Patent Publication Number: US-8528994-B2

Title: Drawer glide assembly for a drawer-type dishwasher

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/793,246 filed Apr. 20, 2006 entitled “Drawer Glide Assembly For a Drawer-Type Dishwasher.” 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention pertains to the art of dishwashers and, more particularly, to drawer glide mounting assembly for a drawer-type dishwasher. 
     2. Discussion of the Prior Art 
     Manufacturers employ a variety of techniques to slidably support a drawer in a cabinet. In the art of dishwashers, manufacturers typically employ a multi-piece drawer glide. With this arrangement, a first or stationary piece of the drawer glide is affixed to the cabinet, while a second or sliding piece of the drawer glide is affixed to the drawer. A third or intermediate piece interconnects the first piece with the second piece allowing the drawer to fully extend relative to the cabinet. 
     During manufacture, the stationary piece is initially mounted to the cabinet and the sliding piece mounted to the drawer. Once fully secured, the drawer is then installed into the cabinet. While this method has proven effective, often times when securing the stationary piece, vertical tolerances accumulate. Thus, in order to ensure that the drawer operates smoothly, steps are generally taken to permit adjustments to at least the stationary pieces so that they not only extend parallel to one another but also lie in substantially the same plane. Typically, the adjustments are provided in structure utilized to secure the stationary pieces to the cabinet. That is, each stationary piece includes mounting apertures that are sized slightly larger than a corresponding mechanical fastener employed to mount the drawer glide. In this manner, each stationary piece can be shifted or repositioned in order to ensure that the drawer has a smooth transition between open and closed positions. Unfortunately, adjusting the glides adds time and complexity to the manufacturing process and, over time, often requires re-adjusting to ensure continued proper drawer operation. 
     Based on the above, despite the presence of drawer glides in the prior art, there still exists a need for a mounting arrangement for a drawer glide for a drawer-type dishwasher. More specifically, there exists a need for a drawer glide that requires little or no adjustment to accommodate any vertical tolerance accumulation. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to a drawer glide assembly for a drawer-type dishwasher including an outer housing having at least top and opposing side wall portions and a tub. The tub includes front, rear, bottom and opposing side walls that collectively define a washing chamber. The glide assembly slidingly supports the tub within the outer housing. More specifically, the glide assembly is secured to corresponding ones of the side walls of the tub and the side wall portions of the outer housing in a manner which allows the tub to be selectively shifted into and out from the outer housing. 
     In accordance with the invention, the glide assembly includes a mounting bracket having a top edge portion, a bottom edge portion and side portions that collectively define first and second opposing surfaces. The mounting bracket also includes a pad member that projects laterally outward from the first surface and a hook member that projects laterally outward from the second surface. The glide assembly further includes a drawer glide unit having a first rail member slidably interconnected with a second rail member through a third rail member. 
     In further accordance with the invention, the first rail element is preferably positioned upon the pad member and secured to the first surface of the mounting member, while the second rail element is installed onto one of the opposing side walls of the tub. Once installed, the mounting member is connected to one of the opposing side wall portions of the outer housing. Actually, the opposing side wall portions of the outer housing are provided with openings positioned to receive the hook member so as to support the mounting bracket. That is, the mounting bracket is supported upon the outer wall portion by the hook member. Once in position, a mechanical fastener is employed to further secure the mounting bracket to the outer housing. 
     Preferably, the glide assembly includes two mounting members connected at spaced locations to the first rail element. Most preferably, the tub is supported to the outer housing through a pair of glide assemblies slidably interconnecting respective ones of the opposing side walls with corresponding ones of the opposing side wall portions of the outer housing. This construction simplifies construction of the dishwasher by substantially eliminating any vertical tolerance accumulation when mounting the tub to the outer housing. 
     Additional objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment when taken in conjunction with the drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to corresponding parts in the several views. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an upper right perspective view of a drawer-type dishwasher incorporating a glide assembly constructed in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a upper right, partial perspective view of a tub portion of the dishwasher of  FIG. 1  illustrating the glide assembly mounted in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded view of a pair of mounting members and a drawer glide unit portion of the glide assembly of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a front perspective view of the glide assembly of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a rear perspective view of the glide assembly of  FIG. 2 ; and 
         FIG. 6  is a partial, perspective view of the glide assembly shown mounted to an outer housing of the dishwasher. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With initial reference to  FIG. 1 , a dishwasher constructed in accordance with the present invention is generally indicated at  2 . As shown, dishwasher  2  includes an outer housing  4  having a pair of opposing side wall portions, one of which is indicated at  5  in  FIG. 6 , arranged below a kitchen countertop  6 . Also below kitchen countertop  6  is shown cabinetry  8  including a plurality of drawers  9 - 12 , as well as a cabinet door  13 . Although the actual dishwasher into which the present invention may be incorporated can vary, the invention is shown in connection with dishwasher  2  depicted as a dual cavity dishwasher having an upper washing unit or drawer  16  and a lower washing unit or drawer  18 . As each drawer  16 ,  18  is substantially identical, a detailed description will be made with respect to drawer  16  with an understanding that drawer  18  is similarly constructed. 
     As best shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , drawer  16  includes a front wall  20 , a rear wall (not shown), a bottom wall  22  and opposing side walls  23  and  24  that collectively define an upper wash chamber  28 . In a manner known in the art, drawer  16  is provided with a handle  29  and a wire dish rack  30  for supporting various objects, such as dishware, glassware, and the like, during a washing operation. In general, the above-described structure does not form part of the present invention but is provided for the sake of completeness and to enable a better understanding of the figures. Instead, the present invention is directed to a glide assembly  50  that slidingly interconnects drawer  16  with outer housing  4 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2-6 , glide assembly  50  includes a first mounting bracket  54 , a second mounting bracket  55  and a drawer glide unit  59 . As will be detailed more fully below, first and second mounting brackets  54  and  55  are secured to drawer glide unit  59  at spaced locations. Once secured, drawer glide unit  59  is attached to an inner surface of side wall  5  of outer housing  4 . Although not shown, a second glide assembly is secured to an inner surface of an opposing side wall (not shown) of outer housing  4 . As will be described more fully below, glide assembly  50  is also connected to outer surfaces of side walls  23  and  24  of drawer  16 . With this construction, drawer  16  can be readily inserted into and removed from outer housing  4  allowing a consumer to load and unload dishware. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 5 , first mounting bracket  54  is shown to include a main body portion  70  having atop edge portion  73 , a bottom edge portion  74  and opposing side edge portions  75  and  76  that collectively define first and second opposing surfaces  84  and  85 . First mounting bracket  54  also includes a pad member  91  that projects laterally outward from first surface  84 , as well as a pair of hook members  94  and  95  that project laterally outward from second surface  85 . Mounting bracket  54  further includes a mounting aperture  103  that extends through hook member  94 , as well as a plurality of mounting holes  106 - 108  which extend through main body portion  70  and, along with hook members  94  and  95 , are used in securing mounting bracket  54  to outer housing  5 . 
     In a similar manner, mounting bracket  55  includes a main body portion  124  including a top edge portion  126 , a bottom edge portion  127  and opposing side edge portions  128  and  129  that collectively define first and second opposing surfaces  134  and  135 . In a manner also similar to that described above, mounting bracket  55  is provided with a pad member  140  that projects laterally outward from first surface  134 , as well as pair of hook members  144  and  145  (see  FIG. 6 ) that project outward from second surface  135 . Mounting bracket  55  is also provided with a mounting aperture  148  that extends through hook member  144 , as well as a plurality of mounting holes  154 - 156  which extend through main body portion  124  and, in combination with hook members  144  and  145 , are used in securing mounting bracket  55  to opposing side wall portion  5 . 
     In accordance with the invention, drawer glide unit  59  includes a first or stationary rail member  166 , a second or sliding rail member  167  that is preferably, slidingly interconnected to stationary rail member  166  through a third or intermediate rail member  168 . As shown, drawer glide unit  59  also includes a pair of mounting plates  170  and  171 , each having a plurality of openings indicated generally at  174  and  175  that are fixedly secured at spaced locations to stationary rail member  166 . As best shown in  FIG. 4 , openings  174  and  175  are sized to receive mechanical fasteners  178  and  179  that extend through corresponding ones of mounting apertures  103  and  148  to secure glide unit  59  to mounting members  54  and  55 . In the most preferred form of the invention, stationary rail member  166  is positioned so as to rest upon pad members  91  and  140  to ensure a preferred vertical alignment for drawer glide unit  59 . Once installed, sliding rail member  167  is secured to, for example, side wall  24  of drawer  16  with, for example, mechanical fasteners in a manner known in the art. In this manner, intermediate rail member  168  serves as a sliding interface allowing drawer  16  to shift relative to cabinet  4 . Again, it should be understood that a corresponding glide assembly (not shown) is secured to an outer surface of opposing side wall  23 . 
     After drawer glide unit  59  is attached to mounting brackets  54  and  55  and rail member  167  to side wall  24 , mounting brackets  54  and  55  are positioned into outer housing  4  with hooks  94 ,  95 ,  144  and  145  being inserted into corresponding hook receiving openings  192 ,  193 ,  195  and  196  formed in side wall portion  5 . Actually, in addition to hook receiving openings  192 ,  193 ,  195  and  196 , side wall portion  5  includes a plurality of apertures  204 - 206  and  208 - 210  that align with mounting holes  106 - 108  and  154 - 156  respectively. Once properly aligned, mechanical fasteners, such as shown at  213  and  214 , are inserted through apertures  204 - 206  and  208 - 210  and engage with respective ones of mounting holes  106 - 108  and  154 - 156  to attached glide assembly  50 . Once mounting brackets  54  and  55  are secured, rail member  167  is engaged with rail member  166  through intermediate rail member  168  to slidingly support drawer  16 . Of course, it should be understood that a second glide assembly is mounted in a corresponding manner to the opposing side wall portion of outer housing  4  and side wall  23  such that drawer  16  can be readily, slidably inserted into and withdrawn from outer housing  4 . 
     At this point, it should be understood that the present invention allows for a easily constructed glide assembly that reduces complexities associated with manufacturing a dishwasher unit by eliminating the need to provide vertical adjustment to glide assemblies for supporting a drawer in a drawer-type dishwasher. That is, by supporting stationary rail member  166  upon pads  91  and  140  prior to attachment to mounting brackets  54  and  55 , a proper alignment can be maintained and, vertical tolerance accumulation substantially eliminated. Moreover, mounting bracket  54  and  55  ensure that drawer glide units  59  extends substantially parallel to and in the same plane as an opposing drawer glide assembly (not shown) mounted to an opposing side of drawer  16 . Thus, once installed into outer housing  4 , drawer  16  transitions smoothly into and out of outer housing  4 . Finally, by eliminating the need for adjustments to glide assembly  50 , the manufacturing ensures a proper alignment for drawer  16  over an entire service life of dishwasher  2 . 
     Although described with reference to a preferred embodiment of the invention, it should be readily understood that various changes and/or modifications can be made to the invention without departing from the spirit thereof. In general, the invention is only intended to be limited by the scope of the following claims.