Dishwasher Drawer Rail That Retracts Into the Ceiling
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Solution Overview
Problem
In dishwashers, the mechanisms used to support and move drawers, such as rails and slides, occupy space even when the drawer is not in use, preventing efficient utilization of the upper dish rack and reducing loading capacity.
Innovation Solution
A dishwasher design featuring hangers secured to the ceiling with a rail that can switch between active and passive modes, allowing the drawer to be mounted and moved on the rail in the active mode and rotated under the ceiling in the passive mode, minimizing space occupation when not in use, using a horizontally-tilted U-shaped rail with hanger and drawer arms, a fixing element, detent means, and a lid to secure and prevent dislodging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If rails and slides are mounted on the side walls to support the drawer, then the drawer can be moved and opened, but the mechanisms occupy space inside the dishwasher and prevent efficient usage of the upper dish rack
Solution Approach 1:
The drawer support mechanism is extracted from the side walls and repositioned to the ceiling, removing the space-occupying rails and slides from the interior volume where they interfered with the upper dish rack placement
Solution Approach 2:
The support mechanism transitions from a horizontal orientation along the side walls to a vertical orientation from the ceiling, utilizing the vertical dimension to free up horizontal space for increased loading capacity
2Adaptability or versatility
If the rail remains mounted on the hanger when the drawer is not in use, then the drawer can be quickly reinstalled, but the rail occupies space that could be used for the upper dish rack
Solution Approach 1:
The rail is designed to be dynamically reconfigurable, allowing it to switch between a deployed position for drawer support and a retracted position stored within the hanger, enabling the system to adapt to different usage states
Solution Approach 2:
The rail nests within the hanger when not in use, with the rail components stored inside the hanger structure, eliminating the need for separate mounting space and allowing quick reinstallation when needed
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a dishwasher (1) that comprises a body (2), a door (3) allowing access into the body (2), at least two hangers (4) secured oppositely on the ceiling (T) of the body (2), at least two rails (5) each mounted to the hangers (4) and at least one drawer (6) mounted to the rails (5) from the opposite sides to be movable thereon, wherein the items to be washed are emplaced.