US3252582A

US3252582A - Modular dish washer rack

Info

Publication number: US3252582A
Application number: US476910A
Authority: US
Inventors: Kesilman Sol; Hyman B Penn; Kravitz Milton
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1965-08-03
Filing date: 1965-08-03
Publication date: 1966-05-24
Anticipated expiration: 1983-05-24

Description

y 4, 1966 ETAL 3, 5 ,5

MODULAR DISH WASHER BACK 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filezi Aug. 5,

WVENTQRS. SQL. KEQHLNZAN HYMAN B. PENN MQLTGN KRAVITZ ATTORNEYS.

May 24, 1966 s. KESILMAN ETAL 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 3, 1965 IN NTORS.

S KESILMAN HYMAN B. PENN MILTON KRAVITZ ATTORNEYS.

4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

S. KESILMAN ETAL MODULAR DISH WASHER RACK May 24, 1966 Filed Aug. 5, 1965 United States Patent Ofilice 3,252,582 Patented May 24, 1966 3,252,582 MODULAR DISH WASHER RACK Sol Kesihnan, 7930 Oak Hili Drive, Cheltenham, Pin; Hyman B. Penn, 435 Tickenham Road, Gleuside, Pa.; and Milton Kravitz, 6710 Large St, Philadelphia, Pa.

Filed Aug. 3, 1965, Ser. No. 476,910 8 Claims. (Cl. 211-71) This invention relates to a modular dish washer rack and is a continuation-in-part of our copending application Serial No. 351,383 filed March 12, 1964,-for Commercial Dish Washer" Rack.

With the trend in the restaurant and allied trades towards automatic equipment in washing dishes and utensils,

v the practice of employing racks for holding the dishes,

cups, glasses, utensils and other items that are to be washed and then dried by the automatic equipmenthas greatly increased.

In our copending application, a commercial dish washer rack is provided which has, inter alia, the advantage of being selectively stackable in one of two positions, a high or a low position. The commercial dish washer rack also has the advantage of being extremely efficient in placing a maximum amount of items to be washed in the automatic equipment at a given time. Circulation of the hot or cold cleansing water with or without detergents or soap as well as drying air is also enhanced by providing sufiicient space therefor.

The commercial dish washer rack in our copending application has peripheral edges along the sides thereof and includes a relatively shallow channel construction therein. Also provided in portions of the channel construction are open areas of greater depth. These areas are in part defined by locating posts that project upwardly from the corners of the rack. The locating posts are designed in such a manner that when two racks of the present invention are vertically aligned and stacked one upon the other, that the posts either abut at least one of the spacer members along the lower peripheral edges of the channel areas comprising the sides of the rack or penetrate in the deeper areas, dependent upon the relative orientation of the two racks with respect to each other. In the latter position, the entire rail abuts against the spacer members. When the two racks are oriented in the same manner with respect to each other, the locating posts penetrate into the aforesaid deeper areas between them and thus the two racks are stacked relatively close to each other. In this position the racks are said to be in a low stacked position. By rotation of the racks in either direction 90 with respect to each other, the locating posts of the lower rack are not able to penetrate beyond the channel areas and thus the racks are stacked relatively far apart or in the high stacked position.

In accordance with our present invention, overlay modules are provided which are used to increase the height of the sidewalls of the rack in accordance with the Y restaurants requirements.

At the manufacturing level, the need has been recognized for a dish washer rack which may be built up to variable wall heights so that the various needs of the restaurants or other customers may be accommodated. However, while various heights and sizes of dish washing racks may be required by the restaurants, etc., it would be prohibitively expensive for a manufacturer to have equipment for each size of rack necessary.

That is, in dish washing, a variety of shapes and sizes must be handled because of the diiferent sizes in plates, saucers, bowls and cups. There are also tall and short glasses, as well as long stemmed glasses with large bases and short stemmed glasses with small bases. It is ordinarily not practical for manufacturers to have a mold specially designed to make each type of rack necessary.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a modular dish washer rack which will accommodate the various requirements of the restaurants and allied trades.

Another object of the invention is to provide various standard modules which may be selectively stacked together to form a suitable commercial dish washer rack to accommodate the specific needs of the customer.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a modular dish washer rack which is comprised of a combination of selected modules which may be stacked together in order to accommodate articles such as cups, or taller articles such as tall cups and glasses.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide special holding means comprising a pin which may be driven through adjacent modules to fasten the various parts together.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a modular dish washer rack of extremely versatile construction such that manufacturing thereof is facilitated by the modular elements thereof.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a modular dish washer rack that is so constructed that the vertically aligned modules may be stacked in various combinations dependent on the demands of a particular situation.

The foregoing as well as other objects of the invention are achieved by providing a modular commercial dish washer rack which is comprised of a bottom module and at least one overlay module positioned on the bottom module. The bottom module comprises a network base having peripheral sides each of which include base top rails. The overlay includes peripheral sides which are comprised of inner and outer panels associated with an overlay top rail. The panels also define a channel. The overlay is positioned on the bottom module so that the base top rail nests Within the channel of the overlay. Holding means are also provided for securing the modules together so that racks of various heights may be formed.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view taken from the top face of a modular dishwasher rack embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the modular dishwasher rack embodying the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a long pin holding means used for locking together modules of the dish washer rack;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a short pin holding means used for locking together modules of the dishwasher rack;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 5-5 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an overlay module embodying the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of another overlay module embodying the invention which includes compartmentation;

FIG. 8 is an view of the modular dishwasher rack shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 9 is an exploded fragmentary side elevational view of an alternate arrangement of the modules comprising the modular dishwasher rack.

Referring now in greater detail to the various figures exploded fragmentary side elevational' of the drawing wherein like reference characters refer to like parts, there is shown in FIG. 1 a modular dishwasher rack which embodies the invention. Device 10 comprises a bottom module 12 and

overlays

14, 16 and 18 (FIG. 2).

Bottom module 12 shown in FIG. lis adapted to support glasses or cups and comprises a.network area 20 surrounded by four peripheral walls, two of which, namely walls 22 and 24, are shown in FIG. 1. The walls 22 and 24 and the other two walls of the rack are comprised of inner and outer elongated panels 26 and 28 that are generally vertically disposed although slightly inclined towards each other at their upper ends. The walls are further associated with a U-shaped top rail 30 that is held by means of thin spacers 32 in an appropriate position which is substantially parallel and coextensive with the inner and outer panels 26 and 28. Spacers 32 are integral with the inner and outer panels 26 and 28 and are disposed in planes substantially perpendicular to the aforementioned panels. The spacers are somewhat elongated and have parallel top and bottom edges with the side edges being slightly inclined towards each other at their upper ends. The bottom module 12 is preferably comprised of a plastic component, such as polypropylene, and is integrally molded in a suitable manner.

As discussed hereinafter, panels 26 and 28 define a space between them which enhances drainage of water and natural circulation of air. The space also assists in the stacking function which is also discussed hereinafter. As further shown in FIG. -1, the lower edge of the spacers 32 in combination with panels 26 and 28 form a peripheral channel about the lower periphery of the bottom module 12. The channel-like lower edge 34 functions as a locating means in providing a reception area for the U-shaped top rail of a rack of similar construction upon which the rack of FIG. 1 is stacked.

At each corner of 'the bottom module, projecting upwardly from the top rail 30 is a post 36. The post 36 is L-shaped in that it comprises a short run or minor portion 38 adjacent and along wall 22 and a longer run or major portion 40 adjacent and along wall 24. These L-shaped posts enable the selective low position or high position stacking as disclosed in said application Serial No. 351,383.

That is, if a module is placed on another module with the L-shaped posts aligned with respect to each other such that the long run is over the long run of the adjacent posts, the post of the lower module penetrates the upper post somewhat deeply thereby enabling the adjacent modules to be closely stacked. Conversely, if one module is rotated 90 with respect to the other, the long run of one is aligned with the short run of the other preventing substantial penetration of the upper post by the lower post. Thus, the'top of thelower post penetrates only the channel 34 in the bottom edge of the module.

The network area 20 shown in FIG. 1 comprises end ridges 42 and 44 which are perpendicular to the wall 22 and parallel to wall 24. The network area also includes ridges 46 which are perpendicular to and between end ridges 42. Ridges 46 are laterally spaced substantially equidistant from each other. A first set of diagonal ridges 48 are disposed in vertical planes displaced substantially from the planes of ridges 46. A second set of diagonal ridges 50 are substantially perpendicular to the diagonal ridges 48 and intersect therewith. The bottom module 12 further includes index strips 52 on each side of the network area 20. These strips are perpendicular to and extend from the ridges 42 and 44.

At the intersections of the ridges 46 and the diagonal ridges 48 and 50 are lugs 54. Each of these lugs have apertures 56 therein. As will be seen hereinafter, the purpose of the openings 56 in the lugs 54 is to receive the compartmentation of the upper modules which is presented to the bottom module 12 in the form of an overlay module. The index strips 52'have openings 58 formed therein and openings 60 provided between the index strips. There are also considerable open areas between the network areas which in combination with these aforementioned apertures permit drainage and enhance circulation of wash water and permit the circulation of natural air currents.

The

overlay modules

14, 16 and 18 are similar to each other. Overlay module 18 is shown in FIG. 6 and comprises

sides

62, 64, 66 and 68. Each of the sides comprises an elongated, U-shaped cross-sectioned rail. At each corner of module 18 is an upstanding post 69. These posts are similar to the posts 36 of the bottom module 12 and comprise major portions 71 which are adjacent and run along the

parallel sides

64 and 68 and minor portions 73 which are adjacent and run along the

sides

62 and 66.

As best seen in FIG. 2, the posts 36- and 69 taper upwardly so that they may be nested in and over the Various posts of other modules. Also, the sides 62, 6'4, 66 and 68 flare downwardly in cross-section as best seen in FIG. 5. Thus, where the

posts

36 and 69 are not aligned major portion to major portion, but rather major portion to minor portion, the major portion of the lower post cannot penetrate substantially the upper post and thus nests inthe side of the overlay module 18. Overlay module 18 is thus used with the bottom modules to increase the height of the walls of the dishwasher rack assembly.

Where compartmentation is required, an overlay module 14 is provided. Overlay module 14 is best shown in FIG. 7 and has compartmentation 70 but is otherwise similar to module 18 shown in FIG. 6 and reference characters corresponding to the ones used in FIG. 6 are also used in FIG. 7. In particular, the overlay module 18

includesside walls

62, 64, 66 and 68 and posts 69. The compartmentation 70 comprises Webs 72 which are parallel to

sides

62 and 66 and are perpendicular to and between

sides

64 and 68. Webs 74 are also provided which are parallel to

sides

64 and 68 and are perpendicular to and between

sides

62 and 66. Webs 72 are laterally spaced equidistantly from each other as are webs 74.

Extending downwardly from each of the

webs

72 and 74 are spacer tongues 76 which prevent contact of the articles in adjacent compartments. It is to be understood that the precise number of

webs

72 and 74 may be varied dependent on the number of compartments desired. For instance, as shown in FIG. 7, the compartmentation 70 is such that there are 36 compartments. However, this may be easily decreased to 20 compartments by making the compartmentation sub-divided into five rows of four cornpartments. In a similar manner, the compartmentation may be decreased to 16, 25 or 30 compartments, etc. In general, larger compartments are utilized to hold bowls and other broad articles with the smaller compartments utilized to hold glasess, depending upon the widest dimensions of the glasses to be washed.

The remaining overlay module 16'is identical to overlay module 14 in all respects with the exception that the spacer tongues 78 shown in FIG. 1 which depend upon

webs

72 and 74 are shorter than the spacer tongues 76 of the overlaymodule 14. Thus, where it is desired to have compartmentation in the overlay module and the overlay module is to be used in the low stacking position with respect to the lower overlay module, the overlay module 16 with short tongues 78 should be used. However, when it is desired to place a module with compartmentation in a high stacking position with respect to the lower overlay module, the overlaymodule 14 is preferable because it has longer spacer tongues 76.

The modular dish washer rack comprised of the

various modules

12, 14, 16 and 18 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is particularly adapted for tall slim glasses or for long stemmed glasses with a broad base. Thus, where a'consumer, such as a restaurant, requires a dish washer rack for tall slim glasses, the manufacturer would use the four modules shown in the figures and place them together as shown. That is, the overlay module 14 would be placed over a bottom module 12. The overlay module 16 would then be placed over the overlay module 14. Then the overlay module 18 would be placed on overlay module 16. l-n order to secure the four modules together, pin 80 shown in FIG. 3 is provided.

Pin 80 is preferably plastic and comprises a conically shaped leading section 82 which tapers at its end. A cylindrical shank 84- having a diameter smaller than the base of leading section 82 is concentrically secured to the base of leading section 82. Groove 84 extends to a cylindrical shank 86. The axis of shank 86 is concentric with that of groove 84.

Shank 86 has at its upper end a flaring section 88 which is shaped like the frustum of a cone. The diameter of the lower portion of the shank 86 is slightly larger than the base of section 82.

A shank 90 similar to shank 86 is connected thereto via a groove 92'which is similar to but slightly larger in diameter than groove 84. Shank 90 also has a flaring section at its upper end 94. End 94 is also shaped similar to the frustum of a cone. The groove 92 is smaller in diameter than the shank 90.

An enlarged head 96 is connected to the shank 90 via groove 98. The diameter of groove 98 is not as large as the base of enlarged head 96. Thus, three peripheral grooves are formed in pin 80. The purpose of these grooves will appear hereinafter.

Before the modules are placed together, vertically aligned holes are provided in the top webs 100 to 103 (FIG. 5) of the U-shaped top rails which form the sides of the

modules

12, 14, 16 and 18. As seen in FIG. 5, pins 80 are driven through the vertically aligned holes to keep the modules together.

Due to the resiliency of the material comprising the rails, after the

larger shanks

86 and 90 have passed through the webs, the material deforms and encompasses the

grooves

84, 92 and 98. That is, as leading section 82 passes through the holes, the apertures are enlarged in order to allow the head to pass through. As the rear edge of the leading section passes through the web, the web relaxes thereby restoring the size of the hole. The holes are larger in the upper modules so that the shank 86 may pass through them without difliculty after the holes in

webs

102 and 103 return to their normal size. Thus, leading section 82 and shank 86 pass through the web 103 in module 18 without substantially deforming the holes therein. Similarly, the bottom portion 86 and the leading section 82 pass through the apertures in module 16 without substantially deforming the upper web thereof.

However, the openings in the webs of

modules

12 and 14 are smaller than the base of the leading section 82 and are therefore stretched as leading section 82 is driven through. As the section 82 is driven completely through the

webs

100 and 101 of

modules

12 and 14, the webs return to their regular shape thereby enclosing shank 84. The lower edge of shank 86 abuts the top surface of web 101 of module 14 and the base surface of leading section 82 abuts the lowersurface of the top. web 100 of top rail 30 of module 12. Similarly, the web 102 of module 16 embraces shank 92 and web 102 of module 18 G to use the shorter pin 104. Where a larger number of modules would be used to comprise a dish washer rack larger pins would be necessary.

It is, of course, understood that various combinations of modules can be used to form a dish washer rack.

To further secure the structure, various of the depending tongues of the compartmentation of the module 14 are heat sealed as at 106 (FIG. 1) in the apertures 56 of the lugs 54. The bottom of the leading section 82 may also be heatsealed to the U-shaped rail 30 adjacent the bottom surface of web 100 thereby further preventing removal of the pin 80 from the structure.

In FIG. 9, there is shown an exploded view of the same modules as those used in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2 but in a diilerent order. The

modules

16 and 18 are interchanged and the remainder is otherwise similar. In this embodiment, the dish washer rack is adapted to handle long stemmed glasses with large bases. The compartmentation in the module 16 prevents the top portion of the long stemmed glasses from bumping against each other and breaking. Thus, it is apparent that the interchangeability of the modules provides the dish washer rack with versatility in adapting to a large range of situations.

This invention is in no wise limited to the embodiments shown in FIG. 1 which is adapted for glasses and cups. It should be apparent that various bottom section modules may be used. For instance, the dish washer rack type module shown in FIG. 1A of the aforementioned parent application may be used with various overlay modules to increase the wall heights of that dish washer rack.

Thus, a modular dishwasher rack which is of extremely versatile construction has been described. It is seen that case of manufacture is accomplished by providing standard modules which may be combinatorially used with each other to adapt to various requirements of restaurants and other establishments. The modules are so shaped that circulation of hot and cold cleansing water as well as drying air is enhanced. Further, the overlay modules enable the modular dish Washer rack to be extremely eflicient when placing the'maximum amount of items to be washed at a given time. In addition, an extremely eflicient dish washer rack is provided which is inexpensive to manufacture.

embraces shank 98 of the pin 80. The modules are thus secured together to form the modular commercial dish washer rack.

Smaller or larger pins may be provided where different numbers of modules are placed together. A shorter pin 104 is shown in FIG. 4. Pin 104 is similar to the pin 80 in various respects. It has a leading section 82, and

shanks

84, 86 and 92 identical to the similarly numbered shanks of pin 80 in FIG. 3. Whereas pin 80 has an upper shank 90 connected to the shank 92, pin 104 has an enlarged head 96 connected thereto. Thus, if it is desired to build a modular dish washer rack which needs only three modules to complete the rack, it would be necessary Furthermore, the pins permanently fasten the stacked modules together. The pins and the holes in the top rails of each of the modules are so dimensioned that the pin can be dropped into place except through the last short distance through which it is forcibly driven. In particular, with reference to FIG. 5 of the drawing, the hole in Web 103 of the uppermost top rail 66 of module 18 is of essentially the same diameter as shank 90. The hole in Web 102 of the top rail 66 of module 16 is of essentially the same diameter as shank 86. The base of the leading section 82 is slightly smaller than the shank 86. The holes in

webs

100 and 101 in the top rails of

modules

12 and 14,

respectively, are smaller than the base of leading section 82. Thus, the leading section 82 of pin passes easily through Web 103 and through web 102. Similarly, the shank 86 passes through

webs

103 and 102. Shank passes only through web 103.

Thus, the pin 80 passes through the vertically aligned holes in the respective webs 102 and .103 so that, prior to being driven through the final distance, the leading section 82 is adjacent the upper surface of Web 101. At this time, the lowermost edge of frustum shaped section 88 is adjacent the upper surface of web 102 and the lowermost edge of frustum shaped section 94 is adjacent the upper surface of web 103. The driving of the pin 80 in a downward direction, thus, causes the simultaneous pene-' tration of the three tapered

sections

82, 88 and 94 through their respective holes. As the largest section or base of these taperspasses through the webs, the webs are restored and thereby prevent the removal of the pin. The

modules are thus permanently fastened by a plurality of these pins tioned'on said bottom module, said bottom module comprising a network base having peripheral sides each of which include .base top rails, at least the first of said overlays including peripheral sides which are comprised of inner and outer panels associated .with an overlay top rail,

'said panels also defining a channel, said first overlay being positioned on said bottom module so that said base top rail nests within said channel, and meansfor holding said modules together so that racks of various heights may be formed.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said overlay module includes compartmentation. I

3. The invention of claim 1 wherein said means for holding said modules together comprises a pin driven through the channels of said overlay and said bottom module. 7

4. The invention of claim 3 wherein said pin comprises a leading section at .a first end which is tapered at said end and at least one shankconnected thereto via a groove of smaller diameter, said shank being flared at its upper end, and an enlarged head at said other end whereby said modules are held between said head and said leading section.

5. The invention of claim 4 wherein said overlay agl base top rails have vertically aligned holes, said holes of said overlays being equal .to or larger than each of the holes in the modules stacked below, said pins being so dimensioned that they may be dropped into place through the upper holes adjacent theirfinal position and are driven a short distanceito their final position.

6. The invention of claim 4 wherein the shanks of said 'pin are essentially the same diameter as the hole in "the overlay adjacent and above said shanks. 7. The invention of claim 1 wherein each of said modules includes locating posts at each corner,'said posts being L-shaped, said modules being stacked relatively-close'to-- gether when said posts are aligned and relatively far apart when said L-shaped posts are not-aligned so that said racks are adapted to accommodate short or tall objects.

8. A two position stackable commercial dish washer rack'having peripheral sides and a network area for bolding articles to be washed, certain of the sides of the rack being defined by inner and outer panels associated with a top rail, locating posts projecting from said top rail, said inner and outer panels defining a space with limiting means positioned therein to limit the penetration of locating posts ofanother'di-sh washer rack to a relatively small amount so that the racks are stacked relatively far apart in a first stacking position, certain of the area adjacent said posts being free ofsaid limiting means, and certain other References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,840,256 6/ 1958 Cobb 220-21 X 2,931,535 4/1960 Lockwood 220--97 3,160,308 12/1964 Hare et al 2201'9 CLAUDE A. ROY, Primary Examiner. -R. P. SEITTER, .AssistantgExaminer.

Claims

1. A MODULAR COMMERCIAL DISH WASHER RACK COMPRISING A BOTTOM MODULE, AND AT LEAST ONE OVERLAY MODULE POSITIONED ON SAID BOTTOM MODULE, SAID BOTTOM MODULE COMPRISING A NETWORK BASE HAVING PERIPHERAL SIDES EACH OF WHICH INCLUDE BASE TOP RAILS, AT LEAST THE FIRST OF SAID OVERLAYS INCLUDING PERIPHERAL SIDES WHICH ARE COMPRISED OF INNER AND OUTER PANELS ASSOCIATED WITH AN OVERLAY TOP RAIL, SAID PANELS ALSO DEFINING A CHANNEL, SAID FIRST OVERLAY BEING POSITIONED ON SAID BOTTOM MODULE SO THAT SAID BASE TOP RAIL NESTS WITHIN SAID CHANNEL, AND MEANS FOR HOLDING SAID MODULES TOGETHER SO THAT RACKS OF VARIOUS HEIGHTS MAY BE FORMED.