Washing basket assembly and tray assembly for dish-washing machine and dish-washing machine

A washing basket assembly and a tray assembly for a dish-washing machine as well as a dish-washing machine are provided. The washing basket assembly includes a first basket body and a second basket body. The second basket body s disposed to the first basket body and switchable between an opened position and a closed position. When the second basket body is in the closed position, the second basket body and the first basket body are configured to define a receiving cavity having an opening and used for receiving tableware. When the second basket body is in the opened position, a sum of a projection area of the first basket body in a horizontal plane and a projection area of the second basket body in the horizontal plane is larger than the projection area of the first basket body in the horizontal plane.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a national phase entry under 35 USC § 371 of International Application PCT/CN2016/070046, filed Jan. 4, 2016, which claims priority to and benefits of Chinese Patent Applications Serial No. 201510510769.2 and 201520628226.6, filed with the State Intellectual Property Office of P. R. China on Aug. 19, 2015, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to washing devices, and more particularly to a washing basket assembly and a tray assembly for a dish-washing machine and a dish-washing machine.

BACKGROUND

A dish-washing machine is provided with a washing basket or a tray therein for placing various kinds of tableware for taking food, such as knives, forks, spoons and the like. The washing basket itself has convenience of tableware transfer, and is generally placed in a bowl basket which is in a lower part of the dish-washing machine. However, when there is much tableware such as dishes, there is no extra space in the bowl basket to place the washing basket. The tray is provided by using the space in a top portion of the dish-washing machine, rather than occupying the space in the bowl basket.

The tray of a traditional dish-washing machine can enable the knives and forks to be put in order and cleaned easily, but the tray itself has a relatively large volume, so it is not convenient for a user to take the tray to a dinner table. When the user needs to take the knives and forks, he/she has to take the knives and forks out of the tray one by one manually, and then takes them to the dinner table for dispensation. When dining is finished, the knives and forks may be taken from the dinner table to the tray and put on the tray. Due to a lack of auxiliary means, the knives and forks has to be received, moved and put by hands, and hence it appears to be troublesome, especially in case of many knives and forks.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the present disclosure seek to solve at least one of the problems existing in the related art to at least some extent. For that reason, the present disclosure provides a washing basket assembly for a dish-washing machine. The washing basket assembly has advantages of a simple structure as well as a convenient and efficient use.

The present disclosure also provides a tray assembly having the above washing basket assembly for the dish-washing machine.

The present disclosure further provides a dish-washing machine having the above tray assembly.

The washing basket assembly for the dish-washing machine according to embodiments of the present disclosure includes: a first basket body; and a second basket body disposed to the first basket body and switchable between an opened position and a closed position. When the second basket body is located in the closed position, the second basket body and the first basket body are configured to define a receiving cavity having an opening and configured for receiving tableware. When the second basket body is located in the opened position, a sum of a projection area of the first basket body in a horizontal plane and a projection area of the second basket body in the horizontal plane is larger than the projection area of the first basket body in the horizontal plane.

In the washing basket assembly for the dish-washing machine according to embodiments of the present disclosure, by the opening and closing between the first basket body and the second basket body, it is convenient to take and transfer the tableware.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the second basket body is pivotably disposed to the first basket body.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, one of the first basket body and the second basket body is provided with a pivot shaft, and the other one of the first basket body and the second basket body is provided with a pivot hole configured to be fitted with the pivot shaft.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, one of the first basket body and the second basket body is provided with a protrusion portion, the washing basket assembly further includes a locking piece, one end of the locking piece is pivotably disposed to the other one of the first basket body and the second basket body, and the other end of the locking piece is snap-connected with the protrusion portion.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the other end of the locking piece has a locking groove, and two opposite side walls of the protrusion portion are snap-connected in the locking groove.

The tray assembly according to embodiments of the present disclosure includes: a tray body having a placing space therein; and the above washing basket assembly for the dish-washing machine. The washing basket assembly is put in the placing space and snap-connected with the tray body.

In the tray assembly according to embodiments of the present disclosure, by providing the above washing basket assembly for the dish-washing machine, on one hand, a size of the placing space for the tableware can be changed according to requirements, and on the other hand, it is convenient to take and transfer the tableware.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, one of the first basket body and the second basket body is provided with a locking grip, and the locking grip is snap-connected with the tray body.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the placing space includes a first region and a second region distributed in a left and right direction, the first basket body is placed in the second region, and when the second basket body is located in the opened position, the second basket body is placed in the first region.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, a plurality of washing basket assemblies are provided and arranged in a front and rear direction.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, a bottom wall of the second region is located lower than a bottom wall of the first region.

The dish-washing machine according to embodiments of the present disclosure includes the above tray assembly.

In the dish-washing machine according to embodiments of the present disclosure, by arranging the above-mentioned tray assembly, it is more convenient and efficient for the user to wash and take the tableware.

REFERENCE NUMERALS

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail below, examples of the embodiments are shown in the drawings. The embodiments described herein with reference to drawings are explanatory, and used to generally understand the present disclosure. The embodiments shall not be construed to limit the present disclosure.

In the specification, it is to be understood that terms such as “width,” “upper,” “lower,” “front,” “rear,” “left,” “right,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” “bottom,” “inner” and “outer” should be construed to refer to the orientation as then described or as shown in the drawings under discussion. These relative terms are for convenience of description and do not require that the present disclosure be constructed or operated in a particular orientation.

A washing basket assembly1for a dish-washing machine according to embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference toFIGS. 1-7in below.

As shown inFIGS. 1-7, the washing basket assembly1for the dish-washing machine according to embodiments of the present disclosure includes a first basket body11and a second basket body12.

In one embodiment, the second basket body12is disposed to the first basket body11and switchable between an opened position and a closed position. That is, the second basket body12is disposed to the first basket body11, and the second basket body12can switch in terms of position by rotating or moving. For example, the second basket body12can be switched from the opened position to the closed position by rotating (as shown inFIGS. 1 and 4, the second basket body12is located in the closed position) or can be switched from the closed position to the opened position by rotating (as shown inFIGS. 5 and 7, the second basket body12is located in the opened position). When the second basket body12is located in the closed position, the second basket body12and the first basket body11can be configured to define a receiving cavity S1used for receiving tableware3and having an opening, as shown inFIGS. 1 and 4, and the receiving cavity S1can be used for receiving the tableware3such as knives, forks, spoons and the like. When the second basket body12is located in the opened position, a sum of a projection area of the first basket body11in a horizontal plane and a projection area of the second basket body12in the horizontal plane is larger than the projection area of the first basket body11in the horizontal plane, that is, when the second basket body12is located in the opened position, a space of the washing basket assembly1for placing the tableware3can be increased, such that in case of lots of tableware3, the tableware3can be placed by means of this manner. In addition, the washing basket assembly1located in the closed position can also serve as a transfer tool for the tableware3, so as to avoid receiving and moving the tableware3by hands, which thus saves much trouble and is convenient and efficient, especially in case of much tableware.

It could be understood that, in the washing basket assembly1for the dish-washing machine according to embodiments of the present disclosure, the first basket body11and the second basket body12each can be formed by a plurality of first ribs102parallel to and spaced apart from each other, and a plurality of second ribs103parallel to and spaced apart from each other, in which, the first rib102and the second rib103are perpendicular to each other, two adjacent first ribs102and two adjacent second ribs103construct a square cell101(as shown inFIGS. 1-7), such that when the washing basket assembly1is used to wash the tableware3, water can enter the washing basket assembly1through the cell101, so as to be fully contacted with the tableware3, thereby reaching the purpose of cleaning the tableware3. At the same time, the water after washing can also flow out of the washing basket assembly1through the cell101, thereby making it convenient to drain and dry the tableware3.

In the washing basket assembly1for the dish-washing machine according to embodiments of the present disclosure, by providing the second basket body12switchable between the opened position and the closed position, when the second basket body12is located in the closed position, the receiving cavity S1can be used for receiving the tableware3such as knives, forks, spoons and the like, thus making it convenient to receive or transfer the tableware3quickly; when the second basket body12is located in the opened position, the space for placing the tableware3can be increased, thereby making it possible to contain more tableware3. Thus, practicability of the washing basket assembly1is increased greatly, thereby satisfying use requirements of the user, and improving competitiveness of the product.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, as shown inFIGS. 1 and 4-6, the second basket body12is pivotably disposed to the first basket body11, that is, the second basket body12can perform the switch between the closed position and the opened position on the first basket body11by means of pivoting. Thus, the structure of the washing basket assembly1is more compact and reasonable.

In one embodiment, one of the first basket body11and the second basket body12can be provided with a pivot shaft111, and the other one of the first basket body11and the second basket body12can be provided with a pivot hole121configured to be fitted with the pivot shaft111, that is to say, the pivot shaft111is mounted in the pivot hole121, such that the second basket body12can rotate about the pivot shaft111on the first basket body11, thereby enabling the second basket body12to be switched between the closed position and the opened position.

In the examples shown inFIGS. 5 and 6, the first basket body11is provided with the pivot shaft111, the pivot shaft111is connected to a bottom portion141of the first basket body; accordingly, the second basket body12is provided with the pivot hole121configured to be fitted with the pivot shaft111, the pivot hole121is connected to a bottom portion142of the second basket body, such that the second basket body12can rotate about the pivot shaft111on the first basket body11, thereby enabling the second basket body12to be switched between the closed position and the opened position. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, two pivot shafts111are provided and symmetrically disposed to a front side wall and a rear side wall of the first basket body11, accordingly, two pivot holes121are provided and having a one to one correspondence with the pivot shafts111, thereby improving the connection reliability between the first basket body11and the second basket body12.

As shown inFIGS. 5 and 7, the second basket body12rotates about the pivot shaft111on the first basket body11in a direction of running away from the first basket body11, so as to place the second basket body12in the opened position, thereby increasing the space of the washing basket assembly1for placing the tableware3. As shown inFIGS. 1 and 4, the second basket body12rotates about the pivot shaft111on the first basket body11in a direction of approaching the first basket body11, so as to place the second basket body12in the closed position, and receive the tableware3in the receiving cavity S1, thus making it convenient to take the washing basket assembly1out of the dish-washing machine, thereby making it convenient for the user to take the tableware3or transfer the washing basket assembly1carried with the tableware3.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, one of the first basket body11and the second basket body12is provided with a protrusion portion122, the washing basket assembly1further includes a locking piece13, one end of the locking piece13is pivotably disposed to the other one of the first basket body11and the second basket body12, and the other end of the locking piece13is snap-connected with the protrusion portion122. In the examples shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, the first basket body11is provided with a rotating shaft113, the rotating shaft113can be fixed to an inner side of the first basket body11, the one end of the locking piece13can pivot on the first basket body11through its fit with the rotating shaft113; the second basket body12is provided with the protrusion portion122, and an end of the protrusion portion122is fixed to an inner side of the second basket body12.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the first basket body11is provided with two rotating shafts113symmetrically arranged. Accordingly, two protrusion portions122and two locking pieces13are provided and symmetrically arranged in corresponding positions, thus further improving the connection reliability between the first basket body11and the second basket body12.

Furthermore, the other end of the locking piece13has a locking groove131, and two opposite side walls1221of the protrusion portion122are snap-connected in the locking groove131. In the examples shown inFIGS. 1-3, the locking piece13is snap-connected with the protrusion portion122through the locking groove131, the two opposite side walls1221of the protrusion portion122are snap-connected in the locking groove131, and a shape of the locking groove131is matched with that of the protrusion portion122. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the protrusion portion122is low in middle and high at two sides, thus enabling the locking piece13to be firmly snap-connected with the protrusion portion122and not easy to be broken away from the protrusion portion122.

That is, when the second basket body12needs to be switched to the closed position, the second basket body12is rotated about the pivot shaft111in the direction of approaching the first basket body11, and when the second basket body12is rotated to the closed position, the locking piece13is then rotated to be snap-connected with the protrusion portion122, such that an upper part of the first basket body11and an upper part of the second basket body12are firmly connected, thereby constructing the receiving cavity S1having the opening, which is used for receiving the tableware3such as knives, forks, spoons and the like. In this case, the washing basket assembly1can be used as a tool for transferring the tableware3. When the second basket body12needs to be switched to the opened position, the locking piece13is rotated first, so that the locking piece13is disengaged from the protrusion portion122, and then the second basket body12is rotated about the pivot shaft111in the direction of running away from the first basket body11, till the opened position, in which case, the tableware3such as knives, forks, spoons and the like can be put on the second basket body12, and hence the space for placing the tableware3is increased.

According to another embodiment (not shown in the drawings) of the present disclosure, the second basket body12is slidably disposed to the first basket body11, that is, the second basket body12can move on the first basket body11by means of sliding. For example, one of the first basket body11and the second basket body12can be provided with a track, and correspondingly, the other one of the first basket body11and the second basket body12can be provided with a sliding block configured to be fitted with the track, such that the sliding block can slide on the track, and hence the second basket body12can slide on the first basket body11. When the first basket body11and the second basket body12move away from each other, the second basket body12is to be located in the opened position; when the first basket body11and the second basket body12approach each other, the second basket body12is to be located in the closed position.

A tray assembly100according to embodiments of the present disclosure includes a tray body2and the above washing basket assembly1for the dish-washing machine. The tray body2has a placing space, and the washing basket assembly1is put in the placing space and is snap-connected with the tray body2. That is, when washing the tableware3, the tableware3such as the knives, the forks, the spoons and the like to be washed are put in the washing basket assembly1, then the washing basket assembly1is put in the tray body2, such that when washing, taking and transferring the tableware3, it just needs to transfer the washing basket assembly1, rather than putting the tableware3in the tray one by one or picking up the tableware3from the tray one by one, thereby enabling taking and transfer of the tableware3to be convenient and efficient.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, as shown inFIGS. 4-7, a bottom portion of the tray body2has the square cell101. When washing the tableware3, water can enter the tray body2through the cell101, so as to be fully contacted with the tableware3, thereby reaching the purpose of cleaning the tableware3. When the washing is finished, the tray body2having the cell101can also facilitate draining or drying of the tableware3. The tray body2can also be provided with a coaming plate23, the coaming plate23can be arranged at en edge of the tray body2, so as to define the placing space together with the tray body2, thus effectively preventing the tableware3from slipping off from the tray body2.

It should be noted that, the washing basket assembly1can be put in the placing space in the tray body2, and also, the tableware3to be washed can be put in the placing space alone.

It could be understood that, the tray assembly100can further include a supporting frame24and a track roller25, the supporting frame24can be used to support the tray body2, and the track roller25can be provided to the supporting frame24, such that it is convenient to push the tray body2.

In the tray assembly100according to embodiments of the present disclosure, by providing the above washing basket assembly1, i.e. by the cooperative use of the tray body2and the washing basket assembly1, the taking and transfer of the tableware3are convenient and efficient.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, one of the first basket body11and the second basket body12is provided with a locking grip112, and the locking grip112is snap-connected with the tray body2. In examples shown inFIGS. 1 and 4, an upper end of the first basket body11of the washing basket assembly1is provided with the locking grip112, and the locking grip112is snap-connected to the coaming plate23at a right (such as a right direction shown inFIG. 4) side of the tray body2, such that the washing basket assembly1is firmly arranged in the placing space of the tray body2.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the placing space includes a first region Z21and a second region Z22distributed in a left and right direction (such as a left and right direction shown inFIGS. 4-7), the first basket body11is placed in the second region Z22, and when the second basket body12is located in the opened position, the second basket body12is placed in the first region Z21. Thus, a compact degree of the structure of the tray assembly100is improved, and also, a utility rate of the placing space is enhanced effectively.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a bottom wall221of the second region is located lower than a bottom wall211of the first region, such that when the second basket body12is located in the opened position, the second basket body12can be horizontally placed in the first region Z21, and hence the tableware3in the second basket body12can be placed steadily. In the example shown inFIG. 4, a vertical distance between the bottom wall211of the first region and the bottom wall221of the second region is substantially equivalent to a width of a bottom portion14of the washing basket assembly. When the washing basket assembly1is placed in the placing space in the tray, the bottom portion14of the washing basket assembly abuts against a vertical (an up and down direction shown inFIGS. 4-7) plane formed by the bottom wall211of the first region and the bottom wall221of the second region.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, as shown inFIGS. 4-7, two rows of tooth ribs27are arranged in a left side of the first region Z21and another two rows of tooth ribs27are arranged in a right side of the second region Z22. The two rows of tooth ribs27are used to separate the tableware3into groups or individuals, thereby avoiding the fact that the tableware3is gathered and piled under impact of the water flow when being washed and hence may not be cleaned, while keeping the tableware3in order. The two rows of tooth ribs27in the left side of the first region Z21are denser than the two rows of tooth ribs27in the right side of the second region Z22, such that when the second basket body12is located in the opened position, the tableware3can be neatly placed between the tooth ribs27.

That is, when the tray assembly100according to embodiments of the present disclosure is used for washing the tableware3, the tableware3can be placed in the washing basket assembly1, and then the washing basket assembly1can be placed in the tray for washing. When there is little tableware3to be washed or the user chooses to put the tableware3dispersedly, the second basket body12can be located in the closed position, in which case the whole washing basket assembly1is placed in the second region Z22, and when the washing is finished, the washing basket assembly1can be directly taken out and the clean tableware3is available. When there is much tableware3to be washed or the user chooses to put the tableware3in order, the second basket body12can be located in the opened position, in which case the first basket body11is located in the second region Z22and the second basket body12is located in the first region Z21, thus increasing the placing space of the tableware3. In this case, a part of the tableware3can be neatly placed between the two rows of tooth ribs27in the first region Z21.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a plurality of washing basket assemblies1are provided and arranged in the tray body2in a front and rear direction (a front and rear direction shown inFIGS. 4-7), such that the placing space for the tableware3can be increased according to requirements. In the example shown inFIG. 7, two washing basket assemblies1are provided in the placing space of the tray body2in the front and rear direction (the front and rear direction shown inFIG. 7). Front and rear regions where the two washing basket assemblies1are correspondingly located are partitioned by a baffle plate26, thus enabling the arrangement in the whole tray assembly100to be neat.

A dish-washing machine according to embodiments of the present disclosure includes the above tray assembly100.

In the dish-washing machine according to embodiments of the present disclosure, by providing the above tray assembly100, washing, taking and transfer of the tableware3are convenient and efficient.