Dishwasher wash basket

Abstract

A utensil basket for a dishwasher having a liquid distribution system. The utensil basket having a housing with individual utensil seats and a sprayer coupled to the liquid distribution system and emitting liquid onto the individual seats.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A utensil basket for a dishwasher having a liquid distribution system, the utensil basket comprising:
 a housing having individual utensil seats; and   a sprayer coupled to the liquid distribution system and emitting liquid into the seats.   
     
     
         2 . The utensil basket of  claim 1  wherein the sprayer comprises spray nozzles, with at least one of the nozzles dedicated to one of the seats. 
     
     
         3 . The utensil basket of  claim 2  wherein the sprayer comprises a manifold fluidly coupled to the spray nozzles. 
     
     
         4 . The utensil basket of  claim 3  wherein the manifold is selectively coupled to the liquid distribution system. 
     
     
         5 . The utensil basket of  claim 4  wherein a dish rack fluidly connects to the manifold and the liquid distribution system. 
     
     
         6 . The utensil basket of  claim 1  wherein the housing is configured to be placed in a predetermined location on a dish rack within the dishwasher. 
     
     
         7 . The utensil basket of  claim 1  wherein the housing is configured to support one of silverware and cutlery. 
     
     
         8 . The utensil basket of  claim 1  wherein the housing further comprises a caddy pivotable to the housing, the seats formed in one of housing and caddy portions. 
     
     
         9 . The utensil basket of  claim 1  wherein the housing further comprises a cover. 
     
     
         10 . The utensil basket of  claim 9  wherein the cover selectively covers at least a portion of the individual seats. 
     
     
         11 . A dishwasher comprising:
 a tub defining a wash chamber;   a liquid recirculation system having a liquid supply tube;   a dish rack provided within the wash chamber;   a wash basket carried by the dish rack; the wash basket having a housing comprising individual seats and a sprayer coupled to the liquid recirculation system and configured to emit liquid onto the individual seats.   
     
     
         12 . The dishwasher of  claim 11  further comprising a sensor configured to sense a connection of the wash basket to the dish rack. 
     
     
         13 . The dishwasher of  claim 12  wherein upon sensing the wash basket, the dishwasher provides liquid to the wash basket during a portion of a wash cycle. 
     
     
         14 . The dishwasher of  claim 11  further comprising a user activated cycle select configured to provide liquid to the wash basket during a portion of a wash cycle. 
     
     
         15 . The dishwasher of  claim 11  wherein the wash basket comprises a mounting port configured to be received in a receiving port on dish rack in a predetermined location. 
     
     
         16 . The dishwasher of  claim 15  wherein the wash basket is configured to support one of silverware stemware, and cutlery. 
     
     
         17 . The dishwasher of  claim 11  wherein the dish rack selectively couples wash basket to the liquid recirculation system. 
     
     
         18 . The dishwasher of  claim 11  wherein the housing further comprises a caddy pivotable to the housing, the seats formed in one of housing and caddy portions. 
     
     
         19 . The dishwasher of  claim 11  wherein the housing further comprises a cover. 
     
     
         20 . The dishwasher of  claim 19  wherein the cover selectively covers at least a portion of the individual seats.