Pivoting Cutlery Basket for More Dishwasher Loading Space

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional cutlery baskets in dishwashers occupy valuable stacking space due to their vertical orientation, reducing the capacity for larger items like plates and pots, and do not effectively expose cutlery to the spray jet for improved cleaning.

Innovation Solution

A cutlery basket with pivoting storage compartments that can transition from a vertical loading position to an inclined cleaning position, allowing installation in the upper crockery basket and enhancing exposure to the spray jet, thereby reducing overall height and improving cleaning efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If the cutlery basket is arranged in the lower crockery basket with vertically aligned cutlery items, then the loading capacity for cutlery is improved, but the stacking space for plates or pots in the lower crockery basket is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveloading capacity for cutleryVSAvoidstacking space for plates or pots
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The cutlery basket is designed with a pivoting mechanism that allows it to rotate between a horizontal loading position and a vertical storage position. This dynamic transformation enables the cutlery basket to adapt its orientation based on operational needs, resolving the contradiction between maximizing cutlery loading capacity and preserving stacking space for larger items.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The invention utilizes the vertical dimension by allowing the cutlery basket to pivot from a horizontal plane to a vertical orientation. This dimensional transition optimizes space utilization in both the horizontal and vertical directions, enabling efficient stacking of plates or pots while maintaining adequate cutlery storage capacity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Ease of operation

If the cutlery basket is designed with a rigid structure and vertically aligned compartments, then the ease of loading is improved, but the exposure to spray jet for cleaning is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of loadingVSAvoidmechanical removal rate during cleaning
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The pivoting mechanism transforms the rigid vertical structure into a dynamic system that can reorient itself. During the cleaning cycle, the cutlery basket rotates to a vertical position that maximizes exposure to the spray jet, thereby improving the mechanical removal rate while maintaining ease of loading during the loading phase.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the orientation parameter of the cutlery basket from a fixed vertical alignment to a variable orientation that can be adjusted between horizontal and vertical positions. This parameter change optimizes both the ease of loading and the exposure to cleaning spray, resolving the contradiction between operational ease and cleaning effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP2215957B1Dishwasher, in particular household dishwasher
Publication Date: 2016.05.18 BSH HAUSGERATE GMBH
  • EP2215957B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2215957B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2215957B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a dishwasher, in particular a household dishwasher, having at least one cutlery basket (7), in particular a cutlery basket which can be inserted into a crockery basket and which has at least one storage compartment (11) for receiving at least one piece of cutlery (9) which is between a loading position (B ) for loading and/or unloading the compartment (11) and an inclined position (S) for cleaning and/or drying the cutlery item (9). According to the invention, the clear height (h1) of a cutlery item (9) is reduced in the inclined position (S) compared to the clear height of a cutlery item (9) in the loading position (B).