WO2016000791A1

WO2016000791A1 - A dishwasher wire rack having an improved carrier adaptor structure

Info

Publication number: WO2016000791A1
Application number: PCT/EP2014/064334
Authority: WO
Inventors: Osman Kilic; Ismail Cem Bastuji
Original assignee: Arcelik Anonim Sirketi
Priority date: 2014-07-04
Filing date: 2014-07-04
Publication date: 2016-01-07
Also published as: EP3164045A1; EP3164045B1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a dishwasher having a carrier structure adapted to be mounted on the dishwasher rack (1) thereof for carrying wine glasses (4) and the like. More particularly, the present invention relates to a dishwasher comprising a washing process chamber to place various kitchenware and cooking equipment to be washed and a spraying system spraying water to effect washing, the dishwasher further comprising a dishwasher rack (1) in the form of a wireframe structure and a dishwasher rack unit (3) removably placeable thereon.

Description

A DISHWASHER WIRE RACK HAVING AN IMPROVED CARRIER ADAPTOR STRUCTURE

The present invention relates to a dishwasher having a carrier structure adapted to be mounted on the wire rack thereof for carrying wine glasses and the like.

Removable dishwasher rack units for wine glasses are known per se. Dishwashers of the art may be equipped with different kinds of racks and units especially designed for wine glasses. Hangers for wine glasses, such as disclosed in US 4,589,556 and US 2012292273 have the disadvantage that they require more space in the vertical direction.

Support units attached to the main rack such as disclosed in WO 2013/045543 and EP1356761 provide alternative solutions.

However, these arrangements have the disadvantage of occupying unnecessary space when not in use. Another disadvantage of prior art solutions is that they do not provide alternative placement options or stable support for the wine glasses.

The present invention provides a dishwasher rack unit specially designed for wine glasses. The dishwasher rack unit being removable provides an advantageous structure that does not occupy extra space when not in use. It presents a storing/placement alternative for the consumer. It also provides a balanced and stable storing option for wine glasses that occupies less space. Flaps stored in the middle frame compartment may be used to provide extra space for other kitchenware when the rack unit is not used for wine glasses.

The fact that the dishwasher rack unit is a removable structure allows use thereof outside the dishwasher as a temporary storage medium carrying glasses and other kitchenware and allows placement of the same conveniently into the dishwasher when the washing process is to be carried out.

Additionally, the dishwasher rack unit of the invention can perform storage function for alternative kitchenware, advantageously providing extra space for such other items when the rack unit is not used for storing wine glasses.

The present invention therefore provides a rack unit particularly for wine glasses and other glasses having a lower base part separated from the upper bowl section by the stem thereof as defined by the characterizing features in Claim 1 and subsequent Claims.

Primary object of the present invention is hence to provide a rack unit particularly for wine glasses ensuring that no unnecessary space is employed when not in use, while at the same time providing alternative placement options and/or stable support for wine glasses.

The present invention provides a dishwasher with a dishwasher rack unit that is removably placeable on the dishwasher rack. The unit is specially designed to support stems of wine glasses and the like by an upper receiving section and bowl sections thereof by a base section.

Said receiving section’s openings enclose the stems of the glasses while the latter are leaned on in an inclined manner. Different alignments for the openings ensure that the glasses are stored without obstructing each other. Larger openings can also be provided by three subsequent openings forming a C-shape edge form.

A main frame section of said dishwasher rack unit comprises an inner compartment in which at least one extendable flap is stored to be optionally removed for placing over the receiving section to provide extra storage space.

Preferably, two extendable flaps are hinged to each other and connected to the main frame by a slot-pin connection such that two extendable flap pins at two lateral sides of the extendable flaps are guided in the main frame slots so that the extendable flaps are guidably moved out from said inner compartment.

Accompanying drawings are given solely for the purpose of exemplifying a dishwasher rack unit having an improved carrier adaptor structure wire rack, whose advantages over prior art were outlined above and will be explained in brief hereinafter.

The drawings are not meant to delimit the scope of protection as identified in the claims nor should they be referred to alone in an effort to interpret the scope identified in said claims without recourse to the technical disclosure in the description of the present invention.

Fig. 1 demonstrates a general perspective view of the dishwasher rack unit according to the present invention.

Fig. 2 demonstrates another general perspective view of the dishwasher rack unit according to the present invention.

Fig. 3 demonstrates a general perspective view of the dishwasher rack unit with the wine glasses being placed according to the present invention.

Fig. 4 demonstrates a side view of the dishwasher rack unit with the wine glasses being placed according to the present invention.

Fig. 5 demonstrates a general perspective view of the dishwasher rack unit while the extendable flaps are removed according to the present invention.

Fig. 6 demonstrates a general perspective view of the dishwasher rack unit with the extendable flaps and while being placed on a dishwasher rack according to the present invention

The following numerals are assigned to different parts demonstrated in the drawings:

Dishwasher rack
Tines
Dishwasher rack unit
Wine glass
Main frame
Base section
Receiving section
Bowl section
Stem
Base part
Opening
Extendable flap
Support belt
Protrusions
Inner compartment
Extendable flap pin
Main frame slot

The present invention provides a dishwasher conventionally deﬁning a washing process chamber and a spraying system spraying water to effect washing of the various kitchenware and cooking equipment placed in the dishwasher. The dishwasher typically has a dishwasher rack (1) in the form of a wireframe structure located in the washing process chamber. The dishwasher rack (1) has a multitude of tines (2) on the bottom being disposed in rows from front to back of said wireframe structure. The dishwasher rack unit (3) of the invention can be placed on the dishwasher rack (1) so as to create additional space for carrying and storing glasses and particularly wine glasses (4) and the like having a lower base part (10) separated from the upper bowl section (8) by the stem (9) thereof.

The present invention provides a removable dishwasher rack unit (3) for wine glasses (4), comprising a main frame (5), at least one base section (6) and at least one receiving section (7). The base and receiving sections (6, 7) are connected to the main frame (5) at opposing ends of the main frame (5), mainly the upper and lower ends. The base section (6) acts as a standing base for the dishwasher rack unit (3) as well as a placement location for the wine glasses (4). On the other hand, the receiving section (7) acts as a supporting unit for wine glasses (4), receiving stems (9) of the wine glasses (4).

The wine glasses (4) are placed upside down on the dishwater rack unit (3). The bowl section (8) of the glass is placed on the base section (6) and the stems (9) are leaned on the receiving section (7) in a supported manner. The openings (11) of the receiving section (7) have suitable shapes to receive the stems (9) of the wine glasses (4). Preferably, the openings (11) have semi-circular shape.

The openings (11) may be arranged consecutively on a single line. Preferably the openings (11) are arranged in an unsymmetrical manner to allow glasses of different sizes to be placed in the most appropriate placement. The openings (11) may be placed at different angles and depths throughout the outer edge. By placing the stems (9) in openings (11) of different angles and depths, a plurality of glasses can be accommodated without obstructing each other.

According to the present invention, extendable flaps (12) are connected to the main frame (5) by a slot-pin connection. The extendable flap pins (16), located on a lateral edge portion of the extendable flaps (12), interact with the main frame slots (17) located on the side walls of the main frame (5). When not in use, the extendable flaps (12) are stored in the inner compartment (15) within the main frame (5). By sliding the extendable flap(s) (12) upwards through the main frame slots (17), the extendable flap(s) (12) are removed from the inner compartment (15) and the extendable flap pins (16) reaching the upper end of the main frame slot (17) acts as a pivot and the extendable flap(s) (12) are rotated and placed on the receiving section(s) (7). When extendable flap(s) (12) are open and in use, a wider area is available for placement of other dishware. Thus, a second floor for the dishwasher rack unit (3) is created for alternative placement options other than wine glasses (4).

The dishwasher rack unit (3) may comprise plural base and receiving sections (6, 7) and extendable flaps (12). Preferably, the dishwasher rack unit (3) comprises two receiving sections (7), two extendable flaps (12) and two base sections (6). Each set may be arranged symmetrically opposite to each other at two sides of the main frame (5). Such a symmetrical arrangement provides balanced and stable storage.

The base section (6) may optionally comprise support belts (13) and protrusions (14) to support the rim of the wine glass (4) bowl placed on its surface.

The dishwasher rack unit (3) of the present invention is placed on any portion of a dishwasher rack (1). The base section (6) may be designed to embody grids to allow water flow. These grids may be designed in preferred sizes and shapes to match the support units present on the dishwasher rack (1), such as tines (2) to support plates or glasses.

The dishwasher rack unit (3) of the present invention is removable. It is not attached to the dishwasher or the dishwasher rack (1) it is placed on. It can alternatively be placed on other surfaces to act as a storing unit for wine glasses (4) or other kitchenware, such as a drainer to be placed next to the sink.

In a nutshell, the present invention proposes a dishwasher comprising a washing process chamber to place various kitchenware and cooking equipment to be washed and a spraying system spraying water to effect washing, the dishwasher further comprising a dishwasher rack (1) in the form of a wireframe structure.

In one embodiment of the present invention, a dishwasher rack unit (3) is removably placeable on the dishwasher rack (1), said dishwasher rack unit (3) having a main frame (5), at least one base section (6) and at least one receiving section (7).

In another embodiment of the present invention, the dishwasher rack unit (3) is placeable on the dishwasher rack (1) so as to fit on a multitude of tines (2) of the dishwasher rack (1), being disposed in rows from front to back on the bottom thereof.

In a further embodiment of the present invention, the base section (6) is placeable on the dishwasher rack (1) to be receiving bowl sections (8) of glasses while the receiving section (7) of the dishwasher rack unit (3) is configured to receive the stems (9) of glasses.

In a still further embodiment of the present invention, said base and receiving sections (6, 7) are connected to the main frame (5) of the dishwasher rack unit (3) at opposing ends of the main frame (5).

In a yet still further embodiment of the present invention, the receiving section (7) comprises a plurality of openings (11) supporting the stems (9) of the glasses in an at least partially enclosing manner.

In a yet still further embodiment of the present invention, said openings (11) are arranged such that while a first set of openings (11) are aligned along a first direction, at least a second set of openings (11) are aligned along a second direction other than the first direction. Said first and second directions are parallel to each other.

In a yet still further embodiment of the present invention, the openings (11) are arranged such that three neighboring openings (11) are configured to form a C-shape opening to receive larger stems (9), while the middle opening (11) faces the open side of the C-shape, the other two openings (11) face each other.

In a yet still further embodiment of the present invention, the main frame (5) of the dishwasher rack unit (3) comprises an inner compartment (15) defined in a space between the base section (6) and the receiving section (7), the inner compartment (15) accommodating at least one extendable flap (12) removable to be placed over the receiving section (7).

In a yet still further embodiment of the present invention, the inner compartment (15) accommodates two extendable flaps (12) being hinged to each other and connected to the main frame (5) by slot-pin connections.

In a yet still further embodiment of the present invention, extendable flap pins (16) of the extendable flaps (12) interact with main frame slots (17) such that the extendable flaps (12) are guidably removable out from the inner compartment (15).

In a yet still further embodiment of the present invention, the two extendable flaps (12), when removed out from the inner compartment (15), have a relative angle in the range of 90 to 135 degrees.

In a yet still further embodiment of the present invention, both of the two extendable flaps (12) comprise symmetrical support extensions with different intermediate spaces, cooperative in carrying and storing circular plates of different sizes.

In a yet still further embodiment of the present invention, the base section (6) comprises inclined support belts (13) supporting glasses such that the stems (9) thereof lean on the openings (11) of the receiving section (7) in an inclined manner, therefore ensuring a stable orientation for maintenance of the original position during washing cycles.

In a yet still further embodiment of the present invention, a dishwasher rack unit (3) to be placed in a dishwasher is proposed, the dishwasher rack unit (3) being removably placeable on a dishwasher rack (1) and having a main frame (5), at least one base section (6) and at least one receiving section (7), the base section (6) being placeable on the dishwasher rack (1) to be receiving bowl sections (8) of glasses while the receiving section (7) of the dishwasher rack unit (3) being configured to receive the stems (9) of glasses.

The present invention therefore provides a dishwasher rack unit (1) specially designed for wine glasses (4). This unit is removable so that it does not occupy extra space when not in use. It presents a storing/placement alternative for the consumer. The rack unit of the present invention provides a balanced and stable storing option for wine glasses (4), occupying less space. Flaps stored in the middle frame compartment may be used to provide extra space for other kitchenware when the rack unit is not used for wine glasses (4).

Claims

A dishwasher comprising a washing process chamber to place various kitchenware and cooking equipment to be washed and a spraying system spraying water to effect washing, said dishwasher further comprising a dishwasher rack (1) in the form of a wireframe structure characterized in that

a dishwasher rack unit (3) is removably placeable on the dishwasher rack (1), said dishwasher rack unit (3) having a main frame (5), at least one base section (6) and at least one receiving section (7).
A dishwasher as in Claim 1, characterized in that the dishwasher rack unit (3) is placeable on the dishwasher rack (1) so as to fit on a multitude of tines (2) of the dishwasher rack (1), being disposed in rows from front to back on the bottom thereof.
A dishwasher as in Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the base section (6) is placeable on the dishwasher rack (1) to be receiving bowl sections (8) of glasses while the receiving section (7) of the dishwasher rack unit (3) is configured to receive stems (9) of glasses.
A dishwasher as in Claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the base and receiving sections (6, 7) are connected to the main frame (5) of the dishwasher rack unit (3) at opposing ends of the main frame (5).
A dishwasher as in Claim 3 or 4, characterized in that said receiving section (7) comprises a plurality of openings (11) supporting stems (9) of glasses in an at least partially enclosing manner.
A dishwasher as in Claim 5, characterized in that said openings (11) are arranged such that while a first set of openings (11) are aligned along a first direction, at least a second set of openings (11) are aligned along a second direction other than the first direction.
A dishwasher as in Claim 6, characterized in that said first and second directions are parallel to each other.
A dishwasher as in Claim 5, characterized in that the openings (11) are arranged such that three neighboring openings (11) are configured to form a C-shape opening to receive larger stems (9), while the middle opening (11) faces the open side of the C-shape, the other two openings (11) face each other.
A dishwasher as in Claim 4, characterized in that the main frame (5) of the dishwasher rack unit (3) comprises an inner compartment (15) defined in a space between the base section (6) and the receiving section (7), the inner compartment (15) accommodating at least one extendable flap (12) removable to be placed over the receiving section (7).
A dishwasher as in Claim 9, characterized in that the inner compartment (15) accommodates two extendable flaps (12) being hinged to each other and connected to the main frame (5) by slot-pin connections.
A dishwasher as in Claim 10, characterized in that extendable flap pins (16) of the extendable flaps (12) interact with main frame slots (17) such that the extendable flaps (12) are guidably removable out from the inner compartment (15).
A dishwasher as in Claim 10 or 11, characterized in that said two extendable flaps (12), when removed out from the inner compartment (15), have a relative angle in the range of 90 to 135 degrees.
A dishwasher as in Claim 10, 11 or 12, characterized in that both of the two extendable flaps (12) comprise symmetrical support extensions cooperative in carrying and storing circular plates of different sizes.
A dishwasher as in Claim 5, 6 or 9, characterized in that the base section (6) comprises inclined support belts (13) supporting glasses such that stems (9) thereof lean on the openings (11) of the receiving section (7) in an inclined manner.
A dishwasher rack unit (3) to be placed in a dishwasher as set forth in Claim 1, characterized in that the dishwasher rack unit (3) being removably placeable on a dishwasher rack (1) and having a main frame (5), at least one base section (6) and at least one receiving section (7), the base section (6) being placeable on the dishwasher rack (1) to be receiving bowl sections (8) of glasses while the receiving section (7) of the dishwasher rack unit (3) being configured to receive stems (9) of glasses.