Dishwasher with straw carrier

Abstract

A carrier for one or more straws of an appliance such as a dish washing appliance. The carrier and/or rack may be in fluid communication with one or more spray elements when in a stowed position within a dishwasher tub. The one or more carriers may route fluid from the one or more spray elements to wash an interior and/or an exterior of at least one straw. The body of the carrier may include one or more adjustable portions. The carrier may be adjustable to engage one or more straws of varying lengths/diameters. The carrier may include one or more fixed portions. The carrier may include one or more biasing mechanisms. The carrier may include one or more members having one or more tubes.

1 . A dishwasher rack for a dish washing appliance comprising:
 a straw carrier having a lower member, wherein the lower member includes one or more first tubes depending from a top wall, wherein an axis of the one or more first tubes are perpendicular to a direction of travel of the dishwasher rack, wherein the one or more first tubes include a top aperture adjacent the top wall and an opposing bottom aperture;   one or more flexible protrusions projecting into the one or more first tubes adjacent the top aperture to releasably engage an end of a straw within the one or more first tubes; and   one or more vertical stops adjacent the bottom aperture configured to stop axial travel of an end of a straw along the axis of the one or more first tubes.   
     
     
         2 . The dishwasher rack of  claim 1  wherein the lower member includes a manifold defining a chamber in fluid communication with the one or more first tubes. 
     
     
         3 . The dishwasher rack of  claim 2  wherein the manifold includes an intermediate wall and an opposing bottom wall, and one or more nozzles positioned within the intermediate wall adjacent the bottom aperture of the one or more first tubes. 
     
     
         4 . The dishwasher rack of  claim 3  wherein the bottom wall includes one or more drains. 
     
     
         5 . The dishwasher rack of  claim 3  wherein the intermediate wall is transversely sloped to the direction of travel of the dishwasher rack. 
     
     
         6 . The dishwasher rack of  claim 2  wherein the lower member further comprises one or more side walls connecting the manifold to the top wall, wherein the one or more side walls include one or more drains. 
     
     
         7 . The dishwasher rack of  claim 1  wherein the top wall of the lower member is transversely sloped to the direction of travel of the dishwasher rack. 
     
     
         8 . The dishwasher rack of  claim 1  further comprises an upper member spaced above the lower member having one or more second tubes depending from a second top wall, and wherein the second top wall is transversely sloped to the direction of travel of the dishwasher rack. 
     
     
         9 . A dish washing appliance comprising:
 a dishwasher rack;   one or more spray elements disposed with the dishwasher rack, wherein the one or more spray elements is in fluid communication with a fluid supply to direct fluid from the fluid supply into the dishwasher rack; and   one or more straw carriers positioned within the dishwasher rack and downstream of the one or more spray elements, wherein the straw carrier includes a lower member, wherein the lower member includes one or more first tubes depending from a top wall, wherein an axis of the one or more first tubes are perpendicular to a direction of travel of the dishwasher rack, wherein the one or more first tubes include a top aperture adjacent the top wall and an opposing bottom aperture, one or more flexible protrusions projecting into the one or more first tubes adjacent the top aperture to releasably engage an end of a straw within the one or more first tubes, and one or more vertical stops projecting into the one or more first tubes adjacent the bottom aperture configured to stop axial travel of an end of a straw along the axis of the one or more first tubes.   
     
     
         10 . The dish washing appliance of  claim 9  wherein the lower member includes an opposing bottom wall to the top wall, an intermediate wall between the top wall and the bottom wall, and one or more side walls connecting the bottom wall to the top wall and intermediate wall. 
     
     
         11 . The dish washing appliance of  claim 10  wherein the lower member includes a manifold defined by the intermediate wall, the bottom wall, and the one or more side walls, and one or more nozzles positioned within the intermediate wall adjacent the bottom aperture of the one or more first tubes. 
     
     
         12 . The dish washing appliance of  claim 10  wherein at least one of the one or more side walls and/or the bottom wall includes one or more drains. 
     
     
         13 . The dish washing appliance of  claim 10  wherein at least one of the intermediate wall and/or the top wall is transversely sloped to the direction of travel of the dishwasher rack. 
     
     
         14 . The dish washing appliance of  claim 9  wherein the one or more straw carriers further comprises an upper member spaced above the lower member within the dishwasher rack having one or more second tubes depending from a second top wall. 
     
     
         15 . The dish washing appliance of  claim 14  wherein the second top wall is transversely sloped to the direction of travel of the dishwasher rack. 
     
     
         16 . The dish washing appliance of  claim 9  wherein the lower member includes a flexible plate having the one or more flexible protrusions defining a plurality of apertures therethrough. 
     
     
         17 . A method of releasably engaging one or more straws with a straw carrier within a dish washing appliance comprising the steps of:
 providing a straw carrier having a lower member positioned within a dishwasher rack;   retaining an end of a straw with one or more flexible protrusions adjacent a top aperture of one or more first tubes within the lower member of the straw carrier;   injecting fluid into a manifold of the lower member;   injecting fluid from the manifold through one or more nozzles below the one or more first tubes; and   injecting fluid from the one or more nozzles through a bottom aperture of the one or more first tubes.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising retaining a portion of a straw through one or more second tubes within an upper member of the straw carrier positioned above the lower member within the dishwasher rack. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising draining fluid from one or more sloped walls of at least one of the lower member and/or the upper member that are transverse to a direction of travel of the dishwasher rack. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising draining fluid from at least one of one or more side walls of the lower member above the manifold and/or from the manifold.