Kitchen in-sink dishwasher with secondary top sink

Abstract

A kitchen in-sink dishwasher that includes a main sink box with a top opening, tubes with inlet for receiving water and outlet openings for spraying the water into the main sink box, a main drain opening connected to the drain pipe of the kitchen, and a secondary top sink that serves as a top sink when the dishwasher works. The secondary top sink includes a top sink box with a top opening and a drain opening, and is mounted on rails system that slides it to a closed position in which on the main sink box and serves as a top sink or to an opened positioned in which it is on the side of the main sink box. The secondary top sink includes a flexible hose pipe that connects the drain opening of the top sink to the drain pipe.

Description

[0001] Kitchen in- sink dishwasher with secondary top sink Description

[0002] TECHNICAL FIELD

[0003] The present invention refers to a kitchen in-sink dishwasher with a secondary sliding shallow top sink that serves as the lid of the in-sink dishwasher.

[0004] BACKGROUND ART

[0005] There are known many varieties of kitchen in-sink dishwashers (built into the kitchen sink). The problem with these known dishwashers is that when the user run the dishwasher to wash the dishes, he cannot use the sink, he cannot open the faucet and wash fruit, for example, and to solve this problem, the known kitchen in-sink dishwashers include two sinks, one that serves as the box of the dishwasher and the other for a regular use mainly when the dishwasher is running to wash dishes, something which takes up valuable space in the kitchen. The present invention discloses a good solution for these problems.

[0006] DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] The intention of the drawings attached to the application is not to limit the scope of the invention and its application. The drawings are intended only to illustrate the invention and they constitute only one of its many possible implementations.

[0008] FIG. 1 depicts an existing standard kitchen in-sink dishwasher (300).

[0009] FIG. 2 is a schematic depiction of the kitchen in-sink dishwasher (100).

[0010] FIG. 3 depicts a top perspective view of the secondary sliding top sink (200).

[0011] FIG. 4 depicts the secondary sliding top sink when includes the lower and upper bottom parts (209 A) and (209B).

[0012] FIGS 5 and 6 depict the lower part of the bottom (209 A).

[0013] FIG. 7 depicts the tubes-basket system (106).

[0014] FIG. 8 depicts the bottom side (107) of the dishwasher.

[0015] FIG. 9 is a schematic depiction of the systems of the dishwasher (100).

[0016] FIG. 10 is a schematic depiction of the lifting mechanism (600). THE INVENTION

[0017] The main object of the present invention is to provide a kitchen in-sink dishwasher (100) that includes a secondary top sink (200), that may be sliding an relatively shallow, that may be serve also the lid of the dishwasher, possibly as a sideway sliding lid of the dishwasher (100). When the dishwasher is running the secondary top sink (200) serves as the lid of the dishwasher and as a top sink that enables the user to use it as a sink when the dishwasher is running. In this disclosure and in the claims we will refer to the secondary top sink (200) interchangeably with the term “sideway sliding lid”, and vice versa, according to the context and the explanations, and both of these terms will have the same referral number 200 due to the fact that in fact is it one element that serve for these two functions.

[0018] The lids of the kitchen in-sink dishwashers of the prior art known today are mainly lids connected by hinges in the style of the casement doors or lids, as can be seen in Figure 1 that depicts an existing standard kitchen in-sink dishwasher (300). In contrast, the kitchen in-sink dishwasher (100) of the present invention includes the sideway sliding lid (200) that serves also as the secondary top sink when the dishwasher is running. The sliding lid (200) can move to the sides in cases where the sink is near the wall, but can move backwards and forwards, for example, in the case that the sink is located on an island in the kitchen (a new phenomenon in the designs of some kitchens), and the terms “sideway” in this context in this disclosure and in the claims refers also backwards and forwards

[0019] The kitchen in- sink dishwasher (100) of the present invention includes components, parts and elements similar to standard and known kitchen in-sink dishwashers, that are familiar to average experts in the field and therefore there is no need to specify them in details in this disclosure. However, we will note in general that the kitchen ins-sink dishwasher (100) of the present invention includes a main sink box (101) with a main top opening (102), a plurality of tubes (103) with an inlet opening (104 A) for receiving water, and in another embodiment also steam and air, and an outlet openings (104B) (sprinkler or nozzle) for spraying the water (water with soap and / or clean water) and / or steam and / or air into the main sink box (101), a main drain opening (105), that is designed to be closed or opened by standard mechanism for example, which can actually be the drain opening of the main sink box when it is used simply as a sink, and that is connected directly or by a pipe to the existing main drain pipe (401) of the kitchen. Figure 2 is a schematic depiction of the kitchen in-sink dishwasher (100).

[0020] The kitchen in-sink dishwasher (100) includes the secondary top sink (200) (the sideway sliding lid) which is one of the main innovative elements of the present invention. The function of the sideway sliding lid (200) is twofold: (a) to serve as the lid of the dishwasher, or better to say the lid of the main sink box (101), when the dishwasher is in operation, and (b) to serve as the secondary top sink when the dishwasher is running.

[0021] The sideway sliding lid (200) comprises a top sink box (201) with a secondary top opening (202) and a secondary drain opening (203). The top sink box (201) is mounted on a rail system (204), that may include one or more rails, in such a way that an electric motor (205) can operate it (slide it) to a position where the sideway sliding lid (200) covers the main sink box (101) when the dishwasher (100) is in operation (in this disclosure and in the claims “a closed position”), or move it sideway so that it is positioned next to the main sink box (101) and preferably under the counter (402), that sometimes is referred in ordinary language as the marble surface, of the kitchen to which the dishwasher (100) is integrated (in this disclosure and in the claims “an open position”).

[0022] The dishwasher (100) also includes the flexible hose pipe (206) that its first opening (2061) is connected to the secondary drain opening (203) of the top sink box (201) and its second opening (2062) is connected to the main drain pipe (401). The goal is that the connection of the flexible hose pipe to the secondary drain opening and to the main drain pipe, as stated above, will be stable, permanent and flexible despite the lateral movement of the sideway sliding lid (200) from the position where it covers the main sink box (closed position) to the position when it is placed away (opened position).

[0023] The dishwasher (100) includes the transmissions (207) by which the electric motor (205) moves the sideway sliding lid (200) sideway that may be based on rails with teeth for example and a drive rod of the motor that move the lid sideways from a closed position to an open position, and vice versa, or by rotating a wheel that pulles a cable mounted on the wheel for pulling the lid between closed and opened positions.

[0024] In another possible embodiment, the secondary top sink (200) may include a drain adapter (208) whose function is to receive the drain water from the secondary top sink and streams this drain water to the flexible hose pipe. The drain adapter may include an upper opening (2081) that is adapted to the secondary drain opening of the secondary top sink and an exit opening (2082) (preferably on the side) that is designed to be connecting to the flexible hose pipe. In addition, it is possible that the bottom (209) of the sideway sliding lid will include some of the plurality of tubes and sprinklers to spray water from above on the dishes during washing. In general, it is possible that the bottom (209) of the secondary top sink will include a lower bottom part (209A) and an upper bottom part (209B) wherein between these parts some of the aforementioned tubes and sprinklers and the drainage adapter may be positioned and integrated.

[0025] Figure 3 depicts a top perspective view of the secondary top sink (200), Figure 4 depicts the secondary top sink when includes the lower and upper bottom parts (209 A) and (209B), Figure 5 and 6 depicts the lower part of the bottom (209A).

[0026] In another possible embodiment, the dishwasher (100) includes a tubes-basket system (106) that serves as a basket in which the dishes intended for washing are placed, and also as the plurality of tubes (103) for transporting the water and splashing it on the dishes during washing. Figure 7 depicts the tubes-basket system (106) with the inlet opening (104A) that is designed to be connected to the operating system (500) for receiving clean water and / or water with soap and / or steam and / or air to dry the dishes.

[0027] The dishwasher (100) may further include a connection to the electrical system (501) for operating the electric motor and the other systems, a connection to the kitchen's water system (502) for receiving water for washing the dishes, an electric heating system (503) to heat the water, a system to generate steam (504), a system to add soap to the water entering the tubes (505), and a system to stream air (506) (hot or at room temperature) to dry the dishes. These systems and mechanisms are not detailed as they are generally known to those skilled in the art. Figure 8 depicts the bottom side (107) of the dishwasher and Figure 9 is a schematic depiction of the systems of the dishwasher.

[0028] The operating system (500) should activate and manage the use of the dishwasher. As a general rule, the sideway sliding lid should be in the open position and the user uses the main sink box as it is customary to use sinks. When there are enough dishes to wash, the user places them in the basket (106), presses the appropriate button to close the lid (to be in the closed position) and activates the washing program. The washing program may include the following actions, or some or all of them, in the order listed below or in any other logical order: (a) closing the lid and closing the drain opening of the main sink; (b) filling the main sink box with hot water to soak the dishes; (c) emptying the water from the sink (for this purpose, open the drain opening of the main sink); (d) flow hot steam to soften dirt on the dishes; (e) spraying water with soap on the dishes through the outlet openings of the plurality of tubes; (f) splashing clean water on the dishes; (g) air flow (hot or at room temperature) to dry the dishes. While the dishwasher is in operation, the user can use the secondary top sink.

[0029] The dishwasher (100) may further include a lifting mechanism (600) that is designed to lift up the basket 106. The lifting mechanism may include a first rod (601) that is diagonally positioned inside the box 101 and a second rod (602) that is diagonally positioned inside the box 101, which are connected together by an axial connection in their center (603). The lower end 6011 of the first rod 601 is intended to be adjacent to a first lower corner 1011 of the box 101 and the lower end 6021 of the second rod is intended to be adjacent to a second lower corner 1012 of the box 101. The upper end 6022 of the rod 602 is designed to be connected by an axial connection (6023) to the basket 106 while the upper end 6012 of the first rod is connected in a sliding joint (6013) to the basket 1016. When the end 6021 is pulled, then the rods close on each other on their central axis, in a way that causes their upper ends to rise and lift the basket with all the dishes inside to the level of the counter, in a way that helps to get the dishes out of the dishwasher. The lifting mechanism may include a motor (604) and a transmission or cable (605) that can pull the lower end 6021 of the second rod 602 to create the hoisting action. Figure 10 is a schematic depiction of the lifting mechanism (600). We can stress that the dishwasher (100) includes: the a main box-like basin (101) that comprises the main flat rigid bottom (1011), the main vertical peripheral rigid wall (1012) extending upward from the main flat bottom, defining the main top opening (102) that extends across the full horizontal area of the main flat bottom; the slidable secondary box-like basin (201) that comprises the secondary flat rigid bottom (2011) having an area of at least three thousand square centimeters, the secondary vertical peripheral rigid wall (2012) with a height of at least two centimeters, extending upward from the secondary flat bottom and defining the secondary top opening (202) that extends across the full horizontal area of the secondary flat bottom; the secondary box-like basin can contain at least six thousand cubic centimeters of water; the secondary drain opening (203) in the secondary flat bottom, configured to enable water to flow from the secondary basin into the primary drain pipe; an overflow hole (2013) in the secondary vertical peripheral rigid wall that is configured to enable the water to flow from the secondary basin into the primary drain pipe when the secondary drain opening is closed; the rail system (204) on which the slidable secondary box-like basin is mounted, operable via the electric motor (205); the rail system and the motor are configured to move the slidable secondary box-like basin between a closed position and an open position on a same horizontal plane (7); in the closed positon, the slidable secondary box-like basin is configured to cover the main top opening and function as a top sink when the dishwasher is in operation, and in the open position, the slidable secondary box-like basin is configured to be positioned next to the main top opening and located under a countertop (402) of the kitchen (8) in which the dishwasher is installed.

Claims

ClaimsWhat is claimed is:

1. A kitchen in-sink dishwasher (100), comprising:(a) a main box-like basin (101) comprising a main flat rigid bottom (1011) and a main vertical peripheral rigid wall (1012) extending upward from the main flat bottom, defining a main top opening (102) that extends across a full horizontal area of the main flat bottom;(b) a main drain opening (105) in the main flat bottom, configuring to enable drainage water to flow into a primary drain pipe (401) of a kitchen (8) in which the kitchen insink dishwasher is installed;(c) a plurality of tubes (103) having an inlet opening (104 A) for receiving water and multiple outlet openings (104B) for spraying water into the main basin,(d) a slidable secondary box-like basin (201) comprising:(i) a secondary flat rigid bottom (2011) having an area of at least three thousand square centimeters;(ii) a secondary vertical peripheral rigid wall (2012) with a height of at least two centimeters, extending upward from the secondary flat bottom and defining a secondary top opening (202) that extends across a full horizontal area of the secondary flat bottom; wherein the slidable secondary box-like basin is configured to contain at least six thousand cubic centimeters of water;(iii) a secondary drain opening (203) in the secondary flat bottom, configured to enable drainage water to flow from the slidable secondary box-like basin into the primary drain pipe;(iv) an overflow hole (2013) in the secondary vertical peripheral rigid wall, configured to enable water to flow from the slidable secondary box-like basin into the primary drain pipe when the secondary drain opening is closed;(e) a flexible hose pipe (206) having a first end (2061) connected to the secondary drain opening and a second end (2062) configured to connect to the primary drain pipe, enabling drainage water to flow from the slidable secondary box-like basin to the primary drain pipe;(f) a rail system (204) on which the slidable secondary box-like basin is mounted, operable via an electric motor (205); wherein the rail system and the motor are configured to move the slidable secondary box-like basin between a closed position and an open position on a same horizontal plane (7); wherein, in the closed positon, the slidable secondary box-like basin is configured to cover the main top opening and function as a top sink when the dishwasher is in operation, and wherein, in the open position, the slidable secondary box-like basin is configured to be positioned next to the main top opening and located under a countertop (402) of the kitchen.

2. The kitchen in- sink dishwasher of claim 1, wherein said slidable secondary box-like basin is further configured to serve as a lid of said main top opening when the dishwasher is in operation.

3. The kitchen in- sink dishwasher of claim 1, further comprising a drain adapter, wherein the drain adapter includes an upper opening that aligns with said secondary drain opening of said slidable secondary box-like basin and an exit opening that connects to said flexible hose.

4. The kitchen in-sink dishwasher of claim 1, further comprising a tubes-basket system, wherein the tubes-basket system is designed to hold dishes and includes a plurality of tubes for directing water to spray onto the dishes contained within the tubes-basket system.

Images