CA1048381A

CA1048381A - Adjustable lid for dishwasher basket

Info

Publication number: CA1048381A
Application number: CA75239447A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Robert M. St. Louis
Original assignee: Canadian General Electric Co Ltd
Current assignee: General Electric Canada Co
Priority date: 1975-11-12
Filing date: 1975-11-12
Publication date: 1979-02-13

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
An adjustable lid for the silver ware basket of a domestic dishwasher comprises a comb like structure the teeth of which are adapted to be inserted through a lattice work wall of the basket to cover a compartment thereof. he distal ends of some of the teeth are enlarged to provide an interference fit with lattice members to make accident total withdrawal of the cover from the basket less possible.
Proximal ends of the outer two teeth are provided with shoulders which snap engage lattice members to retain the cover in its inserted position.

Description

Case 2502 'Fhis invention rela-ted -to dishwashers, and paxticularly concerns the provision of novel means for washing small, liyht items therein.
In dishwashers of the domestic type the cleansing action is generally by means of powerful water jets which impinge upon the surfaces to be cleansed. Small items are usually contained within a compartmented silverware basket which is normally of an open latticework construction to permit the passage of water jets therethrough. Where the small items are light plastic or rubber materials they may be swept from the silverware basket into the sump of the dishwasher. It is known to provide silverware baskets having one or more compartments having hinged lids such that these small, liyht articles may be confined. The disadvantage of such provisions is that the hinged lid is an encumbrance when it is desired to employ the compartment to contain larger objects that have no necessity of being confined b~ a lid, or objects that may project beyond the confines of any lid.
This invention contemplates the provision of an adjustable cover for a compartment of a latticework silver-ware basket whereby the cover may be placed at any convenient height in the compartment. When at the lowest level, ~he cover is essentially in a stored position and the compartment is available for normal use in holding larger, heavier items.
Briefly expressed, the cover of my invention is comb like and comprises a base and a plurality of parallel, elongated teeth projecting therefrom. The teeth are spaced and proportioned to pass between member~ forming the lattice~
work of a side wall of the silverware basket in its inserted ~-position the teeth of the cover project through the lattice-work to provide a confinement for a compartment of the basket.
Means is provided on the~çover for releasably retaining it -. ,~ . , . :

- , Case 2502 ~)4~;~8~
in its inserted position in the basket. Desirably this retaining means compri~es one or more resilient members which respectively releasably engage one or more lattice members.
Most desirably a pair o~ opposed resilient members are provided, one on each side of the teeth array, with handle members which may be squeezed together by finger pressure to release the resilient gripping members from their gripping position.
My invention will be further explained with reference lO to an embodiment thereof, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings which show:
In Figure l, in perspective partially broken away view, a compartmented silverware basket for a dishwasher having an adjustable cover constructed in accordance with my invention ~ . .
partially inserted therein;
in Figure 2, a plan view of a compartment of the basket of Figure 1 showing the cover in a fully insexted and --retained position;
in Figure 3, in perspective view, the cover of my 20 invention.
Referring to the figures, a silverware basket is shown generally as lO and comprises at least one generally ; vertical exterior wall 12 of an open lattice construction conformed by vertical lattice members 14 and hori~ontal lattice members 16. Interior basket walls 18 and 20, which may be ~-solid or otherwise, compartmentalize basket 10 as in compartment ~;
22. ~ ~ .
An adjustable cover constructed in accordance with my invention is shown as 30, comprises a comb like structure 30 formed by a base 32 and a plurality of parallel, axially elongated teeth 34 projecting forwardly thereErom. The spacing between adjacent teeth corresponds approximately to '': . ' ~ . ' . ' Case 2502 ~t~4~
the spacing between adjacent vertical lattice members 14 to enable the teeth to pass through wall 12, and thereby cover compartment 22. Diamond shaped protuberances 36 may be formed on the distal end~ of teeth 34; the maximum lateral width of each of the protuberances i~ approximately equal to the spacing between adjacent vertical lattice members 14 50 as to form an interference fit therewith. The protuberances 36 serve to .retain the spacing between the distal ends of teeth 34; more importantly they ~unction as a stop to preclude cover 30 from being fully withdrawn from wall 12 unless a definite and intentional force is applied. In this manner any preselected vertical position of cover 30 in wall .;- :-12 may be retained, and the possibility of the cover being lost or mislaid when it is pulled back to provide access to - ~.
compartment 22 is ~ignificantly reduced. .. - :
Cover 30 is retained in its fully inserted position in co~partment 22 by any convenient means. In the illustrated embodiment a pair of clip members 40 are provided which releasably engage vertical lattice members 14 of wall 12.
Each clip member 40 comprises a first leg portion 44 which projects from base 32 in the same direction as teeth 34; in this instance leg portion 44 is integral with the proximal portion o~ an end tooth of cover 30. Leg portion 44 is .: joined by bight portion 46 to second rearwardly directed leg portion 48. Leg portion 48 project~ beyond base 32 to form a handle means 51, by which cover 30 may be manipulated. ;;
: Desirably the projecting portion is enlarged, as at 50, ln order ; that cover 30 may be easily manlpulated thereby. Second leg portion 48 has a rearward ~acing shoulder 54 provided thereon.
The lateral spacing between opposed shoulders 54 is arranged ~;

to be marginally greater than the horizontal dimension between vertical lattice members 14 that the shoulder~ are :

, ~ , ~ : .

Ca~e 2502 104~3~9L
intended to engage. At least leg portions 48 of cover 30 are constructed from a resilient material such that a~ teeth 34 are pushed through the lattice opening~ of wall 12 leg portions 48 are inwardly de~ormed to outwardly bias leg portions 48 and snap engage shoulders 54 behind vertical lattice members 14. It is advantageous to manufacture cover 30 entirely from resilient material, and polypropylene or other thermoplastic material that has a sufficiently high heat deformation temperature to with~tand the conditions prevalent in dishwashers is generally suitable. To withdraw cover 30 ;-~
from its snapped in position in basket 10 it is merely required to squeeze handle members 51 towards each other such that shoulders 48 disengage vertical lattice members 14 whereupon the cover may be pulled back. The axial spacing between each shoulder 54 and the forwardly facing sur~ace of base 32 i arranged to be only marginally gx~ater than the thickness of wall 12 to hold the cover in a stable, non rotating position -when cover 30 is fully positioned in wall 12. This stability -is further increased by enlarging base 32 in the vertical direction.
It will be apparent tha~ my invention may be embodied in forms other than that illustrated in the accompanying drawings; the invention is not to be limited to the above detailed preferred embodiment, but should be accorded the full scope of the appended claim ~' ,.
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Claims

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclu-sive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. An adjustable cover for a latticework silver-ware basket in a dishwasher, said cover comprising a base member, a plurality of generally parallel axially elongated teeth projecting forwardly from said base member, said teeth being spaced apart and adapted to pass between lattice members of a sidewall of said basket to cover said compartment, means for releasably retaining said cover in a fully inserted position within said basket.

2. A cover as defined in claim 1 wherein at least a portion of said teeth are provided with protuberancas adjacent the distal ends thereof, said protuberances having a maximum transverse dimension approximately equal to the spacing between adjacent vertical lattice members of said basket to provide an interference fit therewith.

3. A cover as defined in claim 2 wherein said retaining means comprises a pair of opposed clip members which are outwardly biased when said cover is fully inserted in said basket, thereby engaging lattic members of said basket.

4. A cover as defined in claim 3 wherein each said clip member comprises a first leg portion forwardly projecting from said base and a second rearwardly directed leg portion connected to said first leg portion remote from said base, said second leg portions having shoulder portions thereon placed to engage said lattice members.

5. A cover as defined in claim 4 wherein each said second leg portions projects beyond said base to form a handle means.

6. A cover as defined in claim 5 wherein each said first leg portion forms a part of a tooth of said cover.