Patent Application
20140014605
The present invention relates generally to a dishwasher basket and, more particularly, to a device for securing baby bottles and other component parts related thereto as well as other baby items such as baby bottles, nipples, collars, caps, straws, cups and the like.
There are a number of items used to assist in the feeding and nourishment of young children and infants including, but not limited to, baby bottles, sippy cups, non-spill cups, straw cups, straws, eating utensils, and much more. Oftentimes, these items include a number of small component parts such as baby bottle nipples, collars, caps, cup lids, straws, valves and the like. These items are difficult to wash properly in a dishwasher because they tend to be awkwardly, shaped and, because of their small size, may get dislodged during washing. Currently, such items are placed randomly within the dishwasher, or in a dishwasher accessory such as a silverware basket. In order to wash these items properly, they must be thoroughly cleansed with the water from the jets of the dishwasher. However, because traditional dishwashers and dishwasher accessories are not designed to adequately hold these types of items, it is difficult to retain them within the confines of the dishwasher basket or accessory, and to get them properly cleaned. Consequently, these items are often washed by hand, which takes considerable time and does not necessarily guarantee effective cleaning.
Although there are some dishwasher baskets designed in an attempt to effectuate thorough cleaning of the component parts of infant feeding equipment, an improved dishwasher basket intended for use in securing these components to ensure complete cleaning during the various dishwashing cycles is desirable. Therefore, a need exists for a multi-compartmental dishwasher basket which is adjustable in size to accommodate a variety of baby items, as needed, while securing such items within the dishwasher basket to ensure thorough cleaning.
The present invention is directed to a dishwasher basket which is intended to secure the components of baby bottles, sippy cups, non-spill cups, straw cups, straws, eating utensils and other similar items during the various dishwashing cycles. The dishwasher basket is designed to be placed within a dishwasher so that the component parts of infant feeding vessels may be positioned and held therein to be thoroughly washed and secured in order to prevent these items from becoming lost within the dishwasher. The dishwasher basket may be fashioned from any suitably washable material such as, but not limited to, organic polymers, elastomeric material, thermoplastic, thermosetting polymer, polycarbonate, polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, silicone, polytetrafluoroethylene, nylon, stainless steel and the like. The dishwasher basket may include a plurality of drainage holes across its various surfaces to facilitate complete cleaning and to allow for the removal of water during the various dishwashing cycles.
The dishwasher basket may further include a main basket for housing a plurality of side baskets. The side baskets are selectively extendable from the opposite sides of the main basket and are normally housed therewithin Each of the side baskets may include at least one projection for slidable engagement with a corresponding channel associated with the main basket, the at least one projection securing each side basket to the main basket and it allows the side baskets to be adjusted in order to accommodate varying storage needs within the dishwasher basket. When the side baskets are fully extended, they are positioned substantially outside the sidewall openings of the main basket and Outside the side wall perimeter of the main basket so that the main basket may be used for additional storage, as needed.
Each side basket may further include a cover located on the top face of the side basket for securing items within the side basket when it is in an extended position. The cover may further include a plurality of projections, each projection intended for engagement with one of a plurality of holes located in the side walls of each side basket for removably securing the cover to the side basket. Each side basket may further include a plurality of cone shaped members located within the side basket, each cone shaped member being adapted for receiving a first end of a straw for holding it substantially in place within the dishwasher basket. A plurality of straw holes are located within the cover, each straw hole being in substantial alignment with a corresponding cone shaped member located therebelow and each straw hold being sized to hold a second end of a straw substantially in place within the dishwasher basket. Thus, each of the cone shaped members cooperate with each of the corresponding straw holes located in the cover to hold the straws in an upright position in order to facilitate complete cleaning during the various dishwashing cycles.
The dishwasher basket may further include a midplate and a lid for storing small component parts of infant feeding equipment therebetween such as, but not limited to, baby bottle nipples, collars, caps, cup lids, valves and the like. The lid may be attached to the main basket by a hinge, or a plurality of hinges. The midplate may be positioned against at least one ridge or flange member associated with each opposite side of the main basket, the ridge members being located above the corresponding channels for receiving the projections associated with the side baskets. The midplate is operably secured against the ridge members when the lid is in a closed position, and it rests upon the ridge or flange members when the lid is in an open position. Thus the midplate may be removed from the dishwasher basket when more vertical space within the main basket and/or the side baskets is desired.
Specific advantages and features of the present dishwasher basket will be apparent from the accompanying drawings and the description of several illustrative embodiments of the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
It should be understood that the present drawings are not necessarily to scale and that the embodiments disclosed herein are sometimes illustrated by fragmentary views. In certain instances, details which are not necessary for an understanding of the present invention or which render other details difficult to perceive may have been omitted. It should also be understood that the invention is not necessarily limited to the particular embodiments illustrated herein. Like numbers utilized throughout the various figures designate like or similar parts or structure.
Referring now to the drawings more particularly by reference numbers,
The dishwasher basket 10 may be fashioned from any suitably material such as, but not limited to, organic polymers, elastomeric material, thermoplastic, thermosetting polymer, polycarbonate, polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, silicone, polytetrafluoroethylene, nylon, stainless steel and the like. The dishwasher basket 10 may include a plurality of drainage holes 12 located across its various surfaces as illustrated in
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
Each side basket 16 may further include a plurality of straw holes 34 located within the cover 26 as best illustrated in
In alternative embodiments a variety of other receiving members may be utilized which permit straws to be held in an upright position to ensure complete cleaning during the various dishwashing cycles without departing from the teachings and practice of the present invention. For example, in the embodiment illustrated in 5A, the cone shaped members 32 are replaced with a receiving channel 36 which is likewise located within the side basket 16 and cooperates with the straw holes 34 located within the cover 26. In this embodiment, the one end portion of the respective straws merely sit within the channel 36 and the combination of the channel 36 and holes 34 hold the straws within the dishwasher basket 10 in an upright position.
In the embodiment illustrated in 5B, a plurality of spaced notches 38A replace the straw holes 34 located within the cover 26 and face in the same direction as a plurality of spaced notches 38C which replace the cone shaped members 32 located within the bottom portion of the side basket 16. An additional row of spaced notches 38B are located within the basket 16 and are located intermediate the notches 38A and 38C, the notches 38B facing the opposite direction from the notches 38A and 38C. Each notch 38A cooperates with a vertically corresponding notch 38B and 38C so that when a straw is inserted within the respective notches, it will be held within the dishwasher basket 10 in an upright position.
In the embodiment illustrated in 5C, a plurality of recessed cavities 40 replace the cone shaped members 32 at the bottom of the each basket 16 and each cavity 40 cooperates with a corresponding straw hole 34 located within the cover 26 for again holding straws within the dishwasher basket 10 in an upright position.
The dishwasher basket 10 may further include a midplate 42 and a lid 44 for storing small component parts of infant feeding equipment therebetween such as baby bottle nipples, collars, caps, cup lids, valves and the like. These smaller items can be placed on the midplate 42 and can be trapped between the midplate 42 and the lid 44, when closed, to retain these items within the basket 10. The lid 44 may be attached to the main basket 14 by one or more hinges 46. In another embodiment, the lid 44 may be selectively connected to the main basket 14 by any suitable means including, but not limited to, a snap-in and/or a friction based connection. In one embodiment, the midplate 42 may rest upon and be positioned against ridge members 48 located on each opposite side of the main basket 14 above the channels 22 as best illustrated in
The present dishwasher basket 10 therefore provides an expandable dishwasher basket made specifically to hold a wide variety of different types of baby items as discussed above. Each respective side basket 16 can be extended to a position outside of the main basket 14 for placing items therewithin. When one or both of the side baskets 16 are loaded, they can then be re-inserted into the main basket 14. Additional smaller items can be placed on the midplate 42 and captured between the midplate 42 and the lid 44 when the lid is moved to its closed position. If additional space is needed, the side baskets 16 can be left in their extended positions and additional items can be placed inside the main basket 14. Still further, if straws are to be cleaned using the present basket 10, these straws can be placed within the straw openings 34 and can be further engaged with any one of the plurality of holding means including the cone-shaped members 32, the channel 36, the notches 38A, 38B, and 38C, and the recessed cavities 40. When straws are to be cleaned, the side baskets 16 will be at least partially extended outside of the perimeter of the main basket 14 so that the straws can remain in an upright vertical position without interfering with the midplate 42 and/or the lid 44. It is also recognized and anticipated that other items besides baby related items can be placed within the basket 10 for cleaning within a typical dishwasher. Still further, it is also recognized that the overall dimensions of the present basket 10 including the extendible side baskets 16 as well as the specific shape and configuration of the various members associated therewith are also subject to wide variations and may be sized and shaped into a wide variety of different sizes and configurations so as to be compatible for placement within known existing dishwashers, or to conform with any space limitations associated therewith without impairing the teachings and practice of the present invention. Other variations and modifications to the various components comprising the present dishwasher basket 10 are also contemplated.
Thus, there has been shown and described several embodiments of a novel dishwasher basket. As is evident from the foregoing description, certain aspects of the present invention are not limited by the particular details of the examples illustrated herein, and it is therefore contemplated that other modifications and applications, or equivalents thereof, will occur to those skilled in the art. The terms “having” and “including” and similar terms as used in the foregoing specification are used in the sense of “optional” or “may include” and not as “required”. Many changes, modifications, variations and other uses and applications of the present invention will, however, become apparent to those skilled in the art after considering the specification and the accompanying drawings. All such changes, modifications, variations and other uses and applications which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention are deemed to be covered by the invention which is limited only by the claims which follow.
