Dishwasher Article Holder Assembly for Tall Item Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Dishwasher appliances impose stringent height restrictions on tall articles, particularly with the addition of a middle rack, limiting the ability to properly wash taller items due to inadequate space and positioning for effective wash fluid distribution.
Innovation Solution
An article holder assembly with movable attachment and positioning arms secured to the side walls of the lower rack, allowing for adjustable geometry to securely position and orient taller articles, ensuring effective wash fluid coverage and improved wash performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If standard rack configurations are used, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the height restriction limits the ability to wash taller articles
Solution Approach 1:
The article holder assembly includes movable positioning arms that can adjust between engaged and disengaged positions, allowing the structure to adapt dynamically to different article heights. The positioning arms can be moved to accommodate taller articles while maintaining structural simplicity through a collapsible design that integrates with the standard rack when not in use.
Solution Approach 2:
The article holder assembly is divided into separate functional components: attachment arms that secure to the rack and movable positioning arms that can be independently adjusted. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function while maintaining overall structural simplicity and ease of integration with standard rack configurations.
2Reliability
If article holder assemblies with fixed geometry are used, then the structure is simple, but the wash fluid distribution is inadequate for effective washing
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning arms are designed to be movable rather than fixed, allowing them to be positioned to optimize wash fluid distribution. The arms can be adjusted to create proper spacing and orientation for effective spray coverage while maintaining a compact configuration when not in use, thus achieving reliable wash performance without excessive geometric complexity.
3Reliability
If the rack assembly is positioned in the retracted position for spray assembly function, then the spray assembly receives wash fluid properly, but the user cannot easily load and unload articles
Solution Approach 1:
The article holder assembly is designed as a separate, removable component that can be easily detached and reattached. This allows the main rack assembly to remain in the retracted position for proper spray function while the article holder can be independently accessed for loading and unloading articles, separating the operational requirements of both functions.
Data Source
AI summary
An article holder assembly for use in a dishwasher appliance includes a first attachment arm for securing to a first side wall of a rack of the dishwasher appliance, a second attachment arm for securing to an opposing, second side wall of a rack of the dishwasher appliance, and at least one article positioning arm secured between the first and second attachment arms. The article positioning arm(s) is movable between an engaged position and a disengaged position. Thus, the article positioning arm(s) defines a predefined geometry configured to receive a portion of one or more articles for cleaning in the dishwasher appliance. Further, when the article positioning arm(s) is in the engaged position, the predefined geometry positions and secures one or more of the articles on a rack of the dishwasher appliance for cleaning.