CUTLERY DRAWER FOR A DISHWASHER

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a cutlery drawer for a dishwasher, with a drawer body which is mounted so as to be pull-out from a washing chamber of the dishwasher in the pull-out direction and which provides a cutlery insert for receiving cutlery items, wherein the cutlery insert has a first row of cams for individually receiving cutlery items oriented transversely to the pull-out direction and a second row of cams which runs parallel to the first row of cams and is arranged at a distance therefrom, wherein each row of cams has a plurality of cams arranged one behind the other in the pull-out direction, wherein adjacent cams in each row of cams are arranged at a distance from one another, each forming an intermediate space.

[0002] Cutlery drawers of the generic type are well known in the prior art, so a separate printed reference is not required here. Reference is therefore made, by way of example, to EP 3 409 182 A1, EP 3 025 628 A1, and US 2022 / 133124 A1, each of which discloses cutlery drawers of the generic type.

[0003] A cutlery drawer of this type has a frame-like drawer body that provides one or more cutlery inserts for holding cutlery. The drawer body, together with the cutlery insert(s) held by it, is designed to be movable in the pull-out direction out of or into the dishwasher's wash chamber.

[0004] For the individual accommodation of cutlery items, cams arranged in rows are provided, with adjacent cams being spaced apart from each other to form a gap. When used as intended, the gap formed between two adjacent cams accommodates a cutlery item in sections. For the secure positioning of a large number of cutlery items, two rows of cams are preferably provided, arranged side by side transversely to the pull-out direction of the cutlery drawer, with the cams of one row extending one behind the other in the pull-out direction.

[0005] The previously known design allows the user to easily load the cutlery drawer with individual cutlery items. The cutlery items are arranged between two adjacent cams of a cam row and are aligned transversely, preferably orthogonally, to the pull-out direction of the cutlery drawer.

[0006] Although the design described above has proven itself in everyday practical use, it is not without its drawbacks. In particular, it has been shown that the storage of larger pieces of cutlery is only permitted with insufficient positioning security. This problem arises particularly with cutlery pieces which, due to their geometric design, cannot be accommodated, or cannot be securely accommodated, by a gap formed between adjacent cams. Such a piece of cutlery must then be positioned within the cutlery insert aligned in the pull-out direction, which hinders the actually desired transverse alignment of other pieces of cutlery. This disadvantageously leads to only limited use of the total space provided by the cutlery insert. The storage capacity of the cutlery drawer is therefore not utilized.

[0007] It is therefore based on the above-described state of the art that the invention is based on Task, to further develop the design of a generic cutlery drawer in such a way that the user can easily make optimal use of the storage capacity provided by the cutlery drawer.

[0008] To Solution To achieve this object, the invention proposes a cutlery drawer of the type mentioned at the outset, which is characterized in that two adjacent cams of the first row of cams and two adjacent cams of the second row of cams are provided by a common support element, wherein the support element is arranged on the cutlery insert so as to be rotatable by at least 90° about an axis of rotation running perpendicular to the pull-out direction.

[0009] The cutlery drawer according to the invention has a support element that supports adjacent cams of the two cam rows, i.e. at least two adjacent cams of the first cam row and at least two adjacent cams of the second cam row. The support element preferably has 2 to 10, in particular 4 to 8 cams each of the first and second cam rows. The support element can be rotated by the user, namely by at least 90° about an axis of rotation running perpendicular to the pull-out direction, in particular perpendicular to the receiving plane of the cutlery insert. It is therefore permissible to position the cams provided by the support element, in particular transversely, in relation to the other cams of the two cam rows, which allows the formation of a respective gap in the cam rows.These gaps in the rows of cams, which form when the support element twists, can be used to accommodate larger cutlery items, aligned perpendicular to the pull-out direction of the cutlery drawer. This allows for optimal utilization of the cutlery drawer's storage capacity. In particular, unlike the state of the art, it is no longer necessary to align larger cutlery items in the pull-out direction, thus obstructing the storage of additional cutlery items perpendicular to the pull-out direction.

[0010] As a result, the inventive design allows for more flexible loading of the cutlery drawer, with conventionally designed cutlery items being positioned transversely to the pull-out direction in the usual manner. For larger cutlery items that are too large for the receiving spaces formed between adjacent cams, the support element provided according to the invention can be rotated, creating gaps in the rows of cams as described above, allowing for the accommodation of larger cutlery items there.

[0011] According to a further feature of the invention, the support element has a bearing pin that engages with a counter-contour on the cutlery insert side. By means of this bearing pin, the support element is rotatably mounted on the cutlery insert. The axis of rotation, corresponding to the design of the bearing pin, is transverse to the extension direction, i.e., in the vertical direction of the dishwasher. In the final assembled state, the bearing pin interacts with a counter-contour on the cutlery insert side, which allows for secure rotation of the support element during its intended use.

[0012] According to a further feature of the invention, the support element has a locking device designed to secure the support element in position on the cutlery tray in the direction of the rotation axis. The locking device provided according to the invention ensures a precise and secure arrangement of the support element on the cutlery tray, specifically in the direction of the rotation axis, i.e., in the vertical direction of the dishwasher. This ensures a captive arrangement of the support element on the cutlery tray during intended use, so that the support element cannot accidentally detach from the cutlery tray. Safe handling of the cutlery drawer, including the support element arranged thereon, is thus guaranteed.

[0013] According to a further feature of the invention, the support element has a locking device designed to secure the support element in the direction of rotation on the cutlery insert. The locking device provided according to the invention ensures that any unwanted twisting movement of the support element in the direction of rotation is prevented. The locking device secures the support element in the position specified by the user in relation to the cutlery insert. The locking can be continuous or in stages, whereby according to the invention it is preferred to provide at least two rotational positions. In the first rotational position of the support element, the cams provided thereby are aligned in the direction of the rows of cams on the cutlery insert, so that closed rows of cams are created. In this position, the cutlery drawer can be loaded in the usual way.In a second position of the support element, it is rotated by 90° relative to the initial position, in which the cams provided by the support element are aligned transversely to the extension direction. In this position, the rows of cams are interrupted by the rotated support element due to the gaps that form. The gaps thus formed in the rows of cams can serve, as already described, to accommodate even larger pieces of cutlery. In both of the previously described rotational positions of the support element in relation to the cutlery insert, the locking device according to the invention preferably locks the support element relative to the cutlery insert, thus preventing unintentional rotation of the support element in either possible position.

[0014] In combination, the locking device on the one hand and the locking device on the other ensure that the support element as a whole is positioned precisely and securely on the cutlery insert, in all possible rotational positions as intended.

[0015] According to a further feature of the invention, it is provided that the support element has an annular body which, on the cutlery insert side, carries a plurality of bearing pins evenly distributed over the circumference of a circular ring or the annular body.

[0016] According to this particularly preferred embodiment, the support element has not just one bearing journal, but several bearing journals, preferably four bearing journals. These bearing journals are arranged on an annular body of the support element. The annular body can, for example, be ring-shaped, in particular rotationally symmetrical to the axis of rotation of the support element, and the bearing journals can be evenly distributed around the circumference of the annular body. However, the annular body can also have a different geometry, i.e. it can not itself be ring-shaped, as long as the bearing journals carried by it are evenly distributed around the circumference of a circular ring lying perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the support element. This ensures secure guidance of the support element relative to the cutlery insert and also enables evenly distributed force introduction, which simplifies proper handling.Furthermore, this preferred embodiment ensures simplified assembly and disassembly in the event of repairs.

[0017] According to a further feature of the invention, it is provided that each bearing pin is designed to be resiliently pivotable in the radial direction of the annular body and, remote from the annular body, has a locking projection extending in the radial direction of the annular body, for example outwards.

[0018] The bearing pins are designed to be resiliently pivotable in the radial direction of the ring body. This enables simplified assembly in particular because the bearing pins pivot sideways when a support element is inserted into the counter contour of the cutlery insert as intended and are returned to their original position when the ring body reaches its end position. In this end position, the locking projections provided on the bearing pin side engage behind the counter contour of the cutlery insert, ensuring that the support element is locked to the cutlery insert in the direction of the rotation axis as described above. In the finally assembled state, the counter contour on the cutlery insert side is positioned for each bearing pin between the ring body on the one hand and the locking projection on the other. This ensures that the support element is positioned on the cutlery insert in a secure position, but can also be easily removed without tools.

[0019] According to a further feature of the invention, it is provided that the cutlery insert has a support ring which interacts with the ring body of the support element and against which the bearing pins of the support element rest on the inner circumference in the final assembled state.

[0020] According to this preferred embodiment, the counter-contour for the support element on the cutlery insert side is formed by a support ring. The ring body of the support element rests on this support ring in the final assembled state, with the bearing pins arranged on the ring body engaging behind it with the locking projections on the bearing pin side. The support ring thus serves, on the one hand, to securely position the support element, but also provides the running surface on which the ring body of the support element is guided in the event of intended rotation.

[0021] According to a further feature of the invention, the support ring has a locking groove on its inner circumference. This locking groove is part of the locking device according to the invention and serves to secure the support element in the rotational direction relative to the cutlery insert.

[0022] According to a further feature of the invention, the support element has a locking extension that interacts with the locking groove of the support ring. The locking extension is also part of the locking device according to the invention, which, when used as intended, interacts with the locking groove of the support ring. When the support element is in a locked position, the locking extension of the support element engages in the corresponding locking groove of the support ring. This ensures that the support element is secured in the direction of rotation.

[0023] According to a further feature of the invention, the support element has two longitudinal webs arranged on the annular body, one longitudinal web carrying the two cams of the first row of cams, and the other longitudinal web carrying the two cams of the second row of cams. In the untwisted basic position, the longitudinal webs extend in the direction of the two rows of cams on the cutlery insert side. As a result, the cams supported by the longitudinal webs are aligned with the row of cams, thus allowing the rows of cams to be used in the conventional manner.

[0024] According to a further feature of the invention, the support element has two transverse webs arranged on the annular body and connecting the two longitudinal webs to each other. This results in a rectangular configuration or arrangement of the longitudinal webs on the one hand and the transverse webs on the other. The webs surround the annular body, which serves, as described above, to rotatably mount the support element. This results in a very simple construction of the support element, which, on the one hand, ensures a robust arrangement of the cams and, on the other hand, allows the possibility of the previously described twisting movement of the support element.

[0025] According to a further feature of the invention, a crossbar carries a separating means on its side facing the cam. Such a separating means can serve to provide additional support for a piece of cutlery received by the support element during intended use. The provision of such a separating means is optional, however. The crossbar can also be designed without any separating means. However, it is preferred to provide a separating means because this ensures that a received piece of cutlery assumes a defined position. This achieves an optimized cleaning result during intended use. A separating means can serve, for example, to divide the otherwise free side of a crossbar into two individual receiving sections, so that contact surfaces, e.g. inclined contact surfaces, for a piece of cutlery to be supported are provided on both sides of the separating means.The separating means can also be arranged off-center on the crosspiece, so that two receiving sections of different sizes are provided.

[0026] The invention further proposes a dishwasher with a cutlery drawer according to the invention. A dishwasher equipped in this way offers the aforementioned advantages.

[0027] Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description with reference to the figures. Fig. 1 shows a purely schematic side view of a dishwasher according to the invention; Fig. 2 shows a schematic perspective view of a cutlery drawer according to the invention; Fig. 3 shows a schematic perspective view of a section of the cutlery drawer according to Fig. 2 ; Fig. 4 in a detailed view of the cutlery drawer Fig. 2 ; Fig. 5 in a further detailed view of the cutlery drawer Fig. 2; Fig. 6 in a schematic perspective view of a support element according to the invention; Fig. 7 in a schematic perspective view from below the support element according to Fig. 6 ; Fig. 8 shows a schematic plan view from above of the cutlery drawer according to the invention; Fig. 9 shows a schematic perspective view of three embodiments of a support element according to the invention; Fig. 10 shows a schematic perspective view of three further embodiments of the support element according to the invention; and Fig. 11 shows a schematic plan view from above of a section of a cutlery drawer according to the invention.

[0028] Fig. 1 shows a purely schematic side view of a dishwasher 1 according to the invention. This dishwasher comprises, in a conventional manner, a housing 2 that accommodates a washing container 3. The washing container 3, in turn, provides a washing chamber 4 for accommodating the items to be cleaned.

[0029] The washing chamber 4 is accessible via a loading opening 5. This can be closed fluid-tight by means of a washing chamber door 6 pivotably mounted on the housing 2.

[0030] For supplying items to be cleaned with washing liquid, the dishwasher 1 has a spray device 7. This spray device 7 has a plurality of rotatably arranged spray arms, two spray arms 8 and 9 being shown in the embodiment shown.

[0031] Dishwasher racks are used to hold the dishes to be cleaned. In the illustrated embodiment, a cutlery drawer 10, an upper basket 11, and a lower basket 12 are provided. The upper basket 11 is arranged above the lower basket 12 in the vertical direction 13, and the cutlery drawer 10 is located above the upper basket 11 in the vertical direction 13.

[0032] To load the cutlery drawer 10, the upper basket 11, and the lower basket 12 with items to be washed, these can be moved out of the wash chamber 4 of the dishwasher 1 in the pull-out direction 18 by the user. For this purpose, the cutlery drawer 10, the upper basket 11, and the lower basket 12 are mounted so that they can be pulled out of the wash chamber 4 of the dishwasher 1 in the pull-out direction 18.

[0033] The cutlery drawer 10 is designed in accordance with the invention, as can be seen from the further Figs. 2 to 11 results.

[0034] Fig. 2 First of all, it can be seen that the cutlery drawer 10 has a frame-like drawer body 14. This drawer body 14 supports a total of three cutlery inserts 15, 16, and 17, with the cutlery insert 16 being arranged transversely to the extension direction 18 between the two cutlery inserts 15 and 17.

[0035] The two cutlery inserts 15 and 17 each have rows of cams extending in the pull-out direction 18, namely a first row of cams 19 and a second row of cams 20, as is shown by way of example with the cutlery insert 17 in Fig. 2 is shown. Each row of cams 19 and 20 has cams 21 and 22, which are arranged one behind the other in the extension direction 18, with a gap 23 being formed between adjacent cams 21 and 22.

[0036] The cam rows 19 and 20 serve in a manner known per se to pick up cutlery items individually, namely transversely to the pull-out direction, as shown Fig. 8 36 knives can be identified as cutlery items.

[0037] According to the invention, it is provided that at least two (in the exemplary embodiment shown there are only five by way of example) adjacent cams 21 of the first cam row 19 and at least two (in the exemplary embodiment shown there are only five by way of example) adjacent cams 22 of the second cam row 20 are provided by a common support element 24, as can be seen from a synopsis of the detailed views according to the Fig. 3 and 4 A support element 24 is arranged on the cutlery insert 17 so as to be rotatable by 90° about a rotation axis running perpendicular to the extension direction 18, in particular perpendicular to the receiving plane of the cutlery insert 17. This factual connection Fig. 5 recognize, whereby the Fig. 5 right support element 24 is in normal position, whereas the one in Fig. 5 left support element 24 is rotated by 90° in relation to the cutlery insert 17.

[0038] The design of the supporting element results in particular from a summary of the Figs. 6 and 7 As can be seen from these illustrations, a support element 24 has an annular body 25. In the illustrated embodiment, this annular body 25 carries four bearing pins 28, which extend downward from the annular body 25 with respect to the vertical direction 13. The bearing pins 28 are arranged on the annular body 25 so as to be resiliently pivotable in the radial direction of the annular body.

[0039] Each bearing pin 28 has a locking projection 29 remote from the ring body, which extends outward in the radial direction of the ring body 25. In the final assembled state, the ring body 25 and the bearing pins 28 arranged thereon rest against a corresponding counter contour of the cutlery insert 17.

[0040] This counter contour of the cutlery insert 17 is formed by a support ring 33, as shown in Fig. 11visible from a top view of the cutlery insert 17. In the fully assembled state, the annular body 25 of a support element 24 rests on the associated support ring 33 of the cutlery insert 17. The bearing pins 28 rest on the inner circumference of the support ring 33, with the locking projections 29 on the bearing pin side engaging under the support ring 33. Thus, in the fully assembled state, the support ring 33 is arranged between the annular body 25 of a support element 24 and the locking projections 29 of the associated bearing pins 28. This ensures secure locking of the support element 24 on the cutlery insert 17, with the support element 24 being positioned on the cutlery insert 17 in the direction of the rotation axis.

[0041] As can be seen from a summary of the Figs. 6 and 7A support element 24 further comprises longitudinal webs 26 and transverse webs 27. The longitudinal webs 26, like the transverse webs 27, are arranged on the annular body 25, specifically with spacer webs interposed in the illustrated embodiment. The transverse webs 27 connect the longitudinal webs 26 to one another in such a way that a rectangular configuration is achieved with respect to the longitudinal webs 26 on the one hand and the transverse webs 27 on the other.

[0042] In the embodiment shown, the longitudinal webs 26 carry the cams 21 and 22 provided by the support element 24 on the upper side. The transverse webs 27 are optionally equipped with a separating means 35.

[0043] To secure the position of the support element 24 in the direction of rotation, a locking device 33 is provided. In the embodiment shown, this has a locking extension 31 on the support element side and a locking groove 34 on the cutlery insert side, as can be seen in particular from a summary of the Fig. 7 and 11 The locking projection 31 interacts with one of the four locking grooves 34 depending on the rotational position of the support element 24. In the locked state, the locking projection 31 engages in the corresponding locking groove 34, thus preventing any unwanted rotational movement of the support element 24 in relation to the cutlery insert 17.

[0044] A support element 24 can, as already explained Fig. 5can be rotated in relation to the cutlery insert 17. The support element 24 can be transferred from a normal position to a rotated position and vice versa. In the normal position of the support element 24, the rows of cams can be equipped with cutlery items in a conventional manner, wherein the cutlery items are aligned transversely to the extension direction 18, as is the case with the knives 36 in Fig. 8 can be recognized.

[0045] In the rotated position of the support element 24, the cams 21 and 22 provided by the support element 24 are aligned transversely to the rows of cams 19 and 20, thus transversely to the extension direction 18. In this position of the support element 24, the two rows of cams 19 and 20 are interrupted in the area of ​​the support element 24, with the rows of cams 19 and 20 having corresponding gaps. This allows the accommodation of even larger cutlery items, as is the case with a kitchen spoon 37 in Fig. 8 is shown.

[0046] In order to ensure the positioning of even larger cutlery items in a rotated position of a support element 24, the support element 24 can optionally be equipped with a separating means 35 as already described. Different embodiments of the optional separating means 35 are conceivable, as can be seen from a summary of the Fig. 9 and 10 based on different exemplary embodiments. A separating means 35 basically serves to divide the otherwise free side of a crosspiece into individual receiving sections, thus providing contact surfaces for a cutlery piece 37 to be supported.

[0047] As can be seen from the above description, the design according to the invention enables a more flexible and space-optimized loading of the cutlery drawer 10. This is because the rotatable arrangement of the support elements 24 according to the invention allows larger cutlery items to be accommodated optionally transversely to the pull-out direction 18 in the cutlery drawer 10, so that a Fig. 8 The alignment of a larger cutlery item in the pull-out direction 18, as shown by way of example, is not required. This advantageously does not impede the transverse alignment of other cutlery items, so that the storage capacity provided by the cutlery drawer 10 can also be optimally utilized as intended. Reference symbol 1 dishwasher 34 locking groove 2 Housing 35 Separating agent 3 Rinse container 36 Knife 4 Dishwashing room 37 kitchen spoon 5 Loading opening 6 Dishwasher door 7 Spray device 8 spray arm 9 spray arm 10 Cutlery drawer 11 upper basket 12 Lower basket 13 Altitude direction 14 Drawer body 15 Cutlery insert 16 Cutlery insert 17 Cutlery insert 18 Extension direction 19 first row of cams 20 second row of cams 21 cam 22 cam 23 space 24 supporting element 25 Ring body 26 Longitudinal web 27 crossbar 28 Bearing journal 29 Resting process 30 locking device 31 Arresting process 32 locking device 33 Support ring

Claims

1. Cutlery rack for a dishwasher, comprising a rack body (14) which is mounted such that it can be pulled out of a washing chamber (4) of the dishwasher (1) in a pull-out direction (18) and which provides a cutlery insert (17) for receiving pieces of cutlery (36, 37), wherein the cutlery insert (17) has, for separately holding pieces of cutlery (36) oriented transversely to the pull-out direction (18), a first cam row (19) and a second cam row (20) which runs parallel to and is spaced apart from the first cam row (19), wherein each cam row (19, 20) has a plurality of cams (21, 22) disposed one behind the other in the pull-out direction (18), wherein, in each cam row (19, 20), adjacent cams (21, 22) are mutually spaced such that an intermediate space (23) is formed in each case, characterised in that two adjacent cams (21) of the first cam row (19) and two adjacent cams (22) of the second cam row (20) are provided by a common support element (24), wherein the support element (24) is disposed on the cutlery insert (17) such that it can be rotated by at least 90° about an axis of rotation running perpendicularly to the pull-out direction (18).

2. Cutlery rack according to claim 1, characterised in that the support element (24) has a bearing pin (28) which engages in a counter contour on the cutlery insert side.

3. Cutlery rack according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the support element (24) has a latching device (30) which is designed to secure the support element (24) in position on the cutlery insert (17) in the direction of the axis of rotation.

4. Cutlery rack according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the support element (24) has a locking device (32) which is designed to secure the support element (24) on the cutlery insert (15) in the direction of rotation.

5. Cutlery rack according to any of the preceding claims 2 to 4, characterised in that the support element (24) has an annular body (25) which, on the cutlery insert side, carries a plurality of bearing pins (28) evenly distributed over the circumference of the annular body (25).

6. Cutlery rack according to claim 5, characterised in that each bearing pin (28) is designed to be resiliently pivotable in the radial direction of the annular body (25) and, remote from the annular body, has a latching extension (29) extending in the radial direction of the annular body (25), in particular outwards.

7. Cutlery rack according to any of claims 5 or 6, characterised in that the cutlery insert (17) has a support ring (33) which interacts with the annular body (25) of the support element (24) and against which the bearing pins (28) of the support element (24) rest on the inner circumference in the final assembled state.

8. Cutlery rack according to claim 7, characterised in that the support ring (33) has a locking groove (34) on its inner circumference.

9. Cutlery rack according to claim 8, characterised in that the support element (24) has a locking extension (31) which interacts with the locking groove (34) of the support ring (33).

10. Cutlery rack according to any of claims 5 to 9, characterised in that the support element (24) has two longitudinal webs (26) arranged on the annular body (25), wherein one longitudinal web (26) carries the two cams (21) of the first cam row (19) and the other longitudinal web (26) carries the two cams (22) of the second cam row (20).

11. Cutlery rack according to claim 10, characterised in that the support element (24) has two transverse webs (27) disposed on the annular body (25) and connecting the two longitudinal webs (26) to one another.

12. Cutlery rack according to claim 11, characterised in that one transverse web (27) carries a separating means (35) on its side facing the cams (21, 22).

13. Dishwasher, comprising a cutlery rack according to any of the preceding claims 1 to 12.