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 a porous base member, and a non-porous cover member. A set of seats are provided within the housing. A utensil separator can separate utensils received on the seats. A sprayer can be carried by the housing and configured to emit a spray of liquid toward the multiple seats.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A utensil basket configured to hold one or more utensils and removably mounted in a dishrack of a dishwasher having a liquid distribution system, the utensil basket comprising:
 a housing comprising a base member and a cover member cooperatively defining an interior space therebetween, the base member comprising a porous surface configured to permit an egress of liquid from the interior space, the cover member comprising a non-porous surface configured to prevent an ingress of liquid therethrough;   a set of seats disposed within the housing in spaced relationship, with each seat configured to support a respective utensil; and   a sprayer carried by the housing and configured to emit a spray of liquid toward the set of seats.   
     
     
         2 . The utensil basket of  claim 1 , further comprising a caddy disposable in the interior space, wherein the caddy comprises the set of seats. 
     
     
         3 . The utensil basket of  claim 1 , wherein the caddy comprises a porous structure in fluid communication with the base member. 
     
     
         4 . The utensil basket of  claim 1 , further comprising a utensil separator disposable between two adjacent seats for retaining the one or more utensils carried by the seats and configured to separate the one or more utensils. 
     
     
         5 . The utensil basket of  claim 1 , wherein the sprayer is disposed in the interior space. 
     
     
         6 . The utensil basket of  claim 1 , wherein the sprayer comprises a set of nozzles. 
     
     
         7 . The utensil basket of  claim 6 , wherein each respective nozzle is arranged to emit a spray of liquid toward a corresponding seat. 
     
     
         8 . The utensil basket of  claim 1 , wherein the base member is hingedly coupled to the cover member. 
     
     
         9 . The utensil basket of  claim 1 , wherein the caddy is hingedly coupled to one of the base member and the cover. 
     
     
         10 . The utensil basket of  claim 1 , wherein the cover member selectively covers at least a portion of at least one seat of the set of seats. 
     
     
         11 . A utensil basket configured to hold one or more utensils and removably mounted in a dishrack of a dishwasher having a liquid distribution system, the utensil basket comprising:
 a housing cooperatively defined by a porous base and a non-porous cover;   multiple seats provided within the housing in spaced relationship, with each seat configured to support a single utensil;   a utensil separator coupled to a portion of the housing for supporting the one or more utensils carried by the seats and configured to separate the one or more utensils;   the non-porous cover coupled to the housing and pivotable with respect to the housing, the non-porous cover selectively covering at least a portion of at least one seat of the multiple seats and configured to protect at least a portion of the one or more utensils from wash liquid during a wash cycle; and   a sprayer carried by the housing and positioned adjacent the multiple seats and comprising a manifold for distributing liquid throughout a portion of the utensil basket covered by the non-porous cover and protected from the wash liquid during wash cycle, the sprayer comprising a dedicated spray nozzle for each seat.   
     
     
         12 . The utensil basket of  claim 11 , wherein the utensil separator is carried by the housing. 
     
     
         13 . The utensil basket of  claim 12 , 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. 
     
     
         14 . The utensil basket of  claim 11 , further comprising a caddy carried by the housing. 
     
     
         16 . The utensil basket of  claim 14 , wherein the utensil separator is carried by the caddy. 
     
     
         17 . The utensil basket of  claim 11 , further comprising a manifold for distributing liquid throughout the utensil basket. 
     
     
         18 . The utensil basket of  claim 17 , wherein the sprayer further comprises a dedicated spray nozzle for each seat. 
     
     
         19 . The utensil basket of  claim 14 , wherein the caddy comprises a handle. 
     
     
         20 . The utensil basket of  claim 14 , wherein the caddy is porous and in fluid communication with the base.