GB2351653A - Basket for a dishwasher - Google Patents

Abstract

A dishwasher basket has a frame with base 2 and lateral surface 1, and comprises flexible helicoidal structures 6,7 to provide support for crockery and the like. Structures 6, 7 are of reduced diameter with respect to the dimensions of the basket. The basket and support structures are formed from plastic coated wire. Also disclosed is the use of helices attached to the top and bottom of lateral surface 1 to provide additional support for large items.

Description

2351653 BASKET FOR A DISHWASHER The present invention relates to a basket

which can be used in a dishwashing machine, in particular of domestic type, for supporting crockery of various configurations such as plates, tumblers, pots and the like.

Numerous baskets for dishwashers are known, which, for the purposes of being adapted to the amount and/or type of crockery to be supported, comprise a load-bearing structure which is generally made of metal wire with one or more dividers of comb-like configuration which are hinged to the base or to the sides of the basket in such a way that they can be selectively used in an erect position or in a lowered position of being substantially parallel to the base of the basket. Baskets of that type are described for example in US-A-4 606 464, US-A-5 205 419 and GB-A-2 287 874, and provide the association of the movable dividers with hinges and latching elements which are capable of locking the dividers in position.

Such constructions are found to be undesirably complicated and expensive.

In addition, the movable dividers and the associated latching elements involve dimensional tolerances which are undesirably precise and which make production and assembly thereof laborious procedures.

Crockery baskets of the type described have therefore been proposed for example in the British design registered under the No 2 051503, that is to say which have a rigid fixed structure provided with a plurality of support teeth disposed rationally in such a way as to be capable of selectively supporting plates or the like in an erect position without however preventing the basket from also supporting pots or similar crockery items of large dimensions.

Such constructions are obviously simpler and more economical but the structure of the basket is found to be inadequately versatile since the support teeth limit positioning of the pots with respect to the base plane of the basket.

In any case the support teeth are of relatively extensive longitudinal dimensions which defte numerous ineffective contact zones with the crockery, at which washing and drying of the crockery are found to be notoriously unsatisfactory.

The aim of the present invention is that of providing a basket for a dishwasher of a particularly simple and rational structure and which is simple to manufacture, being capable of permitting particularly versatile use of the basket and substantially improving washing of the crockery.

Another aim of the invention is that of providing a basket for a dishwasher of the above-indicated type which is also particularly convenient during crockery loading operations.

According to the present invention there is provided a basket for a dishwasher comprising a frame substantially in the form of a grid with a base surface and a lateral surface, and further comprising support means for the crockery, wherein said support means comprise at least one fixed structure of substantially helicoidal shape, or the equivalent, and extending with a substantially reduced diameter with respect to the dimensions of the basket at a position corresponding to the inward side of said base surface and/or said lateral surface.

The features and advantages of the invention will be clearly apparent from the description hereinafter given solely by way of non-limiting example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which-, Figure I is a diagrammatic perspective view of a basket for a dishwasher in accordance with a preferred embodiment, Figure 2 shows the basket of Figure 1, on which some plates are disposed, and Figure 3 is a diagrammatic plan view of the Figure 1 basket on which some plates and a cutlery basket are disposed.

Referring to the drawings the basket is formed by a ftame preferably made of plastic-coated metal rod. It primarily comprises a peripheral lateral surface 1 and a base wall 2 which are each in the form of a grid.

At two opposite sides the basket is provided with respective wheels 3 capable of co-operating with lateral guides (not shown) which are provided in the washing compartment of a dishwasher, in such a way that the basket is supported in the washing compartment so that it can be extracted therefrom by a sliding movement.

The base 2 of the basket is primarily formed by a crossed assembly of metal rod transverse members 4 and longitudinal members 5 in such a way as to form a substantially flat structure which is substantially devoid of the conventional projecting teeth for supporting crockery, in particular plates.

The crockery can be loaded into the basket in a suitable position by virtue of support means comprising a plurality of substantially helicoidal structures 6, or structures which are shaped in an equivalent fashion, formed by respective metal wires (preferably plastic-coated) which are wound in a spiral.

The helicoidal structures 6 preferably extend parallel (transversely, as in the Figure, or longitudinally), at a position corresponding to the upper surface of the base 2 of the basket and are of a reduced diameter which is substantially negligible with respect to the height of the basket and the standard dimensions of the crockery.

Preferably, provided on the base 2 is at least one pair of support structures 6 which can extend along straight lines (as in the Figures) or shaped lines, for example in a curve.

Preferably moreover at least one further support structure 7 which is substantially similar and parallel to the structures 6 provided on the base 2 is provided at a certain height at a position corresponding to the inward surface of at least one side of the basket, for example at a position corresponding to the top of the basket.

The support structures 6, 7 are fixed to the remaining part of the basket for example by means of welding and, as has also been verified by experiment, constitute means capable of supporting the crockery to be washed, in particular plates 8, in position in an optimum manner. The plates 8 in particular can be disposed in the basket in a traditional erect position (as shown in Figures 2 and 3), in which they are for example supported at the base by two structures 6 arranged in side-by-side relationship, and possibly also by a laterally disposed structure 7. In any case the edges of the plates 8 are easily inserted between the spirals of the structures 6 and 7 which, by virtue also of their elasticity in respect of shape, permit selective positioning of the plates in a convenient, secure and versatile manner.

In addition the reduced protrusion of the structures 6 and 7 inwardly of the basket, together with their flexibility, permit a series of further advantages to be achieved:

- the points of contact with the crockery are minimised in terms of number and dimensions, which mkes it possible to achieve improved levels of performance in terms of washing and drying the crockery; - by virtue also of the spiral structure of the assemblies 6 and 7, the latter permit the conventional washing water jets to pass in an improved manner, with resultant advantages in terms of performance; - a wide range of options of effectively supporting in various positions plates of different dimensions, from those which are substantially flat to those which are heavily dished; - the possibility of loading the basket with pots of various dimensions without substantial limitations in regard to positioning, like also one or more cutlery baskets 9 (Figure 3); reliability of the flexible structures 6 and 7 which are difficult to deform permanently; and - simplicity of manufacture of the entire basket.

It will be appreciated that the basket for a dishwasher as described can be the subject of numerous modifications which fall within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

For example the helicoidal structures may be variously combined with combtype support means of conventional kind which for example are disposed on the sides of the basket.

As already stated moreover the support structures 6 and/or 7 can be shaped in a different equivalent fashion, for example with a substantially undulating shape which is developed in a plane.

Claims (6)

1. A basket for a dishwasher comprising a frame substantially in the form of a grid with a base surface and a lateral surface, and further comprising support means for the crockery, wherein said support means comprise at least one fixed structure of substantially helicoidal shape, or the equivalent, and extending with a substantially reduced diameter with respect to the dimensions of the basket at a position corresponding to the inward side of said base surface andlor said lateral surface.

2. A basket for a dishwasher according to claim 1 wherein said helicoidal structure is formed by metal wire shaped in the form of a spiral or the like.

3. A basket for a dishwasher according to claim 1 wherein said helicoidal structure is flexible.

4. A basket for a dishwasher according to claim 1 characterised by comprising at least one pair of said support structures which are disposed in substantially mutually parallel relationship.

5. A basket for a dishwasher substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

6. A dishwasher incorporating at least one basket according to any one of the preceding claims for supporting items to be washed in a washing compartment of the dishwasher.