Patent Publication Number: US-6907998-B2

Title: Dish rack for accommodating dishes, and household dishwasher

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
   This application is a continuation of copending International Application No. PCT/EP99/09612, filed Dec. 7, 1999, which designated the United States. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Field of the Invention 
   The invention lies in the field of appliances. The invention relates to a dish rack for accommodating dishes, in particular, in a household dishwasher, having a rake-like retaining configuration that includes a plurality of prongs and can be swung between different pivot positions, and to a household dishwasher. 
   In general, the prior art uses dish racks for accommodating dishes—such as plates, cups, glasses, etc.—in particular, in household dishwashers. German Utility Model G 88 11 474 U discloses a dish rack for a household dishwasher having a rake-like retaining configuration that has prongs connected to one another. The retaining configuration is mounted such that it can be pivoted about a horizontal axis between different positions. Integrally formed on the retaining configuration are parts that project perpendicularly to the pivot axis, and on both sides of a bearing surface of the retaining configuration, and serve as dish stops for securing cups or similar small items against sliding off. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a dish rack for accommodating dishes, and household dishwasher that overcomes the hereinafore-mentioned disadvantages of the heretofore-known devices of this general type and that, if required, provides an additional accommodating device, in particular, for hollow dishes. 
   With the foregoing and other objects in view, there is provided, in accordance with the invention, a dish rack for accommodating dishes, including a dish rack base having a rake-like retaining configuration with prongs, at least part of the rake-like retaining configuration pivotable between different pivot positions, and some of the prongs having angled ends directed toward the dish-rack base. 
   Taking as departure point a dish rack having a swing-action retaining configuration that includes a plurality of prongs, the subject matter of the invention provides that at the bottom ends of the prongs that are directed toward the dishes-rack base, the prongs of the retaining configuration are angled. By virtue of the prongs, of the already present retaining configuration, with angled ends according to the invention, dishes, in particular hollow dishes—e.g. glasses, vases, cups, bowls and the like—may additionally be accommodated in the dish rack in a straightforward and cost-effective manner. A further advantage of the prongs with angled ends according to the invention is that it is possible for the additional accommodating capacity of the dish rack to be utilized flexibly if required without other configurations having to be installed in the dish rack if it is desired to increase the capacity and to decrease it again when not required. 
   In accordance with another feature of the invention, the rake-like retaining configuration is pivotable into a horizontal position, a vertical position, and oblique positions different from the horizontal position and the vertical position. 
   In accordance with a further feature of the invention, at the ends of the prongs, the prongs are angled such that in an oblique retaining-configuration pivot position, which differs from a horizontal or vertical pivot position, they form a set-down surface for hollow dishes. The surface gives more set-down locations for hollow dishes in the dish rack, resulting in a corresponding overall increase in the accommodating capacity. Furthermore, the elegant solution variant—including the combination of the angled prong ends with the oblique pivot position of the retaining configuration—allows the hollow dishes to be accommodated particularly straightforwardly and securely. 
   In accordance with an added feature of the invention, the angled prongs preferably form the set-down surface in a central position between the horizontal pivot position and the vertical pivot position of the retaining configuration so that the hollow dishes are accommodated as securely as possible. 
   In accordance with an additional feature of the invention, at their ends, the prongs are angled such that, in an at least more or less horizontal pivot position, they form stops for retaining hollow dishes. The configuration produces more accommodating locations for hollow dishes in the dish rack, resulting in an overall increase in the accommodating capacity. Furthermore, the advantageous solution variant—the prong ends act as stops in the vertical or more or less vertical pivot position of the retaining configuration—allows the hollow dishes to be stood up particularly straightforwardly and securely. 
   In accordance with yet another feature of the invention, of the prongs, it is preferable for staggered or only every second prong to be angled at its bottom end and be provided as a stop for retaining relatively wide hollow dishes. The configuration has the advantage that additional stand-up locations are available on a flexible basis if required particularly also for wide hollow dishes—e.g. compote dishes, bowls and the like. 
   In accordance with yet a further features of the invention, the prongs with angled ends are preferably L-shaped or U-shaped. The shape makes it possible for the hollow dishes to be retained particularly securely on the additional set-down surfaces in the oblique pivot position or on the stops of the additional stand-up locations. 
   In accordance with yet an added feature of the invention, the dish rack is one for a household dishwasher. A household dishwasher that has a dish rack having the features according to the invention provides the possibility of a flexible increase in the accommodating capacity by more set-down surface area and/or stand-up surface area for hollow dishes if required. 
   In accordance with yet an additional feature of the invention, the dish rack is the top dish rack, the bottom dish rack, or both racks of the dishwasher. 
   With the objects of the invention in view, there is also provided a dish rack for accommodating dishes, including a rack structure having at least one rake-like retainer, the at least one rake-like retainer having a base wire and prongs attached to and extending from the base wire for securing dishware, the prongs having a free end at a distance from the base wire and an end adjacent the base wire, the at least one rake-like retainer pivotable between different pivot positions, and some of the prongs having an angled end at the end adjacent the base wire. 
   Other features that are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims. 
   Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in a dish rack for accommodating dishes, and household dishwasher, it is, nevertheless, not intended to be limited to the details shown because various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims. 
   The construction and method of operation of the invention, however, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a fragmentary, perspective view of part of a dish rack according to the invention for accommodating dishes; 
       FIG. 2  is a fragmentary, perspective view of the dish rack of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a fragmentary, perspective view of the dish rack of  FIG. 1  for accommodating very wide dishes; and 
       FIG. 4  is a fragmentary, side elevational view of the dish accommodated in the dish rack according to FIG.  3 . 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   In all the figures of the drawing, sub-features and integral parts that correspond to one another bear the same reference symbol in each case. 
   A conventional household dishwasher has at least one dish rack. Referring now to the figures of the drawings in detail and first, particularly to  FIGS. 1  to  3  thereof, there is shown a part of a dish rack  1 . The dish rack  1  can be used both as a top rack and as a bottom rack. The dish rack  1  usually includes a rack structure that is formed by wires and has base wires  3  running longitudinally and transversely on a dish rack base  2 . Fastened on the base wires  3  are prongs  4  that are positioned essentially vertically upward and are inclined, if appropriate, in one plane. The prongs  4  serve for securing dishes—usually flat dishes  6  such as plates and the like—that are disposed between the prongs  4  such that they rest on the rack base  2 . The prongs  4  are of limited height and have upwardly directed free ends  5 . 
   The prongs  4  form a rake-like retaining configuration that can be swung between different pivot positions. Thus, the retaining configuration has the prongs  4  located in a vertical pivot position in  FIG. 1 , in a horizontal pivot position in FIG.  3  and in an oblique pivot position, between the horizontal ( FIG. 3 ) and the vertical pivot positions (FIG.  1 ), in FIG.  2 . In relation to the rack base  2 , the prongs  4  assume a 90° position when they have been pivoted vertically (FIG.  1 ), a 0° position when they have been pivoted horizontally (FIG.  3 ), and, preferably, a 45° position, corresponding to a central position (FIG.  2 ), when they have been pivoted obliquely. 
     FIG. 1  illustrates the dish rack  1  for accommodating dishes  6  with a rake-like retaining configuration, in which, according to the invention, at their bottom ends  7 , which are directed toward the rack base  2 , the prongs  4  are angled. The prongs  4  with the angled ends  7  preferably have an L-shape, but may alternatively have a U-shape. By way of their angled ends  7 , a plurality of prongs  4  preferably disposed parallel in the retaining configuration form a set-down surface for dishes, in particular, for hollow dishes. As a result, if required, additional accommodating locations may be made available on a variable basis in the dish rack in a straightforward and cost-effective manner. The advantage is displayed particularly in the illustration of the dish rack  1  according to the invention in  FIG. 2 , in which, in the oblique position of the rake-like retaining configuration, the prongs  4  with angled ends  7  form a set-down surface for hollow dishes  8 , e.g. vessels, tumblers, vases and the like. By virtue of the oblique position—preferably the 45° central position—of the retaining configuration, the hollow dishes  8  rest securely on the angled ends  7  of the prongs  4 . See FIG.  2 . 
     FIG. 3  shows a further variant of the dish rack  2  for accommodating, in particular, relatively wide dishes  9 , e.g. compote dishes, salad bowls, and the like. The rake-like retaining configuration has the prongs  4  with angled ends  7  according to the invention located in the horizontal pivot position, corresponding to the 0° position of the prongs  4  in relation to the rack base  2 . The ends  7 ′ of the angled prongs  4  project essentially vertically upward in this pivot position and, thus, form stops for retaining the hollow dishes  9 . According to a preferred configuration of the dish rack  2 , of a plurality of prongs  4  in a prong row, only every second prong  4  is angled at its bottom end  7 ′, in particular, to retain relatively wide hollow dishes  9  as a stop. The configuration is clearly shown in  FIG. 4  by a side view of a hollow dish  9 . The hollow dish  9  is retained between two stops that, when the retaining configuration is laid flat in the 0° position, are formed by the adjacent ends  7 ′ of two angled prongs  4 . The prong  4  disposed between the two prongs  4  with angled ends  7 ′ does not have an L-shaped extension, which achieves a larger width for the additionally provided stand-up location for accommodating a compote dish  9  or a salad bowl. 
   As a result of the dish rack having prongs with angled ends that are directed toward the rack base  2 , it is possible to make available, on a flexible basis, additional set-down surfaces in the oblique pivot position or additional stand-up locations with stops in the horizontal pivot position. The stops are suitable, if required, for retaining, in particular, hollow dishes.