Dishwasher door seal

Claim 2

In a dishwasher having an opening in the front thereof to provide access for the insertion and removal of articles, an improved seal structure comprising: a generally forwardly facing substantially vertical seal abutment portion adjacent to the top and sides of said opening; a generally upwardly facing substantially horizontal seal abutment portion at the bottom of said opening; a rounded transition seal abutment portion at the juncture of said vertical and horizontal seal abutment portions, said seal abutment portions comprising a generally endless seal abutment around said opening; a bottom-hinged door having an inner panel including a generally rearwardly facing substantially vertical seal surface portion juxtaposed said vertical seal abutment portion when said door is closed and further including a bottom generally downwardly facing substantially horizontal seal surface portion juxtaposed said horizontal seal abutment portion and a rounded transition seal surface portion facing said transition seal abutment portion when said door is closed, said seal surface portions comprising a seal surface generally facing said seal abutment and disposed generally parallel thereto; and a strip of elastomeric material extending substantially around said opening and disposed between said seal abutment and said seal surface for compressive sealing therebetween when said door is closed, said strip of elastomeric material comprising an attaching region along one side of said strip of material including means attaching said one side to one of said seal abutment and said seal surface and further comprising a sealing region along generally the opposite side of said strip of material for sealing engagement with the other of said seal abutment and said seal surface, said strip of elastomeric material being continuous and twisted about its longitudinal axis in the area of said transition portions for maintaining a generally cooperable orientation of said attaching and sealing regions relative to said seal abutment and seal surface for compressive sealing therebetween.

Claim 3

The improved seal structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said strip of elastomeric material is unitary.

Claim 4

The improved seal structure as defined in claim 1 and further including reinforcing means in said strip of elastomeric material at said bottom corners.

Claim 5

In a dishwasher having an opening in the front thereof to provide access for the insertion and removal of articles, an improved seal structure comprising: means defining a seal abutment including a generally forwardly facing substantially vertical portion adjacent to the top and sides of said opening, a generally upwardly facing substantially horizontal portion adjacent to the bottom of said opening and generally rounded transition portions connecting said vertical and horizontal portions; a bottom hinged door having an inner panel, said inner panel including perimeter portions along the top and sides facing said vertical seal abutment portion and further including a bottom portion facing said horizontal seal abutment and bottom corner portions generally facing said transition portions when said door is closed, said perimeter portions, said bottom portion, and said bottom corner portions comprising a seal surface juxtaposed and generally parallel to said seal abutment, said inner panel having a plurality of spaced apertures along the top and side perimeter portions thereof and along said bottom portion and corner portions thereof; and a strip of elastomeric material disposed between said seal abutment and said seal surface for compressive sealing therebetween, said strip of elastomeric material comprising an attaching region including a plurality of tabs formed on one side thereof engageable with said apertures for retaining said strip on said panel and further comprising a sealing region along generally the opposite side of said strip of material for sealing engagement with said seal abutments, and said strip of elastomeric material being continuous at the bottom corner portions of said inner panel and being twisted about its longitudinal axis at the bottom corner portions of said inner panel for maintaining a generally cooperable orientation of said attaching and sealing regions relative to said seal abutment and seal surface for compressive sealing therebetween.

Claim 6

In a dishwasher having an opening in the front thereof to provide access for the insertion and removal of articles, an improved seal structure comprising: means defining a seal abutment including a generally forwardly facing substantially vertical portion adjacent to the top and sides of said opening, a generally upwardly facing substantially horizontal portion adjacent to the bottom of said opening and generally rounded transition portions connecting said vertical and horizontal portions; a bottom hinged door having an inner panel, said inner panel including perimeter portions along the top and sides facing said vertical seal abutment portion and further including a bottom portion facing said horizontal seal abutment and bottom corner portions generally facing said transition portions when said door is closed, said perimeter portions, said bottom portion, and said bottom corner portions comprising a seal surface juxtaposed and generally parallel to said seal abutment, said inner panel having a plurality of spaced apertures along the top and side perimeter portions thereof and along said bottom portion and corner portions thereof; and a strip of elastomeric material disposed between said seal abutment and said seal surface for compressive sealing therebetween, said strip of elastomeric material comprising an attaching region including a plurality of tabs formed on one side thereof engageable with said apertures for retaining said strip on said panel and further comprising a sealing region along generally the opposite side of said strip of material for sealing engagement with said seal abutments, and said strip of elastomeric material being continuous at the bottom corner portions of said inner panel and being twisted about its longitudinal axis at the bottom corner portions of said inner panel for maintaining a generally cooperable orientation of said attaching and sealing regions relative to said seal abutment and seal surface for compressive sealing therebetween.

Claim 7

The improved seal structure as defined in claim 4 wherein said strip of elastomeric material is unitary and endless.

Claim 8

The improved seal structure as defined claim 4 wherein said strip of elastomeric material is of generally semicircular uniform cross section configuration.

Claim 9

The improved seal structure as defined in claim 8 further including reinforcing means in said strip of elastomeric material at the bottom corner portions of said inner panel.

Claim 10

The improved seal structure as defined in claim 4 wherein said tabs include locking notches adapted to engage said apertures to lock said strip in position.

Claim 11

The improved seal structure as defined in claim 6 wherein said tabs are uniformly spaced along the entire length of said strip of elastomeric material and wherein said apertures are uniformly spaced along the top and side perimeter portions and along said bottom portion of said inner panel and are relatively closer spaced at the bottom corners of said inner panel to conformably secure said strip of elastomeric material to said inner panel.

Claim 12

In a dishwasher having an opening in the front thereof to provide access for the insertion and removal of articles, an improvEd seal structure comprising: a generally forwardly facing substantially vertical seal abutment portion adjacent to the top and sides of said opening; a generally upwardly facing substantially horizontal seal abutment portion at the bottom of said opening; a pair of rounded transition seal abutment portions at the junctures of said substantially vertical and horizontal seal abutment portions and forming with said vertical and horizontal abutment portions a continuous seal abutment around said opening; a bottom-hinged door having an inner panel, said inner panel having a perimeter portion, a bottom portion, and lower corner portions facing said vertical seal abutment portion, said horizontal seal abutment portion, and said transition seal abutment portions respectively, when said door is closed to define a seal surface juxtaposed and generally parallel to said seal abutment; and a strip of elastomeric material disposed between said seal surface and said seal abutment for compressive sealing therebetween when said door is closed, said strip of elastomeric material comprising an attaching region generally along one side of said strip of material including means attaching said one side to the seal surface on said inner panel and further comprising a sealing region along generally the opposite side of said strip of material for sealing engagement with said seal abutment, said strip of elastomeric material being continuous at the bottom corner portions of said inner panel and being twisted approximately 90* at the bottom corner portions of said inner panel and conformably secured thereto along its entire length for maintaining a generally cooperable orientation of said attaching and sealing regions relative to said seal abutment and seal surface for compressive sealing therebetween. 11. The improved seal structure as defined in claim 10 wherein said strip of elastomeric material is unitary and wherein the ends of said strip are joined to provide an endless seal around said openings.

Claim 13

A seal structure for a dishwasher including a cabinet structure having a generally rectangular opening therein to provide access for the insertion and removal of articles, door means for selectively closing said opening, and hinge means attached to said cabinet structure and said door means adjacent one side of said opening, the combination comprising: means on said cabinet structure defining an endless seal abutment including a first portion adjacent the three sides of said opening not adjacent said hinge means facing generally the same direction as said opening and further including a second portion along the side of said opening adjacent said hinge means and facing generally at a right angle to the direction of said opening, said seal abutment further including rounded transition junction corners connecting said first and second portions; panel means on said door means defining an endless seal surface juxtaposed to and conforming generally to the contour of said seal abutment, said seal surface being spaced from and facing said seal abutment in a generally parallel relationship when said door is closed; and a strip of elastomeric material extending substantially around said opening and disposed between said seal abutment and said seal surface for compressive sealing contact with each of said seal abutment and seal surface when said door is closed, said strip of elastomeric material comprising an attaching region including means attaching said strip of material to one of said seal abutment and said seal surface and further comprising a sealing region for sealing engagement with the other of said seal abutment and said seal surface, said strip of elastomeric material being continuous at the junction corners of the first and second portions of said seal abutment and being twisted approximately 90* about its longitudinal axis at said corners for maintaining a generally cooperable orientation of said attaching and sealing regions relative to said seal abutment and seal sUrface for compressive sealing therebetween.

Claim 14

A seal structure for a dishwasher including a cabinet structure having a generally rectangular opening therein to provide access for the insertion and removal of articles, door means for selectively closing said opening, and hinge means attached to said cabinet structure and said door means adjacent one side of said opening, the combination comprising: means on said cabinet structure defining an endless seal abutment including a first portion adjacent the three sides of said opening not adjacent said hinge means facing generally the same direction as said opening and further including a second portion along the side of said opening adjacent said hinge means and facing generally at a right angle to the direction of said opening, said seal abutment further including rounded transition junction corners connecting said first and second portions; panel means on said door means defining an endless seal surface juxtaposed to and conforming generally to the contour of said seal abutment, said seal surface being spaced from and facing said seal abutment in a generally parallel relationship when said door is closed; and a strip of elastomeric material extending substantially around said opening and disposed between said seal abutment and said seal surface for compressive sealing contact with each of said seal abutment and seal surface when said door is closed, said strip of elastomeric material comprising an attaching region including means attaching said strip of material to one of said seal abutment and said seal surface and further comprising a sealing region for sealing engagement with the other of said seal abutment and said seal surface, said strip of elastomeric material being continuous at the junction corners of the first and second portions of said seal abutment and being twisted approximately 90* about its longitudinal axis at said corners for maintaining a generally cooperable orientation of said attaching and sealing regions relative to said seal abutment and seal sUrface for compressive sealing therebetween.