Auxiliary rack and automatic dishwasher using the same

Abstract

An auxiliary rack for an automatic dishwasher increases an adaptability of racks to accommodate a variety of items to be washed and further increases the adaptability through the use of a single auxiliary rack. An automatic dishwasher can be selectively provided with at least one auxiliary rack, which includes a pivot support; and an auxiliary rack insert, rotatably coupled to the pivot support, having a plurality of rack insert sides, each side providing a specific accommodation of items according to a rotation of the auxiliary rack insert. The auxiliary rack insert is selectively rotatable with respect to the pivot support through an insertion of at least one pivot pin, centrally disposed with respect to the auxiliary rack insert, into at least one pivot hole formed in either the pivot support or the auxiliary rack insert to be disposed in opposition to the pivot pin, thereby enabling a selective rotation of the auxiliary rack insert with respect to the pivot support, to direct upward any one of the rack insert sides. At least one nodule protrudes to a predetermined height from either the pivot support or the auxiliary rack insert, with at least one recess being opposingly formed to receive and seat the nodule in a rotation-checked state, which directs upward one of the plurality of rack insert sides.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims the benefit of Korean Application No. 10-2004-0030948, filed on May 3, 2004, which is hereby incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] The present invention relates to automatic dishwashers, and more particularly, to an auxiliary rack for selective application in automatic dishwashers. [0004] 2. Discussion of the Related Art [0005] An automatic dishwasher is a home appliance for automatically washing and drying dishes and other items to be washed, which are placed on one or more internally positioned racks, by spraying washing water over the racks and thereby onto the items being washed. A general automatic dishwasher is illustrated in FIG. 1. [0006] As illustrated in FIG. 1, a cabinet housing110 forms the perimeter of an interior space of the dishwasher, and sliding racks 120 and 130 are respectively installed in the interior space...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0010] An object of the present invention is to provide an auxiliary rack for an automatic dishwasher, which increases an adaptability of racks to accommodate a variety of items to be washed and further increases the adaptability through the use of a single auxiliary rack.

[0011] Another object of the present invention is to provide an auxiliary rack, which facilitates the use of an automatic dishwasher.

[0012] Another object of the present invention is to provide an auxiliary rack, which eliminates the need to exchange an auxiliary rack.

[0013] Another object of the present invention is to provide an automatic dishwasher, which has increased adaptability to accommodate a variety of items to be washed, which facilitates dishwasher usage, and which eliminates the need to exchange an auxiliary rack.

Problems solved by technology

In an automatic dishwasher as described above, however, each of the sliding racks 130 and 140 has a predetermined structure, e.g., a wire-mesh basket, which also fixes the amount, number, and type (size and shape) of items that can be placed on either sliding rack to be washed, thus limiting the adaptability of rack usage.

Though the greater adaptability can be achieved by installing one or more alternatively structured racks, there is a limit to the number of various racks that can be simultaneously accommodated with the interior space of the cabinet housing, and it would be prohibitively cumbersome for a user to perform additional rack installation as required.

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