Dishwasher Lower Rack with Adjustable Glass Support for Stemware
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current dishwasher racks are not well-suited for holding glasses, particularly stemware and barware, due to their design with vertically projecting tines that make it cumbersome to support these items.
Innovation Solution
A specialty dishwasher with a lower washware rack configured to hold primarily glasses, featuring adjustable wavy glass support wires that can be adjusted in height and position to accommodate different sizes and shapes, and an insert member that holds glasses at an angle to prevent water pooling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If vertically projecting tines are used in the lower washware rack, then the rack can support larger items such as plates and bowls, but it becomes cumbersome and difficult to support stemware and barware type glasses
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements adjustable glass support members that can be moved between different positions to accommodate various glass types and sizes. The support members can be adjusted vertically along the rack structure, allowing dynamic reconfiguration of the rack space to optimize for different glassware configurations, thereby resolving the contradiction between versatility and ease of operation
Solution Approach 2:
The lower washware rack is segmented into distinct zones: a first region with adjustable glass support members specifically designed for stemware and barware, and a second region for larger items. This segmentation allows the rack to simultaneously optimize for different item types without the vertically projecting tines interfering with glass loading, thus improving both adaptability and ease of operation
2Quantity of substance
If the lower washware rack is designed to hold primarily glasses, then the capacity for glasses is increased, but the ability to hold larger items such as plates and bowls is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustable glass support members can be repositioned or removed entirely to transform the rack configuration. When not needed for glassware, the support members can be adjusted out of the way, converting the first region into additional space for larger items, thus dynamically balancing the quantity of glasses versus versatility for other items
Solution Approach 2:
The lower washware rack is designed with multi-functionality, where the same structural space can serve different purposes based on configuration. The adjustable support members enable the rack to function as either a glass-optimized rack or a general-purpose rack for larger items, achieving universality that resolves the contradiction between quantity and adaptability
3Adaptability or versatility
If adjustable glass support members are added to the lower washware rack, then the ability to support different sizes and shapes of glasses is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The glass support members utilize flexible wire construction that can bend and conform to different glass shapes and sizes. This flexibility is achieved through the wire's inherent properties rather than complex mechanical joints or adjustment mechanisms, thereby improving adaptability while minimizing the increase in device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The support members incorporate simple vertical adjustment capability along predefined tracks or guides within the rack structure. This dynamic adjustment feature allows accommodation of different glass heights through straightforward vertical positioning rather than complex reconfiguration mechanisms, balancing adaptability with manageable structural complexity
Data Source
AI summary
A dishwasher, including: a dishwashing compartment having a loading opening; a door configured to close the loading opening; and at least one washware rack configured for movement out of and into the dishwashing compartment, wherein the at least one washware rack includes a frame having a bottom portion and a side wall portion; and at least one adjustable glass support member extending across an interior of the at least one washware rack and disposed on the frame via brackets.