EP3148393B1

EP3148393B1 - Article rack accessory with improved usability for use in a dishwasher

Info

Publication number: EP3148393B1
Application number: EP14727812.1A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Hasret GURSOY; Didem POLAT; Mehmet DIKSAN; Fatih BASARAN; Ismail Demircioglu
Original assignee: Arcelik AS
Current assignee: Arcelik AS
Priority date: 2014-06-02
Filing date: 2014-06-02
Publication date: 2018-01-31
Anticipated expiration: 2034-06-02
Also published as: TR201722627T3; EP3148393A1; WO2015185076A1

Description

The present invention relates to an article rack accessory for use in a dishwasher, in particular a domestic dishwasher. The present invention more particularly relates to an article rack accessory which is detachably attachable to either one of an upper article rack and a lower article rack of a dishwasher.
A conventional dishwasher usually has an upper article rack and a lower article rack which are slidably arranged inside the washing tub. These article racks are typically made of wires which have been designed to hold various kind of kitchenware which come in different sizes and shapes. The kitchenware generally includes dishes, pots, pans, glasses, cups, cutleries and the like. In particular, the cutleries are usually sorted into a basket which can be removably mounted to the lower article rack.
US2012138110 discloses an automatic dishwasher having at least one primary sprayer and at least one auxiliary sprayer located within a treating chamber. Wherein the at least one auxiliary sprayer is removably mounted in the treating chamber thereof.
WO 2010133674 (A1 ) discloses a domestic dishwasher which comprises a washing tub, two article racks which are slidably mounted to the washing tub, two spray arms, a pump for conveying washing liquid to the spray arms, and a removable article basket for the cutleries.
A problem with the conventional dishwasher is that the articles may remain dirty after the completion of the washing cycle. Poor washing results may be caused by several reasons. A frequent reason is that the user places the articles into the washing tub despite their being heavily soiled. Another frequent reason is that the user misaligns the articles and/or sorts them too closely to one another such that the upper spray arm or the lower spray arm cannot effectively jet the washing liquid onto the inner and outer surfaces of the articles. For example, excessively piled cutleries or the misaligned hollow articles like feeding bottles, jars, and stemware may easily remain dirty.
In either of the above cases the user needs to wash the unclean articles again. To prevent such incidents, the user must give special attention to correctly align/sort the articles into the upper/lower rack or into the removable article basket.
An objective of the present invention is to provide an article rack accessory for use in dishwasher and a dishwasher having the same which overcomes the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art in a cost effective way and which enables an improved cleaning performance and which has an improved usability and functionality.
This objective has been achieved by the article rack accessory as defined in claim 1, and the dishwasher as defined in claim 9. Further achievements have been attained by the subject-matters respectively defined in the dependent claims.
The dishwasher according to the present invention comprises an auxiliary duct assembly which is mounted to a designated one of the upper article rack and the lower article rack. The auxiliary duct assembly conveys washing liquid which is supplied from the pump. The auxiliary duct assembly is fluidly connectable to the detachable article rack accessory of the present invention.
The article rack accessory of the present invention comprises an auxiliary nozzle device which is detachably attachable to the designated article rack. The auxiliary nozzle device is fluidly connectable to the auxiliary duct assembly of the dishwasher of the present invention. The auxiliary nozzle device has a nozzle head which jets the washing liquid towards articles which are placed in the vicinity thereof. The auxiliary nozzle device is separately provided from the upper spray arm and the lower spray arm.
In an embodiment, the nozzle head is elongated. The elongated nozzle head is especially suitable for cleaning high and narrow shaped articles which are heavily soiled.
In another alternative embodiment, the nozzle head is telescopically extensible and can be manually adjusted to a size and shape of the article to be cleaned.
In another embodiment, the nozzle head is rotatable and revolves as the washing liquid is jetted towards the article. The article rack accessory of the present invention further comprises a detachably attached auxiliary article holder for supporting cutlery and/or stemware. The nozzle head and the auxiliary article holder are arranged such that the washing liquid is jetted towards the cutlery and, in particular into the stemware. The auxiliary article holder has a disk shaped rack which has a plurality of annularly arrayed slots and notches for supporting the cutleries and the stemware respectively.
In another version of this embodiment, the auxiliary article holder is directly attached to the nozzle head.
With the present invention, a dishwasher has been provided with which a versatile article rack accessory can be adaptively and selectively utilized by a customer in accordance with the kind, the size and the shape, and the cleanliness of the articles to be cleaned. By selecting an elongated nozzle head or by telescopically increasing a height of the nozzle head, the article rack accessory of the present invention can be used for intensively cleaning high and narrow shaped articles which are heavily soiled. The combination detachably attachable auxiliary article holder and nozzle head of the article rack accessory of the present invention can be used for intensively cleaning various cutleries and stemware which are heavily soiled. With the article rack accessory of the present invention a cleaning performance of heavily soiled articles has been improved. Thereby, the customer satisfaction can be further increased.
Additional advantages of the article rack accessory according to the present invention and the dishwasher according to the present invention will become apparent with the detailed description of the embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 - is a schematic perspective view of an article rack accessory which has an auxiliary nozzle device and an auxiliary article holder according to an embodiment of the present invention,
Figure 2 - is a schematic top view of the article rack accessory of Fig. 1,
Figure 3 - is a schematic side view of the article rack accessory of Fig. 1,
Figure 4 - is a schematic perspective view of a dishwasher which has the article rack accessory of Fig. 1,
Figure 5 - is another schematic perspective view of the dishwasher of Fig. 4,
Figure 6 - is a schematic perspective view of a lower article rack which has the article rack accessory of Fig. 1,
Figure 7 - is another schematic perspective view of the lower article rack which has the article rack accessory of Fig. 1,
Figure 8 - is another schematic perspective view of the article rack accessory of Fig. 1, wherein the auxiliary article holder supports various cutleries,
Figure 9 - is another schematic perspective view of the article rack accessory of Fig. 1 wherein the auxiliary article holder supports stemware,
Figure 10 - is another schematic perspective view of the article rack accessory of Fig. 1 wherein the auxiliary article holder supports various cutleries and stemware,
Figure 11 - is a schematic perspective view of the auxiliary nozzle device of the article rack accessory of Fig. 1,
Figure 12 - is a schematic top view of the auxiliary nozzle device of Fig. 11,
Figure 13 - is a schematic side view of the auxiliary nozzle device of Fig. 11,
Figure 14 - is a schematic perspective view of the lower article rack with the auxiliary nozzle device of Fig. 11,
Figure 15 - is another schematic perspective view of the lower article rack with the auxiliary nozzle device of Fig. 11,
Figure 16 - is a schematic perspective view of the lower article rack with the auxiliary nozzle device of Fig. 11, which is inserted into a bottle,
Figure 17 - is another schematic perspective view of the lower article rack which has the article rack accessory of Fig. 11, which is inserted into a bottle, not according to an embodiment of the present invention,
Figure 18 - is a schematic perspective view of an article rack accessory not according to the present invention,
Figure 19 - is a schematic top view of the article rack accessory of Fig. 18,
Figure 20 - is a schematic side view of the article rack accessory of Fig. 18,
Figure 21 - is a schematic enlarged view of the detail A of Fig. 18,
Figure 22 - is a schematic enlarged view of a nozzle head of the auxiliary nozzle device of Fig. 18,
Figure 23 - is a schematic top view of the nozzle head of Fig. 22,
Figure 24 - is a schematic side view of the nozzle head of Fig. 22,
Figure 25 - is a schematic perspective view of the lower article rack which has the article rack accessory of Fig. 18,
Figure 26 - is another schematic perspective view of the lower article rack which has the article rack accessory of Fig. 18,
Figure 27 - is a schematic perspective view of a base which is fluidly connected to an auxiliary conduit of the dishwasher according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein the base is used in combination with the article rack accessory of Fig. 1
Figure 28a - is a schematic top view of the base of Fig. 27,
Figure 28b - is a schematic front view of the base of Fig. 27,
Figure 28c - is a sectional view of the base of Fig. 28a, taken along the line B-B,
Figure 28d - is a sectional view of the base of Fig. 28a, taken along the line C-C.

The reference signs appearing on the drawings relate to the following technical features.

1.: Article rack accessory
1a.: Auxiliary nozzle device
1b.: Auxiliary article holder
2.: Dishwasher
2a.: Washing tub
2b.: Upper article rack
2c.: Lower article rack
2d.: Upper spray arm
2e.: Lower spray arm
2f.: Sump
2g.: Conduits
2h.: Auxiliary conduit
2i.: Base
2j.: Inlet
2k.: Outlet
21.: First arm
2m.: Second arm
2n.: First notch
2o.: Second notch
2p.: Rack wire
3.: Nozzle head
3a.: Intake port
3b.: Body
3c.: Nozzle
4.: Article
4a.: Bottle
4b.: Cutlery
4c.: Stemware
5.: Rack
5a.: Slot
5b.: Notch
5c.: Annular array

The article rack accessory (1) is suitable for use in a domestic dishwasher (2) (Figs. 4 to 7).
The domestic dishwasher (2) comprises a washing tub (2a), an upper article rack (2b) and a lower article rack (2c) which are slidably mountable to the washing tub (2a), an upper spray arm (2d) and a lower spray arm (2e) which are rotatably arranged inside the washing tub (2a), a sump (2f) for collecting washing liquid, wherein the sump (2f) is located at a bottom of the washing tub (2a), and a pump (not shown) for supplying the upper spray arm (2d) and the lower spray arm (2e) via conduits (2g) with washing liquid from the sump (2f) (Figs. 4 and 5).
The domestic dishwasher (2) of the present invention comprises an auxiliary duct assembly (2h-2n) which is mounted to a designated one of the upper article rack (2b) and the lower article rack (2c). The auxiliary duct assembly (2h-2n) is configured to convey washing liquid which is supplied from the pump. The auxiliary duct assembly (2h-2n) is fluidly connectable to the detachable article rack accessory (1) of the present invention (Figs. 4 to 7).
The article rack accessory (1) of the present invention comprises an auxiliary nozzle device (1a) which is detachably attachable to the designated article rack (2b, 2c). The auxiliary nozzle device (1a) is fluidly connectable to the auxiliary duct assembly (2h-2n). The auxiliary nozzle device (1a) has a nozzle head (3) which is configured to jet the washing liquid towards articles (4) which are placed in the vicinity thereof. The auxiliary nozzle device (1a) is separately provided from the upper spray arm (2d) and the lower spray arm.
In an embodiment, the nozzle head (3) is elongated and extends upwards from a bottom of the designated article rack (2b, 2c). In another alternative embodiment, the nozzle head (3) is telescopically extensible so as to allow a height adjustment. In another embodiment, the nozzle head (3) is rotatably arranged on the auxiliary nozzle device (1a).
In another embodiment, the auxiliary duct assembly (2h-2n) comprises an auxiliary conduit (2h) which is configured to convey washing liquid which is supplied from the pump, and a base (2i) which is detachably attachable to the designated article rack (2b, 2c). The base (2i) has a washing liquid inlet (2j) and a washing liquid outlet (2k) which are in fluid communication. The washing liquid inlet (2j) is fluidly connectable to the auxiliary conduit (2h). The washing liquid outlet (2k) is fluidly connectable to an intake port (3a) of the nozzle head (3) of the auxiliary nozzle device (1a). In another embodiment, the nozzle head (3) comprises a washing liquid intake port (3a), a body (3b) into which one or more than one nozzle (3c) is formed. The intake port (3a) is fluidly connectable to the washing liquid outlet (2k). Each nozzle (3c) is in fluid communication with the washing liquid intake port (3a) (Figs. 11 to 13). The article rack accessory (1) of the present invention comprises an auxiliary article holder (1b) for supporting articles (4) such as cutleries (4b) and/or stemware (4c) in a suspended state. The auxiliary article holder (1b) is detachably attached to the auxiliary nozzle device (1a). The auxiliary nozzle device (1a) is configured to jet washing liquid towards the cutlery (4b) and into the stemware (4c) which is placed on the auxiliary article holder (1b). The nozzle head (3) has one or more than one nozzle (3c) which are arranged to directly jet the washing liquid into the stemware (4). The drawings do not show all nozzles (3c). The auxiliary article holder (1b) is separately provided from the upper article rack (2b) and the lower article rack (2c) (Figs. 1 to 3, Figs.8 to 10). The auxiliary article holder (1b) of the present invention comprises a circular-shaped and plate-like rack (5) which has a plurality of slots (5a) for the insertion of cutlery (4b) and/or a plurality of notches (5b) for the insertion of stems of the stemware (4c) (Figs. 1 to 3, Figs.8 to 10).
In another embodiment, the rack (5) is detachably attachable directly to the nozzle head (3) (Figs. 1 to 3, Figs. 11 to 13).
In another embodiment, the slots (5a) are arranged in one or more than one annular array (5c) which surrounds an imaginary vertical axis (Ax) passing through the auxiliary nozzle device (1a) (Figs. 1 to 3, Figs.8 to 10). In this embodiment, the notches (5b) are formed on a circumference of the rack (5).
In another embodiment, the plurality of slots (5a) comprises slots (5a) which have different sizes so as to allow placing of cutleries (4a) which have different sizes (Figs. 1 to 3, Figs. 8 to 10). In a version of this embodiment, the slots (5a) in a same annular array (5c) are identical, but their sizes and shapes vary between the annular arrays (5c). In another version of this embodiment, the slots (5a) in a same annular array (5c) include slots (5a) with different size and shapes (Fig. 2).
The present invention also provides a dishwasher (2) which has the article rack accessory (1).
In another embodiment, the designated article rack (2b, 2c) is the lower article rack (2c). In this embodiment, the article rack accessory (1) is detachably attached to the lower article rack (2c) and fluidly connected to the auxiliary duct assembly (2h-2n) (Figs. 4 to 7).
In another embodiment, the auxiliary duct assembly (2h-2n) comprises an auxiliary conduit (2h) which is configured to convey washing liquid supplied from the pump, and a base (2i) which is detachably attachable to the designated article rack (2b, 2c). The base (2i) has a washing liquid inlet (2j) and a washing liquid outlet (2k) which are in fluid communication. The washing liquid inlet (2j) is fluidly connectable to the auxiliary conduit (2h) (Figs. 27 to 28). The washing liquid outlet (2k) is connectable to an intake port (3a) of the nozzle head (3) (Fig. 11). In a version of this embodiment, the base (2i) comprises one or more than one arm (21,2m). Each arm (21, 2m) comprises a respective notch (2n,2o). Each notch (2n,2o) is configured to releasably engage with a corresponding rack wire (2p) of the designated article rack (2b,2c) (Figs. 6 to 7).
With the present invention, the user has been enabled to adaptively and selectively utilize the versatile article rack accessory (1) in the dishwasher (2) in accordance with the cleanliness, the kind, the size and the shape of the articles (4) to be cleaned. With the article rack accessory (1) of the present invention a performance of the dishwasher (2) in cleaning heavily soiled articles (4) with extraordinary sizes and shapes has been improved. Thereby, the customer satisfaction can be further increased.

Claims

An article rack accessory (1) for use in a domestic dishwasher (2) comprising a washing tub (2a), an upper article rack (2b) and a lower article rack (2c) which are slidably mountable to the washing tub (2a), an upper spray arm (2d) and a lower spray arm (2e) which are rotatably arranged inside the washing tub (2a), a sump (2f) for collecting washing liquid, said sump (2f) being located at a bottom of the washing tub (2a), a pump for supplying the upper spray arm (2d) and the lower spray arm (2e) via conduits (2g) with washing liquid from the sump (2f), and an auxiliary duct assembly (2h-2n) which is mounted to a designated one of the upper article rack (2b) and the lower article rack (2c), said auxiliary duct assembly (2h-2n) being configured to convey washing liquid which is supplied from the pump, wherein the article rack accessory (1) comprises :
- an auxiliary nozzle device (1a) separately provided from the upper spray arm (2d) and the lower spray arm (2e), which is detachably attachable to the designated article rack (2b, 2c) and fluidly connectable to the auxiliary duct assembly (2h-2n), wherein said auxiliary nozzle device (1a) has a nozzle head (3) which is configured to jet washing liquid towards articles (4) which are placed in the vicinity thereof, the article rack accessory (1) being characterized in that it further comprises:

- an auxiliary article holder (1b), separately provided from the upper article rack (2b) and the lower article rack (2c), for supporting articles (4) including cutlery (4b) and/or stemware (4c) in a suspended state, wherein said auxiliary article holder (1b) is detachably attached to the auxiliary nozzle device (1a), and wherein said auxiliary article holder (1b) comprises a circular-shaped and plate-like rack (5) which has a plurality of slots (5a) for the insertion of cutlery (4b) and a plurality of notches (5b) for the insertion of stems of the stemware (4c) and in that:
- the auxiliary nozzle device (1a) is configured to jet washing liquid towards the cutlery (4b) and into the stemware (4c) which are placed on the auxiliary article holder (1b).
The article rack accessory (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the nozzle head (3) is elongated and extends upwards from a bottom of the designated article rack (2b, 2c).
The article rack accessory (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the nozzle head (3) is telescopically extensible so as to allow a height adjustment.
The article rack accessory (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the nozzle head (3) is rotatably arranged on the auxiliary nozzle device (1a).
The article rack accessory (1) according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the nozzle head (3) comprises a washing liquid intake port (3a), a body (3b) into which one or more than one nozzle (3c) is formed, wherein each nozzle (3c) is in fluid communication with washing liquid intake port (3a), and wherein the intake port (3a) is fluidly connectable to a washing liquid outlet (2k) of the auxiliary duct assembly (2h-2n).
The article rack accessory (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the rack (5) is detachably attached to the nozzle head (3).
The article rack accessory (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that the slots (5a) are arranged in one or more than one annular array (5c) which surrounds an imaginary vertical axis (Ax) passing through the auxiliary nozzle device (1a).
The article rack accessory (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7 characterized in that the plurality of slots (5a) comprises slots (5a) which have different sizes so as to allow placing of cutleries (4a) which have different sizes.
A domestic dishwasher (2) comprising
a washing tub (2a),
an upper article rack (2b) and a lower article rack (2c) which are slidably mountable to the washing tub (2a),
an upper spray arm (2d) and a lower spray arm (2e) which are rotatably arranged inside the washing tub (2a),
a sump (2f) for collecting washing liquid, wherein the sump (2f) is located at a bottom of the washing tub (2a), a pump for supplying the upper spray arm (2d) and the lower spray arm (2e) via conduits (2g) with washing liquid from the sump (2f), and an auxiliary duct assembly (2h-2n) which is mounted to a designated one of the upper article rack (2b) and the lower article rack (2c), wherein the auxiliary duct assembly (2h-2n) is configured to convey washing liquid which is supplied from the pump, characterized in that the dishwasher (2) further comprises a detachable article rack accessory (1) as defined in any one of claims 1 to 8 which is fluidly connected to the auxiliary duct assembly (2h-2n).
The dishwasher (2) according to claim 9, characterized in that the designated article rack (2b,2c) is the lower article rack (2c), and the article rack accessory (1) is detachably attached to the lower article rack (2c) and fluidly connected to the auxiliary duct assembly (2h-2n).
The dishwasher (2) according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the auxiliary duct assembly (2h-2n) comprises
an auxiliary conduit (2h) configured to convey washing liquid which is supplied from the pump and
a base (2i) which is detachably attachable to the designated article rack (2b,2c), wherein the base (2i) has a washing liquid inlet (2j) and a washing liquid outlet (2k) which are in fluid communication, wherein the washing liquid inlet (2j) is fluidly connectable to the auxiliary conduit (2h), wherein the washing liquid outlet (2k) is connectable to an intake port (3a) of the nozzle head (3) of the article rack accessory (1), wherein the base (2i) comprises one or more than one arm (2l,2m), wherein each arm (2l,2m) comprises a respective notch (2n,2o), and wherein each notch (2n,2o) is configured to releasably engage with a corresponding rack wire (2p) of the designated article rack (2b,2c).