Dishwasher

• US 7,418,967 B2
• Filed: 06/07/2004
• Issued: 09/02/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Kim, Yong Hee
• Primary Examiner(s): Barr; Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): RIGGLEMAN, JASON PAUL
• Application Number:
  US10/861,361
• Publication Number:
  US 20050039782A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,548 Days
• Field of Search: 134/57.D
• US Class Current: 134/57.00D
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/504 Arrangements for changing the height of racks

Abstract

A dishwasher including an improved rack adjustment system is provided. The dishwasher includes a chamber for washing dishes, guide rails at opposite inside walls of the chamber, and a rack that moves along the guide rails into and Out of the chamber for holding dishes. A supporter may be provided at opposite sides of the rack for guiding an up/down movement of the rack along the guide rail, with a locker provided on an outside surface of the supporter for holding the rack in position. A handle may be provided on the outside surface of the supporter to swing in up/down directions to a force to the locker and adjust the rack downward, thereby permitting easy adjustment of rack height.

Claims

1. A dish washer, comprising:

a chamber;

guide rails provided at opposite inside walls of the chamber;

a rack provided in the chamber and coupled to the guide rails;

a supporter provided on opposite sides of the rack, wherein the supporter includes a stopper that extends from the supporter towards a corresponding side of the rack, and wherein the supporter guides movement of the rack along the guide rail;

a locker rotatably coupled to an outside surface of the supporter, wherein the locker includes a seating part that supports the rack in a first position, and wherein the stopper supports the rack in a second position; and

a handle rotatably coupled to the supporter and the locker, wherein the handle rotates about a horizontal axis of rotation so as to apply a force to the locker that rotates the locker about a vertical axis of rotation to move the rack from the first position to the second position.

2. The dish washer as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of rollers provided on the outside surface of the supporter, wherein the plurality of rollers move along the guide rail so as to slide the rack into and out of the chamber.

3. The dish washer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the locker is rotatably coupled to the supporter by a hinge pin provided at an upper central portion of the supporter.

4. The dish washer as claimed in claim 3, wherein the seating part extends from a first end of the locker, wherein the locker further comprises a first sloped part provided at a second end thereof, and wherein the first sloped part provides for smooth rotation of the locker about the hinge pin.

5. The dish washer as claimed in claim 4, further comprising an elastic member positioned between the first sloped part of the locker and the supporter, wherein the elastic member returns the locker to an original position when an external force applied to the locker by the handle is removed.

6. The dish washer as claimed in claim 4, further comprising a second sloped part that extends along a lower portion of the seating part.

7. The dish washer as claimed in claim 6, further comprising an operating part provided at a lower portion of the handle, wherein the operating part of the handle contacts the second sloped part of the seating part to apply an external force to the locker.

8. The dish washer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the locker is rotatably coupled to the supporter by a hinge pin provided at an upper central portion of the supporter.

9. The dish washer as claimed in claim 8, wherein the seating part is provided at a first end of the locker, and wherein the locker further comprises a first sloped part at a second end thereof, and wherein the first sloped part provides for smooth rotation of the locker about the hinge pin.

10. The dishwasher as claimed in claim 9, further comprising an elastic member positioned between the first sloped part of the locker and the supporter, wherein the elastic member returns the locker to an original position when an external force applied to the locker by the handle is removed.

11. The dishwasher as claimed in claim 9, further comprising an operating part provided at a lower portion of the handle, wherein the handle contacts the second sloped surface of the seating part to apply an external force to the locker.

12. The dish washer as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a pair of vertical bars positioned at opposite sides of the rack, and a horizontal bar extending between the pair of vertical bars.

13. The dish washer as claimed in claim 12, wherein the supporter includes a plurality of guides provided at opposite ends thereof that engage the vertical bars and guide an up/down movement of the supporter along the vertical bars.

14. The dish washer as claimed in claim 13, wherein at least one of the vertical bars includes a holder provided at a lower end thereof that prevents the guide and the vertical bar from separating.

15. The dish washer as claimed in claim 12, wherein the locker is rotatably coupled to the supporter by a hinge pin provided at an upper central portion of the supporter.

16. The dish washer as claimed in claim 15, wherein the seating part is provided at a first end of the locker, and wherein the locker further comprises a first sloped part provided at a second end thereof, and wherein the first sloped part provides for smooth rotation of the locker.

17. The dishwasher as claimed in claim 16, further comprising an elastic member provided between the first sloped part of the locker and the supporter, wherein the elastic member returns the locker to an original position when an external force applied to the locker by the handle is removed.

18. The dish washer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first position is an upper position, and the second position is a lower position, wherein the rack is supported in the upper position by an engagement of the seating portion of the locker with a horizontal support bar of the rack, and the rack is supported in the lower position by an engagement of the stopper with a horizontal support bar of the rack.

19. The dish washer as claimed in claim 18, wherein the engagement between the seating portion and the horizontal support bar is released by a rotation of the handle about the horizontal axis of rotation.

20. The dish washer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the supporter includes a vertical guide slot, and the handle includes a hook that is inserted into the guide slot provided in the supporter so as to move along the guide slot when the handle is rotated.

21. A dishwasher, comprising:

a chamber;

a pair of guide rails provided at opposite side walls of the chamber;

a rack movably positioned within the chamber; and

a height adjustment assembly provided on at least one side of the rack, wherein the height adjustment assembly adjusts a vertical position of the rack within the chamber, the height adjustment assembly comprising;

a plate vertically aligned between the side wall of the chamber and a corresponding side of the rack;

a locker provided on a surface of the plate facing a corresponding side wall of the chamber and rotatably coupled to the plate, wherein the locker is configured to be releasably coupled to the plate; and

a lever rotatably coupled to the plate and the locker, wherein a rotation of the lever about a horizontal axis of rotation causes rotation of the locker about a vertical axis of rotation, and rotation of the locker about the vertical axis of rotation disengages the locker and plate coupled thereto from the rack.

22. The dish washer as claimed in claim 21, wherein the locker comprises:

a seating part provided at a first end thereof wherein the seating part supports the rack in a first position; and

a first sloped part provided at a second end thereof, wherein the sloped part provides for rotation of the locker about the second axis of rotation.

23. The dish washer as claimed in claim 22, wherein the seating part of the locker comprises a second sloped part extending along a lower portion thereof, wherein the second sloped part maintains partial contact with the plate as the locker rotates relative to the plate.

24. The dish washer as claimed in claim 23, wherein the lever comprises an operating part provided at a lower portion thereof wherein a portion of the operating part of the lever contacts the second sloped part of the seating part of the locker as the lever rotates about the first axis of rotation.

25. The dish washer as claimed in claim 22, wherein the plate comprises a stopper provided at a lower portion thereof, wherein the stopper supports a horizontal support bar of the rack so as to support the rack in the second position.

26. A dishwasher, comprising:

a chamber;

a pair of guide rails provided at opposite side walls of the chamber;

a rack movably positioned within the chamber; and

a height adjustment assembly provided on at least one side of the rack, wherein the height adjustment assembly adjusts a vertical position of the rack within the chamber, the height adjustment assembly comprising;

a plate vertically aligned between the side wall of the chamber and a corresponding side of the rack, wherein the plate includes a vertical guide slot;

a locker provided on a surface of the plate facing a corresponding side wall of the chamber and rotatably coupled to the plate, wherein the locker is configured to be releasably coupled to the plate; and

a lever rotatably coupled to the plate and the locker and including a hook, wherein a rotation of the lever about a horizontal axis of rotation causes a rotation of the locker about a vertical axis of rotation, and the rotation of the locker about the vertical axis of rotation disengages the locker and plate coupled thereto from the rack, wherein the hook is inserted into the vertical guide slot and moves within the vertical guide slot as the lever rotates relative to the plate so as to guide the rotation of the lever about the horizontal axis of rotation.

27. A dishwasher, comprising:

a chamber;

a pair of guide rails provided at opposite side walls of the chamber;

a rack movably positioned within the chamber; and

a height adjustment assembly provided on at least one side of the rack, wherein the height adjustment assembly adjusts a vertical position of the rack within the chamber, the height adjustment assembly comprising;

a plate vertically aligned between the side wall of the chamber and a corresponding side of the rack;

a locker provided on a surface of the plate facing a corresponding side wall of the chamber and rotatably coupled to the plate, wherein the locker is configured to be releasably coupled to the plate;

a lever rotatably coupled to the plate and the locker, wherein a rotation of the lever about a horizontal axis of rotation causes a rotation of the locker about a vertical axis of rotation, and the rotation of the locker about the vertical axis of rotation disengages the locker and plate coupled thereto from the rack; and

an elastic member positioned between the locker and the plate, wherein the elastic member returns the locker to an at rest position when the lever is returned to an at rest position from its rotation about the horizontal axis of rotation.