Powered utensil basket

Abstract

A powered utensil basket is provided that captures a jet stream emanating from a nozzle located along a rear wall of a wash-tank type pot and pan washing machine. The nozzle directs the jet stream towards a bottom wall of the utensil basket. The jet stream is diverted from the bottom wall of the utensil upward and forward toward a front wall of the basket where it is diverted upward and rearward toward a rear wall of the basket. At the rear wall of the basket, the jet stream is again diverted downward towards the bottom wall where the jet stream is then diverted forward again towards the front wall. This diversion of the jet stream creates a washing action within the utensil basket that is substantially similar to the washing action of the washing machine.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is as follows:  
     
         1 . A utensil basket for use in a pot and pan washing machine, the pot and pan washing machine including at least one nozzle supplying a jet stream of water within the washing machine, the jet stream deflecting from at least one wall of the washing machine to provide a washing action, said utensil basket comprising: 
 a bottom wall including an outer perimeter;    a rear wall extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to said bottom wall, said rear wall located substantially at a first end of said perimeter;    a front wall extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to said bottom wall, said front wall located substantially at a second end of said perimeter, said second end opposing said first end;    two side walls extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to said bottom wall and substantially perpendicular to said front and rear walls, said side walls substantially located at opposing sides of said perimeter; and    wall dimensions, said wall dimensions including a predetermined reduction ratio to utilize the washing action of the washing machine by maintaining proper deflection of the    jet stream and to capture a substantial portion of the jet stream within said utensil basket.    
     
     
         2 . The utensil basket as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising a mount for releasably securing said utensil basket to a wall of the washing machine.  
     
     
         3 . The utensil basket as claimed in  claim 2  wherein said mount comprises a flange extending in a horizontal direction substantially perpendicular to said rear wall, said flange adapted to engage with a horizontal groove located on the wall of the washing machine.  
     
     
         4 . The utensil basket as claimed in  claim 3  wherein said mount further comprises a slit extending through said flange in a direction substantially perpendicular to said horizontal direction of said flange, said slit adapted to receive a rib extending from said groove in a direction substantially perpendicular to said groove.  
     
     
         5 . The utensil basket as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising an inlet aperture through said rear wall adapted to receive the jet stream emanating from the nozzle.  
     
     
         6 . The utensil basket as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said bottom wall is substantially solid.  
     
     
         7 . The utensil basket as claimed in  claim 6  further comprising a drain hole through said bottom wall.  
     
     
         8 . The utensil basket as claimed in  claim 7  wherein said drain hole comprises perforations in said bottom wall.  
     
     
         9 . The utensil basket as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said front wall is substantially solid.  
     
     
         10 . The utensil basket as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said side walls are substantially solid.  
     
     
         11 . The utensil basket as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising at least one horizontal cross-member extending between said side walls or between said front and rear walls to divide said utensil basket into multiple compartments.  
     
     
         12 . A utensil basket for use in a pot and pan washing machine, the pot and pan washing machine including at least one nozzle supplying a jet stream of water within the washing machine, the jet stream deflecting from at least one wall of the washing machine to provide a washing action, said utensil basket comprising: 
 a bottom wall including an outer perimeter;    a rear wall extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to said bottom wall, said rear wall located substantially at a first end of said perimeter, said rear wall including an inlet aperture for receiving the jet stream traveling in the first stream direction;    a front wall extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to said bottom wall, said front wall located substantially at a second end of said perimeter, said second end opposing said first end;    two side walls extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to said bottom wall and substantially perpendicular to said front and rear walls, said side walls substantially located at opposing sides of said perimeter.    
     
     
         13 . The utensil basket as claimed in  claim 12  further comprising a mount for releasably securing said utensil basket to a wall of the washing machine.  
     
     
         14 . The utensil basket as claimed in  claim 13  wherein said mount comprises a flange extending in a horizontal direction substantially perpendicular to said rear wall, said flange adapted to engage with a horizontal groove located on the wall of the washing machine.  
     
     
         15 . The utensil basket as claimed in  claim 14  wherein said mount further comprises a slit extending through said flange in a direction substantially perpendicular to said horizontal direction of said flange, said slit adapted to receive a flange extending from said groove in a direction substantially perpendicular to said groove.  
     
     
         16 . The utensil basket as claimed in  claim 12  wherein said bottom wall is substantially solid for diverting the jet stream from a first stream direction to a second stream direction.  
     
     
         17 . The utensil basket as claimed in  claim 16  further comprising a drain hole through said bottom wall.  
     
     
         18 . The utensil basket as claimed in  claim 17  wherein said drain hole comprises perforations in said bottom wall.  
     
     
         19 . The utensil basket as claimed in  claim 12  wherein said front wall is substantially solid.  
     
     
         20 . The utensil basket as claimed in  claim 12  wherein said side walls are substantially solid.  
     
     
         21 . The utensil basket as claimed in  claim 12  further comprising at least one horizontal cross-member extending between said side walls to divide said utensil basket into multiple compartments.  
     
     
         22 . A method of washing utensils in a pot and pan washing machine, the pot and pan washing machine including at least one nozzle supplying a jet stream of water within the washing machine, the jet stream deflecting from at least one wall of the washing machine to provide a washing action, said method comprising the steps of: 
 positioning a utensil basket in the jet stream; and    capturing a substantial portion of the jet stream within said utensil basket while substantially maintaining the jet stream deflection of the washing machine to provide a washing action within said utensil basket.    
     
     
         23 . The method as claimed in  claim 22  further comprising the step of deflecting the jet stream from at least one wall of said utensil basket to provide the washing action within said utensil basket.