The top rack of dishwasher's are designed to store glasses, cups and small bowls, as well as, other items dimensioned to fit in the top rack. When filling the top rack, glasses and cups are turned upside down and placed in the top rack in a known manner. However, the bottom surface of glasses and cups, typically, are not completely flat but instead provide an indentation which tends to collect water therein.
Dishwashers typically have a drying mode which attempts to dry the dishes after the dishes have been washed and rinsed. During the drying mode air is circulated into the dishwasher's washing chamber. The circulated air is sufficient to dry beads of water dripping off the surfaces of plates, glasses, pot, etc. The problem with the traditional drying mode of dishwashers is that the collection of water in the indentation, cracks, crevices, of glasses, cups and other dishes does not dry. Thereby, when the user removes the glasses, cups and other dishes the water is spilled onto the dishes in the lower rack of the dishwasher. Thereby, the dishes after having been re-wet are dried manually prior to placement into the cabinet. It is not uncommon that the dishes on the top rack must be dried before placing such dishes away in the cabinet because of the excessive amount of residual water found on such dishes.
Several devices have been patented which are aimed at dishwashers with drying modes.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,355,900, by Sakata, entitled "DISHWASHER WITH DRYING CYCLE" discloses a dishwasher with a drying cycle having a fan for circulating air in the chamber. The fan is coupled to the rooftop surface of the chamber.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,287,868, by Tuller et al., entitled "DISHWASHER CONVECTION AIR INLET AND SUDS CONTROL DEVICE" discloses a convection air inlet and suds control device located in a corner of the bottom floor of the dishwasher. A container having an inner cup an outer cup wherein the inner cup surrounds the lower extension of a chimney. The outer cup includes an opening such that air may flow by convection into the outer cup.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,277,210, by Kim, entitled "DRYING DUCT OF DISHWASHER" discloses a flexible air duct connected to the dishwasher for conducting hot moist air therethrough. Hot air is discharged through an air outlet coupled to the side wall of the dishwasher.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,076,306, by Suzuki et al., entitled "DISHWASHER WITH DRYER" discloses a fan coupled to the upper part of the back wall of the dishwasher chamber for circulating air within the dishwasher chamber.
It can be readily seen that there exists the continuing need for a dishwasher comprising a jet-air injection system for operation during a drying mode wherein the injection of the jet-air are directed downward from an air manifold having a plurality of spaced conduits each of which comprises a plurality of spaced air vents for expelling therefrom jet-air streams from the interior roof surface to the top rack of the dishwasher. Thereby, during the drying mode air, the injected jet-air streams are evenly distributed to the top rack of the dishwasher for faster drying or the dishes. Moreover, the force of the injected jet-air streams forces collected water out of the indentation found in upside down cups or between other cracks and crannies of the dishes and minimizes condensation.