Curved Dishwasher Dish Support for Universal Loading and Drying

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional dish racks in dishwashers are limited in their ability to securely hold a variety of crockery items, particularly glasses and bowls, due to their specific support structures, which do not allow for universal loading and can lead to water stagnation during washing and drying.

Innovation Solution

A dish rack design featuring curved and domed surfaces with adjustable angles and slots that accommodate plates, glasses, and bowls, allowing for universal loading and improved drying performance by preventing water stagnation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If traditional pin structures are used to hold plates vertically, then plates can be positioned securely, but glasses or bowls cannot be held stably

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveability to hold different types of crockeryVSAvoidstability of crockery positioning
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The support structure is designed with a curved profile that can accommodate multiple types of crockery (plates, glasses, bowls) using the same structural element. The curved surface allows different items to be positioned securely without requiring separate dedicated structures for each type of dish.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The support structure employs a curved profile instead of flat or angular designs. This curvature enables the structure to adapt to various shapes of crockery items, providing stable contact surfaces for plates, glasses, and bowls simultaneously, thereby resolving the contradiction between versatility and stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

2Adaptability or versatility

If flat support structures are used for glasses or bowls, then these items can be positioned, but vertical positioning of plates or cups is not allowed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuniversal loading capabilityVSAvoidloading flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The curved support structure serves multiple functions: it can hold plates vertically, glasses at angles, and bowls inverted, all within a single unified structure. This eliminates the need for separate flat support structures for different item types while maintaining loading flexibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The curved profile provides dynamic adaptability, allowing the support structure to accommodate items at various orientations and angles. Users can load different types of crockery in different positions without being constrained by fixed flat surfaces, enhancing both universal loading capability and operational ease.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If curved surfaces with angles between 25° and 45° are used, then glasses, cups, and bowls can be positioned with adequate inclination for washing and drying, but the structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedrying performanceVSAvoidstructural complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The curved profile with specific angle ranges (25°-45°) is designed to provide optimal inclination for draining water from glasses, cups, and bowls during drying. The curvature itself creates the necessary angles without requiring additional complex mechanical components, thus achieving reliable drying performance while limiting structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Data Source

PatentEP1985223B1Dish support for a dishwasher
Publication Date: 2013.09.11 FAGORBRANDT
  • EP1985223B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP1985223B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP1985223B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

The support (40) has dish supporting areas (410, 420) including a structure comprising slots (411, 421) to receive dishes in the areas. The structure forms a rounded and curved surface that forms a concave shape extending over a plane of the support. The structure includes a series of hoops (412, 422) spaced from one another, and is made of a rigid plastic material. Stops are placed at an end of the hoops. The areas are arranged parallelly and side by side in width of a dish basket of a dishwasher.