Bracket for household appliance and method for use

Abstract

A bracket is provided for coupling an appliance, such as a household appliance, to a surrounding cabinet where the appliance is positioned within the cabinet, such as a dishwasher. The bracket rotatably couples to the dishwasher when rotated from an unrotated position to a rotated position. A fastener couples the bracket to the cabinet to secure the bracket in the rotated position.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A bracket for coupling an appliance to a cabinet, comprising:
 a body having an appliance attachment portion and a cabinet attachment portion and an offset connecting the appliance attachment portion to the cabinet attachment portion; and   wherein the offset is formed in the body and has a pair of right angles such that a plane defined along the appliance attachment portion is spaced from and parallel with a plane defined along the cabinet attachment portion.   
     
     
         2 . The bracket of  claim 1 , wherein the appliance attachment portion comprises a pair of apertures spaced by a bridge extending between the pair of apertures. 
     
     
         3 . The bracket of  claim 2 , wherein a pair of ridges extend from the appliance attachment portion on opposite sides of the pair of apertures. 
     
     
         4 . The bracket of  claim 2 , further comprising a pair of fingers extending from opposite sides of the bridge such that one of the pair of fingers overlies a respective one of the pair of apertures. 
     
     
         5 . The bracket of  claim 4 , wherein one of the pair of fingers extends away from the appliance attachment portion such that the pair of fingers do not position within the pair of apertures. 
     
     
         6 . The bracket of  claim 5 , wherein each finger of the pair of fingers includes a protrusion that extends from the pair of fingers toward the pair of apertures. 
     
     
         7 . The bracket of  claim 6 , wherein the protrusion does not extend into a respective one of the pair of apertures. 
     
     
         8 . The bracket of  claim 4 , wherein the pair of fingers comprises a pair of spring fingers configured to impart a spring force when bent or moved away from an initial position. 
     
     
         9 . The bracket of  claim 1 , wherein the cabinet attachment portion comprises an extension portion extending from the cabinet attachment portion and separated by a channel. 
     
     
         10 . The bracket of  claim 9  wherein the cabinet attachment portion comprises a first opening and the extension comprises a second opening and a third opening. 
     
     
         11 . The bracket of  claim 10 , wherein the first opening and the second opening are equally spaced from the channel. 
     
     
         12 . A method of coupling an appliance having an opening in a sidewall of the appliance to a cabinet with a bracket having a cabinet attachment portion and an appliance attachment portion, comprising:
 inserting the appliance attachment portion into the opening of the cabinet;   rotating the bracket approximately 90 degrees to secure the appliance attachment portion to the appliance; and   securing the cabinet attachment portion to a base cabinet.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the appliance attachment portion comprises a pair of apertures spaced by a bridge extending between the pair of apertures and comprises a pair of fingers extending from opposite sides of the bridge such that one of the pair of fingers overlies a respective one of the pair of apertures. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein in upon rotation of the bracket, the pair of fingers provides a spring force against an interior surface of the appliance cabinet. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the opening further comprises a pair of extensions and wherein the pair of fingers extends through the pair of extensions and upon rotation of the bracket, the pair of fingers engages an inner surface of the cabinet. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the pair of fingers comprises a pair of spring fingers configured to impart a spring force when bent or moved away from an initial position. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the cabinet attachment portion comprises an extension portion extending from the cabinet attachment portion and separated by a channel. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the cabinet attachment portion comprises a first opening and the extension comprises a second opening and a third opening. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the cabinet attachment portion is secured to the cabinet by one of the first opening, second opening and third opening. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising bending the cabinet attachment portion at the channel and securing the cabinet attachment portion though both the first opening and second opening.