Dishwashers

Abstract: A wall suspended dishwasher (1) comprises a cabinet provided with one or more downwardly projecting flanges (11) on the external rear facing wall thereof, the flanges (11) locating in corresponding upwardly projecting flanges (10) provided on a back plate (5) secured to a wall (18).

Description: This invention relates to dishwashers. Dishwashers have of course been known for many years. In many countries including the UK they have achieved only limited sales. By way of example it has been estimated that in the late 1980's 46% of US households only but 10% of UK households had dishwashers. A common perception of the reason for this is that such products are only purchased by members of social groups ABC1 and that even they have little interest in such products. It is believed that this reasoning is fallacious. The inhabitants of the UK are notoriously keen on leisure time as demonstrated for example by the very large time spent by many consumers watching television and video. The appetite seems almost insatiable and it is believed very surprising that automated washing-up has not been embraced more generally releasing at least some of the estimated 200-500 hours per annum spent on washing-up to activities more widely perceived as pleasurable. It is believed that the reason why the dishwasher is not more widely used is lack of space. Social groups AB and to a lesser extent C1 are more likely to have larger kitchens or utility rooms than social group D & E. Consequently ABC1 consumers are more likely to be able to accommodate a dishwasher. The average UK kitchen is small. Speculative builders, notably in the 1920's and 30's, built the cheapest houses they could. Small room sizes naturally were adopted as a means for reducing building cost. The kitchen was often constructed as small as possible consistent with accommodating a sink, cooker, and possibly fridge and/or boiler. Little room remains for the appliances introduced since that time. It will be noted that most kitchen have one so-called 'wet wall'. The wet wall is the one to which the sink, water, and waste pipes are attached. It is generally provided with a window. The automatic washing machine which is now almost ubiquitous requires water and waste pipes and hence is placed adjacent to the sink. The only remaining space is often too inaccessible to accommodate a further appliance. It might be possible to replace the sink by a 'slimline' model but this is often not acceptable because of cost and trouble and because of the convenience of storing pans under the sink. The validity of the above argument may perhaps be seen by noting that the microwave oven, a labour saving device which does not require a wet wall has been embraced whole-heartedly by the UK consumer with about half all households now having at least one. One possible solution is to provide a table-top dishwasher. The solution is not effective. First the unit occupies valuable working area. Secondly the unit is of small capacity. It is believed that dishwashers are only commercially acceptable if they are able to take at least 6 table settings. Although some take 6 table settings, most table top units take no more than 4. Finally table top units are often too expensive for the limited capacity they offer. The solution according to the invention is to provide a dishwasher which can be suspended on a wall. The dishwasher of some embodiments of the invention may accept no more than 12 International Place Settings. The conventional perception is that such dishwashers would not be usable. The perception is fallacious as will be seen. First wall mounted appliances are commercially acceptable. By way of example central heating boilers are widely wall mounted and have been eagerly adopted by large sections of the public. It might be argued that the two are not directly comparable as lifting is required into and out of a dishwasher but not a boiler. This is true but it will be noted that upright freezers and eye-level hobs are acceptable. DE-3-730 316 describes a wall mounted dishwasher. The basket is vertically movable without a horizontal component between a first, loading and unloading, position and a second, washing position. US-2 790 451 describes a wall mounted dishwasher. No means for raising or lowering the basket appear to be described. A number of features either alone or in conjunction with others are preferred because they may enhance the usability of the dishwasher of the invention. They will be discussed by reference to the accompanying drawings of which: Figure 1 is a front elevation of a dishwasher with the door opened; Figure 2 is an end elevation of the washer of Figure 1 mounted on the wall Figure 3 is an end elevation of a further washer mounted on a wall; Figure 4 is an end elevation of a washer with the basket lowered to the counter top (with the door omitted); The apparatus of the invention shown generally at 1 may conveniently be skinned by a casing, for example, of plastics material or steel. The apparatus 1 is suspended on a wall 18 and has a door 2 giving access to the interior of the machine. Door 2 is preferably hinged at one side as shown, but may be hinged at the top. Preferably it is not hinged at the base because the door 2 would be difficult to close. Controls 3,8 are provided at the base of the unit. They can include an on-off switch, programme control, filters, water softener supply and so forth. Water and waste pipes (4) are also provided. The size and shape of the unit is of some importance. Conventional floor mounted dishwashers are about 850 mm high, 600 mm wide and 600 mm deep. Breadth is not a major consideration except that many wall units are of standard width, 300, 500, 600 or 1000 mm nominal. 600 mm is a popular width. It may be convenient to use this width too although wider or narrower dishwashers may be employed. Depth is however of great concern. If it is too deep the unit will project too far forward restricting access to a work surface below. If too shallow then the dishwasher capacity will be reduced too much. A depth of around 300 mm is preferred for conformity with standard kitchen wall units. It has been found that even a relatively short adult can fill a wall mounted unit 720 mm or even 850 mm high. A dishwasher set in a case of nominal dimensions 720 x 600 x 300 will be found to have a capacity for seven or eight place settings yet still be fillable by an adult of normal or somewhat less than normal height. A 1000 mm width machine can also be provided having the capacity for 12 place settings. A washer for four or five settings can be obtained using a casing 500 mm high, 600 mm wide and 300 mm deep. In the invention the dishwasher is provided with lifting arms 7. In the embodiment shown each side of the case of the washer is provided with an arm 7. Both arms are pivotally mounted and at least one is provided with drive means for driving the arm around the pivot. In a straightforward driven embodiment the drive means can comprise a spring such as a coil spring. In other embodiments the arm can be driven hydraulically for example, via a dash pot or electromechanically by a stepper motor or a geared motor driving a drum. The arm may be hydraulically driven using the water pressure from the cold water inlet. The other end of each arm is pivotally mounted to the basket above the centre of gravity of the basket preferably substantially above the centre of gravity. The basket thus depends from the arms and may be swung from a first position with the washer to a second position with the basket outside the washer and lower than in the first position. With an appropriate positioning of the washer relative to a work-surface the basket can rest on the work-surface 12 in the second position. The drive means reduces or eliminates the effort required to raise and lower the basket into the washer. In this embodiment a single basket can be provided with two or more levels for placing articles to be washed. Alternatively, arms 7 may be mounted to a frame into which baskets may be placed. In some embodiments of the invention a basket 6 is also provided with skids or wheels allowing it to be transferred to or from the inner face of the door 2 for loading and unloading. It will be appreciated that in some embodiments door 2 need not extend as far as the upper basket 6 when the basket is in the second position and the door shut. This is useful in a small kitchen. In some embodiments of the invention, separate baskets may also be lifted into and out of the washer and may, for example be provided with rollers for running on tracks on the inner side walls of the washer. It is however necessary to have at least one basket pivotally supported. Most conventional dishwashers are square in plan. They are provided with a single spray arm (20) for each tray. Adequate coverage is obtained. Preferably in accordance with the invention a or each tray is provided with two spray arms. The washer of the invention is rectangular in plan and the use of two spray arms (20) results in more even coverage than would result from a single arm. In larger embodiments, the use of four spray arms may be preferable. A further advantage of this arrangement is that it allows operation in a "half load" mode, or even in a "quarter load" or "three quarter load" mode. In these modes articles to be washed would be placed in the basket(s) corresponding to the selection of 1/4, 1/2, 3/4 or full mode made via control knob 8 (Fig. 1) which in turn would actuate the respective spray arm(s). This advantage would result in a reduction of electrical energy, water and cleaning and rinsing agents providing reduced operating costs and effluent as compared with running a normal floor standing unit or say 12 IPC settings. A 7/8 place setting dishwasher of the invention (typically being 600 x 720 x 300 mm in size, complete with articles to be washed, water and cleaning agents typically weighs about 60 kg. It is perfectly feasible to spread such a load through the back plate which in turn distributes the weight on the wall. Most walls using the appropriate wall fixing can carry such loads. In some embodiments of the invention a back plate 5 is mounted on the wall, for example, by bolts in wall-plugs and then the dishwasher mounted on the back-plate 5. There are many suitable methods of mounting the washer on the back-plate. In one embodiment the back-plate is provided with a pair of upwardly projecting flanges 10. The back-panel is provided with a pair of downward projecting flanges 11 engaging with the flanges of the back-plate to support the dishwasher. Alternatively one flange could be substituted by one or more strong points through which bolts 9 pass to secure the dishwasher to the wall. Other changes and modifications will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art.

Claims: A dishwasher (1) suspendable from a wall (18), the dishwasher having a plurality of levels for carrying articles to be washed comprising at least one basket (6) for holding articles to be washed, characterised in that a basket is pivotally supported on a pivoting driven arm (7) for movement between a first, loading and unloading, position and a second, washing position. A dishwasher as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the arm (7) is driven by hydraulically using the water pressure of the dishwasher water supply. A dishwasher as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the arm (7) is driven by a spring. A dishwasher as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the arm (7) is driven electromechanically. A dishwasher as claimed in any one of the preceding claims suspended from a wall (18) by means of a back plate (5) securable to a wall (18) and provided with one or more upwardly projecting flanges locatable in corresponding downwardly projecting flanges provided on the rear wall of the dishwasher casing. A dishwasher as claimed in Claim 5 further comprising one or more bolts (9) securing the rear of the dishwasher (1) to the back plate (5).

Inventors: ARMOUR CYRIL LESLIE, ARMOUR, CYRIL LESLIE
Applicants: ARMOUR CYRIL LESLIE, ARMOUR, CYRIL LESLIE
Application year: 1993
Main classification: A47L15
IPC codes: A47L15