Dishwasher rack with pivotable fences

• US 6,571,965 B1
• Filed: 04/12/2000
• Issued: 06/03/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Original Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Inventors: Smith, John Irven, Taylor, Jeffrey Ray, Nelson, Mark H., Beck, Casey Brian Arthur
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin-Shue, Alvin
• Assistant Examiner(s): PUROL, SARAH L
• Application Number:
  US09/548,094
• Time in Patent Office: 1,147 Days
• Field of Search: 211/41.8, 211/41.9, 211/41.1, 211/41.5, 211/41.6, 211/181.1
• US Class Current: 211/41.8
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/503 with foldable parts

Abstract

A dishwasher rack which includes a basket supporting a plurality of fences rotatably about a common axis. The basket has a plurality of wires forming a bottom wall, a pair of side walls and a front and back wall. The bottom wall has a plurality of upwardly oriented tines connected to and extending from the bottom wall in a first area and further has an open area without upwardly oriented tines. A first fence is provided having an axle wire and a plurality of support wires. The axle wire is rotatably supported adjacent the bottom wall such that the first fence may be rotated between a front position and a back position. A second fence is provided having a connection wire and a plurality of support wires. The connection wire is rotatably connected to axle wire such that the second fence may rotate about the axle wire between a front position and a back position. The first fence and second fence may be rotated to the first position such that the support wires of the first fence and the support wires of the second fence form an upstanding array for supporting dishes. Alternatively, one or both of the first fence and second fence may be rotated to the back position.

Claims

1. A dishwasher rack comprising:

a basket including a plurality of wires forming a bottom wall, a pair of side walls and a front and back wall, the bottom wall having a plurality of upwardly oriented tines connected to and extending from the bottom wall in a first area and further having an open area without upwardly oriented tines;

a first fence having an axle wire and a plurality of support wires, the axle wire being rotatably supported adjacent the bottom wall between a front position and a back position;

a second fence having a connection wire and a plurality of support wires, the connection wire being rotatably connected to the axle wire such that the second fence may rotate about the axle wire between a front position and a back position,

wherein the first fence and second fence may be rotated to the front position such that the support wires of the first fence and the support wires of the second fence form an upstanding array for supporting dishes, or alternatively, one or both of the first fence and second fence may be rotated to the back position.

2. The dishwashing rack according to claim 1, wherein the second fence includes a plurality of opposed hook elements for engaging the axle wire such that the second fence is rotatable about the axle wire.

3. The dishwashing rack according to claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of clips for rotatably connecting the connection wire of the second fence to the axle wire of the first fence.

4. The dishwashing rack according to claim 1, wherein the connection wire has bent over opposite ends, the dishwashing rack further comprising:

a plurality of elongated clips, each of the elongated clips having a first end connected to the axle wire and a second end including an elongated socket for receiving one of the bent over opposite ends of the connection wire such that the connection wire extends in fixed 90°

relationship from the elongated clip.

5. The dishwashing rack according to claim 1, further comprising:

a pair of wheel mounts mounted to the basket along opposite sides, each of the wheel mounts forming in combination with the basket a pocket inwardly directed toward the center of the basket,

wherein the axle wire of the first fence has opposite ends which are captured within the sockets such that the first fence is rotatably secured to the basket.

6. The dishwashing rack according to claim 1, further comprising:

a third fence having a connection wire and a plurality of support wires being spaced along and extending from the connection wire, the connection wire of the third fence being rotatably connected to the axle wire,

wherein the second fence and third fence are connected to different portions of the axle wire.

7. The dishwashing rack according to claim 1, further wherein

the supports wires of the first fence are generally V shaped wires which are unevenly spaced along and extend from the axle wire and the support wires of the second fence are generally V-shaped wires which are unevenly spaced along and extend from the connection wire, and

when both the first and second fences are in a front position, the support wires form an upstanding array of equally spaced wires and when the first fence is in a front position and the second fence in a back position, the support wires of the first fence form an upstanding array of unevenly spaced wires.

8. A dishwasher rack comprising:

a basket having a plurality of wires forming a bottom wall, a pair of side walls and a front and back wall, the bottom wall having a plurality of upwardly oriented tines connected to and extending from the bottom wall in a first area and further having an open area without upwardly oriented tines;

a first fence having a plurality of support wires, the first fence being rotatably supported adjacent the bottom wall between a front position and a back position;

a second fence having a plurality of support wires, the second fence being rotatably connected to the first such that the second fence may rotate about the first fence between a front position and a back position,

wherein the first fence and second fence may be rotated to the front position such that the support wires of the first fence and the support wires of the second fence form an upstanding array for supporting dishes, or alternatively, one or both of the first fence and second fence may be rotated to the back position.

9. The dishwashing rack according to claim 8, wherein:

the first fence includes an axle wire connected to the support wires, the support wires being spaced along and generally perpendicular to the axle wire,

the second fence including a connection wire connected to the support wires, the support wires being spaced along and generally perpendicular to the connection wire, and

wherein the second fence includes a plurality of opposed hook elements for engaging the axle wire such that the second fence is rotatable about the axle wire.

10. The dishwashing rack according to claim 8, further comprising:

a plurality of clips for rotatably connecting the second fence to the first fence.

11. The dishwashing rack according to claim 8, wherein

the first fence includes an axle wire connected to the support wires, the support wires being spaced along and generally perpendicular to the axle wire, the dishwashing rack further comprising:

a pair of wheel mounts mounted to the basket along opposite sides, each of the wheel mounts forming in combination with the basket a pocket inwardly directed toward the center of the basket,

wherein the axle wire of the first fence has opposite ends which are captured within the sockets such that the first fence is rotatably secured to the basket.

12. The dishwashing rack according to claim 8, further comprising:

a third fence having a connection wire and a plurality of support wires being spaced along and extending from the connection wire, the connection wire of the third fence being rotatably connected to the axle wire,

wherein the second fence and third fence are connected to different portions of the axle wire.