Patent Application
20090015118
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention pertains to the art of dishwashers and, more particularly, to a molded plastic support frame for an under-the-counter drawer-type dishwasher.
2. Discussion of the Prior Art
In general, dishwashers having a pull-out drawer supported in a cabinet are known in the art. The dishwasher may include a single, pull-out drawer or wash tub or, in some cases, the dishwasher will include an upper, pull-out drawer forming a first wash tub for washing dishware and, a lower pull-out drawer forming a second wash tub that can be used to supplement the first wash tub. In any event, known drawer-type wash tubs are mounted to extensible rails that are carried by or mounted to an enclosed cabinet. Typically, the cabinet is positioned under a kitchen countertop adjacent to cabinetry or other kitchen appliances.
Manufacturers of home appliances face a highly competitive market. Thus, there is a constant struggle to reduce both the number and complexity of various parts of the appliance, as well as to lower costs associated with manufacturing without detracting from an established level of quality. One method found to reduce both the number of parts and manufacturing costs is to re-evaluate the type of materials used to construct the appliance. One area of investigation has focused on the enclosed cabinet and associated structure.
Given that a dishwasher is placed under a kitchen countertop adjacent to cabinetry, walls or other appliances, there is no need for an enclosed cabinet. In recognition of this fact, manufacturers of conventional dishwashers have done away with the enclosed cabinet and developed an assembly which mounts a washing tub on minimal support structure that is positioned under the countertop. While this solution is fine for conventional dishwashers, drawer-type dishwashers require specific structure for supporting extensible rails that enable one or more wash tubs to slide in and out. In addition, structure must be provided for raising and lowering one or more lid members that seal against upper peripheral lips of the wash tubs during a washing operation.
Based on the above, there exists a need for a low cost, easily manufactured frame for a drawer-type dishwasher that includes specific structure for supporting a laterally movable washing chamber and a vertically shiftable lid member.
The present invention is directed to a support frame for a drawer-type dishwasher. In accordance with the invention, the support frame includes a top section, opposing side sections and a bottom section that are preferably formed from plastic, but which can be formed from metal, fiberglass or the like. The top section is joined to an upper portion of each of the opposing side sections so as to, at least partially, define a cavity for receiving a wash tub. Each of the opposing side sections is furnished with a plurality of support members that define an open lattice work. The open lattice work provides structure that contributes to the overall stability of the support frame.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the support frame includes first and second rail supports that are provided on respective ones of the opposing side sections. The first and second rail supports are designed to support corresponding first and second extensible rail assemblies which, in turn, slidably support the wash tub relative to the frame. In accordance with a more preferred form of the present invention, the support frame includes third and fourth rail supports so as to enable the dishwasher to include two wash tubs arranged in an upper and lower orientation.
In accordance with the most preferred form of the invention, the support frame is provided with a lid receiving element formed in each of the opposing side sections. Preferably, the lid receiving element is formed as part of the open lattice work. In any event, the lid receiving element is constructed so as to receive structure that positions a lid above the wash tub, while still accommodating vertical movement of the wash tub. In this manner, the support frame can be constructed so as to provide the specific structure required for supporting horizontally movable wash tubs requiring a minimal amount of material and manufacturing steps. In addition, by providing an open lattice work frame instead of a cabinet, the routing of hoses, wires and the like into and out of the appliance is advantageously enhanced.
Additional objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments when taken in conjunction with the drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to corresponding parts in the several views.
With initial reference to
In accordance with the embodiment shown, upper drawer 16 includes a front wall 20, a rear wall (not shown), a bottom wall 22 and opposing side walls 23 and 24 that collectively define an upper wash chamber or tub 28. In a manner known in the art, upper drawer 16 is provided with a handle 29 for accessing tub 28. In a manner also known in the art, tub 28 includes a dish rack 30 for supporting various objects, such as glassware, utensils and the like, to be exposed to a washing operation. As will be discussed more fully below, upper drawer 16 is slidably mounted within a support frame 40 through a pair of extendible drawer support guides or rails, one of which is indicated at 41 in
In a similar manner, lower drawer 18 includes a front wall 50, a rear wall (not shown), a bottom wall 52 and opposing side walls 53 and 54 that collectively define a lower wash chamber or tub 58. In a manner known in the art, lower drawer 18 is provided with a handle 59 for accessing tub 58. In a manner similar to that described above, lower drawer 18 is slidably mounted within support frame 40 through a pair of extensible drawer support guides or rails, one of which is indicated at 61 in
In accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention, frame 40 includes a top frame section 74, opposing side frame sections 75 and 76, and a bottom frame section 77. In addition, frame 40 is provided with an intermediate frame section 79 that establishes an upper cavity 81 for receiving upper drawer 16 and a lower cavity 82 for receiving lower drawer 18. In further accordance with the embodiment shown, top frame section 74, side frame sections 75 and 76, bottom frame section 77 and intermediate frame section 79 are molded from plastic and thereafter joined or interconnected in order to create frame 40. In any event, as each of upper cavity 81 and lower cavity 82 is similarly constructed, a detailed description will be made with respect to upper cavity 81 with an understanding that lower cavity 82 includes corresponding structure.
As shown, upper cavity 81 includes a plurality of support members such as indicated at 90-93, that are arranged so as to establish an open lattice work for frame 40. Actually, support members 91 and 92 constitute lid support or receiving elements that are adapted to receive a mechanism (not shown) for shiftably supporting lid 44 above tub 28. More specifically, support members 91 and 92 are adapted to receive structure that mechanically interconnects to lid 44 so as to enable shifting of lid 44 when drawer 16 is inserted into or withdrawn from upper cavity 81. In addition, upper cavity 81 is provided with a plurality of rail supports, such as indicated at 98-100, that extend along opposing side frame section 75 adjacent intermediate frame section 79. Rail supports 98-100, in combination with an opposing plurality of rail supports (not shown) arranged upon opposing side frame section 76, provide structure to attach extensible support members 41 to provide the support and enable lateral movement of upper drawer 16 within upper cavity 81.
Reference will now be made to
In further accordance with the embodiment shown, support members 137 include a first plurality of lid support receiving elements 142-144 formed in or otherwise provided on side frame section 125, and a second plurality of lid support receiving elements 145-147 on side frame section 126. Lid support receiving elements 142-144 and 145-147 are adapted to interconnect with structure that positions an adjustable lid (not shown) above a washing chamber. Side frame section 125 is provided with a first plurality of rail supports 152-155 and, in a similar manner, opposing side frame section 126 is provided with a second plurality of rail supports 158-161. In the embodiment shown, rail supports 152-155 and 158-161 are constituted by flaps formed from support members 137 of side frame sections 125 and 126 which are bent inward through a hinge portion (not separately labeled). In a manner similar to that described above, rail supports 152-155 and 158-161 are adapted to interconnect with and support, for example, extensible rails (not shown) that enables a wash tub to laterally shift within cavity 134.
Reference will now be made to
In a manner also similar to that described above with respect to the previous embodiments, support members 204 and 205 are provided with a plurality of lid support elements 226-228 and 229-231 respectively. Lid support elements 226-228 and 229-231 are adapted to interconnect with structure that movably supports a lid member. Likewise, frame 180 is provided with a plurality of rail supports, such as indicated at 240-242 and 244-246, for supporting extensible or guide rails that enable a washing chamber (not shown) to shift into and out of chamber 198. In accordance with the embodiment shown, rail supports 240-242 are connected to frame 180 between first cross member 200 and bottom frame member 189. Likewise, rail supports 244-246 are connected between second cross member 201 and bottom frame member 191. Also shown, each rail support 240-242 and 244-246 is provided with a substantially horizontal surface 250 to which is adapted to mount a respective extensible rail.
Reference will now be made to
As illustrated, support frame 405 is stacked or mounted to support frame 407 to form a dual cavity dishwasher. Thus, support frame 407 is provided with a base frame section 460 which serves as a base or bottom for the overall dishwasher. However, it should be understood that base frame section 460 could be simply mounted to support frame 405 in the event that a single cavity dishwasher is desired. It should also be understood that, while not labeled, each support frame 300, 405 and 407 of the embodiments of
In connection with each of the disclosed embodiments, it should be apparent that the support frame of the present invention provides an easy to manufacture, light weight construction that will provide all the structural integrity required to support shiftable drawers or wash tubs for a drawer type dishwasher. Although described with reference to preferred embodiments of the present invention, it should be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that various changes and/or modifications can be made to the invention without departing from the spirit thereof. For instance, the support frame can be fashioned so as to support one, two or more wash tubs without departing from the scope of the present invention. In addition, while the extensible support rails are designed to be attached to side walls of the wash tub, attachment to the bottom wall is equally acceptable. Furthermore, it should be realized that each frame portion or section is preferably molded as a unitary piece (except gussets 211-214 and rear frame members 350 and 430 which are preferably made of metal), but could be made from separate pieces that are interconnected. In general, the invention is only intended to be limited by the scope of the following claims.
