Adjustable Dishwasher Cutlery Tray Support for Flexible Space Use

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional dishwasher cutlery trays have a fixed height and position, limiting the ability to accommodate larger items and inefficiently utilizing the dishwasher's inner space.

Innovation Solution

A tray supporting apparatus with sliding grooves and brackets allows for adjustable positioning and angle of the tray, enabling flexible placement of cutlery based on size, utilizing the dishwasher's space more effectively.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a fixed height and position cutlery tray is used, then standard cutlery can be easily placed, but the space utilization is poor and larger items cannot be accommodated

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability to different cutlery sizesVSAvoidtray positioning mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The tray supporting apparatus employs a dynamic positioning mechanism where brackets can slide along guide rails in multiple directions (front-rear, left-right, and up-down). This allows the tray position and angle to be adjusted according to the size of cutlery items, transforming a static fixed-position tray into a dynamic adaptable structure that optimizes space utilization while maintaining operational simplicity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The supporting frame is divided into multiple independent sliding components (first bracket, second bracket, guide rails) that can move relative to each other. This segmentation allows flexible adjustment of tray position without requiring complex integrated mechanisms, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and device complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If a fixed position tray is used, then the structure is simple, but the inner space of the dishwasher cannot be used flexibly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflexibility in space utilizationVSAvoidtray adjustment operation

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The tray supporting apparatus employs a dynamic positioning mechanism where brackets can slide along guide rails in multiple directions (front-rear, left-right, and up-down). This allows the tray position and angle to be adjusted according to the size of cutlery items, transforming a static fixed-position tray into a dynamic adaptable structure that optimizes space utilization while maintaining operational simplicity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The sliding mechanism is designed to be manually operable without requiring additional tools or complex controls. Users can directly slide the brackets along the guide rails to adjust tray position, making the system self-service friendly and maintaining ease of operation while achieving flexible space utilization

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS9380926B2Tray supporting apparatus for dishwasher, cutlery tray assembly and dishwasher

Publication Date: 2016.07.05 FOSHAN SHUNDE MIDEA WASHING APPLIANCES MANUFACTURING CO LTD

AI summary

Disclosed is a tray supporting apparatus for a dishwasher, the apparatus comprising: a support frame, two opposite sides of the support frame being respectively provided with a slide groove, and each slide groove comprising a first slideway a second slideway and the third slideway spaced apart from one another; a first and second bracket respectively adapted to support a tray, the first bracket and the second bracket being respectively provided on the support frame, wherein first ends of the first bracket and the second bracket are respectively slidably accommodated in the first slideway, a second end of the first bracket is slidably accommodated in the second slideway, and a second end of the second bracket is slidably accommodated in the third slideway.