Stemware support/cup shelf for dishwasher
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dishwasher stemware support devices have complicated hinge mechanisms that are difficult for users to operate and costly to manufacture, and are prone to malfunction with continued use.
Innovation Solution
A stemware support/cup shelf assembly with a frame featuring notches for stemware, an upper shelf for cups, and mounts that allow the assembly to rotate upward and slide into a locked position, utilizing vertical and horizontal slots with a retaining nub for secure locking, and hinges for easy stowage along the dishwasher rack's side wall.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If complicated hinge mechanisms are used for stemware support devices, then the device can rotate and adjust position, but the device becomes difficult for users to operate and costly to manufacture
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the complex hinge mechanism from the stemware support device and replaces it with a simplified mounting system using slots and retaining nubs. The rotational adjustment capability is maintained through the interaction between the mounting slot and the rack structure, eliminating the need for traditional hinges while preserving the essential adaptability function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs simple, inexpensive components such as plastic mounting brackets with slots and retaining nubs instead of expensive metal hinge mechanisms. These simplified components achieve the required rotational functionality at a fraction of the cost, making the device economical to manufacture while maintaining adequate adjustability for user needs.
2Adaptability or versatility
If complicated hinge mechanisms are used for stemware support devices, then the device can rotate and adjust position, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The complex hinge mechanism is removed from the design, replacing it with simple slot-and-retainer components that are much cheaper to manufacture. The rotational adjustment capability is achieved through the geometric design of the mounting slot rather than through complex mechanical hinges, significantly reducing manufacturing costs while preserving the essential adaptability function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses inexpensive plastic mounting components with simple slot geometries instead of costly metal hinges. These simplified parts can be mass-produced through injection molding or similar processes, dramatically reducing per-unit manufacturing costs while maintaining sufficient rotational adjustment capability for practical use.
3Adaptability or versatility
If complicated hinge mechanisms are used for stemware support devices, then the device can rotate and adjust position, but the device becomes more liable to break or malfunction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the complex hinge mechanism that is prone to breakdown and replaces it with a simple slot-based mounting system. The rotational adjustment is achieved through the interaction between the mounting slot and the rack structure, eliminating moving parts that could fail. This significantly improves reliability while maintaining the essential rotational adjustability function.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting system is designed to be self-aligning and self-locking through the slot geometry and retaining nub mechanism. The components automatically find their correct position and secure themselves without requiring precise adjustment or complex control mechanisms, reducing the likelihood of malfunction while preserving rotational adjustability.
Data Source
AI summary
A stemware support/cup shelf assembly disposed on a washware rack for supporting stemware and which also serves as a cup shelf, including: a frame having a front edge portion with a plurality of notches which support stemware, an upper shelf portion which serves as a cup shelf, and a rear edge portion having a pair of mounts for mounting the stemware support/cup shelf assembly to a side wall portion of the washware rack. Each of the pair of mounts is configured to allow the frame to rotate upward from a stowed position into a working angle position and then slide horizontally into a final locked position.