Patent Application
20160270628
The present invention generally relates to dishwasher racks and more particularly to those that employ positionable support members for the articles to be washed.
Conventional dishwashers include one or more racks to support items to be washed such as dishware, glassware, kitchen utensils, pots, pans and the like. Typically, dishwashers employ an upper and a lower rack. A conventional dishwasher rack includes a bottom wall formed of spaced apart transverse rods crossed by spaced apart longitudinal rods to define an open lattice structure. A plurality of fixed vertical tines extend upwardly from the bottom wall and are arranged in pairs along the longitudinal or transverse rods of the bottom wall with a defined space between adjacent pairs of the fixed vertical tines. Since the articles to be washed vary in size, thickness and weight, the use of fixed equally spaced supporting tines is inefficient and is less than optimal for possible combinations of items to be washed. The present invention resolves these problems by providing a dishwasher rack with positionable support members and thereby allow the user to determine the configuration of the supporting members to adapt to the articles to be washed.
The prior art discloses a variety of structures intended to resolve the problem inherent in dishwasher racks that employ a fixed set of equally spaced tines to support the objects to be washed. U.S. Pat. No. 4,917,248 employs a folding fence on which equally spaced tines are mounted that is moveable between a folded position adjacent the bottom of the rack and an erect or operating position. U.S. Pat. No. 8,540,085 discloses the use of a U-shaped frame structure from which upwardly depending tines are amounted and where the frame structure can be removably coupled to the bottom lattice structure of a dishwasher rack. The prior art fails to resolve the problem that arises when the articles to be washed differ in size and shape.
The present invention dishwasher rack assembly resolves the problems inherent in the prior art by providing a dishwasher rack assembly that includes positionable support members that can be selectively coupled to the bottom wall of the dishwasher rack in a manner that simplifies and enhances the users ability to configure the structure of the dishwasher rack assembly to the size and shape of the articles to be washed.
The present invention comprises a dishwasher rack assembly that includes a dishwasher rack and positionable support members to support the objects to be washed. The dishwasher rack has substantially upstanding front, rear and side walls and a generally horizontally disposed bottom wall formed of a plurality of uniformly spaced longitudinal and transverse rods. The longitudinal and transverse rods are substantially perpendicular to each other. The intersection of the longitudinal and transverse rods define square lattice areas bounded by opposed portions of the longitudinal and transverse rods. An embodiment of the positionable support members comprise a resilient support frame having a pair of support legs extending downwardly from the opposed ends of a horizontally positioned bracing member. Mounting receivers are secured to the ends of each of the support legs opposite the bracing member and are adapted to engage opposed portions of the transverse or longitudinal members within a square lattice structure of the bottom wall of the dishwasher rack. A support member may be repositioned within different squares of the square lattice area of the bottom wall by imposing inwardly directed forces on the ends of the support legs thereby disengaging the mounting receivers and moving the support member to a different square lattice area where the mounting receivers can be engaged upon the release of the inwardly directed force on the support arms.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved dishwasher assembly that provides for positionable support members.
It is another object of the present invention to provide support members for a dishwasher assembly that can be selectively engaged to longitudinal or transverse wire members of the bottom wall of the dishwasher rack.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a dishwasher assembly that can be adapted to the size and shape of the objects that are to be washed.
It is still yet another object of the present invention to provide a dishwasher rack assembly that is simple and inexpensive to fabricate.
The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the invention, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objectives and advantages thereof, will be better understood from the following description considered in connection with the accompanying drawing in which a presently preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated by way of example. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawing is for the purpose of illustration and description only, and is not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention.
Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the invention, and not as a limiting illustration of the invention. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. As an example, the features that are described and illustrated in the drawing as part of one embodiment may be used with other embodiments of the invention to yield a still further embodiment. Therefore, it is intended that the present invention cover all modifications and variations that fall within the scope of the claims and their equivalents.
Spatially relative terms, such as “inner,” “outer,” “beneath,” “below,” “lower,” “above,” “upper,” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) relative to a specified orientation of an embodiment or a portion thereof. Spatially relative terms may be intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if a first element is described as being “beneath” other elements or features than the other elements or features would be “above” the first element in the described orientation, but if the device is otherwise oriented the spatially relative descriptors used herein should be interpreted with respect to such orientation. In these specifications the term “vertical” relates to an axis extending orthogonally from the longitudinal and transverse rods defining the bottom wall of the dishwasher rack disclosed herein, and the ‘up’ direction associated therewith extends to the side of the bottom wall the direction at which items to be washed would be placed during normal use. Axis, planes, and directions in a support member are defined relative to an orientation where the support member is engaged between the longitudinal and transverse rods of the bottom wall of the dishwasher rack, by the mounting receivers, and are defined for convenience and brevity of description, not as geometrical or symmetrical axis or planes of the support member geometry. The longitudinal axis of a support member extends vertically from the middle of a line extending between the support arms generally at the level of the adjacent transverse or lateral rods while the support member is engaged therewith as described supra. The longitudinal plane of a support member extends vertically from a line extending between the support legs at the level of the bottom wall of the dishwasher rack. The longitudinal out direction extends orthogonally away from both sides of center of the line. The lateral plane of the support member is generally defined by the transverse and/or longitudinal rods adjacent to the support member, and coupled to the mounting receivers.
The present invention comprises a dishwasher rack assembly that can be adapted by the user to provide an optimal configuration that is dependent upon the size and shape of the objects to be washed.
The structure and function of an embodiment of support members 12 can be best understood by reference to
In order to mount securing members 12 within a lattice area 15, planar mounting receivers 26 and 27 are secured to the bottom of lower support legs 23 and 24, respectively, and are in perpendicular relationships thereto. Generally each mounting receiver has a rod engaging end extending outwardly from their respective leg, to engage the longitudinal 13 or lateral 14 rods of the dishwasher rack. Several embodiments of mounting receivers and engaging ends are disclosed hereinbelow. Referring to the embodiment depicted in
To reposition support member 12, mounting receivers 26 and 27 may be disengaged from wire rods 13a and 13b by applying an inwardly directed force on both mounting receivers in the directions identified by reference numerals 36 and 37. The application of inwardly directed forces 36 and 37 will cause lower support legs 23 and 24 to pivot about their interfaces with bracing member 25 thereby disengaging mounting receivers 26 and 27 in a manner that will permit its removal from the previously selected lattice area 15. The support member 12 may be re-engaged by imposing inwardly directed forces 36 and 37 thereby compressing the support legs 23 and 24 to permit insertion of the support member 12 between opposed wire rods 13 or 14 of a selected lattice area 15. Removal of the inwardly directed forces 36 and 37 will allow the distance between support legs 23 and 24 to expand until mounting receivers 26 and 27 are in engagement with wire rods 13 or 14.
Another aspect of the present invention is shown in
As stated hereinabove, it is an objective of the present invention to provide a dishwasher rack assembly that can be optimally configured to respond to the specific objects to be washed. An alternative embodiment of a support member is shown in
The mounting and/or repositioning of support members 50 is accomplished using similar procedure described with respect to the insertion and repositioning of support members 12. To position or disengage mounting receivers 54 and 55 from wire rods 13a and 13b, the user applies inwardly directed forces 35 and 36 on both mounting receivers 54 and 55. The application of inwardly directed forces 36 and 37 will cause lower support legs 52 and 53 to pivot about their interfaces with bracing member 60 thereby positioning mounting receivers 54 and 55 in a manner that will permit their insertion or removal from a previously selected lattice area 15 and to be positioned in another.
For brevity, the support member will be described hereinafter a being in an orientation where the support member is coupled to a dishwasher rack by mounting receivers that are engaged with parallel rods of the dishwasher rack, and the support frame extends upwardly therefrom.
The mounting receivers 126 and 127 comprise of substantially U-shaped flange extending laterally and inwardly from the lower portion of their respective support legs 121 and 123, each U shaped flange having an apex and a pair of opposing arms extending from the apex, each having an end 130, 130′. The term inwardly imply an orientation of where the apex is disposed towards the support member longitudinal axis. At least one of the ends 130, 130′ extends laterally and outwardly to its respective support leg at least to an extent larger that the radius of longitudinal rods 13 and/or transverse rods 14, and such laterally extending end shall be referred as rod-engaging end. Preferably, the ends of both arms of the U-shaped flange extend laterally and outwardly of their respective support leg, and act as rod-engaging ends.
A top securing bar 140 is secured transversely to support leg 121 relative to support member longitudinal plane, and substantially parallel to the lateral plane of the support member 120. Preferably the top securing bar extends parallel to the lateral plane to a length greater than the diameter of the longitudinal rods 13 and/or transverse rods 14, and when engaged therewith, in parallel relationship thereto. The top securing bar 140 is disposed above the mounting receiver, the distance between the U-shaped flange and the securing bar substantially equal, or greater than, the diameter of the longitudinal rods 13 and/or transverse rods 14. Top securing bar 142 is similarly coupled to support leg 123 in similar relationship thereto and with its respective mounting receiver 127. The top securing bar and at least one of the ends 130130′ of the U-shaped flange form the engaging end of the mounting receiver. The mounting and/or repositioning of support members 110 is accomplished using similar procedure described with respect to the insertion and repositioning of support members 12 and 50. In the engaged state, two longitudinal rods 13 or two transvers rod 14 are engaged by the engaging ends of the respective mounting receivers such that the rods are engaged on their lower side by the bottom supporting ends 130, 130′ (if both exist), and the rods are further engaged by the top securing bars on their top side.
The engaging ends of mounting receivers 226 and 227 comprise of a securing bars 240 and 242, respectively. Securing bar 240 is secured to support leg 221 transversely relative to support member longitudinal plane, and substantially parallel to the lateral plane of the support member 200. Preferably the securing bar 240, 242 extends parallel to the lateral plane to a length greater than the diameter of the longitudinal rods 13 and/or transverse rods 14, and when engaged therewith, in parallel relationship thereto. In some embodiments the bottom securing bar 240, 242 is coupled to the lower extremity of its respective support leg 221, 223, as denoted by way of example by numeral 250
Vertical support pins 246 and 247 are secured to support legs 221, 223, respectively. Vertical support pins 246 and 247 extend horizontally and outwardly from their respective legs 221 and 223, and are disposed at a vertical distance substantially equal to, or greater than, than the diameter of the longitudinal rods 13 and/or transverse rods 14. The mounting and/or repositioning of support members 200 is accomplished using similar procedure described with respect to the insertion and repositioning of support members 12, 50, and 100. In the engaged state, two longitudinal rods 13 or two transvers rod 14 are engaged on their lower side by the bottom securing bars, and the rods are further engaged by the vertical support pins on their top side.
The securing bar in the embodiment depicted in
Mounting receivers comprise securing bars 330 having an outwardly open channel 332, acting as an engaging end. The securing bars of mounting receivers 326 and 327 comprise a channel 332 generally open on its outward side. The structure is described by way of example as relating to mounting receiver 326, and may be replicated on mounting receivers 327, or a different mounting receiver may be utilized. The channel comprises two substantially parallel, outwardly extending channel lips 334 and 336, and coupled at their inward ends by a channel base. The channel may be square, rectangular, of generally C or U cross section, triangular, or of generally open structure. The channel 332 is disposed generally transversely to the longitudinal plane of support member 300, and extends generally parallel to the lateral plane thereof. Preferably the channel 332 extends parallel to the lateral plane to a length greater than the diameter of the longitudinal rods 13 and/or transverse rods 14, and when engaged therewith, in parallel relationship thereto. The channel is dimensioned to engage either a longitudinal rod 13 or a transverse rod 14 and in some embodiments is made of resilient material that engulfs a portion of the rod to an extent greater the rod diameter.
The engaging ends of mounting receiver 426 comprise upper 430 and lower 440 securing bars, and mounting receiver 427 comprise of upper 450 and lower 460 securing bars. Securing bars 430 and 440 are substantially parallel to each other and secured to support leg 421 transversely relative to longitudinal plane of the support member, and substantially parallel to the lateral plane of the support member 400. Preferably the securing bars 430, 440 extend parallel to the lateral plane to a length greater than the diameter of the longitudinal rods 13 and/or transverse rods 14, and when engaged therewith, in parallel relationship thereto. In some embodiments at least one of the support rods extend parallel to the lateral plane to a length greater than three times the diameter of the longitudinal rods 13 and/or transverse rods 14, and in some embodiments at least one of the support rods extends at least to the distance separating a consecutive pair of the longitudinal rods or the transverse rods.
The upper 430 and lower 440 support bars are disposed at a vertical distance therebetween the vertical distance being sufficient to at least resiliently exceed the diameter of the longitudinal rods 13 and/or transverse rods 14 sufficiently to allow engagement of the rods between the parallel support bars.
Similarly, securing bars 450 and 460 are substantially parallel to each other and secured to support leg 423 transversely relative to longitudinal plane of the support member, and substantially parallel to the lateral plane of the support member 400. Preferably the securing bar 450, 460 extend parallel to the lateral plane to a length greater than the diameter of the longitudinal rods 13 and/or transverse rods 14, and when engaged therewith, in parallel relationship thereto. The upper 430 and lower 440 support bars are disposed at a vertical distance therebetween the vertical distance being sufficient to at least resiliently exceed the diameter of the longitudinal rods 13 and/or transverse rods 14 sufficiently to allow engagement of the rods between the parallel support bar.
In the depicted embodiment the bars are supported substantially at their center, but off-centered disposition is explicitly considered. It is further noted that various dispositions of the support bars are also considered, such as having some of the support bars supported by the end and others supported at their center, as well utilizing different engaging ends of any of the disclosed embodiments or their equivalents on each of the support legs, and the like. Furthermore, each of the embodiments may utilize a bracing member if desired.
In the engaged state, two longitudinal rods 13 or two transvers rod 14 are engaged on their lower side by the bottom securing bars, and the rods are further engaged by the vertical support pins on their top side.
It is noted that at least one aspect the invention extends to the combination of dishwasher rack in combination with any one of the support members described above, while additional aspects of the invention extend to the various embodiments described supra. The dishwasher rack may be expandable or fixed as described above. Furthermore, the skilled in the art would recognize that each support member may, comprise of any combination of mounting receivers, and that in certain embodiments one of the support legs may have a first type of a mounting receiver coupled thereto, while the opposite support leg may utilize a different type of mounting receiver (not shown). Furthermore, additional components, such as by way of example a third and potentially even a fourth, support leg mounted transversely to the longitudinal plane may be utilized (Not shown), with or without a mounting receiver, to provide additional support in a specific direction.
It is noted that all other features and options described above in relation to support members depicted in the figures may be optionally applied to each of the embodiments. Thus, by way of example a bracing members, inclined or vertical support frame, open tines or engaged upper arms, additional vertical and/or horizontal pins, and the like, may be incorporated in the various embodiments, as desired and inclusion or exclusion of such features from various embodiments is a matter of engineering, cost, or aesthetical choice. Furthermore, it is noted that while for clarity and brevity the longitudinal 13 and/or transverse 14 rods of the dishwasher rack were described as having a round cross-section, such rods may be of any cross-section such as by way of example square, rectangular, triangular, ellipsoid, and the skilled in the art would readily understand that terms like width and length, minor and major axis, and the like, would equivalently replace terms like diameter, radius, and the like, which are stated in the specifications and/or the claims, and that minor changes to the structure such as channel shape, pin lengths, and the like, which may be required to accommodate such rod cross-section would be clear to the skilled in the art, and the disclosure and claim extend to such embodiments.
It is noted that various embodiments of the support members depicted as 12, 50, 112, 200, and 300 may be utilized interchangeably with dishwasher rack like the racks identified by numerals 10 or 40, and the like.
Numerous specific details are set forth such as examples of specific components, devices, and methods, to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the present invention. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that specific details need not be employed, that example embodiments may be embodied in many different forms and that neither should be construed to limit the scope of the disclosure. The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular example embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” may be intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. The disclosed embodiments do not preclude additional features, and are intended as illustrative examples, rather than as limiting details. When an element is referred to as being “coupled to” another element, it may be directly on, engaged, connected or coupled to the other element directly or by intervening elements unless the term ‘directly coupled’ is used, where no intervening elements are present. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.
Although the terms first, second, third, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections, such designations are only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another region, layer or section. Terms such as “first,” “second,” and other numerical terms when used herein do not imply a sequence or order unless clearly indicated by the context. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer or section discussed above could be equivalently termed a second element, component, region, layer or section without departing from the teachings of the example embodiments.
A dishwasher rack assembly according to the present invention allows the user to adapt the configuration of the dishwasher rack to optimally reflect the various sizes, shapes and weights of the objects to be washed. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalent
This application is a continuation in parts of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/962,138, which is in turn a continuation in parts of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/535,540 filed Nov. 7, 2014, said Patent Applications are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 14962138 | Dec 2015 | US |
| Child | 15145798 | US | |
| Parent | 14535540 | Nov 2014 | US |
| Child | 14962138 | US |
