GLASS HOLDER ATTACHMENT

Abstract

A glass holder attachment for a receptacle for items to be washed includes a holder configured to hold a plurality of stemmed glasses, a plurality of first feet to enable the glass holder attachment to be set on the receptacle and washed together with the stemmed glasses in a household dishwasher, and a plurality of second feet to enable the glass holder attachment to be set down on a level surface in such a manner that the stemmed glasses are arranged at a distance above the surface.

Claims

1-14. (canceled)

15. A glass holder attachment for a receptacle for items to be washed, said glass holder attachment comprising: a holder configured to hold a plurality of stemmed glasses; a plurality of first feet to enable the glass holder attachment to be set on the receptacle and washed together with the stemmed glasses in a household dishwasher; and a plurality of second feet to enable the glass holder attachment to be set down on a level surface in such a manner that the stemmed glasses are arranged at a distance above the surface.

16. The glass holder attachment of claim 15, wherein at least one of the plurality of first feet is identical with at least one of the plurality of second feet.

17. The glass holder attachment of claim 15, wherein at least one member selected from the group consisting of the plurality of first feet and the plurality of second feet has a U-shape which is designed to encompass partially a wire element of the receptacle when the glass holder attachment is set thereon and has free ends for positioning on the surface when the glass holder attachment is set down thereon.

18. The glass holder attachment of claim 15, wherein at least one of the plurality of first feet is designed to be set on an upper side edge of the receptacle.

19. The glass holder attachment of claim 15, wherein at least one of the plurality of second feet is designed to be set on a base of the receptacle.

20. The glass holder attachment of claim 15, wherein at least one member selected from the group consisting of the plurality of first feet and the plurality of second feet is attached to the holder.

21. The glass holder attachment of claim 15, wherein at least one member selected from the group consisting of the plurality of first feet and the plurality of second feet is pivotably mounted.

22. The glass holder attachment of claim 15, further comprising a handle for setting the glass holder attachment onto the receptacle and for setting down the glass holder attachment on the surface.

23. The glass holder attachment of claim 15, wherein the holder is designed to hold the stemmed glasses suspended in a row and/or in an inclined manner.

24. The glass holder attachment of claim 15, wherein the holder includes at least two parallel rods which are spaced apart from one another in order to receive stems of the stemmed glasses therebetween, at least one of the rods being designed to support stem-adjoining feet of the stemmed glasses upwardly.

25. The glass holder attachment of claim 24, wherein the rods are arranged at different heights.

26. The glass holder attachment of claim 15, further comprising a U-shaped frame including two lateral frame elements and a rear frame element arranged between the two lateral frame elements, wherein the holder is attached to the rear frame element, at least one member selected from the group consisting of the plurality of first feet and the plurality of second feet is attached to the two lateral frame elements, and/or handles are attached to the two lateral frame elements for setting the glass holder attachment onto the receptacle and for setting down the glass holder attachment on the surface.

27. A unit, comprising: a receptacle for items to be washed; and a glass holder attachment set onto the receptacle and removable therefrom in order to set down the glass holder attachment on a level surface, said glass holder attachment comprising a holder configured to hold a plurality of stemmed glasses, a plurality of first feet to enable the glass holder attachment to be set on the receptacle and washed together with the stemmed glasses in a household dishwasher, and a plurality of second feet to enable the glass holder attachment to be set down on the surface in such a manner that the stemmed glasses are arranged at a distance above the surface.

28. A household dishwasher, comprising a unit which includes a receptacle for items to be washed, and a glass holder attachment set onto the receptacle and removable therefrom in order to set down the glass holder attachment on a level surface, said glass holder attachment comprising a holder configured to hold a plurality of stemmed glasses, a plurality of first feet to enable the glass holder attachment to be set on the receptacle and washed together with the stemmed glasses in a household dishwasher, and a plurality of second feet to enable the glass holder attachment to be set down on the surface in such a manner that the stemmed glasses are arranged at a distance above the surface.

Description

[0037] Further advantageous embodiments and features of the invention form the subject matter of the subclaims and the exemplary embodiments of the invention described below. The invention is described in more detail hereinafter by means of preferred embodiments, with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:

[0038] FIG. 1 shows in a perspective view a unit comprising a receptacle for items to be washed and a glass holder attachment which is set onto the receptacle for items to be washed, according to an embodiment;

[0039] FIG. 2 shows a view II of FIG. 1;

[0040] FIG. 3 shows a view III of FIG. 1;

[0041] FIG. 4 shows in perspective the glass holder attachment of FIG. 1 in isolation, wherein the ends of the feet are shown to the right in an enlarged view;

[0042] FIG. 5 shows in perspective the glass holder attachment of FIGS. 1 to 4 in a state in which this glass holder attachment is set down on a surface;

[0043] FIG. 6 shows a side view of FIG. 5; and

[0044] FIG. 7 shows by way of example a single stemmed glass which is held suspended obliquely.

[0045] In the figures identical reference numerals denote components which are identical or functionally identical.

[0046] FIG. 1 shows a unit 1 in a perspective view. The unit 1 comprises a lower basket 2 and a glass holder attachment 3 which is set on the lower basket 2.

[0047] During a washing process the unit 1 is inserted into a washing chamber 4 of a household dishwasher 5 (indicated schematically). At the same time, stemmed glasses 6 held by the glass holder attachment 3 (see for example FIGS. 2 and 3 which show a view II and/or III of FIG. 1) are cleaned.

[0048] Following the washing process the glass holder attachment 3, together with the stemmed glasses 6, is removed from the dishwasher 5. To this end, the user may move, in particular, the unit 1 out of the washing chamber 4. This may be carried out in a simple manner by means of the rollers 7 provided on the lower basket 2, or in a different manner. The unit 1 which is moved, for example, onto the folded-down door (not shown) of the household dishwasher 5 is accessible to a user in a particularly simple manner.

[0049] The removed glass holder attachment 3 may be set down in a simple manner, for example, on a worktop 8 shown in FIG. 5 (of a row of kitchen units, not denoted further). Then the cleaned stemmed glasses 6 may be removed therefrom and, for example, cleared away into a refrigerator.

[0050] Soiled glasses which are set down, for example, on the worktop 8 may be suspended in a simple manner in the glass holder attachment 3. The glass holder attachment 3 is then set onto the lower basket 2. This may also be carried out, for example, outside the washing chamber 4 on the folded-out door of the household dishwasher 5. Then the unit consisting of the glass holder attachment 3 and the lower basket 2 is pushed into the washing chamber 4. The soiled glasses 6 are washed there.

[0051] In detail, to this end the glass holder attachment 3 may have the features described below:

[0052] FIG. 4 shows the glass holder attachment 3 of FIG. 1 in an isolated view. The glass holder attachment 3 has a U-shaped frame 9. The U-shaped frame 9 is composed of two lateral frame elements 10, 11 and a rear frame element 12 connecting these lateral frame elements. A holder 13 is attached to the rear frame element 12. The holder 13 comprises a plurality of pairs 14, four in the exemplary embodiment shown, of two parallel rods 15, 16 in each case. The rods 15, 16 in each case are horizontally oriented. At their respective rear ends 17 the rods 15, 16 are fixedly attached to the rear frame element 12. This may be carried out, for example, via rods 18 extending downwardly from the rear frame element 12. At their front ends 19 the rods 15, 16 are configured to be free so that an opening 20 is formed between two respective rods 15, 16. The openings 20 are located on the same side as an opening 21 of the frame 9 which is produced due to its U-shape (absent front frame element). Thus the stemmed glasses 6 could be pushed from the front face through the opening 21 in the frame 9 and the respective openings 20 onto the rods 15, 16.

[0053] The distance A between two rods 15, 16 is dimensioned in this case such that it corresponds to the diameter of the stems 22 (FIG. 3) of the stemmed glasses 6 in a region adjoining the respective foot 23 thereof. The glasses 6 are held suspended between the rods 15, 16, so that the rods support the feet 23 in the vertical direction. In FIG. 3, the glasses 6 are suspended straight down, the rods 15, 16 being arranged at the same height therefor. Preferably, however, it may be provided that the rods 15, 16 are offset, as may be seen in FIG. 7, identified here by an offset B in the vertical direction. In this case, the foot 23 is supported only on the rod 15. This results in an oblique hold of the glasses 6 illustrated by the opposing arrows in FIG. 7. This results in a single drip-off point 24 (lowest point of the glass) and promotes stain-free drying of the stemmed glasses 6.

[0054] Returning to FIG. 4 and viewed together with FIGS. 2 and 3, it may be seen that one respective pair 14 of rods 15, 16 may hold a plurality of, for example two, three, four, five, six or more, stemmed glasses 6 in one row.

[0055] Moreover, it may be seen in FIG. 4 that the glass holder attachment 3 has four short feet 25 and six long feet 26. Each foot 25, 26 in this case is composed of a rod-shaped portion 27 (see the enlarged view in FIG. 4 to the right) and a U-shape 28. The rod-shaped portion 27 is configured to be longer in the long feet 26 than in the short feet 25. The U-shape 28 in each case is configured on a lower end of the rod-shaped portions 27. At their upper end the rod-shaped portions 27 are fastened to the frame 9. For example, the short feet 25 may be fastened in each case to the ends of the frame elements 10, 11 whilst two long feet 26 are arranged in each case between two short feet 25 on the frame elements 10, 11.

[0056] The variable length of the feet has the function described below. Namely when viewing FIG. 1 it may be seen that the short feet 25 are set in each case on side edges 29, 30 of the lower basket 2. The side edges 29, 30 form the upper face of a basket front wall and/or basket rear wall 31, 32. The front and/or rear wall refers here to the pull-out direction of the lower basket 2 from the washing chamber 4. In this case, the basket rear wall 32 and thus also the side edge 30 may be configured to be higher than the front side wall 31 and thus the side edge 29. Accordingly, the rear feet 25 could also be configured to be shorter than the front feet 25. The long feet 26 are accordingly set on the basket base 33. It may be provided that in each case the feet 25, 26 are set on plastic-coated wire elements—denoted by way of example by the reference numeral 34. In this regard, the side edges 29, 30 and the basket base 33 may have such plastic-coated wire elements 34, in each case the feet 25, 26 being set thereon and namely with the U-shape 28 identified in the enlarged view in FIG. 4. The U-shape 28 in this case encompasses the wire element 34. As a result, the feet 25, 26 are respectively prevented from slipping off a wire element 34. The U-shape 28 may encompass the wire element 34, for example, over greater than or equal to 180° of its periphery. As a result, a positive connection is present in the vertical direction and in the horizontal direction between the U-shape 28 and the wire element 34. The wire element 34 is shown in section in FIG. 4.

[0057] It may also be seen in FIG. 4 is that the U-shape 28 has two free ends 35. The glass holder attachment 3 is positioned with the free ends 35 of its long feet 26 in FIG. 5 on the work surface 8. The work surface 8 is configured to be level. The feet 26 are dimensioned to be sufficiently long that the stemmed glasses 6 are at a distance C from the surface of the worktop 8. As a result, it is ensured that the glass holder attachment 3 is able to be loaded in a simple manner. The risk of damage to the stemmed glasses 6 is also reduced. Accordingly, the short feet 25 do not come into contact with the worktop 8. This may be identified clearly in FIG. 6 which shows a side view of FIG. 5.

[0058] Returning to FIG. 4 two handles 36 which are configured, for example, to be U-shaped are also shown therein. The handles 36 are fixedly attached to the lateral frame elements 10, 11. The glass holder attachment 3 may be handled in a simple manner by means of the handles in order to move the glass holder attachment from the lower basket 2 onto the worktop 8 and vice versa. The handles 36 are provided in each case oriented upwardly from the frame elements 10, 11 in order to be able to be gripped in a particularly simple manner. Relative to the width direction of the washing chamber 4 (see FIG. 1) this is also space-saving.

[0059] Finally, it may be provided that one or more of the feet 25, 26 are pivotably fastened to the frame 9. In the exemplary embodiment only the four long feet 26 are provided to be pivotable by means of pivot bearings 37—indicated by corresponding pivot axes. As a result, the long feet 26 may be folded back in parallel onto one respective frame element 10, 11 as illustrated in dashed lines for the foot 26′.

[0060] The above-described feet 25, 26 are all suitable for being set on the lower basket 2 and/or the corresponding wire elements 34 thereof, when the glass holder attachment 3 is set on the lower basket 2 (all denoted in the present case as “first” feet). Accordingly, only the long feet 26 are designed to be positioned on the level work surface 8, so that the glass holder attachment 3 is able to be set down on the work surface 8 (feet 26 also denoted as “second” feet). In other words, the feet 26 in the present case also have a dual function by serving both for setting the glass holder 3 on the lower basket 2 and also for setting down the glass holder 3 on the surface 8. The feet 26 form both first and second feet in the present sense. In this regard, however, other embodiments are conceivable. For example, the long feet 26 could exclusively serve for setting down on the worktop 8, whilst the setting on the lower basket 2 is carried out exclusively via the short feet 25. It might also be conceivable that exclusively the long feet 26, and no short feet 25, are provided.

[0061] Although the present invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it may be modified in many different ways.

[0062] All of the elements described above 2, 3, 10, 11, 12, 15, 16, 18, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 35, 36 and 37 may be produced from plastic and/or metal, in particular plastic-coated wire.

REFERENCE CHARACTERS USED

[0063] 1 Unit [0064] 2 Lower basket [0065] 3 Glass holder attachment [0066] 4 Washing chamber [0067] 5 Household dishwasher [0068] 6 Stemmed glass [0069] 7 Roller [0070] 8 Worktop [0071] 9 Frame [0072] 10 Frame element [0073] 11 Frame element [0074] 12 Frame element [0075] 13 Holder [0076] 14 Pair [0077] 15 Rod [0078] 16 Rod [0079] 17 End [0080] 18 Rod [0081] 19 End [0082] 20 Opening [0083] 21 Opening [0084] 22 Stem [0085] 23 Foot [0086] 24 Drip-off point [0087] 25 Foot [0088] 26 Foot [0089] 26′ Foot [0090] 27 Portion [0091] 28 U-shape [0092] 29 Side edge [0093] 30 Side edge [0094] 31 Basket front wall [0095] 32 Basket rear wall [0096] 33 Basket base [0097] 34 Wire element [0098] 35 Free end [0099] 36 Handle [0100] 37 Pivot bearing [0101] A Distance [0102] B Offset [0103] C Distance [0104] II View [0105] III View