Patent Publication Number: US-8534471-B2

Title: Height adjustment device for a dishwasher rack

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is national phase of PCT/US2011/032154 filed Apr. 23, 2011, and claims priority benefits from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/181,810 entitled “Dish Washer Rack Height Adjuster System,” filed May 28, 2009. 
    
    
     FIELD OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION 
     Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a system and method for adjusting a height of a rack, and more particularly, to a system and method for adjusting a height of a rack within an automatic dishwasher. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Automatic dishwashers are used to clean dishes, cutlery, glassware, and the like. A typical dishwasher includes a main housing having an internal washing chamber and a door that provides access to the internal washing chamber. At least one rack is slidably supported within the internal washing chamber. The rack may be slid out of the chamber so that a user may position items to be cleaned therein. The user then slides the rack back into the chamber and closes the door in order to begin the cleaning process. 
     The height of the rack within the washing chamber may be adjusted in order to accommodate items of varying shapes and sizes. For example, the rack may be adjusted downwardly with respect to an upper surface of the washing chamber in order to allow large glasses, such as Pilsner glasses, to be safely positioned within the washing chamber. Typically, the height-adjusting system is a complicated assembly that requires a plurality of fasteners, such as screws, to hold the height-adjusting system to the rack. 
     SUMMARY OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION 
     Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a system for adjusting a height of a rack within a dishwasher. The system includes a rack plate assembly and a wheel plate assembly. 
     The rack plate assembly is configured to be secured to the rack. The rack plate assembly includes a rack plate and a handle pivotally secured to the rack plate. 
     The wheel plate assembly is adjustably secured with respect to the rack plate. The wheel plate assembly includes a wheel plate having at least one adjustment slot. A portion of the handle securely engages the wheel plate through the at least one adjustment slot. The portion of the handle is configured to disengage from the at least one adjustment slot in order to adjust the rack plate with respect to the wheel plate. 
     The rack plate assembly may also include a biasing spring that biases the handle so that the portion of the handle securely engages the wheel plate through the at least one adjustment slot in a secured position. The handle is configured to be engaged to remove the at least one adjustment slot from the secured position. 
     The biasing spring may be a coil spring, leaf spring, or the like. The biasing spring may include a curved support beam integrally connected to a rack beam through a resilient joint. The curved support beam may be cradled within a portion of the handle. The rack beam may be pivotally secured to a portion of the rack plate. 
     The wheel plate assembly may include at least one wheel rotatably secured to the wheel plate. The wheel(s) is configured to be positioned within a wheel track of the dishwasher. 
     The rack plate may also include at least one rack-securing member configured to snapably secure to a portion of the rack. The rack plate may be configured to be secured to the rack without the use of separate and distinct fasteners, such as screws or bolts. Instead, the rack plate may secure to the rack through integral structures of the rack plate. 
     The rack plate may also include upper and lower stop members that prevent the rack plate assembly from dislodging from the wheel plate assembly. 
     Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a system that includes a rack plate assembly and wheel plate assembly, similar to those described above. The rack plate may include a rack plate having a finger slot and a handle pivotally secured to the rack plate. The handle may include a finger tab protruding through the finger slot in a secured position. 
     The wheel plate assembly may include a wheel plate having at least two adjustment slots. The finger tab securely engages the wheel plate through one of the two adjustment slots at any one time in the secured position. The handle is configured to be engaged in order to remove the finger tab from a slot in order to adjust the rack plate with respect to the wheel plate. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates an isometric exploded view of a rack height adjustment system, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a rear view of a rack plate, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a front view of a wheel plate, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates an isometric front view of a handle, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates an isometric front view of a wheel, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates an isometric front view of a pin, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  illustrates an isometric front view of a biasing spring, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  illustrates an isometric front exploded view of a wheel plate assembly, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  illustrates an isometric front view of a wheel plate assembly, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 10  illustrates an isometric front exploded view of a rack plate assembly, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 11  illustrates a front view of a rack plate assembly, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 12  illustrates a front view of a rack height adjustment system, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 13  illustrates a rear view of a rack height adjustment system, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 14  illustrates an isometric rear view of a rack height adjustment system at a first position, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 15  illustrates an isometric front view of a rack height adjustment system at a second position, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 16  illustrates an isometric top view of a rack height adjustment system being secured to a dishwasher rack, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 17  illustrates an isometric top view of a rack height adjustment system secured to a dishwasher rack, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     Before the embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement 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 or being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including” and “comprising” and variations thereof is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items and equivalents thereof. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 1  illustrates an isometric exploded view of a rack height adjustment system  10 , according to an embodiment of the present invention. The system  10  includes a rack plate assembly  12  and a wheel plate assembly  14 . The rack plate assembly  12  includes a rack plate  16 , a handle  18 , a biasing spring  20 , and a pin  22 . The wheel plate assembly  14  includes a wheel plate  24  and wheels  26 . 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a rear view of the rack plate  16 . The rack plate  16  includes a main planar body  28  having a plurality of rack-securing members  30  extending outwardly therefrom. The rack-securing members  30  may include opposing cylindrical clasps  32  configured to snapably secure a vertical rack post of a dishwasher rack (not shown in  FIG. 2 ) in a space between the clasps  32 . Optionally, the rack-securing members  30  may be clamps, slots, tabs, or various other mechanisms configured to secure to a rack post. 
     A plurality of clasps  34  may also extend from an upper edge of the main planar body  28 . The clasps  34  are configured to engage a horizontal support bar of a dishwasher rack (not shown in  FIG. 2 ). Thus, the rack-securing members  30  and the clasps  34  ensure that the rack plate  16  is secured to a dishwasher rack. 
     A handle-engaging beam  36  extends from an upper edge of the main planar body  28  and is aligned with a central vertical axis x of the rack plate  16 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the handle-engaging beam  36  is between two clasps  34  and is generally centered with respect to the vertical axis x. Optionally, the handle-engaging beam  36  may be located at various other positions. 
     The handle-engaging beam  36  includes parallel support posts  38  connected by an upper horizontal connecting bar  40 . Additionally, a finger slot  44  is formed through the planar body  28  below the handle-engaging beam  36 . 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a front view of the wheel plate  14 . The wheel plate  14  includes a main planar body  46  having two wheel-engaging posts  48  extending outwardly therefrom. The wheel-engaging posts  48  may be split posts with outer expanded portions. Accordingly, the wheel-engaging posts  48  may be squeezed together and expanded when wheels are mounted thereon, as noted infra. 
     A plurality of aligned adjustment slots  50  and  52  are aligned with respect to a central vertical axis x of the wheel plate  14 . The slots  50  and  52  are configured to adjustably retain a portion of the handle  18  (shown in  FIG. 1 ) at different positions. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates an isometric front view of the handle  18 . The handle  18  includes a main strap  54  having a finger tab  56  outwardly extending from a distal end  58 , opposing pin support braces  60  extending from lateral edges of the main strap  54  proximate an intermediate area  62 , and an engaging beam  64  at a proximal end  66  of the main strap  54 . As shown, the engaging beam  64  is integrally connected to the intermediate area  62  through a curved beam  68  that locates the engaging beam  64  at a different plane than the distal end  58  and the intermediate area  62 . 
       FIG. 5  illustrates an isometric front view of a wheel  26 . The wheel includes a bearing ring  70  integrally connected to a support post  72 . A central channel  74  is formed through the bearing ring  70  and the support post  72 . 
       FIG. 6  illustrates an isometric front view of the pin  22 . The pin  22  is generally an elongate cylindrical member. 
       FIG. 7  illustrates an isometric front view of the biasing spring  20 . The biasing spring  20  includes a curved support beam  76  integrally connected to a rack beam  78  through a resilient joint  80 . The rack beam  78  includes a clip  82  outwardly extending from a distal end. The resilient joint  80  allows the rack beam  78  and support beam  76  to flex toward one another when a squeezing force is applied and snap back to at-rest positions, as shown in  FIG. 7 , when the squeezing force is removed. 
       FIG. 8  illustrates an isometric front exploded view of the wheel plate assembly  14 .  FIG. 9  illustrates an isometric front view of the wheel plate assembly  14 . Referring to  FIGS. 8 and 9 , in order to rotatably secure the wheels  26  to the posts  48 , the central channels  74  of the wheels  26  are aligned with the posts  48 . The wheels  26  are then urged toward the posts in the direction of arrows A (shown in  FIG. 8 ). The wheels snapably and rotatably secure to the posts  48  when the expanded distal ends of the post flexingly expand after passing through the channels  74 . The diameter of each expanded end is thus greater than the diameter of each central channel  74 , while the diameter of each shaft of the posts  48  is less than the diameter of each central channel  74 . Accordingly, the wheels  26  are secured to the posts  48 , while at the same time able to rotate around the shafts of the posts  48 . 
       FIG. 10  illustrates an isometric front exploded view of the rack plate assembly  12 . In order to secure the handle  18  to the rack plate  16 , the curved support beam  76  of the biasing spring  20  is aligned with the curved beam  68  of the handle  18 , which is configured to cradle the curved support beam  76 . Additionally, the pin support braces  60  are aligned with pin supports  86  of the handle-engaging beam  36 , such that pin holes formed through the pin support braces  60  are aligned with pin holes formed through the pin supports  86 . The pin  22  is then aligned with the aligned holes, and is positioned therethrough. 
       FIG. 11  illustrates a front view of the rack plate assembly  12 . As shown, the curved support beam  76  is cradled within the curved beam  68  of the handle  18 . The pin  22  (hidden from view) connects the pin support braces  60  to the pin supports  86 . Thus, the handle  18  may pivot about this connection. Note, the pin  22  passes through an opening defined by the resilient joint  80  of the biasing spring  20 . 
     The clip  82  of the biasing spring  20  mounts over the horizontal connecting beam  40 , thereby exerting a biasing force into the beam  40 . In this position, the biasing spring  20  ensures that the finger tab  56  is forced through the finger slot  44  of the rack plate  16   
     The engaging beam  64  may be grasped and pivoted forward in the direction of arc B. A user exerts sufficient force to overcome the biasing force of the biasing spring  20 . In this manner, the finger tab  56  pivots out of the finger slot  44  in a direction opposite to arc B. Once the user disengages the engaging beam  64 , the biasing spring  20  forces the handle  18  back to its at-rest position, with the finger tab  56  extending through the finger slot  44 . 
       FIGS. 12 and 13  illustrate front and rear views, respectively, of the rack height adjustment system  10 .  FIGS. 14 and 15  illustrate isometric rear and front views, respectively, of the rack height adjustment system  10  at first and second positions, respectively. Referring to  FIGS. 12-15 , the wheel plate assembly  14  is secured to the rack plate assembly  12 . The wheel plate assembly  14  includes lateral clamping members  90  that slidably secure around lateral edges of the rack plate  16 . The wheel plate assembly  14  is secured in position by the finger tab  56  extending through the finger slot  44  of the rack plate  16  and an upper adjustment slot  50  of the main planar body  46  of the wheel plate assembly  14 . Accordingly, the wheel plate assembly  16  is prevented from moving with respect to the rack plate assembly  12 . However, when the handle  18  is engaged to remove the finger tab  56  from the finger slot  44  of the rack plate  16 , the finger tab  56  also disengages from the upper adjustment slot  50 , thereby allowing the rack plate assembly  12  to be moved with respect to the wheel plate assembly  14 . 
     An upper ledge  92  prevents the wheel plate assembly  14  from upwardly dislodging from the rack plate assembly  12 . Similarly, crimped lower tabs  94  provide a barrier past which the wheel plate assembly  14  is prevented from passing. 
     Accordingly, the rack plate assembly  12  may be adjusted with respect to the wheel plate assembly  14  by way of a user engaging the handle  18 , as discussed supra. For example, a user may engage the handle  18 , as noted, thereby removing the finger tab  56  from a secure engagement. The user then pushes or pulls the handle up or down to position the rack plate assembly  12  at a different position. When the desired height is located, the user allows the biasing spring  20  to bias the handle so that the finger tab  56  extends through a desired adjustment slot, thereby securing the rack plate assembly  12  at a desired height with respect to the wheel plate assembly  14 . While two adjustment slots  50  and  52  are shown with respect to the wheel plate assembly  14 , more or less adjustment slots may be used depending on the desired levels of rack adjustment. 
       FIG. 16  illustrates an isometric top view of the rack height adjustment system  10  being secured to a dishwasher rack  100 , according to an embodiment of the present invention. In order to secure the system  10  to the rack  100 , the handle  18  is positioned between adjacent rack posts  102  and urged inwardly in the direction of arrow C. The handle  18  is then pivoted upwardly toward the outer lateral boundary of the rack  100  in the direction of arc D. In this position, the rack securing members  32  (shown in  FIG. 2 ) are aligned with rack posts  102  and snapably secured thereto. Similarly, the clasps  34  (shown in  FIG. 2 ) may similarly engage a horizontal cross bar  104  of the rack  100 , thereby securing the rack plate assembly  12  to the rack  100 . 
       FIG. 17  illustrates an isometric top view of the rack height adjustment system  10  secured to the dishwasher rack  100 . The wheels  26  of the wheel plate assembly  14  are movably secured within a wheel track (not shown) of a dishwasher (not shown). Accordingly, the wheel plate assembly  14  remains at the same height within the dishwasher. The rack plate assembly  12  may, however, be adjusted relative to the wheel plate assembly  14 , as discussed supra, thereby allowing the height of the rack  100 , to which the rack plate assembly  12  is secured, to be adjusted. 
     Thus, embodiments of the present invention provide a rack height adjustment system  10  that is easy to manufacture and assemble. Further, unlike prior systems, the rack height adjustment system  10  does not require separate and distinct fasteners, such as screws, to secure the system  10  to the rack  100 . 
     While various spatial and directional terms, such as top, bottom, lower, mid, lateral, horizontal, vertical, front and the like may used to describe embodiments of the present invention, it is understood that such terms are merely used with respect to the orientations shown in the drawings. The orientations may be inverted, rotated, or otherwise changed, such that an upper portion is a lower portion, and vice versa, horizontal becomes vertical, and the like. 
     Variations and modifications of the foregoing are within the scope of the present invention. It is understood that the invention disclosed and defined herein extends to all alternative combinations of two or more of the individual features mentioned or evident from the text and/or drawings. All of these different combinations constitute various alternative aspects of the present invention. The embodiments described herein explain the best modes known for practicing the invention and will enable others skilled in the art to utilize the invention. The claims are to be construed to include alternative embodiments to the extent permitted by the prior art. 
     Various features of the invention are set forth in the following claims.