Cutlery basket for a dishwasher and dishwasher

• US 8,196,593 B2
• Filed: 11/05/2007
• Issued: 06/12/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BSH Hausgeraete GmbH (Robert Bosch GmbH)
• Original Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgerã¤Te GmbH (Robert Bosch GmbH)
• Inventors: Schessl, Bernd, Schütz, Rainer
• Primary Examiner(s): Stinson, Frankie L
• Application Number:
  US12/515,311
• Publication Number:
  US 20100078048A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,681 Days
• Field of Search: 134/135, 211/41.3
• US Class Current: 134/135
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/502 Cutlery baskets
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/503 with foldable parts
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/504 Arrangements for changing the height of racks

Abstract

A dishwasher including at least one cutlery basket for accommodating cutlery items in a horizontal position, wherein the at least one cutlery basket is adjustable at least in sections, and wherein the at least one cutlery basket includes a first subsection having an adjustable clearance height, and a second subsection having an adjustable clearance height.

Claims

1. A dishwasher comprising:

at least one cutlery basket for accommodating cutlery items in a horizontal position,

wherein the at least one cutlery basket is adjustable at least in sections, and

wherein the at least one cutlery basket includes;

a first subsection having an adjustable clearance height, and

a second subsection having an adjustable clearance height,

wherein a depth of each subsection is configured to range from a maximum depth to a minimum depth,

wherein at least a first portion of each subsection is adjustable in and between the minimum and maximum depths, and a second portion of each subsection is maintained at the maximum depth regardless of the adjustable position of the subsection, and

wherein each of the first and second subsections is positionable in a first position when a base portion is generally horizontal, thereby defining a minimum clearance below the base portion, and a second position in which each subsection is pivoted to form an acute angle with respect to horizontal, thereby defining an increased clearance, relative to the first position, below the base portion.

2. The dishwasher as claimed in claim 1, wherein the adjustable clearance height of the first subsection is adjustable independently of the adjustable clearance height of the second subsection.

3. The dishwasher as claimed in claim 1, wherein the adjustable clearance height of each of the first subsection and the second subsection is adjustable by swiveling the first subsection and the second subsection.

4. The dishwasher as claimed in claim 1, wherein an overall clearance height of the at least one cutlery basket is adjustable.

5. The dishwasher as claimed in claim 1, comprising:

a swivel joint that swivelably connects the first subsection to the second subsection.

6. The dishwasher as claimed in claim 5, wherein the swivel joint is arranged in a base section of the cutlery basket.

7. The dishwasher as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first subsection is mirror-symmetrical with respect to the second subsection.

8. The cutlery basket for a dishwasher as claimed in claim 1.

9. The dishwasher as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a swivel joint about which each subsection is pivotable, the maximum depth being defined between the swivel joint and a top edge of the respective subsection.

10. The dishwasher as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a common swivel joint, wherein each of the first and second subsections being pivotably connected to the common swivel joint.

11. A dishwasher comprising:

at least one cutlery basket for accommodating cutlery items in a horizontal position,

wherein the at least one cutlery basket is adjustable at least in sections, and

wherein the at least one cutlery basket includes;

a first subsection having an adjustable clearance height, and

a second subsection having an adjustable clearance height,

wherein a depth of each subsection is configured to range from a maximum depth to a minimum depth,

wherein at least a first portion of each subsection is adjustable in and between the minimum and maximum depths, and a second portion of each subsection is maintained at the maximum depth regardless of the adjustable position of the subsection, wherein one of;

the first subsection and the second subsection are independently swivelable about the swivel joint with respect to each other; and

the first subsection and the second subsection are jointly swivelable about the swivel joint.

12. The dishwasher as claimed in claim 11, comprising:

at least a second swivel joint arranged in one of a first side edge and a second side edge of the at least one cutlery basket,

wherein the first subsection and the second subsection are jointly swivelable about the second swivel joint.

13. The dishwasher as claimed in claim 12, wherein the first subsection and the second subsection are swivelable about the second swivel joint independently relative to the swiveling of the first subsection and the second subsection about the swivel joint.

14. A dishwasher comprising:

at least one cutlery basket for accommodating cutlery items in a horizontal position,

wherein the at least one cutlery basket is adjustable at least in sections, and

wherein the at least one cutlery basket includes;

a first subsection having an adjustable clearance height, and a second subsection having an adjustable clearance height,

wherein the at least one cutlery basket includes a flat insert,

wherein the flat insert includes;

a frame; and

at least two inserts that are swivelable relative to each other and removable from the frame,

wherein the two inserts form the first subsection and the second subsection of a base section of the at least one cutlery basket.

15. The dishwasher as claimed in claim 14, wherein one of the at least two inserts is a wide-meshed strainer insert.

16. The dishwasher as claimed in claim 14, wherein each of the at least two inserts has a wedge-shaped cross-section.

17. The dishwasher as claimed in claim 14, wherein each of the first subsection and the second subsection includes means for fixing each of the first subsection and the second subsection in a predefined operating position.

18. The dishwasher as claimed in claim 14, comprising:

means for fixing each of the first subsection and the second subsection in a predefined operating position.

19. The dishwasher as claimed in claim 14, comprising:

a fixing device that secures each of the first subsection and the second subsection in a predefined operating position.

20. The dishwasher as claimed in claim 19, wherein the fixing device prevents one of the first subsection and the second subsection from being lowered beyond a certain angle.

21. The dishwasher as claimed in claim 19, wherein the fixing device includes a latching hook configured to engage the frame.

22. The dishwasher as claimed in claim 19, wherein the fixing device includes:

a profile wire that is tiltable relative to the at least two inserts; and

guiding means on the at least two inserts,

wherein the frame supports the profile wire in the predefined operating position of the cutlery basket.

23. The dishwasher as claimed in claim 19, wherein the fixing device secures each of the first subsection and the second subsection in one of a plurality of predefined operating positions,

wherein the fixing device includes:

a profile wire that is tiltable relative to the at least two inserts; and

a guide on the at least two inserts that guides the profile wire,

wherein the frame supports the profile wire in one of the plurality of predefined operating positions of the cutlery basket.

24. A dishwasher comprising:

at least one cutlery basket for accommodating cutlery items in a horizontal position,

wherein the at least one cutlery basket is adjustable, and

wherein a depth of said basket is configured to range from a maximum depth to a minimum depth,

wherein at least a first portion of said basket is adjustable in and between the minimum and maximum depths, and a second portion is maintained at the maximum depth regardless of the adjustable position of the basket,

wherein the basket is positionable in a first position when a base portion is generally horizontal, thereby defining a minimum clearance below the base portion, and a second position in which the basket is pivoted to form an acute angle with respect to horizontal, thereby defining an increased clearance, relative to the first position, below the base portion.

25. The dishwasher as claimed in claim 24, further comprising a swivel joint about which the basket is pivotable, the maximum depth being defined between the swivel joint and a top edge of the basket.

26. A dishwasher comprising:

at least one cutlery basket for accommodating cutlery items in a horizontal position,

wherein the at least one cutlery basket is adjustable, and

wherein a depth of said basket is configured to range from a maximum depth to a minimum depth,

wherein at least a first portion of said basket is adjustable in and between the minimum and maximum depths, and a second portion is maintained at the maximum depth regardless of the adjustable position of the basket, wherein the basket is movable to a position in which its base portion is provided at an angle relative to horizontal, such that the cutlery items are angled towards a center of the dishwasher.