GB2039212A - Dishwasher basket - Google Patents

Abstract

A dishwasher basket comprises a frame provided with spaced cross members 5 which define a rack for articles such as plates 8 and also a support surface for articles such as cups 10, and support members 6 each having at least one free end and arranged in comb-like configuration so as to provide a support surface for further articles such as cups 10 and in the absence of such articles, for large plates 8. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Dishwasher basket The present invention relates to a basket for a domestic dishwashing machine for carrying articles to be washed such as plates, glasses, cups and the like.

It is known that the baskets for loading articles to be washed are normally provided with a large lower load surface for carrying plates and glasses, and in some cases, with at least one upper load surface, which is smaller than the lower load surface, for carrying cups and other articles which are of a smaller vertical dimension.

The upper load surface may be made of plastics material which is fixed to the actual basket assembly, or it may be formed of plastic-coated round metal wire (like the remainder of the basket) which is suitably shaped as to form a support surface. The upper load surface is normally rigidly secured to the basket, whereby a corresponding area of the lower load surface is limited as regards the height of articles which can be disposed thereon. In other words, the lower load surface may carry articles of substantial vertical dimensions (for example plates which are loaded in the basket in a transverse position) only where the lower load surface does not have the upper load surface thereabove.Such a limitation is obviously undesirable since articles loaded into dishwashers vary greatly and it not infrequently happens that the machine is to be loaded with, for example, more plates and fewer cups than the standard number for which the basket was designed.

Attempts have been made to overcome this disadvantage by making the upper load surface of the basket with movable or removable members, but in such a case the basket is complicated to produce and loading the dishwasher is a rather laborious operation. In addition, the versatility of the basket as regards loading crockery and utensils of various shapes and sizes is always relatively limited because the movable part of the upper load surface permits a variation therein only at discrete levels.

According to the present invention, there is provided a basket for a dishwasher comprising: a peripheral support frame provided with a plurality of spaced cross members which are arranged to define a rack for articles such as plates to be washed; and a plurality of support members fixed to the frame and each having at least one free end, the support members being disposed in mutually spaced, side-byside relation to form a comb-like configuration defining a support surface, spaced above the rack, for articles such as cups, the support members being arranged so that, in use, the upper edges of plates placed in the rack can be accommodated by the gaps between adjacent ones of the support members.

The invention will be further described by way of non-limiting example with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic front view of a preferred embodiment of basket according to the invention, loaded with some crockery to be washed (shown in broken line); and Figure 2 shows a view in cross-section taken along line ll-ll of the basket of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawing, the basket for a dishwasher, in accordance with the invention, primarily comprises a peripheral support frame 3 which is made for example of plastic-coated metal wire or rod and which is provided at the sides and at the base with strut members 4 which act as support and stiffening members. In association with the base, the basket is provided with a plurality of cross members 5 which are longitudinally spaced and which are parallel to each other and which are arranged to define a rack for articles such as plates, saucers, etc, to be washed. Preferably, the cross members 5 are arranged in two adjacent rows and are substantially in the shape of an inverted M.In this way each row of cross members 5 not only permits the basket to be loaded with plates in almost vertical positions, but it also forms a support surface for smaller articles such as cups 10, glasses 11 and saucers 12.

Above the lower rack, along at least one of the opposite sides of the basket between which extend the cross members 5, a plurality of support members 6 are fixed to the frame 3 at one of their ends, while the opposite end is free. The support members 6 may be made of plastic-coated round metal wire and extend transversely over a certain distance inwardly of the basket, the support members being spaced from and substantially parallel to each other (similarly to the cross members 5) so as to form at least one comb-like configuration. As shown, each support member 6 is disposed vertically above a respective one of the support members 5.

In the construction shown in Figure 1, the basket is provided with two such comb-like configurations, which are disposed on opposite sides and which form respective upper support surfaces for articles which are of a small dimension in a vertical direction. As stated hereinbefore, the lower rack of the basket, provided by the members 5, is arranged to carry in particular plates whose diameter may be the same as, larger than or smaller than a standardised middle value, such plates being indicated respectively at 7, 8 and 9. In orderto make the optimum use of the limited space available within a dishwasher, the support members 6 are secured to the frame 3 at such a height, and are inclined upwardly at such an angle, that they are substantially tangential to the plates 7 which are of medium diameter.This makes it possible for articles (for example cups 10) to be disposed on the upper support surface even when the rack underneath is occupied by plates which are of a diameter not greater than the above-mentioned medium diameter. Whenever the rack is to be loaded with plates 8 which are of larger diameter, it is not possible to make similar use of the upper support surface but, in contrast to the known constructions in the art, the upper support surface does not prevent the above-mentioned plates 8 from being placed on the whole of the lower rack surface. In fact, the larger-diameter plates 8 can be inserted between adjacent support members 6, by virtue of the arrangement and comb-like configuration thereof.It will be noted from the foregoing description that the illustrated basket is of simple construction and enjoys functional versatility, and can be loaded with a substantial quantity of different crockery and utensils, virtually without any limitation in respect of shape and sizes.

For example, the support members 6 can also be used for supporting goblet-type glasses as indicated at 13 and the arrangement of the various utensils in the basket may vary without limitation and without dead spaces, as can be clearly seen from Figure 2.

Preferably, the support members 6 are secured to the frame 3 at points which are disposed in the same vertical planes as associated cross members 5, and are shaped substantially in the form of a S-configuration in the vertical support planes formed thereby. Such a configuration provides that deep plates and flat plates of the most widely varying shapes may be inserted into the space between adjacent members 6, ensuring stability of the plates during operation of the dishwasher and limiting the dangers of breakage due to the plates being shaken.

Obviously, the above-described dishwasher basket may be modified according to circumstances. For example, one or more comb-like configurations in respect of the upper support load surface may be disposed along an internal section of the basket, rather than at the sides, with simple variations in the support frame 3.

Claims (6)

1. Abasketfora dishwasher comprising: a peripheral support frame provided with a plurality of spaced cross-members which are arranged to define a rack for articles such as plates to be washed; and a plurality of support members fixed to the frame and each having at least one free end, the support members being disposed in mutually spaced, side-byside relation to form a comb-like configuration defining a support surface, spaced above the rack, for articles such as cups, the support members being arranged so that, in use, the upper edges of plates placed in the rack can be accommodated by the gaps between adjacent ones of the support members.

2. A basket according to Claim 1 wherein the support members are fixed to the frame along at least one of a pair of opposite sides of the basket between which the cross-members extend and project with their free ends transversely inwardly of the basket.

3. A basket according to Claim 1 wherein the cross members are arranged to hold plates of a diameter which is equal to, greater than and smaller than a medium value, the support members extending with respect to the cross members at a height and at an inclination upwardly such that they will be disposed tangentially with respect to plates of medium diameter.

4. A basket according to any one of Claims 1 to 3 wherein the support members are at least approximately S-shaped when viewed from the side.

5. A basket substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

6. A dishwasher incorporating a basket accord ing to any one of the preceding claims.