US20130020268A1

US20130020268A1 - Tray for dishwashers

Info

Publication number: US20130020268A1
Application number: US13/639,622
Authority: US
Inventors: Daniel Domenech Grau
Original assignee: Miguel Pujadas SA
Current assignee: Miguel Pujadas SA
Priority date: 2010-04-08
Filing date: 2011-04-06
Publication date: 2013-01-24
Also published as: BR112012025518B1; ES2748342T3; EP2555664A2; HRP20191328T1; WO2011125035A3; PT2555664T; ES1072252U; EP2555664B1; WO2011125035A2; ES1072252Y; CN102883647A

Abstract

The tray for dishwashers comprises a bottom (1) and perimeter walls (3), said walls (3) comprising grids, and it is characterized in that it also comprises at least one lid (4) that can be detachably mounted on at least one of said perimeter walls (3), said lid (4) covering the grid of said wall (3). It permits to combine the advantages that are obtained when it is used in a dishwasher with the advantage that it can be used for storage with no deposit of dust and debris.

Description

The present invention refers to a tray for dishwashers, for washing table utensils, e.g. cutlery, glasses, cups and the like.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Trays for dishwashers are currently known, which are used for washing table utensils, such as e.g. cutlery, glasses, cups, etc., which are also used as support for storing said utensils.
This kind of trays currently known comprises a bottom, on which said utensils are placed and perimeter walls made from grids. These grids has the advantage that makes the washing of the tray easier and, at the same time, permits that the liquids from the glasses or cups that are transported with the tray not to be retained inside the tray.
However, the grids also have the drawback that they permit the dust and debris to enter inside the tray, when the tray is used for storage.
Therefore, it is apparent the need of a tray for dishwashers that combines the advantages of the grids provided at their walls with the possibility of closing said grids in a simple and quick way, when the tray is used for storing table utensils.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With the tray of the invention said drawbacks can be solved, presenting other advantages that will be described.
The tray for dishwashers of the present invention comprises a bottom and perimeter walls, said walls being formed by grids, and it is characterized in that it also comprises at least one lid that can be detachably mounted on at least one of said perimeter walls, said lid covering the grid of said wall.
Thanks to this feature, the grid can be voluntarily covered in an easy way, e.g. for preventing the entrance of dust and debris through it. Therefore, the benefits that are obtained when it is used in the dishwasher and when it is used for storage with no deposit of dust and debris are combined.
Advantageously, said lid comprises protrusions that snap fit inside complementary cavities provided in said tray, so that the lid can be placed and removed easily.
Furthermore, said lid is mounted preferably on the external part of said perimeter wall.
If wished, the tray of the present invention can be formed from at least two modules engaged to each other. In this case, placing a lid on each grid and stacking the modules the entrance of dust and debris is prevented in all the modules except the upper module.
Advantageously, said modules comprise protrusions that are housed inside complementary holes provided in a lower module.
Preferably, one of said modules is a base module, whose walls are not made from grid and it can include e.g. the trademark of the manufacturer and other information.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of what has been explained some drawings are attached in which, diagrammatically and only as a non-limitative example, a practical embodiment is shown.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one module of the tray of the present invention, with a lid removed from said module; and

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one module of the tray of the present invention with a base engaged to it.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

As shown in the figures, the tray for dishwashers comprises a bottom 1, which can be provided with separators 2, and perimeter walls 3.
In said bottom 1 any table utensils (not shown) are placed for washing or storing them, the separators 2 being used to organize the utensils in the tray.
On the other hand, the perimeter walls 3 are made from grid, defining a plurality of holes in them. As described previously, said grid makes the washing of the table utensils easier when it is used in a dishwasher.
According to the invention, the tray comprises at least one lid 4 that can be detachably engaged on a perimeter wall 3 of the tray, i.e. said lid 4 can be placed and removed at any time.
Even though in the figure only one lid 4 has been shown for simplicity reasons, the tray, according to the shown embodiment, preferably comprises four lids 4, one for each wall 3. Therefore, the grids of said walls 3 are covered completely.
The engagement between the lid 4 and the wall 3 is done advantageously on the external part of the wall 3, by protrusions 5 provided on said lid 4 that snap fit inside complementary cavities 6 provided in the wall 3.
As shown in FIG. 1, said protrusions 5 are distributed uniformly, to guarantee the correct fixation of the lid 4 to the wall 3.
The tray of the present invention can be formed by modules stackable one on each other. Therefore, in FIG. 1 one module is shown and in FIG. 2 said module is engaged with a lower base module 9. It is apparent that on the module of FIG. 1 any number of modules can be stacked.
For said stacking, each module, except the base module, comprises protrusions 7 at their lower part that snap fit inside holes 8 provided at the upper part of the module, as shown in the figures.
When several modules are stacked and the lids 4 are placed, the intermediate modules remain completely closed, preventing the entrance of dust and debris from outside when the tray of the present invention is used for storing the table utensils.
It must be pointed out that for simplicity reasons in FIG. 2 no lid 4 is shown. However, it is apparent that the tray shown in this figure comprises one or more lids 4.
On the other hand, the base module 9 does not comprise any grid, so that its smooth walls can be used for placing the trademark of the tray or other information.
As stated previously, with the tray of the present invention it is possible to combine the advantages of the grid present on its walls (when it is used in a dishwasher) and the advantages of closing it an easy and quick way when wished (for its use for storing table utensils).
Even though reference is made to a specific embodiment of the invention, it is apparent for a person skilled in the art that the disclosed tray is susceptible of numerous variations and modifications, and that all the details cited can be substituted by other technically equivalent ones, without departing from the scope of protection defined by the attached claims.

Claims

1. A tray for dishwashers, comprising:

a bottom wall and perimeter walls, said bottom wall and said perimeter walls comprising grids; and

at least one lid that can be detachably mounted on at least one of said perimeter walls, said lid covering the grid of said wall.

2. The tray according to claim 1, wherein said lid comprises protrusions that snap fit in complementary cavities provided in said tray.

3. The tray according to claim 1, wherein said lid is mounted on the external part of said perimeter wall.

4. The tray according to claim 1, wherein the tray is formed by at least two modules engaged to each other.

5. The tray according to claim 4, wherein said modules comprise protrusions that are housed inside complementary holes provided in a lower module.

6. The tray according to claim 4, wherein one of said modules is a base module.