Lower rack for a domestic dishwasher having a lower-rack raising means

Abstract

A lower rack for a domestic dishwasher is constructed for being liftable and includes a fixed lower rack element, and a removable lower rack element connectable to the fixed lower rack element and constructed for removal from the fixed lower rack element to thereby unblock access to a bottom area of a washing container of the domestic dishwasher.

Claims

1. A liftable lower rack for a domestic dishwasher having a washing container, the liftable lower rack comprising: a fixed lower rack element comprising a frame fixedly mounted to a pair of rail assemblies; an electric motor driven lifting mechanism configured to raise the fixed lower rack element from a lower position inside the washing container into an upper position outside the washing container while maintaining the frame in a horizontal position; and a removable lower rack element connectable to the fixed lower rack element and constructed for complete removal from the fixed lower rack element to thereby unblock access to a bottom area of the washing container of the domestic dishwasher on condition that the fixed lower rack element is in the lower position inside the washing container.

2. The lower rack of claim 1, wherein the removable lower rack element is embodied as a wire basket, said frame being configured to receive the wire basket.

3. The lower rack of claim 2, wherein the frame is embodied as a circumferential frame.

4. The lower rack of claim 3, further comprising at least one cross-piece to subdivide the circumferential frame.

5. The lower rack of claim 2, wherein the wire basket is configured for suspension in the frame.

6. The lower rack of claim 1, wherein the removable lower rack element is embodied as a removable sub-basket and the fixed lower rack element is embodied as a fixed sub-basket, said removable and fixed sub-baskets being separably fastened directly or indirectly to one another.

7. The lower rack of claim 6, wherein the removable sub-basket is fastened to the fixed sub-basket at a side which faces a front of a housing of the domestic dishwasher.

8. The lower rack of claim 7, further comprising mutually corresponding engaging and receiving elements provided on a butt between the removable and fixed sub-baskets in a depth direction of the domestic dishwasher and constructed to form a separable positive mechanical engagement with one another in and against the depth direction.

9. The lower rack of claim 8, wherein the engaging and receiving elements are embodied in one of two ways, a first way in which the engaging and receiving elements are embodied as a latch and a corresponding nose, with the latch being configured for latching onto the nose, a second way in which the engaging and receiving elements are embodied as a hook and a corresponding wire element of one of the removable and fixed sub-baskets, said hook being configured for hooking into the wire element of the one of the removable and fixed sub-baskets.

10. The lower rack of claim 1, wherein the fixed lower rack element is embodied as a wire basket defined by a wire basket geometry having a recess, said removable lower rack element sized to at least partially cover the recess and, when removed, unblocks the access to the bottom area of the washing container through the recess.

11. The lower rack of claim 10, wherein the wire basket geometry includes the frame embodied as a circumferential frame having an inside configured to form the recess.

12. The lower rack of claim 10, wherein the lower rack element is a cutlery basket, a plate receptacle or a series of spines.

13. The lower rack of claim 2, wherein the removable lower rack element includes a rear wall, a front wall, and two side walls of the wire basket.

14. The lower rack of claim 13, wherein the rear wall of the wire basket of the removable lower rack element is removable via a rotational movement.

15. The lower rack of claim 13, wherein the rear wall of the wire basket of the removable lower rack element is removable via a combination of a translational movement and a rotational movement.

16. A domestic dishwasher, comprising: a washing container; a functional unit provided in a container bottom of the washing container; a lower rack including a fixed lower rack element comprising a frame fixedly mounted to a pair of rail assemblies, and a removable lower rack element constructed for complete removal to thereby unblock access to the functional unit on condition that the fixed lower rack element is inside the washing container; and an electric motor driven raising mechanism configured to raise the lower rack from a lower position inside the washing container into an upper position outside the washing container while maintaining the lower rack in a horizontal position.

17. The domestic dishwasher of claim 16, wherein the removable lower rack element is separably joined to the fixed lower rack element.

18. The domestic dishwasher of claim 16, wherein the functional unit is a salt reservoir, a hot air exhaust valve, a sieve or a spraying device.

19. The domestic dishwasher of claim 18, wherein the spraying device is a spray arm.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Further advantageous embodiments and aspects of the invention are the subject matter of the dependent claims as well as of the exemplary embodiments of the invention described in the following. The invention will also be explained in more detail with reference to preferred embodiment variants and whilst referring to the accompanying figures.

(2) FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a domestic dishwasher;

(3) FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a first preferred embodiment variant of a lower rack;

(4) FIGS. 3 and 4 show perspective views of a preferred embodiment variant of the lower rack;

(5) FIG. 5 shows a partial side view of the second preferred embodiment variant;

(6) FIGS. 6 and 7 show overhead views of a third preferred embodiment variant of the lower rack; and

(7) FIG. 8 shows a sectional view of a domestic dishwasher with lower rack;

(8) FIGS. 9A and 9B show perspective views of a fourth preferred embodiment variant of the lower rack;

(9) FIGS. 10A and 10B show perspective views of a fifth preferred embodiment variant of the lower rack;

(10) FIG. 11A to 11C show perspective views of a sixth preferred embodiment variant of the lower rack;

(11) FIG. 12A to 12C show perspective views of a seventh preferred embodiment variant of the lower rack;

(12) FIGS. 13A and 13B show perspective views of an eighth preferred embodiment variant of the lower rack; and

(13) FIGS. 14A and 14B show perspective views of a ninth preferred embodiment variant of the lower rack.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

(14) In the figures, elements that are the same or have the same function are provided with identical reference signs, unless otherwise stated.

(15) FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a domestic dishwasher 1 with lower-rack raising means. The domestic dishwasher 1 has a carcass comprising a washing container 2 that can be closed by a container door 3 in a watertight manner.

(16) The washing container 2 and the container door 3 can form a washing chamber 4 for the washing of items to be washed. The container door 3 is shown in its opened position in FIG. 1. The container door 3 can be closed or opened by being pivoted about a pivot axis provided on a lower end of the container door 3.

(17) The washing container 2 is for example cuboid and can comprise a container bottom 5, a container ceiling 6 situated opposite the container bottom 5, a container rear wall 7 situated opposite the container door 3 and two container side walls 8, 9 situated opposite one another. The container side walls 8, 9 in particular can be made of stainless steel sheet.

(18) The domestic dishwasher 1 also has at least one loading level 10, 10, 10. The at least one loading level 10, 10, 10 is preferably a receptacle of the domestic dishwasher 1 for items to be washed. In particular, several loading levels, including a lower rack 10, an upper basket 10 and/or a cutlery drawer 10 can be provided. The several loading levels 10, 10, 10 are preferably arranged one above the other in the washing container 2. Each loading level 10, 10, 10 is optionally movable in a push-in direction E into the washing container 2 or out of it in a pull-out direction A. A rail 11 is preferably provided for this purpose on both sides of each of the loading levels 10, 10, 10. In domestic dishwashers 1 with lower-rack raising means the lower rack 10 is fastened to a raising mechanism 12 that comprises the rails 11. The lower rack 10 can be pivoted upwards from its lower position shown in FIG. 1 and out of the washing container 2 by means of the raising mechanism 12. For this purpose, the raising mechanism 12 can have an electric motor and/or be assisted by spring forces or gravitational forces.

(19) FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a first preferred embodiment variant of the lower rack 10.

(20) The lower rack 10 has a frame 12a and a wire basket 12b. The frame 12a serves as a fixed lower rack element 10a and, in this preferred embodiment variant of the lower rack 10, is embodied as a circumferential frame that is fastened via several frame holders 13 to the two rails 11 running along the sides of the wire basket 12b.

(21) In this preferred embodiment variant the wire basket 12b is the removable lower rack element 10b of the lower rack 10, which is suspended from above from a height direction Z to enter into positive mechanical engagement with the frame 12a.

(22) A possible cross-piece 14 indicated by means of dotted lines could stiffen the frame 12a and sub-divide the capacity area of the frame 12a into several smaller areas, in each of which a smaller wire basket 12b could then be suspended.

(23) When the lower rack 10 is in a lower position in the washing container 2, then pulling the at least one wire basket 12b out of the frame 12a enables access to the entire container bottom 5 of the washing container 2.

(24) FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 show perspective views of a second preferred embodiment variant of the lower rack 10.

(25) Both figures show a lower rack 10 that comprises a fixed sub-basket 15a of the lower rack 10 and a removable sub-basket 15b of the lower rack 10, with the removable sub-basket 15b being provided in front of the fixed sub-basket 15a in a depth direction Y of the domestic dishwasher 1, i.e. on the side of the fixed sub-basket 15a that is nearest to the container door 3.

(26) When the lower rack 10 is in its lower position in the washing container 2, then taking the removable sub-basket 15b of the lower rack 10 from the fixed sub-basket 15a of the lower rack 10 enables access to the front area, of the container bottom 5 of the washing container 2 that faces the container door 3 in the depth direction.

(27) The two sub-baskets 15a, 15b of the lower rack 10 are in alignment, both in a width direction X and in the height direction Z, and form a butt 16 in the depth direction Y. The sub-basket 15a of the lower rack 10 is firmly connected to both of the rails 11 running along the sides of the sub-baskets 15a, 15b, whereas the sub-basket 15b of the lower rack 10 is fastened to the sub-basket 15a. This purpose is served in particular by fastening means 17 that can be seen in FIG. 4 and are mounted on the sides and the container bottom 5 of the two sub-baskets 15a, 15b in such a way that they protrude over the butt 16 between and beyond the two sub-baskets 15a, 15b, causing positive mechanical engagement between the two sub-baskets 15a, 15b in and against the depth direction Y.

(28) FIG. 5 shows a partial side view of the second preferred embodiment variant of the lower rack 10 that corresponds to the two previous figures.

(29) It can be seen from FIG. 5 that each of the fastening devices 17 comprises mutually corresponding engaging elements and receiving elements 17a, 17b that enter into separable positive engagement with one another.

(30) The upper of the two fastening devices 17 that can be seen in FIG. 5 has a latch as its engaging element 17a, whereas its receiving element 17b is embodied as a nose fastened to the fixed sub-basket 15a. The upper fastening device 17 is represented in the latched-in state, in which the latch is in positive mechanical engagement with the nose. A lever 18 that the latch forms at the one end that faces the nose and is fastened to the removable sub-basket 15b via a joint 19 is provided for the purpose of reversing the positive mechanical engagement between latch and nose very quickly when required.

(31) The lower of the two fastening devices 17 represented consists of a clip custom made of plastic or metal that comprises a hook 17a and a wire element 17b of the fixed sub-basket 15a. In the fastened state the clip, together with its hook 17a, is engaged from below, in a height direction Z, with the wire element 17b, i.e. with a mesh of the fixed sub-basket 15a of the lower rack 10, and is fixed to the butt 16 in such a way by a further hook that engages with a wire element of the removable sub-basket 15b of the lower rack 10 that the bottoms of the two sub-baskets 15a, 15b are in alignment in the height direction.

(32) FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 show overhead views of a third preferred embodiment variant of the lower rack 10.

(33) In FIG. 6 the container bottom 5 of the washing container 2 is overlain with a wire geometry of a wire basket 10. Here, the wire geometry provides a series of recesses 20 above certain functional units 21 provided in the container bottom 5. By way of example, a reservoir 21 for the regenerating salt of a water softening device is represented on the left side, a spray arm 21, in generic terms a spraying device, and a fine sieve 21, are represented in the middle and, top right, an exhaust opening 21 for drying air. Each recess 20 is defined in terms of area and position by the wire frame surrounding it, which also stiffens it.

(34) FIG. 7 shows only the wire geometry and the recesses 20 from FIG. 6, as well as a cutlery basket 22 that represents an exemplary removable lower rack element 10b of the third preferred embodiment variant. Here, the cutlery basket 22 completely covers the upper right recess 20 that can be seen in FIG. 6 but positions are also possible in which the cutlery basket 22 only partially covers the recess 20 in question, or indeed other recesses 20.

(35) When the lower rack 10 is in its lower position in the washing container 2 then lifting the cutlery basket 22 out of the wire basket 10a enables access to the exhaust opening 21 that can be seen in FIG. 6, which is covered in FIG. 7. Generally, the third preferred embodiment variant of the lower rack 10 can enable possibly model-specific access to individual smaller areas of the container bottom 5 of the washing container 2.

(36) FIG. 8 shows a side view of the domestic dishwasher 1 with the lower rack 10 in the lower position in the washing container 2.

(37) The container door 3 normally arranged on the left edge of FIG. 8 has been omitted to reveal a handle 23 of the lower rack 10. As indicated in FIG. 8 the latter is pivotably linked to the side of the lower rack 10 that faces the container door 3, in particular to the removable lower rack element 10b, 12b, 15b, 22 to enable it, as an obstacle in an otherwise free corridor between the user and the container bottom 5 of the washing container 2, to be folded.

(38) In the other preferred embodiment variants in FIG. 9A to FIG. 14B the at least one removable lower rack element 10b of the lower rack 10 is in each case embodied as a rear wall 24 of the wire basket 12b and the at least one fixed lower rack element 10a of the lower rack 10 is in each case embodied as a wire basket 12b comprising at least one basket bottom 25, a front wall 26 and two side walls 27, 28. The removable rear wall 24 of the wire basket 12b can, of course, also only comprise a section of the rear wall of the wire basket.

(39) FIG. 9A and FIG. 9B show perspective views of a fourth preferred embodiment variant of the lower rack 10.

(40) The removable rear wall 24 of the wire basket 12b, i.e. the removable lower rack element 10b of the lower rack 10, is fastened to the underside of the fixed lower rack element 10a of the lower rack 10 by means of two basket clips 29. On the upper side the removable rear wall 24 of the wire basket 12b is held on the fixed lower rack element 10a of the lower rack 10 with two fastening flaps 30. Easier access to the container bottom of the washing container can be achieved through a translational movement of the fastening flaps 30 (arrow 1), preferably vertically upwards, optionally also together with the rear wall 24, and a subsequent rotational movement of the rear wall 24 (arrow 2, see FIG. 9B) in the direction of the wire basket 12b.

(41) FIG. 10A and FIG. 10B show perspective views of a fifth preferred embodiment variant of the lower rack 10.

(42) The removable rear wall 24 of the wire basket 12b, i.e. the removable lower rack element 10b of the lower rack 10, is fastened to the underside of the fixed lower rack element 10a of the lower rack 10 by means of two basket clips 29. On the upper side the removable rear wall 24 of wire basket 12b is held on the fixed lower rack element 10a of the lower rack 10 with two locking elements 31. Easier access to the container bottom of the washing container can be achieved through a translational movement of the locking elements 31 (arrow 1), optionally also together with the rear wall 24, and a subsequent rotational movement of the rear wall 24 (arrow 2, see FIG. 10B) in the direction of the wire basket 12b.

(43) FIG. 11A, FIG. 11B and FIG. 11C show perspective views of a sixth preferred embodiment variant of the lower rack 10.

(44) The removable rear wall 24 of the wire basket 12b, i.e. the removable lower rack element 10b of the lower rack 10 is fastened to the underside of the fixed lower rack element 10a of the lower rack 10 by means of two basket clips 29. On the upper side the removable rear wall 24 of wire basket 12b is held on the fixed lower rack element 10a of the lower rack 10 with two locking elements 31. Easier access to the container bottom of the washing container can be achieved through a translational movement of the rear wall 24 (arrow 1) and a subsequent rotational movement of the rear wall 24 (arrow 2; see FIG. 11B) in the direction of the wire basket 12b. FIG. 11C shows a cutaway partial view of FIG. 11A.

(45) FIG. 12A, FIG. 12B and FIG. 12C show perspective views of a seventh preferred embodiment variant of the lower rack 10.

(46) The removable rear wall 24 of the wire basket 12b, i.e. the removable lower rack element 10b of the lower rack 10, is fastened to the underside of the fixed lower rack element 10a of the lower rack 10 by means of two basket clips 29. On the upper side the removable rear wall 24 of the wire basket 12b is held on the fixed lower rack element 10a of the lower rack 10 with two stopping strips 32. The two stopping strips 32 can, however, be controlled by a rotary knob 33. The two stopping strips 32 are moved inwards, i.e. towards each other, by a rotational movement, i.e. a turn, of the rotary knob 33. This results in the upper side of the rear wall 24 of the wire basket 12b being unfastened. Easier access to the container bottom of the washing container can be achieved with a rotational movement of the rear wall 24 (arrow 2; see FIG. 12B) in the direction of the wire basket 12b. FIG. 12C shows a cutaway partial view of FIG. 12B.

(47) FIG. 13A and FIG. 13B show perspective views of an eighth preferred embodiment variant of the lower rack 10.

(48) The removable rear wall 24 of the wire basket 12b, i.e. the removable lower rack element 10b of the lower rack 10, is fastened both to the underside and to the upper side of the fixed lower rack element 10a of the lower rack 10 by means of two fixing elements 34 in each case. Easier access to the container bottom of the washing container can be achieved through a preferably vertical translational movement of the rear wall 24 (arrow 1).

(49) FIG. 14A FIG. 14B show perspective views of a ninth preferred embodiment variant of the lower rack 10.

(50) The removable rear wall 24 of the wire basket 12b, i.e. the removable lower rack element 10b of the lower rack 10 is fastened to the underside of the fixed lower rack element 10a of the lower rack 10 by means of two basket clips 29. On the upper side the removable rear wall 24 of wire basket 12b is held on the fixed lower rack element 10a of the lower rack 10 with two prestressed, preferably spring-loaded, fixing elements 35 on the fixed lower rack element 10a of the lower rack 10. On the front side of the lower rack 10, on its front wall 26, an operating element 36, preferably an actuable handle element 37, is provided that, when actuated via mechanical, electrical and/or fluidic transmission means 38, for example in the form of a cord, a Bowden cable or the like, exerts pressure on the two prestressed fixing elements 35 and in so doing releases the removable rear wall 24 of the wire basket 12b in the direction of the wire basket 12b. Easier access to the container bottom of the washing container can be achieved through a rotational movement of the rear wall 24 (arrow 2; see FIG. 14B) in the direction of the wire basket 12b.

(51) In the preferred embodiment variant of FIG. 9A to FIG. 14B the lower rack 10 is preferably pulled horizontally out of the washing container of the domestic dishwasher during the removal of the rear wall 24 of the wire basket 12b. The lower rack 10 can also have a foldable handle (see FIG. 8) on the side of it that faces the front of the housing of the domestic dishwasher.

(52) Although the present invention has been described with the aid of exemplary embodiments it can be modified in many different ways.