EP4117499B1 - Cutlery rack for a dishwasher - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a cutlery drawer for a dishwasher, with a drawer body which is mounted so as to be pull-out from a washing compartment of the dishwasher and which provides a cutlery insert for receiving cutlery items in particular, wherein the cutlery insert has a row of cams with a plurality of cams arranged one behind the other in the pull-out direction for the individual reception of cutlery items aligned transversely to the pull-out direction, wherein adjacent cams are spaced apart from one another to form a gap.

A cutlery drawer of the generic type is from the EP 3 409 182 A1 known. The EP 3 409 182 A1 The previously known cutlery drawer has a frame-like drawer body that provides a total of three cutlery inserts. The drawer body, together with the cutlery inserts accommodated by it, is designed to be able to be moved out of or into the dishwasher's washing compartment in the pull-out direction.

To accommodate individual pieces of cutlery, cams arranged in rows are provided, with adjacent cams being spaced apart from one another to form a gap. When used as intended, the gap formed between two adjacent cams accommodates a piece of cutlery in sections. To ensure that a large number of pieces of cutlery are securely positioned, two rows of cams are preferably provided, which are arranged next to one another in the pull-out direction of the cutlery drawer, with the cams in one row of cams extending one behind the other in the pull-out direction.

The design described above allows the user to easily load individual pieces of cutlery into the cutlery drawer. The cutlery pieces are arranged between two adjacent cams in a row of cams and are aligned transversely to the pull-out direction of the cutlery drawer.

Although the above-described design has proven itself in everyday practical use, it is not without disadvantages. The gap between two adjacent cams in a row of cams is chosen so that cutlery items such as forks, knives and spoons in particular can be held and positioned securely. Cutlery items of a different design, such as chopsticks in particular, do not have enough space and cannot be held securely in position. Even when a washing program is carried out as intended, it can therefore happen that chopsticks in particular are moved out of their initial position and are also moved back and forth in the cutlery insert in an uncontrolled manner.

The CN 109 259 690 A discloses a holder with a storage area for cutlery, in particular chopsticks, and with two hooks with which the holder can be clamped to a wire rod of a dish rack.

Based on this, it is the object of the invention to further develop a cutlery drawer of the type mentioned at the outset in such a way that the structurally secure storage of chopsticks in particular is ensured.

To achieve this object, the invention proposes a cutlery drawer of the type mentioned at the outset, which is characterized by a holder which can be exchangeably received by the cutlery insert and which has a guide section and a cutlery section, wherein the cutlery section provides a support device for the individual reception of cutlery items aligned in the pull-out direction, and wherein the guide section has a bearing body which is designed to correspond to the row of cams of the cutlery insert and can be placed on them.

The cutlery drawer according to the invention has a holder that can be replaced in the cutlery insert if necessary. This holder serves to securely hold chopsticks in particular and provides a corresponding support contour. When used as intended, a cutlery drawer is therefore filled with chopsticks in particular using the holder that can be replaced in the cutlery insert.

According to the invention, the holder has a guide section on the one hand and a cutlery section on the other. The holder is preferably made in one piece from plastic.

The cutlery section is used to arrange cutlery items in a positionally secure manner and for this purpose has a support device for individually holding cutlery items aligned in the pull-out direction. The alignment in the pull-out direction offers the particular advantage that the holder can also hold comparatively long cutlery items, in particular chopsticks, because they are not aligned transversely to the pull-out direction, but lengthways to it.

The holder also has a guide section. This guide section has a bearing body that is designed to correspond to the row of cams on the cutlery section and is placed on top of it when used as intended. The bearing body therefore encompasses the row of cams at least in sections, which essentially has two advantages. Firstly, it ensures that the holder is positioned in a way that prevents it from twisting relative to the cutlery insert. Secondly, the bearing body can slide over the row of cams like a rail guide, so that the holder can be positioned slidably on the cutlery insert in the pull-out direction. This enables variable size adjustment by positioning the holder accordingly in relation to the cutlery insert.

The holder additionally provided according to the invention ultimately makes it possible to ensure a positionally secure arrangement of cutlery items that cannot be securely held by the row of cams of the cutlery insert, whether because they are too long for a transverse alignment to the pull-out direction or because they have a geometry that is not compatible with the gap between two adjacent cams. The holder provided according to the invention can remedy this because, on the one hand, it provides its own support device for holding cutlery items and, on the other hand, enables the cutlery items to be aligned in the pull-out direction.

Another advantage of the holder according to the invention is that it can be replaced by the cutlery insert, which on the one hand allows the user to use it optionally, but on the other hand also enables retrofitting.

According to a further feature of the invention, the support device has a web running transversely to the extension direction with a plurality of recesses arranged one behind the other in the longitudinal direction of the web. Recesses are used for the individual arrangement of cutlery items. The recesses are provided by a web so that when used as intended there is only linear contact between the support device and the cutlery items. This helps to avoid unwanted water accumulation between the web device and the cutlery items. The recesses also ensure that the cutlery items are positioned in a defined manner within the support device so that there is a minimum distance between adjacent cutlery items so that washing liquid can flow safely between adjacent cutlery items.

According to a further feature of the invention, the recesses are each V-shaped. The V-shaped design is particularly advantageous in combination with chopsticks, since both chopsticks with a circular cross-section and chopsticks with a polygonal cross-section can be held equally securely.

According to a further feature of the invention, the support device has two webs that are arranged one behind the other in the extension direction at a distance from one another. Accordingly, the support device has not just one web equipped with recesses, but two webs, each web having corresponding recesses, the webs being arranged one behind the other in the extension direction, whereby the recesses provided by the webs are aligned opposite one another. This ensures double support of cutlery items, which further improves the positionally secure arrangement within the support device. As a result, there is double linear support by the two webs of the support device.

According to a further feature of the invention, it is provided that the cutlery insert has two rows of cams which are arranged adjacent to one another in the pull-out direction, wherein the guide section has a bearing body for each row of cams.

According to a preferred embodiment, as also shown in EP 3 409 182 A1 As is known, the cutlery insert has two rows of cams. These are arranged next to each other in the pull-out direction, with the gaps between two adjacent cams of two cam rows are aligned opposite each other. When used as intended, this ensures a secure arrangement of a cutlery part between two adjacent cams.

The holder provided according to the invention has two bearing bodies in accordance with this cam row design, with one of the two bearing bodies being assigned to the first cam row and the other of the two bearing bodies being assigned to the second cam row. The guide section of the holder according to the invention therefore has one bearing body for each cam row. The positionally secure arrangement of a holder on the cutlery insert is thereby further improved. In addition, tilt-free guidance of the holder in the longitudinal direction of the cam rows is ensured. This improves handling by the user.

According to a further feature of the invention, a further support device is provided between the two bearing bodies. This further support device serves to additionally accommodate cutlery items. This provides for optimized use of the loading space provided by the cutlery insert.

According to a further feature of the invention, the holder is accommodated by the cutlery part in a displaceable manner in the pull-out direction by means of the bearing body. In the manner already described, this makes it possible to move the holder in its position relative to the cutlery insert, namely along the rows of cams. The holder can therefore be moved on the rows of cams in the longitudinal direction of the rows of cams like a rail. This enables adjustment to the size of the cutlery parts to be accommodated if necessary.

According to a further feature of the invention, it is provided that the holder has locking means that interact with the cutlery insert.

According to this development, the holder can be equipped with locking means that allow the holder to be securely positioned relative to the cutlery insert by locking it into place on the cutlery insert. This ensures that the holder cannot come loose from the cutlery insert in an uncontrolled manner, especially not during the intended execution of a washing program.

In the simplest case, the locking means are extensions that the holder provides on the cutlery insert side. In the final assembled state, these extensions engage in recesses provided by the cutlery insert, which prevents the holder from moving in the cutlery insert plane. Alternatively or in combination with this, locking means can also be provided that engage behind the cutlery insert in a spring-elastic manner at least in sections, so that not only is the position secured in the cutlery insert plane, but also orthogonal to it.

According to a further feature of the invention, the holder has a handle designed like a grip. This handle serves in particular to simplify handling by the user and allows the holder to be attached to the cutlery insert in its desired orientation and position in a simple manner or to be moved or detached from the cutlery insert if necessary.

According to a further feature of the invention, a support device has a stop acting in the pull-out direction. This stop serves to secure cutlery items held by the holder in the pull-out direction as well. This is particularly advantageous when the cutlery drawer is moved out of or into the dishwasher's wash compartment as intended, because this prevents cutlery items from moving in the pull-out direction unintentionally.

According to a particularly advantageous development of the invention, a further holder is provided which is mirrored to the first holder and works together with it. Holders can therefore be used in pairs, with one holder supporting the cutlery at one end and the other holder supporting the cutlery at the other end when used as intended. The cutlery is therefore supported by the holders at one end and the other end. This results in the cutlery being positioned at a distance from the cutlery insert so that the cutlery can be washed all around by washing liquid. This supports the cutlery being cleaned as intended. At the same time, the webs of the support devices ensure that the cutlery only rests in a line at one end and the other end, so that unwanted accumulations of washing liquid between the cutlery on the one hand and the holders on the other are prevented. This prevents unwanted limescale residues on the cutlery in particular.

The invention further proposes a holder for a cutlery drawer. Such a holder has the features already described and offers the advantages already described.

The invention further proposes a holder device which has two holders of the type according to the invention, wherein the holders are mirrored and work together in pairs. Such a holder device formed from two holders of the type according to the invention provides the advantages already explained above.

With the design according to the invention, it is now possible for the first time to position cylindrical cutlery items of different thicknesses and lengths, such as chopsticks in particular, in a cutlery drawer of the type mentioned at the beginning in a defined manner and to keep them at a distance. Another advantage is that the thickness of the cutlery items inserted means that they cannot cause damage to the rows of cams. In addition, a wide range of cutlery items of different lengths can be positioned over a very wide adjustment range. This adjustment option is flexible and can be made stepless by simply moving them.

In addition, it is still possible to use the cutlery drawer to hold cutlery items such as spoons, forks and/or knives. It is even possible to load them all at the same time. With the help of the holder according to the invention, a user is also free to put other crockery and cutlery items in the cutlery drawer and/or to position them between or on the holders according to the invention.

Fig. 1

in schematisch perspektivischer Darstellung eine erfindungsgemäße Besteckschublade;

Fig. 2

in schematisch perspektivischer Darstellung einen Halter nach der Erfindung;

Fig. 3

in schematisch perspektivischer Draufsicht von oben eine erfindungsgemäße Besteckschublade;

Fig. 4

in einer Ausschnittsdarstellung die Besteckschublade nach Fig. 3;

Fig. 5

in einer geschnittenen Ausschnittsdarstellung von der Seite die Besteckschublade nach Fig. 4;

Fig. 6

in einer Ausschnittsdarstellung von unten die Besteckschublade nach Fig. 4;

Fig. 7

in schematischer Ansicht von unten einen erfindungsgemäßen Halter;

Fig. 8

in einer schematischen Draufsicht von oben den Halter nach Fig. 7;

Fig. 9

in einer Ausschnittsdarstellung eine erfindungsgemäße Besteckschublade mit einer Haltereinrichtung und

Fig. 10

in einer teilgeschnittenen Seitenansicht einen erfindungsgemäßen Halter.

Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description based on the figures.

Fig.1

in schematic perspective representation a cutlery drawer according to the invention;

Fig.2

in schematic perspective view a holder according to the invention;

Fig.3

in schematic perspective plan view from above a cutlery drawer according to the invention;

Fig.4

in a detail view the cutlery drawer after Fig. 3 ;

Fig.5

in a cut-out view from the side the cutlery drawer after Fig.4 ;

Fig.6

in a detail view from below the cutlery drawer Fig.4 ;

Fig.7

in schematic view from below a holder according to the invention;

Fig.8

in a schematic view from above the holder Fig.7 ;

Fig.9

in a detail view of a cutlery drawer according to the invention with a holder device and

Fig.10

in a partially sectioned side view of a holder according to the invention.

Fig.1 shows a cutlery drawer 1 according to the invention in a schematic perspective view. This has a drawer body 2 and cutlery inserts 3, which serve to accommodate cutlery items 4, as shown by way of example in Fig.3 is shown.

The cutlery drawer 1 shown in the figures has a total of three cutlery inserts 3. With reference to the drawing plane, Fig.1 a left cutlery insert 3 and a right cutlery insert 3 as well as a middle cutlery insert 3 are provided. The left and right cutlery inserts 3 each serve to accommodate, among other things, cutlery items 4, for example knives, as shown in Fig.3 is shown.

A left or right cutlery insert 3 provides cams 7 for the secure positioning of cutlery items 4, whereby the cams 7 are arranged one behind the other in the pull-out direction 5 and form two cam rows 6. The cam rows 6 are arranged at a distance from one another in the transverse direction 8, as can be seen from a summary of the Figures 1 and 3 can be recognized.

When used as intended, adjacent cams 7 of the Cam rows 6 each hold a cutlery part 4 between them, whereby in the intended use the cutlery parts 4 are aligned transversely to the extension direction 5, i.e. in the transverse direction 8, which also corresponds to the illustration according to Fig.3 can be recognized.

The previously known cutlery inserts 3 are only suitable to a limited extent for a positionally secure arrangement of chopsticks in particular. Firstly, chopsticks are long in comparison to knives, forks and/or spoons, so that they cannot be accommodated in the transverse direction 8 by a cutlery insert 3. Secondly, chopsticks usually have a cross-sectional contour that does not correspond to the gap between two adjacent cams 7. Therefore, if the cam rows 6 are equipped with chopsticks, damage to individual cams 7 of the cam rows 6 can occur.

In order to remedy this, the invention proposes a cutlery drawer 1 which can be optionally equipped with a holder for holding chopsticks, for example. Such a holder has a holder 9 and a further holder 10 which, when used as intended, can hold cutlery items 14 between them, as can be seen from a summary of the Figures 1 and 3 can be recognized.

The holders 9 and 10 of a holding device are mirror images of each other, but otherwise have the same structural design. Fig.2 shows such a holder using the example of holder 9.

As can be seen from the illustration Fig.2 A holder 9 has a guide section 11 on the one hand and a cutlery section 12 on the other. These two sections are made in one piece from plastic.

The cutlery section 12 serves to securely hold cutlery items 14, for which purpose the cutlery section 12 has a support device 13. In the embodiment shown, the support device 13 has two spaced apart webs 16, each of which has V-shaped recesses 17. The recesses 17 of the two webs 16 that belong to one another are aligned in the pull-out direction 5, as shown in the illustration according to Fig.2 can be recognized.

A cutlery section 12 also has a stop 20 acting in the pull-out direction 5, which in the illustrated embodiment is designed as a circumferential edge. This stop prevents cutlery items 14 held by a holder 9 from moving unintentionally in the pull-out direction 5 when the cutlery drawer 1 is moved into or out of a washing compartment of a dishwasher as intended.

A holder 9 also has a guide section 11. This provides two bearing bodies 15 which, in the final assembled state of the holder 9, overlap the associated cam rows 6 of the cutlery insert 3, as can be seen from a summary of the Figures 1 and 3 The bearing bodies 15 rest on the respective associated cam rows 6 in such a way that the cam rows 6 serve as a guide rail for the bearing bodies 15, which allows the user to move a holder 9 in the longitudinal direction of the cam rows 6, which is also possible by the Fig.2 clearly visible double arrow on the left bearing body 15 in the drawing plane.

Between the two bearing bodies 15 of the guide section 11, a further support device 19 is formed, which, like the support device 13, is formed from two webs equipped with recesses 17.

In the final assembled state, two holders 9 and 10 work together in pairs, with a cutlery part 14 held by the holders 9 and 10 being supported at one end by one holder 9 and at the other end by the other holder 10. The cutlery part 14 only comes into linear contact with the webs 16 of the respective associated support device 13 or 19.

As can be seen from a summary of the other Figures 4 to 10 Each holder 9 or 10 has a ribbing 18. This ensures in particular that the holder 9 or 10 is sufficiently stable. Furthermore, the ribbing 18 can also serve to support other cutlery items that may be placed on the holder 9 or 10.

A cutlery insert 3 consists in a manner known per se of longitudinal ribs 21 and transverse ribs 22. For the secure positioning of a holder 9 or 10 on a cutlery insert 3, the holder 9 or 10 can be provided with locking means 23 in the form of extensions which, in the final assembled state, rest against longitudinal ribs 21 or transverse ribs 22 of the cutlery insert 3, as can be seen in particular from a summary of the Figures 5 , 6 , 7 and 8 To further support a positionally secure arrangement of a holder 9 or 10 on the cutlery insert 3, the ribbing 18 of a holder 9 or 10 can have recesses 24 on the cutlery insert side, as can be seen from Fig.7 visible. In the final assembled state, ribs of the cutlery insert 3 engage in these recesses 24, in the embodiment shown longitudinal ribs 21.

For simplified handling of a holder 9 or 10 by the user, this is preferably equipped with a handle 25 in the form of a grip. This enables a displacement of a holder 9 or 10 in the pull-out direction 5, i.e. in relation to the cutlery insert 3. Furthermore, the handle 25 enables simplified replacement, i.e. attachment to the cutlery insert 3 or detachment from it.

Fig.9 shows once again in a summary a holder device with a first holder 9 and a second holder 10. In the final assembled state, these two holders 9, 10 hold between them in particular a cylindrical cutlery part 14 in the shape of a chopstick. One holder 9 supports the cutlery part 14 at one end, whereas the other holder 10 supports the cutlery part 14 at the other end. As a summary of the figures also shows, the cutlery parts 14 held by the holders 9 and 10 are aligned in the pull-out direction 5. This allows cutlery parts 14 of different sizes to be held by the fact that the distance between the two holders 9 and 10 can be optionally adjusted by the user. For this purpose, at least one of the two holders 9 or 10 is held by the cutlery insert 3 so that it can be moved longitudinally in the pull-out direction 5.

After the holders 9 and 10 have been placed correctly on the rows of cams 6, an adjustment mechanism is visually indicated to the user by the double arrows provided by the holders 9 and 10. The holders 9 and 10 can be moved by the user, and continuously, so that the size of the receiving space for cutlery items 14 is variable.

For such a stepless adjustment option, it is sufficient if only one of the both holders 9 or 10 are movably received by the cutlery insert 3. The other of the two holders can therefore be securely held in position by the cutlery insert 3 using corresponding locking means or locking hooks, which is achieved, for example, by a locking means provided by a holder 9 or 10 interacting with a rib of the cutlery insert 3. This has the advantage that this holder cannot be released even during a washing program carried out by a dishwasher.

Reference symbols

1

Cutlery drawer

2

Drawer body

3

Cutlery insert

4

Cutlery part

5

Extraction direction

6

Cam row

7

cam

8th

Transverse direction

9

holder

10

additional holder

11

Guide section

12

Cutlery section

13

Support device

14

Cutlery part

15

Bearing body

16

web

17

Recess

18

Ribbing

19

additional support device

20

attack

21

Longitudinal rib

22

Cross rib

23

Resting means

24

Recess

25

Handle

Claims (13)

1. Cutlery drawer for a dishwasher, comprising a drawer body (2) which is mounted so as to be pullable out of a washing chamber of the dishwasher in the pull-out direction (5) and provides a cutlery insert (3) for receiving in particular items of cutlery (4), the cutlery insert (3) having a row (6) of cams comprising a plurality of cams (7) arranged one behind the other in the pull-out direction (5) for individually receiving items of cutlery (4) oriented transversely to the pull-out direction (5), adjacent cams being spaced apart from one another to form a gap,
   characterised by
   a holder (9) which can be replaceably received by the cutlery insert (3) and has a guide portion (11) and a cutlery portion (12), the cutlery portion (12) providing a support device (13) for individually receiving items of cutlery (14) oriented in the pull-out direction (5), and the guide portion (11) having a bearing body (15) which is designed to correspond to the row (6) of cams of the cutlery insert (3) and can be placed thereon.
2. Cutlery drawer according to claim 1,
   characterised in that
   the support device (13) has a bridge (16) running transversely to the pull-out direction (5), comprising a plurality of recesses (17) arranged one behind the other in the longitudinal direction of the bridge.
3. Cutlery drawer according to claim 2,
   characterised in that
   each of the recesses (17) are V-shaped.
4. Cutlery drawer according to either claim 2 or claim 3,
   characterised in that
   the support device (13) has two bridges (16) which are arranged one behind the other and at a distance from one another in the pull-out direction (5).
5. Cutlery drawer according to any of the preceding claims,
   characterised in that
   the cutlery insert (3) has two rows (6) of cams which are arranged next to one another and at a distance from one another in the pull-out direction (5), the guide portion (11) having a bearing body (15) for each row (6) of cams.
6. Cutlery drawer according to claim 5,
   characterised in that
   a further support device (19) extends between the two bearing bodies (15).
7. Cutlery drawer according to any of the preceding claims,
   characterised in that
   the holder (9) is received by means of the bearing bodies (15) so as to be movable from the cutlery insert (3) in the pull-out direction (5).
8. Cutlery drawer according to any of the preceding claims,
   characterised in that
   the holder (9) has latching means (23) which interact with the cutlery insert (3).
9. Cutlery drawer according to any of the preceding claims,
   characterised in that
   the holder (9) has a handle (25) designed in the manner of a grip.
10. Cutlery drawer according to any of the preceding claims,
    characterised in that
    a support device (13, 19) has a stop (20) acting in the pull-out direction (5).
11. Cutlery drawer according to any of the preceding claims,
    characterised by
    a further holder (10) which is mirrored relative to the first holder (9) and interacts therewith.
12. Holder for a cutlery drawer (1) according to any of the preceding claims, which is designed to be replaceably received by a cutlery insert (3) of the cutlery drawer (1) and has a guide portion (11) and a cutlery portion (12), wherein the cutlery portion (12) provides a support device (13) for individually receiving items of cutlery (4) oriented in the pull-out direction (5), and wherein the guide portion (11) has a bearing body (15) which is designed to correspond to the row (6) of cams of the cutlery insert (3) and can be placed thereon.
13. Holding device for a cutlery drawer (1) according to any of the preceding claims 1 to 11, comprising two holders (9, 10) which are mirrored and interact in pairs.

Images