WO2009123530A1

WO2009123530A1 - Dishwasher

Info

Publication number: WO2009123530A1
Application number: PCT/SE2009/000159
Authority: WO
Inventors: Axel NORDENSTRÖM; Pontus Eriksson; Katja Grufberg
Original assignee: Electrolux Home Products Corporation N.V.
Priority date: 2008-04-01
Filing date: 2009-03-26
Publication date: 2009-10-08

Abstract

The present invention relates to a dishwasher (1) comprising a casing (3), an upper slide-out holder (7) for objects to be washed provided in a washing chamber (5) and a front door (10), wherein the front door (10) comprises an upper front portion (11) and a lower front portion (13). The lower front portion (13) is pivotally connected to the casing (3), and the upper front portion (11) is configured to selectively operate in a first mode and a second mode. In the first mode, the upper front portion (11) is disconnected from the lower front portion (13) and connected to the upper slide-out holder (7) to form a slide-out unit (15). In the second mode, the upper front portion (11) is connected to the lower front portion (13) and disconnected from the upper slide-out holder (7) to form an integrated front door (17).

Description

DISHWASHER

Technical field of the invention and background art The present invention relates to a dishwasher. Dishwashers arranged with a casing, a washing chamber provided inside the casing and a front door are generally well known in the art. An example of a known design of a dishwasher has one washing chamber including an upper and a lower slide-out holder, typically a basket, for objects to be washed, and a front door pivotally fixed to the lower part of the casing.

Summary of the invention

One object of the present invention is to provide a more flexible opening arrangement of a dishwasher of the above-mentioned type.

This object is achieved by a dishwasher having the features defined in the appended claim 1. Preferred embodiments thereof are defined in the dependent claims 2-11.

Thus, the invention is based on the insight that it would be advantageous to have separate and easy access to the upper holder provided in the washing chamber, without however having a corresponding separate front door arranged on the upper part of the dishwasher casing. According to the invention, a conventional front door has been modified so as to have an upper front portion arranged to be either a part of an upper slide- out unit together with said upper holder, thereby enabling separate access to the upper holder, or an integrated part of the front door which then can be opened in a conventional way to give access to the entire washing chamber and the holders provided therein.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a dishwasher comprising a casing, a washing chamber arranged inside the casing, an upper slide-out holder for objects to be washed and a front door, wherein the front door comprises an upper front portion and a lower front portion. The lower front portion is pivotally connected to the casing and the upper front portion configured to selectively operate in a first mode or a second mode. In the first mode, the upper front portion is disconnected from the lower front portion and connected to the upper slide-out holder to form a slide-out unit that can be slide out independently of said lower front portion. In the second mode the upper front portion is connected to the lower front portion and disconnected from the upper slide-out holder to form an integrated front door that can be opened in a conventional way. An advantage with this design is that the invention is easily applicable on any conventional dishwasher arranged with a front door pivotally connected to the casing. The only adjustment needed, except for the new design of the front door, is to supplement the upper slide-out holder with suitable connection means for the selective connection to the upper front portion of the front door.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention the dishwasher includes only one single washing chamber. Also, the upper slide-out holder for objects to be washed preferably is a basket. This means that the design of the inner parts of the dishwasher, for example spray arms etc., can be basically the same as that for a conventional dishwasher.

According to another embodiment of the invention a grip for opening and closing said dishwasher is arranged on the upper front portion and said grip is controlling a mechanical connection mechanism for said connection and disconnection of the upper front portion. According to another embodiment of the invention a connection mechanism for connection and disconnection of the upper front portion is electrically controlled, a controlling switch being provided on the dishwasher.

According to another embodiment of the invention a default mode of the upper front portion is said first mode. This means that the upper holder is accessible quickly and easily. Further, when an electrically controlled connection mechanism is used, it only needs electrical activation energy when in the second mode of the upper front portion.

According to another embodiment of the invention a lower part of said upper front portion partly overlaps an upper part of said lower front portion when said upper and lower front portions are in engagement with each other. This is advantageous in the sealing of said front portions and for the strength, stability and rigidity of the interconnected integrated front door.

According to another embodiment of the invention said lower and upper parts are interlocked in the plane of the integrated front door when said upper and lower front portions are in engagement with each other. The interlocking parts are designed to provide a geometrical or form fit, locking the upper and lower front portions in two perpendicular directions. Together with an overlapping engagement, this will give the integrated front door good strength, rigidity and stability.

According to another embodiment of the invention the lower front member includes protruding parts enclosing the upper front member on two opposite sides. This is advantageous for the strength, stability and rigidity of the integrated front door. Furthermore, a control panel can be arranged on said protruding part of the lower front portion.

According to another embodiment of the invention, wherein said holder is a basket, the dishwasher further comprises a protective sheet means for the basket bottom. Said protective sheet means is arranged so as to be extendable together with said holder in said first mode to provide an under laying drip protection for the slid-out portion of said holder. The protective sheet means can be made of a sheet of a flexible material, like a polymeric material, a fabric, a metallic material etc. According to another embodiment of the invention said protective sheet means has one end connected to said upper front portion and an opposite end movably guided by the inner side of said lower front portion. Means are provided for retracting said protective sheet means when said holder is pushed back into the washing chamber in said first mode.

Brief description of the drawings

The invention will now be disclosed in more detail via preferred embodiments with reference to the drawings in which,

Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a dishwasher according to the invention when partly opened,

Fig. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the dishwasher of Fig. 1 when more fully opened,

Fig. 3 is a schematic detail side view of an exemplary grip controlled mechanical connection mechanism for the upper front portion, illustrating said first mode,

Fig. 4 is a view as that of Fig. 3 illustrating said second mode, Fig. 5 is a schematic perspective view of parts of a connection mechanism of Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 provided in the upper and lower front portions of the front door, when the upper front portion is in said first mode and partially slid-out,

Fig. 6 is a schematic perspective view of the parts of the connection mechanism of Fig. 5, when the upper front portion is in said second mode, Fig. 7 is a schematic sectional top plane view of parts of the connection mechanism of Fig. 4 provided in the upper front portion in the second mode and the upper slide-out basket,

Fig. 8 is a schematic sectional top plane view of the parts of the connection mechanism of Fig. 7, when the upper front portion is in the first mode,

Fig. 9a is a schematic partial perspective view of a front door with a front cover removed and an upper holder of a further embodiment of a dishwasher according to the invention, illustrating another exemplary connection mechanism which is electrically operated, the connection mechanism being in said first mode,

Fig. 9b is a schematic sectional side view of the solenoid switch of Fig. 9a, when the upper front portion is in said first mode,

Fig. 10a is a view as that of Fig. 9a, illustrating the connection mechanism in said second mode,

Fig. 10b is a schematic sectional side view of the solenoid switch of Fig. 10a, when the upper front portion is in said second mode,

Fig. 11 is a schematic view of an upper front portion and a lower front portion of a front door of an embodiment of a dishwasher according to the invention wherein the upper and lower front portions are designed to provide a geometrical or form fit for locking the upper and lower front portions in the plane of the front door,

Fig. 12 is a schematic view of the front door in Fig. 11 when said upper and lower front portions are in engagement with each other, Fig. 13 is a schematic perspective view of a front door of further an embodiment of a dishwasher according to the invention, comprising a protective sheet means to provide an under laying drip protection for the slid- out portion of said holder, when said upper front portion is in said first mode, and Fig. 14 is a schematic perspective view of the front door of Fig. 13 with said upper front portion in said second mode.

Detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention

Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 are schematic perspective views of an embodiment of a dishwasher 1 according to the invention. The dishwasher 1 includes a casing 3, a washing chamber 5 within the casing 3, an upper and a lower slide-out washing basket 7, 9 for objects to be washed and a front door 10. The front door 10 includes an upper front portion 11 and a lower front portion 13. The lower front portion 13 is at its base pivotally connected to the casing 3 in a conventional way. The upper front portion 11 can operate in two modes, a first mode as a part of an upper slide-out unit 15 as shown in Fig. 1 , and a second mode as a part of an integrated front door 17 as shown in Fig. 2. Although the design of a dishwasher onto which the present invention can be applied can vary, the invention is illustrated in connection with a dishwasher 1 being a single chamber dishwasher having a slightly modified upper washing basket 7 and a conventional lower washing basket 9 as well as conventional spray arms (not shown) for directing a washing liquid onto objects placed within the washing chamber 5.

Thus, Fig. 1 shows a dishwasher 1 wherein the upper front portion 11 of the front door 10 operates in said first mode, i.e. it is connected to the upper slide-out washing basket 7, to form a slide-out unit 15, while being disconnected from the lower front portion 13. The slide-out unit 15 is shown in an drawn-out position in Fig. 1.

Fig. 2 shows said dishwasher 1 , wherein the upper front portion 11 of the front door 10 operates in said second mode, i.e. it is connected to the lower front portion 13 of the front door 10 and disconnected from the upper washing basket 7. The interconnected upper and lower front portions 11 , 13 forms an integrated front door 17 which can be pivotally opened in a conventional way, as illustrated in Fig. 2.

The upper front portion 11 is provided with a handle 23 for a user to pull or push for operation of the slide-out unit 15 in the first mode and open and close the integrated front door 17 in the second mode.

In one embodiment of the invention the dishwasher 1 also includes a grip 30 provided on the upper front portion 11 of the front door 10, which grip 30 is linked to a mechanical connection mechanism for the upper front portion 11. The connection mechanism is arranged selectively to connect and disconnect the upper front portion 11 in correspondence to said first mode and said second mode. An exemplary connection mechanism will now be described with reference to Fig. 3-4 and Fig. 7-8. As shown in Fig. 2 the upper washing basket 7 or its front is provided with two locking knobs 32 arranged to fit into corresponding cavities 34 in the rear side of the upper front portion 11 of the front door 10, for locking the upper washing basket 7 to the upper front portion 11. Each locking knob 32 has a vertically extending through-hole 36 which is adapted for locking the upper washing basket 7 to the upper front portion 11 in said first mode by engagement with a corresponding vertically movable arranged locking rod 38 after the two knobs 32 have been brought into the corresponding cavities 34, as is illustrated in Fig. 7 and Fig. 8. The locking engagement with locking rod 38 is illustrated in Fig. 3.

Fig. 3 is a schematic side view, partly in section, of a mechanical connection mechanism for the upper front portion 11 while in said first mode. In this mode, the upper end 39 of each locking rod 38 is engaged with hole 36 of the corresponding knob 32 in an upper end position for said rod. The locking rod 38 is angled and has a lower part that is spring loaded via a spring 40, the spring 40 forcing the rod 38 upwards. The vertical movement of the locking rod 38 can be controlled by a grip 30 via a linkage system 41 , 42, 43 as is shown in more detail in Fig. 5 and Fig. 6. When locking rod 38 is moved to its lower end position by means of said linkage system, a movement counteracted by spring 40, it will be in locking engagement with lower front portion 13. In this position, the lower end 47 of rod 38 has entered a corresponding locking hole 48 in the lower front portion 13 of the front door 10, thereby connecting the lower and upper portions 11,13 of the front door 10 to each other. The upper washing basket 7 is then disconnected as locking rod 38 has moved out from the position locking the upper washing basket 7 to the upper front portion 11 of the front door 10. This second mode is illustrated in Fig. 4.

In each cavity 34 of the upper front portion 11 for receipt of a locking knob 32, a movable spring-loaded block 46 is arranged. The dimensions of block 46 correspond to those of the corresponding cavity 34, so that the block easily can be moved in the direction of the cavity, that is perpendicular to the plane of upper front portion 11, either inwards by a corresponding knob 32 or outwards by a spring 44. In the first mode, as shown in Fig. 3 and Fig. 8, each block 46 has been pushed by knob 32 further into the corresponding cavity 34, whereby the corresponding locking rod 38, pushed by spring 40, will be in its upper end position with its upper end 39 inside hole 36 of knob 32, thereby locking the upper front portion 11 to the upper washing basket 7. To bring the upper front portion 11 in the second mode, grip 30 is pulled, whereby locking rod 38 is pushed into its lower end position, as shown in Fig. 4. The front door 10 can now be opened as an integrated front door 17, as shown in Fig. 2. As will be understood, each knob 32 has now left its cavity 34 as shown in Fig. 4 and Fig. 7. Simultaneously corresponding block 46 is forced outwards by spring 44 into a position where it prevents the corresponding upper end of the locking rod 38, preloaded by the spring 40, to move back to its upper end position. When the integrated front door 17 is closed, each knob 32 will push its block 46 further into the cavity 34 again, so that upper front portion 11 will be brought into in the first mode as show in Fig. 3 and Fig. 8.

In order to use only the upper slide-out unit 15, the user pulls the handle 23 arranged on the outer surface of the upper front portion 11 , while leaving the grip 30 in its original position. This is the default (first) mode of the connection mechanism wherein the upper slide-out unit 15 is easy to pull out and load. As indicated above, to open the entire front door 10, the user pulls grip 30 and pivots the integrated front door 17 in the same way as a conventional front door. As will be understood, once the upper front portion 11 has been connected to the lower front portion 13 to form an integrated front door 17, the user can release grip 30 without any affect on the connection between the two front portions. To close the dishwasher 1 or to return to the default or first mode, the user simply pushes the integrated front door 17 back into its closed position in engagement with casing 3.

Fig. 5 and Fig. 6 are schematic perspective views of parts of a grip controlled connection mechanism as shown in Fig. 3 and Fig. 4, wherein the first mode is shown in Figure 5 and the second mode in Figure 6. To be stable and rigid, said connection mechanism comprises two parallel locking rods 38. The locking rods 38 are controlled by grip 30 via a linkage system 41 , 42, 43 comprising a plate 41 rigidly coupled to grip 30, two arms 42 and a shaft 43. Each arm 42 is articulately coupled at one end to a free corner end of plate 41 and at the other end to shaft 43, which connects the two rods 38 to each other. As will be understood, pivoting grip 30 outwards/upwards will cause shaft 43 to be forced downwards, thereby also forcing rods 38 downwards.

In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 5 and Fig. 6, rods 38 are guided in guides 50 being part of a reinforced beam 52 provided in upper front portion 11. A corresponding reinforced beam 54 is provided in the lower front portion 13. Beam 54 has two protrusions 56 wherein said holes 48 for the lower rod ends 47 are provided. Beam 52 has two corresponding cavities 58 for receiving said protrusions 56 when said second mode is in operation.

As will be understood, the cooperation between protrusions 56 and cavities 58 of said beams 52, 54 means an overlapping between a lower end part of upper front portion 11 and an upper end part of lower front portion 13, combined with a geometrical or form fit due to corresponding dimensions of protrusions 56 and cavities 58. This is further illustrated in Fig. 11 and Fig. 12.

Thus, Fig. 11 and Fig. 12 are schematic perspective views of a front door 10 designed according to an embodiment of the invention. As should be readily understood, the upper and lower front portions 11 , 13 are designed to give an overlapping engagement with a geometrical or form fit when the front portions 11 , 13 are brought together to form an integrated front door 17. Thereby the upper front portion 11 and the lower front portion 13 are interlocked in the plane of the integrated front door 17 when engaged with each other. As can be understood, the integrated front door 17 can also be designed by a lower front door 13 including protruding parts enclosing the upper front portion 11 on two or more opposite sides. The upper front portion 11 can even be enclosed by the lower front portion 13 on four opposite sides, as being a cut out of the front door.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention the connection mechanism of the upper front portion 11 is electrically controlled, as illustrated in Figure 9a-b and Fig. 10a-b. Fig. 9a and Fig. 10a are schematic perspective views of a front door 10 with a front cover removed, exposing an electrically controlled connection mechanism. This connection mechanism comprises two hooks 90 (generally corresponding to rods 38 of embodiments of Fig. 3-8), which are vertically movably arranged in the upper front portion 11 by means of two tubular guides 92 fixed to the lower part of the upper front portion 11. Two control solenoids 94 are correspondingly arranged on the upper part of the lower front portion 13. A core bar 96 is arranged inside each solenoid 94. The lower part of each hook 90 is located inside a corresponding hole of guide 92, so that the hook 90 is movable in vertical direction. Each hook 90 has an upper rod-shaped hook end 91 for controlled locking cooperation with a basket knob 32 within a corresponding cavity, defined by a cavity casing 98, generally in the same way as in the embodiments of Fig. 3-8. However, in this embodiment each hook end 91 can enter the corresponding cavity from above through an opening on the top of the cavity casing 98. Each hook 90 can be forced upwards out of engagement with its corresponding cavity by means of its corresponding control solenoid 94, that is, by means of a pushing action of solenoid core bar 96, when the solenoid 94 is suitable energized. At the same time, each solenoid core bar 96 enters the corresponding guide 92, thereby locking the upper and lower front portions 11 , 13 to each other.

The switching between the two modes of the upper front portion 11 is controlled via a control switch suitable arranged on the dishwasher 1. Said control switch electrically connect the solenoids 94 to a current supply when the upper front portion 11 is connected to the lower front portion.

In said first mode of the upper front portion 11 , the hooks 90 are hooked in the holes 36 of the knobs 32 within the cavity casing 98, as illustrated in Fig 9a, and the solenoids 94 are in a resting, not electrically driven state, as illustrated in Fig. 9b. As the control switch is operated, in order to transfer the upper front portion 11 into said second mode, the solenoids 94 are supplied with a current whereby each core bar 96, originally located inside its solenoid 94, is moved upwards as illustrated in Fig. 10b. Each core bar 96 enters the corresponding hole inside guide 92 and thereby locks the upper front portion 11 to the lower front portion 13. Simultaneously each hook 90 leaves the hole 36 of the corresponding basket knob 32 and thereby disconnects the washing basket 7 from the upper front portion 11. When the control switch is turned off by the user, the current to the solenoids 94 switches off and the core bars 96 and the hooks 94 move down/back to their original position by their own weight, again locking the washing basket 7 to the upper front portion 11 , but disconnecting the lower front portion 13 from the upper front portion 11. To ensure a reliable downwards movement of the hooks 94 this can also be enhanced by, for example, a spring arrangement.

Another preferred embodiment of the dishwasher according to the invention is illustrated in Fig. 13 and Fig. 14, showing a front door 10 from the inside in said two modes. Said dishwasher further comprises a protective sheet means 60, two opposite tubular side edges 62 of said protective sheet means 60, two elastic strips 64, fastening means 66 of said elastic strips 64, guiding rolls 68, 70, 72 arranged on the inner side of said lower front portion 13 and a spray arm 76. The protective sheet means 60 of this embodiment is made of silicone. The protective sheet means 60 is arranged to provide an under laying drip protection for the slid-out portion of said basket when the upper front portion 11 operates in said first mode. Fig. 13 illustrates said slide- out unit 15 in an drawn out position with the sheet means 60 extended below said basket 7, and Fig. 14 illustrates the position of said sheet means 60 in a retracted position. The design of the protective sheet means 60 will now be described with reference to both Fig. 13 and Fig. 14. The protective sheet means 60 has an upper end connected to the lower part of the upper front portion 11 and an opposite free lower end. The side edges 62 of the protective sheet 60 are tubular to fit said elastic strips. At the inner side of said lower front portion 13 three guiding rolls 68, 70, 72 are arranged to guide the protective sheet means 60 and the elastic strips 64 along the inner side of said lower front portion 13. Each elastic strip 64 is by one end connected to the upper front portion 11 , extending inside the tubular side edge 62 of the protective sheet means 60, guided by the guiding rolls 68, 70, 72 on the inner side of the lower front portion 13 and at its other end connected by fastening means 66 to the casing 3 of dishwasher 1.

When a user pulls out the slide-out unit 15, said elastic strips 64 are stretched and the sheet means 60, which is connected to the upper front portion 11 , moves into an position below said basket 7. During the stretching of the elastic strips 62, there is a gliding motion between the inside of the tubular side edges 62 and the elastic strips 62. The stretching of elastic strips implies a retracting force which must be overcome by the user. The retracting force of the stretched elastic strips 64 is not enough to alone retract the slide- out unit 15. In Fig. 13 the protective sheet means 60 has moved from a position on the inner side of the lower front portion 13 to a position under said basket 7 to form an underlaying drip protection, collecting drips originating from the objects to be washed. The two opposite side edges 62 of the protective sheet 60 are raised to prevent said drip from flow or drip out of the sheet means 60, over anyone of said side edges 62. The protective sheet means 60 is arranged with a slope towards the chamber 5 to provide a drip flow into the chamber 5.

When the user pushes the slide-out unit 15 back to close the dishwasher 1 , the lower end 74 of the protective sheet means 60 is guided along the inner side of the lower front portion 13 and partly into the washing chamber 5 to a position where the lower end 74 is just above the bottom of the washing chamber and safely below a conventional spray arm 76 provided in said conventional dishwasher 1. The retracting elastic force of the elastic strips reduces the force needed for closing the dishwasher 1. The surface of the sheet means 60 which faces the washing chamber 5 in the closed dishwasher 1 is cleaned during the ordinary washing operation of said dishwasher 1. The lower front portion 13 is further provided with a spray means (not shown) for cleansing of the hidden surface of the protective sheet means 60 which surface is not exposed of the ordinary washing operation. Cleansing of the hidden surface of said protective sheet means 60 is maintained during the washing operation of said dishwasher 1.

A control panel (not shown) can preferably be placed on the upper front portion, electrically supplied as connected to the lower front portion via electrical contacts. As can be understood the control panel can also be provided with batteries to provide a display and memory function as the upper front portion is disconnected from the lower front portion, as in said first mode. The control panel can also be a wireless control panel preferably arranged on an upper part of the front.

Although described with reference to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it should be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that various changes and/or modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the accompanying claims. In general, the invention is only intended to be limited to the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. A dishwasher (1) comprising a casing (3), an upper slide-out holder (7) for objects to be washed provided in a washing chamber (5) and a front door (10), wherein the front door (10) comprises an upper front portion (11) and a lower front portion (13), the lower front portion (13) being pivotally connected to the casing (3), and the upper front portion (11) being configured to selectively operate in a first mode and a second mode, wherein in the first mode, the upper front portion (11 ) is disconnected from the lower front portion (13) and connected to the upper slide-out holder (7) to form a slide-out unit (15), and in the second mode, the upper front portion (11) is connected to the lower front portion (13) and disconnected from the upper slide-out holder (7) to form an integrated front door (17).

2. A dishwasher (1) according to claim 1 , wherein the dishwasher (1) includes one single washing chamber (5).

3. A dishwasher (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the upper holder (7) is a basket.

4. A dishwasher (1) according to any one of the proceeding claims, wherein a grip (30) for opening and closing said dishwasher (1) is arranged on the upper front portion (11), said grip (30) controlling a mechanical connection mechanism for said connection and disconnection of the upper front portion (11).

5. A dishwasher (1) according to any one of the proceeding claims, comprising an electrically controlled connection mechanism for said connection and disconnection of the upper front portion (11), a controlling switch being provided on said dishwasher (1).

6. A dishwasher (1) according to any one of the proceeding claims, wherein a default mode for the upper front portion (11 ) is said first mode.

7. A dishwasher (1) according to any one of the proceeding claims, wherein a lower part of said upper front portion (11) partly overlaps an upper part of said lower front portion (13) when said upper and lower front portions (11,13) are in engagement with each other.

8. A dishwasher (1) according to claim 7, wherein said lower and upper parts are interlocked in the plane of the integrated front door (17) when said upper and lower front portions (11,13) are in engagement with each other.

9. A dishwasher (1 ) according to any one of the proceeding claims, wherein the lower front portion (13) includes protruding parts enclosing the upper front portion (11) on two opposite sides.

10. A dishwasher (1) according to any one of the proceeding claims, wherein said holder (7) is a basket, further comprising a protective sheet means (60) for the basket bottom, said protective sheet means (60) being arranged so as to be extendable together with said holder (7) in said first mode to provide an under laying drip protection for the slid-out portion of said holder (7).

11. A dishwasher (1) according to claim 10, wherein said protective sheet means (60) has one end connected to said upper front portion (11) and an opposite end movably guided by the inner side of said lower front portion (13), means being provided for retracting said protective sheet means (60) when said holder (7) is pushed back into the washing chamber (5) in said first mode.