Abstract:
A rack apparatus of a dishwasher disclosed, the apparatus comprising a rack disposed in the dishwasher for washing targets to be washed contained in a wash tub and configured to receive the targets to be washed, rack rails fixedly installed at the rack, and rail guides each having a plurality of rail supporting portions longitudinally disposed at the wash tub and configured to slidably support the rack rails. A rack apparatus of a dishwasher disclosed in another aspect comprises a rack disposed in the dishwasher for washing targets to be washed contained in a wash tub and configured to receive the targets to be washed, rack rails fixedly installed at the rack, and rail guides each having a plurality of rail supporting portions longitudinally disposed at the wash tub and configured to slidably support the rack rails, wherein the rack rails are simultaneously coupled to two or more rack rail supporting portions. Accordingly, the height of the rack can easily be adjusted according to requirements, such as dishes to be contained in the rack, the rack can move more safely, and the weight of dishes to be contained in the rack can increase.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present disclosure relates to subject matter contained in priority Korean Application No. 10-2007-0090135, filed on Sep. 5, 2007, which is herein expressly incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a dishwasher, and particularly, to a rack apparatus of a dishwasher. 
     2. Background of the Invention 
     A dishwasher is a machine for washing garbage remaining on a dishware (e.g., dishes, cups, bowls and the like) by injecting a high pressure of washing water onto the dishes contained in a wash tub or washing chamber. Such dishwasher is configured such that dishes are washed using washing water containing detergent and the washed dishes are dried. 
     The dishwasher typically has a rack for containing dishes. The rack can be extended or retracted forwardly or backwardly along rack guides of the wash tub. The extension or retraction of the rack is implemented by a sliding motion of the rack with respect to the rack guides. 
     However, the related art dishwasher has been configured to have a fixed height of the rack received in the wash tub. Thus, it was not easy to adjust the height of the rack, resulting in an inconvenience of receiving dishes in different sizes. 
     In particular, for a small dishwasher having a wash tub with a relatively small space, a difficulty in adjusting the height of the rack has caused a degradation of space utilization, and thereby it was difficult to contain dishes in the wash tub. 
     Furthermore, the related art dishwasher has been configured such that the rack is supported by the rack guides of the wash tub. Accordingly, a limitation on the supporting force of the rack guides restricts the weight of dishes capable of being contained in the rack. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a rack apparatus of a dishwasher capable of adjusting a height of a rack within a wash tub. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a rack apparatus of a dishwasher having a structure capable of improving a supporting force of a rack coupled to a wash tub. 
     To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the present invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, there is provided a rack apparatus of a dishwasher including a rack disposed in the dishwasher for washing targets to be washed contained in a wash tub and configured to receive the targets to be washed, rack rails fixedly installed at the rack, and rail guides each having a plurality of rail supporting portions longitudinally disposed at the wash tub and configured to slidably support the rack rails. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, a rack apparatus of a dishwasher may include a rack disposed in the dishwasher for washing targets to be washed contained in a wash tub and configured to receive the targets to be washed. rack rails fixedly installed at the rack, and rail guides each having a plurality of rail supporting portions longitudinally disposed at the wash tub and configured to slidably support the rack rails, wherein the rack rails are simultaneously coupled to two or more rack rail supporting portions. 
     According to a rack apparatus of a dishwasher of the present invention, a plurality of rail grooves formed in rail guides installed at the wash tub can be engaged with rack rails formed at a rack, so as to enable an adjustment of the height of the rack. Thus, the height of the rack can easily be adjusted according to requirements, such as sizes of dishes to be contained in the rack. 
     Also, in the rack apparatus of the dishwasher, as the plurality of rail grooves are engaged with the rack rails, the load of the rack can be divided and supported at least two portions of the rail guides. Therefore, the supporting force for the rack can be enhanced, which allows the rack to move more safely, thereby increasing the weight of dishes to be contained in the rack. 
     The foregoing and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention. 
       In the drawings: 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic view of a dishwasher in accordance with a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view showing a rack employed in the rack apparatus in accordance with the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view showing a wash tub having rail guides employed in the rack apparatus in accordance with the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view showing a coupled state between the rail guides and the rack taken along the line I-I′ of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a front view showing a coupled state of the rack to the upper sides of the rail guides in accordance with the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a front view showing a coupled state of the rack to the lower sides of the rail guides in accordance with the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view showing a rack employed in a rack apparatus in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Description will now be given in detail of a rack apparatus in a dishwasher according to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic view of a dishwasher in accordance with a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , a dishwasher according to a first exemplary embodiment may include a wash tub  110  installed inside a casing  101 , a door  102  for opening/closing the wash tub  110 , and a rack  103  installed in the wash tub  110  for containing a dishware (e.g., dishes, cups, bowls, and the like). 
     Also, the dishwasher  100  may further include a sump  106  installed in a lower portion of the wash tub  110  for containing washing water, an impeller  107  configured to pump the washing water contained in the sump  106 , and a washing motor  108  for driving the impeller  107 . 
     The dishwasher  100  may further include a nozzle apparatus  105  and a rotary nozzle  104  all for injecting washing water pumped from the sump  106  onto the dishes to be washed. The nozzle apparatus  105  is fixed to a rear side of the wash tub  110  to inject washing water onto the dishes. The rotary nozzle  104  is rotated by an injection pressure of washing water below the rack  103 , thus to inject washing water onto the dishes. By injecting the washing water, garbage on the dishes can be removed and thusly the dishes can be washed up. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view showing a rack employed in the rack apparatus in accordance with the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention,  FIG. 3  is a perspective view showing a wash tub having rail guides employed in the rack apparatus in accordance with the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and  FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view showing a coupled state between the rail guides and the rack taken along the line I-I′ of  FIG. 3 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2 to 4 , the rack apparatus according to the first exemplary embodiment may include a rack  200  and rail guides  400  and  450 . 
     The rack  200  is configured to contain dishes, targets to be washed in the dishwasher  100 . Such rack  200  includes a rack frame  201  configuring a hexahedral frame, and meshes  202  formed at surfaces defined by the rack frame  201  excluding an upper surface. Washing water can flow through the meshes  202  but dishes can be kept accommodated therein. 
     An upper left rack rail  210  and a lower left rack rail  230  are longitudinally installed at a left side surface of the rack  200 . An upper right rack rail  220  and a lower right rack rail  240  are longitudinally installed at a right side surface of the rack  200 . 
     The rack rails  210 ,  220 ,  230  and  240  are installed at the right and left side surfaces of the rack  200  to extend in a back and forth direction. The rack rails  210 ,  220 ,  230  and  240  are thusly slid together with the rack  200 , such that the rack  200  can move along rail guides (see  400  and  450  of  FIG. 3 ). Each body of the rack rails  210 ,  220 ,  230  and  240  is engaged with each rail groove (see  410 ,  420 ,  430 ,  460 ,  470  and  480  of  FIG. 3 ) of the rail guides  400  and  450 . 
     Rear sides of the rack rails  210 ,  220 ,  230  and  240  are provided with stoppers  211 ,  221 ,  231  and  241 . The stoppers  211 ,  221 ,  231  and  241  protrude upwardly from the bodies of the rack rails  210 ,  220 ,  230  and  240 , respectively. The stoppers  211  and  231  slide within stopper moving holes (e.g.,  411 ,  421  and  431  of  FIG. 3 ) of the rail guides  400 , and contact with front and rear ends of the stopper moving holes  411 ,  421  and  431 , thereby restricting the movement range of the rack  200 . Such stoppers  211 ,  221 ,  231  and  241  can prevent the rack  200  from being freely separated from the rail guides  400  and  450 . 
     The rail guides  400  and  450  are coupled to left and right inner side surfaces of the wash tub  110 . The rail guides  400  and  450  are coupled so as to allow the left and right sides of the rack  200  to be movable. The rail guides  400  and  450  guide the sliding motion of the rack rails  210 ,  220 ,  230  and  240 , such that the rack  200  can be extended from the wash tub  110  or be retracted in the wash tub  110 . 
     Hereinafter, the left side rail guide  400  will be described, and such description will be equally applied to the right side rail guide  450 . 
     An upper rail groove  410 , an intermediate rail groove  420  and a lower rail groove  430  are longitudinally formed in the left side rail guide  400  with a certain height difference therebetween. The upper rail groove  410 , the intermediate rail groove  420  and the lower rail groove  430  are configured to penetrate in a back and forth direction of the left rail guide  400 . 
     The rail grooves  410 ,  420  and  430  are engaged with the upper left rack rail  210  and the lower left rack rail  230  of the rack  200 . In detail, the upper left rack rail  210  and the lower left rack rail  230  may be engaged with a pair of upper side rail groove  410  and intermediate rail groove  420  or a pair of intermediate rail groove  420  and lower rail groove  430 . The plurality of pairs of the rail grooves  41 ,  420  and  430  and the rack rails  210  and  230  implement support points, respectively, so as to divide and support the load of the rack  200 . 
     With such configuration, since the height of the rack  200  is changeable, the height of the rack  200  can be adjusted according to requirements, such as the size of dish to be contained or the like. 
     Also, a pair of rail grooves  410 ,  420  and  430  are engaged with a pair of rack rails  210  and  230 . Accordingly, the load of the rack  200  can be divided and supported at least two portions of the rail guide  400  along a direction in which the load of the rack  200  is applied. Therefore, the supporting force for the rack  200  can be enhanced, such that the rack  200  can safely move and the weight of dishes to be contained in the rack  200  can increase. 
     Here, it has been described that the pair of rail grooves  410 ,  420  and  430  are engaged with the pair of rack rails  210  and  230 ; however, it is merely illustrative. That is, other embodiments in which the more number of rail grooves are engaged with the more number of rack rails may be proposed, which will be covered by the scope of the present invention. 
     In the meantime, stopper moving holes  411 ,  421  and  431  are formed in upper sides of the rail grooves  410 ,  420  and  430 , respectively. The stopper moving holes  411 ,  421  and  431  are configured to communicate respectively with the rail grooves  410 ,  420  and  430  and have front and rear ends blocked. 
     The stoppers  211  and  231  of the rack rails  210  and  230  can move back and forth in the stopper moving holes  411 ,  421  and  431 , cooperating with the movement of the rack rails  210  and  230 . The stopper  211  and  231  can be stopped by being blocked at front and rear ends of the stopper moving holes  411 ,  421  and  431 . 
       FIGS. 5 and 6  are views showing that the height of the rack of the rack apparatus is adjusted at the rail guides in accordance with the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 5  is a front view showing a coupled state of the rack to the upper sides of the rail guides in accordance with the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and  FIG. 6  is a front view showing a coupled state of the rack to the lower sides of the rail guides in accordance with the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     Hereinafter, description will be given of how the height of the rack of the rack apparatus is adjusted in accordance with the first exemplary embodiment, with reference to  FIGS. 5 and 6 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the upper left rack rail  210  and the lower left rack rail  230  are movably coupled to the upper rail groove  410  and the intermediate rail groove  420  of the left rail guide  400 , respectively. Also, the upper right rack rail  220  and the lower right rack rail  240  are movably coupled to the upper rail groove  460  and the intermediate rail groove  470  of the right rail guide  450 , respectively. 
     Accordingly, the rack  200  is spaced apart from the upper end of the wash tub  110  by a certain height h 1 . Supporting forces are applied respectively to the pair of the upper rail groove  410  and the upper left rack rail  210  of the left rail guide  400  and the pair of intermediate rail groove  420  and the lower left rack rail  230  of the left rail guide  400 . Also, supporting forces are applied respectively to the pair of upper rail groove  460  and the upper right rack rail  220  of the right rail guide  450  and the pair of the intermediate rail groove  470  and the lower right rack rail  240  of the right rail guide  450 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , the height of the rack  200  can be adjusted according to requirements, such as the sizes of dishes to be contained, the weight of such dishes, and the like. 
     In detail, the upper left rack rail  210  and the lower left rack rail  230  are movably coupled to the intermediate rail groove  420  and the lower rail groove  430  of the left rail guide  400 , respectively. Also, the upper right rack rail  220  and the lower right rack rail  240  are movably coupled to the intermediate rail groove  470  and the lower rail groove  480  of the right rail guide  450 , respectively. 
     Accordingly, the rack  200  can be spaced apart from the upper end of the wash tub  110  with a certain height h 2  higher than the height h 1 . Supporting points are defined at the pair of the intermediate rail groove  420  and the upper left rack rail  210  of the left rail guide  400  and the pair of lower rail groove  430  and the lower side rack rail  230  of the left rail guide  400 . Also, supporting points are defined at the pair of intermediate rail groove  470  and the upper right rack rail  220  of the left rail guide  450  and the pair of lower rail groove  480  and the lower right rack rail  240 . 
     As such, the plurality of supporting points are defined between the rack  200  and the rail guides  400  and  450 , such that the height of the rack  200  can be easily varied according to the requirements. 
     Hereinafter, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawing. For the sake of brief explanation, the same configuration can be understood by the previous description thereof, and thusly it will not be repeated. 
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view showing a rack employed in the rack apparatus in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention. 
     As shown in  FIG. 7 , a rack  300  configuring part of the rack apparatus in accordance with the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention may include, at its both side surfaces, an upper left supporting cover  350 , a lower left supporting cover  370 , an upper right supporting cover  360  and a lower right supporting cover  380 . 
     An upper left rack rail  310 , a lower left rack rail  330 , an upper right rack rail  320  and a lower right rack rail  340  are movably coupled respectively to the upper left supporting cover  350 , the lower left supporting cover  370 , the upper right supporting cover  360  and the lower right supporting cover  380 . Each of the covers  350 ,  360 ,  370  and  380  is configured to cover each of the rack rails  310 ,  320 ,  330  and  340 . 
     With such configuration, the rack  300  can be slid along the rack rails  310 ,  320 ,  330  and  340 . Thus, the rack rails  310 ,  320 ,  330  and  340  forwardly move along the rail guides  400  and  500 , and thusly the rack  300  can further forwardly move along the rack rails  310 ,  320 ,  330  and  340 . Accordingly, the rack  300  can further move forwardly in an increased range. Therefore, it is facilitated to contain dishes in the rack  300 . 
     Protrusion moving grooves  351 ,  361 ,  371  and  381  are formed at front portions of the supporting covers  350 ,  360 ,  370  and  380 , respectively. Forward move restricting protrusions  312 ,  322 ,  332  and  342  which are movably inserted in the protrusion moving grooves  351 ,  361 ,  371  and  381  are formed at front portions of the rack rails  310 ,  320 ,  330  and  340 . 
     The forward move restricting protrusions  312 ,  322 ,  332  and  342  move in the protrusion moving grooves  351 ,  361 ,  371  and  381 , respectively. After the movement, the forward move restricting protrusions  312 ,  322 ,  332  and  342  are blocked by the rear ends of the protrusion moving grooves  351 ,  361 ,  371  and  381 , respectively. Accordingly, the supporting covers  350 ,  360 ,  370  and  380  and the rack  300  coupled thereto are restricted from the forward movement, thereby preventing the separation of the rack  300 . 
     Stopper suspending portions  352 ,  362 ,  372  and  382  are formed at rear portions of the supporting covers  350 ,  360 ,  370  and  380 . Stoppers  311 ,  321 ,  331  and  341  capable of being blocked by the stopper suspending portions  352 ,  362 ,  372  and  382  are formed at rear portions of the rack rails  310 ,  320 ,  330  and  340 . 
     The stoppers  311 ,  321 ,  331  and  341  are suspended by the stopper suspending portions  352 ,  362 ,  372  and  382 , respectively. Accordingly, the supporting covers  350 ,  360 ,  370  and  380  and the rack  300  coupled thereto are restricted from a backward movement, thereby preventing an impact between the rack  300  and the wash tub  110 . 
     In the meantime, it has been described in every embodiment that the rack is supported in the wash tub at both side surfaces thereof; however, the present invention is not limited thereto, but it may be considered that the rack is supported only at any one side surface thereof. Such embodiment may be appropriate for a relatively small dishwasher, and also contributory to the reduction of an entire size of the dishwasher. 
     According to a rack apparatus of a dishwasher of the present invention, a plurality of rail grooves formed in rail guides installed at the wash tub can be engaged with rack rails formed at a rack, so as to enable an adjustment of the height of the rack. Thus, the height of the rack can easily be adjusted according to requirements, such as dishes to be contained in the rack. 
     Also, in the rack apparatus of the dishwasher, as the plurality of rail grooves are engaged with the rack rails, the load of the rack can be divided and supported at least two portions of the rail guides. Therefore, the supporting force for the rack can be enhanced, which allows the rack to move more safely, thereby increasing the weight of dishes to be contained in the rack. 
     The present invention has been explained with reference to the embodiments which are merely exemplary. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.