Stemware support/cup shelf for dishwasher

A stemware support/cup shelf assembly disposed on a washware rack for supporting stemware and which also serves as a cup shelf, including: a frame having a front edge portion with a plurality of notches which support stemware, an upper shelf portion which serves as a cup shelf, and a rear edge portion having a pair of mounts for mounting the stemware support/cup shelf assembly to a side wall portion of the washware rack. Each of the pair of mounts is configured to allow the frame to rotate upward from a stowed position into a working angle position and then slide horizontally into a final locked position.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure relates generally to dishwasher appliances and to racks for holding dishware and glassware for a dishwasher. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a stemware support/cup shelf disposed on a washware rack for stemware such as wine glasses, and which also serves as a cup shelf for cups and other small items.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In general, most domestic dishwashers include two washware or dishware racks to support items to be washed such as dishware, glassware, kitchen utensils, pots, pans, and the like. Typically, the two washware racks include an upper washware rack positioned near a top portion of the dishwasher, and a lower washware rack arranged below the upper washware rack. The upper washware rack is used to support glassware, utensils, and other small items, while the lower washware rack is used to support larger items, such as dinner plates, large bowls, cooking sheets, and baking pans. Some dishwashers also include a third, top washware rack arranged immediately above a second or middle washware rack and for holding smaller items such as utensils, cups, and small bowls. The second, middle washware rack is in turn positioned above a first, bottom or lower washware rack inside the dishwashing compartment. The washware racks are normally formed from several discrete lengths of wire, welded together and then covered with a rubber or a plastic coating. Further, the various washware racks are typically formed with a plurality of vertically projecting, fixed tines and/or fixed ribs to support and organize the items placed on the washware rack.

Some dishwashers have devices for supporting the stems of wine glasses when the wine glasses are placed in a washware rack and which can also be used to support cups on an upper shelf area. Such devices may also have hinge mechanisms to allow them to be rotated upward when not in use to free up space in the washware rack.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

However, the above-described devices for supporting the stems of wine glasses have complicated hinge mechanisms that are difficult for a user to operate and are also costly to manufacture. Also, the complicated hinge mechanisms are more liable to break or malfunction with continued use.

An apparatus consistent with the present disclosure is directed to providing a stemware support/cup shelf assembly disposed on a washware rack of a dishwasher that is not only versatile, but is also easy for the user to operate and inexpensive to manufacture.

According to one aspect, the present disclosure provides a stemware support/cup shelf assembly disposed on a washware rack for supporting stemware and which also serves as a cup shelf, comprising: a frame having a front edge portion with a plurality of notches which support stemware, an upper shelf portion which serves as a cup shelf, and a rear edge portion having a pair of mounts for mounting the stemware support/cup shelf assembly to a side wall portion of the washware rack, wherein each of the pair of mounts is configured to allow the frame to rotate upward from a stowed position into a working angle position and then slide horizontally into a final locked position.

According to another aspect, each of the pair of mounts comprises a vertical slot and a horizontal slot which interact with a corresponding vertical wire of the side wall portion of the washware rack.

According to another aspect, the horizontal slot includes a retaining nub which clicks past the corresponding vertical wire of the side wall portion of the washware rack on condition that the frame of the stemware support/cup shelf assembly is slid into the final locked position.

According to another aspect, the frame comprises hinges which allow the frame to rotate downward into the stowed position along the side wall portion of the washware rack.

According to another aspect, the frame is supported by the hinges when in the stowed position along the side wall portion of the washware rack.

According to another aspect, the hinges are disposed along the rear edge portion next to the pair of mounts, the hinges allowing the frame to rotate about a horizontal wire of the side wall portion of the washware rack.

According to another aspect, the present disclosure provides a washware rack of a dishwasher, comprising: a basket formed by a plurality of wire shaped elements, the plurality of wire shaped elements including a bottom portion and a side wall portion; and at least one stemware support/cup shelf assembly disposed on the side wall portion of the basket for supporting stemware and which also serves as a cup shelf, the at least one stemware support/cup shelf assembly including a frame having a front edge portion with a plurality of notches which support stemware, an upper shelf portion which serves as a cup shelf, and a rear edge portion having a pair of mounts for mounting the at least one stemware support/cup shelf assembly to the side wall portion of the basket, wherein each of the pair of mounts is configured to allow the frame to rotate upward from a stowed position into a working angle position and then slide into a final locked position.

According to another aspect, each of the pair of mounts comprises a vertical slot and a horizontal slot which interact with a corresponding vertical wire of the side wall portion of the basket.

According to another aspect, the horizontal slot includes a retaining nub which clicks past the corresponding vertical wire of the side wall portion of the basket on condition that the frame of the at least one stemware support/cup shelf assembly is slid into the final locked position.

According to another aspect, the frame comprises hinges which allow the frame to rotate downward into the stowed position along the side wall portion of the basket.

According to another aspect, the frame is supported by the hinges when in the stowed position along the side wall portion of the basket.

According to another aspect, the washware rack further comprises another of the at least one stemware support/cup shelf assembly such that there is a pair of stemware support/cup shelf assemblies disposed on the side wall portion of the basket, with each one of the pair of stemware support/cup shelf assemblies having three notches configured to support a like number of stemware.

According to another aspect, the hinges are disposed along the rear edge portion next to the pair of mounts, the hinges allowing the frame to rotate about a horizontal wire of the plurality of wire shaped elements of the side wall portion of the washware rack.

According to another aspect, the present disclosure provides a dishwasher, comprising: a dishwashing compartment having a loading opening; a door configured to close the loading opening; at least one washware rack configured as a basket formed by a plurality of wire shaped elements, the plurality of wire shaped elements including a bottom portion and a side wall portion and being configured for movement out of and into the dishwashing compartment; and at least one stemware support/cup shelf assembly disposed on the side wall portion of the basket for supporting stemware and which also serves as a cup shelf, the at least one stemware support/cup shelf assembly including a frame having a front edge portion with a plurality of notches which support stemware, an upper shelf portion which serves as a cup shelf, and a rear edge portion having a pair of mounts for mounting the at least one stemware support/cup shelf assembly to the side wall portion of the basket, wherein each of the pair of mounts is configured to allow the frame to rotate upward from a stowed position into a working angle position and then slide into a final locked position.

According to another aspect, each of the pair of mounts comprises a vertical slot and a horizontal slot which interact with a corresponding vertical wire of the side wall portion of the basket.

According to another aspect, the horizontal slot includes a retaining nub which clicks past the corresponding vertical wire of the side wall portion of the basket on condition that the frame of the at least one stemware support/cup shelf assembly is slid into the final locked position.

According to another aspect, the frame comprises hinges which allow the frame to rotate downward into the stowed position along the side wall portion of the basket.

According to another aspect, the frame is supported by the hinges when in the stowed position along the side wall portion of the basket.

According to another aspect, the dishwasher further comprises another of the at least one stemware support/cup shelf assembly such that there is a pair of stemware support/cup shelf assemblies disposed on the side wall portion of the basket, with each one of the pair of stemware support/cup shelf assemblies having three notches configured to support a like number of stemware.

According to another aspect, the hinges are disposed along the rear edge portion next to the pair of mounts, the hinges allowing the frame to rotate about a horizontal wire of the plurality of wire shaped elements of the side wall portion of the washware rack.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Moreover, it should be understood that terms such as top, bottom, front, rear, middle, upper, lower, right side, left side, vertical, horizontal, downward, upward, and the like used herein are for orientation purposes with respect to the drawings when describing the exemplary embodiments and should not limit the present invention unless explicitly indicated otherwise in the claims. Also, terms such as substantially, approximately, and about are intended to allow for variances to account for manufacturing tolerances, measurement tolerances, or variations from ideal values that would be accepted by those skilled in the art.

FIG. 1is a front perspective view of a dishwasher appliance100according to an exemplary embodiment consistent with present disclosure, with the door D open so as to reveal the dishwashing compartment101having a loading opening102and including a third, top washware rack200that is positioned immediately above a second or middle washware rack300. The middle washware rack300is in turn positioned above a first, bottom or lower washware rack400. As will be described in detail below, the middle washware rack300, for example, is provided with a pair of stemware support/cup shelf assemblies10(see alsoFIGS. 2-9) disposed on the side wall portion of the middle washware rack300, including a rear stemware support/cup shelf assembly10A and a front stemware support/cup shelf assembly10B, according to an exemplary embodiment consistent with the present disclosure. Note that the reference numeral10is used hereinafter to denote the stemware support/cup shelf assembly in general which can refer to either one of the rear stemware support/cup shelf assembly10A or the front stemware support/cup shelf assembly10B separately, or can also refer to both of them together as a pair.

As shown inFIG. 1, the dishwasher appliance100may also include rotating sprayer arms S1and S2, and a drain103in a tub104. The door D may include a washing agent dispenser WAD (seeFIG. 2). Also, although not shown, as is known in the art, the dishwasher appliance100includes a pump and filter assembly, a heating element, a drain hose, and can include additional spray devices. A detailed description of the suitable structure and operation of the dishwasher appliance100does not form part of the present disclosure, but can be found, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 9,445,703 and 9,510,729 which are incorporated herein by reference.

More specifically, the first, bottom or lower washware rack400is configured as a basket for holding larger plates, large bowls, pans, cookware such as a cooking sheet, etc. The bottom or lower washware rack400is configured as a basket410that includes a sidewall portion including front401, rear (not shown), and opposing side walls403(one of which is visible) interconnected with a bottom portion404and formed by a plurality of wire shaped elements. The bottom or lower washware rack400may include a plurality of vertically extending tines or tine members TM. At the bottom portion of the bottom or lower washware rack400at the left and right sides thereof, rollers415are provided and are configured to run on corresponding flanges or tracks TS on the inside wall of the dishwashing compartment101and also on an inside surface of the door D, as is conventional in the art. The bottom washware rack400can include a handle445.

The second or middle washware rack300is positioned immediately above the bottom washware rack400. The middle washware rack300is configured as a basket to hold medium sized dishes, bowls such as medium sized bowls, and glasses. The middle washware rack300includes front301, rear302, and opposing side walls303(one of which is visible) interconnected with a bottom portion304and formed by a plurality of wire shaped elements. The bottom portion304includes a plurality of forms305and adjustable tine rows306,306′ for holding items in place on the middle washware rack300. The middle washware rack300has water feed307for the spray arm S1(see alsoFIG. 2). The middle washware rack300can include a handle345. As noted above, the middle washware rack300, for example, is provided with a pair of stemware support/cup shelf assemblies10. In this case, as shown inFIG. 1, the rear stemware support/cup shelf assembly10A is shown in a use or working position and the front stemware support/cup shelf assembly10B is shown in a stowed position along one of the side walls303in order to free up space in the middle washware rack300for other types of dishware.

As noted above, the bottom washware rack400and the middle washware racks300are formed of wire shaped elements that are configured to have a basket shape. The wire shaped elements of the bottom and middle washware racks400and300, respectively, may be formed of solid plastic, metal wire coated with plastic or rubber, or composite materials.

As shown inFIG. 1, the third, top washware rack200is configured to hold cutlery and washware which is larger than cutlery such as, but not limited to, small dishes, bowls, cups, as well as cooking utensils. The third, top washware rack200includes front201, rear (not shown), and opposing side walls (not shown) and can be a combination of a wire frame covered with a plastic piece, or entirely out of plastic. The third, top washware rack200can also be formed by a plurality of wire shaped elements formed either entirely out of metal (such as stainless steel), or metal (such as carbon steel) dipped in, for example, a Nylon powder so that the wire is coated. The third, top washware rack200can include a form or recess205on the front wall201for mounting thereon a handle245.

The stemware support/cup shelf assembly10will now be described with reference toFIGS. 2-9. While the stemware support/cup shelf assembly10is described below in connection with the middle washware rack300, other washware racks, such as the lower washware rack400or upper washware rack200can also be configured to accommodate stemware support/cup shelf assemblies10consistent with the present disclosure.

FIG. 2is a fragmentary perspective view of the middle washware rack300with a pair of the stemware support/cup shelf assemblies10supporting four stemmed wine glasses WG according to an exemplary embodiment consistent with the present disclosure. In this case, the rear stemware support/cup shelf assembly10A and the front stemware support/cup shelf assembly10B are both shown in the use position. The middle washware rack300may be mounted on telescopic rail assemblies TR (only one of which is visible inFIG. 2) disposed at opposite sides of the middle washware rack300.FIG. 7shows upper and lower rollers R mounted on one side wall303of the middle washware rack300and which are configured to roll on the telescopic rail assembly TR. The rollers R are provided on both sides303of the middle washware rack300. As will be discussed in more detail below, each stemware support/cup shelf assembly10A and10B comprises a shelf-shaped part that clips rotatably to a side wall of a washware rack such as, for example, the side wall303of the middle washware rack300. Each stemware support/cup shelf assembly10A and10B may be formed of a plastic material such as, but not limited to, mineral filled polypropylene.

With reference toFIG. 2, one of the adjustable tine rows306′ is rotated down in a non-use position, while the other tine row306is rotated upward in a use position. The shelf-shaped part of the stemware support/cup shelf assembly10comprises a frame F having a front edge portion20with a plurality of notches N which support stemware, an upper shelf portion22which serves as a cup shelf CS, and a rear edge portion24having a pair of mounts30and32for rotatably mounting the stemware support/cup shelf assembly10to the side wall portion303of the middle washware rack300.

The plurality of notches N support stemware such as, but not limited to, the stemmed wine glasses WG. In this case, while three notches N are shown in each of the stemware support/cup shelf assemblies10, clearly more or less notches N can be used. Also, while four stemmed wine glasses WG are shown inFIG. 2, six smaller stemware such as, for example, champagne flutes could be supported at one time by the six notches N. As best seen inFIGS. 2 and 4C, each notch N can include a pair of support bumps SB to aid in supporting the stem portion of stemware such as a stemmed wine glass WG.

FIGS. 3A-3Care various views of the stemware support/cup shelf assembly10according to an exemplary embodiment consistent with the present disclosure. In particular,FIG. 3Ashows one stemware support/cup shelf assembly10rotated downward into the stowed position along the side wall portion identified generally as SP (corresponding to side wall303) of the washware rack300which is configured as a basket B. The rear edge portion24of the frame F also includes a pair of hinges40and42on which the frame F is supported when in the stowed position along the side wall portion SP of the basket B which forms the washware rack300and which allow the frame F to rotate about an upper horizontal wire UHW of the side wall portion SP. Each of the pair of mounts30and32is configured to allow the frame F to rotate upward (seeFIGS. 3B and 3C) from the stowed position (seeFIG. 3A) into a working angle position of approximately 25 degrees upward from a horizontal position (seeFIGS. 4A, 4B, 6, and 7) and then slide horizontally into a final locked position (seeFIGS. 4C and 4D). A structural support portion SS may also be included along the lower edge of the rear edge portion24between the two mounts30and32(see especiallyFIGS. 3C and 5-7). The structural support portion SS is an elongated, horizontal extension from the rear edge portion24that includes a recess or rounded groove25into which the upper horizontal wire UHW of the side wall portion SP of the basket B is inserted and serves to support the frame F against the upper horizontal wire UHW when cups, for example, are loaded on the cup shelf CS.

The hinges40and42allow the frame F to rotate or pivot about the upper horizontal wire UHW as the stemware support/cup shelf assembly10is rotated between the use or working position and the non-use or stowed position. In this regard, note that each hinge40and42includes a recessed portion40P near its base (one of which is visible inFIG. 3A) into which the upper horizontal wire UHW fits and which allows the frame F to rotate or pivot about the upper horizontal wire UHW, and a hinge lock40L. In this regard, note that the hinge locks40L flex away when the stemware support/cup shelf assembly10is installed on the upper horizontal wire UHW of the washware rack300and then snap back into place, so that the hinges40and42are locked to the upper horizontal wire UHW.

As best shown inFIGS. 3A, 4A-4D, and 5, each of the pair of mounts30and32comprises a vertical slot VS and a horizontal slot HS which interact with a corresponding vertical wire VW of the side wall portion SP of the basket B which forms the washware rack300. The horizontal slot HS includes a retaining nub35which clicks past the corresponding vertical wire VW of the side wall portion SP of the basket B on condition that the frame F of the stemware support/cup shelf assembly10is slid into the final locked position, as shown inFIG. 4D.

As best shown inFIGS. 3A, 4A, 5 and 6, the frame F is configured as a shelf-shaped part having a generally rectangular outer rim50and a set of spaced apart ribs52extending from front to back of the frame F and another set of ribs54extending from side-to-side of the frame F, so that the ribs52and54are perpendicular to each other and form a grate-shaped structure G which allows water to drain therethrough. The ribs54extending from side-to-side of the frame F have small projections55extending upwardly therefrom. Additional larger projections60extend from the side edges of the outer rim50and also from a center rib52A. The small projections55and larger projections60serve as retaining members to retain cups that are placed on the grate-shaped structure G of the cup shelf CS.FIG. 8shows one of the stemware support/cup shelf assemblies10being used as a cup shelf CS with two cups, e.g., a small cup SC and a large cup LC, shown on the cup shelf CS.

As best shown inFIGS. 3A, 3B, 3C, and 6, the bottom of the outer rim50of the frame F as well as the bottom of the ribs52can include rounded cutouts65(note that only one cutout is visible inFIGS. 3A and 3C) which are configured to fit over a lower horizontal wire LHW when the frame F is in a stowed position along the side wall portion SP of the basket B (seeFIG. 3A).

FIG. 9is a fragmentary perspective view of a washware rack300in the form of a basket B with a pair of the stemware support/cup shelf assemblies10, with the rear stemware support/cup shelf assembly10A supporting a stemmed wine glass WG and a large cup LC and the front stemware support/cup shelf assembly10B being shown in a stowed position along the side wall portion SP of the basket B.

When in operation, in order to change one of the stemware support/cup shelf assemblies10from a stowed position (shown inFIG. 3A) to a final locked position for use (shown inFIGS. 4D, and 5-8), the user grabs ahold of the frame F such as at the outer rim50and begins to rotate the front edge portion20of the frame F away from the side wall portion SP and continues to rotate the frame F upward about the recessed portions40P of the hinges40and42and also about the structural support portion SS on the upper horizontal wire UHW while at the same time the vertical slots VS allow the vertical wires VW of the side portion SP of the basket B to move therethrough (seeFIGS. 3B and 3C). The user continues to rotate the frame F upward until the upper shelf portion22of the frame F is at the final working angle of about 25 degrees up from horizontal (seeFIGS. 4A and 4B). Then, the user slides the frame F horizontally or sideways (in this case, forward toward the front of the basket B) such that the horizontal slot HS slides with respect to the vertical wire VW of the side wall portion SP of the basket B until the retaining nub35clicks past the vertical wire VW (seeFIGS. 4C and 4D), such that the frame F of the stemware support/cup shelf assembly10is slid into the final locked position (seeFIGS. 4D, and 5-8). The user can now support wine glasses WG by resting the cup portions (also referred to as the liquid retaining portions) of the wine glasses WG on bottom portion (e.g., the bottom portion304) of the basket B and by resting the stems of the wine glasses WG in the notches N, such that the cup portions of the wine glasses WG are pointed toward the dishwasher water spray jets from the spray arm S1(seeFIGS. 1, 2, and 7), or support large cups LC and/or small cups SC or other small dishes or items (seeFIG. 8) on the cup shelf CS, or support both a wine glass WG in one of the notches N and a cup such as a large cup LC on the cup shelf CS (seeFIG. 9).

To again place the stemware support/cup shelf assembly10in the stowed position along the side wall portion SP of the basket B, the user simply reverses the above steps by pushing the frame F horizontally in an opposite direction or toward the back of the basket B such that the retaining nubs35move past and free up the vertical wires VW, and the frame F continues to move with respect to the vertical wires VW along the horizontal slots HS until the vertical slots VS are in alignment with the vertical wires VW. Then, the user can rotate the frame F down about the hinges40and42that are rotatably clipped on the upper horizontal wire UHW while the vertical slots VS allow the vertical wires VW to move therethrough until the frame F is positioned along the side wall portion SP of the basket B and the rounded cutouts65fit over the lower horizontal wire LHW. The frame F is supported by the hinges40and42in the stowed position (seeFIG. 3A).

Accordingly, consistent with the present disclosure, each of the stemware support/cup shelf assemblies10has two functions: 1) to support the stems of one or more wine glasses or similar stemware type glasses, while at the same time holding the stemware in a position so that the cup portion of the glass is pointed toward the dishwasher water spray jets to permit effective cleaning of the glass; and 2) to provide a flat shelf area where cups and other small dishes and items can be arranged for washing.

The present invention has substantial opportunity for variation without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. For example, while the middle washware rack300is provided with stemware support/cup shelf assemblies10, other washware racks, such as the lower washware rack or upper washware rack can also be configured to accommodate stemware support/cup shelf assemblies10consistent with the present disclosure. Also, the various features described in connection with a particular embodiment can be used (mixed and matched) with the other embodiments wherever appropriate.