Elastic Dishwasher Rack Retainer for Mixed-Height Dishware

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing dishwasher rack retainer technologies fail to effectively restrain articles of varying sizes, leading to movement and damage during washing, as they either obstruct cleansing, require excessive time to position, or apply uniform pressure inadequately, resulting in chipping or overturning of glass and ceramic items.

Innovation Solution

A generally rectangular flexible elastic article retainer with laterally opposed longitudinal sides and transverse thin elastic bands that securely engage dishwasher rack frames, allowing for adjustable positioning to prevent vertical movement and overturning of both shorter and taller articles without additional connectors, enabling easy attachment and detachment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If mesh net devices are used to restrain articles, then articles are held in place, but the mesh may obstruct cleansing action and shorter articles adjacent to taller articles are no longer restrained

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvearticle restraint effectivenessVSAvoidcleansing obstruction and unrestrained shorter articles

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The retainer is divided into multiple independent elastic bands spaced apart from each other, allowing each band to independently restrain articles of varying heights without obstructing water flow between the bands

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Each elastic band can be independently positioned to contact and restrain specific articles based on their height and position, providing localized restraint where needed while leaving other areas open for water flow

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If parallel elongate elastic bands with fasteners are used, then articles in a row or column are held, but several units are required and positioning is time consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvearticle restraintVSAvoidpositioning time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple elastic bands are combined into a single integrated retainer structure with longitudinal sides connecting them, allowing the entire assembly to be installed as one unit rather than positioning multiple separate band units

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The retainer design with multiple spaced elastic bands can restrain various types of articles (glasses, bowls, cups, plastic containers) of different heights and positions within a single rack, making it a universal solution for diverse dishware

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If elastic bands apply pressure to lateral sides of articles, then articles are restrained, but uniform pressure is only applied if all articles have the same lateral dimension

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvearticle restraintVSAvoidaccommodation of varying article dimensions

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The elastic bands are designed to be flexible and adaptable, automatically adjusting their pressure distribution based on the size and shape of each article they contact, providing appropriate restraint force for articles of varying lateral dimensions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

4Productivity

If high-pressure jets are used to wash articles, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but unrestrained objects move and collide causing damage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning effectivenessVSAvoidarticle movement and collision damage

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The elastic bands apply preliminary restraining force to articles before the high-pressure washing begins, preventing movement and collision that would otherwise be caused by the water jets during the washing cycle

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution provides secure retention of articles across multiple rows or columns with reduced risk of detachment during washing, accommodating various rack configurations and preventing damage from high-pressure jets, while being simple, durable, and inexpensive to manufacture.

Implementation Method 1

a center portion formed of a plurality of transverse thin resilient bands disposed in parallel spaced relation for engaging and securing separate articles loaded into the rack

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS8152001B1Elastic article retainer for dishwashers

Publication Date: 2012.04.10 VINKLAREK VICTOR A MR

AI summary

A generally rectangular flexible elastic article retainer for retaining articles in a dishwasher rack has laterally opposed longitudinal sides, each having a plurality apertures configured to securely engage selected upstanding or horizontal wire-like members of the dishwasher rack frame and a center portion formed of a plurality of transverse thin elastic bands disposed in parallel spaced relation for engaging and securing articles loaded into the rack. When the elastic bands are stretched across the articles, some of the bands may be positioned to extend across the upward facing bottom surface of shorter inverted articles, such as cups, bowls or short containers, to prevent vertical movement and overturning; while at the same time other pairs of the bands of the same article retainer may be positioned on the lateral sides of adjacent taller inverted objects, such as drinking glasses, to securely grip the sides of the taller articles to prevent vertical movement and overturning.