Dishwasher Cutlery Drawer With Tilting Insert for Larger Items

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cutlery drawers in dishwashers do not optimize space utilization effectively, limiting the accommodation of larger items to the upper and lower baskets.

Innovation Solution

A cutlery drawer design where a horizontally displaceable insert is also vertically movable on one side, allowing it to tilt and expand the receiving space, combined with a guide link in the frame wire that supports and guides this movement, enabling the accommodation of larger items while maintaining sufficient space for upper basket items and optimizing drainage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the insert is fixed horizontally, then the cutlery drawer structure is simple, but the receiving space cannot be expanded for larger items

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereceiving spaceVSAvoidinsert structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The insert is designed to be dynamically adjustable with two degrees of freedom: horizontal displacement along the pull-out direction and vertical displacement on one side. This allows the insert to tilt and expand the receiving space for larger items while maintaining a relatively simple structure through guided movement mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The insert transitions from a fixed two-dimensional plane to a three-dimensional adjustable structure by adding vertical displacement capability on one side. This enables the insert to tilt and create additional space in the vertical dimension, accommodating larger items without significantly increasing horizontal structure complexity.

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

2Adaptability or versatility

If the insert is made vertically displaceable on one side, then larger items can be accommodated, but the guide mechanism becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveitem accommodation capabilityVSAvoidguide mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The guide mechanism is segmented into separate functional components: horizontal guidance along the pull-out direction and vertical guidance on one side of the insert. This segmentation allows each guide to be independently designed and implemented, reducing overall complexity while enabling multi-directional movement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A guide link serves as an intermediary element that connects the insert to the frame, mediating both horizontal and vertical movements. This single intermediary component simplifies the overall guide mechanism by consolidating multiple guidance functions into one element rather than requiring separate complex mechanisms for each degree of freedom.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the insert tilts to expand space, then receiving capacity increases, but drainage efficiency may be affected

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereceiving capacityVSAvoiddrainage efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The tilt angle of the insert is optimized within a specific range (15° to 20°) to balance two competing requirements: expanding receiving capacity for larger items while maintaining sufficient drainage efficiency. This parameter optimization ensures that water can still drain effectively along the tilted surface without pooling, preserving productivity while increasing adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP2754377B1Cutlery drawer for a dishwasher
Publication Date: 2015.11.04 MIELE & CO KG
  • EP2754377B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2754377B1 patent drawingFigure 2a~2b
  • EP2754377B1 patent drawingFigure 3a~4

AI summary

The cutlery drawer (8) has a frame (9) mounted in a rinsing container a dishwasher in extendible manner and multiple inserts (10,11,12) movably arranged at the frame. Dishes, particularly cutlery to be rinsed are stored on the insert. One of the insert is horizontally displaceable transverse to the pull-out direction of the cutlery drawer. Another frame is arranged at the frame in vertically displaceable manner. The horizontally displaceable insert is arranged on the frame in vertically displaceable manner with one of its two longitudinal sides (13,14) extending in pull-out direction of the cutlery drawer. An independent claim is included for a dishwasher with a rinsing space.