Dishwasher Rack Tilting Supports for Flexible Pot Loading

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing dishwasher racks face challenges in efficiently positioning medium/large pots and pans, leading to reduced loading capacity and washing/drying efficacy due to static constraints and complex, heavy rotatable supports.

Innovation Solution

A dishwasher rack design featuring tilting supports, with one support positioned on the side and another at the bottom, allowing pots and pans to be placed in an optimal washing/drying position, exploiting the inner volume of the dishwasher and enhancing loading flexibility.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If rotatable supports are used to position pots and pans, then washing and drying efficacy is improved, but the device complexity and weight increase due to dedicated support structures and bent end base wires

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewashing and drying efficacyVSAvoidrack structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The support system is divided into multiple independent tilting supports distributed at different positions (side and bottom) rather than a single complex rotatable support. Each support is a simple wire structure that can tilt independently, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining washing efficacy through multiple positioning points

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of using a static base wire structure that constrains supports in predetermined positions, the invention uses a flexible wire that can be freely positioned and repositioned. The support structure is inverted from a rigid constrained system to a flexible free-positioning system, simplifying the structure while enabling optimal pot positioning for washing

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Ease of operation

If rotatable supports with sliding guides are used, then pot positioning is improved, but the loading flexibility is reduced due to statically constrained wires

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepot positioning capabilityVSAvoidloading flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The wire structure transitions from a static constrained system to a dynamic flexible system. The wire can be freely moved, repositioned, and adjusted during rack assembly, allowing adaptability to different loading configurations while still providing effective pot positioning through the tilting support mechanism

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The flexible wire structure serves multiple functions: it provides support for pots and pans, allows free positioning during loading, and can be repositioned for different dishware configurations. The same simple wire structure adapts to various loading scenarios without requiring specialized constrained guides

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Quantity of substance

If pots are positioned with bottom facing up to increase loading capacity, then loading capacity is improved, but washing and drying efficacy is reduced due to wrong positioning relative to washing jets

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveloading capacityVSAvoidwashing and drying efficacy
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The tilting supports are pre-configured to automatically position pots and pans at optimal angles relative to washing jets during the loading process. This preliminary positioning action ensures that even when loading capacity is maximized with bottom-up placement, the washing efficacy is maintained because the supports pre-orient the items correctly before washing begins

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2554096B1A dishwasher rack comprising folding/tilting supports and at least a stop element that can be separated from the rack
Publication Date: 2015.06.03 INDESIT COMPANY SPA
  • EP2554096B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2554096B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2554096B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A dishwasher rack (1) comprising a bottom (30) from which a plurality of walls (31,32,33,34) extend, a first tilting support (3) positioned on the bottom (30) of the rack (1), wherein the first support (3) comprises segments (18) for supporting crockery, and said first support (3) is movable between a raised position, in which the segments (18) extend inside the rack (1), and a lowered position, in which the segments (18) are substantially parallel to the bottom (30), said segments (18) being coupled to a base wire (16) positioned on the bottom (30) of the rack (1) able to rotate about its own axis, and wherein the raised position of the first support (3) is made stable by the interference between the wires of the rack (1) and at least one bent end (17) of the base wire (16), wherein said bent end (17) acts as an end-of-travel element.