Patent Application
20180103828
Contemporary automatic dishwashers for use in a typical household include a tub defining a treating chamber and a spraying system for recirculating liquid throughout the tub to remove soils from dishes and utensils. Upper and lower dishracks for holding dishes to be cleaned are typically provided within the treating chamber and mounted to the tub by extensible support rails. The dishwasher is generally provided with a door, pivotally mounted to the tub, that provides access to the treating chamber when the door is in the open position and also permits the upper and lower dishracks to extend from the treating chamber to the outside of the tub.
In one aspect, a dishwasher includes a tub at least partially defining a treating chamber and defining an access opening, a dishrack, and a guide rail assembly slidably mounting the dishrack to the tub. The guide rail assembly has a guide rail mounted to the dishrack or to the tub and has upper and lower tracks, which are spaced from each other by a predetermined height, and at least one pair of wheels comprising upper and lower wheels, which are rotatably mounted to the other of the dishrack or the tub. The wheels have a diameter less than the predetermined height, with the upper wheel bearing against the upper track and the lower wheel bearing against the lower track.
In another aspect, a guide rail assembly includes a guide rail having upper and lower tracks, which are spaced from each other by a predetermined height, and at least one pair of wheels comprising upper and lower wheels having a diameter less than the predetermined height, with the upper wheel bearing against the upper track and the lower wheel bearing against the lower track.
In the drawings:
In
A tub 14 is disposed within the cabinet 12 and has spaced top and bottom walls 16 and 18, spaced side walls 20, and a rear wall 22. The walls 16, 18, 20, and 22 join along their respective edges to define a treating chamber 24 with an access opening 26. Utensil holders in the form of upper and lower dishracks 15, 17 are located within the treating chamber 24 and receive utensils for washing. The dishracks 15, 17 are typically mounted to side walls 20 for slidable movement in and out of the treating chamber 24 for ease of loading and unloading and can be in the form of a wire-frame. The dishracks 15, 17 can be mounted with a guide rail assemblies 70. Another utensil holder in the form of a silverware basket 19 is located on the door 28. The silverware basket 19 can be removably mounted to the door.
Utensil holders 15, 17 and 19 all hold various utensils for washing within the treating chamber. As used in this description, the term utensil is generic to dishes and the like that are washed in the dishwasher 10 and expressly includes, dishes, plates, bowls, silverware, glassware, stemware, pots, pans, and the like A utensil, in the form of a spoon 8, is shown located in the silverware basket 19.
A door 28 is hingedly mounted to the dishwasher 10 and can move between an opened position, as illustrated in
Additionally, the dishwasher 10 comprises a liquid circulation system 30 for introducing and circulating liquid and wash aids, such as detergents, rinse aids, and the like, throughout the treating chamber 24. The liquid circulation system comprises a pump located in a lower portion or sump of the tub 14 and which pumps liquid to sprayers 32 and 33. Sprayers 32, 33 are located, respectively, beneath lower rack 15 and upper rack 17 and are illustrated as rotating spray arms. Another sprayer can be located above the upper rack 17 and is illustrated as a fixed spray nozzle.
As best seen in
The embodiments described herein can be used to slidably mount a dishrack in a dishwasher, ensuring that the wheels of the guide rail assembly roll freely without opposing forces. These embodiments can be used to avoid the undesirable circumstances when wheels bind up due to opposing forces.
To the extent not already described, the different features and structures of the various embodiments may be used in combination with each other as desired. That one feature may not be illustrated in all of the embodiments is not meant to be construed that it cannot be, but is done for brevity of description. Thus, the various features of the different embodiments may be mixed and matched as desired to form new embodiments, whether or not the new embodiments are expressly described.
While the invention has been specifically described in connection with certain specific embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that this is by way of illustration and not of limitation. Reasonable variation and modification are possible within the scope of the forgoing disclosure and drawings without departing from the spirit of the invention which is defined in the appended claims.
