>. The rotating nozzles 23U, <NUM> and <NUM> may include the upper rotating nozzle 23U disposed above the upper rack 22U to inject washing water downward, the lower rotating nozzle 23I disposed below the lower rack <NUM> to inject washing water upward, and the middle rotating nozzle <NUM> disposed between the upper rack 22U and the lower rack <NUM> to inject washing water up and down. Each of the rotating nozzle 23U, <NUM>, <NUM> may be provided to be rotatable. The rotating nozzle 23U, <NUM>, <NUM> may widen a washing region by injecting water while rotating and may minimize the region where water does not reach in the washing region. The auxiliary nozzle <NUM> may be disposed at one side of the lower portion of the washing chamber <NUM> to inject washing water into a partial region of the lower rack <NUM>. The auxiliary nozzle <NUM> may be fixed not to rotate unlike the rotating nozzles 23U, <NUM>, and <NUM>. However, the disclosure is not limited thereto, and the auxiliary nozzle <NUM> may be provided to be rotatable within a predetermined range.

The upper rotating nozzle 23U may wash the tableware received in the upper rack 22U by injecting water downward, and the lower rotating nozzle <NUM> may wash the tableware received in the lower rack <NUM> by injecting water upward. The middle rotating nozzle <NUM> may simultaneously wash the tableware received in the upper rack 22U and the tableware received in the lower rack <NUM> by injecting water upward and downward. The auxiliary nozzle <NUM>, which injects washing water into a partial region of the lower rack <NUM>, is designed to inject relatively high pressure water compared to other rotating nozzles 23U, <NUM>, and <NUM>, so that the tableware heavily contaminated in the corresponding region may be intensively washed.

The sump unit <NUM> may be disposed at the center of the bottom of the washing tub <NUM> to perform a function to collect washing water used for washing.

The sump unit <NUM> may include an upper flow passage 50U to guide water to the upper rotating nozzle 23U, a lower flow passage <NUM> having one end connected to the sump unit <NUM> and the other end connected to the lower rotating nozzle <NUM> to guide the water discharged from the sump unit <NUM> to the lower rotating nozzle <NUM>, an auxiliary flow passage <NUM> having one end connected to the sump unit <NUM> and the other end connected to the auxiliary nozzle <NUM> to guide the water discharged from the sump unit <NUM> to the auxiliary nozzle <NUM>, and a middle flow passage <NUM> connecting the upper flow passage 50U and the middle rotating nozzle <NUM> to guide a part of the water passing through the upper flow passage 50U to the middle rotating nozzle <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, the middle rotating nozzle <NUM> may include an injection port <NUM> to inject washing water. A plurality of the injection ports <NUM> may be provided. The plurality of injection ports <NUM> may be provided not only on the middle rotating nozzle <NUM> but also on the upper rotating nozzle 23U, the lower rotating nozzle <NUM>, and the auxiliary nozzle <NUM>.

Conventionally, the washing water injected through an injection port is injected in only one predetermined direction. As the washing water is injected in one direction, the injection region of the washing water is limited, so that the tableware may not be washed as a whole. In other words, conventionally, the washing region of a nozzle is limited.

According to the disclosure, the injection region of the washing water injected from the injection port may be widened by providing a nozzle in the injection port. Accordingly, the entirety of the tableware, rather than a partial region of the tableware, may be effectively washed. In other words, the washing region of the nozzle may be widened.

A nozzle <NUM> according to an embodiment of the disclosure may be applied without limitation wherever the injection port is provided. As illustrated in <FIG>, the nozzle <NUM> may be applied to the injection port <NUM> of the middle rotating nozzle <NUM>. <FIG> illustrates that the nozzle <NUM> is applied to any one of the injection ports <NUM> of the middle rotating nozzle <NUM>, but the number and arrangement of the nozzles <NUM> may be changed. The nozzle <NUM> may also be formed together with the injection port on at least one of the upper rotating nozzle 23U, the lower rotating nozzle <NUM>, and the auxiliary nozzle <NUM>. In addition, although not shown in the drawings, the above configuration may be applied to a linear type dishwasher. Hereinafter a case where the nozzle <NUM> according to an embodiment of the disclosure is provided on the auxiliary nozzle <NUM> will be described as an example.

<FIG> is a perspective view of an auxiliary nozzle plate in the dishwasher according to an embodiment of the disclosure, and <FIG> is a plane view of the auxiliary nozzle plate in the dishwasher according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the auxiliary nozzle <NUM> may include an auxiliary nozzle plate 60a. The auxiliary flow passage <NUM> may be connected to a lower portion of the auxiliary nozzle plate 60a to receive water from the sump unit <NUM>.

The auxiliary nozzle plate 60a may include a plurality of injection ports <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>. The auxiliary nozzle plate 60a may include the first injection port <NUM> disposed to be spaced apart along an outer circumference of the auxiliary nozzle plate 60a, the second injection port <NUM> disposed closer to a central axis of the auxiliary nozzle plate 60a than the first injection port <NUM>, and the third injection port <NUM> disposed closer to the central axis of the auxiliary nozzle plate 60a than the second injection port <NUM>. The second injection port <NUM> and the third injection port <NUM> may be disposed to be spaced apart along a circumferential direction of the auxiliary nozzle plate 60a, respectively.

The first injection port <NUM> may be disposed to be inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to the auxiliary nozzle plate 60a. The first injection port <NUM> may inject washing water to be inclined at the predetermined angle with respect to the auxiliary nozzle plate 60a. The washing water injected through the first injection port <NUM> may be injected only in a limited region. The injection region of the washing water injected through the first injection port <NUM> may be limited.

Like the first injection port <NUM>, the second injection port <NUM> and the third injection port <NUM> may inject washing water only in a narrow region.

According to the disclosure, the dishwasher <NUM> may include the nozzle <NUM> to widen the injection region of the washing water injected from the injection port. Although the drawing illustrates that the nozzle <NUM> is provided on the third injection port <NUM>, the disclosure is not limited thereto. The nozzle <NUM> may also be provided on the first injection port <NUM> and/or the second injection port <NUM>.

<FIG> is a perspective view of the nozzle in the dishwasher according to an embodiment of the disclosure. <FIG> is a plane view of the nozzle in the dishwasher according to an embodiment of the disclosure. <FIG> are side views illustrating the nozzle at various angles in the dishwasher according to an embodiment of the disclosure;
Hereinafter the nozzle of the dishwasher according to an embodiment of the disclosure will be described with reference to <FIG>.

The nozzle <NUM> according to an embodiment of the disclosure may be provided on a region S of the dishwasher <NUM>. The region S of the dishwasher <NUM> may include one region of the nozzles 23U, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> described above and may also include one region of the washing chamber <NUM>. Hereinafter the region S of the dish washing machine is referred to as the nozzle surface S.

The nozzle <NUM> includes an injection port <NUM>, which may be provided to penetrate the nozzle surface S. The nozzle <NUM> may be provided to be fitted to the nozzle surface S. For example, the nozzle <NUM> may be separately manufactured and fitted into a predetermined hole (not shown) provided in the nozzle surface S. Alternatively, the nozzle <NUM> may be formed integrally with the nozzle surface S.

The injection port <NUM> may receive water from the sump unit <NUM>. The water discharged from the sump unit <NUM> may be introduced into the injection port <NUM>. The water introduced into the injection port <NUM> may be injected into the washing chamber <NUM> through the injection port <NUM>.

The nozzle <NUM> includes a guide portion <NUM> to spirally guide the washing water injected through the injection port <NUM>. The nozzle <NUM> includes leg portions <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> to connect the guide portion <NUM> and the injection port <NUM>.

The guide portion <NUM> may be formed in a spiral shape that converges toward a central axis of the guide portion <NUM>. The guide portion <NUM> may be formed in a spiral shape that rotates about the central axis of the guide portion <NUM>. The guide portion <NUM> may also be provided to converge toward the central axis of the guide portion <NUM> as the guide portion <NUM> moves away from the nozzle surface S. In other words, the guide portion <NUM> may be formed to be closer to the central axis of the guide portion <NUM> as the guide portion <NUM> rotates.

The guide portion <NUM> may widen the injection region of the washing water injected through the injection port <NUM>. Specifically, the guide portion <NUM> may increase the number of injection directions of the washing water injected through the injection port <NUM>. The guide portion <NUM> may implement diversification of the injection direction of the washing water. As the number of injection directions of the washing water increases, the injection region of the washing water injected through the injection port <NUM> may be widened.

The guide portion <NUM> includes a guide surface <NUM> provided to come into contact with the washing water injected through the injection port <NUM>. The guide surface <NUM> may refer to a lower surface of the guide portion <NUM>. The guide surface <NUM> may come into contact with the washing water to guide the washing water.

The guide surface <NUM> is provided to be inclined toward the outside of the guide portion <NUM>. In other words, the guide surface <NUM> may be provided to be inclined toward a radially outer side of the injection port <NUM>.

The guide surface <NUM> may be provided to be inclined upward toward the outside of the guide portion <NUM>. The washing water injected through the injection port <NUM> may be injected in a direction of being inclined upward toward the outside of the guide portion <NUM> by the guide surface <NUM>. As described above, because the guide portion <NUM> is provided in a spiral shape, the washing water may be spirally injected. When the washing water is injected in a spiral shape, the injection region of the washing water may be widened.

The leg portions <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> may include the first leg portion <NUM>, the second leg portion <NUM>, and the third leg portion <NUM> disposed to be spaced apart from each other along a circumferential direction of the injection port <NUM>.

The first leg portion <NUM> may connect one end of the guide portion <NUM> and the injection port <NUM>. The third leg portion <NUM> may connect the other end of the guide portion <NUM> and the injection port <NUM>.

The second leg portion <NUM> may be provided to be longer than the first leg portion <NUM>. The third leg portion <NUM> may be provided to be longer than the second leg portion <NUM>. Because the distance between the guide portion <NUM> and the injection port <NUM> gradually increases, the lengths of the leg portions <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> connecting the guide portion <NUM> and the injection port <NUM> may also gradually increase.

The leg portions <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> may be provided to be inclined toward the central axis of the guide portion <NUM>. This is because the size of the injection port <NUM> is larger than the guide portion <NUM>. The guide portion <NUM> may be disposed to be spaced apart from the injection port <NUM> to cover one region of the injection port <NUM>.

The nozzle <NUM> may include a first hole <NUM> formed between the first leg portion <NUM>, the second leg portion <NUM>, and the guide portion <NUM>, a second hole <NUM> formed between the second leg portion <NUM>, the third leg portion <NUM>, and the guide portion <NUM>, and a third hole <NUM> formed between the third leg portion <NUM>, the first leg portion <NUM>, and the guide portion <NUM>.

According to the disclosure, as the nozzle <NUM> includes the guide portion <NUM> and the leg portions <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>, the number of injection ports through which washing water is injected and the directions in which washing water is injected may increase.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the injection port <NUM> may include the first hole <NUM>, the second hole <NUM>, and the third hole <NUM>. The first hole <NUM> may allow the washing water to be injected in a first direction. The second hole <NUM> may allow the washing water to be injected in a second direction different from the first direction. The third hole <NUM> allow the washing water to be injected in a third direction different from the first and second directions. The washing water may be injected in various directions through the first hole <NUM>, the second hole <NUM>, and the third hole <NUM>. Through this, the injection region of the washing water injected from the nozzle <NUM> may be widened.

The first hole <NUM> may be provided to gradually increase along the circumferential direction of the injection port <NUM>. In other words, the distance between the guide portion <NUM> and the injection port <NUM> may be provided to gradually increase along the circumferential direction of the injection port <NUM>. Referring to <FIG>, a width x2 at the other end of the first hole <NUM> may be larger than a width x1 at one end of the first hole <NUM>.

The second hole <NUM> may be provided to gradually increase along the circumferential direction of the injection port <NUM>. In other words, the distance between the guide portion <NUM> and the injection port <NUM> may be provided to gradually increase along the circumferential direction of the injection port <NUM>. Referring to <FIG>, a width x4 at the other end of the second hole <NUM> may be larger than a width x3 at one end of the second hole <NUM>.

The third leg portion <NUM> and the first leg portion <NUM> may not be connected by the guide portion <NUM>. The guide portion <NUM> may not form a closed curve. The guide portion <NUM> may be formed in the form of an open curve between the first leg portion <NUM> and the third leg portion <NUM>. The third hole <NUM> may refer to an open region between the first leg portion <NUM> and the third leg portion <NUM>.

<FIG> is a perspective view of an auxiliary nozzle plate in a dishwasher according to another embodiment of the disclosure. <FIG> is a perspective view of a nozzle in a dishwasher according to another embodiment of the disclosure. <FIG> is a bottom view of the nozzle in the dishwasher according to another embodiment of the disclosure.

An auxiliary nozzle plate 60b in a dishwasher according to another embodiment of the disclosure may include the first injection port <NUM>. The auxiliary nozzle plate 60b may include a plurality of injection ports <NUM> disposed closer to a central axis of the auxiliary nozzle plate 60b than the first injection port <NUM>. A plurality of nozzles <NUM> may be provided in the plurality of injection ports <NUM>.

The plurality of nozzles <NUM> may be disposed on the auxiliary nozzle plate 60b in different directions. However, the disclosure is limited thereto. Only one nozzle may be provided on the auxiliary nozzle plate 60b.

Referring to <FIG>, the nozzle <NUM> may include a guide portion <NUM> provided to cover at least a portion of the injection port <NUM>, and leg portions <NUM> and <NUM> provided to connect the guide portion <NUM> and the injection port <NUM>.

The guide portion <NUM> may include a guide hole <NUM> provided to inject the washing water injected through the injection port <NUM> in a direction parallel to a central axis of the guide portion <NUM>. The guide hole <NUM> may be provided to penetrate the center of the guide portion <NUM>.

The leg portions <NUM> and <NUM> may include the first leg portion <NUM> provided at one side of the injection port <NUM> and the second leg portion <NUM> provided at the other side facing the one side of the injection port <NUM>. In other words, the first leg portion <NUM> and the second leg portion <NUM> may be disposed on a straight line.

The thickness of the guide portion <NUM> may be provided to vary along a circumferential direction of the guide hole <NUM>. Specifically, the thickness of the guide portion <NUM> in a radial direction of the guide hole <NUM> may be provided to gradually become thinner along the circumferential direction of the guide hole <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, the guide portion <NUM> may be provided in a spiral shape. As described above, the guide portion <NUM> may be provided in a spiral shape by gradually varying the thickness of the guide portion <NUM>.

The distance between the guide portion <NUM> and the injection port <NUM> may be provided to gradually increase along the circumferential direction of the injection port <NUM>. The nozzle <NUM> may include a first hole <NUM> and a second hole <NUM> provided between the guide portion <NUM> and the injection port <NUM>. A width y1 of one end of the first hole <NUM> may be provided to be smaller than a width y2 of the other end of the first hole <NUM>. A width y3 of one end of the second hole <NUM> may be provided to be smaller than a width y4 of the other end of the second hole <NUM>. In other words, the distance between the guide portion <NUM> and the injection port <NUM> may be provided to gradually increase along the circumferential direction of the injection port <NUM>.

According to the disclosure, the nozzle <NUM> may inject washing water through the guide hole <NUM>, the first hole <NUM>, and the second hole <NUM>. The guide hole <NUM> may allow the washing water to be injected at a high pressure by having a diameter smaller than that of the injection port <NUM>. In addition, the first hole <NUM> and the second hole <NUM> may widen the injection region of the washing water by allowing the washing water to be sprayed in various directions.

Hereinafter a nozzle of a dishwasher according to another embodiment, not being part of the present invention, will be described with reference to <FIG>.

According to another embodiment, not being part of the present invention, an auxiliary nozzle plate 60c may include the first injection port <NUM> disposed on an outer circumference of the auxiliary nozzle plate 60c.

A nozzle <NUM> may be formed together with an injection port <NUM> disposed closer to a central axis of the auxiliary nozzle plate 60c than the first injection port <NUM>. However, the disclosure is not limited thereto, and the nozzle <NUM> may be provided at various positions.

Referring to <FIG>, the nozzle <NUM> according to another embodiment of the disclosure may include a cover portion <NUM> provided to cover the injection port <NUM>. The cover portion <NUM> may be provided to cover at least a portion of the injection port <NUM>.

The cover portion <NUM> may include a guide hole <NUM> provided to penetrate the cover portion <NUM>. The guide hole <NUM> may guide inject the washing water injected through the injection port <NUM> in a first direction. The first direction may refer to a direction parallel to a central axis of the injection port <NUM>.

The nozzle <NUM> may include a spiral hole <NUM> formed between the cover portion <NUM> and the nozzle surface S. The spiral hole <NUM> which is a portion of the injection port <NUM> may refer to a region not covered by the cover portion <NUM>.

The spiral hole <NUM> may be provided such that the width thereof gradually varies along a circumferential direction of the injection port <NUM>. Specifically, the length of the spiral hole <NUM> in a radial direction of the injection port <NUM> may gradually increase along the circumferential direction of the injection port <NUM>. Referring to <FIG> a width z1 of one end of the spiral hole <NUM> may be provided to be smaller than a width z2 of the other end of the spiral hole <NUM>. Through this, the washing water may be injected at a relatively high pressure at one end of the spiral hole <NUM> and may be injected at a relatively low pressure at the other end of the spiral hole <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A dishwasher comprising:
a main body (<NUM>);
a washing tub (<NUM>) provided inside the main body; and
a nozzle (<NUM>) configured to inject washing water into the washing tub,
wherein the nozzle includes
an injection port (<NUM>) configured to inject the washing water into the washing tub,
a guide portion (<NUM>) provided downstream of the injection port and configured to spirally guide the washing water injected from the injection port, and
at least one leg portion (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) configured to connect the guide portion to the injection port,
and
wherein the guide portion (<NUM>) includes a guide surface (<NUM>) configured to guide the washing water by contacting with the washing water,
the guide surface (<NUM>) is configured to be inclined toward an outer circumference of the injection port,
characterized in that the at least one leg portion (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) includes a plurality of leg portions disposed to be spaced apart along a circumferential direction of the injection port, and the plurality of leg portions (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) includes a first leg portion (<NUM>), a second leg portion (<NUM>) longer than the first leg portion, and a third leg portion (<NUM>) longer than the second leg portion.