U.S. patent application number 11/377641 was filed with the patent office on 2006-11-16 for dish receiving member of dishwasher.
This patent application is currently assigned to LG ELECTRONICS INC.. Invention is credited to Sung Bae Lim.
Application Number | 20060254994 11/377641 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36999121 |
Filed Date | 2006-11-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060254994 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lim; Sung Bae |
November 16, 2006 |
Dish receiving member of dishwasher
Abstract
There is provided a dish receiving member of a dishwasher having
a dish rack provide with frames forming a dish receiving space. The
dish receiving member includes: a holder body formed of plastic and
detachably coupled to a bottom portion of the accommodation frame;
and one or more supporting parts formed on a top portion of the
holder body for supporting a dish.
Inventors: |
Lim; Sung Bae; (Changwon-si,
KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MCKENNA LONG & ALDRIDGE LLP
1900 K STREET, NW
WASHINGTON
DC
20006
US
|
Assignee: |
LG ELECTRONICS INC.
Seoul
KR
|
Family ID: |
36999121 |
Appl. No.: |
11/377641 |
Filed: |
March 17, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
211/41.9 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47L 15/505
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
211/041.9 |
International
Class: |
A47G 19/08 20060101
A47G019/08 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 17, 2005 |
KR |
10-2005-0022438 |
Claims
1. A dish receiving member of a dishwasher having a dish rack
provide with an outer frame and an accommodation frame coupled to
the outer frame for forming a dish receiving space, the dish
receiving member comprising: a holder body formed of plastic and
detachably coupled to a bottom portion of the accommodation frame;
and one or more supporting parts formed on a top portion of the
holder body.
2. The dish receiving member according to claim 1, wherein the
holder body comprises a frame inserting groove in a bottom surface
for coupling with the accommodation frame by snap fitting.
3. The dish receiving member according to claim 2, wherein the
holder body further comprises a fixing part in the frame inserting
groove for fixing the holder body to the accommodation frame.
4. The dish receiving member according to claim 1, wherein the
holder body comprises at least two long surfaces and at least two
short surfaces, and the supporting parts are formed on the long
surfaces of the holder body.
5. The dish receiving member according to claim 1, wherein the
holder body comprises an outlet hole for discharging washing liquid
falling from accommodated articles.
6. The dish receiving member according to claim 1, wherein the
holder body comprises interference preventing grooves in both sides
for stably coupling the holder body to the dish rack.
7. The dish receiving member according to claim 1, wherein the
holder body comprises a supporting part insertion groove in the top
portion for receiving the supporting part.
8. The dish receiving member according to claim 7, wherein the
supporting part comprises a lower threaded end, and the holder body
comprises a threaded portion in the supporting part insertion
groove for engaging with the lower threaded end of the supporting
part.
9. The dish receiving member according to claim 1, wherein the
supporting part is formed integrally with the holder body by insert
molding.
10. The dish receiving member according to claim 1, wherein the
supporting part formed on the top portion of the holder body is
inclined at a predetermined angle from the holder body.
11. The dish receiving member according to claim 1, wherein the
supporting parts are at least two in number and symmetrically
arranged in a pair.
12. The dish receiving member according to claim 11, wherein the
symmetrical supporting part pair is arranged in a front-to-back
direction of the dish rack.
13. The dish receiving member according to claim 1, wherein the
accommodation frame comprises a rack column frame coupled to the
outer frame in a-front-to-back direction of the dish rack and a
rack row frame coupled to the outer frame in a left-to-right
direction of the dish rack, and the holder body is movably coupled
to the rack column frame.
14. A dish receiving member of a dishwasher including a dish rack
provide with an outer frame and an accommodation frame, the outer
frame having a plurality of bars, the accommodation frame having a
rack column frame coupled to the outer frame in a front-to-back
direction of the dish rack and a rack row frame coupled to the
outer frame in a left-to-right direction of the dish rack, the dish
receiving member comprising: a holder body coupled to a bottom
portion of the rack column frame; at least one frame inserting
groove formed in a lower portion of the holder body for receiving
the rack column frame; and supporting parts formed on a top portion
of the holder body and arranged in at least two rows, for
supporting a dish.
15. The dish receiving member according to claim 14, wherein the
holder body comprises at least two long surfaces and at least two
short surfaces, the supporting parts are formed on the long
surfaces of the holder body.
16. The dish receiving member according to claim 14, wherein the
holder body comprises a fixing part in the frame inserting groove
for fixing the rack column frame inserted into the frame inserting
groove.
17. The dish receiving member according to claim 14, wherein the
supporting parts formed on the top portion of the holder body are
inclined in a length direction of the holder body.
18. The dish receiving member according to claim 14, wherein the
supporting parts formed on the top portion of the holder body are
inclined outward from the holder body.
19. The dish receiving member according to claim 14, wherein the
holder body coupled to the rack column frame is movable along the
rack column frame.
20. The dish receiving member according to claim 14, wherein the
supporting parts are arranged in parallel with the rack column
frame.
21. A dish receiving member of a dishwasher having a dish rack
provide with an outer frame and an accommodation frame coupled to
the outer frame for forming a dish receiving space, the dish
receiving member comprising: a holder body including a frame
inserting groove for coupling with the accommodation frame; and one
or more supporting parts formed on a top portion of the holder body
for supporting a dish.
22. The dish receiving member according to claim 21, wherein the
supporting part formed on the top portion of the holder body is
inclined at a predetermined angle from the holder body.
23. The dish receiving member according to claim 21, wherein the
supporting part is detachably coupled to the top portion of the
holder body.
24. The dish receiving member according to claim 21, wherein the
supporting parts are formed on the top portion of the holder body
in at least two symmetric rows.
25. The dish receiving member according to claim 21, wherein the
holder body is formed of plastic by injection molding.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a dishwasher, and more
particularly, to a dish receiving member of a dishwasher that can
receive wide, flat tableware such as dishes in an upright position
at any location in a dish rack.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] A dishwasher is a device that removes foreign substances
such as remaining food and dirt from dishes by injecting washing
liquid at a high pressure through an injection nozzle.
[0005] In detail, a dishwasher includes a tub forming a washing
chamber and a sump installed under the tub for storing washing
liquid. The washing liquid is pushed to an injection nozzle by a
washing pump installed in the sump, and then injected at a high
pressure through an injection aperture formed in an end of the
injection nozzle. The injected washing liquid removes dirt such as
remaining food from dishes by colliding with the dishes. The
removed dirt drops to a bottom of the tub.
[0006] The dishwasher further includes at least one dish rack for
receiving dishes. Generally, two dish racks are detachably
installed in the tub at upper and lower positions.
[0007] In detail, various tableware products such as small cups and
wide, flat dishes are placed on the dish rack. Particularly,
tableware products such as dishes are placed on the dish rack in an
upright or laid-down position.
[0008] If wide, flat tableware products such as dishes are placed
on the dish rack in a laid down position, they take much space in
the dish rack, such that desired number of tableware products
cannot be accommodated.
[0009] Further, in the related art, dish-receiving tines are fixed
to a bottom of the dish rack. Therefore, the space of the dish rack
cannot be efficiently used since other tableware products cannot be
placed between the dish receiving tines even when dishes are not
placed between the dish-receiving tines.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a dish
receiving member of a dishwasher that substantially obviates one or
more problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related
art.
[0011] An object of the present invention is to provide a dish
receiving member of a dishwasher that can separately receive wide,
flat tableware such as dishes.
[0012] Another object of the present invention is to provide a dish
receiving member of a dishwasher that can be mounted on a dish rack
at a desired location according to the number of dishes and other
tableware products.
[0013] Additional advantages, objects, and features of the
invention will be set forth in part in the description which
follows and in part will become apparent to those having ordinary
skill in the art upon examination of the following or may be
learned from practice of the invention. The objectives and other
advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by the
structure particularly pointed out in the written description and
claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.
[0014] To achieve these objects and other advantages and in
accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and
broadly described herein, there is provided a dish receiving member
of a dishwasher having a dish rack provide with an outer frame and
an accommodation frame coupled to the outer frame for forming a
dish receiving space, the dish receiving member including: a holder
body formed of plastic and detachably coupled to a bottom portion
of the accommodation frame; and one or more supporting parts formed
on a top portion of the holder body.
[0015] In another aspect of the present invention, there is
provided a dish receiving member of a dishwasher including a dish
rack provide with an outer frame and an accommodation frame, the
outer frame having a plurality of bars, the accommodation frame
having a rack column frame coupled to the outer frame in a
front-to-back direction of the dish rack and a rack row frame
coupled to the outer frame in a left-to-right direction of the dish
rack, the dish receiving member including: a holder body coupled to
a bottom portion of the rack column frame; at least one frame
inserting groove formed in a lower portion of the holder body for
receiving the rack column frame; and supporting parts formed on a
top portion of the holder body and arranged in at least two rows,
for supporting a dish.
[0016] In a further another aspect of the present invention, there
is provided a dish receiving member of a dishwasher having a dish
rack provide with an outer frame and an accommodation frame coupled
to the outer frame for forming a dish receiving space, the dish
receiving member including: a holder body including a frame
inserting groove for coupling with the accommodation frame; and one
or more supporting parts formed on a top portion of the holder body
for supporting a dish.
[0017] According to the present invention, the dish rack can be
more efficiently used in utilization of space since wide, flat
tableware products such as dishes can be placed on the dish rack in
a stand-up position at a desired location.
[0018] Further, since the dish receiving member is detachably
mounted on the dish rack for receiving tableware products such as
dishes, dishes can be placed at a desired location of the dish
rack, and the number of the dish receiving member can be properly
selected according to the number of dishes to be placed, such that
the dish rack can be more efficiently used in utilization of
space.
[0019] Furthermore, since the distance between the supporting parts
of the dish receiving member can be adjusted for changing the
distance between dishes placed in the dish receiving member,
various types of dishes can be received.
[0020] It is to be understood that both the foregoing general
description and the following detailed description of the present
invention are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide
further explanation of the invention as claimed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0021] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a
further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and
constitute a part of this application, illustrate embodiment(s) of
the invention and together with the description serve to explain
the principle of the invention. In the drawings:
[0022] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a dish rack provided with a
dish receiving member according to a first embodiment of the
present invention;
[0023] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the dish receiving member
depicted in FIG. 1;
[0024] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the dish receiving
member when dishes are placed in the dish receiving member; and
[0025] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a dish receiving member
according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0026] Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred
embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
[0027] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a dish rack 100 provided
with a dish receiving member 200 according to a first embodiment of
the present invention.
[0028] Referring to FIG. 1, the dish rack 100 provided with the
dish receiving member 200 includes an outer frame 110 forming the
exterior of the dish rack 100, an accommodation frame 120 forming a
bottom surface of the dish rack 100, and a grip 130. The
accommodation frame 120 is curved in a U shape, and both ends of
the accommodation frame 120 are coupled with the outer frame 110.
The grip 130 is formed on a front portion or a top portion of the
outer frame 110 for a user to pull or push the dish rack 100.
[0029] In detail, the outer frame 110 includes a plurality of
horizontally-spaced bars. The accommodation frame 120 includes a
plurality of bars that are uniformly spaced inside the outer frame
110. The accommodation frame 120 includes a rack column frame 121
and a rack row frame 122. The rack column frame 121 has one end
coupled to a front portion of the outer frame 110 and the other end
coupled to a back portion of the outer frame 110. The rack row
frame 122 has one end coupled to a left side of the outer frame 110
and the other end coupled to a right side of the outer frame
110.
[0030] The dish receiving member 200 is mounted on a bottom surface
of the outer frame 110 for placing dishes in an upright
position.
[0031] The above-described structure allows a user to put dishes in
the dish rack 100 and push the dish rack 100 into a tub of a
dishwasher. The dish receiving member 200 of the present invention
can be mounted on one side of the outer frame 110. Since the outer
frame 110 and the accommodation frame 120 of the dish rack 100 are
formed of the bars having a predetermined diameter and bent several
times, washing liquid injected onto dishes can fall rapidly to a
bottom surface of the tub through the outer frame 110 and the
accommodation frame 120.
[0032] The dish receiving member 200 is detachably mounted on the
dish rack 100. Therefore, the mounting position of the dish
receiving member 200 can be changed according to the type and
number of dishes to be placed on the dish rack 100.
[0033] The dish receiving member 200 mounted on the dish rack 100
will now be more fully described with reference to FIG. 2.
[0034] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the dish receiving member
depicted in FIG. 1.
[0035] Referring to FIG. 2, the dish receiving member 200 can be
detachably and movably mounted on the rack column frame 121 of the
dish rack 100.
[0036] In detail, the dish receiving member 200 includes a holder
body 210 and supporting parts 220 extending from a top side of the
holder body 210. The holder body 210 includes one or more frame
inserting grooves 211 in a bottom surface for coupling with the
rack column frame 121 of the accommodation frame 120.
[0037] The holder body 210 may be formed of plastic by injection
molding. The supporting parts 220 may be formed of the same
material as the holder body 210 or the dish rack 100.
[0038] Further, the supporting parts 220 may be formed integrally
with the holder body 210. For example, the supporting parts 220 may
be formed integrally with the holder body 210 by insert
molding.
[0039] The holder body 210 includes at least two long surfaces and
at least two short surfaces. For example, the holder body 210 may
have a rectangular box shape. The holder body 210 further includes
an outlet hole 213 allowing outflow of washing liquid. Therefore,
washing liquid fallen from dishes can reach the bottom of the tub
easily owing to the outlet hole 213.
[0040] The supporting parts 220 are formed on the long surfaces of
the holder body 210 in at least two facing rows. That is, the
supporting parts 220 are at least two in number and arranged at
least two rows. The supporting part pair of the supporting
structure 220 is arranged in a front-to-back direction of the dish
rack 100. Each row of the supporting parts 220 is arranged in a
left-to-right direction of the dish rack 100. That is, the
supporting part pair is arranged in a direction parallel with the
rack column frame 121. Each row of the supporting parts 220 is
parallel with the rack row frame 122.
[0041] Therefore, dishes placed in the dish receiving member 200
can be securely supported by the supporting parts 220. Thus, dishes
can be easily and stably put into and taken out of the dish
receiving member 200.
[0042] Alternatively, the supporting parts 220 may be inclined
toward the top surface of the holder body 210 at a predetermined
angle. In detail, the supporting parts 220 may be inclined toward
the top surface of the holder body 210 in a length direction of the
holder body 210 at a predetermined angle from the top surface of
the holder body 210. In this case, interference between top
portions of dishes and a top portion of the tub can be prevented
when the dish rack 100 is pushed into the tub. In another
alterative case, the supporting parts 220 may be inclined outwardly
at a predetermined angle from the top surface of the holder body
210 for supporting dishes more stably.
[0043] The frame inserting grooves 211 are formed in the bottom of
the holder body 210 at the same interval as the bars of the
accommodation frame 120. Therefore, the dish receiving member 200
can be mounted on the bottom of the dish rack 100 at any
position.
[0044] According to the number of dishes, only one dish receiving
member 200 can be mounted on dish rack 100, or two or more smaller
dish receiving members 200 each having fewer supporting parts can
be mounted on the dish rack 100. That is, the number of dish
receiving members 200 mounted on the dish rack 100 can be freely
selected.
[0045] Further, symmetric fixing parts 212 are respectively formed
in the frame inserting grooves 211 for fixing the holder body 210
to the accommodation frame 120. Each of the fixing parts 212 has a
shape corresponding to the bars of the accommodation frame 120.
Therefore, when the dish receiving member 200 is mounted on the
accommodation frame 120, the position of the receiving member 200
can be fixed. The fixing part 212 is snap fitted around the bar of
frame 120. That is, the dish receiving member 200 is coupled to the
accommodation frame 120 by snap fitting using the fixing part
212.
[0046] Furthermore, interference preventing grooves 214 are formed
in both sides of the holder body 210. Owing to the interference
preventing grooves 214, the dish receiving member 200 can be stably
mounted on bars of the accommodation frame 120 arranged in one
direction without interference with other bars of the accommodation
frame 120 arranged in the other direction.
[0047] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the dish receiving member
when dishes are placed in the dish receiving member.
[0048] Referring to FIG. 3, the dish rack 100 can be efficiently
used by placing wide and flat tableware such as dishes into the
dish receiving member 200 in an upright position.
[0049] In detail, dishes are put into the dish receiving member 200
between the supporting parts 220 along the length direction of the
dish receiving member 200. Interference between the dishes and the
tub can be prevented by placing the dishes into the dish receiving
member 200 at a predetermined angle from the top surface of the
dish receiving member 200. If the predetermined angle between the
dish and the dish receiving member 200 is large, the dishes take
much space of the dish rack 100. Thus, the predetermined angle is
properly selected according to the size of the dish rack 100 and
the tub.
[0050] Meanwhile, since the holder body 210 includes the outlet
groove 213, water falling from the dishes in washing mode can reach
the bottom of the tub rapidly.
[0051] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a dish receiving member
according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
[0052] In the second embodiment of the present invention, the
supporting parts are detachably coupled to the holder body.
[0053] Referring to FIG. 4, the dish receiving member 200 includes
a holder body 210 and supporting parts 220 extending from a top
side of the holder body 210. The holder body 210 includes one or
more frame inserting grooves 211 in a bottom surface for fitting
around the rack column frame 121 of the accommodation frame
120.
[0054] The holder body 210 further includes supporting part
insertion grooves 215 in a top portion for receiving the supporting
parts 220. The supporting part insertion grooves 215 have a size
and shape corresponding to the supporting parts 220. The supporting
part insertion grooves 215 are formed in long surfaces of the
holder body 210 at a uniform interval.
[0055] Therefore, the supporting parts 220 can be detachably
coupled to the holder body 210, and the distance between the
supporting parts 220 can be adjusted according to the size of
dishes to be placed into the dish receiving member 200.
[0056] The supporting part insertion grooves 215 can be formed in
the top portion of the holder body 210 at a predetermined angle in
left, right, up, or down direction of the holder body 210 for
receiving the supporting parts 220 at the predetermined angle.
[0057] The supporting parts 220 may include lower threaded ends
222, and the holder body 210 may include a threaded portion 216 in
the supporting part insertion grooves 215 for engaging with the
lower threaded ends 222 of the supporting parts 220.
[0058] In this case, the supporting parts 220 can be firmly fixed
to the holder body 210 by engaging the lower threaded ends 222 of
the supporting parts 220 with the threaded portions 216 formed in
the supporting part insertion grooves 215.
[0059] As a result, the supporting parts 220 are not removed from
the holder body 210 by washing liquid injected at a high
pressure.
[0060] As described above, according to the dish receiving member
of the present invention, wide and flat tableware such as dishes
can be put into the dish rack at a desired location in an upright
position. Therefore, the space of the dish rack can be more
efficiently used.
[0061] Further, since the dish receiving member is movably and
detachably mounted on the dish rack, dishes can be put into the
dish rack at any location and the number of the dish receiving
member can be adjusted according to the number of dishes to be
placed into the dish rack. Therefore, the space of the dish rack
can be more efficiently used.
[0062] Furthermore, the distance between the supporting parts of
the dish receiving member can be changed to adjust the distance
between dishes. Therefore, various types of dishes can be
accommodated.
[0063] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various
modifications and variations can be made in the present invention.
Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers the
modifications and variations of this invention provided they come
within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
* * * * *