GB2321394A

GB2321394A - Basket for a dishwashing machine

Info

Publication number: GB2321394A
Application number: GB9801400A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Giancarlo Finola; Raniero Portaluppi; Luciano Scian
Original assignee: Electrolux Zanussi Elettrodomestici SpA; Electrolux Zanussi SpA
Current assignee: Electrolux Zanussi Elettrodomestici SpA; Electrolux Zanussi SpA
Priority date: 1997-01-23
Filing date: 1998-01-22
Publication date: 1998-07-29
Anticipated expiration: 2018-01-22
Also published as: FR2758453B3; ES1039277Y; GB9801400D0; IT243407Y1; DE29800477U1; ITPN970003U1; ES1039277U; FR2758453A1; GB2321394B

Abstract

Pivotably mounted on a side wall (10) of the basket are support elements (8) which can be displaced between an operative position in which they form a comb-like support surface and a rest position in which the elements (8) are directed upwardly and are adjacent to the side wall. The elements (8) comprise projections (13) which in the operative position are adjacent to the side wall, and in the rest position and project inwardly of the basket to contribute to the lateral support for plates (5).

Description

1 BASKET FOR DISHWASHING MACHINE WITH MOVABLE SUPPORT ELEMENTS 2321394 The

present invention relates to a basket for a dishwashing machine which is capable of supporting articles to be washed such as plates, glasses or tumblers, cups and the like.

As is known the baskets for supporting articles of that type comprise primarily a frame of plastics material and/or plastics-coated metal rods and they are normally provided with a large lower loading surface for plates and glasses or tumblers and also at least one upper loading surface which is smaller than the lower loading surface for cups and other articles of limited vertical size.

The upper loading surface may be fixed with respect to the basket, as described for example in Italian utility model No. 204320, whereby a corresponding area of lower loading surface is at least partially limited as regards the height or the positioning of the articles which can be disposed thereat.

To remedy that disadvantage it is therefore preferable for the upper loading surface of the basket to be constructed with movable elements which are laterally pivotably mounted on the basket and which are capable of being selectively switched between a normal operative position in which they can support cups or the like and a rest position in which they substantially do not limit the capacity of the lower loading surface. In particular, in the operative position the movable elements form a comblike structure which projects inwardly of the basket while in the rest position they are substantially vertical and adjacent to a lateral surface of the basket.

Therefore when the movable elements are in the rest position the support for the plates which rest on the lower loading surface may be insecure during the sliding movement of the basket and the plates themselves are undesirably subjected to banging and crashing effects which can cause them to break.

2 In addition in the rest position the movable elements which extend upwardly increase the vertical size of the basket and can thus impede correct positioning in respect of height in the interior of the washing compartment of the dishwashing machine.

The aim of the present invention is that of providing a basket for a dishwashing machine having movable support elements which is particularly simple, convenient, versatile and capable of providing secure support for the plates which are disposed in the basket.

Another aim of the present invention is that of providing a basket of the type referred to, the vertical size of which is advantageously reduced in any operative condition.

According to the present invention there is provided a basket for a dishwashing machine comprising a frame with a lower loading surface capable of supporting plates or the like in a substantially vertical position, movable support elements being pivotably mounted on at least one side wall of the frame and being selectively displaceable between a normal operative position in which they project inwardly of the basket to form an upper loading surface having a comb-like configuration and a rest position in which the movable elements are directed upwardly and are adjacent to said side wall wherein said -movable elements comprise respective projections which in said operative position are substantially adjacent to the side wall and in said rest position project inwardly of the basket in such a way as to contribute to lateral support for the plates. 30 Features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description given solely by way of non-limiting example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 diagrammatically shows a front view of a preferred embodiment of the basket according to the invention; and Figure 2 is a view of the basket taken along a section II-II in Figure 1.

3 Referring to the drawings the basket for a dishwashing machine comprises primarily a frame 3 which is made for example of plastics-coated metal rod and which is of a structure capable of defining a lower loading surface 4 for the articles to be washed such as plates 5, glasses or tumblers 6 and the like. The plates in particular are supported in a substantially vertical position by virtue of a plurality of per se known transverse portions 7 disposed at the base of the basket.

Also in per se known manner, movable support elements 8 are pivotably mounted on at least one side wall 10 of the basket 3, above the lower loading surface. The movable support elements 8 can be selectively displaced between a normal operative position (at the left in Figure 1) and a rest position (at the right in Figure 1).

The movable elements 8 can be pivotably mounted on the frame of the basket individually or in groups, as shown in Figure 2. In any case when the elements 8 are in the operative position they project inwardly of the basket in such a way as to form a corresponding upper loading surface for cups 9 or the like, of a comb-like configuration. With suitable dimensioning of the components, it is possible to provide that in the operative position the elements 8 are also capable of contributing to laterally supporting the plates 5.

In the rest position the elements 8 are directed upwardly and are adjacent to the side wall 10 of the basket.

The movable elements 8 are preferably pivotably mounted on the respective side wall 10 of the basket in such a way as to be slidable by way of means comprising a peg 11 and a slot 12. For example all or some of the movable elements 8 comprise slot opening 12 which extend in a substantially longitudinal direction with respect to the elements and they engage with pegs 11 which are fixed to the frame.

In accordance with an aspect of the invention the movable elements 8 comprise respective projections 13 which preferably extend angularly at one end of the elements 8 and which are of a smaller length than same, and which in the 4 operative position are substantially adjacent to the side wall 10 and in said rest position project inwardly of the basket.

In particular in the operative position the projections 13 are capable of substantially bearing against the side wall 10 of the basket, for example with a recess 14 engaging with an associated end-of-travel abutment 15 in such a way as to define the orientation of the movable support elements 8 for forming the corresponding upper loading surface.

To displace the movable elements into the rest position, it is only necessary to rotate them about the pegs 11 which slide from one end to the other with respect to the slots 12 and thus permit the elements 8 to move downwardly towards the lower loading surface. Advantageously therefore the vertical size of the elements 8 remains substantially unaltered and the projections 13, while being of limited horizontal size, can effectively contribute to lateral support for the plates 5.

To sum up the basket according to the invention is simple, convenient and versatile to use and the plates 5 can be securely supported by means of the elements 8 or the projections 13 in any operative condition of the basket, in particular when the elements 8 are in the rest position.

It will be appreciated that the basket for a dishwasher as described may be the subject of any modifications which fall within the scope of the invention as defined by the accompanying claims.

Claims

CLAIMS is 1. A basket for a dishwashing machine comprising a frame with a

lower loading surface capable of supporting plates or the like in a substantially vertical position, movable support elements being pivotably mounted on at least one side wall of the frame and being selectively displaceable between a normal operative position in which they project inwardly of the basket to form an upper loading surface having a comblike configuration and a rest position in which the movable elements are directed upwardly and are adjacent to said side wall wherein said movable elements comprise respective projections which in said operative position are substantially adjacent to the side wall and in said rest position project inwardly of the basket in such a way as to contribute to lateral support for the plates.

2. A basket for a dishwashing machine according to claim 1 wherein said projections are of a shorter length than said movable support elements from which they extend angularly.

3. A basket for a dishwashing machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said support elements are pivotably mounted on said side wall slidably by way of means comprising a peg and a slot, the slot means extending in a substantially longitudinal direction with respect to the movable elements in such a way as to permit the latter to move towards the lower loading surface when they are displaced from the operative position to the rest position.

4. A basket for a dishwashing machine according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein said projections are capable of bearing against said side wall of the basket in such a way as to define the orientation of the movable support elements in said operative position.

6 5. A dishwashing machine substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

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