Air barrier for door condensation

Abstract

A dishwasher system for cleaning dishes may include a dishwasher cabinet defining an opening and a tub configured to house dishes therein and run a dishwasher cycle, a door assembly configured to selectively open and close the opening, and an air distribution duct arranged around the opening of a dishwasher, the duct defining nozzles at each of the top and sides of the opening for distributing air out of the duct towards the opening to force hot and moist air from within the cabinet outward and away from the cabinet.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A dishwasher system for cleaning dishes, comprising:
 a dishwasher cabinet defining an opening and a tub configured to house dishes therein and run a dishwasher cycle;   a door assembly configured to selectively open and close the opening; and   an air distribution duct arranged around the opening of a dishwasher, the duct defining nozzles at each of the top and sides of the opening for distributing air out of the duct towards the opening to force hot and moist air from within the cabinet outward and away from the cabinet.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the duct forms a single piece U-shaped duct configured to receive fresh air via a fan at the base of the dishwasher. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a dishwasher frame defining the cabinet and at least one foam seal on each of the sides of the dishwasher, wherein the duct is at least partially formed at the sides between the frame and the foam seal. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , further comprising a plastic plate arranged at the top of the dishwasher cabinet, wherein the duct is at least partially formed at the top of the dishwasher between the frame and the plastic plate. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , further comprising a tub duct fluidly connected to the air distribution duct at the base of the dishwasher, the tub duct configured to selectively vent fresh air into the dishwasher cabinet to aid in drying dishes. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , further comprising a flap arranged between the air distribution duct and the tub duct to selectively close one of the ducts allowing fresh air into the other duct, and a controller in communication with the flap and programmed to control the position of the flap based on at least one of a cycle status and door position. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the flap is configured to selectively block airflow to one of the tub duct and the air distribution duct, wherein selectively blocking the tub duct allows the air distribution duct to force the hot and moist air from within the cabinet outward and away from the cabinet and wherein selectively blocking the air distribution duct allows for air to vent into the dishwasher cabinet to aid in drying dishes. 
     
     
         8 . A dishwasher system for cleaning dishes, comprising:
 a dishwasher cabinet defining an opening and a tub configured to house dishes therein and run a dishwasher cycle;   a door assembly configured to selectively open and close the opening; and   a U-shaped duct arranged around the opening of a dishwasher, the duct defining nozzles at each of the top and sides of the opening for distributing air out of the duct towards the opening to force hot and moist air from within the cabinet outward and away from the cabinet.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , further comprising a fan arranged at one side of the duct at the base of the dishwasher to provide fresh air to the duct. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8 , further comprising a dishwasher frame defining the cabinet and at least one foam seal on each of the sides of the dishwasher, wherein the duct is at least partially formed at the sides between the frame and the foam seal. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , further comprising a plastic plate arranged at the top of the dishwasher cabinet, wherein the duct is at least partially formed at the top of the dishwasher between the frame and the plastic plate. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising a tub duct fluidly connected to the air distribution duct at the base of the dishwasher, the tub duct configured to selectively vent fresh air into the dishwasher cabinet to aid in drying dishes. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , further comprising flap arranged between the air distribution duct and the tub duct to selectively close one of the ducts allowing fresh air into the other duct, and a controller in communication with the flap and programmed to control the position of the flap based on at least one of a cycle status and door position. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the flap is configured to selectively block airflow to one of the tub duct and the air distribution duct, wherein selectively blocking the tub duct allows the air distribution duct to force the hot and moist air from within the cabinet outward and away from the cabinet and wherein selectively blocking the air distribution duct allows for air to vent into the dishwasher cabinet to aid in drying dishes. 
     
     
         15 . A dishwasher system for cleaning dishes, comprising:
 a dishwasher cabinet defining an opening and a tub configured to house dishes therein and run a dishwasher cycle;   a door assembly configured to selectively open and close the opening;   an air distribution duct arranged around the opening of a dishwasher for selectively distributing fresh air out of the duct towards the opening to force hot and moist air from within the cabinet outward and away from the cabinet; and   a tub duct fluidly connected to the air distribution duct at the base of the dishwasher, the tub duct configured to selectively vent the fresh air into the dishwasher cabinet to aid in drying dishes.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , further comprising a flap arranged between the air distribution duct and the tub duct to selectively close one of the ducts allowing the fresh air into the other duct based on at least one of a cycle status and door position. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the flap is configured to selectively block airflow to one of the tub duct and the air distribution duct, wherein selectively blocking the tub duct allows the air distribution duct to force the hot and moist air from within the cabinet outward and away from the cabinet and wherein selectively blocking the air distribution duct allows for the fresh air to vent into the dishwasher cabinet to aid in drying dishes. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 15 , further comprising a fan arranged at one side of the duct at the base of the dishwasher to provide the fresh air to the duct. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 15 , further comprising a dishwasher frame defining the cabinet and at least one foam seal on each of the sides of the dishwasher, wherein the duct is at least partially formed at the sides between the frame and the foam seal. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , further comprising a plastic plate arranged at the top of the dishwasher cabinet, wherein the duct is at least partially formed at the top of the dishwasher between the frame and the plastic plate.