WO2012089779A1

WO2012089779A1 - A dishwasher comprising an auxiliary element mounted on the rack

Info

Publication number: WO2012089779A1
Application number: PCT/EP2011/074183
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ismail Cem Bastuji; Huseyin KARAOGLAN
Original assignee: Arcelik Anonim Sirketi
Priority date: 2010-12-31
Filing date: 2011-12-28
Publication date: 2012-07-05
Also published as: EP2658433A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a dishwasher (1) comprising a washing chamber (2) wherein the washing process is performed, at least one rack (3) wherein the items to be washed are placed, having a base (4) and side walls (5) that surround the base (4), formed of vertical and horizontal wires (6, 106), at least one auxiliary element (7) which is fixed on the rack (3) by being mounted to the vertical and/or horizontal wires (6, 106) and at least one connection member (8) which provides the auxiliary element (7) to be mounted to the wire (6, 106).

Description

A DISHWASHER COMPRISING AN AUXILIARY ELEMENT MOUNTED ON THE RACK

The present invention relates to a dishwasher comprising a rack wherein the items to be washed are placed.

Dishwashers comprise upper and lower racks which are placed in the washing chamber and wherein kitchenware items such as pots and plates can be placed. Kitchenware is loaded into or unloaded from the rack by moving each rack outwards from the washing chamber.

The auxiliary elements such as the wheels that provide the rack to be placed into or to be moved outwards from the washing chamber, the rack height adjustment mechanisms that provide the height of the rack inside the washing chamber to be adjusted, the carriers that provide items of different sizes to be washed to be supported by creating additional loading area and the stoppers that provide the movable plate support wires to be fixed in the horizontal or vertical position etc. are assembled to the rack mostly by means of the connection members produced from plastic. The plastic connection members, together with their many benefits also have a lot of disadvantages. The plastic assembly parts, not having much strength, are deformed under load and sometimes they are broken.

In the state of the art United States Patent Document No. US3744646 and the state of the art German Patent Document No. DE9414442, dishwashers are described comprising connection members that provide the wheels, which provide the rack to move forwards and backwards, to be mounted to the rack side walls.

In the state of the art United States Patent Documents No. US6394285 and US2213918, dishwashers are described comprising a connection member that provides the glass support apparatus to be mounted to the rack side walls.

However, nowadays rack wires are becoming thinner gradually. Therefore the body portion of the connection members which is slipped over the rack is produced smaller so as to grasp the wire. In this case, the state of the art connection members lose the flexibility required during their mounting on the rack and thus sometimes they are broken during assembly. On the other hand, the problem of dislodging of the connection members from the wire easily is encountered.

The aim of the present invention is the realization of a dishwasher wherein the auxiliary elements are easily and robustly mounted on the rack.

The auxiliary elements mounted on the rack in the dishwasher realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention and explicated in the claims comprise a connection member which provides the auxiliary members to be mounted to the rack wires. The connection member has an almost C shaped body so as to grasp the rack. An inlet port is disposed between the open ends of the body and a housing is disposed in the latter. The width of the inlet port, that is the distance between the open ends of the body, is at least partially narrower than the diameter of the wire. The body provides the inlet port to widen by stretching during the placement of the wire into the housing and allows the wire to be placed into the housing. A protrusion is disposed on the inner surface of the housing, almost opposite the inlet port. When placed into the housing, the wire bears against the protrusion. The diameter of the housing is wider than the diameter of the wire. The protrusion narrows the housing at least at the point where it is disposed and allows the wire to be tightly held.

By means of the protrusion, the width of the housing can be made wider than the diameter of the wire and thus the flexibility of the body is increased. The increasing of the flexibility of the body allows the inlet port to be made narrower. Because, since the body is more flexible, the inlet port can reach the diameter of the wire by stretching more during the passage of the wire. The inlet port being narrower prevents the connection member from easily dislodging from the wire.

In different embodiments of the present invention, strength and grasping are provided by means of peripheral or longitudinal protrusions.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the width of the inlet port is only partially narrower than the diameter of the wire. In the said embodiment, the protrusion is disposed at the level of the portion of the inlet port whereat the width thereof is narrower than the diameter of the wire. Thus, the flexibility of the body is provided to be increased especially in the region where the inlet port becomes narrow.

In different embodiments of the present invention, the auxiliary element is a height adjustment mechanism used for adjusting the height of the rack inside the washing chamber, a carrier that creates additional carrying area for supporting the items to be washed, a stopper that provides the plate wires to be kept in the horizontal and vertical position, a handle used for pulling the rack outwards from the washing chamber or wheels, each providing the rack to be placed into or to be taken out from the washing chamber by moving forwards and backwards in the washing chamber.

In the embodiment wherein the auxiliary elements is a wheel, two extensions extending outwards are disposed on the two opposite side walls of the rack. In the said embodiment, a bearing, which provides the connection member to be mounted to the extension, is disposed on the connection member. The bearing is shaped as a hollow cylinder and the wheel is mounted onto the bearing.

By means of the present invention, the connection members, which provide the auxiliary elements to be mounted to the rack, are provided to be assembled on the rack in an easy and safe manner.

A dishwasher realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figures, where:

Figure 1 – is the schematic view of a dishwasher.

Figure 2 – is the perspective view of a dishwasher.

Figure 3 – is the perspective view of a rack.

Figure 4 – is the perspective view of the connection member in an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 5 – is the perspective view of the connection member from another angle in an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 6 – is the perspective view of the connection member in another embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 7 – is the front view of the connection member in another embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 8 – is the perspective view of the wire, the connection member and the auxiliary element.

Figure 9 – is the perspective view of the wire and the extension.

The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows:

Dishwasher
Washing chamber
Rack
Base
Side wall
,106 Wire
Auxiliary element
Connection member
Bearing
Inlet port
Housing
Body
Protrusion
Extension
Plate wire

The dishwasher (1) comprises a washing chamber (2) wherein the washing process is performed, at least one rack (3) wherein the items to be washed are placed, having a base (4) and side walls (5) that surround the base (4), formed of vertical and horizontal wires (6, 106), at least one auxiliary element (7) which is fixed on the rack (3) by being mounted to the vertical and/or horizontal wires (6, 106) and at least one connection member (8) which provides the auxiliary element (7) to be mounted to the wire (6, 106).

The connection member (8) used in the dishwasher (1) of the present invention comprises,

an inlet port (10) the width of which is at least partially narrower than the diameter of the wire (6, 106),
a housing (11) disposed behind the inlet port (10) and whereinto the wire (6, 106) is placed by passing through the inlet port (10),
an almost C shaped body (12) which surrounds the wire (6, 106) and allows the wire (6, 106) to pass through the inlet port (10) and place into the housing (11) by stretching and
at least one protrusion (13) disposed on the inner surface of the housing (11), almost opposite the inlet port (10), against which the wire (6, 106) bears when the wire (6, 106) is placed into the housing (11) and which provides a gap to remain between the body (12) and the wire (6, 106).

When seated into the body (12), the wire (6, 106) is supported by the protrusions (13). Thus, the housing (11) can be produced wider than the diameter of the wire (6, 106) as much as the height of the protrusion (13). Thus the flexibility capacity of the body (12) during the passing of the wire (6, 106) through the inlet port (10) is increased.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the protrusion (13) extends along the wire (6, 106). Thus, the flexibility ability of the connection member (8) during its mounting on the wire (6, 106) is increased.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the protrusion (13) is formed peripherally on the inner surface of the housing (11) and is shaped arcuately. Thus, the connection member (8) is prevented from being easily dislodged from its place after being mounted onto the wire (6, 106).

In an embodiment of the present invention, the connection member (8) comprises more than one protrusion (13) placed widthwise and lengthwise. Thus, the effectiveness of the connection member (8) to grasp the wire (6, 106) is increased.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the width of the inlet port (10) is partially narrower than the diameter of the wire (6, 106). In the said embodiment, the protrusion (13) is disposed at the level of the portion of the inlet port (10) whereat the width thereof is narrower than the diameter of the wire (6, 106). Thus, the flexibility of the body (12) is provided to be increased especially in the region where the inlet port (10) becomes narrow.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the auxiliary element (7) is a height adjustment mechanism used for adjusting the height of the rack (3) in the washing chamber (2).

In an embodiment of the present invention, the auxiliary element (7) is a carrier that extends into the rack (3) and provides the items of different sizes to be washed to be supported by creating additional loading area. By means of the configuration of the connection member (8), the auxiliary element (7) is prevented from being dislodged from the wire (6, 106) as a result of the weight of the item placed thereon.

In another embodiment of the present invention the rack (3) comprises plate wires (15) that are disposed on the base (4) and can be fixed both in the horizontal and vertical position. In the said embodiment, the auxiliary element (7) is a stopper that provides the plate wires (15) to be fixed in the horizontal and/or vertical position. By means of the configuration of the connection member (8), the auxiliary element (7) is prevented from easily dislodging from its place when the plate wire (15) applies force on the auxiliary element (7) with the weight of the item to be washed placed between the plate wires (15).

In another embodiment of the present invention, the auxiliary element (7) is a handle which enables the user to move the rack (3) forwards and backwards by holding. By means of the configuration of the connection member (8), the auxiliary element (7) is prevented from easily dislodging from its place by being strained especially when the rack (3) is loaded.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the auxiliary element (7) is two wheels, mounted on the two opposite side walls (5), providing the rack (3) to be placed into or to be taken out from the washing chamber (2) by moving forwards and backwards in the washing chamber (2).

In a derivative of the said embodiment, the rack (3) comprises at least two extensions (14) each disposed on the two opposite side walls (5) of the rack (3), extending outwards from the lower end of at least one vertical wire (6) and the connection member (8) comprises a bearing (9) shaped as a hollow cylinder, mounted onto the extension (14) and onto which the auxiliary element (7) is mounted rotatably. When the bearing (9) is mounted onto the extension (14), the connection member (8) is also mounted to the vertical wire (6) to which the extension (14) is connected. The auxiliary element (7) is borne to the extension (14) by means of the bearing (9) and is fixed by the mounting of the connection member (8) on the vertical wire (6).

By means of the present invention, the connection members (8), which provide the auxiliary elements (7) to be mounted to the rack (3), are provided to be assembled on the rack (3) in an easy and robust manner.

It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed above and a person skilled in the art can easily introduce different embodiments. These should be considered within the scope of the protection postulated by the claims of the present invention.

Claims

A dishwasher (1) comprising a washing chamber (2) wherein the washing process is performed, at least one rack (3) wherein the items to be washed are placed, having a base (4) and side walls (5) that surround the base (4), formed of vertical and horizontal wires (6, 106), at least one auxiliary element (7) which is fixed on the rack (3) by being mounted to the vertical and/or horizontal wires (6, 106) and at least one connection member (8) which provides the auxiliary element (7) to be mounted to the wire (6, 106), characterized by the connection member (8) having

- an inlet port (10) the width of which is at least partially narrower than the diameter of the wire (6, 106),

- a housing (11) disposed behind the inlet port (10) and whereinto the wire (6, 106) is placed by passing through the inlet port (10),

- an almost C shaped body (12) which surrounds the wire (6, 106) and allows the wire (6, 106) to pass through the inlet port (10) and place into the housing (11) by stretching and

- at least one protrusion (13) disposed on the inner surface of the housing (11), almost opposite the inlet port (10), against which the wire (6, 106) bears when the wire (6, 106) is placed into the housing (11) and which provides a gap to remain between the body (12) and the wire (6, 106).
A dishwasher (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by the protrusion (13) that extends along the wire (6, 106).
A dishwasher (1) as in Claim 1 or 2, characterized by the arcuate protrusion (13) formed peripherally on the inner surface of the housing (11).
A dishwasher (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by the connection member (8) that comprises more than one protrusion (13) placed widthwise and lengthwise.
A dishwasher (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by the inlet port (10) the width of which is partially narrower than the diameter of the wire (6, 106) and the protrusion (13) disposed at the level of the portion of the inlet port (10) whereat the width thereof is narrower than the diameter of the wire (6, 106).
A dishwasher (1) as in any one of the Claims 1 to 5, characterized by the auxiliary element (7) which is a height adjustment mechanism used for adjusting the height of the rack (3) in the washing chamber (2).
A dishwasher (1) as in any one of the Claims 1 to 5, characterized by the auxiliary element (7) which is a carrier that extends into the rack (3) and provides the items of different sizes to be washed to be supported by creating additional loading area.
A dishwasher (1) as in any one of the Claims 1 to 5, characterized by the rack (3) comprising plate wires (15) that are disposed on the base (4) and can be fixed both in the horizontal and vertical position and the auxiliary element (7) which is a stopper that provides the plate wires (15) to be fixed in the horizontal and/or vertical position.
A dishwasher (1) as in any one of the Claims 1 to 5, characterized by the auxiliary element (7) which is a handle that enables the user to move the rack (3) forwards and backwards by holding.
A dishwasher (1) as in any one of the Claims 1 to 5, characterized by the auxiliary element (7) which is two wheels, mounted on the two opposite side walls (5) and provides the rack (3) to be placed into or to be taken out from the washing chamber (2) by moving forwards and backwards in the washing chamber (2).
A dishwasher (1) as in claim 10, characterized by the rack (3) comprising at least two extensions (14) disposed on the two opposite side walls (5) of the rack (3), extending outwards from the lower end of at least one vertical wire (6) and the connection member (8) comprising a bearing (9) shaped as a hollow cylinder, mounted onto the extension (14) and onto which the auxiliary element (7) is mounted rotatably.