[0001] The present invention relates to a dishwasher with superposed baskets, wherein the
bottom of the upper basket is divided into two or more areas arranged on different
levels.
[0002] It is known that the quantity of dishes which can be washed by a dishwasher in a
washing cycle depends, besides on the size of the washing space, on the adaptability
of the interior to the kind and the size of the dishes to be washed. As a matter of
fact, if the clearance of a basket is too low, there is the risk that particularly
large dishes could not be placed in the basket. On the other hand, if the clearance
is too high, there is the disadvantage that a considerable part of this space is not
occupied by dishes and therefore is wasted.
[0003] DE-4.228.954 and EP-0.372.342 disclose dishwashers wherein the height of the guides
on which the upper basket slides is adjustable, thereby allowing the division of the
washing space into two sections having different and variable heights. This arrangement
has the disadvantage that the user must adjust from time to time the sliding plane
of the upper basket according to the kind and the size of the dishes to be washed.
[0004] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a dishwasher with superposed
baskets which allows to exploit at best the interior of the washing space, without
the need of adjusting from time to time the sliding plane of the upper basket. Said
object is obtained by means of a dishwasher with superposed baskets, wherein the bottom
of the upper basket is divided into two or more areas arranged on different levels.
[0005] The advantages and the features of the dishwasher according to the present invention
will be clear to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description
of an embodiment thereof with reference to the attached drawing, wherein:
Fig. 1 is a front view of the interior of the dishwasher according to the present invention;
Fig. 2 is a top view of the upper sprinkling assembly inside the dishwasher.
[0006] Referring to Fig. 1, there is seen that the dishwasher according to the present invention
contains inside its washing space 1 an upper basket 2 and a lower basket 3, both sliding
on two parallel guides 4,4' and 5,5'. The upper basket 2 is placed over an upper sprinkling
assembly 6 and the lower basket 3 is placed over a lower sprinkler 7. The profile
of the bottom of the upper basket 2 is advantageously shaped so as to divide such
bottom into two areas 8,8' arranged side by side on different levels.
[0007] Referring now to Fig. 2, too, there is seen that, in order to uniformly sprinkle
both areas 8, 8' of the upper basket 2, the upper sprinkling assembly 6 comprises
a supporting structure 9 which supports and feeds with water a pair of sprinklers
10,10' and a pair of sprinklers 11,11'. Sprinklers 11,11' are arranged on a higher
level with respect to sprinklers 10,10' so as to be close to area 8' of basket 2 like
sprinklers 10,10' are close to area 8.
[0008] Therefore, with these arrangements four kinds of dishes 12, 12', 12" and 12"', each
having a different overall height, can be inserted into the dishwasher, without wasting
useful space. It is clear that other kinds of dishes having a lower overall height
can always be inserted instead of these four kinds of dishes.
[0009] It is also clear that, in another embodiment of the present invention, the height
of guides 4,4' of upper basket 2 can be adjusted, so as to obtain an even more efficient
exploitation of washing space 1.
[0010] Further modifications and/or additions may be made by those skilled in the art to
the embodiment here described and shown, yet without departing from the scope of the
invention.
1. Dishwasher with superposed baskets, characterized in that the bottom of the upper
basket (2) is divided in a plurality of areas (8,8') arranged on different levels.
2. Dishwasher according to claim 1, characterized in that the upper sprinkling assembly
(6) comprises a supporting structure (9) which supports and feeds with water a plurality
of sprinklers (10,10',11 and 11') arranged on different levels.
