US 12543922

Analysis of U.S. Patent 12,543,922

Report Date: April 26, 2026

This report provides a concise summary of U.S. Patent 12,543,922, titled "Dishwasher with a dish rack." The information is based on the full patent text available from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and a review of the dockets for the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (CAFC) for 2026.

I. Patent Overview

Title	Dishwasher with a dish rack
Assignee	Whirlpool Corp
Inventors	Mark S. Feddema, William J. Snell, Sachie Kakehi, Steven B. Balinski, David Jason Brightbill, Joseph T. Ferencevich, Sujit S. Naik, Frederick Thomas Roderick, Ryan Kevin Roth
Filing Date	August 12, 2025
Issue Date	February 10, 2026
Abstract	A dishwasher includes a tub that defines a dish treating chamber. A first lower dish rack and a second lower dish rack are located in the dish treating chamber. An upper dish rack is located above the first lower dish rack and the second lower dish rack in the dish treating chamber. The upper dish rack defines a planar portion and a depression. The depression extends below the planar portion and includes a first angled wall and a second angled wall that each extend at an acute angle relative to the planar portion. The first angled wall defines a first set of cup seats and the second angled wall defines a second set of cup seats. A plurality of utensil holders is disposed in the planar portion and is configured to horizontally support utensils.

II. Independent Claims: A Plain-Language Explanation

U.S. Patent 12,543,922 contains one independent claim. Below is a plain-language overview of this claim.

Independent Claim 1: This claim describes a dishwasher designed with a specific upper dish rack configuration. The key features are:

• An upper dish rack that has both a flat (planar) section and a sunken (depression) section.
• The sunken section has two angled walls, creating seats specifically designed to hold cups.
• The flat section is equipped with holders to support utensils in a horizontal position.
• A crucial aspect of the design is that the entire sunken section for cups is located below the level of the utensil holders on the flat section, creating a distinct multi-level storage area within the same rack.

In essence, this claim protects the specific geometric arrangement of an upper dishwasher rack that combines a flat area for horizontal utensil placement with a recessed, angled area for securely holding cups, all within a single, integrated design.

III. Litigation Search

A search of the CAFC dockets for 2026 for litigation involving U.S. Patent 12,543,922 was conducted. As of the date of this report, no public records of any appeals or lawsuits related to this patent were found in the CAFC 2026 dockets. It should be noted that district court level litigation may exist that has not yet been appealed.

Disclaimer: This summary is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. The interpretation of patent claims can be complex and may require consultation with a patent attorney.