Door assembly for a dishwashing appliance, and associated apparatus

Abstract

A dishwashing appliance door assembly and associated apparatus are provided. An inner door member has a console member about the upper end thereof and is pivotable about a lower end thereof with a tub portion. One of the inner door member and console member includes a first handle device engaged therewith. An outer panel member is operably and removably engaged with the inner door member and/or console member, and extends laterally to substantially cover the second surface and console member. The outer panel member is at least partially disposed between a second handle device and the inner door member and console member. The inner door member is pivotable with respect to the tub portion via the second handle device when the outer panel member is operably engaged with the inner door member, and is pivotable via the first handle device when the outer panel member is removed therefrom.

1 . A door assembly for a dishwashing appliance having a tub portion defining a forward access opening and an interior, the door assembly being pivotably engaged with the tub portion and adapted to cooperate with the tub portion to cover the forward access opening, the door assembly comprising:
 an inner door member having opposing first and second surfaces, the first surface being adapted to face the interior of the tub portion, the inner door member having an upper end and being configured to pivotably engage the tub portion about a lower end thereof;   a console member operably engaged with the inner door member about the upper end thereof, the console member being adapted to receive a control assembly for selectively directing operation of at least one operational component of the dishwashing appliance;   a first handle device operably engaged with at least one of the inner door member and the console member; and   an outer panel member operably and removably engaged with at least one of the inner door member and the console member, the outer panel member being disposed adjacent to the second surface of the inner door member, and being configured to extend laterally so as to substantially cover the second surface and the console member, the outer panel member having a second handle device operably engaged therewith such that the outer panel member is at least partially disposed between the second handle device and at least one of the inner door member and the console member, the inner door member being pivotable with respect to the tub portion through interaction with the second handle device when the outer panel member is operably engaged with the inner door member, and being pivotable with respect to the tub portion through interaction with the first handle device when the outer panel member is removed therefrom.   
   
   
       2 . A door assembly according to  claim 1  further comprising a medial panel member operably engaged with the inner door member and disposed between the inner door member and the outer panel member, the first handle device being at least partially disposed between the inner door member and the medial panel member, and the first handle device being accessible through an aperture defined by the medial panel member. 
   
   
       3 . A door assembly according to  claim 2  further comprising a first portion of an engagement mechanism operably engaged with the outer panel member and a second portion of the engagement mechanism operably engaged with at least one of the inner panel member, the console member, and the medial panel member, the first and second portions of the engagement mechanism being complementarily configured and selectively engageable for removably engaging the outer panel member with the inner door member. 
   
   
       4 . A door assembly according to  claim 2  wherein the medial panel member includes an embossed structure integrally formed therewith for structurally reinforcing the medial panel member. 
   
   
       5 . A door assembly according to  claim 4  wherein the embossed structure is further configured to receive a pivoting mechanism in engagement therewith, and the pivoting mechanism is further configured to operably engage the tub portion to facilitate the pivotable engagement between the inner door member and the tub portion. 
   
   
       6 . A door assembly according to  claim 2  wherein the inner door member further comprises an embossed structure integrally formed therewith for structurally reinforcing the inner door member. 
   
   
       7 . A dishwashing appliance comprising:
 a tub portion having a plurality of walls defining a forward access opening and an interior; and   a door assembly pivotably engaged with the tub portion and configured to cooperate with the tub portion to cover the forward access opening, the door assembly comprising:
 an inner door member having opposing first and second surfaces, the first surface being configured to face the interior of the tub portion, the inner door member having an upper end and being configured to pivotably engage the tub portion about a lower end thereof; 
 a console member operably engaged with the inner door member about the upper end thereof, the console member being adapted to receive a control assembly for selectively directing operation of at least one operational component of the dishwashing appliance; 
 a first handle device operably engaged with at least one of the inner door member and the console member; and 
 an outer panel member operably and removably engaged with at least one of the inner door member and the console member, the outer panel member being disposed adjacent to the second surface of the inner door member, and being configured to extend laterally so as to substantially cover the second surface and the console member, the outer panel member having a second handle device operably engaged therewith such that the outer panel member is at least partially disposed between the second handle device and at least one of the inner door member and the console member, the inner door member being pivotable with respect to the tub portion through interaction with the second handle device when the outer panel member is operably engaged with the inner door member, and being pivotable with respect to the tub portion through interaction with the first handle device when the outer panel member is removed therefrom. 
   
   
   
       8 . A dishwashing appliance according to  claim 7  further comprising a medial panel member operably engaged with the inner door member and disposed between the inner door member and the outer panel member, the first handle device being at least partially disposed between the inner door member and the medial panel member, and the first handle device being accessible through an aperture defined by the medial panel member. 
   
   
       9 . A dishwashing appliance according to  claim 8  further comprising a first portion of an engagement mechanism operably engaged with the outer panel member and a second portion of the engagement mechanism operably engaged with at least one of the inner panel member, the console member, and the medial panel member, the first and second portions of the engagement mechanism being complementarily configured and selectively engageable for removably engaging the outer panel member with the inner door member. 
   
   
       10 . A dishwashing appliance according to  claim 8  wherein the medial panel member includes an embossed structure integrally formed therewith for structurally reinforcing the medial panel member. 
   
   
       11 . A dishwashing appliance according to  claim 10  wherein the embossed structure is further configured to receive a pivoting mechanism in engagement therewith, and the pivoting mechanism is further configured to operably engage the tub portion to facilitate the pivotable engagement between the inner door member and the tub portion. 
   
   
       12 . A dishwashing appliance according to  claim 8  wherein the inner door member further comprises an embossed structure integrally formed therewith for structurally reinforcing the inner door member.