WO2017097323A1

WO2017097323A1 - Dishwasher having a cutlery tray with improved usability

Info

Publication number: WO2017097323A1
Application number: PCT/EP2015/078800
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ahmet Onur Moza; Mahmut Murat GOCMEN; Gokhan Ak; Arif Koray KOSKA; Hakan YILMAZER
Original assignee: Arcelik Anonim Sirketi
Priority date: 2015-12-07
Filing date: 2015-12-07
Publication date: 2017-06-15
Also published as: TR201613411A2

Abstract

The present invention relates to a dishwasher comprising: a tub for receiving the articles to be cleaned; and a cutlery tray (1 ) which is adapted for the horizontal reception of the cutlery (2), wherein the cutlery tray (1 ) is extendably disposed into the tub, and wherein the cutlery tray (1 ) includes a grid (3). The dishwasher of the present invention comprises one or more primary arrays (4) of p-shaped holders (5) which are adapted to hold and align the cutlery (2). Each p-shaped holder (5) includes a stem (6) and a head (7) which is formed onto the upper end of the stem (6) and is broader than the respective stem (6). The lower end of the stem (6) is disposed onto the grid (3).

Description

DISHWASHER HAVING A CUTLERY TRAY WITH IMPROVED USABILITY

The present invention relates to the cutlery tray of a dishwasher.

Dishwashers are commonly known in the art. A dishwasher generally comprises a tub, an extendable lower article rack an extendable upper article rack, a cutlery basket which is removably disposed into the extendable lower article rack and a cutlery tray which is extendably disposed on the underside of the tub ceiling. The cutlery tray is generally sprinkled with washing/rinsing fluid through an associated spraying means. The various cutleries can be placed vertically into the compartments of the cutlery basket or horizontally onto the grid of the cutlery tray.

EP2594186B1 discloses a prior art dishwasher which has an extendable cutlery tray.

A problem with the prior art dishwasher is that the cutlery tray is proved to be inconvenient for randomly aligning and securing the cutleries, including forks, spoons, and knives with different sizes and shapes in place onto the grid. Therefore, in practice, the capacity of the cutlery tray cannot be fully used. As a rule, the utilizable volume of the lower article rack can increased by way of removing the cutlery basket and by way of using only the cutlery tray, however, the capacity of the cutlery tray alone is generally insufficient for the home requirements for at least the aforementioned reason.

An objective of the present invention is to provide a dishwasher which has a cutlery tray that solves the aforementioned problems of the prior art in a cost effective way and which enables an improved usability.

This objective has been achieved by the dishwasher as defined in claim 1. Further achievements have been attained by the subject-matters respectively defined in the dependent claims.

The dishwasher of the present invention comprises one or more primary arrays of p-shaped holders which are adapted to hold and align the cutlery, wherein each p-shaped holder includes a stem and a head which is formed onto the upper end of the stem and is broader than the respective stem, and wherein the lower end of the stem is disposed onto the grid of the cutlery tray.

A major advantageous effect of the present invention is that various cutleries with different sizes and shapes can be stably seated, easily aligned, and securely held in position on the grid by virtue of the p-shaped holders in particular through their broad supporting heads and their flexible narrow stems even when the various cutleries are randomly sorted onto the grid. Another major advantageous effect of the present invention is that capacity of the cutlery tray can be more efficiently used, and thus the cutlery basket becomes superfluous. Thereby, the utilizable volume of the lower article rack can increased by way of removing the cutlery basket from the lower article rack, and thus the lower article rack can be loaded more densely with the articles to be cleaned. With the present invention, the overall washing performance of the dishwasher can be improved. Thereby, the consumer satisfaction can be increased.

In an embodiment, relative small p-shaped holders and relative large p-shaped holders are alternatingly arranged in the primary array. This embodiment is particularly advantageous as the cutlery can be leaned, and thus more stably seated and more easily aligned onto the grid.

In another embodiment, the p-shaped holder, in particular the stem thereof tapers towards the grid. This embodiment is particularly advantageous as the p-shaped holder becomes more elastic, and thus the cutlery can be more flexibly aligned and seated onto the grid.

In another embodiment, the p-shaped holder is made from a plastic material which is more elastic than the plastic material of the grid. This embodiment is particularly advantageous as the cutlery can be more flexibly aligned, properly seated, and securely held in position on the grid. In addition, the elastic p-shaped holders can more effectively clamp the various cutleries, including forks, spoons, knives with different size and shapes, and securely hold them in place on the grid. Furthermore, other articles such as cups and small plates can be placed onto the middle of the grid and clamped between the primary arrays of the elastic p-shaped holders.

In another embodiment, the grid has at least two primary arrays of p-shaped holders, wherein the relative small p-shaped holders in one of said two primary arrays stand respectively opposite to the relative small p-shaped holder in the other one of said two primary arrays and vice versa. This embodiment is particularly advantageous as the cutlery can be prevented from hanging on the grid with loose contact, and thus the cutlery can be more reliably seated onto the grid.

In another embodiment, a secondary array of heart-shaped holders is disposed along the middle of the grid between the two pairs of primary arrays of p-shaped holders. In another embodiment, the left section and the right section of the grid both slope downwards to the middle of the grid. These embodiments are particularly advantageous as the secondary array prevents the cutleries which are held by the primary array from dislocating and sliding towards the middle of the grid. In addition, the cutleries or cups and the like can be placed onto secondary array and clamped between the respective heart-shaped holders.

In another embodiment, the p-shaped holders can be selectively pivoted to the upright position or to the collapsed position. This embodiment is particularly advantageous as the cutlery, including the forks and the spoons with extra-large handles can be placed onto the grid after the p-shaped holders are collapsed so as to gain space.

In another embodiment, the heart-shaped holders can be selectively pivoted to the upright position or to the collapsed position. This embodiment is particularly advantageous as the large cutleries including the spoons or the small plates can be placed onto the grid after the heart-shaped holders are collapsed so as to gain a large storage area.

In another embodiment, one or more p-shaped holders are disposed onto a moving grid member of the grid so as to selectively move to the p-shaped holders to a high level or to a low level. This embodiment is particularly advantageous as the cutleries including the forks and the spoons with large heads can be more easily secured in place onto the grid when the p-shaped holders are moved to the high level. In addition, the short cutleries can be more easily secured in place onto the grid when the p-shaped holders are moved to the low level where the primary arrays get closer to each other and respectively hold the neck and the handle tip of the cutlery.

In another embodiment, the p-shaped holders are inclined. This embodiment is particularly advantageous as the cutleries can be prevented from staining.

Additional features and additional advantageous effects of the cutlery tray of the dishwasher according to the present invention will become more apparent with the detailed description of the embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 - is a schematic perspective view of a cutlery tray of the dishwasher according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 - is a schematic top view of the cutlery tray of Fig. 1;

Figure 3 - is a schematic sectional view of the cutlery tray of Fig. 1;

Figure 4 - is another schematic sectional view of the cutlery tray of Fig. 1, wherein the p-shaped holders on the left section of the grid have been moved to the collapsed position;

Figure 5 - is another schematic sectional view of the cutlery tray of Fig. 1, wherein the p-shaped holders hold and align the cutlery;

Figure 6 - is a schematic enlarged perspective view of the cutlery tray of Fig. 1;

Figure 7 - is another schematic enlarged perspective view of the cutlery tray of Fig. 1;

Figure 8 - is another schematic perspective view of the cutlery tray of Fig. 1;

Figure 9 - is another schematic perspective view of the cutlery tray of Fig. 1, wherein the p-shaped holders hold and align the cutlery;

Figure 10 - is another schematic perspective view of the cutlery tray of Fig. 1, wherein the heart-shaped holders hold and align a cup;

Figure 11 - is a schematic enlarged partial perspective view of the cutlery tray of Fig. 9;

Figure 12 - is a schematic enlarged partial perspective view of the cutlery tray of Fig. 1, wherein the heart-shaped holders hold and align a spoon;

Figure 13 - is another schematic enlarged partial perspective view of the cutlery tray of Fig. 9;

Figure 14 - is a schematic sectional view of the cutlery tray of Fig. 12, taken along the line A-A of Fig. 15;

Figure 15 - is a schematic top view of the cutlery tray of Fig. 12;

Figure 16 - is a schematic sectional view of the cutlery tray of Fig. 10, taken along the line B-B of Fig. 17;

Figure 17 - is a schematic top view of the cutlery tray of Fig. 16.

The reference signs appearing on the drawings relate to the following technical features.

Cutlery tray
Cutlery

2a. Cup
3. Grid

4. Primary array

5. P-shaped holder

6. Stem

7. Head

8. Secondary array

9. Heart-shaped holder

The dishwasher (not shown) comprises: a tub (not shown) for receiving the articles to be cleaned; and a cutlery tray (1) which is adapted for the horizontal reception of the cutlery (2) (Fig. 1 and Fig. 5). The cutlery tray (1) is extendably disposed into the tub. The cutlery tray (1) includes a grid (3) (Fig. 2).

The dishwasher of the present invention further comprises: one or more primary arrays (4) of p-shaped holders (5) which are adapted to hold and align the cutlery (2) (Fig. 1 and Fig. 5). Each p-shaped holder (5) includes a stem (6) and a head (7) which is formed onto the upper end of the stem (6) and is broader than the respective stem (6) (Fig. 3). The lower end of the stem (6) is disposed onto the grid (3) (Fig. 3).

In an embodiment, one or more primary arrays (4) of p-shaped holders (5) each comprises alternating relative small p-shaped holders (5) and relative large p-shaped holders (5) (Fig. 6 and Fig. 7).

In another embodiment, the stems (6) of the p-shaped holders (5) each tapers towards the grid (3) (Fig. 6 and Fig. 7).

In another embodiment, the grid (3) and the p-shaped holders (5) are each made from different plastic materials which are resistant to the detergent and the ambient temperature inside the tub such that the p-shaped holder (5) is more elastic than the grid (3).

In another embodiment, at least two primary arrays (4) of p-shaped holders (5) are disposed parallelly and adjacently onto the grid (3) (Fig. 8). In this embodiment, the relative small p-shaped holders (5) in one of said two primary arrays (4) stand respectively opposite to the relative small p-shaped holder (5) in the other one of said two primary arrays (4) and vice versa (Fig. 8).

In another embodiment, the cutlery tray (1) further comprises: a secondary array (8) of heart-shaped holders (9) which are adapted to hold and align the cutlery (2) (Fig. 1). In this embodiment, the secondary array (9) of heart-shaped holders (9) is disposed along the middle of the grid (3) between two pairs of primary arrays (4) of p-shaped holders (5) (Fig. 2).

In another embodiment, one pair of primary arrays (4) of p-shaped holders (5) are disposed into the left section of the grid (3) (Fig. 2). In this embodiment, one pair of primary arrays (4) of p-shaped holders (5) are disposed into the right section of the grid (3) (Fig. 2). In addition, the left section and the right section both slope downwards to the middle of the grid (3) (Fig. 3 to 5).

In another embodiment, one or more p-shaped holders (5) are each pivotably disposed onto the grid (3) and adapted to be moved to the upright position where it receives the cutlery (2) and to the collapsed position where it releases the cutlery (2) (Fig. 4).

In another embodiment (not shown), one or more heart-shaped holders (9) are each pivotably disposed onto the grid (3) and adapted to be moved to the upright position where it receives the cutlery (2) and to the collapsed position where it releases the cutlery (2).

In another embodiment (not shown), the grid (3) comprises a moving grid member (not shown) which is movably disposed onto the grid (3) so as to move to a high level and to a low level. In this embodiment, one or more p-shaped holders (5) are disposed onto the moving grid member.

In another embodiment, the stems (6) of the p-shaped holders (5) are inclined (Fig. 3).

A major advantageous effect of the present invention is that various cutleries (2) can be stably seated, easily aligned, and securely held in position on the grid (3) by virtue of the p-shaped holders (5) in particular through their broad supporting heads (7) and their flexible narrow stems (6) even when the various cutleries (2) are randomly sorted onto the grid (3). Another major advantageous effect of the present invention is that capacity of the cutlery tray (1) can be more efficiently used, and thus the cutlery basket (not shown) of the lower article rack (not shown) becomes superfluous. Thereby, the utilizable volume of the lower article rack can increased by way of removing the cutlery basket of the lower article rack, and thus the lower article rack can be loaded more densely. With the present invention, the overall washing performance of the dishwasher can be improved. Other advantageous effects of the present invention can be taken from the above-described embodiments.

Claims

A dishwasher comprising a tub for receiving the articles to be cleaned; and a cutlery tray (1) which is adapted for the horizontal reception of the cutlery (2), wherein the cutlery tray (1) is extendably disposed into the tub, and wherein the cutlery tray (1) includes a grid (3), characterized in that one or more primary arrays (4) of p-shaped holders (5) which are adapted to hold and align the cutlery (2), wherein each p-shaped holder (5) includes a stem (6) and a head (7) which is formed onto the upper end of the stem (6) and is broader than the respective stem (6), and wherein the lower end of the stem (6) is disposed onto the grid (3).
The dishwasher according to claim 1, characterized in that one or more primary arrays (4) of p-shaped holders (5) each comprises alternating relative small p-shaped holders (5) and relative large p-shaped holders (5).
The dishwasher according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the stems (6) of the p-shaped holders (5) taper towards the grid (3).
The dishwasher according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the grid (3) and the p-shaped holders (5) are each made from different plastic materials such that the p-shaped holder (5) is more elastic than the grid (3).
The dishwasher according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that two primary arrays (4) of p-shaped holders (5) are disposed parallelly and adjacently onto the grid (3), wherein the relative small p-shaped holders (5) in one of said two primary arrays (4) stand respectively opposite to the relative small p-shaped holder (5) in the other one of said two primary arrays (4) and vice versa.
The dishwasher according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a secondary array (8) of heart-shaped holders (9) which are adapted to hold and align the cutlery (2), wherein the secondary array (9) of heart-shaped holders (9) is disposed along the middle of the grid (3) between two pairs of primary arrays (4) of p-shaped holders (5).
The dishwasher according to claim 6, characterized in that one pair of primary arrays (4) of p-shaped holders (5) are disposed into the left section of the grid (3), and one pair of primary arrays (4) of p-shaped holders (5) are disposed into the right section of the grid (3), and wherein the left section and the right section both slope downwards to the middle of the grid (3).
The dishwasher according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that one or more p-shaped holders (5) are each pivotally disposed onto the grid (3) and adapted to be moved to the upright position where it receives the cutlery (2) and to the collapsed position where it releases the cutlery (2).
The dishwasher according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that one or more heart-shaped holders (9) are each pivotally disposed onto the grid (3) and adapted to be moved to the upright position where it receives the cutlery (2) and to the collapsed position where it releases the cutlery (2).
The dishwasher according to claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the grid (3) comprises a moving grid member which is movably disposed onto the grid (3) so as to selectively move to a high level and to a low level, wherein one or more p-shaped holders (5) are disposed onto the moving grid member.
The dishwasher according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the stems (6) of the p-shaped holders (5) are inclined.