Dishwasher rack height adjustment device

{
  "publication_number": "US11369250B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Dishwasher rack height adjustment device",
  "abstract": "A dishwasher is disclosed that may include a washing chamber, a rack, and a bracket. The rack may be slidably arranged in relation to the bracket to provide different vertical positions of the rack in relation to the washing chamber. The dishwasher may include a securing mechanism configured to secure the rack in relation to the bracket, in at least a first vertical position of the rack in relation to the washing chamber. The securing mechanism may include a protruding element and a tapered portion. The protruding element may be arranged to extend into the tapered portion when the rack is in the first vertical position. The tapered portion may be arranged to prevent movement of the protruding element through the tapered portion to secure the rack in relation to the bracket.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A dishwasher comprising: a washing chamber; a rack; and a bracket, wherein the bracket is arranged to hold the rack against a wall of the washing chamber, wherein the rack is configured to accommodate items to be washed within the washing chamber, wherein the rack is slidably arranged in relation to the bracket to provide different vertical positions of the rack in relation to the washing chamber, wherein the dishwasher comprises a securing mechanism configured to secure the rack in relation to the bracket, in at least a first vertical position of the rack in relation to the washing chamber, wherein the securing mechanism comprises a protruding element and a tapered portion, wherein one of the protruding element and the tapered portion is arranged at the rack, and the other of the protruding element and the tapered portion is arranged at the bracket, wherein the protruding element is arranged to extend into the tapered portion when the rack is in the first vertical position, wherein the tapered portion is arranged to prevent movement of the protruding element through the tapered portion to secure the rack in relation to the bracket, wherein the tapered portion comprises a first securing member and a second securing member, wherein the first and the second securing members are angled toward each other relative to a vertical direction that is in a direction of gravity and arranged at a distance from each other forming an aperture at an end portion of the tapered portion, wherein the aperture comprises an aperture width between the first and the second securing members in a locking position, in which the aperture width is smaller than an extension width (e), which is a maximum width of the protruding element, to prevent movement of the protruding element through the tapered portion, such that a securing force between the tapered portion and the protruding element increases with an increase in weight of the rack, and wherein at least one of the first and the second securing members is displaceable relative the other securing member between the locking position and an unlocking position, wherein, in the unlocking position, the aperture width is larger than the extension width (e) of the protruding element to allow movement of the protruding element through the tapered portion.",
    "2. The dishwasher according to claim 1, wherein the tapered portion is tapered in a first direction (d 1), wherein the first direction (d 1) coincides with the vertical direction (v 1, v 2) of the washing chamber.",
    "3. The dishwasher according to claim 1, wherein the securing mechanism comprises a support structure provided with a second tapered portion, wherein the tapered portion of the securing mechanism is arranged in the second tapered portion of the support structure.",
    "4. The dishwasher according to claim 1, wherein the second tapered portion of the support structure comprises a first and a second support structure member arranged at a distance from each other forming a support structure aperture (a 2) at an end portion of the second tapered portion, wherein the support structure aperture (a 2) comprises a support structure aperture width (w 2) between the first and second support structure members, wherein the support structure aperture width (w 2) is larger than the extension width (e) of the protruding element to allow movement of the protruding element, through the second tapered portion, when the at least one securing member is in the unlocking position.",
    "5. The dishwasher (1) according to claim 1, wherein the tapered portion is tapered in a first direction (d 1), wherein the at least one securing member is arranged to be displaced to the unlocking position upon displacement of the protruding element in a second direction (d 2) through the aperture (a 1) of the tapered portion of the securing mechanism, wherein the second direction (d 2) is opposite to the first direction (d 1).",
    "6. The dishwasher according to claim 1, wherein the at least one securing member is biased towards the locking position.",
    "7. The dishwasher according to claim 1, wherein the securing mechanism comprises a grip connected to the at least one securing member to allow displacement of the at least one securing member from the locking position to the unlocking position by displacement of the grip.",
    "8. The dishwasher according to claim 7, wherein the securing mechanism comprises a first arm and a second arm each comprising a first end, wherein the first and second arms are connected to each other in a connection at the respective first end, wherein the first securing member is arranged at a second end of the first arm and the second securing member is arranged at a second end of the second arm.",
    "9. The dishwasher according to claim 8, wherein at least one of the first and the second securing members is displaceable relative the other securing member by bending of at least one of the first and second arms.",
    "10. The dishwasher according to claim 8, wherein the grip is connected to the connection.",
    "11. The dishwasher according to claim 1, wherein the tapered portion is arranged at the bracket and the protruding element is arranged at the rack.",
    "12. The dishwasher according to claim 11, wherein the rack comprises an elongated body comprising the protruding element, wherein the elongated body extends through the aperture (a 1) of the tapered portion.",
    "13. The dishwasher according to claim 12, wherein the elongated body comprises an essentially vertically oriented wire of the rack.",
    "14. The dishwasher according to claim 13, wherein the essentially vertically oriented wire of the rack comprises at least one bended portion forming the protruding element.",
    "15. The dishwasher according to claim 1, wherein the protruding element includes a stabilizing element a predetermined distance from the extension width (e), wherein the stabilizing element is arranged to extend into the tapered portion when the rack is in a second vertical position, and wherein the tapered portion is arranged to prevent movement of the stabilizing element through the tapered portion to secure the rack in relation to the bracket."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The present disclosure relates to a dishwasher comprising a washing chamber, a rack, and a bracket, wherein the bracket is arranged to hold the rack against a wall of the washing chamber.\n\nA dishwasher is an apparatus for washing items using a force of washing liquid sprayed onto the items within a washing chamber of the dishwasher. The dishwasher usually comprises one or more racks positioned within the washing chamber, wherein the one or more racks is arranged to accommodate the items to be washed within the washing chamber.\n\nUsually, such racks are mounted onto side walls of the washing chamber, using components such as rails and brackets, which are fastened to an inner wall of the washing chamber and to the rack using fastening elements. Also, most dishwashers comprise mounting arrangements which allows the rack to be extracted out of the washing chamber to facilitate access to the rack, for example by using components comprising rails and wheels.\n\nSome dishwashers comprise height adjustment arrangements which allow a rack to be positioned at different vertical positions within the washing chamber. Thereby, a user can select heights suitable for different items, using the height adjustment arrangement. For example, if the rack is an upper rack, the user can select a lower vertical position of the rack to accommodate a bulky item in the rack, or can select an upper vertical position of the rack to accommodate a bulky item in a second rack positioned below the upper rack.",
  "cpc": [
    "A47L 15/504",
    "F16B 2/14"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "A47L 15/50",
    "F16B 2/14"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Electrolux Appliances AB"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Cyndia LAM",
    "Henrik Wentzel"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2017-03-31",
  "publication_date": "2022-06-28",
  "grant_date": "2022-06-28",
  "priority_date": "2017-03-31",
  "application_number": "US-201716497966-A",
  "family_id": "58461363",
  "cited_by_count": 6,
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}