Patent ID: 8118947

Claim:
A dishwasher appliance comprising: a tub portion defining a front opening for receiving dishware therethrough, the front opening having opposing sides; a door member pivotably engaged with a lower end of the tub portion for selectively allowing access to the tub portion through the front opening; a gasket member configured to be received in operable engagement with one of the tub portion and the door member along the opposing sides of the front opening, and the gasket member being configured to interact with the other of the tub portion and the door member to form a seal therebetween when the door member is pivoted to a closed position with respect to the front opening; at least one flange member extending at least partially along at least one of the opposing sides of the front opening of the tub portion and configured to interact with the gasket member, the tub portion, and the door member, the at least one flange member further being cantilevered with respect to the gasket member such that upon closing of the door member, the at least one flange member is configured to separate the tub portion from the seal and deflect washing fluid within the tub portion away from the gasket member; and a gasket-receiving channel defined in the tub portion along each of the opposing sides, the gasket-receiving channel configured to receive the gasket member and the at least one flange member therein such that the at least one flange member is disposed between the gasket member and the gasket-receiving channel and surrounds the gasket member within the gasket-receiving channel so as to secure the at least one flange member therein, wherein the flange member extends outwardly from the gasket-receiving channel toward the door member to separate the tub portion from the gasket member and prevent fluid communication between the gasket member and the tub portion.