EP2797482A1

EP2797482A1 - A dishwasher comprising a carrier

Info

Publication number: EP2797482A1
Application number: EP12794326.4A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Tumay CITAK; Hasret Gursoy; Salih Goksu
Original assignee: Arcelik AS
Current assignee: Arcelik AS
Priority date: 2011-12-27
Filing date: 2012-11-29
Publication date: 2014-11-05
Also published as: WO2013098027A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a dishwasher (1) comprising a body (2), at least one rack (3) wherein items to be washed are placed and a carrier (7) having a frame (4) that is mounted at a position close to the ceiling of the body (2) so as to move forwards/backwards, at least two hanger members (5) that extend from the frame (4) towards the base of the body (2) and at least one auxiliary member (6) that is detachably disposed on the hanger member (5).

Description

A DISHWASHER COMPRISING A CARRIER

The present invention relates to a dishwasher comprising a carrier whereon items to be washed are placed.
In dishwashers, carriers disposed at a position close to the ceiling are used in addition to the racks wherein items to be washed are placed in order to provide effective utilization of the dead spaces inside the washing chamber. The user cannot use the carrier effectively due to the configuration of the carriers that is generally suitable for placing thin, long items like cutlery and its position inside the dishwasher. Consequently, the necessity arises for changing the level of the racks or taking out the carrier from the dishwasher.
In the state of the art European Patent Application No. EP2326236, a drawer is explained that is disposed at a position close to the ceiling and that provides the utilization of the dead spaces inside the washing chamber.
In the state of the art United States of America Patent Application No. US2010155280, a cutlery tray is explained that includes auxiliary parts that can be displaced horizontally and vertically.
The aim of the present invention is the realization of a dishwasher comprising a carrier that enables effective utilization of the interior volume by increasing the storing area.
The dishwasher of the present invention realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention, explicated in the first claim and the respective claims thereof, comprises a body, a rack and at least one carrier wherein the objects to be washed are placed, mounted to a movement mechanism oppositely fixed to the side walls of the body so as to move thereon forwards and backwards.
In the dishwasher of the present invention, the mounting of the carrier to the movement mechanism is provided by a frame. The auxiliary member, that can be used as an additional storage area when desired, is mounted to the hanger member which is mounted on the frame and extends downwards from the frame in the vertical plane.
In an embodiment of the present invention, retainers are disposed on the side walls of the frame that enable the hanger member to be seated therein. Thus, the hanger member and the frame are provided to be detachably assembled.
In a derivative of this embodiment, a locking member is used in order to prevent the hanger member from being unintentionally dislodged from the retainer while mounting the auxiliary member to the hanger member or dismounting it from the hanger member.
In an embodiment of the present embodiment, the auxiliary member is fixed by means of the housing disposed on the hanger member. The hanger member is placed into the housing through the housing orifice by the snap-fitting method.
In an embodiment of the present invention, at least one stopper is used for providing the auxiliary member to be held at a different level than the fixed position.
In a derivative of this embodiment, more than one stopper is disposed on the carrier whereat the auxiliary member can be positioned at different levels. Consequently, the user can make height adjustment in a more flexible manner.
In a derivative of this embodiment, the hanger member comprises a lower stopper that extends towards the auxiliary member and whereon the auxiliary member is seated.
In a derivative of this embodiment, the auxiliary member is seated on the lower stoppers disposed at the side walls of the frame.
In a derivative of this embodiment, the level of the auxiliary member is adjusted by seating the claws disposed on the auxiliary member on the step wire situated between the two hanger members.
In another derivative of this embodiment, the stopper comprises a recess arranged on the side of the frame facing the auxiliary member and a pin disposed on the auxiliary member that is inserted into the recess. Thus, the production cost of the stopper decreases.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the rack wire and the hanger member are of the same structure and width. Thus, the housing situated on the auxiliary member can be mounted both to the hanger member and to the rack wire. Consequently, the inventory follow-up performed by the producer becomes easy.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the auxiliary members partially cover the rack. Short items like cups, tea glasses are placed on the covered sections of the rack and long items like goblets, water glasses are placed in the uncovered sections of the rack.
The model embodiments relating to the dishwasher realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention are illustrated in the attached figures, where:
Figure 1 – is the schematic view of a dishwasher.
Figure 2 – is the perspective view of a carrier.
Figure 3 – is the perspective view of the hanger member, the locking member, the step wire and the second stopper in an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 4 – is the perspective view of the auxiliary member, the housing and the claw in an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 5 – is the perspective view of the carrier in an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 6 – is the view of detail A in Figure 5.
Figure 7 – is the top view of the carrier in an embodiment of the present invention.
The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows:

Dishwasher
Body
Rack
Frame
Hanger member
, 106. Auxiliary member
Carrier
Retainer
Locking member
Housing
111. Stopper
Step wire
Claw
Recess
Pin

The dishwasher (1) comprises a body (2) and at least one rack (3) wherein items to be washed are placed (Figure 1).
The dishwasher (1) of the present invention comprises a carrier (7) having a frame (4) that is mounted at a position close to the ceiling of the body (2) so as to move forwards/backwards, at least two hanger members (5) that extend from the frame (4) towards the base of the body (2) and at least one auxiliary member (6) that is detachably disposed on the hanger member (5) (Figure 2).
The user can place different items on the carrier (7) as per his/her needs. When additional storage requirement in the dishwasher (1) arises, the user mounts the auxiliary members (6) to the hanger members (5) on the frame (4). Since the auxiliary members (6) are produced in modular configuration, the user can mount as many auxiliary members (6) to the carrier (7) as desired. Consequently, the auxiliary member (6) does not cover the rack (3) under the carrier (7) when not in use and hence the items on the rack (3) can be washed in a more effective manner. In the dishwasher (1), in cases where additional storage section is not required, the user can easily dismount the auxiliary member (6) from the hanger member (5). Dislodgement of the frame (4), which occupies more space than the auxiliary member (6), and storing thereof outside the dishwasher (1) are not necessary by means of the detachable structure of the auxiliary member (6).
In an embodiment of the present invention, the carrier (7) comprises at least one retainer (8) disposed on the frame (4) which provides each hanger member (5) to be mounted to the frame (4). Thus, the assembly on the frame (4) of the hanger member (5), whereto the auxiliary member (6) can be easily mounted/dismounted is provided.
In a derivative of this embodiment, the carrier (7) comprises a locking member (9) that prevents the hanger member (5) from dislodging from the retainer (8) (Figure 3).
In an embodiment of the present invention, the carrier (7) comprises a housing (10) disposed on the auxiliary member (6) that provides the auxiliary member (6) to be mounted to the hanger member (5).
The housing (10) and the retainer (8) are C-shaped and their orifices face the same direction. During the operation of mounting/dismounting the auxiliary member (6) to/from the hanger member (5), the user has to apply a force in the horizontal plane from the housing (10) towards the hanger member (5) after aligning the housing (10) with the hanger member (5) in order to mount the hanger member (5) to the housing (10). In this situation, the hanger member (5), mounted to the retainer (8) having the same shape as the housing (10), can be dislodged because of the force it is subjected to. This problem has been averted by means of an L-shaped locking member (9) that prevents dislodging of the hanger member (5) from the retainer (8).
In an embodiment of the present invention, the carrier (7) comprises at least one stopper (11) that provides the auxiliary member (6) to be held at different levels. This situation provides flexibility for the user in placement of the items on the carrier (7).
In a derivative of this embodiment, the carrier (7) comprises more than one stopper (11, 111) that provides the auxiliary member (6) to be held at more than one level. Consequently, the user can use the auxiliary member (6) at different levels (Figure 5).
In a derivative of this embodiment, the hanger member (5) comprises a lower stopper (111) that extends from its lower end towards the side wall of the frame (4) opposite to the frame (4) side wall whereat the hanger member (5) is located, and which supports the auxiliary member (6) from below. Thus, the auxiliary member (6) not being able to remain on the desired height level due to weight of items placed thereon is prevented.
In a derivative of this embodiment, the carrier (7) comprises an auxiliary member (106) that is disposed on the opposite lower stoppers (111) so as to be suspended therebetween. Thus, the auxiliary member (106) enables almost all of the space occupied by the frame (4) to be used in carrying (Figure 7).
In a derivative of this embodiment, the stopper (11) comprises a step wire (12) disposed on the hanger member (5) and at least one claw (13) situated on the auxiliary member (6) and configured to be seated on the step wire (12). Thus, the user can easily change the position of the auxiliary member (6) depending on the sizes of items to be placed (Figure 3, Figure 4).
In another derivative of this embodiment, the stopper (11) comprises at least one recess (14) arranged on the frame (4) and at least one pin (15) disposed on the auxiliary member (6) that provides the auxiliary member (6) to be fitted into the recess (14). Thus, an additional connection member is not required for adjusting the level of the auxiliary member (6) (Figure 6).
In an embodiment of the present invention, the dishwasher (1) comprises the hanger member (5) that is produced from wire in the same shape and diameter as the rack (3) wires. Cost advantage in production is provided since investment in different moulds is not required for the auxiliary member (6) that can be used both in the rack (3) and the carrier (7).
In an embodiment of the present invention, the dishwasher (1) comprises at least two auxiliary members (6) disposed on the opposite hanger members (5) on the side walls of the frame (4) and having a gap therebetween for not obstructing the long items located in the rack (3) below. Thus, the user can use the rack (3) situated below the carrier (7) in an effective manner.
By means of the present invention, the carrier (7) that is used as additional storage area enables washing of items with different widths and lengths.
It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed above and a person skilled in the art can easily introduce different embodiments. These should be considered within the scope of the protection postulated by the claims of the present invention.

Claims

A dishwasher (1) comprising a body (2) and at least one rack (3) wherein the items to be washed are placed,

characterized by a carrier (7) having

- a frame (4) that is mounted at a position close to the ceiling of the body (2) so as to move forwards/backwards,

- at least two hanger members (5) that extend from the frame (4) towards the base of the body (2) and

- at least one auxiliary member (6) that is detachably disposed on the hanger member (5).
A dishwasher (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by the carrier (7) comprising at least one retainer (8) disposed on the frame (4) and which provides each hanger member (5) to be mounted to the frame (4).
A dishwasher (1) as in Claim 2, characterized by the carrier (7) comprising a locking member (9) that prevents dislodgement of the hanger member (5) from the retainer (8) during mounting of auxiliary member (6) to the hanger member (5).
A dishwasher (1) as in any one of the above Claims, characterized by the carrier (7) comprising a housing (10) that is disposed on the auxiliary member (6) and that provides the auxiliary member (6) to be mounted on the hanger member (5).
A dishwasher (1) as in any one of the above Claims, characterized by the carrier (7) comprising at least one stopper (11) that provides the auxiliary member (6) to be positioned at different levels.
A dishwasher (1) as in Claim 5, characterized by a carrier (7) comprising more than one stopper (11, 111) that provides the auxiliary member (6) to be held at more than one level.
A dishwasher (1) as in Claim 6, characterized by the hanger member (5) comprising a lower stopper (111) that extends from its lower end towards the side wall of the frame (4) opposite to the frame (4) side wall whereat the hanger member (5) is mounted and which supports the auxiliary member (6) from below.
A dishwasher (1) as in Claim 7, characterized by the auxiliary member (106) that is disposed on the opposite lower stoppers (111) so as to be suspended therebetween.
A dishwasher (1) as in any one of the Claims 5 to 8, characterized by the stopper (11) comprising a step wire (12) disposed on the hanger member (5) and at least one claw (13) situated on the auxiliary member (6) and configured to be seated on the step wire (12).
A dishwasher (1) as in any one of the Claims 5 to 8, characterized by the carrier (7) comprising the stopper (11) having at least one recess (14) arranged on the frame (4) and at least one pin (15) that is disposed on the auxiliary member (6) and that provides the auxiliary member (6) to be mounted to the recess (14).
A dishwasher (1) as in any one of the above Claims, characterized by the hanger member (5) that is produced from wire in the same shape and diameter as the rack (3) wires.
A dishwasher (1) as in any one of the above Claims, characterized by at least two auxiliary members (6) disposed on the opposite hanger members (5) on the side walls of the frame (4) and having a gap therebetween for not obstructing the long items located in the rack (3) below.