EP0937436A1

EP0937436A1 - Dishwasher rack with tip-up shelf

Info

Publication number: EP0937436A1
Application number: EP99830074A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Roberto Bertazzoni
Original assignee: Smeg SpA
Current assignee: Smeg SpA
Priority date: 1998-02-18
Filing date: 1999-02-11
Publication date: 1999-08-25
Also published as: IT1298279B1; ITMI980313A1

Abstract

A dishwasher rack is provided with a shelf (1) which can be tipped up to a substantially vertical position around a horizontal axis (2) which in turn can be moved vertically along a guiding member (5) which defines its vertical travel (L). This roto-translational movement allows to provide a shelf of greater width which can still be tipped up to the vertical position when loading larger dishes.

Description

The present invention relates to dishwashing machines, and in particular to a dishwasher rack provided with a tip-up shelf.
It is known that dishwasher racks are usually made from metal wires coated with plastic and welded together so as to form a supporting structure for the dishes. In order to make more flexible the use of said racks, mobile or removable supports are often provided which allow to change the exploitation of the rack according to the need of the moment.
An example of such a flexibility of use is found in the upper rack which is usually intended to receive the smaller dishes such as cups, glasses and the like. In order to fully exploit its height, there is usually provided a cup-supporting shelf extending along one or both sides of the rack and located at such a level as to allow the positioning of the glasses under the shelf. However, the presence of the shelf is an obstacle when the upper rack has to be used for larger dishes.
In order to make possible such a use the shelf can be made completely removable, as a separate insert, or tipped up to a vertical position. In the first case there is the drawback that if the user does not properly secure the shelf this can result in the shelf falling down on the underlying glasses under the load of the cups. Furthermore, it is not practical to have a separate piece which has to be stored outside the dishwasher when not in use.
Tip-up shelves do not have these drawbacks since they are fixed onto the rack, but they have size constraints. In fact, the rotation of the shelf takes place around an axis located at the point where the shelf is connected to the rack side. This means that the distance of said axis from the ceiling of the dishwasher tank must be greater than the width of the shelf, otherwise when the shelf is in the vertical position the rack could no more enter the tank.
With this known arrangement, the only possibility for increasing the shelf width in order to receive larger cups (or other dishes) is to lower the point of connection of the shelf. However this implies reducing the height under the shelf available to the glasses; therefore the advantage of a wider shelf corresponds to the drawback of less room for the glasses.
Therefore the object of the present invention is to provide a rack suitable to overcome the above-mentioned drawbacks.
This object is achieved by means of a rack wherein the shelf can not only be rotated to a vertical position, but also moved vertically when it is in said position.
The main advantage of this rack is that it combines the simplicity and safety of use of the tip-up shelf with the capability of size increase without constraints which is typical of the removable shelf.
A further advantage of this rack is that it carries out the above-mentioned combined movement of the shelf through a very simple and tough structure, with positive effects on cost and reliability.
These and other advantages and characteristics of the rack according to the present invention will be clear to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of an embodiment thereof, with reference to the annexed drawings wherein:
Fig.1 is a diagrammatic front view of a prior art upper rack inside a dishwasher, with some dishes which illustrate the possible loading alternatives;
Fig.2 is a view similar to the preceding one of a rack according to the invention;
Fig.3 is a partial enlarged view of fig.2, without dishes, which shows in greater detail the movement of the shelf; and
Fig.4 is a perspective view from the inside of the rack of fig.3 which shows in greater detail the structure of the rack with the shelf in loading position.
With reference to fig.1, there is seen that a conventional upper rack CS positioned within the tank of a dishwasher is provided along the left side with a tip-up shelf MR. By way of example, it can be considered that said shelf MR can receive a cup T having a maximum diameter of 86 mm, while under the shelf there can be positioned a glass B having a maximum height of 125 mm. When the rack CS has to be loaded with a larger vessel C, the shelf MR can be tipped up to a vertical position to eliminate the space occupied in the horizontal direction. It is clear that in order to be able to rotate completely the shelf it is necessary that its free end does not reach the tank ceiling CV.
Figs.2 and 3 clearly show the advantage achieved through the arrangement devised by the applicant. In this case, the shelf 1 can still be tipped up to a vertical position around a horizontal axis 2, said axis 2 being however not fixed but rather capable of moving vertically downwards along a travel L. As a consequence, also the free end of the shelf 1 moves down along such a distance L and is therefore well far from the tank ceiling CV. It is clear that said roto-translational movement of the shelf 1 can be carried out even when the rack is inside the tank, but it is more practical to split it into a rotational movement followed by a vertical translational movement carried out when the rack is completely extracted from the tank.
Carrying on the above-mentioned numerical example, this arrangement results in the possibility of easily receiving on the shelf 1 a cup T' having a maximum diameter of 100 mm, i.e. 16% larger than in the previous case. This result is achieved while maintaining the underlying room for a 125 mm glass B and the possibility of loading a large vessel C. As a matter of fact, it would be possible to increase further the width of the shelf 1, since its free end in the vertical position is farther from the tank ceiling CV than in the previous case with the fixed axis of rotation.
Finally, fig.4 illustrates a preferred embodiment suitable to allow the above-mentioned combined movement of rotation and translation.
When the shelf is in the loading position, it is supported by a shaped member 3 joined to the wires 4 forming the rack side. This member 3 is L-shaped in a vertical plane perpendicular to said wires 4, and then terminates with an end 3a which is bent through 90° in the horizontal plane so as to be parallel with the axis 2. In this way, the axis 2 is retained in the vertical direction by the L-shaped portion of the member 3, while the shelf 1 abuts on the end 3a through one of the rods which make it up.
A second shaped member 5 controls the vertical movement of the shelf 1. The member 5 has an elongated U shape and is also located in a vertical plane perpendicular to the wires 4 and joined thereto. The height of the member 5 defines the vertical travel L of the shelf 1.
In order to properly support and guide the shelf 1, in addition to the illustrated pair of members 3, 5 located near the front of the rack there is provided a second pair close to the back of the rack.
It is clear that the above-described and illustrated embodiment of the device according to the invention is just an example susceptible of various modifications. In particular, the shape and location of the supporting and guiding members 3, 5 can be changed according to the need, as long as they allow the above-described roto-translational movement. The two above-mentioned members 3, 5 could even be combined into a single supporting and guiding member.

Claims

A dishwasher rack provided with a shelf (1) which can be tipped up to a substantially vertical position around a horizontal axis (2), characterized in that said axis (2) can be moved vertically along at least a guiding member (5), the shelf (1) being supported in the loading position by at least a supporting member (3).
A dishwasher rack according to claim 1, characterized in that the vertical travel (L) of the axis (2) is defined by the guiding member (5).
A dishwasher rack according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it includes a plurality of supporting and guiding members (3, 5) located near the front and the back of the rack.
A dishwasher rack according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the supporting member (3) is joined to the wires (4) forming the rack side and has an L shape in a vertical plane perpendicular to said wires (4), said shape terminating with an end (3a) bent through 90° in the horizontal plane so that it is parallel to the axis of rotation (2) of the shelf.
A dishwasher rack according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the guiding member (5) is joined to the wires (4) forming the rack side and has a U shape in a vertical plane perpendicular to said wires (4).
A dishwasher rack according to one or more of claims 1-4, characterized in that the functions of support and guide of the shelf (1) are carried out by a single member or by a pair of identical members.