Easy load extendable/retractable bottom dishwasher rack

A new easy load extendable/retractable bottom dishwasher rack for raising to a height equal to that of a top rack. The inventive device includes a rack dimensioned for being received within a dishwasher. The rack is adapted for holding dishes and flatwares therein. The rack has a pair of upper tracks disposed on a lower surface thereof. A pair of lower tracks are provided with each having a pair of forward wheels and a pair of rearward wheels extending downwardly therefrom. The wheels are slidably received within opposed door tracks of a door of the dishwasher. A pair of scissor-action support assemblies extend between the pair of upper tracks and the pair of lower tracks. Lower ends of the support assemblies are coupled with the lower tracks. A forward lower end is pivotally coupled with the lower track. A rear lower end has a roller disposed thereon for being slidable within the lower tracks. Upper ends of the support assemblies are coupled with the upper tracks. The upper ends each have a pair of wheels coupled thereto with a space disposed between the wheels.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates to dishwasher racks and more particularly 
pertains to a new easy load extendable/retractable bottom dishwasher rack 
for raising to a height equal to that of a top rack. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
The use of dishwasher racks is known in the prior art. More specifically, 
dishwasher racks heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist 
basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, 
notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art 
which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and 
requirements. 
Known prior art dishwasher racks include U.S. Pat. No. 3,982,802 to Bailey; 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,573,663 to Nussbaum; U.S. Pat. No. Des. 289,812 to 
Alvemarker; U.S. Pat. No. 5,205,419 to Purtilo; U.S. Pat. No. 5,211,189 to 
Santarossa; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,053,073 to Franchin. 
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and 
requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new easy load 
extendable/retractabic bottom dishwasher rack. The inventive device 
includes a rack dimensioned for being received within a dishwasher. The 
rack is adapted for holding dishes and flatwares therein. The rack has a 
pair of upper tracks disposed on a lower surface thereof. A pair of lower 
tracks are provided with each having a pair of forward wheels and a pair 
of rearward wheels extending downwardly therefrom. The wheels are slidably 
received within opposed door tracks of a door of the dishwasher. A pair of 
scissor-action support assemblies extend between the pair of upper tracks 
and the pair of lower tracks. Lower ends of the support assemblies are 
coupled with the lower tracks. A forward lower end is pivotally coupled 
with the lower track. A rear lower end has a roller disposed thereon for 
being slidable within the lower tracks. Upper ends of the support 
assemblies are coupled with the upper tracks. The upper ends each have a 
pair of wheels coupled thereto with a space disposed between the wheels. 
In these respects, the easy load extendable/retractable bottom dishwasher 
rack according to the present invention substantially departs from the 
conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing 
provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of raising to a 
height equal to that of a top rack. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of 
dishwasher racks now present in the prior art, the present invention 
provides a new easy load extendable/retractable bottom dishwasher rack 
construction wherein the same can be utilized for raising to a height 
equal to that of a top rack. 
The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described 
subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new easy load 
extendable/retractable bottom dishwasher rack apparatus and method which 
has many of the advantages of the dishwasher racks mentioned heretofore 
and many novel features that result in a new easy load 
extendable/retractable bottom dishwasher rack which is not anticipated, 
rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art 
dishwasher racks, either alone or in any combination thereof. 
To attain this, the present invention generally comprises a rack 
dimensioned for being received within a dishwasher. The rack is adapted 
for holding dishes and flatwares therein. The rack has a pair of upper 
tracks disposed on a lower surface thereof. A pair of lower tracks are 
provided with each having a pair of forward wheels and a pair of rearward 
wheels extending downwardly therefrom. The wheels are slidably received 
within opposed door tracks of a door of the dishwasher. A pair of 
scissor-action support assemblies extend between the pair of upper tracks 
and the pair of lower tracks. Lower ends of the support assemblies arc 
coupled with the lower tracks. A forward lower end is pivotally coupled 
with the lower track. A rear lower end has a roller disposed thereon for 
being slidable within the lower tracks. Upper ends of the support 
assemblies are coupled with the upper tracks. The upper ends each have a 
pair of wheels coupled thereto with a space disposed between the wheels. A 
pair of spring-loaded pistons are disposed within the pair of upper 
tracks. The pistons extend between the pair of wheels of the upper ends of 
the support assemblies. Free ends of the pistons are positioned within the 
space between the pair of wheels and coupling with an axle thereof. The 
pistons pull the pair of wheels of the upper ends together to raise the 
rack with respect to the lower tracks and the dishwasher door. A pair of 
locking members are pivotally coupled with forward ends of the lower 
tracks. The locking members engage the rack in a lowered orientation and 
release the rack in a raised orientation. 
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features 
of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that 
follows may be better understood, and in order that the present 
contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional 
features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which 
will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention 
in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its 
application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the 
components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the 
drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being 
practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood 
that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose 
of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon 
which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the 
designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the 
several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, 
that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions 
insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present 
invention. 
Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent 
and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the 
scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar 
with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a 
cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of 
the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention 
of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to 
be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way. 
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new easy 
load extendable/retractable bottom dishwasher rack apparatus and method 
which has many of the advantages of the dishwasher racks mentioned 
heretofore and many novel features that result in a new easy load 
extendable/retractable bottom dishwasher rack which is not anticipated, 
rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art 
dishwasher racks, either alone or in any combination thereof. 
It is another object of the present invention to provide a new easy load 
extendable/retractable bottom dishwasher rack which may be easily and 
efficiently manufactured and marketed. 
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new easy load 
extendable/retractable bottom dishwasher rack which is of a durable and 
reliable construction. 
An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new easy 
load extendable/retractable bottom dishwasher rack which is susceptible of 
a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and 
which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the 
consuming public, thereby making such easy load extendable/retractable 
bottom dishwasher rack economically available to the buying public. 
Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new easy 
load extendable/retragtable bottom dishwasher rack which provides in the 
apparatuses and methods of the prior art some of the advantages thereof, 
while simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally 
associated therewith. 
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new easy load 
extendable/retractable bottom dishwasher rack for raising to a height 
equal to that of a top rack. 
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new easy load 
extendable/retractable bottom dishwasher rack which includes a rack 
dimensioned for being received within a dishwasher. The rack is adapted 
for holding dishes and flatwares therein. The rack has a pair of upper 
tracks disposed on a lower surface thereof. A pair of lower tracks are 
provided with each having a pair of forward wheels and a pair of rearward 
wheels extending downwardly therefrom. The wheels are slidably received 
within opposed door tracks of a door of the dishwasher. A pair of 
scissor-action support assemblies extend between the pair of upper tracks 
and the pair of lower tracks. Lower ends of the support assemblies are 
coupled with the lower tracks. A forward lower end is pivotally coupled 
with the lower track. A rear lower end has a roller disposed thereon for 
being slidable within the lower tracks. Upper ends of the support 
assemblies are coupled with the upper tracks. The upper ends each have a 
pair of wheels coupled thereto with a space disposed between the wheels. 
These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various 
features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with 
particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this 
disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating 
advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should 
be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there 
are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 11 
thereof, a new easy load extendable/retractable bottom dishwasher rack 
embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and 
generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described. 
As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 11, the easy load 
extendable/retractable bottom dishwasher rack 10 comprises a rack 12 
dimensioned for being received within a dishwasher 14. The rack 12 is 
adapted for holding dishes and flatwares therein. The rack 12 has a pair 
of upper tracks 16 disposed on a lower surface thereof. 
A pair of lower tracks 18 are provided with each having a pair of forward 
wheels 20 and a pair of rearward wheels 22 extending downwardly therefrom. 
The wheels 20,22 are slidably received within opposed door tracks 24 of a 
door 26 of the dishwasher 14. 
A pair of scissor-action support assemblies 28 extend between the pair of 
upper tracks 16 and the pair of lower tracks 18. Lower ends of the support 
assemblies 28 are coupled with the lower tracks 18. A forward lower end 30 
is pivotally coupled with the lower track 18. A rear lower end has a 
roller 32 disposed thereon for being slidable within the lower tracks 18. 
Upper ends of the support assemblies 28 are coupled with the upper tracks 
16. The upper ends each have a pair of wheels 34 coupled thereto with a 
space disposed between the wheels 34. 
A pair of spring-loaded pistons 36 are disposed within the pair of upper 
tracks 16. The pistons 36 extend between the pair of wheels 34 of the 
upper ends of the support assemblies 28. Free ends of the pistons 36 are 
positioned within the space between the pair of wheels 34 and coupling 
with an axle 38 thereof. The pistons 36 pull the pair of wheels 34 of the 
upper ends together to raise the rack 12 with respect to the lower tracks 
18 and the dishwasher door 26. 
A pair of locking members 40 are pivotally coupled with forward ends of the 
lower tracks 18. The locking members 40 engage the rack 12 in a lowered 
orientation and release the rack 12 in a raised orientation. 
Alternate means for raising and the lowering of the rack could be included 
in the present invention. Note FIGS. 10 and 11. A pair of motors 42 are 
disposed within the lower tracks 18. Each of the motors 42 have a threaded 
rod 44 extending forwardly therefrom for engaging the rollers 32 of the 
support assemblies 28. A pair of stop switches are in communication with 
the motor 42. The pair of stop switches include a first stop switch 46 for 
stopping the motor 42 at the raised orientation and a second stop switch 
48 for stopping the motor 42 in the lowered orientation whereby the 
switches will be contacted by the rollers 32. A pair of activation 
switches are disposed within the lower tracks 18 for being contacted by 
the pair of forward wheels 20. The activation switches are in 
communication with the motors 42. The activation switches include a first 
activation switch 50 for lifting the rack 12 and a second activation 
switch 52 for lowering the rack 12. 
As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of the 
present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. 
Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and 
operation will be provided. 
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the 
optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to 
include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of 
operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to 
one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those 
illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are 
intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the 
principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and 
changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired 
to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and 
dcscribed, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents m 
ay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.