U.S. patent application number 10/279306 was filed with the patent office on 2004-04-29 for dishwasher utility basket.
Invention is credited to Allen, Ginger L., Hagans, Heather M., Miilu, John H., Tuller, Barry E., Vaughn, Christopher W., Wendt, Karl R.C..
Application Number | 20040079713 10/279306 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32106675 |
Filed Date | 2004-04-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040079713 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Wendt, Karl R.C. ; et
al. |
April 29, 2004 |
Dishwasher utility basket
Abstract
A dishwasher utility basket is provided for holding utensils to
be washed in a horizontal orientation. The basket includes a
lattice bottom, opposite side walls, and opposite end walls.
Handles are formed in each of the side walls and end walls such
that the basket can be picked up by the sides or the ends.
Upstanding tines hold the utensils in spaced relation for thorough
cleaning. Legs on the bottom of the basket prevent the basket from
sliding within the dishwasher rack. The handles allow the basket to
be easily placed into the rack and removed from the rack. The
basket is also dimensioned so as to fit within a standard kitchen
cabinet drawer.
Inventors: |
Wendt, Karl R.C.; (Jackson,
TN) ; Vaughn, Christopher W.; (Jackson, TN) ;
Allen, Ginger L.; (Medina, TN) ; Hagans, Heather
M.; (Jackson, TN) ; Tuller, Barry E.;
(Humboldt, TN) ; Miilu, John H.; (Jackson,
TN) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MCKEE, VOORHEES & SEASE, P.L.C.
ATTN: MAYTAG
801 GRAND AVENUE, SUITE 3200
DES MOINES
IA
50309-2721
US
|
Family ID: |
32106675 |
Appl. No.: |
10/279306 |
Filed: |
October 24, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
211/41.8 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47L 15/505 20130101;
A47L 15/502 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
211/041.8 |
International
Class: |
A47G 019/08 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A utility basket for holding utensils to be washed in a
dishwasher, comprising: an elongated tray having a lattice bottom,
opposite side walls, and opposite end walls; a handle formed in
each of the side walls and end walls for lifting the tray by the
sides and by the ends.
2. The utility basket of claim 1 wherein each handle is defined by
an opening in the associated side wall and end wall.
3. The utility basket of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of
upstanding dividers extending across the width of the tray to
provide a separate slot for holding each utensil.
4. The utility basket of claim 3 wherein two rows of dividers are
provided toward each end of the basket.
5. The utility basket of claim 3 wherein utensils can be placed
horizontally within the basket.
6. The utility basket of claim 1 wherein the basket is adapted to
fit in a lower rack of the dishwasher.
7. The utility basket of claim 6 wherein the basket includes legs
to engage the lower rack and prevent sliding movement of the
basket.
8. The utility basket of claim 1 wherein the basket is sized to fit
within a cupboard drawer.
9. The utility basket of claim 1 wherein the tray holds the
utensils in side-by-side and end-to-end orientations.
10. A dishwasher basket for holding utensils to be washed, the
utensils having a utility end and a handle, the basket comprising:
an elongated lattice bottom; side walls; end walls; and a plurality
of rows of tines extending upwardly from the bottom and between the
side walls, with a first pair of rows being adjacent one end wall
and a second pair of rows being adjacent another end wall.
11. The dishwasher basket of claim 10 wherein rows of tines hold
the utensils in side-by-side and end-to-end orientations.
12. The dishwasher basket of claim 10 wherein the tines hold the
utensils in a horizontal orientation.
13. The dishwasher basket of claim 10 wherein the side walls and
end walls are dimensioned such that the basket is adapted to fit
within a standard kitchen cabinet drawer.
14. The dishwasher basket of claim 10 wherein the basket is adapted
to fit in a lower rack of the dishwasher.
15. The dishwasher basket of claim 10 wherein the basket is adapted
to be received within a rack of the dishwasher, and further
comprising legs extending downwardly from the bottom to engage the
rack and prevent sliding of the basket.
16. The dishwasher basket of claim 10 further comprising a handle
formed on each side wall and each end wall.
17. The dishwasher basket of claim 16 wherein the handles are
defined by openings in the associated side and end walls.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] Dishwasher utility baskets are well-known for holding
utensils to be washed. The most common baskets hang on a sidewall
of one of the racks, and hold the utensils in an upright
orientation for washing. One problem with such upright baskets is
the nesting of silverware, particularly spoons, which may prevent
thorough cleaning. Also, utensils can be overloaded in the upright
baskets, which also inhibits cleaning.
[0002] Flat utility baskets are also known, which typically sit
within or upon a rack and hold the utensils in a horizontal
orientation for washing. Such horizontal utility baskets or trays
may include tines or other dividers to separate the utensils so
that the utensils are not laying upon each other. The shallow depth
of such horizontal baskets typically precludes the use of handles
for easily removing the basket, as is common on upright
baskets.
[0003] Therefore, a primary objective of the present invention is
an improved dishwasher utility basket.
[0004] Another objective of the present invention is the provision
of an improved dishwasher utility basket which holds utensils in a
horizontal disposition.
[0005] A further objective of the present invention is the
provision of an improved dishwasher utility basket which maximizes
the number of utensils that can be received and holds the utensils
separate from one another for thorough cleaning.
[0006] Still another objective of the present invention is the
provision of an improved horizontally disposed dishwasher utility
basket having handles for easy removal of the loaded basket from
the dishwasher.
[0007] A further objective of the present invention is the
provision of an improved dishwasher utility basket adapted to be
received on the lowest dishwasher rack.
[0008] Another objective of the present invention is the provision
of an improved dishwasher utility basket that fits into a standard
kitchen cabinet drawer.
[0009] Another objective of the present invention is the provision
of an improved dishwasher utility basket which is economical to
manufacture and durable in use.
[0010] These and other objectives will become apparent from the
following description of the invention.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] The dishwasher utility basket of the present invention
comprises an elongated tray having a lattice bottom, opposite side
walls, and opposite end walls, with handles formed in each of the
side walls and each of the end walls for lifting the tray for
removal from a dishwasher rack. The handles are defined by openings
in the respective side walls and end walls. The tray includes a
plurality of upstanding dividers extending across the width of the
tray to provide slots for holding each utensil. Preferably, two
rows of dividers are provided toward each end of the basket such
that two rows of utensils can be held in spaced relation to one
another for thorough cleaning in the basket. The basket is adapted
to be received on a lower rack of the dishwasher. Legs are provided
on the bottom of the basket to engage with the dishwasher rack to
prevent sliding movement of the basket as the rack is moved in and
out of the dishwashing chamber. The basket is sized to fit within a
standard kitchen cupboard drawer, such that the basket can be
removed from the dishwasher and placed fully loaded into the
drawer.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a dishwasher having the
utility basket of the present invention.
[0013] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the utility basket.
[0014] FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the utility basket.
[0015] FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the utility basket.
[0016] FIG. 5 is a side elevation view of the utility basket.
[0017] FIG. 6 is an end elevation view of the utility basket.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0018] A dishwasher of the present invention is generally
designated by the reference numeral 10. The dishwasher 10 includes
a washing chamber 12 and a door 14 movable between open and closed
positions relative to the washing chamber 12. The dishwasher 10
includes an upper rack 16, a middle rack 18, and a lower rack 20.
The upper and middle racks 16, 18 include upstanding tines for
holding plates, bowls, glasses and the like in spaced relation for
cleaning. Preferably, the lower rack 20 does not include tines, so
as to be substantially open.
[0019] The above construction of the dishwasher 10 and racks 16, 18
and 20 is conventional and does not constitute a part of the
present invention.
[0020] The present invention is directed towards a utility basket
or tray 22 adapted to hold utensils and similar objects. The
utility basket 22 includes a lattice bottom 24, opposite side walls
26, and opposite ends walls 28. Handles 30 are formed in each of
the side walls 26, and handles 32 are formed in each of the end
walls 28. The handles 30, 32 are defined by openings 34, 36 in the
respective side and end walls 26, 28.
[0021] The utility basket 22 includes a plurality of upstanding
tines or dividers 38 to hold and separate the utensils for thorough
cleaning. The separators 38 prevent nesting of the utensils which
inhibits cleaning. Preferably, a first pair of tine rows 40, 42 are
provided adjacent one end wall 28, and another pair of tine rows
44, 46 are provided adjacent the opposite end wall 28, as best seen
in FIG. 2. Thus, separate rows of utensils can be placed at each
end of the basket 22.
[0022] The basket 22 is adapted to be received within the lower
rack 20 of the dishwasher 10. Placement in the lower rack 20 is
preferred over either the upper rack 16 or the middle rack 18,
since the best cleaning action is achieved near the bottom of the
washing chamber 12. The basket includes a plurality of short legs
48 extending downwardly from the lattice bottom 24 so as to prevent
the basket 22 from sliding in the lower rack 20.
[0023] The handles 30, 32 allow the rack to be picked up on either
the sides or the ends. The basket 22 can be loaded on a countertop
or in a sink and then easily placed within the lower rack 20 for
washing of the utensils. After cleaning, the basket 22 can be
removed from the lower rack 20 and unloaded adjacent the kitchen
cabinet drawer. Also, the basket 22 is dimensioned so as to fit
within a standard kitchen cabinet drawer, without unloading.
[0024] The invention has been shown and described above with the
preferred embodiments, and it is understood that many
modifications, substitutions, and additions may be made which are
within the intended spirit and scope of the invention. From the
foregoing, it can be seen that the present invention accomplishes
at least all of its stated objectives.
* * * * *