U.S. patent application number 11/856811 was filed with the patent office on 2008-05-15 for dishwasher having rack assembly with movable shelves.
Invention is credited to Yong Jin Choi, Nung Seo Park, Young Hwan Park, Gap Su Shin.
Application Number | 20080110480 11/856811 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39368020 |
Filed Date | 2008-05-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080110480 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Choi; Yong Jin ; et
al. |
May 15, 2008 |
DISHWASHER HAVING RACK ASSEMBLY WITH MOVABLE SHELVES
Abstract
A dishwasher is disclosed which includes a rack disposed inside
a washing cabinet, a rack and at least one shelf which is rotatably
connected to the rack so as to be rotated to a raised upright
position and then to a lowered upright position and held, and which
is rotatable to the raised upright position and then rotated to a
substantially laid down position. Space utilization is increased as
a height of the shelf extending above the shelf is reduced and a
size of another rack assembly which may be positioned above the
rack assembly may be increased.
Inventors: |
Choi; Yong Jin; (Seoul,
KR) ; Park; Nung Seo; (Seoul, KR) ; Park;
Young Hwan; (Seoul, KR) ; Shin; Gap Su;
(Chungju-si, KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
KED & ASSOCIATES, LLP
P.O. Box 221200
Chantilly
VA
20153-1200
US
|
Family ID: |
39368020 |
Appl. No.: |
11/856811 |
Filed: |
September 18, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
134/135 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47L 15/503
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
134/135 |
International
Class: |
A47L 15/50 20060101
A47L015/50 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 15, 2006 |
KR |
10-2006-0112903 |
Claims
1. A dishwasher, comprising: at least one rack configured to be
disposed inside a washing cabinet; and at least one shelf rotatably
attached to the at least one rack so as to be rotated from a
substantially laid down position to a raised upright position with
respect to the at least one rack and then moved to a lowered
upright position and held thereat, and which is thereafter raisable
to the raised upright position and then rotated back to the
substantially laid down position.
2. The dishwasher of claim 1, wherein the at least one rack
comprises a plurality of horizontal bar portions vertically spaced
apart from each other and a plurality of vertical bar portions
attached thereto.
3. The dishwasher of claim 2, wherein the at least one shelf
comprises at least one guide configured to be moved or rotated
along one of the plurality of horizontal bar portions.
4. The dishwasher of claim 3, wherein the at least one shelf
further comprises at least one support portion configured to be
stopped at one of the plurality of vertical bar portions when the
at least one shelf is in the substantially laid down and when the
at least one shelf is in the lowered upright position.
5. The dishwasher of claim 4, wherein a surface of the at least one
support portion contacting the one of the plurality of vertical bar
portions is sloped with respect to a central widthwise axis of the
at least one shelf.
6. The dishwasher of claim 4, wherein the at least one support
portion is formed on the at least one shelf spaced apart from the
at least one guide.
7. The dishwasher of claim 4, wherein the at least one support
portion comprises a plurality of support portions spaced apart from
each other in a lengthwise direction of the at least one shelf.
8. The dishwasher of claim 3, wherein the at least one guide
comprises a guide portion opened and configured to be guided along
an upper horizontal bar portion of the plurality of horizontal bar
portions.
9. The dishwasher of claim 3, wherein the at least one guide
comprises a plurality of guides spaced apart from each other in a
lengthwise direction of the at least one shelf.
10. The dishwasher of claim 3, wherein the at least one guide
includes an upper guide projected from the at least one shelf, a
linear portion that extends from the upper guide, and a lower guide
that extends from the linear portion so as to face the upper
guide.
11. The dishwasher of claim 10, wherein the upper guide decreases
in thickness as it extends away from the at least one shelf.
12. The dishwasher of claim 10, wherein the lower guide has a
protrusion configured to be stopped at the upper horizontal bar
portion in a vertical direction when the shelf is in the
substantially laid down position and in a horizontal direction when
the shelf is in the raised upright position.
13. The dishwasher of claim 10, wherein a portion of the lower
guide contacting the one of the plurality of horizontal bar
portions is formed of a curved surface portion.
14. The dishwasher of claim 3, wherein the at least one guide
further comprises a hanger configured to be stopped at another one
of the plurality of horizontal bar portions when the at least one
shelf is moved to the lowered upright position.
15. The dishwasher of claim 14, wherein the hanger projects from
the at least one guide so as to be disposed next to the another one
of the plurality of horizontal bar portions and stopped when the at
least one shelf is moved to the lowered upright position.
16. The dishwasher of claim 14, wherein the hanger is shorter than
a width between the one of the plurality of horizontal bar portions
and the another one of the plurality of horizontal bar
portions.
17. The dishwasher of claim 1, wherein the at least one shelf
comprises a plurality of shelves.
18. The dishwasher of claim 17, wherein the plurality of shelves
are provided on one side of the rack in succession.
19. The dishwasher of claim 1, wherein the at least one shelf
comprises at least one dish orienting protrusion.
20. A dishwasher, comprising: at least one rack configured to be
disposed inside a washing cabinet and comprising a plurality of
horizontal bar portions spaced apart from each other and a
plurality of vertical bar portions attached thereto; and at least
one shelf having at least one guide movable with respect to and
rotatable along one of the plurality of horizontal bar portions and
at least one hanger configured to be stopped at another of the
plurality of horizontal bar portions.
21. The dishwasher of claim 20, wherein the at least one guide
comprises an upper guide projected from the at least one shelf, a
linear portion that extends from the upper guide, and a lower guide
that extends from the linear portion so as to face the upper
guide.
22. The dishwasher of claim 20, wherein the at least one hanger
projects from the at least one guide and is shorter than a width
between the one of the plurality of horizontal bar portions and the
another of the plurality of horizontal bar portions.
23. A dishwasher, comprising: at least one rack configured to be
disposed inside a washing cabinet; and at least one shelf
configured to be movable between a hold mode in which it is rotated
from a substantially laid down position to a raised upright
position with respect to the at least one rack and then moved to a
lowered upright position with respect to the at least one rack and
held thereat, and a use mode in which it is returned to the raised
upright position and is then rotated to the substantially laid down
position.
24. The dishwasher of claim 18, wherein the at least one shelf
comprises: at least one guide configured to move or rotated along
one of a plurality of horizontal bar portions formed on the at
least one rack; at least one support portion configured to be
stopped at another of the plurality of horizontal bar portions when
the shelf is in the use mode and the hold mode; and at least one
hanger configured to be stopped at the another one of the plurality
of horizontal bar portions when the shelf is in the hold mode.
25. The dishwasher of claim 23, wherein the at least one hanger
projects from the at least one guide and is shorter than a width
between the one of the plurality of horizontal bar portions and the
another of the plurality of horizontal bar portions.
Description
[0001] This Nonprovisional application claims priority under 35
U.S.C. .sctn. 119(a) to Korean Patent Application No.
10-2006-0112903 filed in Korea on Nov. 15, 2006, the entire
contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND
[0002] 1. Field
[0003] A dishwasher is disclosed herein having a rack assembly with
moveable shelves.
[0004] 2. Description of Related Art
[0005] A dishwasher is an apparatus, which washes food remnants
adhered to cups, dishes, culinary tools and similar items
(hereinafter, referred to as "dishes") by using a detergent and
wash water, and which is provided with racks for placing dishes
thereon inside a washing cabinet, the racks being vertically moved
in a backward and forward direction to be inserted into and drawn
out from the washing cabinet. However, related art dishwasher have
various disadvantages.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] The embodiments will be described in detail with reference
to the following drawings in which like reference numerals refer to
like elements, and wherein:
[0007] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a dishwasher
according to an embodiment;
[0008] FIG. 2 is a schematic view of shelves in a laid down
position inside the dishwasher of FIG. 1;
[0009] FIG. 3 is a schematic view of shelves being in a raised
upright position inside the dishwasher of FIG. 1;
[0010] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a dishwasher
according to another embodiment;
[0011] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a rack assembly of FIG.
4;
[0012] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a shelf of FIG. 5;
[0013] FIG. 7 is a partial cross sectional view of a shelf of a
rack assembly of FIG. 4 in a laid down position;
[0014] FIG. 8 is a partial cross sectional view of the shelf of
FIG. 7 rotated and raised to upright position; and
[0015] FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view of the shelf of FIG. 8 in a
lowered upright position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0016] Hereinafter, a dishwasher having a rack assembly with a
moveable shelf or shelves according to embodiments will be
described in detail with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
[0017] FIG. 1 is a partial exploded perspective view of a
dishwasher according to an embodiment. In the dishwasher of FIG. 1,
a plurality of rack assemblies 2, 3, 4 configured to receive
thereon dishes or similar items may be disposed inside a washing
cabinet 1. Guides 5 and 6 that guide backward and forward movement
of the rack assemblies 2, 3 may be installed in the washing cabinet
1. Further, rack assembly 4 which is smaller in size that rack
assemblies 2, 3 may be installed above the rack assembly 3.
[0018] Shelves 7 and 8 configured to receive cups or similar items
placed thereon and shelf holders 12, 13, 14, and 15 that mount the
shelves 7 and 8 thereon are provided on at least one of the rack
assemblies. The shelves 7 and 8 may be configured to be laterally
oriented only when a cup is placed on the shelves 7 and 8 for a
user's convenience, and may be otherwise raised to an uptight
position and held in that position.
[0019] The front left shelf holder 12 and the rear left shelf
holder 13 may be mounted on a left portion of the rack 9 at an
interval shorter than the front-to-rear length of the left shelf 7.
Thus, when the left shelf 7 is raised upright, the front right
shelf holder 12 may hold a front portion of the left shelf 7 and
the rear left shelf holder 13 may hold a back portion of the left
shelf 7. Similarly, the front right shelf holder 14 and the rear
right shelf holder 15 may be mounted on a right portion of the rack
9 at an interval shorter than the front-to-rear length of the right
shelf 8.
[0020] FIG. 2 is a schematic view of shelves in a laid down
position inside the dishwasher of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a schematic
view of shelves in a raised upright position inside the dishwasher
of FIG. 1.
[0021] If the shelves 7 and 8 of the rack assembly 3 are laterally
oriented as illustrated in FIG. 2, the shelves 7 and 8 are
positioned only inside the rack 9 and do not project upward from
the rack 9, and a space S1 formed above the rack assembly 3, in
which another rack assembly 4 may be installed increases. On the
other hand, as shown in FIG. 3, if the shelves 7 and 8 are raised
upright, a portion of each of the shelves 7 and 8 projects upward
from the rack 9, and a space S2 formed above the rack assembly 3,
in which another rack assembly 4 may be installed is reduced.
[0022] However, the rack assembly 4, which as set for the above is
smaller in size than the rack assemblies 2, 3, may be installed
above the rack assembly 3, even when the shelves 7 and 8 are in the
raised upright position. Thus, the dishwasher according to the
embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-3 requires that the rack assembly 4
installed above the rack assembly 3 be reduced in size because the
shelves 7 and 8 have a higher projection height when the shelves 7
and 8 are in the raised upright position.
[0023] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a dishwasher
according to another embodiment. The dishwasher of FIG. 4 may
include a washing cabinet 1 and rack assemblies 2, 3, and 4
configured to be disposed inside the washing cabinet 1 and drawn
out therefrom. Guides 5 and 6 that guide forward and backward
movement of the rack assemblies 2, 3 may be installed inside the
washing cabinet 1. Further, nozzles 12 and 14 that spray wash water
toward the rack assemblies 2, 3, and 4 may be provided inside the
washing cabinet 1. A door 16 that opens and closes a front opening
face of the washing cabinet may be disposed at a front of the
washing cabinet 1.
[0024] A sump (not shown) that collects wash water may be installed
at a lower portion of the washing cabinet 1. A pump apparatus that
pumps wash water in the sump toward the nozzles 12 and 14, a water
supply apparatus that supplies wash water to the inside of the
sump, and a drainage apparatus that drains wash water in the sump
to outside may be connected to the sump.
[0025] The rack assemblies 2, 3, and 4 may be vertically spaced
apart from each other, and one or more of the plurality of rack
assemblies 2, 3 may be configured to receive therein plates or
similar items, and the other rack assembly 4 may be configured to
receive thereon cutlery, culinary tools, or similar items.
[0026] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a rack assembly of FIG. 4.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a shelf of FIG. 5. FIG. 7 is a
partial cross sectional view of a shelf of a rack assembly of FIG.
4 in a laid down position. FIG. 8 is a partial cross sectional view
of the shelf of FIG. 7 rotated and raised to an upright position.
FIG. 9 is a partial enlarged cross sectional view of the shelf of
FIG. 8 in a lowered upright position.
[0027] The rack 50 may be, for example, a grill-type element.
Further, the rack 50 may have an approximately hexahedron shape.
Furthermore, the rack 50 may have a top surface, and may include a
left portion 51, a right portion 52, a front portion 53, a rear
portion 54, and a bottom portion 55.
[0028] The left portion 51, right portion 52, front portion 53, and
rear portion 54 may be connected by a plurality of horizontal bar
portion 56 and a plurality of vertical bar portions 57 which
intersect each other. The bottom portion 55 may be connected such
that a plurality of left and right bar portions 58 and a plurality
of front and rear bar portions 59 intersect each other.
[0029] A plurality of shelves 70 and 80 may be provided on the rack
50. Alternatively, the shelves may be disposed one on each of the
left portion 51 and the right portion 52, or they may both be
disposed together on one of the left portion 51 and the right
portion 52.
[0030] Hereinafter, description will be made with respect to an
embodiment in which both shelves 70, 80 are disposed together on
one side of the rack 50, more particularly, the right portion 52 of
the rack 50, spaced apart in a forward and backward direction. In
other words, the (front) shelf 70 is provided at a front side of
the right portion 52 of the rack 50, and the (rear) shelf 80 is
provided at a rear side of the right portion 52 of the rack 50, as
shown in FIG. 5. The front shelf 70 and a rear shelf 80 may be
constructed to have the same structure.
[0031] The shelves 70 and 80 may be configured to rotate to be
raised to an upper side of the rack 50 (to a raised upright
position) and then moved to a lower side thereof (to a lowered
upright position) and held in that position, and moved to the upper
side thereof (to the raised upright position) and then rotated to a
laid down position. That is, the shelves 70 and 80 may have a hold
position to which they are rotated so as to be raised to the upper
side of the rack 50 and then moved to the lower side thereof and
held, and a use position to which they are rotated so as to be
moved to the upper side thereof and then laid down. That is, the
respective shelf 70, 80 is rotated (in the direction of arrow A in
FIG. 8) to an upright position, as shown in FIGS. 7-8, and then is
slid in a downward direction (in the direction of arrow B in FIG.
8) to a lowered upright position, as shown in FIG. 9, where it is
held in such position by a hanger 100. The respective shelf 70, 80
may then be raised back to the upright position and then rotated to
a laid out position.
[0032] The shelves 70 and 80 may each include a guide 90 configured
to move or rotate along one of the plurality of horizontal bar
portions 56, a hanger 100 configured to be stopped at another one
of the plurality of horizontal bar portions 56 when the respective
shelf 70, 80 is raised and then moved to the lowered upright
position, and a support portion 110 configured to be stopped by the
vertical bar portions 57 when the respective shelf 70, 80 is laid
down and when the respective shelf 70, 80 is raised up and then
moved to the lowered uptight position.
[0033] Hereinafter, for convenience, description will be made with
respect to the case in which the guide 90 is guided along one of
the upper horizontal bar portions 56a and the hanger 100 is stopped
at one of the lower horizontal bar portions 56b.
[0034] The guide 90 may project from the shelf 70, 80 and may have
a guide portion 91 configured to be guided along the upper
horizontal bar portion 56a, such that the guide 90 has an overall
U-shape.
[0035] A plurality of guides 90 may be provided spaced apart from
each other in a lengthwise direction of the shelf 70, 80. A
plurality of guides 90 may be formed approximately at a front and
rear sides and a center of the shelf 70, 80.
[0036] The guide 90 may include an upper guide 92 projected from
the shelf 70, 80, a linear portion 94 extending or curved from the
upper guide 92, and a lower guide 96 extending or curved from the
linear portion 94 so as to face the upper guide 92. The upper guide
92 may increase in thickness as it extends toward the shelf 70, 80.
Further, the upper guide 92 may be configured to be positioned
adjacent an upper side of the upper horizontal bar portion 56a when
the shelf 70, 80 is raised and then slid down.
[0037] The linear portion 94 may come into contact with the upper
horizontal bar portion 56a when the shelf 70, 80 slides in an
up-and-down direction, that is, a direction parallel to a
heightwise extended line P of the shelf 70, 80, as shown in FIG. 8.
The linear portion 94 may have a length equal or similar to a
distance between the upper horizontal bar portion 56a and the lower
horizontal bar portion 56b.
[0038] The lower guide 96 may be configured to be stopped at the
upper horizontal bar portion 56a when the shelf 70, 80 is slid in
an upward direction, as shown in FIG. 8. As shown in FIG. 7, the
lower guide 96 may contact the upper horizontal bar portion 56a
when the shelf 70, 80 is rotated. Further, the lower guide 96 may
include a curved surface portion 97 which may contact the upper
horizontal bar portion 56a.
[0039] A protrusion 98 may be provided on the lower guide 96 which
is stopped at the upper horizontal bar portion 56a in a vertical
direction when the shelf 70, 80 is rotated into a laid down
position and in a horizontal direction when the shelf 70, 80 is
moved to or raised, as shown in FIGS. 7-8, respectively. The lower
guide 96 may be configured to be placed on the lower horizontal bar
portion 56b when the shelf 70, 80 is slid down to the lowered
upright position, as shown in FIG. 9.
[0040] The hanger 100 may project from the guide 90. As shown in
FIG. 9, the hanger 100 may be stopped at the lower horizontal bar
portion 56b to prevent the shelf 70, 80 from being arbitrarily
rotated to a laid down position when the shelf 70, 80 is in the
lowered upright position. The hanger 100 may be formed to extend
substantially in a direction parallel to the linear portion 94, and
may project from the lower guide 96 in an opposite direction from
the linear portion 94. Additionally, the hanger 100 may be shorter
than a width between the upper horizontal bar portion 56a and the
lower horizontal bar portion 56b so that the shelf 70, 80 is not
interrupted by the lower horizontal bar portion 56b when rotating
to the laid down position from the raised upright position.
[0041] The support portion 110 may project from an end of the shelf
70, 80 so as to be parallel to the linear portion 94 and the hanger
100, and may be positioned along the heightwise extended line P
shown in FIG. 8.
[0042] The laid down angle of the shelf 70, 80 may be determined
based on a shape and angle of a portion 112 of the support portion
110 (hereinafter, referred to as a "contact portion") that contacts
the vertical bar portions 57 of the rack 50 when the shelf 70, 80
is laid out laterally. If the contact portion 112 extends parallel
to the end 71 of the shelf 70, 80, the shelf 70, 80 is laid out
substantially horizontally. In contrast, if the contact portion 112
is sloped with respect to the end 71 of the shelf 70, 80, the shelf
70, 80 is laid out with a slope to the horizontal plane.
[0043] Further, if the slope angle between the shelf 70, 80 of the
contact portion 112 and the end 71 is large, the slope angle
between the shelf 70, 80 and the horizontal plane is large. In
contrast, if the slope angle between the contact portion 112 and
the end 71 of the shelf 70, 80 is small, the slope angle between
the shelf 70, 80 and the horizontal plane is small.
[0044] The supporting portion 110 may be formed on the shelf 70, 80
so as to be spaced from the guide 90. As shown in FIGS. 5 to 8, a
protrusion may project from the shelf 70, 80 to prevent a cup or
similar items from being moved on the shelf 70, 80.
[0045] An operation of dishwasher according to embodiments and
constructed as set forth above will be described herein below.
[0046] First, if the shelf 70, 80 is laid out substantially
laterally, as shown in FIG. 7, the linear portion 94 of the guide
90 is positioned adjacent to or placed on the upper horizontal bar
portion 56a, the guide 90 is oriented so as to turn around the
upper horizontal bar portion 56a in a clockwise direction of FIG.
7, and the shelf 70, 80 is rotated around the upper horizontal bar
portion 56a. When the shelf 70, 80 is disposed to be sloped
horizontally or at a predetermined angle, the contact portion 112
of the support portion 110 contacts the vertical bar portion 57 and
is restrained and/or stopped thereby as shown in FIG. 7, the lower
guide 96 of the guide 90 is restrained and stopped by the upper
horizontal bar portion 56a, and the shelf 70, 80 is held by the
guide 90 and the support portion 110 engaged to the upper
horizontal bar portion 56a and the vertical bar portions 57.
[0047] Meanwhile, if the shelf 70, 80 is rotated upward as shown in
FIG. 8, the support portion 110 is moved apart from the vertical
bar portion 57, the linear portion 94 of the guide 90 is moved to
the left of and adjacent to the upper horizontal bar portion 56a,
and the guide 90 turns around the upper horizontal bar portion 56a
in the clockwise direction of (arrow A in) FIG. 8, and the shelf
70, 80 is raised to a raised upright position.
[0048] At this time, as shown in FIG. 8, the shelf 70, 80 may be
freely slid downward. If the shelf 70, 80 is slid down, the linear
portion 94 of the guide 90 descends along the upper horizontal bar
portion 56a, and the position of the shelves 70 and 80 is lowered
to a lowered upright position.
[0049] If the position of the shelf 70, 80 is lowered approximately
a height H (see FIG. 9) of the linear portion 94 of the guide 90,
the upper guide 92 is positioned adjacent to or placed on the upper
horizontal bar portion 56a and/or the lower guide 94 is positioned
adjacent to or placed on the lower horizontal bar portion 56b, and
the hanger 100 is disposed at the left of and adjacent to the lower
horizontal bar portion 56b. At this time, the support portion 110
is restrained as it is contacted to the vertical bar portion 57 of
the rack 50, and the shelf 70, 80 is held by the guide 90, the
hanger 100, and the support portion 110 engaged to the lower
horizontal bar portion 56b and the upper horizontal bar portion
56a, respectively.
[0050] That is, the support portion 110 is stopped at the vertical
bar portion 57 and restrained in the left direction of FIG. 9, the
linear portion 94 of the guide 90 is stopped at the upper
horizontal bar portion 56a and restrained in the right direction of
FIG. 9, and the hanger 100 is stopped at the lower horizontal bar
portion 56b and restrained in the left direction of FIG. 9. At this
time, as the upper guide 92 of the guide 90 is positioned adjacent
to or placed on the upper horizontal bar portion 56a and/or the
lower guide 94 is positioned adjacent to or placed on the lower
horizontal bar portion 56b, and the shelf 70, 80 is restricted from
moving to the left and right and downward, and the shelf 70, 80 is
held in the lowered upright position.
[0051] A dishwasher according to embodiments disclosed herein have
at least the following advantages.
[0052] Embodiments disclosed herein provide a dishwasher which
offers a high utilization of the space inside a washing cabinet by
minimizing a height of a shelf not in use by preventing the shelf
from projecting upward from the rack or reducing any projection.
That is, dishwasher according to embodiments disclosed herein has
increased space utilization as the space above the shelf may be
increased and thus a size of another rack assembly positioned above
the rack assembly may be increased. This is because the shelf may
be moved downward and held to the rack in a lowered upright
position if not in use, and thus the shelf does not project above
the rack or the height of the portion projecting above the rack is
reduced.
[0053] Moreover, the dishwasher according to embodiments disclosed
herein is advantageous in that the shelves are not shaken and/or do
not arbitrarily fall out from the rack during operation of the
dishwasher.
[0054] There is provided according to embodiments disclosed herein
a dishwasher which may include a rack disposed inside a washing tub
or cabinet, and a shelf which is rotatable so as to be raised to an
upper side of the rack and then moved to a lower side and held, and
which is movable to the upper side and then rotated and laid
down.
[0055] The rack may have a plurality of horizontal bar portions
disposed thereon so as to be vertically spaced apart from each
other and a plurality of vertical bar portions provided thereon,
and the shelf may have a guide placed so as to be moved or rotated
along one of the plurality of horizontal bar portions and a support
portion stopped at the vertical bar portions when the shelf is laid
down and when the shelf is raised and moved. The guide may have a
guide portion opened and guided along the one upper horizontal bar
portion. The guide may be provided in a plural number spaced apart
from each other in a lengthwise direction of the shelf. The guide
may include an upper guide projected from the shelf, a linear
portion curved from the upper guide, and a lower guide curved from
the linear portion so as to face the upper guide.
[0056] The upper guide may become thicker as it goes closer to the
shelf. The lower guide may have a protrusion which is stopped at
the one upper horizontal bar portion in a vertical direction when
the shelf is laid and in a horizontal direction when the shelf is
raised.
[0057] The portion of the lower guide contacting the one horizontal
bar portion may be formed of a curved surface portion. The surface
of the support portion contacting the vertical bar portions may be
sloped with respect to the end of the shelf. The support portion
may be formed on the shelf so as to be spaced apart from the guide.
The support portion may be formed in a plural number so as to be
spaced apart from each other in the lengthwise direction of the
shelf. A hanger may be formed which is stopped at the other one of
the plurality of horizontal bar portions when the shelf is raised
and moved. The hanger may be projected from the guide so as to be
disposed next to the other horizontal bar portion and stopped when
the shelf is raised and moved. The hanger may be shorter than a
width between the one horizontal bar portion and the other
horizontal bar portion.
[0058] Additionally, there is provided a dishwasher according to
embodiments disclosed herein which may include a rack disposed
inside a washing tub or cabinet, having a plurality of horizontal
bar portions spaced apart from each other, and provided with
horizontal bar portions, and a shelf having a guide to be moved or
rotated along one of the horizontal bar portions and a hanger to be
stopped at the other horizontal bar portion. The guide may include
an upper guide projected from the shelf, a linear portion curved
from the upper guide, and a lower guide curved from the linear
portion so as to face the upper guide. A hanger may be projected
from the guide so as to be shorter than a width between one
horizontal bar portion and the other horizontal bar portion.
[0059] Further, there is provided a dishwasher according to
embodiments disclosed herein which may include a rack disposed in
the washing tub or cabinet, and a shelf having a hold mode at which
it is rotated so as to be raised to an upper side of the rack and
then moved to a lower side and held and a use mode at which it is
moved to the upper side of the rack and then rotated and laid down.
The shelf may include a guide moving or rotating along one of the
plurality of horizontal bar portions formed on the rack, a support
portion stopped at the vertical bar portions formed on the racks
when the shelf is in the use mode and the hold mode, and a hanger
stopped at the other one of the plurality of horizontal bar
portions formed on the rack when the shelf is in the hold mode. The
hanger may be projected from the guide so as to be shorter than the
width between one horizontal bar portion and the other horizontal
bar portion.
[0060] A dishwasher according to embodiments disclosed herein is
advantageous in that space utilization is increased as the space as
much as a decrease in the height of a shelf is ensured above the
shelf and the size of another rack assembly positioned above the
rack assembly where the shelf is installed can be maximized,
because the shelf is moved downward and held to the rack after they
are raised if it is not in use, thereby not projecting the shelf
upward of the rack or minimizing the height of the portion
projected upward of the rack.
[0061] Any reference in this specification to "one embodiment," "an
embodiment," "example embodiment," etc., means that a particular
feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with
the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the
invention. The appearances of such phrases in various places in the
specification are not necessarily all referring to the same
embodiment. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or
characteristic is described in connection with any embodiment, it
is submitted that it is within the purview of one skilled in the
art to effect such feature, structure, or characteristic in
connection with other ones of the embodiments.
[0062] Although embodiments have been described with reference to a
number of illustrative embodiments thereof, it should be understood
that numerous other modifications and embodiments can be devised by
those skilled in the art that will fall within the spirit and scope
of the principles of this disclosure. More particularly, various
variations and modifications are possible in the component parts
and/or arrangements of the subject combination arrangement within
the scope of the disclosure, the drawings and the appended claims.
In addition to variations and modifications in the component parts
and/or arrangements, alternative uses will also be apparent to
those skilled in the art.
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