Dishwasher and adjustable rack

• US 7,231,929 B2
• Filed: 11/20/2003
• Issued: 06/19/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Original Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Inventors: Landsiedel, Jay C., VanderRoest, Chad T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Stinson; Frankie L.
• Application Number:
  US10/717,768
• Publication Number:
  US 20050109378A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,307 Days
• Field of Search: 211/41.8, 211/41.9, 211/41.3, 134/181, 134/147, 134/148, 134/179, 134/56.D, 134/57.D, 134/58.D, 134/201, 134/135
• US Class Current: 134/135
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/14 with stationary crockery baskets and spraying devices within the cleaning chamber for drinking glasses A47L15/0065
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/503 with foldable parts

Abstract

An automatic dishwasher comprises a tub comprising a peripheral wall defining a wash chamber, a rotating water spray assembly in the wash chamber for spraying liquid into the wash chamber, at least one side sprayer in the wash chamber for spraying liquid into the wash chamber, a utensil basket within the wash chamber for holding utensils for washing by the liquid sprayed by the rotating water spray assembly and the at least one side sprayer, and an adjustable utensil carrier attached to the utensil basket and adjustable between a first position wherein a utensil placed therein is predominately exposed to direct spray from the at least one side sprayer, and a second position wherein a utensil supported thereby is exposed to direct spray from both the rotating water spray assembly and the at least one side sprayer.

Claims

1. A dishwasher for washing dishes, comprising:

a tub comprising a peripheral wall defining a wash chamber;

a basket positionable within the wash chamber, and comprising a bottom wall, and a peripheral wall extending upwardly from the bottom wall to define a utensil holding space;

a water spray assembly located within the wash chamber such that the water spray assembly sprays liquid into the utensil holding space through the bottom wall of the basket;

at least one side sprayer located in the wash chamber such that the at least one side sprayer sprays liquid laterally into the utensil holding space; and

an adjustable utensil carrier having a bottom wall is located within the utensil holding space and adjustable for pivotal movement relative to the basket between a first position, where a food contact surface of a utensil carried by the utensil carrier is primarily directed toward the spray from one of the water spray assembly and the at least one side sprayer, and a second position, where the food contact surface is directed toward the spray from both the water spray assembly and the at least one side sprayer.

2. The dishwasher according to claim 1, wherein the adjustable utensil carrier is moveable to a cleaning position where the adjustable utensil carrier is at an acute angle relative to the bottom of the basket to form an angle of inclination.

3. The dishwasher according to claim 2, wherein the inclination angle relative to the peripheral wall is approximately 35 degrees.

4. The dishwasher according to claim 2, wherein the adjustable utensil carrier comprises a support wall that is moveable between a stored position generally perpendicular to the bottom of the basket and the cleaning position.

5. The dishwasher according to claim 4, wherein the support wall is pivotally mounted to the basket.

6. The dishwasher according to claim 5, wherein the support wall is hingedly mounted to the peripheral wall.

7. The dishwasher according to claim 4, wherein the support wall comprises a wire frame wall.

8. The dishwasher according to claim 7, wherein the wire frame wall spans the utensil holding space.

9. The dishwasher according to claim 8, wherein the peripheral wall comprises opposing side walls and the wire frame wall extends between the opposing side walls.

10. The dishwasher according to claim 9, and further comprising at least one detent latch mounted to one of the side walls and the detent latch having a detent in which a portion of the side wall is received to hold the wire frame wall in the cleaning position.

11. The dishwasher according to claim 10, wherein the detent latch has multiple detents to define multiple use positions, with the wire frame wall forming a different acute angle relative to the bottom wall for each of the use positions.

12. The dishwasher according to claim 4, and further comprising an actuator coupling the support wall to the peripheral wall for moving the support wall into the cleaning position.

13. The dishwasher according to claim 4, wherein the support wall defines a utensil support space adapted to support a cooking utensil within the utensil holding space.

14. The dishwasher according to claim 1, wherein the basket is movably mounted to the tub for movement between a stored position, where the basket is completely received within the wash chamber, and a load position, where at least a portion of the basket extends beyond the wash chamber.

15. The dishwasher according to claim 1, wherein the utensil carrier is rotated about a horizontal axis to move the utensil carrier between the first position and the second position, wherein in the first position the utensil carrier forms a first inclination angle and in the second position the utensil carrier forms a second inclination angle that is different than the first inclination angle.

16. A dishwasher for washing dishes, comprising:

a tub comprising a peripheral wall defining a wash chamber;

a basket positionable within the wash chamber, and comprising a bottom wall, and a peripheral wall extending upwardly from the bottom wall to define a utensil holding space;

a water spray assembly located within the wash chamber such that the water spray assembly sprays liquid into the utensil holding space through the bottom wall of the basket;

at least one side sprayer located in the wash chamber such that the at least one side sprayer sprays liquid laterally into the utensil holding space;

an adjustable utensil carrier located within the utensil holding space and adjustable for relative movement between a first position, where a food contact surface of a utensil carried by the utensil carrier is primarily directed toward the spray from one of the water spray assembly and the at least one side sprayer, and a second position, where the food contact surface is directed toward the spray from both the water spray assembly and the at least one side sprayer;

the adjustable utensil carrier includes a support wall that is moveable between a stored position generally perpendicular to the bottom of the basket and the cleaning position, wherein the adjustable utensil carrier is moveable to a cleaning position where the adjustable utensil carrier is at an acute angle relative to the bottom of the basket to form the angle of inclination; and

an actuator coupling the support wall to the peripheral wall for moving the support wall into the cleaning position, wherein the actuator comprises an over-center latch for holding the support wall in a use position.

17. The dishwasher according to claim 16, wherein the actuator comprises a pivot mechanism comprising a lever, a pivot, and at least one cam, the pivot being pivotably attached to the adjustable utensil carrier, the lever adapted to extend from the pivot into the adjustable utensil carrier, and the at least one cam adapted to extend from the pivot to engage the basket, the pivot mechanism being pivotable between a first pivot position and a second pivot position corresponding to the cleaning position.

18. The dishwasher according to claim 17, wherein the support wall defines an adjustable utensil carrier having a utensil holding space adapted to support a cooking utensil within the utensil holding space.

19. The dishwasher according to claim 18, wherein, in the first pivot position, the lever extends into the utensil support space and the at least one cam is below the pivot, and in the second pivot position, the lever is retracted away from the utensil support space and the at least one cam is above the pivot to form the over-center latch.

20. The dishwasher according to claim 19, wherein, in the first pivot position, the lever extends into the utensil support space and the at least one cam is below the lever, and in the second pivot position, the lever is retracted away from the utensil support space and the at least one cam is above the lever.

21. The dishwasher according to claim 20 wherein placement of the cooking utensil in the adjustable utensil carrier pivots the lever and the at least one cam from the first pivot position to the second pivot position, and the adjustable utensil carrier from a first rack position to a second rack position.

22. A basket for a dishwasher comprising at least one side sprayer and a rotating water spray assembly for washing utensils, the basket comprising:

a bottom wall;

a peripheral wall extending upwardly from the bottom wall to define a utensil holding space for holding utensils placed in the basket for washing;

an adjustable utensil carrier located within the utensil holding space and adjustable for relative movement between a first position, where a food contact surface of a utensil carried by the utensil carrier is primarily directed toward the spray from one of the water spray assembly and the at least one side sprayer, and a second position, where the food contact surface is directed toward the spray from both the water spray assembly and the at least one side sprayer;

the adjustable utensil carrier includes a support wall that is moveable between a stored position generally perpendicular to the bottom of the basket and the cleaning position, wherein the adjustable utensil carrier is moveable to a cleaning position where the adjustable utensil carrier is at an acute angle relative to the bottom of the basket to form the angle of inclination; and

an actuator coupling the support wall to the peripheral wall for moving the support wall into the cleaning position, wherein the actuator comprises an over-center latch for holding the support wall in a use position.

23. The basket according to claim 22, wherein the actuator comprises a pivot mechanism comprising a lever, a pivot, and at least one cam, the pivot being pivotably attached to the adjustable utensil carrier, the lever adapted to extend from the pivot into the adjustable utensil carrier, and the at least one cam adapted to extend from the pivot to engage the basket, the pivot mechanism being pivotable between a first pivot position and a second pivot position corresponding to the cleaning position.

24. The basket according to claim 23, wherein the support wall defines an adjustable utensil carrier having a utensil holding space adapted to support a cooking utensil within the utensil holding space.

25. The basket according to claim 24, wherein, in the first pivot position, the lever extends into the utensil support space and the at least one cam is below the pivot, and in the second pivot position, the lever is retracted away from the utensil support space and the at least one cam is above the pivot to form the over-center latch.

26. The basket according to claim 25, wherein, in the first pivot position, the lever extends into the utensil support space and the at least one cam is below the lever, and in the second pivot position, the lever is retracted away from the utensil support space and the at least one cam is above the lever.

27. The basket according to claim 26 wherein placement of the cooking utensil in the adjustable utensil carrier pivots the lever and the at least one cam from the first pivot position to the second pivot position, and the adjustable utensil carrier from a first rack position to a second rack position.

28. A basket for a dishwasher comprising at least one side sprayer and a rotating water spray assembly for washing utensils, the basket comprising:

a bottom wall;

a peripheral wall extending upwardly from the bottom wall to define a utensil holding space for holding utensils placed in the basket for washing; and

an adjustable utensil carrier having a bottom wall is located within the utensil holding space and adjustable for pivotal movement relative to the basket between a first position, where a food contact surface of a utensil carried by the utensil carrier is primarily directed toward the spray from one of the water spray assembly and the at least one side sprayer, and a second position, where the food contact surface is directed toward the spray from both the water spray assembly and the at least one side sprayer.

29. The basket according to claim 28, wherein the adjustable utensil carrier is moveable to a cleaning position where the adjustable utensil carrier is at an acute angle relative to the bottom of the basket to form an angle of inclination.

30. The basket according to claim 29, wherein the inclination angle relative to the peripheral wall is 35 degrees.

31. The basket according to claim 29, wherein the adjustable utensil carrier comprises a support wall that is moveable between a stored position generally perpendicular to the bottom of the basket and the cleaning position.

32. The basket according to claim 31, wherein the support wall is hingedly mounted to the peripheral wall.

33. The basket according to claim 31, and further comprising an actuator coupling the support wall to the peripheral wall for moving the support wall into the cleaning position.

34. The basket according to claim 31, wherein the support wall defines a utensil support space adapted to support a cooking utensil within the utensil holding space.

35. The basket according to claim 31, wherein the support wall comprises a wire frame wall.

36. The basket according to claim 35, wherein the wire frame wall spans the utensil holding space.

37. The basket according to claim 36, wherein the peripheral wall comprises opposing side walls and the wire frame wall extends between the opposing side walls.

38. The basket according to claim 37, and further comprising at least one detent latch mounted to one of the side walls and the detent latch having a detent in which a portion of the side wall is received to hold the wire frame wall in the cleaning position.

39. The basket according to claim 38, wherein the detent latch has multiple detents to define multiple use positions, with the wire frame wall forming a different acute angle relative to the bottom wall for each of the use positions.