BASKET DEVICE

FIELD

The invention relates to a basket device for arrangement in a washing compartment of a dishwasher, with a main body which is designed to be movable out of a washing position in the washing compartment into a loading position moved out at least partially of the washing compartment and vice versa, and with a pull-out arranged so as to be displaceable in the movement direction of the main body, wherein the pull-out serves to accommodate a first dish rack.

Furthermore, the invention relates to a dishwasher, in particular a household dishwasher, with a washing compartment, providing a washing chamber, which serves to hold washware to be cleaned, wherein the washing compartment has a loading opening for loading washware, which can be closed by means of a pivotably mounted washing chamber door, and with a basket device designed to be movable through the loading opening out of the washing chamber and/or into the washing chamber.

BACKGROUND

Basket devices for dishwashers as such are well known per se from the prior art, and therefore there is no need for separate substantiating documents at this point. For this reason, reference is also made only by way of example to DE 10 2018 105 879 B4, which discloses a generic basket device as well as a generic dishwasher.

Generic dishwashers have a washing compartment that provides a washing chamber. This is accessible to the user via a loading opening which can be closed in a fluid-tight manner by means of a pivotally mounted washing chamber door. In the intended use, the washing compartment is used to receive washware to be cleaned, which can, for example, be washware, items of cutlery, and/or the like.

In order to apply washing liquid, the so-called washing liquor, to washware to be cleaned, the dishwasher has a spraying device in the interior of the washing compartment. This spraying device typically provides rotatably mounted spray arms, two or three such spray arms usually being provided. During intended use, washing liquor is applied to the washware to be cleaned by means of rotating spray arms.

To load a dishwasher with washware, a basket device is generally used which can be moved through the loading opening either into or out of the washing chamber depending upon the direction of movement.

The basket device of a dishwasher is typically designed as a dish rack. Depending upon the design of the dishwasher, two or three such dish racks are usually arranged one above the other in the vertical direction of the washing compartment of the dishwasher. In particular, a lower basket, an upper basket arranged above it in the vertical direction of the dishwasher, and optionally a cutlery drawer arranged above the upper basket in the vertical direction can be provided.

To properly load a dish rack with washware, the user must move the dish rack at least partially out of the washing chamber through the loading opening. In this removed position, access to the dish rack by the user is enabled, which allows it to be loaded with washware. Following such loading, the user must move the dish rack back into the washing chamber until it is completely accommodated by the washing chamber, so that the loading opening can be closed fluid-tight by means of the washing chamber door. In this position, the dish rack is in its washing position.

Although basket devices known from the prior art have proven themselves in every day practice, there is a need for improvement, in particular with regard to simplified handling by the user.

SUMMARY

In an embodiment, the present invention provides a basket device for arrangement in a washing compartment of a dishwasher, comprising: a main body movable out of a washing position in the washing compartment into a loading position moved out at least partially of the washing compartment and vice versa; and a pull-out arranged on the main body so as to be displaceable in a movement direction of the main body, the pull-out being configured to accommodate a first dish rack, wherein the main body carries a second dish rack, and wherein the second dish rack is arranged on the main body so as to be displaceable both in the movement direction of the main body and transversely thereto in a vertical direction of the washing compartment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be described in even greater detail below based on the exemplary figures. The invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments. Other features and advantages of various embodiments of the present invention will become apparent by reading the following detailed description with reference to the attached drawings which illustrate the following:

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a dishwasher 1 according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspectival view of the dishwasher 1 according to the invention with basket devices in a first position;

FIG. 3 is a schematic perspectival view of the dishwasher 1 according to the invention with basket devices in a second position;

FIG. 4 is a schematic perspectival view of the dishwasher 1 according to the invention with basket devices in a third position;

FIG. 5 is a schematic front view of the dishwasher 1 according to the invention with the washing chamber door open;

FIG. 6 is a schematic perspectival representation of a basket device according to the invention in a first position;

FIG. 7 is a schematic perspectival representation of a basket device according to the invention in a second position;

FIG. 8 is a schematic perspectival representation of a basket device according to the invention in a third position;

FIG. 9 is a schematic perspectival representation of a basket device according to the invention in a fourth position;

FIG. 10 is a schematic perspectival representation of a basket device according to the invention in a fifth position;

FIG. 11 is a schematic side view of a basket device according to the invention according to a second embodiment;

FIG. 12 is a schematic perspectival view of the basket device according to the invention according to FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a sectional schematic perspectival representation of the basket device according to FIG. 11 in a second position;

FIG. 14 is a schematic perspectival representation of the basket device according to FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a schematic side view of the basket device according to the invention according to FIG. 11 in a third position; and

FIG. 16 is a schematic perspectival representation view of the basket device according to FIG. 15.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In an embodiment, the present invention provides a basket device such that, due to the design, improved handling and/or more flexible use by a user is possible.

In an embodiment, the invention provides a basket device of the aforementioned type which is characterised in that the main body carries a second dish rack, wherein the second dish rack is arranged on the main body so as to be displaceable both in the movement direction of the main body and transversely thereto in the vertical direction of the washing compartment.

The basket device has a main body on the one hand and a pull-out movably arranged thereon on the other. If necessary, the pull-out can be moved by the user in relation to the main body, whereby the main body is virtually extended in the movement direction. Both the main body and the pull-out each have a dish rack which, when used as intended, serves to hold washware to be cleaned.

According to the invention, it is now provided that the second dish rack provided by the main body be arranged movably on the main body, both in the movement direction of the main body and transversely thereto in the vertical direction of the washing compartment. In combination with the pull-out movably arranged on the main body, it is therefore possible to place the first dish rack and the second dish rack either one above the other in the vertical direction or next to each other at the same height level.

This design offers the advantage of simplified handling for the user, as it is possible to place the washware carriers either on top of each other or next to each other, depending upon the size of the washware to be cleaned. This advantageously provides variation options with regard to the positioning of the dish racks, which on the one hand enables easier loading and unloading and on the other allows even larger washware to be conveniently accommodated.

The basket device according to the invention is preferably designed as a cutlery drawer and, when used as intended, is arranged in the vertical direction of the dishwasher above an upper basket. When using the basket device according to the invention as a cutlery drawer, the first and second dish racks, i.e., the dish rack provided by the pull-out and the dish rack provided by the main body, are each designed to be optimised for holding cutlery items. Due to the design according to the invention, the two dish racks can be arranged one above the other in the vertical direction of the washing compartment when the basket device is in the washing position. This provides an enlarged storage space for washware, which is accommodated in the upper basket arranged in the vertical direction of the washing compartment below the cutlery drawer.

Although the two dish racks are arranged one above the other in the vertical direction of the washing compartment in the washing position, the user is permitted free access to both dish racks when loading. This is because the pull-out carrying the first dish rack can be moved in relation to the main body, which allows not only the main body to be moved when the basket device is transferred into the loading position, but also the pull-out in relation thereto. As a result, the two dish racks can accordingly be arranged offset from each other in the loading position both in the vertical direction and in the movement direction of the main body, which allows free access to both dish racks equally from above.

The design according to the invention also allows the second dish rack to be moved in relation to the main body and to be arranged in the vertical direction at the same height level as the first dish rack. In this position, the two dish racks are arranged next to each other at the same height level in the movement direction of the main body, both in the washing position and in the loading position. For free user access to the dish racks in the loading position, it is not necessary to move the pull-out unit in relation to the main body when the dish racks are positioned in this way.

The design according to the invention consequently makes it possible to position the two dish racks in their relative positions to one another in different positions, both in the washing position and in the loading position. This allows the dish racks to be individually aligned depending upon the user's preferences and/or the washware to be accommodated, so that there is simplified handling for the user as well as the option of flexible adjustment to different sizes of washware to be accommodated.

According to a further feature of the invention, it is provided that the main body carry a third dish rack, wherein the third dish rack is removably arranged on the main body.

The third dish rack provides an additional dish rack in addition to the existing dish racks, thereby increasing the storage capacity of the basket device according to the invention. The third dish rack is removably arranged on the main body, which allows a user to optionally use the third dish rack, in particular depending upon the size of the washware to be accommodated by the basket device and/or by a further basket device arranged below the basket device according to the invention. Due to the mobility according to the invention of the second dish rack, a positioning of the dish racks can be provided according to which the second dish rack and the third dish rack are arranged either next to each other at the same height level in the movement direction, or one above the other in the vertical direction. The flexibility of the basket device according to the invention is therefore advantageously further increased.

According to a further feature of the invention, it is provided that the main body provide a guide device for the second dish rack, which has a first section running in the movement direction of the main body and a second section running in the movement direction of the main body, wherein the second section is arranged above the first section in the vertical direction of the washing compartment.

The two sections of the guide device define the two height levels that the second dish rack can assume. The second section of the washing compartment is arranged above the first section, wherein it is preferred that the height level of the second section correspond to the height level provided by the pull-out. Accordingly, the first and second dish racks are arranged at the same height level in the vertical direction when the second dish rack is supported by the second section of the guide device. If the second dish rack is located in the area of the first section of the guide device, the second dish rack is arranged below the first dish rack in the vertical direction of the washing compartment.

According to a further feature of the invention, it is provided that the guide device have a third section connecting the first section to the second section and extending transversely to the movement direction of the main body.

The third section of the guide device connects the first and second sections to each other. When the second dish rack is transferred from the first to the second section or vice versa, the third section serves as a transfer aid. This allows a safe repositioning of the second washware carrier. The third section is equipped transversely to the movement direction of the main body, so that, when the second dish rack is transferred from the first section to the second section or vice versa, a change in position takes place in the vertical direction and in the movement direction.

According to a further feature of the invention, it is provided that the third washware carrier be arranged below the second section of the guide device in the vertical direction of the washing compartment.

According to this preferred embodiment, it is provided that the first and the second dish racks be arranged in the region of the first section of the guide device, viz., one above the other in the vertical direction. The third dish rack is arranged in the region of the second section of the guide device, viz., next to the second dish rack at the same height level as the second dish rack. The second and third dish racks are therefore positioned below the first dish rack in terms of the vertical direction of the washing compartment.

The guide device designed according to the invention makes it possible to move the second dish rack into a position in which it is arranged in the region of the second section of the guide device, viz., in the vertical direction of the washing compartment above the third dish rack. In this position, the second dish rack is positioned at the same height as the first dish rack and adjacent thereto.

Since the third dish rack is moreover removably, i.e., replaceably, arranged on the main body, there are numerous positioning options with regard to the three provided dish racks.

According to a further feature of the invention, it is provided that the second section of the guide device be operatively connected to the pull-out in the retracted position, so that the first dish rack can be transferred from the pull-out to the guide device and vice versa.

According to this further preferred embodiment, it is possible to transfer the first dish rack from the pull-out to the base support and vice versa. This provides further flexibility in terms of positioning the three dish racks. In particular, it is possible to move the first dish rack over the second dish rack arranged therebelow in the vertical direction into a position in which the first dish rack is arranged in the vertical direction directly above the third dish rack. This allows free access to the second dish rack from above even when the pull-out is not pulled out.

According to a further feature of the invention, it is provided that the first and the second dish racks be arranged one above the other in a first position in the vertical direction of the washing compartment. In this position, free access to the third dish rack is permitted. Alternatively, the third dish rack is not inserted into the main body, which allows larger washware to be placed in a basket device that is arranged in the vertical direction below the basket device according to the invention.

According to a further feature of the invention, it is provided that the first and the second dish racks be arranged next to each other in a second position in the vertical direction of the washing compartment. In this position, the first two dish racks are located directly next to each other or one behind the other in the movement direction, i.e., they are arranged at the same height level. In this case, according to this position of the first two dish racks, it can be provided that the third dish rack be either accommodated in the main body or removed therefrom. In particular, if there is no third dish rack, the entire storage space of a basket device arranged below the basket device according to the invention is enlarged.

According to a further feature of the invention, it is provided that the pull-out and the main body and/or the first dish rack and the second dish rack be locked together against movement in the second position of the first and second dish racks. This locking ensures that, when the basket device according to the invention is operated as intended, there is no relative movement between the pull-out and the main body. The two dish racks are therefore arranged next to each other at the same height level and locked against movement, such that the functionality of a conventional cutlery drawer is ensured. The user therefore has the option of using the basket device according to the invention either as a conventional cutlery drawer or so as to be variable in terms of washware according to the adjustment options described above. In contrast to the prior art, this provides an expanded range of applications, while simultaneously simplifying handling.

The invention further relates to a dishwasher, in particular a household dishwasher, with a washing compartment, providing a washing chamber, which serves to receive washware to be cleaned, wherein the washing compartment has a loading opening for loading items to be washed, which can be closed by means of a pivotably mounted washing chamber door, and with a basket device designed to be movable through the loading opening out of the washing chamber and/or into the washing chamber, wherein the basket device is a basket device of the type according to the invention. This accordingly results in the advantages already described above with reference to the basket device according to the invention.

FIG. 1 shows, in a purely schematic representation, a side view of a dishwasher 1 according to the invention. The dishwasher 1 has, in a manner known per se, a housing 2, which accommodates a rinsing container 3. The rinsing container 3 in turn provides a rinsing chamber 4 for accommodating washware to be cleaned. To load the washing chamber 4 with washware to be cleaned, the washing compartment 3 has a loading opening 5. This loading opening 5 can be closed in a fluid-tight manner by means of a washing chamber door 6, wherein the washing chamber door 6 is mounted so as to be pivotable about a horizontally extending pivot axis.

When used as intended, rinsing liquor is applied to the washware to be cleaned, for which purpose the dishwasher 1 has a spray device 7. In the shown exemplary embodiment, the spray device 7 includes two spray arms 8 and 9. However, additional spray arms can also be provided.

Basket devices are used to accommodate the washware, wherein FIGS. 2, 3, and 4 each reveal a total of three basket devices 10, 11, and 12. These are arranged one above the other in the vertical direction 13, wherein the basket device 10 serves as the lower basket, the basket device 11 as the upper basket, and the basket device 12 as the cutlery drawer. FIGS. 2, 3, and 4 show different positions of the basket devices 10, 11, and 12.

The basket device 12 serving as a cutlery drawer is designed in accordance with the invention. The structure of this basket device 12 is described below with reference to the other figures, wherein FIGS. 2 to 10 show a first embodiment, and FIGS. 11 to 16 show a second embodiment.

As a comparison of in particular FIGS. 3, 4, and 7 reveals, the basket device 12 according to the invention has a main body 15 and a pull-out 16. Both the pull-out 16 and the main body 15 are each equipped with a dish rack 17 or 18, wherein the pull-out 16 serves to accommodate the first dish rack 17, whereas the main body 15 carries the second dish rack 18.

As revealed in particular by a comparison of FIGS. 2 and 3, the main body 15 is designed to be movable out of a position in the washing compartment 3 according to FIG. 2 into a loading position moved out at least partially of the washing compartment 3 according to FIG. 3 and vice versa. The pull-out 16 is in turn arranged on the main body 15 so as to be displaceable in the movement direction 14 of the main body 15 and can be moved in the loading position in the movement direction 14 beyond the basket devices 10 and 11 arranged in the vertical direction 13 below the basket device 12, as is particularly evident from the illustration in FIG. 3.

In the movement direction 14, the pull-out 16 has a depth which corresponds to approximately half the depth of the main body 15. Therefore, when the pull-out 16 is extended according to FIG. 3, the basket device 12 extends in the movement direction 14 over approximately 1.5 times the depth of the main body 15.

In addition to the second dish rack 18, a third dish rack 19 is provided which is accommodated by the main body 15, as can also be seen in particular from a comparison of FIGS. 3, 4, and 7. The third dish rack 19 is removably arranged on the main body 15 so that it can also be removed by the user, as can be seen in the illustration in particular in FIG. 8.

A first position of the basket device 10, 11, and 12 is shown in FIG. 2. According to this illustration, the basket device 10 serving as the lower basket is completely transferred into the loading position. The basket device 11 serving as the upper basket is partially moved out of the washing compartment 3, and the basket device 12 according to the invention serving as the cutlery drawer is still located inside the washing compartment 3 in the washing position.

According to FIG. 3, the basket device 11 serving as the upper basket is also completely transferred into the loading position. The basket device 12 according to the invention is completely moved out of the washing compartment 3, and, in addition, the pull-out 16 is moved in relation to the main body 15. As can be seen from this illustration, in this position, the basket device 12 of the pull-out 16 projects beyond the two basket devices 10 and 11 arranged in the vertical direction 13 below the washing basket device 12.

Finally, FIG. 4 shows a position according to which the basket device 12 has remained unchanged compared to the illustration in FIG. 3, but the two basket devices 10 and 11 have been moved back into the washing compartment 3.

FIG. 5 shows a front view of the dishwasher 1 according to the invention with the washing compartment door 6 open, wherein, according to this illustration, only the basket devices 11 and 12 are shown in the washing position.

As can be seen from a comparison of the further FIGS. 6 to 10, all the dish racks 17, 18, and 19 provided by the basket device 12 can assume different positions in relation to one another and in relation to the main body 15.

As can be seen from a comparison of FIGS. 6 to 8, the pull-out 16 together with the dish rack 17 accommodated thereby is arranged on the main body 15 so as to be displaceable in relation to the main body 15. For this purpose, the main body 15 has on each side wire sections 20 or 21, between which a sliding piece 22 of the pull-out 16 is guided. The pull-out 16 can be moved from a position according to FIG. 6 into a moved-out position according to FIG. 8, and vice versa.

In the position according to FIG. 6, the dish rack 17 of the pull-out 16 and the second dish rack 18 of the main body 15 are arranged directly above one another in the vertical direction 13. In the position according to FIG. 8, the second dish rack 18 is still positioned in the vertical direction 13 below the first dish rack 17, but the pull-out 16 is pulled out, whereby the dish rack 17 is positioned at a different height level next to the second dish rack 18. In this position, the user has equal access from above to both dish racks 17 and 18.

As can be seen from illustrations 6 to 10, the first dish rack 17 and the second dish rack 18 in the shown exemplary embodiment are designed as dish racks in particular for accommodating cutlery items. In the washing position according to FIG. 6, the two dish racks 17 and 18 provided for accommodating cutlery are arranged directly above one another in the vertical direction 13.

The third dish rack 19 accommodated by the main body 15 is designed in the shown exemplary embodiment as a dish rack for accommodating larger cutlery items and/or smaller vessels such as cups and/or the like. Since the two dish racks 17 and 18 are arranged one above the other in the vertical direction 13, the third dish rack 19 is able to accommodate washware that is larger in the vertical direction than is possible with the other two dish racks 17 and 18.

The dish rack 19 is removably arranged on the main body 15 so that it can also be removed by the user, as shown in FIG. 8. When the dish rack 19 is removed, a free space, provided by the basket device 12, is created in the washing position of the first and second dish racks 17 and 18 and can be used by washware that is held by the upper basket 11. This makes it possible to position larger washware in the upper basket 11.

According to the invention, the second dish rack 18 is arranged on the main body 15 so as to be displaceable both in the movement direction 14 of the main body and transversely thereto in the vertical direction 15 of the washing compartment 3, as can be seen in particular in a comparison of FIGS. 8 to 10.

For a movable arrangement of the second dish rack 18 on the main body 15, the main body 15 has a guide device 23, as can be seen in particular from FIG. 9. In the shown embodiment, the guide device 23 provides two spaced-apart wire sections 24 and 25 on the side of the main body 15. The dish rack 18 has corresponding holders which are each movably mounted between the two wire sections 24 and 25 so that the second dish rack 18 can be moved from a position according to FIG. 8 into a position according to FIG. 9. In the position according to FIG. 9, the second dish rack 18 is at the same height level as the dish rack 17 in the vertical direction 13, so that the two dish racks 17 and 18 are arranged directly next to each other when the pull-out 16 is in the washing position, as shown in FIG. 10. In this position, the basket device 12 according to the invention forms a conventional cutlery drawer in terms of its dimensions.

A second embodiment of the cutlery drawer according to the invention is shown in FIGS. 11 to 16. According to this embodiment, the guide device 23 has a wire 29 on each side of the main body 15. The dish rack 18 is suspended from this wire 29 on the left and right sides in the movement direction 14. In this way, a movable arrangement of the dish rack 18 is realised.

As is particularly evident from a comparison of FIGS. 11 to 16 based upon the second embodiment, the guide device 23 has a first section 26 and a second section 27, wherein the second section 27 is arranged in the vertical direction 13 above the first section 26, as can be seen in particular in the illustration according to FIGS. 11, 13, and 15.

The guide device 23 further comprises a third section 28 connecting the first and second sections 26 and 27 and extending transversely to the movement direction 14 of the main body. The third section 28 therefore connects the two sections 26 and 27, which, if necessary, enables the second dish rack 18 according to FIG. 11 to be transferred into a position as shown in the first exemplary embodiment in FIGS. 9 and 10.

FIGS. 11 and 12 show the washing position of the basket device 12. In this position, the pull-out 16 is retracted, and the dish rack 17 provided thereby is arranged in the vertical direction 13 directly next to the second dish rack 18.

FIGS. 13 and 14 show the loading position of the basket device 12, in which the pull-out 16 is extended. In this position, all dish racks 17, 18, and 19 are accessible to the user from above.

FIGS. 15 and 16 show a position in which the basket device 12 is also in the washing position, but the dish rack 17 that is provided by the pull-out 16 according to FIG. 12 is moved in the movement direction 14 to above the third dish rack 19 carried by the main body 15. In this position, the dish rack 17 is transferred from the pull-out 16 to the main body 15, whereby the dish rack 17 is no longer carried by the pull-out 16, but by the main body 15.

As a comparison all FIGS. 6 to 16 shows, the design according to the invention enables the basket device 12 to be highly flexible with regard to the respective positioning of the dish racks 17, 18, and 19, and to assume a number of different positions. This advantageously creates variability with regard to possible washware to be accommodated on the one hand, and simplified handling for the user on the other. In this case, two guide systems are advantageously combined with one another, since on the one hand the pull-out 16 can be moved in relation to the main body 15, and on the other, the second dish rack 18 can be moved in relation to the main body 15. Furthermore, it is possible to move the dish rack 17 between the pull-out 16 and the main body 15.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, such illustration and description are to be considered illustrative or exemplary and not restrictive. It will be understood that changes and modifications may be made by those of ordinary skill within the scope of the following claims. In particular, the present invention covers further embodiments with any combination of features from different embodiments described above and below. Additionally, statements made herein characterizing the invention refer to an embodiment of the invention and not necessarily all embodiments.

The terms used in the claims should be construed to have the broadest reasonable interpretation consistent with the foregoing description. For example, the use of the article “a” or “the” in introducing an element should not be interpreted as being exclusive of a plurality of elements. Likewise, the recitation of “or” should be interpreted as being inclusive, such that the recitation of “A or B” is not exclusive of “A and B.” unless it is clear from the context or the foregoing description that only one of A and B is intended. Further, the recitation of “at least one of A, B and C” should be interpreted as one or more of a group of elements consisting of A, B and C, and should not be interpreted as requiring at least one of each of the listed elements A, B and C, regardless of whether A, B and C are related as categories or otherwise. Moreover, the recitation of “A, B and/or C” or “at least one of A, B or C” should be interpreted as including any singular entity from the listed elements. e.g., A, any subset from the listed elements. e.g., A and B. or the entire list of elements A. B and C.

REFERENCE SIGNS 1 Dishwasher 16 Pull-out 2 Housing 17 First dish rack 3 Washing compartment 18 Second dish rack 4 Washing chamber 19 Third dish rack

Loading opening 20 Wire section 6 Washing chamber door 21 Wire section 7 Spraying device 22 Sliding piece 8 Spray arm 23 Guide device 9 Spray arm 24 Wire section

Basket device 25 Wire section 11 Basket device 26 First section 12 Basket device 27 Second section 13 Vertical direction 28 Third section 14 Movement direction 29 Wire

Main body

BASKET DEVICE

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CPC

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Description

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CROSS-REFERENCE TO PRIOR APPLICATIONS

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