(19)
(11) EP 1 106 134 B1

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION

(45) Mention of the grant of the patent:
04.07.2007 Bulletin 2007/27

(21) Application number: 00123839.3

(22) Date of filing: 02.11.2000
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC): 
A47L 15/50(2006.01)

(54)

Crockery basket for dishwashers

Geschirrkorb für eine Geschirrspülmaschine

Panier à vaisselle pour lave-vaisselle


(84) Designated Contracting States:
DE ES FR GB IT SE

(30) Priority: 08.12.1999 DE 29921601 U

(43) Date of publication of application:
13.06.2001 Bulletin 2001/24

(73) Proprietor: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
Benton Harbor Michigan 49022 (US)

(72) Inventors:
  • Schroeder, Manfred, c/o Whirlpool Europe s.r.l.
    21025 Comerio (IT)
  • Bihler, Helmut, c/o Whirlpool Europe s.r.l.
    21025 Comerio (IT)

(74) Representative: Guerci, Alessandro 
Whirlpool Europe S.r.l. Patent Department Viale G. Borghi 27
21025 Comerio (VA)
21025 Comerio (VA) (IT)


(56) References cited: : 
EP-A- 0 797 949
DE-U- 29 722 001
DE-A- 3 417 744
US-A- 4 606 464
   
       
    Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to the European patent granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall not be deemed to have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent Convention).


    Description


    [0001] The invention concerns a crockery basket for dishwashers, which is formed from metal rods and which has a base, sides and tilting racks which are fitted with a row of spars, wherein the spars of each rack are attached to a bearing shaft, which can be rotated within downwardly facing bearing mounts of the crockery basket and wherein when the spars are in the vertical position, the racks engage with the base of the crockery basket or the spars can be moved into a folded position onto the base of the crockery basket.

    [0002] A crockery basket of this design is known from EP 0 797 949 A2. In this case, fitted to the ends of the bearing shaft of a rack are C-shaped catches, which are aligned towards each other and guided into double lugs specially fitted to the sides of the crockery basket, so that when pushed and rotated, they can be moved into two positions, in which the spars of the frame are either in an upright vertical position, or folded down onto the base of the crockery basket. This results in an arrangement with a large bearing clearance, which causes an insecure fixing of the rack in the required position. Moreover, the structural design of the crockery basket with the additional double lugs is expensive and handling of the rack is unwieldy due to the adjustment in two directions.

    [0003] A similar design of crockery basket equipped with folding racks is disclosed in DE 197 55 339 A1. However, alternatively shaped bearing shafts and special guide components for the bearing shafts are used on the sides of the crockery basket. The design of the crockery basket and the handling of the rack are therefore encumbered by the same disadvantages.

    [0004] The task of the invention is to create a crockery basket of the design described above, with a view to improving and simplifying the arrangement of the rack and handling of same.

    [0005] The task is solved in accordance with the invention by the features in the characterising portion of claim 1.

    [0006] Through the latch connection between the bearing shaft of a rack and the bearing struts of the crockery basket, in connection with the support of the bearing shaft on the base rods of the crockery basket, an almost zero-play rotating position is achieved for the rack, which can also easily be released. By fitting a latch end to at least one spar on the rack and by engaging this spar onto a base rod running parallel to the bearing shaft, it is simple to engage the rack into the position for use, wherein the only action required is a simple rotational movement onto the rack.

    [0007] To engage the rack, the arrangement is constructed such that the latch end of the spar is formed in the shape of a C and when the spars are upright, the latch mounts open facing upwards.

    [0008] If according to a further design, the bearing struts extend over a part of the dimension of the crockery basket transverse to the bearing shaft of the rack and have bearing mounts at both ends, the bearing struts can be used for the rotating position of two connected racks for plates or similar. In this case, it is preferential for the two racks located on the bearing struts to fold towards each other onto the base of the crockery basket, wherein if the spars are in the vertical position, the latch ends of the rack are facing each other and wherein the latch ends are engaged onto the base rods that run parallel between the bearing shafts. The only difference between the two racks lies in the method of securing and aligning the spar with the latch end.

    [0009] The cost of the basket components is kept low in that the base rods running parallel to the shaft ends of the rack, with the ends vertical, form wall rods angled upwards, to which peripheral, horizontal wall rods are attached.

    [0010] The invention is explained in more detail by way of one of the design examples illustrated in the drawings. The following are shown:
    Fig. 1
    a partial view of the crockery basket showing details of the rotating position and locking of the racks with a row of spars,
    Fig. 2
    an exploded partial view with a rack locked into the position for use with spars in the vertical position, and
    Fig. 3
    an exploded partial view with rack folded onto the base of the basket.


    [0011] Fig.1 shows a crockery basket 10 formed from metal rods and its base rods 101 and 10q arranged in the base area, which are aligned in the longitudinal and transverse direction of the crockery basket 10. Thus, the longitudinal base rods 101 are attached to the transverse base rods 10q. The longitudinal base rods 101 are angled upwards at right angles on the ends 10le and serve as vertical wall rods, to which horizontally running wall rods 10w and 10wa are attached, thereby completing the physical carcass of the crockery basket 10.

    [0012] The racks 25 with the row of spars 20 have at one end of the spars 20 a bearing shaft 21, on which the spars 20 can be rotated. Thus, attached to the underside of longitudinal base rods 101, are at least two separate bearing struts 15, the ends 15e of which are fitted with bearing mounts 16 facing downwards. The bearing shafts 21 of the racks 25 are mounted and engaged onto these bearing mounts 16 together with the transverse base rods 10q, wherein the bearing shafts 21 are supported by the transverse base rods 10q.

    [0013] The rotating position thus created operates at practically zero-play, whilst still being simple to disengage.

    [0014] The partial views shown in Figs. 2 and 3 illustrate in more detail the two positions of the rack 25 on the crockery basket 10. At least one spar 20 of a rack 25 extends beyond the bearing shaft 21 and forms a C-shaped end 20e with latch 22 for a longitudinal base rod 10l.

    [0015] In the required position with the spars 20 in the vertical position, the latch mount 22 faces upwards and faces onto a longitudinal base rod 101 adjacent to the rotating bearing arrangement, as shown clearly by Figs. 1 and 2. If the rack 25 is subjected to a rotational movement, this locking connection between the end 20e of the spar 20 and the longitudinal base rod 101 is released and the rods can be folded down onto the longitudinal base rods 101, as shown by the 20' position shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

    [0016] If the bearing struts 15 with their ends 15e project beyond two longitudinal base rods 101, two racks 25 can be rotated on the bearing struts 15. The racks 25 are formed as mirror images and can be folded against each other, as shown by Fig. 1. Thus, the required positions engage onto the longitudinal base rods 101 arranged between the bearing shafts 21. The two racks 25 rotate in opposite directions.


    Claims

    1. A crockery basket (10) for dishwashers, which is formed from metal rods and which has a base, sides and tilting racks (25) which are fitted with a row of spars (20), wherein the spars of each rack (25) are attached to a bearing shaft (21), which can be rotated within downwardly facing bearing mounts (16) of the crockery basket (10) and wherein when the spars are in the vertical position, the racks (25) engage with the base of the crockery basket (10) or the spars (20) can be moved into a folded position onto the base of the crockery basket (10),
    characterised in that
    each rack (25) with the bearing shaft (21) is engaged onto at least two bearing mounts (16) by bearing struts (15) of the crockery basket (10) which are positioned transverse to the bearing shaft (21) and with the bearing shaft (21) supported on base rods (10q) positioned transverse to the bearing shaft (21), at least one spar (20) has a latch end (20e) with a latch mount (22) extending beyond the bearing shaft (21), said latch end (20e) forming a latch connection when engaged, in the vertical position of the spar (20), by a base rod (10l) of the crockery basket (10) said base rod (10l) being positioned parallel to the bearing shaft (21),
    and
    in that once the latch connection between base rod (10l) and latch end (20e) is disengaged, the rack (25) can be folded down onto the base of the crockery basket (10).
     
    2. Crockery basket in accordance with Claim 1,
    characterised in that
    the latch end (20e) of the spar (20) is formed in a C-shape and in the vertical spar (20) position the latch mount (22) faces upwards.
     
    3. Crockery basket in accordance with Claim 1 or 2,
    characterised in that
    the bearing struts (15) extend over a part of the dimension of the crockery basket (10) transverse to the bearing shafts (21) of the rack (25) and have bearing mounts (16) at both ends (15e).
     
    4. Crockery basket in accordance with Claim 3,
    characterised in that
    the two racks (25, 25') located on the bearing struts (15) can be folded towards each other onto the base of the crockery basket (10), wherein if the spars (20) are in the vertical position, the latch ends (20e) of the racks (25,25') are positioned opposite each other and wherein the latch ends (20e) are engaged onto the base rods (10l) that run parallel between the bearing shafts (21).
     
    5. Crockery basket in accordance with Claims 1 to 4,
    characterised in that
    the base rods (10l) running parallel to the bearing shafts (21) of the racks (25) with the ends (10le) form wall rods angled upwards, to which peripheral, horizontal wall rods (10w, 10wa) are attached.
     


    Ansprüche

    1. Geschirrkorb (10) für Geschirrspülmaschinen, der aus Metallstäben ausgebildet ist und eine Grundfläche, Seiten sowie geneigte Gestelle (25) aufweist, die mit einer Reihe von Holmen (20) versehen sind, wobei die Holme jedes Gestells (25) an einem Lagerschaft (21) angebracht sind, der innerhalb nach unten gerichteter Lagerbefestigung (16) des Geschirrkorbs (10) gedreht werden kann, und wobei dann, wenn die Holme in der vertikalen Position sind, die Gestelle (25) mit der Grundfläche des Geschirrkorbs (10) im Eingriff stehen oder die Holme (20) in eine eingeklappte Position auf der Grundfläche des Geschirrkorbs (10) bewegt werden können,
    dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass
    jedes Gestell (25) mit dem Lagerschaft (21) auf zumindest zwei Lagerbefestigungen (16) mittels Lagerstreben (15) des Geschirrkorbs (10), die transversal zum Lagerschaft (21) positioniert sind und mit dem Lagerschaft (21), der auf den Basisstangen (10q) abgestützt ist, die transversal zum Lagerschaft (21) positioniert sind im Eingriff steht, wobei zumindest ein Holm (20) ein Klinkenende (20e) mit einer Klinkenbefestigung (22) aufweist, die sich über den Lagerschaft (21) hinaus erstreckt, wobei das Klinkenende (20e) im Eingriff eine Klinkenverbindung in der vertikalen Position des Holms (20) mittels einer Basisstange (101) des Geschirrkorbs (10) ausbildet, wenn die Basisstange (101) parallel zum Lagerschaft (21) positioniert ist, und dass wenn die Klinkenverbindung zwischen die Basisstange (101) und dem Klinkenende (20e) einmal gelöst ist, der Holm (25) nach unten auf die Basis des Geschirrkorbs (10) hineingeklappt werden kann.
     
    2. Geschirrkorb in Übereinstimmung mit Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das Klinkenende (20e) des Holms (20) in einer C-Form ausgebildet ist und die Klinkenbefestigung (22) in der vertikalen Position des Holms (20) nach oben gerichtet ist.
     
    3. Geschirrkorb in Übereinstimmung mit Anspruch 1 oder 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Lagerstreben (15) sich über einen Teil der Dimension des Geschirrkorbs (10) transversal zu den Lagerschaften (21) des Holms (25) erstrecken und Lagerbefestigungen (16) an beiden Enden (15e) aufweisen.
     
    4. Geschirrkorb in Übereinstimmung mit Anspruch 3, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die zwei Gestelle (25, 25'), die auf den Lagerstreben (15) plaziert sind, zueinander hin auf die Basis des Geschirrkorbs (10) eingeklappt werden können, wobei dann, wenn die Holme (20) in ihrer vertikalen Position stehen, die Klinkenenden (20e) der die Klinkenenden (20e) auf die Basisstangen (101), die zwischen den Lagerschaften (21) parallel verlaufen, hin im Eingriff stehen.
     
    5. Geschirrkorb in Übereinstimmung mit den Ansprüchen 1 bis 4, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass
    die Basisstangen (101) parallel zu den Lagerschaften (21) der Gestelle (25) verlaufen, wobei die Enden (101e) nach oben gewinkelte Wandstangen ausbilden, an denen umfängliche, horizontale Wandstangen (10w, 10wa) angebracht sind.
     


    Revendications

    1. Panier à vaisselle (10) pour lave-vaisselle, qui est formé à partir de tiges en métal et qui a une base, des côtés et des compartiments basculants (25) qui sont assemblés avec une rangée de montants (20), où les montants de chaque compartiment (25) sont attachés à un axe d'appui (21), qui peut être mis en rotation dans des supports d'appui (16) faisant face vers le bas du panier à vaisselle (10) et où lorsque les montants sont dans la position verticale, les compartiments (25) viennent en prise avec la base du panier à vaisselle (10) ou les montants (20) peuvent être déplacés dans une position pliée sur la base du panier à vaisselle (10), caractérisé en ce que chaque compartiment (25) avec l'axe d'appui (21) est en prise sur au moins deux supports d'appui (16) grâce à des étais d'appui (15) du panier à vaisselle (10) qui sont positionnés de manière transversale par rapport à l'axe d'appui (21) et avec l'axe d'appui (21) soutenu sur des tiges de base (10q) positionnées de manière transversale par rapport à l'axe d'appui (21), au moins un montant (20) a une extrémité de verrouillage (20e) avec un support de verrouillage (22) s'étendant au-delà de l'axe d'appui (21), ladite extrémité de verrouillage (20e) formant une connexion de verrouillage lorsqu'elle est en prise, dans la position verticale du montant (20), grâce à une tige de base (10I) du panier à vaisselle (10), ladite tige de base (101) étant positionnée parallèlement à l'axe d'appui (21), et
    en ce que, dès que la connexion de verrouillage entre la tige de base (101) et l'extrémité de verrouillage (20e) n'est plus en prise, le compartiment (25) peut être rabattu sur la base du panier à vaisselle (10).
     
    2. Panier à vaisselle selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que l'extrémité de verrouillage (20e) du montant (20) a une forme de C, et dans la position de montant (20) verticale, le support de verrouillage (22) fait face vers le haut.
     
    3. Panier à vaisselle selon la revendication 1 ou 2, caractérisé en ce que les étais d'appui (15) s'étendent au-dessus d'une partie de la dimension du panier à vaisselle (10) transversale par rapport aux axes d'appui (21) du compartiment (25) et ont des supports d'appui (16) au niveau des deux extrémités (15e).
     
    4. Panier à vaisselle selon la revendication 3, caractérisé en ce que les deux compartiments (25, 25') situés sur les étais d'appui (15) peuvent être pliés l'un vers l'autre sur la base du panier à vaisselle (10), où si les montants (20) sont dans la position verticale, les extrémités de verrouillage (20e) des compartiments (25, 25') sont positionnées de manière opposée l'une par rapport à l'autre et où les extrémités de verrouillage (20e) sont en prise sur les tiges de base (101) qui sont parallèles entre les axes d'appui (21).
     
    5. Panier à vaisselle selon les revendications 1 à 4, caractérisé en ce que les tiges de base (101) parallèles aux axes d'appui (21) des compartiments (25) avec les extrémités (10le) forment des tiges de paroi orientées vers le haut, auxquelles des tiges de paroi (10w, 10wa) périphériques et horizontales sont attachées.
     




    Drawing














    Cited references

    REFERENCES CITED IN THE DESCRIPTION



    This list of references cited by the applicant is for the reader's convenience only. It does not form part of the European patent document. Even though great care has been taken in compiling the references, errors or omissions cannot be excluded and the EPO disclaims all liability in this regard.

    Patent documents cited in the description