FR2758453A1 - DISHWASHER BASKET HAVING MOVABLE SUPPORT ELEMENTS - Google Patents

Abstract

On a side wall (10) of the basket are articulated support elements (8), movable between an operating position, in which they form a support surface in the form of a comb, and a rest position, in which the elements ( 8) face upward and adjacent to the side wall. The elements (8) include protrusions (13) which, in the operating position, are adjacent to the side wall and, in the rest position, protrude inside the basket in order to assist in the lateral support of the plates ( 5).

Description

Dishwasher basket having movable support elements La

  The present invention relates to a basket for a dishwasher, suitable for supporting washing articles such as plates, glasses, small cups.

and the like.

  As is known, the baskets used to support articles of this type mainly comprise a plastic and / or plasticized metal wire frame and are normally provided with a large lower loading surface for plates and glasses, as well as at least one upper loading area, smaller than the interior, for cups and other bulky items

vertical limited.

  The upper loading surface can be made in one piece with the basket, as described for example in the Italian utility model No. 204 320, for which a corresponding surface of the lower loading surface is at least partially limited concerning the height or positioning of the articles which may be placed there. In order to avoid this drawback, it is therefore preferable to produce the upper loading surface of the basket with movable elements, articulated laterally on the basket and adapted to be moved selectively between a normal operating position, in which they can support small cups or analogues, and a rest position, in which they practically do not limit the capacity of the lower loading surface. In particular, in the operating position, the movable elements form a comb structure projecting towards the inside of the basket, while, in the rest position, they are substantially vertical and adjacent to

a lateral surface of the basket.

  However, when the movable elements are in the rest position, the support of the plates resting on the internal loading surface may not be reliable during the sliding movement of the basket, and the plates themselves are undesirably exposed to impacts

  or falls that can cause them to break.

  In addition, in the rest position, the movable elements which extend upwards increase the vertical size of the basket and can therefore prevent correct positioning of the latter in height inside the washing tank of the washing machine. washing up. The object of the present invention is to provide a basket for a dishwasher having movable support elements, which is particularly simple, practical, flexible in use and suitable for providing secure support for plates placed in the basket itself. Another object of the invention is to provide a basket of the aforementioned type, the vertical size of which is advantageously reduced in each operating state. According to the invention, such objects are achieved by a basket for a dishwasher having displaceable support elements, having all or some of the following characteristics: - the displaceable elements comprise respective projections which, in the operating arrangement, are substantially adjacent to the side wall and, in said rest position, project towards the inside of the basket so as to contribute to the lateral support of the plates, - the projections have a length less than that of said movable support elements, from which they s extend at an angle, - the movable support elements are articulated on said side wall in a sliding manner by means of stud and buttonhole, the buttonhole means extending in a substantially longitudinal direction relative to the displaceable elements to allow these to move to the surface of lower load, when they are moved from the operating position to the rest position, the projections are adapted to come into abutment against said side wall of the basket, so as to define the orientation of the movable support elements in said position of operation. The characteristics and advantages of the invention will be more evident on reading

  the description which follows, carried out solely

  non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 schematically shows a front view of a preferred embodiment of the basket according to the invention; and Figure 2 shows a view of the basket along the section line II-II of Figure 1; Referring to the figures, the basket for a dishwasher mainly comprises a frame 3, made for example of plasticized metal wire and having a structure suitable for defining a lower loading surface 4 for the articles to be washed,

  such as plates 5, glasses 6 and the like.

  The plates in particular are supported in a substantially vertical position by a plurality of crosspieces 7, known per se, arranged at the base of the basket. Also in a manner known per se, at least one side wall 10 of the frame 3 are articulated, above the lower loading surface, movable support elements 8 which can be selectively moved, from a normal operating position (at left on figure 1) and a

  rest position (right in Figure 1).

  The movable elements 8 can be articulated to the frame of the basket individually or in a group, as shown in FIG. 2. In each case, when the elements 8 are in the operating position, they protrude inside the basket so as to form a corresponding upper loading surface, for cups 9 or

  analogues, having a comb-like configuration.

  By appropriately dimensioning the components, it is possible to ensure that, in the operating position, the elements 8 are also suitable

  to contribute to the lateral support of the plates 5.

  In the rest position, the elements 8 are turned upwards and adjacent to the wall

side 10 of the basket.

  The movable elements 8 are preferably articulated to the respective side wall 10 of the basket, in a sliding manner by means of studs and buttonholes 11, 12. For example, all or some of the movable elements 8 comprise openings 12 in the form of buttonholes, which extend in a substantially longitudinal direction to the elements themselves and

  engage with studs 11 fixed to the frame.

  According to one aspect of the invention, the displaceable elements 8 comprise respective projections 13, preferably extending angularly relative to one end of the elements 8 and having a length less than that of the latter, which, in the operating position , are substantially adjacent to the side wall 10 and, in the position

  rest, protrude towards the inside of the basket.

  In particular, in the operating position, the projections 13 are adapted to come into substantial abutment against the side wall 10 of the basket, for example by an imprint 14 engaging against an associated limit switch 15, so as to define the orientation of the movable support elements 8 in order to form the loading surface

corresponding superior.

  In order to move the movable elements being in the rest position, it is sufficient to rotate them around the studs 11, which slide from one end to the other relative to the buttonholes 12 and therefore allow the elements 8 to lower to the lower loading area. Advantageously, however, the vertical size of the elements 8 remains substantially identical and the projections 13, also having a limited horizontal size, can contribute effectively to the support.

side of plates 5.

  Finally, the basket according to the invention is simple, practical and flexible to use, and the plates 5 can be securely supported, using the elements 8 or projections 13, in each operating state of the basket, in especially when

  elements 8 are in the rest position.

  Of course, the dishwasher basket described can undergo any modifications falling within

the spirit of the invention.

Claims (4)

  1. Dishwasher basket comprising a frame having a lower loading surface adapted to support plates, or the like, in substantially vertical positions, at least one side wall of the frame being articulated with movable support members which can be selectively moved between a normal operating position, in which they protrude inside the basket in order to form an upper loading surface having a comb-like configuration, and a rest position, in which the movable elements are turned towards the high and adjacent to said side wall, characterized in that said displaceable elements (8) comprise respective projections (13) which, in the operating arrangement, are substantially adjacent to the side wall (10) and, in said position of rest, protrude towards the inside of the basket so as to   contribute to the lateral support of the plates (5).   2. Dishwasher basket according to claim 1, characterized in that said projections (13) have a length less than that of said movable support elements (8),   from which they extend at an angle.   3. Basket for dishwasher according to claim 1, characterized in that the said movable support elements are articulated on the said side wall (10) in a sliding manner by means of stud and buttonhole (11, 12), the means to buttonhole (12) extending in a substantially longitudinal direction with respect to the movable elements, so as to allow the latter to move towards the lower loading surface (4), when they are moved from the position   to the rest position.   4. Basket for dishwasher according to claim 1, characterized in that said   projections (13) are adapted to come into abutment against said side wall (10) of the basket, so as to define the orientation of the support elements (8) movable in said operating position.