Fluid Coupling Assembly for a Dishwasher

Abstract

A fluid coupling assembly is provided for releasably connecting a wash fluid supply line of a dishwasher to an upper spray arm assembly of the dishwasher. The fluid conduit assembly includes an extensible tower that is moved into an extended position, engaging the coupling of a feed tube for the upper spray arm assembly for the dishwasher when wash fluid is passed therethrough, and is automatically disconnected and moves to a retracted, non-engaging position when the flow of wash fluid is discontinued so as not to interfere with the sliding movement of the upper and lower dish racks of the dishwasher for loading and unloading of dishes therefrom.

1 . A dishwasher for cleaning dishware, comprising:
 a body having an upper portion, a lower portion, and side walls defining a wash chamber;   at least one rack received within said wash chamber for supporting the dishware therein for cleaning;   a spray arm assembly for spraying washing fluid at the dishware within said rack, said spray arm assembly including a spray arm and a feed tube connected at one end to said spray arm, with a feed tube coupling at an opposite end thereof; and   a fluid supply line extending along said wash chamber and having an extensible fluid coupling assembly adapted to move into releasable engagement with and engage said feed tube coupling of said spray arm assembly in substantially sealing engagement, said fluid coupling assembly including a nozzle with a substantially spherically shaped wall portion formed thereabout to facilitate the guiding of said nozzle of said fluid coupling assembly into a coupled engagement with said feed tube coupling and substantially sealed against said feed tube coupling.   
     
     
         2 . The dishwasher of  claim 1  wherein said at least one rack comprises an upper rack slidably mounted within said wash chamber and further comprising a lower rack slideably received within said wash chamber along said lower portion of said body. 
     
     
         3 . The dishwasher of  claim 1  and further comprising a lower spray arm mounted adjacent said lower portion of said body, and a lower rack in which dishware is received for application of washing fluid thereto, slidably received within said wash chamber of said body adjacent said lower spray arm. 
     
     
         4 . The dishwasher of  claim 1  and wherein said substantially spherically shaped wall portion formed about said nozzle can extend from about 30° to about 50° above a horizontal plane adjacent said nozzle. 
     
     
         5 . The dishwasher of  claim 1  and wherein said fluid coupling assembly comprises a base and an extensible tower received within said base and moveable between an extended portion and a retracted position upon passage of the wash fluid therethrough. 
     
     
         6 . The dishwasher of  claim 5  and wherein said extensible tower comprises a body having an open inlet end and an open outlet end about which said nozzle is mounted. 
     
     
         7 . The dishwasher of  claim 6  and further comprising a sealing member positioned about said inlet end of said body of said extensible tower, which sealing member is adapted to move into a sealing position between said body of said extensible tower and said base of said fluid coupling assembly as the wash fluid passes through said connector. 
     
     
         8 . In a dishwasher for washing dishes and having a housing with upper and lower racks for holding the dishes slideably received therein, the improvement comprising:
 a spray arm for directing a wash fluid at the dishes within the upper rack;   a feed tube connected to said spray arm at a first end and having a feed tube coupling at a second end thereof;   a fluid supply line extending through the housing of the dishwasher; and   a fluid coupling assembly connected to one end of said fluid supply line and comprising a base and an extensible tower received within said base and moveable between a retracted position and an extended portion so as to engage said feed tube coupling, said tower having a first open end and a second end comprising a nozzle with a substantially curved wall portion formed thereabout to facilitate the engagement of said nozzle of said fluid coupling assembly with said feed tube coupling to form a substantially sealed connection therewith, and defining a flow passage through which the wash fluid is directed into said feed tube for supply to said spray arm.   
     
     
         9 . The dishwasher of  claim 8  and wherein said substantially curved wall portion formed about said nozzle extends from about 30° to about 50° above a horizontal plane extending across said second end of said tower. 
     
     
         10 . The dishwasher of  claim 9  and wherein said substantially curved wall portion formed about said nozzle comprises a substantially spherically shaped wall formed about said nozzle. 
     
     
         11 . The dishwasher of  claim 8  and further comprising a sealing member received about said first open end of said tower and adapted to move into a sealing position between said tower and said base as the wash fluid is passed through said fluid coupling assembly. 
     
     
         12 . The dishwasher of  claim 11  and wherein said sealing member comprises a ring formed from an elastomeric material, rubber or flexible plastic material. 
     
     
         13 . The dishwasher of  claim 8  and wherein said feed tube coupling comprises a conically shaped section having an outwardly flared end for guiding said nozzle of said tower into substantially sealed engagement therewith. 
     
     
         14 . The dishwasher of  claim 13  and wherein said curved section formed about said nozzle of said tower comprises a spherical surface adapted to substantially seal against said conically shaped section of said feed tube coupling.