US 12232681

An analysis of United States Patent 12,232,681 reveals the following details regarding the invention and its legal status.

Summary of U.S. Patent 12,232,681

• Title: Dishwasher with a dish rack.
• Assignee: Whirlpool Corp.
• Inventors: Mark S. Feddema, William J. Snell, Sachie Kakehi.
• Filing Date: December 11, 2023.
• Issue Date: February 25, 2025.
• Abstract: The patent describes an automatic dishwasher with a specially designed dish rack. This rack features a bottom wall with two distinct sections: a substantially flat portion and a depressed or lowered portion.

Plain-Language Overview of Independent Claims

An independent claim represents the broadest definition of the invention.

• Claim 1: This claim outlines an automatic dishwasher that includes a tub and a dish rack. The dish rack's key feature is its bottom wall, which has a mostly flat, horizontal section and a second section that is angled downwards from the flat part. The flat section is designed with a first type of utensil holder, while the angled section has a series of spaced-apart pins that create slots for holding other utensils.

• Claim 14: This claim also describes a dishwasher with a tub and a unique dish rack. This rack has a bottom wall with a flat, horizontal area at one end. At the other end, there is an angled, depressed section that is lower than the flat part. This depressed area is designed to hold cups. The flat portion of the rack is equipped with utensil holders.

Litigation

U.S. Patent 12,232,681 is currently the subject of a patent infringement lawsuit. In October 2025, Whirlpool Corp. filed a complaint against [[Samsung Electronics Co.](/litigations/by-defendant/Samsung%20Electronics%20Co.) Ltd.](/litigations/by-plaintiff/Samsung%20Electronics%20Co.%20Ltd.) in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas. Whirlpool alleges that certain Samsung dishwashers, particularly those with an "enhanced top rack," infringe on the technology protected by this patent. The lawsuit seeks both monetary damages and an injunction to prevent further sales of the accused products. As of the current date, a search of the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (CAFC) dockets for 2026 did not yield any public information regarding an appeal in this case.