Patent Grant
8038805
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention pertains to the art of dishwashers and, more particularly, to a multi-piece dishrack system for a drawer-type dishwasher.
2. Discussion of the Prior Art
Racks for supporting items in a dishwasher are well known in the art. Typically, the racks are designed to hold dishware, utensils and other items such as pots, pans and casserole dishes. Towards that end, the racks are generally provided with various support elements that enable a consumer to arrange the dishware in such a manner so as to optimize available space on the rack. As there exists a wide array of dishwashers, racks are typically specially configured to accommodate each dishwasher model. For example, racks for industrial dishwashers are designed to ride along a conveyor belt, racks for conventional dishwashers are designed to be slidingly supported in a tub through rollers or extensible glide rails and racks for drawer-type dishwashers are designed to fit into a drawer.
In drawer-type dishwashers, the drawer or washing chamber is generally slidingly supported in a cabinet and contains or supports many, if not all, wash system components for the drawer. With this arrangement, various components, such as filters, wash arms and pump inlets are arranged in a bottom portion of the drawer, with the rack being of a length, width and height so as to readily be fitted into the drawer atop the various components. Prior to a washing operation, the consumer need simply load items to be washed upon the rack. The drawer is then slid into the cabinet and a washing operation initiated. During the washing operation, a washing fluid is introduced into the drawer through wash arms which spray the washing fluid onto the items arranged on the rack. The water and any entrained soil particles pass through the filters and into the pump inlet, at which point the water, less the soil particles, is redirected back to the wash arms. This process is repeated until the washing operation is complete.
Occasionally during a washing operation, a large food particle will become dislodged and rest upon one of the filters. Also, during loading of the items to be washed, a utensil or other item may fall and pass through the rack, landing onto one of the filters, or simply come to rest on the bottom portion of the drawer. In order to retrieve anything that falls onto the bottom portion of the drawer, the rack must be removed. If there are items on the rack, most, if not all, of the items must be removed prior to lifting the rack from the dishwasher. Unloading and reloading the rack to retrieve a fallen item can be very inconvenient, particularly when the rack is full.
Despite the existence of dishracks in the prior art, there still exists a need for an enhanced dishrack designed for use with a drawer-type dishwasher. More specifically, there exists a need for a dishrack that is formed from multiple pieces so as to conform to a full length and width of a dishwasher drawer as well as provide at least one high wall for supporting tall items such as glassware and to enable a consumer to easily install the dishrack, readily remove a portion of the dishrack and gain access to a bottom portion of a drawer without having to completely unload the dishrack.
The present invention is directed to dishrack system for a dishwasher having a support body within which is slidably mounted in a tub defining drawer. The tub includes bottom, rear and opposing side walls that collectively define a washing chamber. The dishrack system is arranged in the washing chamber for supporting articles to be washed. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, the dishrack system includes a side portion and a base portion that is removably supported by the side portion. With this arrangement, the dishrack system can fully accupy a length and width of the washing chamber and the base portion can be removed to access the bottom wall of the tub without disturbing the side portion or any items that may be supported thereon.
In further accordance with the invention, the side portion includes a base section having first and second leg members, and a back wall section. The leg members directly support the side portion upon the bottom wall, with the back wall section extending along one of the opposing side walls. The back wall section can rest upon ribs, integrally molded into the side walls of the tub to provide additional support, particularly when the base portion is removed. The base portion includes a first end, supported by the side portion, that extends to a second end through an intermediate portion. The second end includes a pair of leg members that rest upon the bottom wall of the washing chamber.
In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, the dishrack system includes a second side portion. In a manner similar to that described above, the second side portion includes a base section having first and second leg members, and a back wall section. The leg members directly support the second side portion upon the bottom wall, with the back wall section extending along a respective one of the opposing side walls. In a manner similar to that described above, the back wall section can rest upon ribs, integrally molded into the side walls of the tub to provide additional support, particularly when the base portion is removed. With this arrangement, the dishrack system fully occupies the length and width of the washing chamber and the base portion, while being supported between the side portions, is readily removable in the event that access to the bottom wall of the washing chamber is desired.
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 the embodiment shown, upper washing unit or drawer 16 includes a front wall 20, a rear wall 21, a bottom wall 22 and opposing side walls 23 and 24 that collectively define a washing tub or chamber 28. In a manner known in the art, upper washing unit 16 is slidingly supported within the outer support body (not shown) through a pair of drawer support glides, one of which is indicated at 33. In addition, while not shown, it should be understood that each drawer 16, 18 is provided with a corresponding lid member that selectively seals about an upper opening (not separately labeled) of washing chamber 28. In any event, the above description is provided for the sake of completeness and to enable a better understanding of the drawings. The present invention is particularly directed to a multi-piece dishrack 50 for supporting articles to be exposed to a washing operation in washing chamber 28. Although not shown, it should be understood that a similar rack could be arranged in lower washing unit 18.
Reference will now be made to
On the other side of base portion 64, second side portion 62 includes a base section 90 having a horizontal portion 92 and a back wall section 96 provided with first and second end sections 99 and 100. Second side portion 62 is supported upon bottom wall 22 through a pair of leg members 106 and 107. More specifically, in accordance with the invention, first and second side portions 60 and 62 are positioned within washing chamber 28 such that back wall 72 extends along side wall 23 with leg members 80 and 81 resting upon bottom wall 22. Likewise, second side portion 62 extends along side wall 24 with leg members 106 and 107 resting upon bottom wall 22 of washing chamber 28.
Once first and second side portions 60 and 62 are in place, base portion 64 is inserted into washing chamber 28. In accordance with this preferred embodiment of the invention, base portion 64 rests directly upon side portions 60 and 62 so as to fully occupy a length and width of washing chamber 28 and also to be readily removable. More specifically, in the event that a consumer inadvertently drops an item, such as a utensil onto bottom wall 22, base portion 64 can be readily removed without disturbing any articles that may be supported upon first and/or second side portions 60 and 62. Likewise, if a consumer notices any large objects trapped upon or resting upon various filters (not shown) provided along bottom wall 22, base portion 64 can simply be removed, the article extracted from washing chamber 28 and base portion 64 readily re-inserted.
As best shown in
In addition, peripheral frame 120 includes a plurality of laterally extending support members 140 which are connected to opposing side members 124 and 125. More specifically, laterally extending support members 140 include first and second pluralities of end portions 141 and 142 which extend beyond opposing side members 124 and 125. With this construction, longitudinally extending support members 130 and 131, along with laterally extending support members 140, establish a latticework across peripheral frame 120 for supporting dishes and the like. Actually, a plurality of tine members (not shown) can be attached to support members 130, 134 and 140 in various configurations to establish multiple dish support zones.
In any case, when base portion 64 is in place, first and second pluralities of end portions 141 and 142 of each support member 140 rest upon first and second side portions 60 and 62. In a preferred form of the invention, at least two of each first and second pluralities of end portions 141, 142 include hook members indicated generally at 143-146, that provide positive engagement with base portion 64. With this construction, base portion 64 can be readily lifted from side portions 60 and 62 exposing bottom wall 22 of wash tub 28. That is, laterally extending support members 140 and, more particularly, end portions 141 and 142, are designed to rest upon base sections 67 and 90 allowing base portion 64 to be removed without disturbing side portions 60 and 62. Once removed, any foreign objects that might be resting upon bottom wall 22 can be removed and/or other components of dishwasher 2 can be accessed without the need to unload dishware from side portions 60 and 62.
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, washing chamber 28 includes a plurality of ribs, two of which are indicated at 148 and 149, integrally formed on side walls 23 and 24. That is, ribs 148 and 149 are integrally formed on side wall 23, while additional ribs (not shown) are formed on side wall 24. Ribs 148 and 149 are provided to capture and support first side portion 60 while the additional ribs (not shown) formed on side wall 24 are provided to capture and support second side portion 62. Towards that end, each rib 148 and 149 includes a corresponding tab member 152, 153 that define respective notches 155, 156. With this arrangement, first side portion 60 is placed within washing chamber 28 such that back wall 72 rests, n part, within notches 155 and 156. In this manner, first side portion 60 will remain upright even when base portion 64 is removed. Of course, it should be understood that second side portion 62 is supported in a similar manner.
Reference will now be made to
In accordance with the embodiment shown, side portion 164 is mounted in washing chamber 28 such that back wall 190 extends along one of opposing side walls 23 and 24, with leg members 199 and 200 directly resting upon bottom wall 22. In a manner similar to that described above, side portion 164 is supported upon rib members 148 and 149 formed on side wall 23 of washing chamber 28. Once in place, base portion 166 is arranged within washing chamber 28 across bottom wall 22. In a manner that will described more fully below, base portion 166 is supported at one end through side portion 164 and at an opposing end directly upon bottom wall 22.
As best shown in
Although not shown, base portion 166 can be provided with a plurality of tines which can be arranged in various configurations to establish specific dish support zones or regions. At this point, it should be understood that the present invention provides for a simple dishrack that allows a consumer to load dishware onto side portions and, if needed, readily remove a base portion without disturbing the dishes previously arranged on the side portions. Moreover, a consumer can access bottom wall 22 without having to remove the dishrack in its entirety. Of course, it should also be understood that racks 50 or 160 could be provided with various other accessories, such as those shown in
Although described with reference to preferred embodiments of the invention, it should be readily understood that various changes and/or modifications can be made to the invention without departing from the spirit thereof. For instance, the dishracks are generally shown as being formed from coated wire, other materials, such as molded plastic, could also be employed. In general, the invention is only intended to be limited by the scope of the following claims.
The present application claims the benefit of the filing of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/793,248 filed Apr. 20, 2006.
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2907470 | Abresch | Oct 1959 | A |
| 3289683 | Tomlin | Dec 1966 | A |
| 3680712 | Jurasek | Aug 1972 | A |
| 3752322 | Fiocca et al. | Aug 1973 | A |
| 4046261 | Yake | Sep 1977 | A |
| 4917248 | Friskney | Apr 1990 | A |
| 5205419 | Purtilo | Apr 1993 | A |
| 5409309 | Giddings et al. | Apr 1995 | A |
| 5431294 | Stottmann et al. | Jul 1995 | A |
| 5601195 | Finola et al. | Feb 1997 | A |
| 5626242 | Weizer | May 1997 | A |
| 5649630 | Remmler | Jul 1997 | A |
| 6109455 | Schroeder | Aug 2000 | A |
| 6260565 | Welch et al. | Jul 2001 | B1 |
| 6546942 | Smith et al. | Apr 2003 | B2 |
| 6571812 | Lavoie et al. | Jun 2003 | B1 |
| 6571965 | Beck et al. | Jun 2003 | B1 |
| 6848585 | Van Landingham | Feb 2005 | B2 |
| 7137397 | Rosenbauer et al. | Nov 2006 | B2 |
| 20030205250 | DeBoer et al. | Nov 2003 | A1 |
| 20050268945 | Hedstrom et al. | Dec 2005 | A1 |
| Number | Date | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 898929 | Mar 1999 | EP |
| 1266603 | Dec 2002 | EP |
| 2349330 | Nov 2000 | GB |
| 2003-024262 | Jan 2003 | JP |
| 2003-284671 | Jul 2003 | JP |
| 2003-325427 | Nov 2003 | JP |
| 2004000745 | Jan 2004 | JP |
| 2005000226 | Jan 2005 | JP |
| 2005046301 | Feb 2005 | JP |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20070246090 A1 | Oct 2007 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60793248 | Apr 2006 | US |
