Dishwasher rack assemblies

• US 7,168,578 B2
• Filed: 12/18/2003
• Issued: 01/30/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc. DBA GE Appliances (Haier Group Company)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Tobbe, Joseph Duane, Mersch, Matthew David, Miller, Gregory Owen, Utschig, Michael John, Nolan, Kevin Farrelly
• Primary Examiner(s): Chilcot, Jr.; Richard E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Newton; Jared
• Application Number:
  US10/740,166
• Publication Number:
  US 20050133469A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,139 Days
• Field of Search: 211/41.8, 211/41.9, 211/41.1, 211/85.4, 312/334.4, 312/306, 312/312, 312/321, 312/330.1, 312/334.1, 312/334.7, 312/334.8, 134/56.D
• US Class Current: 211/41.8
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/504 Arrangements for changing the height of racks

Abstract

An adjustable rack assembly configured to couple to a sidewall of a dishwasher rack is provided. The sidewall having at least one horizontal wire member and at least one vertical wire member. The adjustable rack assembly includes a bracket on one side of the sidewall, the bracket supporting the at least one horizontal wire member in a first rack position and a support plate on another side of the sidewall, the support plate coupled to the bracket, the support plate having at least one arm with a catch member on a distal end thereof for receiving the at least one horizontal wire member in a second rack position.

Claims

1. An adjustable rack assembly for a dishwasher in combination with at least one rack, the at least one rack comprising a plurality of sidewalls, each sidewall of the plurality of sidewalls including at least one horizontal wire member and at least one vertical wire member defining an interior side and an exterior side of said at least one rack, said assembly comprising:

a bracket configured to be coupled to the exterior side of a first said sidewall, said bracket including a support surface configured to support and engage the at least one horizontal wire member in a first vertical rack position; and

a support plate configured to be coupled to the interior side of the first said sidewall, said support plate coupled to said bracket, said bracket and said support plate having complementary grooves forming closed channels for frictionally engaging the at least one vertical wire member, said support plate having at least one arm with a catch member on a distal end thereof, said catch member being vertically spaced from said support surface of said bracket so that said catch member engages the at least one horizontal wire member in a second vertical rack position and disengages the at least one horizontal wire member in the first vertical rack position.

2. An adjustable rack assembly according to claim 1 wherein said at least one arm is deflectable away from the at least one horizontal wire member when the rack is moved between said first and second positions.

3. An adjustable rack assembly according to claim 1 wherein said bracket has at least one wheel receivable within a track of an appliance.

4. An adjustable rack assembly according to claim 3 wherein said wheel is receivable within a track of a dishwasher.

5. An adjustable rack assembly according to claim 3 wherein said wheel is receivable within a track of a refrigerator.

6. An adjustable rack assembly according to claim 1 wherein said catch member further comprises a ramp portion comprising a slide section and a base section, said base section supports the at least one horizontal wire member when the rack is in said second position.

7. An adjustable rack assembly according to claim 6 wherein said base section comprises a lip to retain the at least one horizontal wire member.

8. An adjustable rack assembly according to claim 6 wherein said base section defines a pocket to receive the at least one horizontal wire member.

9. An adjustable rack assembly according to claim 8 wherein said pocket secures the at least one horizontal wire member in frictional engagement.

10. A dishwasher rack comprising:

a plurality of horizontal and vertical wire members forming a bottom surface and lateral extending sidewalls defining an interior side and an exterior side of said dishwasher rack;

a bracket having an inner surface and an outer surface, said bracket positioned on said exterior side of a first sidewall of said lateral extending sidewalls, said inner surface having grooves, said bracket including a support surface supporting at least one horizontal wire member in a first vertical rack position; and

a support plate having an inner surface and an outer surface, said support plate positioned on said interior side of said first sidewall from said bracket, said inner surface having grooves, said support plate coupled to said bracket such that said grooves of said bracket and said support plate form a plurality of closed channels configured to slidably receive said vertical wire members, said support plate having at least one arm with a catch member on a distal end thereof, said catch member being vertically spaced from said support surface of said bracket so that said catch member engages the at least one horizontal wire member in a second vertical rack position and disengages the at least one horizontal wire member in the first vertical rack position.

11. A dishwasher rack according to claim 10 wherein said at least one arm is deflectable away from the at least one horizontal wire member when the dishwasher rack is moved between said first and second positions.

12. A dishwasher rack according to claim 10 wherein said catch member further comprises a ramp portion, said ramp portion having a slide section and a base section, said base section supports the at least one horizontal wire member when the dishwasher rack is in said second position.

13. A dishwasher rack according to claim 12 wherein said base section defines a pocket to receive the at least one horizontal wire member.

14. A dishwasher rack according to claim 12 wherein said catch member further comprises a latch portion extending from said ramp portion.

15. A dishwasher rack according to claim 14 wherein said latch portion has a finger portion.

16. A dishwasher comprising:

a wash chamber defined by a bottom, oppositely disposed sidewalls, a back wall, and a front access opening; and

a rack disposed within said wash chamber, said rack having a plurality of vertical and horizontal wire members forming a bottom surface and lateral extending sidewalls defining an interior side and an exterior side of said dishwasher rack, said rack comprising;

a bracket on said exterior side of a first sidewall of said lateral extending sidewalls, said bracket including a support surface supporting and engaging at least one horizontal wire member of said plurality of horizontal wire members in a first vertical rack position; and

a support plate on said interior side of said first sidewall, said support plate coupled to said bracket, said bracket and said support plate having complementary grooves forming closed channels for frictionally engaging at least one vertical wire member of said plurality of vertical wire members, said support plate having at least one arm with a catch member on a distal end thereof, said catch member being vertically spaced from said support surface of said bracket so that said catch member engages the at least one horizontal wire member in a second vertical rack position and disengages the at least one horizontal wire member in the first vertical rack position.

17. A dishwasher according to claim 16 wherein said bracket has at least one wheel receivable within a track of a dishwasher.

18. A dishwasher according to claim 16 wherein said catch member comprises a ramp portion, said ramp portion having a slide section and a base section, said base section supports the at least one horizontal wire member when the dishwasher rack is in said second position.

19. A dishwasher according to claim 18 wherein said base section has a lip to retain the at least one horizontal wire member.

20. A dishwasher according to claim 18 wherein said base section defines a pocket to receive the at least one horizontal wire member.

21. A dishwasher according to claim 20 wherein said pocket secures the at least one horizontal wire member in snapping engagement.