Rack assembly and dishwasher having the same

Abstract

The application discloses a shelf assembly and a dishwasher with the same. The shelf assembly comprises a main shelf, a slide rail, a slide bracket and a plurality of objects. The slide rail comprises a plurality of cross rail segments and a plurality of side rail segments. The cross rail segments are spaced apart and extend transversely above or below the main shelf. The side rail segments are connected to the main shelf. The slide bracket is slidably connected to the slide rail. The slide bracket has an unfolded position on the cross rail segments and a folded position on the side rail segments. The objects are adapted to be placed transversely on the slide bracket when the slide bracket is in the unfolded position. The shelf assembly is beneficial to leave more space for the main shelf to place more bulky objects. In addition, the space above or below the main shelf does not need to be left empty to place elongated objects, thereby greatly improving the space utilization of the shelf assembly.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of kitchen equipment, and more particularly to a shelf assembly and a dishwasher having the same. Background Technology

[0002] Dishwashers, as devices that automatically clean bowls, chopsticks, plates, dishes, knives, forks, and other tableware, greatly facilitate people's lives. In existing technology, dishwashers have an internal cavity containing a rack assembly for placing tableware. This rack assembly can be single-layered or multi-layered, with one layer containing a chopstick holder for upright placement of longer tableware such as chopsticks and spoons.

[0003] However, since chopsticks are longer than the diameter of most bowls and plates used daily, standing chopsticks upright in the chopstick holder will waste vertical space in that shelf component. At the same time, setting up the chopstick holder in that shelf component will also reduce the space for placing tableware. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The present invention aims to at least solve one of the technical problems existing in the prior art. To this end, the present invention proposes a shelf assembly that facilitates the placement of a large number of tableware items while allowing slender objects such as chopsticks and spoons to be placed horizontally, thereby improving space utilization.

[0005] The present invention also aims to provide a dishwasher having the above-described shelf assembly.

[0006] According to a first aspect of the present invention, a shelf assembly includes: a main shelf; a slide rail including a connected horizontal rail segment and a side rail segment, the horizontal rail segment being spaced apart and extending laterally above or below the main shelf, the side rail segment being connected to the main shelf; and a sliding bracket slidably connected to the slide rail, the sliding bracket having an unfolded position on the horizontal rail segment and a retracted position on the side rail segment, wherein when the sliding bracket is in the unfolded position, an object is adapted to be placed horizontally on the sliding bracket.

[0007] According to the shelf assembly of the present invention, by providing a sliding bracket, the main shelf no longer requires a separate cylindrical body to vertically place slender objects, freeing up space for larger objects and effectively solving the problem of insufficient space for large objects on the main shelf. Since the slide rail includes a laterally extending horizontal rail section, when the sliding bracket is located on the horizontal rail section, slender objects can be placed horizontally on the sliding bracket. This eliminates the need for excessive height space above or below the main shelf to place slender objects, thereby significantly improving the space utilization rate of the shelf assembly.

[0008] Because the sliding bracket is slidably connected to the slide rail, it can switch between the unfolded and folded positions. It is easy and convenient to operate, and the sliding bracket does not need to be removed for storage, thus avoiding loss of the sliding bracket.

[0009] When the horizontal rail section of the sliding bracket is located above the main shelf, its position can be switched via its sliding mechanism, reducing interference when retrieving items from the main shelf. Additionally, when the sliding bracket is not needed, it can be stored away to free up more space for the main shelf.

[0010] In some embodiments, two slide rails are spaced apart, and the two ends of the sliding bracket are slidably connected to the two slide rails respectively. Thus, the two ends of the sliding bracket are supported by the slide rails, making the sliding bracket more stable when holding items and less prone to tilting and scattering objects upon impact. Furthermore, the connection structure between the sliding bracket and the slide rails is relatively easy to design, reducing the complexity of the structural design.

[0011] Specifically, the main shelf includes a first sidewall, a second sidewall, and a third sidewall connected in sequence, with the first and third sidewalls arranged opposite to each other. The side rail segments of the two slide rails are connected to the second sidewall and are respectively adjacent to the first and third sidewalls; alternatively, the side rail segments of the two slide rails are respectively connected to the first and third sidewalls and are adjacent to the second sidewall. Therefore, when the sliding bracket returns to its retracted position, the two slide rails interfere less with external objects. The sliding bracket can be designed to be relatively long, allowing slender objects to rest more stably when placed on it in its extended position.

[0012] In some embodiments, the slide rail includes at least one slide rod extending along the sliding direction of the slide bracket, and the shelf assembly satisfies at least one of the following conditions:

[0013] Scenario 1: There are at least two slide rods, and the sliding bracket includes a first bracket, which includes a sliding portion that is restricted between two adjacent slide rods; Scenario 2: The sliding bracket includes a second bracket, and the second bracket includes a sliding buckle fitted on the sliding rod.

[0014] Therefore, the slide bar is not only low in cost and easy to manufacture, but also occupies a small volume. The sliding bracket, when used in conjunction with the slide bar, is easy to assemble and convenient for maintenance.

[0015] In some specific embodiments, when the sliding bracket includes a first bracket, the first bracket includes at least one row of the sliding parts, each row is provided with at least two of the sliding parts and are distributed at intervals along the sliding direction of the first bracket, each of the sliding parts includes: a connecting shaft, the connecting shaft being fixedly or detachably disposed on the first bracket; and a roller, the roller being sleeved on the connecting shaft and sandwiched between two adjacent sliding rods.

[0016] In some specific embodiments, the sliding bracket includes a second bracket, the second bracket including at least one row of the sliding buckles, each row having at least two of the sliding buckles and distributed at intervals along the sliding direction of the second bracket, the sliding buckles being fixedly or detachably disposed on the second bracket.

[0017] In some specific embodiments, there are two slide rods, namely an inner slide rod and an outer slide rod. The lower end of the inner slide rod is located inside the side wall of the main shelf, and the lower end of the outer slide rod is located outside the side wall of the main shelf. When the sliding bracket is in the storage position, it is at least partially located inside or outside the side wall of the main shelf.

[0018] Specifically, the slide rail further includes a hanging rod, and the lower end of at least one of the inner slide rod and the outer slide rod is connected to the hanging rod, which is engaged with the side wall of the main shelf.

[0019] Furthermore, one end of the horizontal rail section is connected to the side rail section, and the other end is a cantilever end; the inner slide rod and the outer slide rod are connected to the cantilever end, and the inner slide rod, the outer slide rod and the hanging rod are integral rods formed by bending.

[0020] Optionally, when the sliding bracket includes a first bracket, the sliding part is sandwiched between the inner sliding rod and the outer sliding rod, and the surfaces where the two sliding rods are located are sliding surfaces; An installation gap is formed between the inner slide rod and the outer slide rod above the side wall of the main shelf; When the sliding part slides to the mounting empty area, the projection of the mounting empty area on the sliding surface completely covers the projection of the sliding part on the sliding surface.

[0021] In some specific embodiments, the sliding bracket includes a first bracket and a second bracket, the sliding part is sandwiched between the inner slide rod and the outer slide rod, the sliding buckle is sleeved on the inner slide rod, and the lower end of the outer slide rod is connected to the hanging rod; The first bracket is located inside the side wall of the main shelf when in the storage position, the second bracket is located outside the side wall of the main shelf when in the storage position, and the sliding part is sandwiched between the hanging rod and the outer sliding rod.

[0022] A dishwasher according to a second aspect of the present invention includes: a cabinet; and a shelf assembly as described in the above embodiment, the shelf assembly being disposed within the cabinet.

[0023] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the dishwasher, by employing the above-described shelf assembly, improves the utilization rate of the internal cavity of the dishwasher, allowing more dishes to be washed at once.

[0024] Specifically, the dishwasher also includes an upper shelf that is retractable within the cabinet, and the horizontal rail section of the slide rail is located below the upper shelf and above the main shelf.

[0025] Additional aspects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. Attached Figure Description

[0026] The above and / or additional aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent and readily understood from the description of the embodiments taken in conjunction with the following drawings, in which: Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the shelf assembly in some embodiments of the present invention when the sliding bracket is in the storage position; Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A three-dimensional structural diagram of the shelf assembly shown with the sliding bracket in the unfolded position; Figure 3 yes Figure 1 The shelf assembly shown is a partial front view of the sliding bracket in the stowed position. Figure 4 yes Figure 1 A partial front view of the shelf assembly shown with the sliding bracket in the extended position; Figure 5 This is a perspective view of a shelf assembly (with the sliding bracket hidden in the figure) in some other embodiments of the present invention; Figure 6 This is a perspective view of the sliding bracket and slide rail in some other embodiments of the present invention; Figure 7 This is a partial assembly schematic diagram of the sliding part of the slide rail and the sliding bracket in some other embodiments of the present invention; Figure 8 This is a perspective view of the first bracket in some embodiments of the present invention; Figure 9 yes Figure 8 A partial structural diagram of the first bracket shown; Figure 10 This is a perspective view of the second bracket in some embodiments of the present invention; Figure 11 yes Figure 10 The center circle shows an enlarged view of section K; Figure 12 This is a partial cross-sectional view of the shelf assembly in some embodiments of the present invention; Figure 13 This is a diagram showing the assembly method of the slide rail and the side wall of the main shelf in other embodiments of the present invention; Figure 14 This is a diagram showing the assembly method of the slide rail and the side wall of the main shelf in some other embodiments of the present invention; Figure 15 This is a schematic diagram of the sliding adjustment of the second bracket in the shelf assembly of some embodiments of the present invention; Figure 16 yes Figure 15 The center circle shows an enlarged view of the T-shaped section; Figure 17 This is a front view of a dishwasher in one embodiment.

[0027] Figure label: Dishwasher 1000; Shelf assembly 100; Main shelf 10, side wall 11, first side wall 111, second side wall 112, third side wall 113, bottom wall 12; Slide rail 20, horizontal rail section 20-1, side rail section 20-2, transition section 20-3; Slide rod 21, inner slide rod 21a, outer slide rod 21b, vertical rod 21c1, inclined rod 21c2, hook 21c3, hanging rod 22, support rod 221, installation void 23; Sliding bracket 30, first bracket 31, sliding part 310, first tray 311, connecting shaft 312, roller 313, second bracket 32, second tray 321, sliding buckle 322, limiting structure 33, cantilever 331, limiting wedge block 332; Box 200; Upper shelf 300, spray arm 400. Detailed Implementation

[0028] Embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below. Examples of these embodiments are shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein the same or similar reference numerals denote the same or similar elements or elements having the same or similar functions throughout. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and are only used to explain the present invention, and should not be construed as limiting the present invention.

[0029] In the description of this invention, it should be understood that the terms "center," "vertical," "lateral," "length," "width," "thickness," "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "left," "right," "top," "bottom," "inner," "outer," and "circumferential," etc., indicating orientation or positional relationships, are based on the orientation or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings and are only for the convenience of describing the invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of the invention. Furthermore, features defined with "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature. In the description of this invention, unless otherwise stated, "a plurality of" means two or more.

[0030] In the description of this invention, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "linking" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal connection of two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention based on the specific circumstances.

[0031] The shelf assembly 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention is described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0032] According to an embodiment of the first aspect of the present invention, the shelf assembly 100, such as Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, it includes: main shelf 10, slide rail 20 and sliding bracket 30.

[0033] The slide rail 20 includes a connected horizontal rail section 20-1 and a side rail section 20-2. The horizontal rail section 20-1 extends laterally and is spaced apart above or below the main shelf 10. The side rail section 20-2 is connected to the main shelf 10.

[0034] The sliding bracket 30 is slidably connected to the slide rail 20, such as... Figure 2 and Figure 4 As shown, the sliding bracket 30 has an unfolded position located on the transverse rail section 20-1; and as... Figure 1 and Figure 3 As shown, the sliding bracket 30 has a storage position located on the side rail section 20-2. When the sliding bracket 30 is in the unfolded position, an object is suitable for being placed horizontally on the sliding bracket 30.

[0035] Depending on the characteristics of the objects, relatively large or heavy objects can be placed on the main shelf 10, while relatively slender or flat objects can be placed on the sliding bracket 30. It should be noted that in actual use, the shape of the objects placed on the main shelf 10 and the sliding bracket 30 is not limited; for example, smaller objects can also be placed on the sliding bracket 30. Users can flexibly adjust the arrangement of the shelf assembly 100 according to the intended use scenario. For simplicity, the following description of the shelf assembly 100 will use the example of placing large objects on the main shelf 10 and slender objects on the sliding bracket 30.

[0036] The sliding bracket 30 eliminates the need for a separate cylindrical container (such as a chopstick holder) inside the main shelf 10 to vertically hold slender objects, freeing up space for more large objects to be placed on the main shelf 10. This helps solve the problem of insufficient space for large objects on the main shelf 10.

[0037] The slide rail 20 includes a horizontally extending horizontal rail section 20-1. When the sliding bracket 30 is located on the horizontal rail section 20-1, it allows slender objects to be placed horizontally on the sliding bracket 30. In this way, there is no need to leave too much height space above or below the main shelf 10 to place slender objects, thereby greatly improving the space utilization of the shelf assembly 100.

[0038] The sliding bracket 30 is slidably connected to the slide rail 20, allowing it to switch between the unfolded and folded positions. It is easy and convenient to operate, and the sliding bracket 30 does not need to be removed for storage, thus preventing the sliding bracket 30 from being lost.

[0039] When the horizontal rail section 20-1 of the sliding bracket 30 is located above the main shelf 10, the sliding bracket 30 can be switched in position by sliding, which can also reduce the interference of the sliding bracket 30 with the removal of objects on the main shelf 10. In addition, when the sliding bracket 30 is not needed, it can be stored away to leave more space for the main shelf 10.

[0040] This shelf assembly 100 of the present invention can be applied to the field of kitchen equipment. For example, it can be placed directly on a table as a dish rack, or used as an internal component of a dishwasher 1000, sterilizer, or other similar equipment. The main shelf 10 is used to hold tableware such as bowls and plates, while the sliding bracket 30 can hold chopsticks, spoons, etc., horizontally when in the unfolded position. The shelf assembly 100 can also be used as a bookshelf, with the main shelf 10 used to hold books, and the sliding bracket 30 able to hold rulers, pens, etc., horizontally when in the unfolded position.

[0041] Understandably, if a chopstick holder is installed inside the main shelf 10 to hold chopsticks vertically, chopsticks might slip out of one's hand and fall over inside the main shelf 10 during the process of inserting them into the holder, requiring them to be picked up and reinserted. In contrast, with the sliding bracket 30 provided in this embodiment of the invention, chopsticks can be placed horizontally on the sliding bracket 30, reducing the chance of chopsticks slipping out of one's hand. This placement method is more ergonomic and requires less effort.

[0042] In some embodiments, the side rail section 20-2 of the slide rail 20 is fixedly connected to the main shelf 10, thereby providing high connection stability and better support for the sliding bracket 30. The fixed connection method between the slide rail 20 and the main shelf 10 is not limited and can include welding, integral molding, etc. However, the embodiments of the present invention are not limited to this; the side rail section 20-2 of the slide rail 20 and the main shelf 10 may also employ a detachable connection method such as a plug-in connection.

[0043] Specifically, the horizontal rail section 20-1 of the slide rail 20 can be a straight track, for example, the horizontal rail section 20-1 can be set parallel to the bottom wall 12 of the main shelf 10. The horizontal rail section 20-1 of the slide rail 20 can also be a wavy track, or other linear tracks, etc.

[0044] Similarly, the side rail section 20-2 of the slide rail 20 can be a straight track. For example, the side rail section 20-2 can be perpendicular to or inclined to the bottom wall 12 of the main shelf 10. The side rail section 20-2 of the slide rail 20 can also be a wavy track or other linear track.

[0045] In addition, the shape of a single slide rail 20 is not limited. For example, the slide rail 20 includes a horizontal rail segment 20-1 and side rail segments 20-2 connected to both ends of the horizontal rail segment 20-1, and a single slide rail 20 can form an "n" shape. Alternatively, the slide rail 20 includes a horizontal rail segment 20-1 and a side rail segment 20-2 connected to one end of the horizontal rail segment 20-1, and a single slide rail 20 can form an "L" shape. Alternatively, the slide rail 20 includes two horizontal rail segments 20-1 and a side rail segment 20-2 connected between the two horizontal rail segments 20-1, and a single slide rail 20 can form a "T" shape. In addition, more shapes can be designed when the shape of the horizontal rail section 20-1 and the side rail section 20-2 changes. For example, when the slide rail 20 includes a horizontal rail section 20-1 and a side rail section 20-2 connected to both ends of the horizontal rail section 20-1, by setting the horizontal rail section 20-1 into a multi-fold line shape, a single slide rail 20 can also form an "M" shape.

[0046] Furthermore, such as Figure 1 and Figure 3As shown, the slide rail 20 also includes a transition section 20-3 connecting the horizontal rail section 20-1 and the side rail section 20-2. The transition section 20-3 is arc-shaped so that the sliding bracket 30 can move smoothly at the corner, facilitating the switching of the sliding bracket 30 between the horizontal rail section 20-1 and the side rail section 20-2.

[0047] In this embodiment of the invention, the number of slide rails 20 is not limited and can be one or more.

[0048] In some embodiments, such as Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, there are two slide rails 20 spaced apart, and the two ends of the sliding bracket 30 are slidably connected to the two slide rails 20 respectively. This design, with the two ends of the sliding bracket 30 supported by the slide rails 20, ensures stability when items are placed on the sliding bracket 30, preventing it from tilting and scattering under impact, thus reducing the requirement for assembly precision. Furthermore, the connection structure between the sliding bracket 30 and the slide rails 20 is relatively easy to design, reducing structural complexity. Additionally, with two slide rails 20 spaced apart, there is minimal interference between the two slide rails 20 and external objects when the sliding bracket 30 returns to its stored position.

[0049] Specifically, such as Figure 1 As shown, the main shelf 10 includes a first side wall 111, a second side wall 112 and a third side wall 113 connected in sequence, with the first side wall 111 and the third side wall 113 arranged opposite to each other.

[0050] In this design, the side rail segments 20-2 of the two slide rails 20 are connected to the second side wall 112 and are respectively positioned adjacent to the first side wall 111 and the third side wall 113. Alternatively, the side rail segments 20-2 of the two slide rails 20 are respectively connected to the first side wall 111 and the third side wall 113 and are positioned adjacent to the second side wall 112. In this way, when the sliding bracket 30 returns to the storage position, the two slide rails 20 interfere less with external objects. The sliding bracket 30 can be designed to be longer, so that when the sliding bracket 30 returns to the unfolded position, slender objects placed on the sliding bracket 30 are more stable.

[0051] In some embodiments, such as Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the slide rail 20 includes at least one slide rod 21 extending along the sliding direction of the slide bracket 30, and the shelf assembly 100 satisfies at least one of the following conditions: Scenario 1: There are at least two slide rods 21, and the sliding bracket 30 includes a first bracket 31, which includes a sliding part 310 that is restricted between two adjacent slide rods 21; Scenario 2: The sliding bracket 30 includes a second bracket 32, which includes a sliding buckle 322 fitted onto the sliding rod 21.

[0052] In scenario one, using two sliding rods 21 to clamp the sliding part 310 of the first bracket 31 not only facilitates assembly, but the shape of the sliding rods 21 also defines the movement trajectory of the sliding part 310. Similarly, in scenario two, the second bracket 32 ​​slides on the sliding rods 21 using a sliding buckle 322, which is also easy to assemble, and the shape of the sliding rods 21 defines the movement trajectory of the sliding part 310. Moreover, the sliding bracket 30 slides more smoothly when switching positions on the slide rail 20.

[0053] In both cases, the cross-sectional shape of the slide rod 21 does not need to be too complex; it can be made using conventional round or square rods, resulting in lower costs. Furthermore, the slide rod 21 itself is a slender rod, which can be bent to obtain the required shape. The shape of the slide rod 21 allows for accurate prediction of the angle of the sliding bracket 30 at various positions on the slide rail 20. This type of slide rail 20 is not only low-cost and easy to manufacture, but also occupies a small volume, is easy to assemble, and is less prone to jamming.

[0054] Specifically, the sliding bracket 30 may include one or more first brackets 31, and the sliding bracket 30 may also include one or more second brackets 32, or the sliding bracket 30 may include at least one first bracket 31 and at least one second bracket 32. In the solution of this application, the sliding bracket 30 is detachably mounted on the slide rail 20, so the number of sliding brackets 30 can be adjusted as needed.

[0055] exist Figures 1-4 In the example shown, the two ends of the sliding bracket 30 are respectively connected to the slide rails 20 on both sides. In other examples, such as... Figure 5 As shown, the two slide rails 20 can be positioned close together, and the middle position of the sliding bracket 30 is mounted on the two slide rails 20.

[0056] In addition, the slide bar 21 can also be made of a thin rod, and other materials such as... Figure 6 The narrow plate shown. The narrow plate can increase the contact area or lengthen the contact line between the slide rail 20 and the slide bracket 30, which helps to increase the balance.

[0057] In addition, the slide rail 20 can also take other shapes, for example, the cross-section of the slide rail 20 can be... Figure 7 As shown in the groove shape, the sliding part 310 of the sliding bracket 30 is located within the groove of the slide rail 20. In some designs, the cross-section of the slide rail 20 can also be designed in other shapes, and the sliding part 310 is a slider that matches the cross-sectional shape of the slide rail 20.

[0058] In some specific embodiments, such as Figure 8 and Figure 9 As shown, the sliding bracket 30 includes a first bracket 31, which includes at least one row of sliding parts 310. Each row has at least two sliding parts 310 and they are distributed at intervals along the sliding direction of the first bracket 31.

[0059] Each sliding part 310 includes a connecting shaft 312 and a roller 313. The connecting shaft 312 is fixedly or detachably mounted on the first bracket 31, and the roller 313 is sleeved on the connecting shaft 312. Figure 4 As shown, roller 313 is sandwiched between two adjacent slide rods 21. Connecting shaft 312 is used to connect roller 313. Roller 313 rolls on slide rail 20, which can reduce the friction between sliding part 310 and slide rail 20 and improve the smoothness of the first bracket 31 when adjusting its position.

[0060] Specifically, such as Figure 8 As shown, the first bracket 31 includes a first tray 311, which is used to place long-handled tableware such as chopsticks and spoons. Sliding portions 310 are provided at both ends of the first tray 311, allowing both sides of the first tray 311 to slide along the slide rail 20.

[0061] Optionally, the first tray 311 has a grid structure, which reduces the weight of the first tray 311 and achieves a lightweight design for the overall shelf assembly 100. It also facilitates water spraying when used to hold tableware.

[0062] Optionally, at each end of the first tray 311, there are two or more connecting shafts 312. Further optionally, on two opposite short sides of the first tray 311, at least two connecting shafts 312 are connected to each short side, with two connecting shafts 312 located at both ends of the short side, which can improve the sliding stability of the first tray 311.

[0063] To prevent the roller 313 from slipping off the connecting shaft 312, a limiting structure 33 is provided at the end of the connecting shaft 312 away from the first tray 311. The structure of the limiting structure 33 is not limited, as long as it can prevent the roller 313 from slipping off.

[0064] Optionally, such as Figure 9 As shown, the limiting structure 33 includes at least two cantilever arms 331, each cantilever arm 331 having a limiting wedge block 332 at its end. There is a gap between the cantilever arms 331, with the smaller end of the limiting wedge block 332 away from the cantilever arm 331 and the larger end connected to it. Thus, when the roller 313 is fitted onto the limiting structure 33, the shape of the limiting wedge block 332 guides the roller 313 to compress the cantilever arms 331, causing all cantilever arms 331 to tighten, thereby fitting the roller 313 onto the cantilever arms 331. When the shape of the limiting wedge block 332 is no longer guiding the roller, the multiple cantilever arms 331 return to their original position and open, making it difficult for the roller 313 to detach from the limiting structure 33. This limiting structure 33 not only achieves an anti-detachment function but also facilitates the connection between the roller 313 and the connecting shaft 312. Furthermore, when an external force presses down on the limiting wedge block 332, causing all cantilever arms 331 to tighten again, the roller 313 can also be detached.

[0065] In some specific embodiments, the roller 313 and the connecting shaft 312 can be detachably connected using other structures. For example, threaded connection, snap-fit ​​connection, etc.

[0066] In some embodiments, such as Figure 10 and Figure 11 As shown, the sliding bracket 30 includes a second bracket 32, which includes at least one row of sliding fasteners 322. Each row has at least two sliding fasteners 322, which are spaced apart along the sliding direction of the second bracket 32, thereby improving the sliding stability of the second bracket 32. Specifically, the sliding fasteners 322 are fixedly or detachably mounted on the second bracket 32. The connection method of the sliding fasteners 322 can be flexibly selected as needed.

[0067] like Figure 2 As shown, the sliding bracket 30 includes at least one second bracket 32, the second bracket 32 ​​includes a second tray 321 and a sliding buckle 322, the sliding buckle 322 is at least two, and the at least two sliding buckles 322 are respectively connected to opposite ends of the second tray 321.

[0068] Specifically, the sliding latches 322 can be provided in two or more, respectively disposed on opposite sides of the second tray 321. Alternatively, at least two sliding latches 322 can be provided on each opposite side of the second tray 321 to improve the stability of the sliding of the second tray 321. For example, two, three, four, etc., can be provided respectively. Preferably, two sliding latches 322 are provided on each opposite side of the second tray 321.

[0069] Optionally, the second tray 321 has a grid structure, which reduces the weight of the second tray 321 and achieves a lightweight overall shelving assembly 100.

[0070] Furthermore, such as Figure 11 As shown, to facilitate the manufacturing of the second bracket 32, the second tray 321 and the sliding buckle 322 can be manufactured independently, and then assembled together, so that the sliding buckle 322 can rotate relative to the second tray 321. In this way, when the second bracket 32 ​​slides along the slide rail 20, if it encounters a corner or the rotation directions at both ends are not parallel, the adjustable sliding buckle 322 can be used for adjustment, reducing the chance of jamming.

[0071] Specifically, the sliding buckle 322 is provided with a limiting structure 33, and the second tray 321 is provided with a through hole on its frame. The limiting structure 33 can be inserted into the through hole, and the limiting wedge block 332 is used to prevent it from falling off. This does not affect the rotation of the sliding buckle 322 relative to the second tray 321, thus improving the adjustability of the sliding of the second bracket 32.

[0072] Optionally, both the first bracket 31 and the second bracket 32 ​​are manufactured by injection molding. On the first bracket 31, the first tray 311, connecting shaft 312, and the attached limiting structure 33 are integrally injection molded, and then the roller 313 is mounted on the connecting shaft 312. On the second bracket 32, the second tray 321 is independently injection molded, and the sliding buckle 322 and the attached limiting structure 33 are integrally injection molded, then the sliding buckle 322 inserts the limiting structure 33 onto the second tray 321. With this design, the processing cost of each sliding bracket 30 is relatively low, and brackets that can slide on the slide rail 20 can be manufactured.

[0073] Specifically, when the opposite ends of the sliding bracket 30 are respectively connected to two slide rails 20, the distance between the two slide rails 20 is greater than the length of the supporting portion of the sliding bracket 30 (such as the first tray 311 and the second tray 321). More specifically, the length of the supporting portion of the sliding bracket 30 is greater than the length of the slender object to be supported. For example, in one example, the shelf assembly 100 is designed for holding tableware, and the sliding bracket 30 is designed to support at least chopsticks. The length of chopsticks commonly used is about 22-24 cm, so the length of the supporting portion of the sliding bracket 30 can be set to 30 cm, and the distance between the two slide rails 20 can be designed to be 34 cm.

[0074] In some embodiments, such as Figures 1-4 As shown, there are two slide rods 21, namely an inner slide rod 21a and an outer slide rod 21b. The lower end of the inner slide rod 21a is located inside the side wall 11 of the main shelf 10, and the lower end of the outer slide rod 21b is located outside the side wall 11 of the main shelf 10. When the sliding bracket 30 is in the folded position, it is at least partially located inside or outside the side wall 11 of the main shelf 10.

[0075] This arrangement allows at least two sliding brackets 30 to be stacked on the side wall 11 of the main shelf 10, and at least one sliding bracket 30 can be stacked on each of the inner and outer sides, such as... Figure 1 As shown, the sliding bracket 30 occupies very little space when in the storage position, avoiding taking up too much of the internal space of the main shelf 10, and also avoiding an excessive increase in the width of the outer side of the main shelf 10.

[0076] It should be noted that both the inner slide bar 21a and the outer slide bar 21b have portions extending laterally above or below the main shelf 10; these portions belong to the horizontal rail section 20-1. Both the inner slide bar 21a and the outer slide bar 21b also have portions extending to the bottom wall 12 or side wall 11 of the main shelf 10 to allow the sliding bracket 30 to reach its retracted position; these portions belong to the side rail section 20-2.

[0077] Specifically, the inner slide bar 21a and the outer slide bar 21b are arranged parallel to each other at least in a portion of the transverse rail section 20-1. Optionally, the inner slide bar 21a and the outer slide bar 21b may be arranged parallel or non-parallel in a portion of the side rail section 20-2.

[0078] Optionally, when the sliding bracket 30 includes a roller 313 sandwiched between the inner slide rod 21a and the outer slide rod 21b, the gap between the inner slide rod 21a and the outer slide rod 21b is at least greater than the contact circle diameter of the roller 313. Here, the contact circle of the roller 313 refers to the circular line or cylindrical surface on the outer circumferential surface of the roller 313 that contacts at least one slide rod 21.

[0079] Due to the influence of the support strength and smoothness of the roller 313, the contact circle diameter of the roller 313 must be at least greater than 2mm, and the single-sided gap between the roller 313 and the slide rail 20 must be at least greater than 0.5mm.

[0080] Specifically, such as Figure 12 As shown, the slide rail 20 also includes a hanging rod 22. The lower end of at least one of the inner slide rod 21a and the outer slide rod 21b is connected to the hanging rod 22, and the hanging rod 22 is engaged with the side wall 11 of the main shelf 10. Using the hanging rod 22 not only simplifies the assembly process between the slide rail 20 and the main shelf 10, but also provides a long contact line between the hanging rod 22 and the side wall 11 of the main shelf 10. Furthermore, the hanging rod 22 supports the entire slide rail 20, enhancing its bending resistance and improving its support capacity.

[0081] Here, the hanging rod 22 can be inverted V-shaped, with its upper end straddling the side wall 11 of the main shelf 10, and its two supports 221 clamped on the inner and outer sides of the side wall 11. In some designs, additional fasteners can be provided to secure one or both supports 221 to the side wall 11 of the main shelf 10, improving the stability of the connection.

[0082] The hanging rod 22 can also adopt other structures. In some specific examples, such as Figure 13 As shown, of the two support rods 221 of the hanging rod 22, the lower end of one is connected to the lower end of the outer slide rod 21b, and the other support rod 221 can be attached to the side wall 11 of the main shelf 10. Optionally, the support rod 221 located inside the side wall 11 of the main shelf 10 is designed with a wavy shape, and this support rod 221 repeatedly passes through the side wall 11 of the main shelf 10. In other specific examples, such as Figure 14 As shown, of the two support rods 221 of the hanging rod 22, the lower end of one of them is connected to the lower end of the outer slide rod 21b, and the other support rod 221 can be attached to the side wall 11 of the main shelf 10.

[0083] Understandably, to better accommodate tableware, the sliding tray 30 is typically made of a rigid material, and to facilitate smooth reversal, its width should not be too large. Therefore, the width of a single sliding tray 30 can be made narrow, increasing the number of trays to increase the available space.

[0084] In some embodiments, each slide rail 20 is formed by bending a thin rod. Different shapes can be obtained by bending the thin rod in different directions. The thin rod can be an iron rod, a steel rod, etc., and there is no limitation on the material of the thin rod.

[0085] Specifically, the main shelf 10 includes a bottom wall 12 and at least one side wall 11. The bottom wall 12 and the side wall 11 may also be formed by bending thin rods. The main shelf 10 may use one or more thin rods, which are bent and then welded to the joints for fixation.

[0086] In some embodiments, such as Figure 12 As shown, one end of the horizontal rail section 20-1 is connected to the side rail section 20-2, and the other end is a cantilever end. The inner slide rod 21a and the outer slide rod 21b are connected at the cantilever end, and the inner slide rod 21a, the outer slide rod 21b and the hanging rod 22 are a single rod formed by bending.

[0087] The inner slide rod 21a and the outer slide rod 21b are connected at the cantilever end, so that when the sliding bracket 30 slides to the horizontal rail section 20-1, it is not easy to detach from the cantilever end. This can be used as a positioning structure for the sliding bracket 30 in the unfolded position.

[0088] The inner slide rod 21a and outer slide rod 21b are integrally formed with the hanging rod 22, which is hung on the main shelf 10 to fix and support the entire slide rail 20. The inner slide rod 21a and outer slide rod 21b are not completely closed at this end of the side rail section 20-2; for example, ... Figure 15 and Figure 16 As shown, the lower end of the inner slide rod 21a is not connected to the hanging rod 22. The sliding bracket 30 (such as the second bracket 32) can be mounted on the inner slide rod 21a from this point, and then slide along the inner slide rod 21a. Optionally, the lower end of the inner slide rod 21a is a hook 21c3, so that when the sliding bracket 30 slides to the lower end of the inner slide rod 21a, it stops at this hook 21c3. Of course, the inner slide rod 21a in this application can also be formed into other shapes. For example, the second bracket 32 ​​can be mounted on the inner slide rod 21a first, and then the lower end of the inner slide rod 21a can be stamped into a column.

[0089] Optionally, such as Figure 3As shown, when the sliding bracket 30 includes the first bracket 31, the sliding part 310 is sandwiched between the inner slide rod 21a and the outer slide rod 21b, and the surface where the two slide rods 21 are located is the sliding surface. Above the side wall 11 of the main shelf 10, an installation void 23 is formed between the inner slide rod 21a and the outer slide rod 21b. When the sliding part 310 slides to the installation void 23, the projection of the installation void 23 onto the sliding surface completely covers the projection of the sliding part 310 onto the sliding surface.

[0090] In other words, the inner slide rod 21a and the outer slide rod 21b are positioned above the side wall 11 of the main shelf 10, with a relatively large gap between them. This larger gap is called the mounting void 23. When the first bracket 31 slides to this location, the sliding part 310 can freely disengage through the mounting void 23, freeing it from the restraint of the inner slide rod 21a and the outer slide rod 21b, thereby detaching the first bracket 31 from the slide rail 20. When installation is required, the sliding part 310 is inserted into the mounting void 23, allowing it to slide between the inner slide rod 21a and the outer slide rod 21b along the slide rail 20.

[0091] Since the projection of the mounting void 23 onto the sliding surface completely covers the projection of the sliding part 310 onto the sliding surface, the sliding part 310 is not obstructed by the slide rod 21 at all, so the sliding part 310 can be easily installed and removed.

[0092] Specifically, such as Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, the outer slide rod 21b is a vertical rod 21c1 on the side rail section 20-2. The inner slide rod 21a on the side rail section 20-2 consists of three sections: the upper and lower sections are vertical rods 21c1, and the middle section is an inclined rod 21c2. This inclined rod 21c2 is located directly above the hanging rod 22. The triangular area enclosed by the middle inclined rod 21c2 of the inner slide rod 21a, the top of the hanging rod 22, and the outer slide rod 21b is the aforementioned installation empty area 23. More specifically, on the sliding surface, the sliding part 310 is a body of revolution, and the diameter of the inscribed circle of the triangular area is greater than or equal to the maximum diameter of the sliding part 310.

[0093] Of course, the solution of this application is not limited to this. For example, since the lower end of the inner slide rod 21a is a free end, when the sliding part 310 needs to be removed, the inner slide rod 21a can be moved to make the gap between the inner slide rod 21a and the outer slide rod 21b larger, thereby reducing the obstruction of the slide rod 21 to the sliding part 310.

[0094] In some specific embodiments, such as Figures 1-4As shown, the sliding bracket 30 includes a first bracket 31 and a second bracket 32. A sliding part 310 is sandwiched between an inner sliding rod 21a and an outer sliding rod 21b. A sliding buckle 322 is fitted onto the inner sliding rod 21a, and the lower end of the outer sliding rod 21b is connected to a hanging rod 22. When folded, the first bracket 31 is located inside the side wall 11 of the main shelf 10, and the second bracket 32 ​​is located outside the side wall 11 of the main shelf 10, with the sliding part 310 sandwiched between the hanging rod 22 and the outer sliding rod 21b. This shelf assembly 100 can simultaneously support the first bracket 31 and the second bracket 32, so the width of the two sliding brackets 30 does not need to be too large, and they can be stored on the inner and outer sides of the side wall 11 of the main shelf 10, thus not requiring the side wall 11 of the main shelf 10 to be too high. When unfolded for use, the first bracket 31 and the second bracket 32 ​​can be spliced ​​together, making the combined width of the sliding bracket 30 larger, allowing more objects to be placed.

[0095] A dishwasher 1000 according to a second aspect of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0096] According to a second aspect embodiment of the dishwasher 1000, such as Figure 17 As shown, it includes: a housing 200 and a shelf assembly 100 in the above embodiment, the shelf assembly 100 being disposed inside the housing 200.

[0097] For ease of comparison, Figure 17 The figure shows a traditional chopstick holder mounted on the main shelf 10 and a slide rail 20 with a sliding bracket 30 as described in the above embodiment. Solid lines show the chopstick holder and the vertically placed chopsticks and spoons within it. The length of the chopsticks results in a significant amount of space above the main shelf 10, leaving the space above vertically placed plates and dishes unused. Dashed lines show the slide rail 20 and the horizontally placed chopsticks and spoons on it. Because the chopsticks are placed horizontally, the height space occupied by the chopsticks is significantly reduced. Furthermore, below the sliding bracket 30, where the chopstick holder originally stood, more bowls and plates can be placed after removing the chopstick holder.

[0098] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the dishwasher 1000 improves the utilization rate of the internal cavity by adopting the above-described shelf assembly 100, and can wash more dishes at once.

[0099] In the scheme of this application, the shelves inside the box 200 can be one or more, and one or more of them can be the shelf assembly 100 mentioned above.

[0100] Specifically, each shelf can be slidably set inside the cabinet 200, making it convenient to load and unload tableware.

[0101] In some specific embodiments, the dishwasher 1000 also includes an upper shelf 300 that is retractable within the cabinet 200, with the horizontal rail section 20-1 of the slide rail 20 located below the upper shelf 300 and above the main shelf 10. This allows for full utilization of the gap between the upper and lower shelves, and provides a convenient place for users to place long, thin utensils such as chopsticks and spoons above the main shelf 10.

[0102] Furthermore, in order not to affect the normal operation of the spray arm 400 located above the sliding bracket 30, the distance between the highest point of the sliding bracket 30 where the tableware is placed and the lowest point of the spray arm 400 is greater than 5mm.

[0103] Other components of the dishwasher 1000 according to embodiments of the present invention, such as the structure of the water pump and water circuit system, as well as the control operation method, are known to those skilled in the art and will not be described in detail here.

[0104] In the description of this specification, references to terms such as "embodiment," "example," etc., indicate that a specific feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment or example of the invention. In this specification, illustrative expressions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples.

[0105] Although embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, those skilled in the art will understand that various changes, modifications, substitutions and alterations can be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined by the claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A shelf assembly, characterized in that, include: Main shelf (10); The slide rail (20) includes a connected horizontal rail section (20-1), a side rail section (20-2), and a transition section (20-3) connecting the horizontal rail section (20-1) and the side rail section (20-2). The transition section (20-3) is arc-shaped. The horizontal rail section (20-1) extends laterally and is spaced apart above or below the main shelf (10). The side rail section (20-2) is fixedly connected to the main shelf (10). A sliding bracket (30) is slidably connected to the slide rail (20). The sliding bracket (30) has an unfolded position on the horizontal rail section (20-1) and a stowed position on the side rail section (20-2). When the sliding bracket (30) is in the unfolded position, an object is suitable to be placed horizontally on the sliding bracket (30).

2. The shelf assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The slide rails (20) are two spaced apart, and the two ends of the sliding bracket (30) are slidably connected to the two slide rails (20) respectively.

3. The shelf assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that, The main shelf (10) includes a first side wall (111), a second side wall (112) and a third side wall (113) connected in sequence, with the first side wall (111) and the third side wall (113) arranged opposite to each other; The side rail segments (20-2) of the two slide rails (20) are connected to the second side wall (112) and are respectively located adjacent to the first side wall (111) and the third side wall (113); or, the side rail segments (20-2) of the two slide rails (20) are respectively connected to the first side wall (111) and the third side wall (113) and are respectively located adjacent to the second side wall (112).

4. The shelf assembly according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that, The slide rail (20) includes at least one slide rod (21) extending along the sliding direction of the slide bracket (30), and the shelf assembly (100) satisfies at least one of the following conditions: Scenario 1: There are at least two slide rods (21), and the sliding bracket (30) includes a first bracket (31), which includes a sliding portion (310) that is restricted between two adjacent slide rods (21). Scenario 2: The sliding bracket (30) includes a second bracket (32), which includes a sliding buckle (322) fitted onto the slide rod (21).

5. The shelf assembly according to claim 4, characterized in that, The sliding bracket (30) includes a first bracket (31), the first bracket (31) including at least one row of the sliding portions (310), each row having at least two sliding portions (310) spaced apart along the sliding direction of the first bracket (31), each sliding portion (310) including: A connecting shaft (312) is fixedly or detachably mounted on the first bracket (31); Roller (313) is sleeved on the connecting shaft (312) and sandwiched between two adjacent slide rods (21).

6. The shelf assembly according to claim 4, characterized in that, The sliding bracket (30) includes a second bracket (32), the second bracket (32) includes at least one row of the sliding buckles (322), each row is provided with at least two sliding buckles (322) and they are distributed at intervals along the sliding direction of the second bracket (32), the sliding buckles (322) are fixedly or detachably disposed on the second bracket (32).

7. The shelf assembly according to claim 4, characterized in that, The slide bar (21) consists of two parts, namely an inner slide bar (21a) and an outer slide bar (21b). The lower end of the inner slide bar (21a) is located inside the side wall (11) of the main shelf (10), and the lower end of the outer slide bar (21b) is located outside the side wall (11) of the main shelf (10). When the sliding bracket (30) is in the storage position, it is at least partially located inside the side wall (11) of the main shelf (10) or outside the side wall (11) of the main shelf (10).

8. The shelf assembly according to claim 7, characterized in that, The slide rail (20) also includes a hanging rod (22), the lower end of at least one of the inner slide rod (21a) and the outer slide rod (21b) is connected to the hanging rod (22), and the hanging rod (22) is engaged on the side wall (11) of the main shelf (10).

9. The shelf assembly according to claim 8, characterized in that, One end of the horizontal rail section (20-1) is connected to the side rail section (20-2), and the other end is a cantilever end; The inner slide rod (21a) and the outer slide rod (21b) are connected at the cantilever end, and the inner slide rod (21a), the outer slide rod (21b) and the hanging rod (22) are integral rods formed by bending.

10. The shelf assembly according to claim 7, characterized in that, When the sliding bracket (30) includes a first bracket (31), the sliding part (310) is sandwiched between the inner sliding rod (21a) and the outer sliding rod (21b), and the surfaces where the two sliding rods (21) are located are the sliding surfaces; Above the side wall (11) of the main shelf (10), an installation gap (23) is formed between the inner slide rod (21a) and the outer slide rod (21b). When the sliding part (310) slides to the mounting empty area (23), the projection of the mounting empty area (23) on the sliding surface completely covers the projection of the sliding part (310) on the sliding surface.

11. The shelf assembly according to claim 8, characterized in that, The sliding bracket (30) includes a first bracket (31) and a second bracket (32). The sliding part (310) is sandwiched between the inner slide rod (21a) and the outer slide rod (21b). The sliding buckle (322) is sleeved on the inner slide rod (21a). The lower end of the outer slide rod (21b) is connected to the hanging rod (22). The first bracket (31) is located inside the side wall (11) of the main shelf (10) when in the storage position, the second bracket (32) is located outside the side wall (11) of the main shelf (10) when in the storage position, and the sliding part (310) is sandwiched between the hanging rod (22) and the outer sliding rod (21b).

12. A dishwasher, characterized in that, include: Box (200) ； The shelf assembly (100) according to any one of claims 1-11 is disposed within the housing (200).

13. The dishwasher according to claim 12, characterized in that, The dishwasher (1000) also includes an upper shelf (300) that is retractable within the housing (200), the horizontal rail section (20-1) of the slide rail (20) being located below the upper shelf (300) and above the main shelf (10).

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