U.S. patent application number 09/801764 was filed with the patent office on 2001-10-25 for dish rack for a dishwasher.
This patent application is currently assigned to DEGUSSA-HUELS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT. Invention is credited to Hess, Guenter, Scholten, Heinz.
Application Number | 20010032825 09/801764 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 7938428 |
Filed Date | 2001-10-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010032825 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hess, Guenter ; et
al. |
October 25, 2001 |
Dish rack for a dishwasher
Abstract
A dish rack for a dishwasher, including a frame and a coating
covering the frame and configured to distribute water over a
surface of the coating in a thin film.
Inventors: |
Hess, Guenter; (Haltern,
DE) ; Scholten, Heinz; (Haltern, DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
OBLON SPIVAK MCCLELLAND MAIER & NEUSTADT PC
FOURTH FLOOR
1755 JEFFERSON DAVIS HIGHWAY
ARLINGTON
VA
22202
US
|
Assignee: |
DEGUSSA-HUELS
AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
Bau 1042/PB 15
Marl
DE
D-45764
|
Family ID: |
7938428 |
Appl. No.: |
09/801764 |
Filed: |
March 9, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
211/41.8 ;
211/41.9 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47L 15/50 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
211/41.8 ;
211/41.9 |
International
Class: |
A47F 005/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 9, 2000 |
DE |
200 04 244.0 |
Claims
What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by letters patent
of the United States is:
1. A dish rack for a dishwasher, comprising: a frame; and a coating
covering said frame and configured to distribute water over a
surface of said coating in a thin film.
2. The dish rack according to claim 1, wherein said coating
comprises a plastic having a surface roughness of R.sub.z.gtoreq.5
.mu.m.
3. The dish rack according to claim 1, wherein said coating is
configured to spread water.
4. The dish rack according to claim 1, wherein said coating is
deposited over said frame by a plastic coating process.
5. The dish rack according to claim 1, wherein said coating
comprises polyamide.
6. The dish rack according to claim 1, wherein said frame comprises
a steel wire frame.
7. The dish rack according to claim 1, wherein said coating
comprises plastic.
8. The dish rack according to claim 1, wherein said coating
comprises at least one of plastic, substantially polyamide and
polyamide.
9. A dishwasher apparatus comprising the dish rack of claim 1.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application claims priority to German Patent
Application No. 200 04 244.0, filed Mar. 9, 2000. The contents of
that application are incorporated herein by reference in their
entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a dish rack for a
dishwasher.
[0004] 2. Discussion of the Background
[0005] Dishwashers in the market feature at least one dish rack for
holding and arranging the dishes, flatware and other items to be
washed. The dish racks in these dishwashers are customarily
manufactured with frames made of steel wire. Because of the risk of
corrosion from the chemicals used in dishwashers, the dish racks
are usually coated with an anticorrosive made of organic polymers.
The color of the coating varies according to the design of the
machine equipped with the rack and is produced by adding commercial
pigments to the coating. Smooth surfaces are particularly preferred
for the coating and are therefore generally customary, because the
user assumes that no residual foreign matter will stick to these
surfaces. When the washing is finished, drops of water usually
remain on the contact points where the dishes rest on the rack and
do not vaporize easily. The dishes therefore remain wet. To
vaporize these drops and dry the dishes quickly, it is necessary to
increase vaporization energy. As a result, power consumption
increases.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] According to one aspect of the present invention, a dish
rack for a dishwasher, includes a frame and a coating covering the
frame and configured to distribute water over a surface of the
coating in a thin film.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] A more complete appreciation of the invention and many of
the attendant advantages thereof will be readily obtained as the
same becomes better understood by reference to the following
detailed description when considered in connection with the
accompanying drawings, wherein:
[0008] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a dish rack according to one
embodiment of the present invention; and
[0009] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the dishwasher rack
shown in FIG. 1.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0010] The preferred embodiments will now be described with
reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference
numerals designate corresponding or identical elements throughout
the various drawings.
[0011] A dish rack according to the present invention ensures in a
simple manner that the water running off the dishes, which collects
as drops at the contact points between rack and dishes in
conventional dish racks, distributes itself over the rack's surface
and consequently vaporizes more easily. Also, a dish rack according
to the present invention draws drops of water away from the contact
points.
[0012] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a dish rack according to one
embodiment of the present invention and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional
view of the dishwasher rack shown in FIG. 1.
[0013] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a dish rack 1 for a dishwasher 2
includes a frame 11 and a coating 12 covering the frame 11. The
coating 12 distributes water over a surface of the coating 12 in a
thin film. Consequently, the water is distributed uniformly as a
film across the entire coated surface and vaporizes quickly with
little addition of heat.
[0014] According to another embodiment of the present invention, a
dish rack includes a plastic coating which has an average roughness
R.sub.z.gtoreq.5 .mu.m and which feels smooth nevertheless. The
peak-to-valley-height is measured in accordance with DIN 4768 using
the Rodenstock RM 600 laser profilometer. The measurement is
performed by scanning the surface with a laser beam. Mechanical
detectors, such as the Perthometer M4P, display values that are too
small.
[0015] In these embodiments, the dish racks may be a wire frame
coated with plastic. For example, the wire frame of the dish racks
may be manufactured of a structural steel. However, a dish rack
according to the present invention is coated with a coating that
distributes water in the manner described above. According to the
present invention, a coating may be plastic, substantially
polyamide or polyamide, and deposited by a plastic coating process.
Such a coating may be deposited by a coating process such as one
described in DE-OS 2050905, for example.
[0016] According to the present invention, a dishwasher rack can be
manufactured in a simple manner without any extra cost, improves
its overall appearance, and ensure that the dishes will be dried
without any noticeable energy expenditure.
[0017] Obviously, numerous modifications and variations of the
present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It
is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended
claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as
specifically described herein.
* * * * *