Dishwasher wash basket

Abstract

A utensil basket for removable mounting in a dishrack of a dishwasher having a liquid distribution system. The utensil basket having a housing with an open top and a porous bottom, multiple seats provided within the housing, a utensil separator, and a sprayer carried by the housing and configured to emit a spray of liquid toward the multiple seats.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A utensil basket for removable mounting in a dishrack of a dishwasher having a liquid distribution system, the utensil basket comprising:
 a housing with an open top and a porous bottom;   multiple seats provided within the housing in spaced relationship, with each seat configured to support a single utensil;   a utensil separator having a portion located between each of the seats; and   a sprayer carried by the housing and configured to emit a spray of liquid toward the multiple seats.   
     
     
         2 . 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. 
     
     
         3 . The utensil basket of  claim 1  wherein the utensil separator is carried by the housing. 
     
     
         4 . The utensil basket of  claim 3  wherein the housing includes at least two side walls, and the utensil separator is mountably engaged to the at least two side walls. 
     
     
         5 . The utensil basket of  claim 1  wherein the housing further comprises a cover. 
     
     
         6 . The utensil basket of  claim 5  wherein the cover selectively covers at least a portion of at least one seat of the multiple seats. 
     
     
         7 . The utensil basket of  claim 5  wherein the cover selectively covers at least a portion of the utensil separator. 
     
     
         8 . The utensil basket of  claim 1  further comprising a caddy carried by the housing. 
     
     
         9 . The utensil basket of  claim 8  wherein the utensil separator is carried by the caddy. 
     
     
         10 . The utensil basket of  claim 9  wherein the caddy includes at least two caddy side walls, and the utensil separator is mountably engaged to the at least two caddy side walls. 
     
     
         11 . A utensil basket for removable mounting in a dishrack of a dishwasher having a liquid distribution system, the utensil basket comprising:
 a housing with an open top and a porous bottom;   multiple seats provided within the housing in spaced relationship, with each seat configured to support a single utensil;   a utensil separator having a plurality of peaks and valleys, and the valleys located between each of the seats; and   a sprayer, carried by the housing, and having multiple nozzles configured to emit a spray of liquid toward the multiple seats.   
     
     
         12 . The utensil basket of  claim 11  wherein the plurality of peaks and valleys are linearly aligned. 
     
     
         13 . The utensil basket of  claim 11  wherein the utensil separator is carried by the housing. 
     
     
         14 . The utensil basket of  claim 13  wherein housing includes at least two side walls, and the utensil separator is mountably engaged to the at least two side walls of the housing. 
     
     
         15 . The utensil basket of  claim 11  further comprising a caddy carried by the housing. 
     
     
         16 . The utensil basket of  claim 15  wherein the utensil separator is carried by the caddy. 
     
     
         17 . The utensil basket of  claim 11  wherein the housing further comprises a cover. 
     
     
         18 . The utensil basket of  claim 17  wherein the cover selectively covers at least a portion of at least one seat of the multiple seats. 
     
     
         19 . The utensil basket of  claim 17  wherein the cover selectively covers at least a portion of the utensil separator. 
     
     
         20 . A utensil basket for removable mounting in a dishrack of a dishwasher having a liquid distribution system, the utensil basket comprising:
 a housing with an open top and a porous bottom;   multiple seats provided within the housing in spaced relationship, with each seat of the multiple seats configured to support a single utensil;   a utensil separator having a wire-like body with a plurality of peaks and valleys, and the valleys located between each of the seats; and   a sprayer, carried by the housing, and having multiple nozzles configured to emit a spray of liquid onto the multiple seats, with each seat of the multiple seats having a dedicated nozzle.