DISH RACK

Abstract

A dish rack includes a dish basket and a storage surface which is attachable to the dish basket for holding an item to be washed and lockable on the dish basket. The storage surface is pivotable about an axis into different angles of inclination and able to slide along the axis. A support element is arranged on an underside of the storage surface and supports the storage surface at the different angles of inclination at a point spaced from the axis. The support element has a number of locking steps in which the support element engages the dish basket so as to support the storage surface at the different angles of inclination.

Claims

1.-15. (canceled)

16. A dish rack movably arranged in a dishwasher cavity of a dishwasher, in particular a household dishwasher, said dish rack comprising: a dish basket; a storage surface attachable to the dish basket for holding an item to be washed and lockable on the dish basket, said storage surface configured for pivoting about an axis into different angles of inclination and sliding along the axis; and a support element arranged on an underside of the storage surface and supporting the storage surface at the different angles of inclination at a point spaced from the axis, said support element having a number of locking steps in which the support element engages the dish basket so as to support the storage surface at the different angles of inclination.

17. The dish rack of claim 16, wherein the locking steps are configured on the support element as supports which act on the dish basket depending on a corresponding one of the different angles of inclination of the storage surface to fixedly hold the dish basket by a support surface.

18. The dish rack of claim 16, wherein the supports of the locking steps on the support element have an offset ranging from 1 mm to 10 mm, preferably from 2 to 8 mm, in particular from 3 to 6 mm.

19. The dish rack of claim 16, wherein at least two of said support element are arranged on the underside of the storage surface.

20. The dish rack of claim 19, wherein the at least two of said support element are arranged uniformly distributed on the underside of the storage surface.

21. The dish rack of claim 16, wherein the storage surface is pivotable between a folded-up resting position and a folded-down operating position.

22. The dish rack of claim 16, wherein the storage surface includes a plurality of longitudinal elements and transverse segments.

23. The dish rack of claim 16, wherein the storage surface is planar.

24. The dish rack of claim 22, wherein the longitudinal elements and transverse segments are made of plastic or metal.

25. The dish rack of claim 16, wherein the storage surface is provided in a region of the axis with a stop contour for the item to be washed, said stop contour being designed in a continuous or spaced-apart manner.

26. The dish rack of claim 25, wherein the stop contour comprises round and/or polygonal stop segments.

27. The dish rack of claim 16, wherein the storage surface is releasably connected to the dish basket via a clamping connection.

28. The dish rack of claim 16, wherein the dish basket includes a receiving bottom formed from a plurality of spaced-apart longitudinal elements and transverse elements and forming an adjustable surface, said transverse elements being arranged perpendicular to the longitudinal elements and connected to the longitudinal elements at intersection points.

29. The dish rack of claim 28, wherein the receiving bottom of the dish basket is configured in a region below the storage surface to extend horizontal, approximately horizontal, or inclined.

30. The dish rack of claim 28, wherein one of the longitudinal elements of the dish basket forms the axis for the storage surface, said storage surface being connected to the one of the longitudinal elements of the dish basket via a clamping connection.

31. The dish rack of claim 30, wherein the storage surface is releasably connected to the one of the longitudinal elements of the dish basket via the clamping connection.

32. The dish rack of claim 29, wherein a plurality of said support element are arranged on the underside of the storage surface at a number which is equal to a number of the transverse elements covered at least in at least one region by the storage surface, so that the transverse elements are assigned to the support elements in one-to-one correspondence.

33. The dish rack of claim 16, further comprising a plurality of said storage surface and a plurality of said support elements, each of the support elements being arranged at the underside of the storage surfaces in one-to-one correspondence,

34. The dish rack of claim 33, wherein the storage surfaces are arranged adjacent to one another.

35. The dish rack of claim 16, wherein the storage surface and the support element are produced in a uniform material, in particular by an injection-molding method.

Description

[0044] Further advantageous embodiments and aspects of the dish rack for the dishwasher, in particular the household dishwasher, form the subject matter of the subclaims and the exemplary embodiments of the dish rack described hereinafter. The dish rack is described in more detail hereinafter by means of preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying figures.

[0045] In the figures

[0046] FIG. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of a known dishwasher, in particular a known household dishwasher;

[0047] FIG. 2A shows a schematic perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a storage surface according to the invention which can be coupled to a dish basket for holding items to be washed in a first operating position;

[0048] FIG. 2B shows a schematic and partial front view of the preferred embodiment of the storage surface according to the invention which can be coupled to the dish basket for holding items to be washed according to FIG. 2A in the first operating position;

[0049] FIG. 2C shows a schematic and partial side view of the preferred embodiment of the storage surface according to the invention which can be coupled to the dish basket for holding items to be washed according to FIG. 2A in the first operating position;

[0050] FIG. 3A shows a schematic perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the storage surface according to the invention which can be coupled to the dish basket for holding items to be washed according to FIG. 2A in a second operating position;

[0051] FIG. 3B shows a schematic and partial front view of the preferred embodiment of the storage surface according to the invention which can be coupled to the dish basket for holding items to be washed according to FIG. 3A in the second operating position;

[0052] FIG. 3C shows a schematic and partial side view of the preferred embodiment of the storage surface according to the invention which can be coupled to the dish basket for holding items to be washed according to FIG. 3A in the second operating position;

[0053] FIG. 4A shows a schematic perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the storage surface according to the invention which can be coupled to the dish basket for holding items to be washed according to FIG. 2A in a third operating position;

[0054] FIG. 4B shows a schematic and partial front view of the preferred embodiment of the storage surface according to the invention which can be coupled to the dish basket for holding items to be washed according to FIG. 4A in the third operating position;

[0055] FIG. 4C shows a schematic and partial side view of the preferred embodiment of the storage surface according to the invention which can be coupled to the dish basket for holding items to be washed according to FIG. 4A in the third operating position;

[0056] FIG. 5 shows a schematic front view of the preferred embodiment of the storage surface according to the invention which can be coupled to the dish basket for holding items to be washed according to FIG. 2A;

[0057] FIG. 6 shows a schematic side view of the preferred embodiment of the storage surface according to the invention which can be coupled to the dish basket for holding items to be washed according to FIG. 2A;

[0058] FIG. 7 shows a schematic perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the storage surface according to the invention which can be coupled to the dish basket for holding items to be washed according to FIG. 2A;

[0059] FIG. 8 shows a schematic plan view of the preferred embodiment of the storage surface according to the invention which can be coupled to the dish basket for holding items to be washed according to FIG. 2A; and

[0060] FIGS. 9A to 9C show schematic and partial front views of three further preferred embodiments of the storage surface according to the invention which can be coupled to the dish basket for holding items to be washed.

[0061] Elements which are the same or functionally the same are provided with the same reference numerals in the figures unless indicated otherwise.

[0062] FIG. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of a household dishwasher 1, generally a dishwasher. The household dishwasher 1 has a box-shaped dishwasher cavity 2 having a front-side dishwasher cavity opening 6 for holding items to be washed which are to be cleaned. The front-side cavity opening 6 defines an opening plane 4 which is oriented, in particular, vertically.

[0063] The dishwasher cavity 2 of the household dishwasher 1 is provided with an appliance door 3 which closes the cavity opening 6 and which is pivotably mounted about a horizontal axis, so that the body may be sealed in a water-tight manner. The appliance door consists in the known manner of an inner door 3.1 and an outer door 3.2. Additionally, a furniture panel 3.3 may be attached to the outer door 3.2.

[0064] The dishwasher cavity 2 and the appliance door 3 form a washing chamber for washing items to be washed. The appliance door 3 in FIG. 1 is shown in the open position thereof. By pivoting about a pivot axis 5 provided on a lower end of the appliance door 3, the appliance door 3 may be in particular fully or partially opened and in particular fully closed.

[0065] The dishwasher cavity 2 is, for example, cuboidal and comprises a cavity bottom 7, a cavity ceiling 8 opposing the cavity bottom 7, a cavity rear wall 9 opposing the cavity door 5 and two cavity side walls 10, 11 opposing one another. The dishwasher cavity 2 may be manufactured from stainless steel, from plastic or from a stainless steel-plastic combination.

[0066] The dishwasher 1 also has at least one loading level 12 to 14. In particular a plurality of loading levels 12 to 14 may be provided, wherein a loading level 12 may be a lower dish basket (lower basket), a loading level 13 may be an upper dish basket (upper basket) and a loading level 14 may be a cutlery drawer of the dishwasher 1. The plurality of loading levels 12 to 14 are preferably arranged one above the other in the dishwasher cavity 2. Each loading level 12 to 14 is able to be selectively pushed into the dishwasher cavity 2 in a push-in direction E (arrow), in particular in a linear manner, or moved out therefrom in a pull-out direction A (arrow), in particular in a linear manner.

[0067] FIG. 2A shows a schematic perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a storage surface 15 according to the invention which can be coupled to a dish basket 13 for holding items to be washed in a first operating position BP1.

[0068] The storage surface 15 can be coupled to the upper dish basket 13 shown by way of example and partially; but naturally it can be coupled to the lower dish basket, not shown, or even to the cutlery drawer, not shown. The upper dish basket 13 and the storage surface 15 are part of the dish rack 16.

[0069] Moreover, the storage surface 15 can be locked, preferably releasably connected, to the upper dish basket 13 by means of a plurality of clamping connections 17 (see FIG. 2C, FIG. 3C, FIG. 4C, FIG. 6 and FIG. 8), and can be pivoted about an axis C (see also FIG. 2C, FIG. 3C and FIG. 4C) into different angles of inclination and also can be slid along the axis C (see also FIG. 2C, FIG. 3C and FIG. 4C) (pivoting direction S (double arrow) and sliding direction V (double arrow)). The change to the angle of inclination of the storage surface 15 which can be locked on the dish basket 13 is carried out by a combined movement, i.e. by a longitudinal sliding of the storage surface 15 along the axis C (see also FIG. 2C, FIG. 3C and FIG. 4C) and preferably a simultaneous rotation of the storage surface 15 about the axis C (see also FIG. 2C, FIG. 3C and FIG. 4C). The storage area 15 is pivoted into an angle of inclination W.1 (FIG. 2C).

[0070] A plurality of support elements 18 are arranged on the underside of the storage surface 15 (see also FIG. 5 and FIG. 7), which support the storage surface 15 at a point spaced from the axis C (see also FIG. 2C, FIG. 3C and FIG. 4C) at different angles of inclination, in the present case at an angle of inclination W.1 (FIG. 2C).

[0071] Moreover, each support element 18 arranged on the underside of the storage surface 15 has a number of locking steps 19.1, 19.2, and 19.3 (see also FIG. 5 and FIG. 7) which come into engagement with the upper dish basket 13, whereby the storage surface 15 is supported at different angles of inclination, in the present case at an angle of inclination W.1 (FIG. 2C). The storage surface 15 and the support element 18 are produced in a uniform material, in particular by an injection-molding method.

[0072] The storage surface 15 can be pivoted between a folded-up and not shown resting position, and at least one folded-down operating position BP1. According to the drawing, the storage surface 15 is pivoted by means of the locking steps 19.1 into an angle of inclination W.1 (FIG. 2C).

[0073] The upper dish basket 13 has a receiving bottom 29 formed from a plurality of spaced-apart longitudinal elements 26 and transverse elements 27 and forming an adjustable surface 28, wherein the transverse elements 27 are arranged perpendicular to the longitudinal elements 26 and wherein the transverse elements 27 are connected to the longitudinal elements 26 at intersection points 30.

[0074] The receiving bottom 29 of the dish basket 13 is configured in the region below the storage surface 15 to be horizontal, approximately horizontal or slightly inclined (see also FIG. 2C, FIG. 3C and FIG. 4C).

[0075] A longitudinal element 26 of the dish basket 13 forms the axis C (see also FIG. 2C, FIG. 3C and FIG. 4C) for the storage surface 15 so that the storage surface 15 can be pivoted into different angles of inclination and also can be slid along the axis C (see also FIG. 2C, FIG. 3C and FIG. 4C). The storage surface 15 can be locked, preferably releasably connected, by means of a plurality of clamping connections 17 (FIG. 2C, FIG. 3C, FIG. 4C, FIG. 6 and FIG. 8) to the axis C (see also FIG. 2C, FIG. 3C and FIG. 4C).

[0076] In a manner not shown, the dish basket 13 may also have a plurality of separate, preferably adjacently arranged, storage surfaces 15, in each case at least one support element 18 being assigned thereto.

[0077] FIG. 2B shows a schematic and partial front view of the preferred embodiment of the storage surface 15 according to the invention which can be coupled to the upper dish basket 13 for holding items to be washed according to FIG. 2A in the first operating position BP1.

[0078] The number of support elements 18 arranged on the underside of the storage surface 15 is equal to the number of transverse elements 27 covered at least in some regions by the storage surface 15, so that a transverse element 27 is assigned to each support element 18 (see also FIG. 3B and FIG. 4B).

[0079] FIG. 2C shows a schematic and partial side view of the preferred embodiment of the storage surface 15 according to the invention which can be coupled to the upper dish basket 13 for holding items to be washed according to FIG. 2A in the first operating position BP1.

[0080] FIG. 3A shows a schematic perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the storage surface 15 according to the invention which can be coupled to the upper dish basket 13 for holding items to be washed according to FIG. 2A in a second operating position BP2.

[0081] The upper dish basket 13 and the storage surface 15 which can be coupled to the upper dish basket 13, shown by way of example and partially, form part of the dish rack 16.

[0082] Moreover, the storage surface 15 can be locked, preferably releasably connected, to the upper dish basket 13 by means of a plurality of clamping connections 17 (see FIG. 2C, FIG. 3C, FIG. 4C, FIG. 6 and FIG. 8), and can be pivoted about an axis C (see also FIG. 2C, FIG. 3C, and FIG. 4C) into different angles of inclination and also can be slid along the axis C (see also FIG. 2C, FIG. 3C and FIG. 4C) (pivoting direction S (double arrow) and sliding direction V (double arrow)). The change to the angle of inclination of the storage surface 15 which can be locked on the dish basket 13 is carried out by a combined movement, i.e. by a longitudinal sliding of the storage surface 15 along the axis C (see also FIG. 2C, FIG. 3C and FIG. 4C) and preferably a simultaneous rotation of the storage surface 15 about the axis C (see also FIG. 2C, FIG. 3C and FIG. 4C). The storage area 15 is pivoted into an angle of inclination W.2 (FIG. 3C).

[0083] A plurality of support elements 18 are arranged on the underside of the storage surface 15 (see also FIG. 5 and FIG. 7), which support the storage surface 15 at a point spaced from the axis C (see also FIG. 2C, FIG. 3C and FIG. 4C) at different angles of inclination, in the present case at an angle of inclination W.2 (FIG. 3C).

[0084] Moreover, each support element 18 arranged on the underside of the storage surface 15 has a number of locking steps 19.1, 19.2, 19.3 (see also FIG. 5 and FIG. 7) which come into engagement with the upper dish basket 13, whereby the storage surface 15 is supported at different angles of inclination, in the present case at an angle of inclination W.2 (FIG. 3C). The storage surface 15 and the support element 18 are produced in a uniform material, in particular by an injection-molding method.

[0085] The storage surface 15 can be pivoted between a folded-up and not shown resting position, and at least one folded-down operating position BP2. According to the drawing, the storage surface 15 is pivoted by means of the locking steps 19.2 into an angle of inclination W.2 (FIG. 3C).

[0086] The upper dish basket 13 has a receiving bottom 29 formed from a plurality of spaced-apart longitudinal elements 26 and transverse elements 27 and forming an adjustable surface 28, wherein the transverse elements 27 are arranged perpendicular to the longitudinal elements 26 and wherein the transverse elements 27 are connected to the longitudinal elements 26 at intersection points 30.

[0087] The receiving bottom 29 of the dish basket 13 is configured in the region below the storage surface 15 to be horizontal, approximately horizontal, or slightly inclined (see also FIG. 2C, FIG. 3C and FIG. 4C).

[0088] A longitudinal element 26 of the dish basket 13 forms the axis C (see also FIG. 2C, FIG. 3C and FIG. 4C) for the storage surface 15 so that the storage surface 15 can be pivoted into different angles of inclination and also can be slid along the axis C (see also FIG. 2C, FIG. 3C and FIG. 4C). The storage surface 15 can be locked, preferably releasably connected, by means of a plurality of clamping connections 17 (see FIG. 2C, FIG. 3C, FIG. 4C, FIG. 6 and FIG. 8) to the axis C (see also FIG. 2C, FIG. 3C and FIG. 4C).

[0089] In a manner not shown, the dish basket 13 may also have a plurality of separate, preferably adjacently arranged, storage surfaces 15, in each case at least one support element 18 being assigned thereto.

[0090] FIG. 3B shows a schematic and partial front view of the preferred embodiment of the storage surface 15 according to the invention which can be coupled to the upper dish basket 13 for holding items to be washed according to FIG. 3A in the second operating position BP2.

[0091] The number of support elements 18 arranged on the underside of the storage surface 15 is equal to the number of transverse elements 27 covered at least in some regions by the storage surface 15, so that a transverse element 27 is assigned to each support element 18 (see also FIG. 2B and FIG. 4B).

[0092] FIG. 3C shows a schematic and partial side view of the preferred embodiment of the storage surface 15 according to the invention which can be coupled to the upper dish basket 13 for holding items to be washed according to FIG. 3A in the second operating position BP2.

[0093] FIG. 4A shows a schematic perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the storage surface 15 according to the invention which can be coupled to the dish basket 13 for holding items to be washed according to FIG. 2A in a third operating position BP3.

[0094] The upper dish basket 13 and the storage surface 15 which can be coupled to the upper dish basket 13, shown by way of example and partially, form part of the dish rack 16.

[0095] Moreover, the storage surface 15 can be locked, preferably releasably connected, to the upper dish basket 13 by means of a plurality of clamping connections 17 (see FIG. 2C, FIG. 3C, FIG. 4C, FIG. 6 and FIG. 8), and can be pivoted about an axis C (see also FIG. 2C, FIG. 3C and FIG. 4C) into different angles of inclination and also can be slid along the axis C (see also FIG. 2C, FIG. 3C and FIG. 4C) (pivoting direction S (double arrow) and sliding direction V (double arrow)). The change to the angle of inclination of the storage surface 15 which can be locked on the dish basket 13 is carried out by a combined movement, i.e. by a longitudinal sliding of the storage surface 15 along the axis C (see also FIG. 2C, FIG. 3C and FIG. 4C) and preferably a simultaneous rotation of the storage surface 15 about the axis C (see also FIG. 2C, FIG. 3C and FIG. 4C). The storage area 15 is pivoted into an angle of inclination W.3 (FIG. 4C).

[0096] A plurality of support elements 18 are arranged on the underside of the storage surface 15 (see also FIG. 5 and FIG. 7), which supports the storage surface 15 at a point spaced from the axis C (see also FIG. 2C, FIG. 3C and FIG. 4C) at different angles of inclination, in the present case at an angle of inclination W.3 (FIG. 4C).

[0097] Moreover, each support element 18 arranged on the underside of the storage surface 15 has a number of locking steps 19.1, 19.2, 19.3 (see also FIG. 5 and FIG. 7) which come into engagement with the upper dish basket 13, whereby the storage surface 15 is supported at different angles of inclination, in the present case at an angle of inclination W.3 (FIG. 4C). The storage surface 15 and the support element 18 are produced in a uniform material, in particular by an injection-molding method.

[0098] The storage surface 15 can be pivoted between a folded-up and not shown resting position, and at least one folded-down operating position BP3. According to the drawing, the storage surface 15 is pivoted by means of the locking steps 19.3 into an angle of inclination W.3 (FIG. 4C).

[0099] The upper dish basket 13 has a receiving bottom 29 formed from a plurality of spaced-apart longitudinal elements 26 and transverse elements 27 and forming an adjustable surface 28, wherein the transverse elements 27 are arranged perpendicular to the longitudinal elements 26 and wherein the transverse elements 27 are connected to the longitudinal elements 26 at intersection points 30.

[0100] The receiving bottom 29 of the dish basket 13 is configured in the region below the storage surface 15 to be horizontal, approximately horizontal, or slightly inclined (see also FIG. 2C, FIG. 3C and FIG. 4C).

[0101] A longitudinal element 26 of the dish basket 13 forms the axis C (see also FIG. 2C, FIG. 3C and FIG. 4C) for the storage surface 15 so that the storage surface 15 can be pivoted into different angles of inclination and also can be slid along the axis C (see also FIG. 2C, FIG. 3C and FIG. 4C). The storage surface 15 can be locked, preferably releasably connected, by means of a plurality of clamping connections 17 (see FIG. 2C, FIG. 3C, FIG. 4C, FIG. 6 and FIG. 8) to the axis C (see also FIG. 2C, FIG. 3C and FIG. 4C).

[0102] In a manner not shown, the dish basket 13 may also have a plurality of separate, preferably adjacently arranged, storage surfaces 15, in each case at least one support element 18 being assigned thereto.

[0103] FIG. 4B shows a schematic and partial front view of the preferred embodiment of the storage surface 15 according to the invention which can be coupled to the upper dish basket 13 for holding items to be washed according to FIG. 4A in the third operating position BP3.

[0104] The number of support elements 18 arranged on the underside of the storage surface 15 is equal to the number of transverse elements 27 covered at least in some regions by the storage surface 15, so that a transverse element 27 is assigned to each support element 18 (see also FIG. 2B and FIG. 3B).

[0105] FIG. 4C shows a schematic and partial side view of the preferred embodiment of the storage surface 15 according to the invention which can be coupled to the upper dish basket 13 for holding items to be washed according to FIG. 4A in the third operating position BP3.

[0106] FIG. 5 shows a schematic front view of the preferred embodiment of the storage surface 15 according to the invention which can be coupled to the upper dish basket 13 (see also FIG. 2A to FIG. 4C) for holding items to be washed according to FIG. 2A.

[0107] A plurality of support elements 18 (see also FIG. 7) are arranged on the underside of the storage surface 15, which support the storage surface 15 at a point spaced from the axis C (see also FIG. 2A, FIG. 3A and FIG. 4A) at different angles of inclination W.1, W.2, W.3 (see FIG. 2C, FIG. 3C and FIG. 4C).

[0108] The plurality of support elements 18 arranged on the underside of the storage surface 15 are preferably uniformly distributed; but may also be arranged in at least two different spacings from one another.

[0109] Moreover, each support element 18 arranged on the underside of the storage surface 15 has a number of locking steps 19.1, 19.2, 19.3 (see also FIG. 7) which come into engagement with the upper dish basket 13 (see also FIG. 2A to FIG. 4C), whereby the storage surface 15 is supported at different angles of inclination (W.1, W.2, W.3 (see FIG. 2C, FIG. 3C and FIG. 4C). The locking steps 19.1, 19.2, 19.3 are configured on the support element 18 as supports 20.1, 20.2, 20.3 which act on the upper dish basket 13 depending on the angle of inclination W.1, W.2, W.3 (see also FIG. 2C, FIG. 3C and FIG. 4C) and preferably fixedly hold this dish basket 13 by the support surface 15.

[0110] Moreover, the supports 20.1, 20.2, 20.3 of the locking steps 19.1, 19.2, 19.3 on the respective support element 18 have an offset V.1, V.2 ranging from 1 to 10 mm, preferably from 2 to 8 mm, in particular from 3 to 6 mm. The offsets V.1, V.2 may have both equal and different values.

[0111] FIG. 6 shows a schematic side view of the preferred embodiment of the storage surface 15 according to the invention which can be coupled to the upper dish basket 13 (see also FIG. 2A to FIG. 4C) for holding items to be washed according to FIG. 2A.

[0112] The storage surface 15 can be locked, preferably releasably connected, to the upper dish basket 13 by means of a plurality of clamping connections 17 (see also FIG. 2C, FIG. 3C, FIG. 4C and FIG. 8), and can be pivoted about an axis C (see also FIG. 2C, FIG. 3C and FIG. 4C) into different angles of inclination W.1, W.2, W.3 (see also FIG. 2C, FIG. 3C and FIG. 4C) (double arrow S) and also can be slid along the axis C (see also FIG. 2C, FIG. 3C and FIG. 4C)(double arrow V). The individual clamping connection 17 may preferably be configured as a clamping hook 17.1 known to the person skilled in the art.

[0113] Moreover, the support surface 15 is preferably provided in the region of the axis C (see also FIG. 2C, FIG. 3C and FIG. 4C) with a stop contour 21 (see also FIG. 7, FIG. 8, FIGS. 9A, 9B and 9C) for items to be washed, which is designed in a continuous or spaced-apart manner.

[0114] FIG. 7 shows a schematic perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the storage surface 15 according to the invention which can be coupled to the upper dish basket 13 (see also FIG. 2A to FIG. 4C) for holding items to be washed according to FIG. 2A.

[0115] A plurality of support elements 18 are arranged on the underside of the storage surface 15 (see also FIG. 5), which support the storage surface 15 at a point spaced from the axis C (see also FIG. 2C, FIG. 3C and FIG. 4C) at different angles of inclination W.1, W.2, W.3 (see FIG. 2C, FIG. 3C and FIG. 4C).

[0116] Moreover, each support element 18 arranged on the underside of the storage surface 15 has a number of locking steps 19.1, 19.2 and 19.3 (see also FIG. 5 and FIG. 7) which come into engagement with the upper dish basket 13, whereby the storage surface 15 is supported at different angles of inclination W.1, W.2, W.3 (see FIG. 2C, FIG. 3C and FIG. 4C).

[0117] FIG. 8 shows a schematic plan view of the preferred embodiment of the storage surface 15 according to the invention which can be coupled to the upper dish basket 13 (see also FIG. 2A to FIG. 4C) for holding items to be washed according to FIG. 2A.

[0118] The storage surface 15 preferably has a planar surface 22 (see also FIG. 6) and it consists of a plurality of longitudinal elements 23 and transverse elements 24, preferably made of plastic or metal. The intersecting longitudinal elements 23 and transverse elements 24 form an open grid structure 25 which ultimately forms the storage surface 15.

[0119] The storage surface 15 can be locked, preferably releasably connected, to the upper dish basket 13 by means of a plurality of clamping connections 17 (see also FIG. 2C, FIG. 3C, FIG. 4C and FIG. 6), and can be pivoted about an axis C (see also FIG. 2C, FIG. 3C and FIG. 4C) into different angles of inclination (double arrow S) and also can be slid along the axis C (see also FIG. 2C, FIG. 3C, and FIG. 4C) (double arrow V). The individual clamping connection 17 may preferably be configured as a clamping hook 17.1 known to the person skilled in the art.

[0120] FIGS. 9A to 9C show schematic and partial front views of three further preferred embodiments of the storage surface 15 according to the invention which can be coupled to the dish basket 13 (see also FIG. 2A to FIG. 4C) for holding items to be washed.

[0121] The respective support surface 15, as already set forth, is preferably provided in the region of the axis C (see FIG. 2C, FIG. 3C and FIG. 4C) with a stop contour 21 for items to be washed, which is designed in a continuous or spaced-apart manner. With a spaced-apart embodiment, the stop contour 21 comprises a plurality of round and/or polygonal stop contour segments which are the same and which are arranged at equal or different spacings or which have an equal or approximately equal shape or different shapes.

[0122] The stop contour 21 arranged on the support surface 15 may, for example, have a rectangular contour (FIG. 9A), a wave-shaped contour (FIG. 9B) or a zig-zag contour (FIG. 9C). In principle, any contours are possible for the stop contour 21, in particular also combinations of the aforementioned contours.

[0123] While the present invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it may be modified in many different ways.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0124] 1 Dishwasher; household dishwasher [0125] 2 Dishwasher cavity [0126] 3 Appliance door [0127] 4 Opening plane [0128] 5 Pivot axis [0129] 6 Cavity opening [0130] 7 Cavity bottom [0131] 8 Cavity ceiling [0132] 9 Cavity rear wall [0133] 10 Cavity side wall [0134] 11 Cavity side wall [0135] 12 Loading level; lower dish basket (lower basket) [0136] 13 Loading level; upper dish basket (upper basket) [0137] 14 Loading level; cutlery drawer [0138] 15 Storage surface [0139] 16 Dish rack [0140] 17 Clamping connection [0141] 17.1 Clamping hook [0142] 18 Support element [0143] 19.1 Locking step [0144] 19.2 Locking step [0145] 19.3 Locking step [0146] 20.1 Support [0147] 20.2 Support [0148] 20.3 Support [0149] 21 Stop contour [0150] 22 Upper surface [0151] 23 Longitudinal element [0152] 24 Transverse element [0153] 25 Grid structure [0154] 26 Longitudinal element [0155] 27 Transverse element [0156] 28 Adjustable surface [0157] 29 Receiving bottom [0158] 30 Intersection point [0159] A Pull-out direction (arrow) [0160] BP1 First operating position [0161] BP2 Second operating position [0162] BP3 Third operating position [0163] C Axis [0164] E Push-in direction (arrow) [0165] S Pivoting direction (double arrow) [0166] V Sliding direction (double arrow) [0167] V.1 Offset [0168] V.2 Offset [0169] W.1 Angle of inclination [0170] W.2 Angle of inclination [0171] W.3 Angle of inclination