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 Title: |
US5839458:
Dishwasher clean/dirty indicator
[ Derwent Title ]
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| Country: |
US United States of America
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| Inventor: |
Delcarson, Kevin James; Bedford, TX 76021
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| Assignee: |
None
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| Published / Filed: |
1998-11-24
/ 1997-08-22
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| Application Number: |
US1997000916300
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| IPC Code: |
Advanced:
G01D 5/04;
Core:
G01D 5/02;
IPC-7:
A47L 15/42;
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| ECLA Code: |
G01D5/04;
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| U.S. Class: |
Current:
134/113;
116/216;
116/221;
Original:
134/113;
116/216;
116/221;
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| Field of Search: |
116/216,218,221,280,284,297,298,303,305
374/141,206
134/113
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| Priority Number: |
| 1997-08-22 |
US1997000916300 |
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| Abstract: |
A dishwasher clean/dirty indicator is disclosed for showing a user whether dishes in a dishwasher are clean or dirty. The indicator is configured either as a portable or built-in device. The portable configuration is described in this abstract which begins with a frame (32), containing bearing surfaces. The frame rests within a dish rack (60) of a dishwasher (58). A release arm (44) with vertical and horizontal sections, pivots on the frame bearing surfaces. A drinking glass (62) or similar dish is placed on the horizontal section of the release arm when the dishwasher is loaded, holding the release arm in the loaded position. A release spring (54) retracts the release arm to the unloaded position when the dishwasher is emptied. A latch (48) is pivotably connected to the vertical section of the release arm. Affixed to the frame is a faceplate (34) including sign members (39) with the words clean and dirty, and a spring housing (38). Within the spring housing is a bimetallic spring (36) comprising a shaft (64). Affixed to the shaft is an indicating pointer (40). In the loaded position, the latch is in close proximity with the indicating pointer. As dishes are washed, heat introduced to the dishwasher during a normal dishwasher cycle causes the bimetallic spring to rotate the pointer toward the clean position. The latch tilts as the pointer rotates past it. Once cleared, gravity returns the latch to its upright position, latching the pointer in the clean position. The pointer remains in the clean position until the dishwasher is emptied. Emptying the dishwasher releases the release arm to the unloaded position causing the latch to move away from the pointer, which automatically re-sets the indicator to the dirty position.
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| Primary / Asst. Examiners: |
Gutierrez, Diego F.F.; Hirshfeld, Andrew
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| Family: |
None
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First Claim:
Show all 20 claims |
I claim:
1. A dishwasher indicating device for indicating the clean or dirty condition of items in a dishwasher, said dishwasher indicating device comprising:
- a frame for mounting components of said dishwasher indicating device, said frame comprising bearing surfaces at predetermined locations;
- an indicator with a latching point, said indicator for showing a user of said dishwasher the clean or dirty condition of the items in said dishwasher;
- a heat activated rotational means comprising a shaft of predetermined length, said rotational means being supported by said frame and being configured for moving said indicator to a clean indicating position when heat is applied to the rotational means;
- a latch configured to latch said indicator in the clean indicating position upon said application of said heat;
- a release arm connected to said latch, said release arm being movable at said bearing surfaces of said frame to an unloaded position where said latch is moved away from said latching point of said indicator, allowing the indicator to move to a dirty indicating position; and
- a retracting means for biasing said release arm to said unloaded position;
- whereby the user of said dishwasher indicating device can determine from said indicator when the items in said dishwasher are clean or dirty.
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| Background / Summary: |
Show background / summary
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| Drawing Descriptions: |
Show drawing descriptions
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| Description: |
Show description
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| Forward References: |
Show 5 U.S. patent(s) that reference this one
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