ADJUSTABLE UPPER DISHWASHER RACK

• US 20100314977A1
• Filed: 06/11/2009
• Published: 12/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc. DBA GE Appliances (Haier Group Company)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Ramakrishnan, Srinivasan, Das, Rajdeep, Mallory, Brian L., Beard, Elizabeth, Mallur, Vasudev, Gnadinger, Errin Whitney
• Granted Patent: US 8,191,560 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 312/228.1
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/503 with foldable parts
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/504 Arrangements for changing the height of racks

Abstract

An upper rack vertical adjustment system for a dishwasher, including an upper rack first portion, and an upper rack second portion rotatably attached to the first portion to selectively create an opening in the bottom of the rack to provide clearance for items placed in the lower rack. For adjusting the height of the upper rack, a slidable member has two elongated arms extending therefrom each having a wheel attached at an end of the arms is provided on each side of the rack. For each slidable member, a plate is mounted to a portion of the upper rack and the said slidable member is pivotally mounted to the plate. A locking mechanism locks the slidable member in one of several predetermined positions.

Claims

1. An upper rack vertical adjustment system for a dishwasher of the type having at least an upper rack and a lower rack, comprising:

an upper rack comprising a vertically extending front wall, a back wall, two opposing sidewalls and a bottom wall, said bottom wall including a first portion and a second portion;

said second portion rotatably attached to said first portion for movement between a first position in which said second portion is operative to serve as a portion of the bottom wall and a second position in which said second portion is operative to create an extended opening in the bottom wall thereby providing vertical clearance for objects stored in the lower rack.

2. The upper rack adjustment system of claim 1, wherein said upper rack second portion rotates about 90 degrees between said first position and said second position.

3. The upper rack adjustment system of claim 1, wherein said second portion of said upper rack extends over a portion of a width of said upper rack.

4. The upper rack adjustment system of claim 1, further comprising a container for holding tall utensils installed on the lower rack.

5. The upper rack adjustment system of claim 1, further comprising latches for securing said upper rack second portion in said first or second positions.

6. The upper rack adjustment system of claim 2, wherein said upper rack second portion is positioned approximately 90 degrees with respect to said first portion in said second position.

7. The upper rack adjustment system of claim 3, wherein the width of said second portion is between 2 and 12 inches.

8. An upper rack vertical adjustment system comprising:

a slidable member having two elongated arms extending therefrom wherein each of said elongated arms comprises a wheel attached at an end of one of said arms;

a plate mounted to a portion of said upper rack wherein said slidable member is pivotally mounted to said plate; and

a locking mechanism for locking said slidable member in one of several predetermined positions.

9. The upper rack adjustment system of claim 8, further comprising a handle which is connected to said locking mechanism and is depressed to release said slidable member from said locking mechanism.

10. The upper rack vertical adjustment system of claim 8, wherein said locking mechanism comprises a gear and pinion which have interengaging teeth.

11. The upper rack vertical adjustment system of claim 9, wherein said handle comprises an ergonomic thumb pad.

12. The upper rack vertical adjustment system of claim 10, wherein said gear and pinion are housed within a housing assembly.

13. The upper rack vertical adjustment system of claim 8, wherein said elongated arms of said slidable member are pivotally attached to said plate via fasteners.

14. The upper rack vertical adjustment system of claim 10, wherein said slidable member comprises a first notch and a second notch, wherein said first notch corresponds to a raised position of said upper rack of said second notch corresponds to a lowered position of said upper rack.

15. The upper rack vertical adjustment system of claim 14, wherein said pinion comprises a protrusion.

16. The upper rack vertical adjustment system of claim 15, wherein when said handle is depressed, one of said notches of said slidable member is released from engagement with said protrusion of said pinion and said slidable bracket is raised or lowered until another of said notches engages said protrusion of said pinion.

17. The upper rack vertical adjustment system of claim 16, wherein said locking mechanism is spring biased to a locked position.

18. The upper rack vertical adjustment system of claim 8, wherein said elongated arms of said slidable member pivot about an end of a vertical portion of said slidable member.

19. The upper rack vertical adjustment system of claim 18, wherein said wheels of said elongated arms engages an associated rack of said dishwasher.

20. The upper rack vertical adjustment system of claim 8, wherein said slidable member and locking assembly is provided on opposite ends of an associated upper rack.

21. The upper rack vertical adjustment system of claim 20, wherein said slidable member comprises an elongated slot which receives a pin for aligning and sliding the slidable member in a vertical direction.

22. A dishwasher of the type having at least an upper rack and a lower rack, the upper rack comprising adjustment means for support of taller dishware on the upper and lower racks, said adjustment means comprising:

a first adjustment mechanism on a bottom wall of said upper rack for removal of a least a portion of said upper rack such that the taller dishware load onto said lower rack; and

,

a second adjustment mechanism on opposite ends of said upper rack for adjustment of a height of said upper rack such that the taller dishware load onto said upper rack.

23. The dishwasher of claim 22, wherein the bottom wall of said upper rack is defined by a first portion and a second portion, said second portion being rotatably attached to said first portion for movement between a first position in which said second portion is operative to serve as a portion of the bottom wall and a second position in which said second portion is operative to create an extended opening in the bottom wall thereby providing vertical clearance for objects stored in the lower rack.

24. The dishwasher of claim 22, wherein the second adjustment mechanism includes:

a slidable member having two elongated arms extending therefrom wherein each of said elongated arms comprises a wheel attached at an end of one of said arms, each said wheel engages said upper rack of said dishwasher;

a plate mounted to a portion of said upper rack wherein said slidable member is pivotally mounted to said plate; and

a locking mechanism for locking said slidable member in one of several predetermined positions.

25. The dishwasher of claim 24, wherein the second adjustment mechanism further includes:

a depressible handle connected to said locking mechanism, said handle releases said slideable member from said locking mechanism;

a gear and a pinion included on said locking mechanism and housed within said housing assembly;

a first notch and a second notch on said slidable member, each of said notches corresponds to different raised and lowered positions of said upper rack;

a pinion with a protrusion; and

,

a slot in said slideable member which receives a pin for aligning and sliding the slideable member in a vertical direction;

wherein when said handle is depressed, one of said notches of said slidable member releases from engagement with said protrusion of said pinion and said slidable bracket raises or lowers until another of said notches engages said protrusion of said pinion.

26. The dishwasher of claim 25, wherein said elongated arms of said slidable member pivot about an end of a vertical portion of said slidable member.