IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0006610
(2004-12-08)
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등록번호 |
US-7410228
(2008-08-12)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
- Dickson,Harry W.
- Gunnerson,Kory A.
- Hedstrom,Kristen K.
- Palm,Mark E.
- Simmons,Michael C.
- Teteak,Daniel R.
- Thomas,Chad M.
- VanLandingham,Wayne M.
- Welch,Rodney M.
- Wendt,Karl R. C.
- Williams,Jeffrey N.
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출원인 / 주소 |
|
대리인 / 주소 |
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
24 인용 특허 :
6 |
초록
▼
A vertical height adjustment mechanism for a dish rack includes a slide member fixedly mounted relative to a support member, a housing secured to the dish rack, and a latch member. The housing includes a central guide channel that slidably receives the slide member. The latch member includes a suppo
A vertical height adjustment mechanism for a dish rack includes a slide member fixedly mounted relative to a support member, a housing secured to the dish rack, and a latch member. The housing includes a central guide channel that slidably receives the slide member. The latch member includes a support leg, an actuating arm and an intermediate portion joining the support leg and actuating arm. The sliding element includes an end portion that receives and retains the support leg of the latch when the dish rack is in the raised position.
대표청구항
▼
We claim: 1. A dishwasher comprising: a tub having integral top, bottom, rear and side walls that collectively define a washing chamber; a door pivotally mounted relative to the tub, said door being adapted to selectively close the washing chamber; at least one support member mounted to the side wa
We claim: 1. A dishwasher comprising: a tub having integral top, bottom, rear and side walls that collectively define a washing chamber; a door pivotally mounted relative to the tub, said door being adapted to selectively close the washing chamber; at least one support member mounted to the side wall of the tub, said at least one support member being shiftable between a first position wherein the at least one support member is entirely within the washing chamber and a second position wherein a portion of the at least one support member extends from the washing chamber; a dish rack supported by the at least one support member for movement into and out of the washing chamber; and an adjustment mechanism for vertically shifting the dish rack between a lowered position and a raised position relative to the at least one support member, said adjustment mechanism including: a slide member including a first end attached to the support member, a second end with a support surface, and an intermediate section; a housing secured to the dish rack, said housing including a guide channel slidably receiving the slide member; and a latch member including a support leg, an actuating arm and an intermediate portion joining the support leg to the actuating arm, said latch member being pivotally mounted relative to the housing at the intermediate portion, said support leg engaging the second end of the slide member to maintain the dish rack in the raised position, and the intermediate portion of the latch member engaging the support surface on the second end of the slide member when the dish rack is in the lowered position; wherein shifting of the dish rack from the raised position to the lowered position requires actuation of the latch member, while shifting the dish rack from the lowered position to the raised position does not require actuation of the latch member. 2. The dishwasher according to claim 1, wherein the latch member also includes a spring member, said spring member engaging the housing to provide a biasing force to the latch member. 3. The dishwasher according to claim 2, wherein the latch member includes a metal core, said metal core being over molded with a plastic covering. 4. The dishwasher according to claim 3, wherein the metal core includes a first segment that extends along the support leg and a second segment that extends along a section of the intermediate portion. 5. The dishwasher according to claim 2, wherein the latch member further includes a mounting bracket, said spring member being retained by the mounting bracket. 6. The dishwasher according to claim 5, wherein the mounting bracket includes a tab element and the spring member includes a clip element, said clip element engaging the tab element to attach the spring member to the mounting bracket. 7. The dishwasher according to claim 2, wherein the latch member includes a tab protruding from the intermediate portion, said tab being engaged by the spring element. 8. The dishwasher according to claim 7, wherein the tab has a generally T-shaped cross-section. 9. The dishwasher according to claim 7, wherein the spring element includes a first end provided with an aperture and a second end, said first end being mounted to the tab and the second end being cantilevered. 10. The dishwasher according to claim 9, wherein the latch member includes a locating element arranged adjacent to the aperture for locating the spring element relative to the latch member. 11. The dishwasher according to claim 1, wherein the first end of the slide member is fixedly mounted to the support member. 12. The dishwasher according to claim 11, wherein the second end of the slide member includes an end stop adapted to engage with the latch member when the dish rack is in the lowered position. 13. The dishwasher according to claim 12, wherein the end stop defines a generally arcuate rest portion. 14. The dishwasher according to claim 13, wherein the latch member includes at least one generally cylindrical pivot hub adapted to seat in the rest portion of the end stop when the dish rack is in the lowered position. 15. The dishwasher according to claim 11, wherein the intermediate section is generally T-shaped in cross-section and said second end includes a central raised tab element separating two supporting lands. 16. The dishwasher according to claim 15, wherein the intermediate section includes a sliding surface adapted to ride within the guide channel. 17. The dishwasher according to claim 15, wherein the support leg of the support member rests upon one of the two supporting lands when the dish rack is in the raised position. 18. The dishwasher according to claim 11, wherein the slide member is box-shaped in cross-section, with the second end including a concave surface defining a support cup. 19. The dishwasher according to claim 18, wherein the slide member includes a metal core. 20. The dishwasher according to claim 18, wherein the support leg of the support member rests within the support cup when the dish rack is in the raised position. 21. The dishwasher according to claim 11, wherein the second end includes a travel stop provided on the housing, said slide member being adapted to engage the travel stop to limit movement of the dish rack beyond the raised position. 22. The dishwasher according to claim 11, wherein the at least one support member includes a wheeled base member. 23. The dishwasher according to claim 22, wherein the first end of the slide member is secured to the wheeled base member. 24. The dishwasher according to claim 22, further comprising: a stabilizer member secured to the wheeled base member, said stabilizer member being adapted to partially guide the dish rack between the lowered position and the raised position. 25. The dishwasher according to claim 24, wherein the stabilizer member includes at least one guide element, said dish rack being formed from a plurality of wire members with at least one of the plurality of wire members being received by the at least one guide element. 26. The dishwasher according to claim 11, wherein the housing includes a main body portion extending to a top portion, said main body portion having integrally formed therewith the guide channel, said top portion pivotally supporting the latch member. 27. The dishwasher according to claim 26, wherein the adjustment mechanism includes a cover member detachably secured to the housing. 28. The dishwasher according to claim 27, wherein the cover member includes a clip element, said cover member being detachably secured to the top portion of the housing through the clip element. 29. The dishwasher according to claim 27, wherein the cover member is detachably secured to the housing through a plurality of mechanical fasteners. 30. The dishwasher according to claim 27, wherein the cover member includes at least one travel stop, said travel stop being adapted to engage with the second end of the slide member to prevent the dish rack from being lifted significantly beyond the raised position. 31. A method of vertically shifting a dish rack carried by at least one support member for movement into and out of a washing chamber of a dishwasher comprising: guiding a dish rack along a slide member attached to the at least one support member to raise the dish rack from a lowered position to a raised position; resting a support leg of a latch member attached to the dish rack on the slide member to maintain the dish rack in the raised position; shifting an actuation arm portion of the latch member against a biasing force of a spring to deflect the support leg of the latch member away from the slide member; guiding the dish rack along the slide member to shift the dish rack from the raised position back to the lowered position; and supporting an intermediate portion of the latch member on the slide member when the dish rack is in the lowered position. 32. The method of claim 31, further comprising: positioning the support leg on an arcuate surface formed on an end portion of the slide member when the dish rack is in the raised position. 33. The method of claim 31, further comprising: pivoting the latch member about a hub positioned between the support leg and the actuation arm. 34. The method of claim 31, further comprising: limiting upward movement of the dish rack by engaging a travel stop, provided for movement with the dish rack, with the slide member. 35. The method of claim 34, further comprising: supporting the dish rack on an end stop of the slide member when the dish rack is in the lowered position.
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