Dishwasher Lower Basket Guide Path to Prevent Forward Tipping

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing domestic dishwasher mechanisms for raising and lowering the lower basket often result in the center of gravity being pivoted too far forward, causing the dishwasher to tilt forward, and attempts to mitigate this by not fully extending the basket lead to ergonomic disadvantages during loading and unloading.

Innovation Solution

A guide device with a link arm and guide rail system that allows the loading level to move along a non-circular path, with an increasing incline, keeping the center of gravity closer to the body, enabling full extension without tilting, using a slot and pin mechanism or a guide lever and locking piece to control the movement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Length of moving object

If a sliding/swivel mechanism with circular guide path is used to raise the lower basket, then the basket can be fully extended outside the dishwasher, but the center of gravity shifts forward causing the dishwasher to tip over

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveextension distance of lower basketVSAvoidstability of dishwasher body
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of moving objectVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions from a circular guide path to a guide track with increasing incline, changing the movement dimension from purely rotational to a combination of vertical and horizontal displacement. This dimensional change allows the basket to extend fully while the guide track's geometry compensates for the center of gravity shift, preventing the dishwasher from tipping forward.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent modifies the guide track geometry to have an increasing incline rather than a circular path. This parameter change in the guide mechanism allows the basket to move along a trajectory where the vertical component increases progressively, keeping the center of gravity closer to the housing and maintaining stability during full extension.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Stability of the object's composition

If the lower basket is not fully extended to prevent tipping, then the dishwasher remains stable, but ergonomic performance deteriorates during loading and unloading

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestability of dishwasher bodyVSAvoidergonomics of loading and unloading
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

By changing the guide path from circular to increasingly inclined, the patent enables full horizontal extension while simultaneously providing vertical support. This allows the basket to reach the user comfortably without compromising stability, as the inclined guide track maintains the center of gravity position throughout the extended range of motion.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Stability of the object's composition

If a cam guide and cam element mechanism is used to control the guide track, then the center of gravity can be maintained closer to the housing, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecenter of gravity positionVSAvoidcomplexity of guide mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a cam guide formed on the body and a cam element attached to the handlebar arm as intermediary components. These elements work together to control the movement along the guide track, translating the user's input force into the desired non-circular motion path while maintaining simplicity through the inherent mechanical advantage of cam mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3169215B1Domestic dishwasher
Publication Date: 2023.08.09 BSH HAUSGERATE GMBH
  • EP3169215B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3169215B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3169215B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The invention relates to a domestic dishwasher (1), comprising a body (2), at least one loading level (10), at least one guide rail (12), along which the at least one loading level (10) can be linearly displaced between a first and a second position of same, wherein the at least one loading level (10) in the first position is arranged at the bottom and inside the body (2) and in the second position at the bottom and at least partially outside of the body (2), at least one guide arm (15, 16) which holds the at least one guide rail on the body (2) in a pivotable manner for a movement of the loading level (10) between the second and a third position of same, wherein the at least one loading level (10) is arranged in the third position at the top and at least partially outside of the body (2), and a guiding device (19), which guides the at least one guide arm (15, 16) along a guide track (20), which at least partially deviates from a circular path.