Dishwasher with moveable shelf
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional dishwashers face space constraints due to complex shelf assemblies, which limit vertical adjustability and interfere with the movement of upper dish racks, reducing usable space and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The dish rack design incorporates vertically adjustable shelves with guide slots and cross-bars, allowing for simple operation and reduced part counts, enabling shelves to pivot between horizontal and upright positions without interfering with other racks, and stowing at a lower position to avoid upper rack interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If complex shelf assemblies are used for vertical adjustability, then vertical positioning flexibility is improved, but device complexity increases and usable space decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The shelf assembly is segmented into a shelf body and separate support arms that independently engage with vertical tines at different heights. This allows vertical adjustability through simple engagement/disengagement of support arms with tines at various positions, eliminating the need for complex continuous adjustment mechanisms while maintaining positioning flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The adjustment mechanism is extracted from the shelf body itself and distributed to the support arms, which independently engage with vertical tines. This separates the positioning function from the shelf structure, simplifying the overall assembly while maintaining vertical adjustability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If complex shelf assemblies are used for vertical adjustability, then vertical positioning flexibility is improved, but usable space is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The segmented support arm design allows the shelf to achieve vertical adjustability with minimal structural material. The support arms can be thin and lightweight since they only need to engage with vertical tines, maximizing the usable space within the dishwasher rack while maintaining positioning flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
By extracting the adjustment function to separate support arms that engage with existing vertical tines, the design eliminates bulky adjustment mechanisms that would consume usable space. The shelf body itself remains simple and space-efficient.
3Adaptability or versatility
If shelves are made vertically adjustable, then adaptability is improved, but interference with upper rack movement occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The support arms are designed to be dynamically adjustable, allowing the shelf to be positioned at different vertical heights by engaging support arms with vertical tines at appropriate positions. This dynamic positioning capability enables the shelf to be lowered when needed to prevent interference with upper rack movement, while maintaining adjustability for different loading configurations.
Data Source
AI summary
A dishwasher having a tub at least partially defining a treating chamber that receives dishes for treatment, a dish rack located in the tub and having a bottom wall and at least a side wall extending upwardly from the bottom wall, the side wall including a set of vertical tines.