Venting System for Dishwasher

Abstract

An appliance comprising a sealable chamber ( 10 ) and a door ( 12 ) for the sealable chamber ( 10 ), wherein in an opened position the door ( 12 ) allows access to the chamber ( 10 ); and a venting system for allowing air to escape from the sealable chamber ( 10 ) when the door ( 12 ) is in closed position, wherein the venting system includes a vent flap ( 11 ), the vent flap ( 11 ) moveable from a closed position sealing the vent system to an open position allowing air to escape. The venting system allows an appliance, such as dishwasher, to expel unwanted air or vapour in a controlled manner whilst the appliance remains closed.

1 . An appliance comprising:
 a sealable chamber;   a door for the sealable chamber, wherein in an opened position the door allows access to the chamber; and,   a venting system for allowing air to escape from the sealable chamber when the door is in a closed position,   wherein the venting system includes a vent flap, the vent flap moveable from a closed position sealing the vent system to an open position allowing air to escape wherein the vent flap forms part of the door and wherein in an open position the vent flap extends exteriorly of the door.   
     
     
         2 . An appliance according to  claim 1 , wherein the vent flap forms at least part of the exterior surface of the appliance. 
     
     
         3 . An appliance according to  claim 1 , wherein the appliance is adapted for placement in a joinery structure or kitchen furniture. 
     
     
         4 . An appliance according to  claim 1 , wherein the vent flap is tiltable between an open position and a closed position. 
     
     
         5 . An appliance according to  claim 1 , further comprising an actuator for moving the vent flap between the closed position and the open position. 
     
     
         6 . An appliance according to  claim 1 , further including a biasing element connected to the vent flap, for biasing the vent flap into the closed position. 
     
     
         7 . An appliance according to  claim 1 , further comprising a controller for controlling the operation of the appliance. 
     
     
         8 . An appliance according to  claim 7 , wherein the controller is connected to the actuator, in use the controller controlling the actuator in accordance with an operating cycle of the appliance. 
     
     
         9 . An appliance according to  claim 1 , wherein the venting system includes a mixing chamber for mixing air from the chamber with external air, in order to control the moisture content of the air exiting the venting system. 
     
     
         10 . An appliance according to  claim 1 , wherein the venting system includes a variable speed fan. 
     
     
         11 . An appliance according to  claim 10 , wherein the variable speed fan is connected to the controller. 
     
     
         12 . An appliance according to  claim 1 , wherein the door is slideable between open position and a closed position and the sealable chamber is coupled to the door and is slideable with the door. 
     
     
         13 . An appliance according to  claim 1 , wherein the appliance is a dishwasher. 
     
     
         14 . An appliance according to  claim 13 , wherein the vent flap is actuated in accordance with the washing cycle of the dishwasher. 
     
     
         15 . An appliance according to  claim 1 , wherein the door is adapted to receive an exterior face panel coupled to the vent flap wherein the vent flap moves the exterior face panel. 
     
     
         16 . A dishwasher comprising:
 a sealable chamber;   a door for the sealable chamber, wherein in an opened position the door allows access to the chamber; and   a venting system for allowing air to escape from the sealable chamber when the door is in a closed position,   wherein the venting system includes a vent flap, the vent flap moveable from a closed position sealing the vent system to an open position allowing air to escape, wherein the vent flap forms part of the door and wherein in an open position the vent flap extends exteriorly of the door.   
     
     
         17 . A dishwasher according to  claim 16 , wherein the dishwasher is a drawer type dishwasher. 
     
     
         18 . A venting system for an appliance having a sealable chamber, wherein the venting system allows air to escape from a sealable chamber when the appliance is in a closed configuration, and
 wherein the venting system includes a vent flap on an exterior surface of a door of the appliance, the vent flap moveable from a closed position sealing the vent system to an open position allowing air to escape, wherein in an open position the vent flap extends exteriorly of the door.   
     
     
         19 . An appliance comprising:
 a sealable chamber;   a door for the sealable chamber, wherein in an opened position the door allows access to the chamber, and   a venting system for allowing air to escape from the sealable chamber when the door is in a closed position;   wherein the venting system includes an exhaust duct and a vent flap, the vent flap moveable from a closed position in which the exhaust duct is obstructed to an open position in which the exhaust duct is unobstructed, and wherein the vent flap forms part of the door and extends exteriorly of the door when in an open position.   
     
     
         20 . A method for venting an appliance, comprising the step of moving a vent flap from a closed position to an open position, wherein the vent flap extends exteriorly of the door of the appliance where in an open position, wherein the vent flap forms part of the exterior surface of a door of the appliance, wherein the vent flap extends exteriorly of the door of the appliance wherein in an open position, and wherein the door remains in a closed position.