Dishwasher

Abstract

A dishwasher door assembly can include a door with an exterior surface bounding an interior space, a controller with a controller switch that is inaccessible from the exterior of the door and actuatable by movement in a first direction, and an actuator, accessible from the exterior of the door, and moveable in a second direction different from the first direction, such that movement of the actuator in the second direction actuates the controller switch in the first direction.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A dishwasher door assembly, comprising:
 a door with an exterior surface bounding an interior space;   a controller positioned within the interior space and having a controller switch, with the controller switch inaccessible from the exterior of the door and actuatable by movement in a first direction; and   an actuator, accessible from the exterior of the door, and moveable in a second direction different from the first direction, the actuator having two spaced ends, with one end for engagement by a user, and the other end mechanically coupled to the controller switch such that movement of the actuator in the second direction actuates the controller switch in the first direction.   
     
     
         2 . The dishwasher door assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising an optical waveguide coupled to the door. 
     
     
         3 . The dishwasher door assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the actuator extends through the optical waveguide. 
     
     
         4 . The dishwasher door assembly of  claim 2 , further comprises a fluid channel located at least in the optical waveguide and forming a bypass flow path fluidly isolated from the controller. 
     
     
         5 . The dishwasher door assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the actuator comprises a first end extending to a top edge of the door. 
     
     
         6 . The dishwasher door assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a pivotal coupling between the actuator and the door, whereby an input force on the actuator along the first direction is rotatably redirected to a contact force along the second direction. 
     
     
         7 . The dishwasher door assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the actuator comprises a unitary body extending from a first end to a second end, with the first end accessible from the exterior of the door and the second end confronting the controller switch. 
     
     
         8 . The dishwasher door assembly of  claim 7 , further comprising a pivotal coupling between the actuator and the door. 
     
     
         9 . The dishwasher door assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the pivotal coupling is positioned adjacent the first end of the body of the actuator. 
     
     
         10 . The dishwasher door assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the actuator comprises a pivotable injection-molded button. 
     
     
         11 . A dishwasher door assembly, comprising:
 a door with an exterior surface bounding an interior space;   a controller positioned within the interior space and having a controller switch, with the controller switch inaccessible from the exterior of the door and actuatable by movement in a first direction; and   an actuator, accessible from the exterior of the door, and moveable in a second direction different from the first direction, with the actuator mechanically coupled to the controller and having two spaced ends, each end being free to move along the different directions such that movement of the actuator in the second direction actuates the controller switch in the first direction.   
     
     
         12 . The dishwasher door assembly of  claim 11 , further comprising a pivotal coupling between the actuator and the door, whereby an input force on the actuator along the first direction is rotatably redirected to a contact force along the second direction. 
     
     
         13 . The dishwasher door assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the actuator comprises a unitary body extending from a first end to a second end, with the first end accessible from the exterior of the door and the second end confronting the controller switch. 
     
     
         14 . The dishwasher door assembly of  claim 13 , further comprising a pivotal coupling between the actuator and the door. 
     
     
         15 . The dishwasher door assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the pivotal coupling is positioned adjacent the first end of the body of the actuator. 
     
     
         16 . The dishwasher door assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the actuator comprises a pivotable injection-molded button. 
     
     
         17 . The dishwasher door assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the controller switch comprises a push button. 
     
     
         18 . The dishwasher door assembly of  claim 11 , further comprising an optical waveguide coupled to the door. 
     
     
         19 . The dishwasher door assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the actuator extends through the optical waveguide. 
     
     
         20 . The dishwasher door assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the actuator comprises a first end extending to a top edge of the door.