초록 ▼

A dishwasher rack basket assembly that includes a water impervious basket of open mesh construction, the basket is selectively positionable between a first size and a second size, the first size securing small items while permitting flow of liquid therethrough, the second size smaller than the first

A dishwasher rack basket assembly that includes a water impervious basket of open mesh construction, the basket is selectively positionable between a first size and a second size, the first size securing small items while permitting flow of liquid therethrough, the second size smaller than the first size and not securing small items while permitting flow of liquid therethrough, and a projection positioned on the basket, wherein the projection is engageable to transform the basket from the first size to the second size.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A dishwasher rack basket assembly, said basket assembly comprising: a collapsible basket of open mesh construction comprising a plurality of walls, said plurality of walls comprising: a back wall, a bottom wall rotatably coupled to said back wall, a front wall including at le

What is claimed is: 1. A dishwasher rack basket assembly, said basket assembly comprising: a collapsible basket of open mesh construction comprising a plurality of walls, said plurality of walls comprising: a back wall, a bottom wall rotatably coupled to said back wall, a front wall including at least one projecting slide portion, said front wall substantially parallel with said back wall and a longitudinal axis of said collapsible basket, and a plurality of side walls connecting said back wall to said front wall, each of said side walls including a front wall end, a back wall end opposite said front wall end, and defining at least one slot extending between said front wall end and said back wall end, said at least one projecting slide portion slidably positioned within a corresponding slot of said at least one slot, said at least one projecting slide portion moveable within said corresponding slot such that said front wall moves with respect to said back wall along a transverse axis substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis to position and transform said basket between a first size and a second size, said first size securing small items while permitting flow of liquid therethrough, said second size smaller than said first size and not securing small items while permitting flow of liquid therethrough. 2. A dishwasher rack basket assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein said basket further comprises a lid pivotally mounted to at least one of said walls. 3. A dishwasher rack basket assembly in accordance with claim 2 wherein said first size is configured such that said bottom wall is oriented substantially horizontally and includes horizontal disposed edges and ends and each of said walls is oriented substantially vertically and includes substantially horizontally disposed upper and lower edges and substantially vertically disposed ends. 4. A dishwasher rack basket assembly in accordance with claim 3 wherein said first size is substantially rectangular shaped. 5. A dishwasher rack basket assembly in accordance with claim 2 wherein said bottom wall, each of said walls, and said lid is oriented substantially vertically. 6. A dishwasher rack basket assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein said bottom wall and each of said walls is integrally molded and formed from polypropylene. 7. A dishwasher rack basket assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein said basket assembly includes at least one connector for releasably securing said basket assembly to said dishwasher rack. 8. A dishwasher rack basket assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein said at least one slide portion is mounted to at least one of said walls, said at least one slide portion permits a user to transform said basket assembly from said first size to said second size. 9. A rack assembly for a dishwasher machine, said rack assembly comprising: a dish rack for retaining items to be washed; a collapsible basket assembly removably attached to said rack, said basket assembly comprising: a plurality of longitudinal walls having a first length, said longitudinal walls comprising a back wall and a front wall including at least one projecting slide portion, said front wall substantially parallel to said back wall and to a longitudinal axis of said collapsible basket; a plurality of lateral walls connecting said back wall to said front wall, each of said lateral walls having a second length and being pivotably attached to at least one of said longitudinal walls, each of said lateral walls comprising: a front wall end; a back wall end opposite said front wall end; and at least one slot extending between said front wall end and said back wall end, said at least one projecting slide portion slidably positioned within a corresponding slot of said at least one slot and moveable within said corresponding slot such that said front wall moves with respect to said back wall along a transverse axis substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis to position and transform said basket assembly between a first size and a second size; a bottom wall pivotably attached to at least one of said longitudinal walls; a lid pivotably attached to at least one of said longitudinal walls; and a knob positioned on at least one of said longitudinal walls. 10. A rack assembly in accordance with claim 9 wherein said second size smaller than said first size. 11. A rack assembly in accordance with claim 10 wherein said basket assembly first size includes said bottom wall extending perpendicular to said lateral walls and said longitudinal walls and forms a generally rectangular cross section. 12. A rack assembly in accordance with claim 10 wherein said basket assembly second size includes said bottom wall extending vertically and parallel to said lateral walls and said longitudinal walls. 13. A rack assembly in accordance with claim 9 wherein said knob is engageable to move said basket assembly between said first size and said second size, said second size collapsing said basket assembly. 14. A rack assembly in accordance with claim 9 wherein said knob is configured to secure said lid adjacent each of said lateral walls. 15. A rack assembly in accordance with claim 9 wherein said bottom wall, each of said lateral walls, each of said longitudinal walls, and said lid is made from polypropylene and is substantially of an open mesh construction to secure small items while permitting flow of liquid through said basket assembly. 16. A rack assembly in accordance with claim 9 wherein said basket assembly includes at least one integral connector for removably securing said basket assembly to said rack assembly. 17. A dishwasher comprising: a cabinet including an interiorly disposed washing chamber; a dish rack disposed in said washing chamber; and at least one basket assembly collapsible between a first size and a second size having a generally rectangular cross section and removably attached to said rack, said at least one basket assembly comprising: a pair of spaced apart elongate walls comprising a back wall and a front wall including at least one projecting slide portion, said front wall substantially parallel to said back wall and to a longitudinal axis of said collapsible basket; a pair of spaced apart end walls movably coupled to said pair of spaced apart elongate walls to connect said back wall to said front wall, each of said end walls comprising: a front wall end; a back wall end opposite said front wall end; and at least one slot extending between said front wall end and said back wall end, said at least one projecting slide portion slidably positioned within a corresponding slot of said at least one slot and moveable within said corresponding slot such that said front wall moves with respect to said back wall along a transverse axis substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis to position and transform said basket assembly between said first size and said second size; a bottom wall pivotably coupled to at least one of said elongate walls, such that said bottom wall is rotatable between a first position and a second position; a lid pivotably coupled to at least one of said elongate walls; and a knob positioned on at least one of said elongate walls. 18. A dishwasher in accordance with 17 wherein said basket assembly second size is smaller than said basket assembly first size. 19. A dishwasher in accordance with 17 wherein said basket assembly is pervious to water, such that water is permitted to pass therethrough to wash small items disposed in said basket assembly. 20. A dishwasher in accordance with 17 wherein said basket assembly comprises plastic. 21. A dishwasher rack basket assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein at least one of said plurality of walls defines a plurality of openings extending therethrough. 22. A collapsible dishwasher rack basket comprising: a back wall; a bottom wall rotatably coupled to said back wall; a front wall including at least one projecting slide portion, said front wall substantially parallel with said back wall and a longitudinal axis of said collapsible dishwasher rack basket; and side walls connecting said back wall to said front wall, each of said side walls including a front wall end, a back wall end opposite said front wall end, and defining at least one slot extending between said front wall end and said back wall end, said at least one projecting slide portion slidably positioned within a corresponding slot of said at least one slot, said at least one projecting slide portion moveable within said corresponding slot such that said front wall moves with respect to said back wall along a transverse axis substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis to position and transform said basket between a first configuration and a second configuration securing small items while permitting flow of liquid therethrough, at least one of said back wall, said bottom wall, said front wall and said side walls defining a plurality of openings extending therethrough.