GB2255711A

GB2255711A - Cutlery holder basket for dishwashers

Info

Publication number: GB2255711A
Application number: GB9210089A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Claudio Paschini
Original assignee: Zanussi Elettrodomestici SpA
Current assignee: Electrolux Zanussi Elettrodomestici SpA
Priority date: 1991-05-14
Filing date: 1992-05-11
Publication date: 1992-11-18
Anticipated expiration: 2012-05-11
Also published as: GB2255711B; DE9206050U1; FR2676421B3; ITPN910015U1; ES1021274Y; IT225646Y1; GB9210089D0; ITPN910015V0; ES1021274U; FR2676421A1

Abstract

A cutlery holder basket for dishwashers comprising two complementary parallelepipedic portions (5, 6) which can be releasably coupled along respective mating major sides by means of a flexible handle (11) which can be hooked at the ends to adjacent uprights (8) and crossbars (9) of the complementary portions. One of the portions (5) is of equal height and length but double the width with respect to the other (6). The handle (11) which is provided with through openings (15) suitable for receiving respective items of cutlery can alternatively be hooked to the crossbars (9) and to vertical ribs (14) of just the complementary portion (5) of greater width. The basket can be used in versatile fashion in dishwashers of different sizes. <IMAGE>

Description

CUTLERY HOLDER BASKET FOR DISHWASHERS The present invention relates to a cutlery holder basket for domestic dishwashing machines.

As is known, modern domestic dishwashers are normally produced in two alternative versions of standardised dimensions with different widths; in particular the dishwashers may be around 60cm or 45cm in width, to contain crockery for 12 or 8 place settings.

As regards in particular cutlery, the cutlery items are supported in a suitable basket which is normally formed by a parallelepipedic frame structure having a plurality of compartments, which is capable of being disposed in an associated crockery-holding basket accommodated in the washing tub of the machine.

In order to maintain a functional dimensional relationship between the cutlery holder basket and the associated crockery-holding basket, it is also necessary for the cutlery holder basket to be of different dimensions which are proportional to those of the respective -dishwasher. That means that it is necessary to produce separately two different types of cutlery holder baskets, each of which can be used in a dishwasher of corresponding width, with a resulting increase in cost.

The aim of the present invention is that of providing a cutlery holder basket for dishwashers, which is of a simple structure and easy to manufacture, and which can also be used in a rational fashion in dishwashers of different dimensions.

According to the invention there is provided a cutlery holder basket for dishwashers, comprising first and second complementary portions with a parallelepipedic frame structure which are capable of being releasably coupled along respective mating sides, said first portion having a capacity which is substantially double that of said second complementary portion of the basket.

The features and advantages of the invention will be clearly apparent from the following description given solely by way of non-limiting example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a front view of a preferred embodiment of the cutlery holder basket according to the invention; Figure 2 is a partly sectional side view of the basket shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a view from above of the basket shown in Figure~1, in which the handle and part of the bottom have been removed; and Figure 4 shows a front view of the cutlery holder basket according to the invention in an alternative operative condition.

With particular reference to Figures 1 and 3, the cutlery holder basket according to the invention is preferably made of plastics and essentially comprises two complementary portions 5,6 each of which is formed by a parallelepipedic frame structure provided with a grating bottom 7 and substantially vertical uprights 8 which are disposed at the four angles and which are interconnected by crossbars*9 forming the side walls of the basket. In per se known manner, each complementary portion 5,6 is preferably produced in one piece and further comprises a plurality of transverse divider walls 10 which define separate compartments for accommodating the items of cutlery to be washed (not shown) in a substantially vertical position.

In accordance with a feature of the invention, one (5) of the two complementary portions of the basket has substantially double the capacity of the complementary portion 6. That is preferably achieved by making the larger portion 5 of the same height and length but of substantially double the width with respect to the smaller portion 6.

In a 'normal' dishwasher, that is to say around 60cm in width, for containing for example the crockery for 12 table settings, the cutlery holder basket may be positioned as shown in Figures 1 and 3, that is to say with the two complementary portions 5 and 6 in side-by-side relationship and adjacent along a larger side. In that case the entire basket is preferably of the standard overall dimensions of a conventional basket. Alternatively the two portions 5 and 6 of the basket may advantageously be disposed separately in the dishwasher, in different positions, in such a way as to make the best possible use of the available space inside the machine.

In a 'narrow' dishwasher, that is to say around 45cm in width, for containing for example the crockery of 8 table settings, only the wider portion 5 of the basket may advantageously be used, as shown in Figure 4, while the narrower portion 6 may remain unused. That permits a more correct dimensional relationship between the cutlery holder basket and the dishwasher, as already stated.

Preferably, for greater convenience of use, the cutlery holder basket according to the invention is provided at its top with a handle 11 which is substantially hollowed out and shaped as an inverted V in such a way as to afford sufficient flexibility. The opposite ends of the handle are provided with hooking means; for example they are shaped with transverse notches 12 and with longitudinal notch 13, by means of which the handle can be engaged respectively with correspondingly cross bars 9 and with a pair of adjacent uprights 8 of the side-by-side complementary portions 5,6. In that operative position which is shown in Figures 1 and 2, the handle 11 performs the dual function of holding the complementary portions 5,6 in mutually coupled relationship and supporting the basket formed in that way with an unbalance which in practice is negligible.

The handle 11 can also be used in association with just the portion 5 (see Figure 4), for example in the situation in which that portion has to be used in a 'narrow' dishwasher. For that purpose, at least the larger portion 5 of the basket comprises, substantially at the centre of each of the smaller sides, at least one vertical rib 14 or the like which, for engagement with the notches 12, 13 in the handle 11, is of dimensions equal to those of two adjacent uprights 8 of the side-by-side complementary portions 5,6.

As will be apparent from a comparison between Figures 1 and 4, the handle 11 can thus be hooked alternatively to the entire basket comprising both the complementary portions 5,6 or to just the larger portion 5, according to the requirements.

In accordance with another feature of the invention, the handle 11 is preferably provided with a pluralityof through openings 15 in which cutlery items of small dimensions can be suspended, thereby increasing the capacity of the entire basket.

The structural simplicity of the cutlery holder basket according to the invention as well as its versatility of use and convenience will be apparent from the foregoing description. The possibility of producing a single basket which can be variously used in dishwashers of different dimensions will be particularly noted.

It will be appreciated that the cutlery holder basket described may be the subject of any modifications which fall within the scope of the invention. For examplefixing of the handle 11 to at least one of the complementary portions 5,6 may be effected by different and equivalent hooking means.

Claims

1. A cutlery holder basket for dishwashers, comprising first and second complementary portions with a parallelepipedic frame structure which are capable of being releasably coupled along respective mating sides, said first portion having a capacity which is substantially double that of said second complementary portion of the basket.

2. A cutlery holder basket according to claim 1 wherein said first portion is of substantially equal height and length but substantially double the width of said second complementary portion of the basket.

3. A cutlery holder basket according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein each complementary portion comprises a plurality of cross bars extending between substantially vertical uprights disposed at the corners, and the basket comprises at its top a flexible handle provided at the opposite ends with transverse and longitudinal notches by means of which it can be releasably coupled respectively to the cross bars and to a pair of adjacent uprights of the side-by-side complementary portions.

4. A cutlery holder basket according to claim 3 wherein said handle is provided with a plurality of through openings for receiving respective cutlery items.

5. A cutlery holder basket according to claim 3 wherein at least said first complementary portion is provided on each smaller side with at least one substantially vertical rib capable of releasably engaging together with the cross bars of said first complementary portion with said notches in the handle.

6. A dishwashing machine incorporating a basket according to any one of the preceding claims.

6. A cutlery holder basket constructed and arranged to operate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

7. A dishwashing machine incorporating a basket according to any one of the preceding claims.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 1. A cutlery holder basket for dishwashers, comprising first and second complementary portions with a parallelepipedic frame structure which are capable of being releasably coupled along respective mating sides, said first portion having a capacity which is substantially double that of said second complementary portion of the basket, said first portion being of substantially equal height and length but substantially double the width of said second complementary portion of the-basket.

2. A cutlery holder basket according to claim 1 wherein each complementary portion comprises a plurality of cross bars extending between substantially vertical uprights disposed at the corners, and the basket comprises at its top a flexible handle provided at the opposite ends with transverse and longitudinal notches by means of which it can be releasably coupled respectively to the cross bars and to a pair of adjacent uprights of the side-by-side complementary portions.

3. A cutlery holder basket according to claim 2 wherein said handle is provided with a plurality of through openings for receiving respective cutlery items.

4. A cutlery holder basket according to claim 2 wherein at least said first complementary portion is provided on each smaller side with at least one substantially vertical rib capable of releasably engaging together with the cross bars of said first complementary portion with said notches in the handle.

5. A cutlery holder basket constructed and arranged to operate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.